Volume 1 / Chapter 69: Brother or Sister?

It wasn’t long before everyone else arrived.

The dishes they had ordered earlier began to be brought out one after another, filling the table with enticing aromas.

Rather than sitting in two separate groups, the two families mingled freely, casually picking seats without formality.

For instance, next to Mò Xuěyáo sat her godfather and his daughter. Her mother and godmother shared a seat, while her father chatted with her godfather over beers, talking about recent happenings.

In this era, drunk driving was technically illegal, but the rules weren’t clearly defined or strictly enforced.

Random roadside checks were rare, and in many areas, they weren’t even conducted. Even if someone was stopped, there was no clear standard for punishment—so long as the driver wasn’t visibly impaired, they were usually let off with a warning.

Even if someone was impaired, the worst they’d get was a small fine and a suggestion to sober up in the passenger seat.

Sometimes, a little money under the table could solve everything—no penalty points, no fuss.

So, it wasn’t uncommon for drivers to drink a beer or two, and Yú Liáng was no exception.

—In fact, in the world of officialdom, even if one had to drive afterward, if a superior insisted on drinking—even hard liquor like báijiǔ—you had no choice but to comply.

Because of this, drinking and driving wasn’t considered a big deal at the time. Even someone as rule-abiding as Mò Xuěyáo didn’t find it strange.

“Why did big brother turn into big sister?” asked Yú Jīnyǔ , Yú Liáng’s daughter, looking at Mò Xuěyáo with wide-eyed curiosity. She hadn’t seen her in nearly two months.

Although her father had already explained that Mò Xuěyáo was actually a girl, not a boy, seeing her in person still left her puzzled.

“Jīnyǔ, you can’t just say things like that in front of others,” Yú Liáng said, tapping her forehead with his chopsticks. “From now on, call her ‘big sister,’ okay? Before, it was only because she didn’t like wearing girly clothes that we let you call her ‘big brother.’ But not anymore.”

“Got it! Big sister!” Jīnyǔ replied cheerfully, as affectionate—and clingy—as ever.

In fact, now that Mò Xuěyáo was officially a “sister,” she clung to her even more.

Her chair was practically merged with Xuěyáo’s, their legs pressed side by side like conjoined twins. If Yú Liáng hadn’t stopped her, she probably would’ve just plopped herself right down on Xuěyáo’s lap.

“Grilled bass coming through.” A knock at the door was followed by Mo Xiǎoxiào walking in, holding a sizzling hot iron plate of fish that still crackled with oil.

“Thanks,” Yú Liáng smiled, then repeated the question he’d asked earlier. “You really won’t sit and eat with us?”

“No need~ Thanks, though~” Mo Xiǎoxiào waved her hand with a smile. “Still got lots to do.”

“Oho? Yú Liáng, you know such a young girl?” Xuěyáo’s father teased, nudging Yú Liáng with a mischievous grin. “Don’t tell me she’s—?”

“Dad—what are you even thinking?” Mò Xuěyáo sighed. “She’s my high school classmate.”

“Oh? Doesn’t working interfere with her school?”

“Eh, I guess she’s able to manage her time.”

“That’s tough,” her father said, scratching his stubbled chin. “No matter what, as long as you’re still in school, I won’t let you work.”

“Of course. We’re not so poor we need that,” her mother chimed in matter-of-factly.

Xuěyáo glanced toward the private room’s door, a bit embarrassed.

Thankfully, Mo Xiǎoxiào had already left. Otherwise, hearing that might have made her feel a bit awkward.

“Alright, alright—since we never had a proper celebration after your surgery, let’s do it today!” Yú Liáng raised his glass. “Cheers!”

“Cheers!” everyone echoed, clinking glasses.

The men’s glasses were filled with beer, while the women’s held milk or orange juice.

“Lǎo Mò, you really going through with the fruit shop plan?” Yú Liáng slung an arm around Xuěyáo’s dad like they were old college buddies.

Though in truth, Yú Liáng held a college degree—while Xuěyáo’s father had only finished middle school.

“Of course! Everything’s been ordered. The shop officially opens the day after tomorrow!”

“Already paid the rent?”

“Yep.”

“You’re fast!”

“Well, we had some money left over from the loan you gave us. Figured we’d put it to good use and open the shop. That way we can pay you back quicker.”

“Haha, no rush! I’m getting a raise next year anyway,” Yú Liáng laughed heartily.

“He’s been telling everyone about that,” said his wife, half-amused, half-exasperated.

“Haha, it’s good news! And it’s just among friends—what’s there to hide?”

“How much is the raise?” asked Xuěyáo’s father, curious.

Yú Liáng raised his hand, spreading out five fingers.

“Five thousand?” her mother guessed.

“Exactly! Five thousand!”

“That’s quite a raise!” Her father gave a thumbs-up. “No wonder you made it to section chief.”

