Volume 1 Rebirth - The Eve of High School Chapter 5 Family Banquet

  After school, Ai Zi Qing returned home and was reading a book when her parents came back and dragged her out of the house, saying that her uncle was hosting a family gathering at Fu Man Lou.

  Fu Man Lou is located in the city center and is one of the higher-end restaurants in Yang City, where even municipal leaders occasionally book tables to entertain guests.

  When Ai Zi Qing and her family arrived, all of her father's brothers and sisters and their families were already there. The dishes had been served and everyone was eating.

  Grandfather Ai Zong, Grandmother Li Qiuhua

  Grandfather Ai Guozhong, his wife is Grandma Xu Juan, their son Ai Ping is one year older than their daughter Ai Qing, who had excellent grades in the high school entrance exam last year and is now studying at Municipal No. 1 Middle School.

  Lao Er's father is Ai Guohua and his mother is Jiang Qin.

  Third Uncle Ai Guo is married to Third Aunt Wang Mei, and their daughter Ai Jia has a small son who is several months old and also in third grade.

  Father's sister, Aunt Aiguo Fang, is the fourth child. Her husband is Uncle Liu Yong. They have a 13-year-old son named Liu Xuan, who is still in elementary school, in the first grade of junior high school.

  In total, Ai Zi Qing has one grandfather, three uncles and a younger aunt.

  An older brother, an older sister, and a younger brother.

  "Oh, Director Ai Guohua has arrived? The workshop director is also a leader, usually they arrive last, haha." Auntie Xu Juan said with a playful and sarcastic tone.

  Because Grandpa and Third Uncle went into business early, the two of them opened a clothing store together, selling leather goods. Now they have expanded their storefront and have some savings, looking down on Ziying's parents who are still working in the factory. Among the four younger generation, only Ziying's grades are average, her older brother Aiping is in the top 50 of his class at First Middle School, her little sister Ai Jia also has excellent grades and attends Second Middle School, even her little brother Liu Xuan is preparing to take the entrance exam for Second Middle School. Only Ziying attends Fourth Middle School, with average grades.

  So in the Ai family, Ai Ziying's family is the one with the least say, don't look at the young aunt who is only 35 years old, she is already a deputy general manager of the finance department in a state-owned enterprise. In Ziying's parents' generation, there were no politicians among them, because they were all ordinary people without any connections or background, even if they could enter the national departments, they would still be unable to get promoted after working hard for their whole lives, having a stable job was already not easy for them.

  "Dad and mom," Father Ai Guohua called out to the two elderly people. After they nodded, Ai Guohua awkwardly smiled and explained, "It's almost time to get off work, I just received a message at the unit, there is no phone at home, so I came late after picking up Ziying."

  "It's alright, I don't blame you for anything. What's the point of explaining? Sit down and eat, let Zi Qing choose her own drink." Old man Ai Guozhong asked with a serious face.

  "Have some white wine, how is it, Lao Er?" San Shu asked Aiguo Hua with a smile after taking a bite of the dish. Since he made some small money, he has been boasting every day and even calls his two elder brothers "Lao Da" and "Lao Er", which they have also gotten used to.

  Without waiting for Father to speak, Third Uncle had already called out to the waiter and ordered his favorite wine. The waiter poured a round of drinks.

  Little aunt looked up and asked Zi Qing, "Zi Qing, is studying hard now? Can you get into high school?"

  "Should be no problem, thanks for your concern, little sister."

  Ai Guofang smiled and said, "Looking at the child growing up, speaking more and more." As for Little Ai Guofang, Zi Qing couldn't say she disliked her, they didn't interact much, let alone communicate.

  At this time, Aunt Xu Juan smiled and said, "Zi Qing should learn from your brother and Jia Jia. Look at your sister who is preparing to take the entrance exam for No. 1 Middle School. If she gets in, our family will have another top student! Hehehe." She turned her head and smiled at Xiaoxuan's mother, "Your son Xiaoxuan is also taking the entrance exam for No. 2 Middle School this time, right? Now our family has three top students!"

