Chapter 163: Chapter 156: Going Up the Mountain to Honor the Ancestors (Part 2)
Yin Shixiu frowned slightly.
Su’s mother raised her eyebrows and looked at Su Xiaomeng, "You don’t want to go? Why?"
"It’s because my relationship with mother-in-law isn’t very good..."
As Su Xiaomeng spoke, she and Su’s mother entered the kitchen, but her words could still be vaguely heard.
"Did they invite you to go over?"
"They did, just now Meng Meng and nephew Ming Lang specifically came over to say that I should bring the children and go back with Shixiu... said it’s to enter them into the family genealogy."
"Old Madam Yin has asked you to go, so you should. Ancestor worship is no small matter; if you go, the elder won’t make things difficult for you."
"Hmm... really?"
"You need to be sensible. No matter how afraid you are of getting along with her, you’ll have to in the future unless you plan on divorcing Yin Shixiu, then it doesn’t matter."
"I don’t want to divorce uncle, so I guess I’ll go..."
That evening, Su Xiaomeng climbed into bed, snuggling into Yin Shixiu’s arms.
"Are you angry?"
"Your ability to lie is getting better and better now."
Yin Shixiu felt exhausted listening to her say those things in front of Su’s mother.
Su Xiaomeng sprawled on him, "Uncle, I’m not an unreasonable person, nor am I that fragile..."
"I used to think it didn’t matter, but now it’s different."
In the past, she thought they would eventually separate, and they would have nothing to do with each other until they died, so she had nothing to fight for.
But now, she truly doesn’t want to part with him...
If, in the end, they can’t walk the long road together.
She hopes the reason for their breakup would be due to falling out of love, not anything else.
"Sleep."
Yin Shixiu said casually.
"You haven’t said if you agree or not."
"To avoid making it difficult for me, you’ve already told Mom that; do I even have a choice?"
Su Xiaomeng lowered her head and kissed his cheek again, then turned over to sleep.
Yin Shixiu glanced at her, "Come back."
"Huh?"
Yin Shixiu pulled her by the waist and rolled her back onto him.
"Didn’t you notice?"
Su Xiaomeng’s ears turned red.
And so, a few more days passed.
It was the day of the ancestor worship.
The sky wasn’t too kind; a light snow fell the night before, making the mountain roads difficult to walk.
Fortunately, the sky was clear that day.
Early in the morning, Yin Shixiu drove Xiaomeng and the two children up the mountain.
Jiuling Mountain was covered with a thin layer of white.
There was no one to take care of the two children on the road, so Xiaomeng had to go along.
"Uncle, how long does the ancestor worship ceremony take?"
"If quick, it’s about two hours."
But there are many other things as well.
Based on past experiences, family members have to spend the night on the mountain tonight.
Su Xiaomeng agreed; they came fairly early.
They arrived at the Yin family’s villa, just past ten o’clock.
The ancestor worship ceremony started at noon.
Su Xiaomeng carried the children and followed Yin Shixiu to the door, looking at the villa, she pouted, really feeling a bit of a shadow in her heart.
Two servants came out to open the door and respectfully greeted, "Fourth Young Master, good day."
They glanced at Su Xiaomeng, exchanged looks, and also respectfully said, "Fourth Young Madam, good day."
Yin Shixiu handed the sleeping Huang Huang to one of the servants.
Su Xiaomeng handed Shuangshuang to Yin Shixiu, just about to tell him something when, unexpectedly...
Yin Shixiu took Shuangshuang and handed her to another servant.
"Fourth Young Master?"
"The Young Madam and I won’t be going in. You take the children to the Master and Madam, keep an eye on them, I’ll come and get the children at three."
Su Xiaomeng looked at Yin Shixiu...
Unable to speak for a long time.
The villa door closed.
"Let’s go."
Yin Shixiu pulled the dazedly looking Su Xiaomeng into his arms.
"You... intended to do this from the start..."
He held her hand, took the small backpack she had prepared, and walked along the mountain path.
As they walked, he said, "You’re right, we can’t hurt the elders’ hearts, and Yin Meng is right too, the children have to acknowledge their roots."
"But the two elders just want grandchildren, while I still want my wife."
Su Xiaomeng walked, her head down, following his steps, mumbling, "You’re still mad at Mrs. Yin..."
"She wants grandchildren, I’ve given them, what more can she say?"
"Sneaky..."
Su Xiaomeng glanced at him and then grinned, "But I really like it!"
Yin Shixiu pulled her closer into his arms, "I’ll take you to see Jiuling Mountain, there’s a large forest area and orchards behind the mountain."
"Are there still fruits this season?"
"There should be, right?"
Su Xiaomeng listened to Yin Shixiu’s uncertain tone, smiled, hugged his waist, and the two of them were lost in each other’s company.
In the morning, after Yin Shixiu and Su Xiaomeng left with the children.
Bai Sixian went to the hospital.
Bai Fengmao was being discharged today.
At the hospital, Bai Fengmao was undergoing his final checks.
After making some notes, the doctor said to Bai Sixian, "It’s nothing major, but the medication prescribed by the hospital must be taken on time and in the prescribed dose."
"Alright, thank you, doctor."
When Bai Sixian arrived, Bai Zhengxiang was already there, fortunately, Tan Qianmei wasn’t following today.
"Little sister, let’s have lunch with Dad; I’ve already booked a spot at a nice restaurant."
