Chapter 412: Chapter 412: The Han Family
The Han family was one of the most prominent and wealthy clans in the Imperial City, and Old Sir Han had just recently retired.
His son and grandson were now influential figures in the military. His eldest son, Han Chenyu, had been suffering from severe insomnia.
If Gu Jiaojiao hadn’t intervened and cured him, he would have had to retire in the prime of his life to recover from his illness.
Only Old Sir Han, his son, and his grandson knew of this great debt the Han family owed to Gu Jiaojiao.
Everyone in the Han family knew their patriarch had a sworn sister, but few knew why they had become sworn siblings or even how old this "grandaunt" was.
Today was the annual Mid-Autumn Festival, a day for family reunions, so Han Chenyu was also home on leave.
Aside from the eldest grandson, Han Jingshen, who was away on a mission and couldn’t make it back, everyone else in the Han family was present.
In particular, the Han family’s two married daughters had both returned to their maiden home with their husbands and children for the festival.
Old Sir Han had invited Gu Jiaojiao and her husband this time precisely to use this opportunity for all the younger members of the Han family to meet their "grandaunt."
The old madam of the Han family had been deceased for many years. The one managing the household now was the eldest daughter-in-law, Han Jingshen’s mother, He Yulan.
She was a very strict woman of fifty-two who had previously served in the military.
Two years ago, when her husband’s health declined, she took an age-appropriate retirement to manage the Han household.
She ran the household with an iron fist, not permitting anyone to misbehave on Han property. Even Old Sir Han’s own children greatly respected their eldest sister-in-law.
The Han family’s grandchildren were all terrified of her, regardless of whether she was their mother or their aunt. Even the children of the Han daughters were quite intimidated by their eldest uncle’s wife.
He Yulan rose at dawn to personally arrange the family banquet. She knew that the "grandaunt" arriving today was the savior of her father-in-law, her husband, and her son.
Therefore, she placed immense importance on this meeting. Though the Han family was powerful and wealthy, they didn’t eat meat with every single meal.
Eating meat once a day was considered the mark of a top-tier household, as the Empire as a whole was still relatively poor and the economy had yet to fully develop.
Goods weren’t particularly expensive, but the common people had very little money. Pork was the most common type of meat available.
Families that could afford meat once every three to five days were considered well-off and living a good life.
In this era, the price of pork hadn’t yet inflated; it was only seven mao per jin. Of course, the pigs weren’t fed hormones either—they were all raised naturally.
It wasn’t just pork that was cheap; everything was inexpensive back then. Still, few families could afford to eat meat regularly.
For less fortunate families, managing to have meat once or twice a month was considered pretty good.
As for those who had it only once every few months, or not even once a year, they were commonplace.
Not everyone and every family lived the same life; the gap between rich and poor has existed in every era.
Even within the same city, the well-off could feast until their mouths dripped with grease, while the poor went with their stomachs rumbling from hunger.
It was a cruel reality, but one that had to be faced.
Yet for this one festival, the Han family had bought an entire pig, a dozen or so chickens, and two large grass carp. It was an extravagant affair.
This was more lavish than how most people celebrated the New Year. How could it not make others green with envy?
Unsurprisingly, this display from the Han family immediately stirred up the entire neighborhood. Neighbors, from young children to grown women, would periodically poke their heads out to gawk.
When the women huddled together, the gossip would start. "Did you hear? You don’t think the Han family has some big shot coming over today, do you?"
"I haven’t heard anything. Maybe their daughters are just coming home?"
"The Han daughters come home every Mid-Autumn Festival. I’ve never seen them make such a huge fuss before!"
"Hmph! What’s the rush? We’ll find out when they start eating."
"Why wait until dinner? I happen to have some inside information. I heard their ’grandaunt’ is coming today."
"For real?"
"It’s the absolute truth. The youngest Han grandson is in the same class as my son. He mentioned it a couple of days ago."
"Then why didn’t you say so sooner?"
"You never asked! Besides, I had no idea they were going to make such a big deal out of it. What was I supposed to say?"
"I can’t believe it. The Han family values this ’grandaunt’ so highly! Their own daughters aren’t even this fortunate."
"No kidding. This grandaunt of theirs must be someone truly incredible!"
The second child of the Han family, Han Meizhen, was the same age as her sister-in-law, He Yulan. The family she’d married into had once been of even higher standing than the Han family.
However, they later fell on hard times. It was only in recent years, with help from Old Sir Han and her eldest brother, that her father-in-law and husband were reinstated to their official posts.
She and her husband had just driven into the Han family’s courtyard in their sedan, bringing along their second daughter, her boyfriend, and their youngest son.
Her eldest daughter, who was already married with two children, had wanted to come as well, but there wasn’t enough room in their car.
The moment Han Meizhen stepped out of the car, she overheard the neighbors’ gossip. Having been proud and arrogant her whole life, there was no way she could tolerate that.
And so, filled with fury, she rolled up her sleeves, stormed over to the dividing wall, and yelled up at them, "What nonsense are you all spouting?"
"Oh, listen to you! What department are you from? Is telling the truth not allowed anymore?" The neighbor, not one to be intimidated, immediately shot back.
"You... you..."
"Mei Zhen, please don’t be rash. Don’t get worked up over something so trivial and upset your father," Han Meizhen’s husband said, pulling her back.
Han Meizhen glared at her husband, about to let loose a torrent of abuse, when she heard her daughter, Xu Lin, question her father first.
"Dad, how can you say that to Mom? It’s bad enough that those people are gossiping, but how dare they compare Mom to some old woman we’ve never even met!"
"Linlin is right. They can gossip about anyone they want, but they can’t make fun of me."
"Mei Zhen, you’re back. Hurry inside and have a seat. Dad and Old Han are already waiting for you in the living room."
Hearing the commotion, the matriarch of the Han family came out with a smile and grabbed her fuming sister-in-law.
"Sister-in-law, let go of me! I’m going next door to beat that gossiping old hag." For the first time, Han Meizhen had no intention of giving her esteemed sister-in-law any face.
"Sister-in-law, please get Mei Zhen inside quickly," the Han son-in-law said, breathing a sigh of relief at her appearance.
"Auntie, please get my mom inside," the youngest son of the Xu family chimed in, also thinking his mother was being too impulsive.
"Mei Zhen, if you don’t want to come inside, then you can go home," Old Sir Han’s authoritative voice rang out.
"Grandpa, Dad, Mom, Grandaunt’s car is almost at the gate!" Han Jingyi shouted, running over breathlessly before dashing back out again.
"Chenyu, hurry and bring everyone out to welcome your grandaunt." Old Sir Han, who had been stern-faced just a moment ago, now had a smile blooming across his features.
Gu Jiaojiao’s Range Rover Evoque, which Su Shuochi had modified, looked especially sleek and impressive for the times.
"Wow, they really must be a big shot. I’ve never seen such a beautiful car in my entire life," the man of the neighboring house exclaimed.
"Keep your voice down! That woman from earlier looked like she was about to jump over the wall and hit me!" the woman of the house chided.
Su Shuochi drove while Gu Jiaojiao sat in the passenger seat. As their car pulled up to the entrance of the Han family’s courtyard, they saw a large crowd of people standing at the main gate.
When the crowd saw their car, they parted to make way, but Gu Jiaojiao felt it would be impolite to remain seated inside.