“Haha, not really. I’m sure you’ll make more with your fruit shop.”

“Still, yours is stable—less risk, shorter hours, and all those government perks,” he said enviously. “If only Xuěyáo could get into civil service too…”

“C’mon now,” Yú Liáng chuckled. “A girl in the bureaucracy? That’s just asking for trouble. So, Sunday’s the opening?”

“Yup, fruit’s being delivered that morning.”

“Then I’ll send you a flower basket for the grand opening.”

“Nice! Gotta make it look big and fancy,” Xuěyáo’s dad said half-jokingly.

“Heh, who else are you inviting to celebrate?”

“Some friends, not too many.”

“Keep it reasonable. Too many people just makes it chaotic,” Yú Liáng advised, then pointed at the food with his chopsticks. “Xuěyáo, eat more! You’re so skinny—not attractive at all.”

“...Why do I need to be attractive?” Xuěyáo rolled her eyes. Frankly, she wished her chest and butt wouldn’t grow any bigger.

“Skinny like a stick—no guy likes that.”

“...Why should I care if boys like me?” she mumbled under her breath, making the adults awkwardly shift topics.

Meanwhile, Yú Jīnyǔ took the chance to sneak onto her lap again, rubbing her forehead under Xuěyáo’s chin, her hair tickling Xuěyáo’s cheeks.

“Jīnyǔ, don’t move,” she said, holding the little girl’s head still. “You’re making me dizzy. Tell me what you want to eat, and I’ll get it for you.”

“Nothing in particular,” said Jīnyǔ, who was from a well-off family and had little interest in food. Tonight, she’d only eaten a few bites of grilled bass and some peppers.

“You won’t grow if you don’t eat.”

“I already had a bowl.”

“That’s barely anything!”

“I’m full!”

“Nope, eat some more veggies?”

“Okay… That one!”

“Cauliflower?”

“Nope.”

“Water bamboo?”

“Yeah, yeah!”

Her father, watching this warm scene between Mò Xuěyáo and her god-sister, couldn’t help but sigh dramatically.

“She was supposed to be your child bride, but now she’s more like your bestie.”

“Haha, wouldn’t she be too young anyway? There’s like a ten-year age gap between Xuěyáo and Jīnyǔ, right?”

“More or less.”

“Who wants a girlfriend that much younger?”

“Well… You’d be surprised,” her father said slyly. “Don’t you guys in government have old geezers marrying eighteen-year-olds?”

“It happens… but rarely.”

“Mostly worried about what people think, right?” Her dad grinned. “But hey, which guy doesn’t want a wife who stays young and beautiful forever?”

“Oh? Planning to trade your wife in later?” Xuěyáo’s mom shot him a look. He immediately put on a sheepish grin like he hadn’t said anything at all.

“You’re something else, man,” Yú Liáng laughed. “Saying that kind of stuff right in front of your wife—got a death wish?”

“Alright, alright, drink up!” her dad chuckled to change the subject.

Dinner lasted from a little after five all the way to nearly eight.

It was rare for both families to gather like this, and the adults were completely absorbed in conversation.

Honestly, they’d long since finished eating—this had become an evening of catching up and reminiscing.

If Mò Xuěyáo hadn’t said she wanted to head home, they probably would’ve kept talking for hours.

In this era, phones were common, but long, drawn-out calls were a luxury only the rich could afford.

If you really wanted to talk freely, you had to do it face-to-face.

Before paying the bill, Yú Liáng made sure to pack up the leftover dishes for Xuěyáo’s family to take home.

“Be careful on the way home~ Xuěyáo~” Mo Xiǎoxiào waved them off with a smile, clearly looking exhausted, though the restaurant remained busy as ever.

After all, it was only 8 p.m.—peak dinner time for many people.

“Ah, thanks… Where’s your sister?”

“She went out on a delivery~”

“Oh… alright, we’re off.”

“Bye-bye~”

And with that, Mò Xuěyáo said her goodbyes.

Her godfather’s family drove home, while her own family walked—perfect for helping digestion after a big meal.

When they returned, Sūtáng was already meowing pitifully from hunger.

The packed leftovers came in handy—there was even a fish tail and a head no one else had eaten, now served in the cat’s special bowl.

“Meow~” Mò Xuěyáo crouched down and gently petted Sūtáng’s head. Mimicking its meow, she smiled and asked, “Hungry? Is it tasty?”

Sūtáng munched away with a contented ah-woo ah-woo, completely ignoring her… until she stood up to go shower.

Then, without warning, it picked up a piece of pork loin in its mouth, batted her hand off its head with a paw, and dropped the meat into her palm.

“…Huh?” Mò Xuěyáo froze.

She looked into the cat’s eyes and, for a moment, they seemed almost human.

Then she burst out laughing.

If it could talk, it’d probably say: “You sounded so hungry meowing like me—fine, I’ll share some with you.”

Was this… a cat’s version of kindness?