"Oh, you're really lucky, aren't you? People get engaged, and they even send a luxury car to pick you up."

"Yes, it's made me feel a bit embarrassed. Coming from so far away, they specifically send a car, so I really have to go."

Someone who knows her family well said, "It's such a joyous occasion; as an elder, you definitely have to go. Besides, hasn't your older sister already passed away? You're now the highest-ranking from the groom's mother's side."

"That's true; my sister had no luck. She lost her husband in her sixties and passed away herself before she turned seventy. Now, among our generation, besides me, it's just my good-for-nothing brother."

"But isn't your brother doing quite well now? I heard his son has started a factory and must be earning a lot."

"Earning what? My brother's even used up his coffin savings, and he hasn't recouped the investment yet."

...

Qin Zhen's great-aunt was chatting with the neighbors around here, engaging in lively conversation. Chen Feng, having nothing urgent to do, wasn't in a hurry either and listened with interest. He learned quite a bit about Qin Zhen's mother's side of the family connections.

Qin Zhen's grandfather passed away when he was in high school, and his grandmother just recently passed away, as Chen Feng just found out. Also, Qin Zhen's paternal grandparents are supposedly still alive.

After Granny Ying talked with the neighbors for about ten minutes, her little granddaughter began to grow impatient, prompting Granny Ying to notice and promptly apologize to the waiting Chen Feng. Then she took her granddaughter by the hand and got into Chen Feng's car.

Granny Ying was undoubtedly chatty. As soon as she got in the car, she started chatting with Chen Feng, and soon enough, she learned about Chen Feng's background and basic information.

Then, she continued to chat with Chen Feng, mainly talking about herself, revealing plenty of family privacy. For instance, her son got married when he was nearly thirty, fortunately having a son on the first try. They planned to have only one child in response to the state's policy. Yet, a few years later, with the implementation of the second-child policy, her son and daughter-in-law enthusiastically responded again, luckily having a daughter, thus achieving a complete family with both a son and a daughter.

When the third-child policy was introduced, her son and daughter-in-law intended to have a third child, which infuriated the elderly woman. "Why have more when there are already a son and a daughter?" After giving them a thorough scolding, she made them abandon the idea.

It's not that the old woman didn't understand the benefits of the third-child policy, but her son was nearing fifty, and her daughter-in-law was forty-five. Even an old sow wouldn't have so many litters.

She then spoke of her unfilial daughter, who got married over twenty years ago and moved to the neighboring city. The visits to see her became fewer with each passing year.

Ironically, when transportation was inconvenient, they visited every New Year's and festival. Now, with developed transportation, it's merely over an hour's drive, yet they seldom come even during New Year's and festivals.

Clearly, she is heartless.

The little granddaughter beside Granny Ying blushed several times, trying to stop her from speaking, but failed each time, left to sit there, embarrassed and speechless.

The young girl was undoubtedly feeling humiliated at that moment.

Chen Feng also found it a bit awkward to listen, but fortunately, after about ten minutes of driving, they reached Qin Zhen's granduncle's house. With Granny Ying giving directions, the trip was much easier.

The granduncle's house was a three-story building, having been around for some time.

After parking, Granny Ying led the way ahead, guiding Chen Feng directly into the granduncle's house, whose door was open.

Granny Ying called out once inside, but it took some time before someone responded.

After two or three minutes, a scrawny, elderly man in his sixties descended from upstairs.

"Ah Qin called you, didn't she? Her son's getting engaged today, invited us to the banquet, hurry and tidy yourself up, wear something nice, and come with us."

Granny Ying casually instructed, as it was her brother, after all, there was no need for formality.

However, the granduncle seemed somewhat uncooperative, sullenly saying, "I won't go. Their family's threshold is too high for me."

"What are you saying? They sincerely invited you for a joyous occasion, and Ah Qin has been pretty good to you, hasn't she? She pays you visits and brings you gifts every New Year. She's a worthy niece."

"Anyway, I'm not going. If you want to go, go ahead."

After muttering, the granduncle seemed ready to head upstairs again.

"You coward, are you trying to infuriate me to death?" Granny Ying angrily exclaimed, "They kindly invited you to a wedding feast, and to make sure you attend, especially had Ah Zhen's friend drive a long way to pick you up. Yet here you are, unwilling to go. Is this how you act as an uncle or granduncle to someone? What has Ah Qin ever done wrong by you?"

Though his face remained sullen, the granduncle didn't head back upstairs.

At this moment, another figure descended from upstairs, a greasy, middle-aged man in his forties, who called out "Aunt" to Granny Ying before grumpily saying, "It's not my dad's fault. Last time, when my shipment was seized by traffic police, I hoped cousin Ah Qin could put in a word to retrieve it. Not only did she refuse, but she advised me against continuing this line of work. If I don't do this, what else should I do? Starve to death?"

Granny Ying frowned, saying, "Ah Qin wasn't wrong. This business is fraught with issues, and could be shut down any day. I heard that a similar chemical business in the neighboring town was shut down not long ago, and the owner was arrested."