  Second Aunt smiled slightly, her eyebrows and eyes also showed a hint of pride. Although Liu Xuan's grades were not the best, he had never caused trouble for his family before. Being able to get into Second High School meant that his grades were quite good too, and getting into a good high school was basically a done deal.

  Third Aunt Wang Mei looked at Zi Qing and said, "Zi Qing must work hard too. Letting her younger sister surpass her like this... looking so pretty but not studying well, what's the use? Can't even find a good job!" Ai Jia was average in appearance and had a somewhat spoiled personality. Perhaps because Zi Qing had been prettier since she was young, Third Aunt always looked at her with disapproval, often teasing her about her looks.

  "Our Xiaoyu has been working very hard, she's been studying diligently for the past few days." Perhaps sensing some criticism towards her own daughter, Jiang Qiu, Xiaoyu's mother, felt a bit displeased, but due to her personality, she only dared to speak up a couple of words in defense of her daughter. To prove that Xiaoyu was indeed making an effort, she added, "For the past two days, Xiaoyu has been studying until midnight every day, and when I went to pick her up today, she was still reading."

  "What's the fuss about? Your third aunt didn't say anything wrong. Jiajia may be a few months younger than Ziqing, but her learning is worlds apart. You two are busy working every day, how can you have time to take care of the kids? Now their studies aren't going well, and it's the parents' responsibility! Your third aunt wants her to study with Jiajia for her own good! It sounds like someone is harming your precious child!" Grandma Li Qiu Hua scolded Jiang Qin.

  "Mom said that, I didn't mean anything else, little brother and sister, can't you see? Who isn't for Zi Qing's good?" Hehe, Aunt Wang Mei smiled with a hint of amusement, seemingly not taking it to heart at all.

  Father looked at his wife and daughter, said only two sentences, then suffered grievances, could not help but want to open mouth, just about to speak, Grandfather Ai Zong glanced at him and said "Alright, what a big deal, women's family is just this topic, how is Guohua working now?"

  When he heard his father say that, Ai Guohua, who was about to speak up, didn't dare say anything more and instead responded to the old man. He pinched his wife's hand under the table, while Jiang Qinger lowered her head with red-rimmed eyes.

  Ziying has been watching with a cold eye, looking at the various human behaviors of these aunties and sisters-in-law, who are trying to outdo each other in conversation, with some discomfort in her heart. She holds her mother's hand tightly and says softly, "Mom, don't mind them, if I get good grades, won't that shut their mouths?"

  Listening to her daughter's childish comforting words, Jiang Qin burst out laughing and then sternly scolded, "This child! What are you talking about? Who talks about their aunts like that!" After finishing, she laughed again.

  Watching her mother smile, Zi Qing also smiled and helped her mother with some food, telling her to eat more. Meanwhile, the aunt on this side revealed a slight disdainful expression and said "Zi Qing should eat more herself, Fu Man Lou's dishes are famous! You can't usually get to eat them, wait until you get into a good high school, Auntie will be in charge, and then invite the whole family to come and have another meal."

  "The dishes are okay, but if Ziqing gets into No. 1 Middle School, Auntie will have to treat us to a meal at Su Xiang Garden, right?" Ziqing said with a smile.

  Xu Juan chuckled and said, "No problem, if Zi Qing can get into No. 1 Middle School, I'll set up a table at Su Xiang Garden to treat you! To celebrate our top student!" Xu Juan didn't take it seriously, of course. She was well aware of Ai Zi Qing's grades, and getting into No. 1 Middle School was just a joke. Even if she could get into the third middle school with a full scholarship, that would be something to thank heaven for! So this sentence was said in jest, Su Xiang Garden? That's one of the top restaurants in Yang City, a state-owned hotel where provincial leaders stay when they come, and setting up a table for a family dinner costs at least 18,000 yuan.

  The family banquet appears harmonious on the surface...