Chapter 6: Everyone Assembled

Chapter 6: The Whole Family Gathers

After lunch, Rong Fenghua was called to Rong Shaoting’s room, while Rong Kai and Yang Yeyue, feeling bored, decided to stroll through the market in town. Wu Jing, having slept poorly the night before, went back to her room to catch up on rest.

That left only Fan Xiaoyao and her mother Rong Jinfeng in the kitchen. Eagerly helping her mother clear the dishes, Fan Xiaoyao pulled Rong Jinfeng out of the kitchen. “Mom, have a rest for a while.”

Looking at her considerate daughter, Rong Jinfeng’s eyes brimmed with tears once more. As Fan Xiaoyao washed the dishes, she asked, “Mom, does my little brother know about your illness?”

Rong Jinfeng forced a smile, masking her sorrow. “Xiaoyang, I haven’t told him yet. He’s taking his high school entrance exams this year, and I’m afraid it’ll affect his studies. You know your brother—he’s always been sensitive and thoughtful.”

Seeing the forced cheer on Rong Jinfeng’s face, Fan Xiaoyao’s heart ached even more.

“Mom, does Dad know about your illness? I saw today that he knew everyone was coming home, yet he still went out fishing. He really is too much!” Fan Xiaoyao said angrily.

Rong Jinfeng shook her head, comforting her daughter. “Xiaoyao, say no more. You know your father’s temperament. After all these years, has anything ever caught his attention besides fishing?”

When mother and daughter had finished cleaning the kitchen, Fan Zengfu entered carrying his fishing rod. Seeing Fan Xiaoyao, his face lit up with joy. “Daughter, you’re back!”

“Fan Zengfu, I’ll give you fishing! I’ll give you fishing…” Fan Xiaoyao, brimming with anger, stormed forward and snatched the rod from his hand. Summoning strength from who knows where, she snapped it in half with a loud crack.

Fan Zengfu stared in disbelief at his beloved fishing rod, now broken in two, his eyes flashing with anger. He rushed over, scolding, “Fan Xiaoyao, what are you doing? Have you lost your mind?”

She met his gaze. “Fan Zengfu, are you even a man? Your wife is sick, and all you do is go out every day! Is fishing more important than my mother’s health?”

His hand, reaching for the rod, froze in midair. He turned to Rong Jinfeng, his voice unsteady. “Feng, what does Xiaoyao mean? What illness do you have?”

Only then did Fan Xiaoyao realize that her father, too, was unaware of Rong Jinfeng’s illness.

Now she understood just how much Rong Jinfeng had been enduring in silence. The entire Rong family knew about her condition—everyone except her husband and children.

Fan Xiaoyao looked at Rong Jinfeng with even more pain in her eyes, fully understanding her mother’s painstaking efforts.

Fan Zengfu, after learning of Rong Jinfeng’s illness, sat silently on the sofa, lost in thought.

Fan Xiaoyao wanted to say more, but Rong Jinfeng gently pulled her aside. “Xiaoyao, come with me to the market later to buy ingredients for tonight. I want to cook each of your favorite dishes this evening.”

When the two returned home with groceries, Rong Jinhua and Huang Yun, along with Rong Yu and his new wife He Zhen, had already arrived and were chatting with Rong Shaoting’s wife, Rong Liu Yulan, in the main hall.

Seeing Rong Jinfeng carrying groceries, Rong Yu quickly came over to take them from her. “Aunt, have a seat and rest for a while.”

Fan Xiaoyao greeted her uncle’s family, calling out to each one in turn, “Hello, Uncle. Hello, Aunt. Hello, Cousin. Hello, Cousin-in-law!”

Huang Yun rose warmly to pull Fan Xiaoyao to her side, sighing affectionately, “It’s been a while, and you’ve grown even more beautiful, Xiaoyao!”

After giving birth to Rong Yu, Huang Yun had always longed for a daughter. When she finally became pregnant again, she hoped her wish would come true, but ended up with another son. Over the years, she’d always doted on the Rong family’s nieces, especially Fan Xiaoyao, whom she cherished like a treasure.

The whole family gathered in the main hall, chatting idly with the elderly Rong Liu Yulan about work and life, while Rong Fenghua was still upstairs playing chess with Rong Shaoting.

By the time all the dishes were set on the table and every member of the Rong family had taken their seats, Rong Yinfeng finally arrived, travel-worn, arm in arm with Wang Yuancheng. She apologized to everyone with an awkward smile.

“Sorry, the traffic was terrible today, and there weren’t many buses to town. Sorry to keep everyone waiting.”

Ever since they were children, Rong Fenghua and his sister Rong Yinfeng had a habit of bickering. Seeing her arrive just in time for dinner, he couldn’t resist teasing, “Third Sister, what luck you have—arriving just as the meal is served!”

Rong Yinfeng shot him a cold glance. “Fenghua, what’s your problem? Are you trying to pick on me?”

Rong Shaoting, seeing his two children at it again, slapped the table. “Enough! The two of you are nearly eighty years old together—still so childish. Eat!”

With Rong Shaoting’s temper flaring, Rong Fenghua and Rong Yinfeng glared at each other, then buried themselves in their bowls in silence.

The atmosphere at the table grew heavy. Noticing this, Rong Kai tried to lighten the mood, forcing a smile as he started a new topic. “Ah, it’s rare for the whole family to be together like this. Uncles, aunts, let’s have a laugh and talk about the latest gossip in Kangcheng, shall we?”

Yang Yeyue nudged Rong Kai, signaling him to behave, but he ignored her, launching into his tale with exaggerated gestures.

“Have you heard? The newly appointed mayor has already gotten himself into an affair! The other party is a young beauty in her twenties. Somehow, the two got involved, and the mayor got her pregnant. She pretended to threaten him by attempting suicide, hoping to force him to divorce his wife. But things went awry—she lost the baby and couldn’t keep her womb!”

The others listened to this scandal with embarrassment, glancing at Rong Shaoting’s face, which was growing darker by the minute.

At last, Rong Shaoting slapped the table again. “Xiao Kai, enough! I’ve always told you: never speak ill of others in public or gossip behind their backs. Why can’t you remember?”

Rong Kai, realizing he was in the wrong, pouted and tried to defend himself, “Grandpa, I wasn’t gossiping—this really happened! Honestly, the world is in decline…”

Rong Jinhua scolded his son sternly, “Xiao Kai, enough out of you!”

With Rong Shaoting angry and the family rule of ‘no talking at the table’ in effect, everyone fell silent.

After dinner, all the members of the Rong family gathered in the main hall, each holding their breath, waiting for Rong Shaoting to speak.