Bai Sixian looked at her father, "I’m free today, Dad, I’ll listen to you."
Bai Fengmao smiled and held his daughter’s hand, "We’ll go to the restaurant another day, today Dad will take you to see Ah Bu."
"Ah Bu?"
Bai Sixian paused for a moment.
"The pup of Big Bubu, you forgot about Big Bubu?"
How could Bai Sixian forget the dog she had raised for more than eight years...
Back when she left home in anger, the Labrador that had followed her for over eight years was biting her bag stubbornly...
It was only after she gave it a beating that it whimpered and let go...
Big Bubu’s appearance at that time still remains clear in her memory, and thinking about it now, her heart aches again.
Twenty years have passed, and the dog she raised is gone.
"I haven’t forgotten..."
"Its last litter of pups, I kept one, it looks just like Big Bubu! I was afraid you’d come back and be sad not to see Big Bubu."
Bai Fengmao said happily.
But Bai Sixian couldn’t help but tear up again.
"Oh dear, why are you crying again?"
"I, I’m just missing Big Bubu a bit."
"Haha, I knew you’d miss it, Dad understands you the best!"
Bai Fengmao looked smug and pulled Bai Sixian to leave.
On the other side, Bai Zhengxiang frowned slightly, "Um... Dad, little sister..."
"Next time, next time!"
Bai Fengmao hurriedly said.
Bai Sixian glanced at her brother, "Brother, another day then."
Bai Zhengxiang took a deep breath and picked up the luggage beside him, "I’ll drive you up the mountain."
"Why? Is that not okay?"
"No, it’s not that, I’m just afraid you’ll be busy."
"Let’s go."
Bai Zhengxiang said.
He looked at Bai Fengmao holding Bai Sixian’s hand ahead, pursing his lips.
In these twenty years since Bai Sixian left, he really hadn’t seen their father show such a joyful expression.
This big family, probably none of them compares to the place little sister holds in their father’s heart.
Bai Zhengxiang, at over fifty years old, couldn’t help but feel a bit unbalanced in his heart, as a sibling, not receiving equal affection.
It’s actually colder up the mountain than down, Yin Shixiu wore a camel-colored coat while Su Xiaomeng donned a lightweight yet warm black down jacket.
Beijing’s winter is dry and cold, as long as you’re bundled up tightly, it’s not that cold after all.
After walking for about twenty minutes, their bodies warmed up.
"This should be the apple orchard area."
Yin Shixiu looked at the apple trees and said.
Sadly, the apple trees now are bare, with a few leaves stubbornly hanging on.
The two, tired from walking, stopped to rest, Xiao Meng kicked at the dry snow on the ground, sending it flying like willow fluff everywhere!
Dry snow doesn’t melt easily, this whole orchard area is blanketed with a thick layer of snow.
Yin Shixiu stood nearby with his hands in his coat pockets, watching the little girl jump around there.
She lowered her head, using a twig to draw on the clean snow, her face rosy, stealing glances at Yin Shixiu from time to time, looking quite smug.
Yin Shixiu watched and gradually, a grown man’s head appeared on the ground!
The hairs were standing upright, the eyes were drawn quite well, but the mouth was shaped in a "seeking a kiss" manner, looking very comical.
The drawing overall was quite amusing, and if one had to say, it did resemble someone.
"Uncle, does this look like you or not!"
Su Xiaomeng shouted at him, panting heavily.
Yin Shixiu stood there with his arms crossed, raising his brow slightly.
He didn’t respond to her, but Xiao Meng was already pleased with herself.
She laughed aloud, "This is you!"
Just as she shouted at him, the branch above her head trembled, likely stirred by the wind, and the dry snow fell all at once, covering her from head to toe in snow.
"Haha!"
Yin Shixiu laughed aloud.
Su Xiaomeng squinted her eyes, glaring at him.
Yin Shixiu laughed for quite a while before coming over to brush the snow off her.
Su Xiaomeng pursed her lips, suddenly dashed to the tree and shook the branches hard!
Instantly, snow fell all over Yin Shixiu!
"Hahaha!"
Su Xiaomeng laughed even more arrogantly and boldly than Yin Shixiu!
Yin Shixiu approached to catch her!
Su Xiaomeng’s legs were short, but she was quite nimble overall, seeing him trying to catch her, she immediately ran!
Seeing Yin Shixiu didn’t catch up with her, she acted very arrogantly, then turned her head and fell right into the snow!
"Oh dear!"
The fall didn’t hurt, just made her look a bit awkward.
Yin Shixiu crouched down, turned her over, seeing her face covered with snowflakes, he chuckled lightly, "Not running anymore?"
Su Xiaomeng stuck out her tongue at him.
"Did you hurt yourself falling?"
He asked.
Su Xiaomeng wrapped her arms around his neck, smiled, and shook her head.
Yin Shixiu truly loved seeing her smile, amidst this vast whiteness, her smile seemed to bring vibrant colors to the scene, breathtakingly beautiful.
"Yin Shixiu."
"Hmm?"
Su Xiaomeng looked at him, "If I hadn’t met you, what would I be like?"
Yin Shixiu lowered his head and kissed her rosy little nose.
"Still like this."
"What is this like?"
"Silly like a little fool."
"Like a child that hasn’t grown up..."
"Meng Meng."
Yin Shixiu lowered his head, his voice a bit hoarse, leaning close to her ear, "Look, so many trees around us..."