Three or Two Things about Rebirth

Zhang Weijing clapped his hands and said, "We are thinking the same thing! In The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, it is said that Zhang Wuji picked a few unknown fruits and described them as delicious, saying that peaches are not as crisp as them, apples are not as sweet as them, and pears are not as smooth as them. Apples are mentioned here. Apples are native to Europe and were introduced to China in the late Yuan Dynasty. The name apple was not used until the Ming Dynasty! Right? Also, corn is mentioned in The Return of the Condor Heroes..."

"Who thinks the same as you?" Qiu Moshi didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Sun Ning chuckled and said, "Excuse me, everyone. He is just like that. He loves to do research and always finds faults in the four great classics. He boasts that he has read a lot and has a wide range of knowledge, and he can't help showing off in front of others. Today, my second sister-in-law and Lu Ming are here, so he must show off in front of the beautiful women."

Zhang Weijing was accused of showing off, but he was not angry. "Don't mention it. I only read idle books and delved into meaningless details. They are not worthy of being mentioned! That day in Jiayang, I said a few words casually at the dinner table, and Uncle Qiu stopped me and interrogated me. I really suffered a lot that day. I was sweating profusely when I was asked so many questions!"

Everyone laughed.

Qiu Moshi said, "That was not torture, that was a rare encounter with a soulmate. My father also liked to do research, but he mostly studied medicine and the Book of Changes. He had almost no friends in Jiayang who could share his hobbies. For example, he liked to hand-draw some herbal atlases; he liked to draw some complicated and piled patterns; for a few years he liked to weave fishing nets, his fingers flying, weaving quickly and well; sometimes he sat in the yard and painted a corner in great detail. When he painted bicycles, even the reflection on the handlebars, the texture of the knitted seat cover, the pattern of the wheels, and the little ants crawling in the cracks of the red bricks under the wheels were extremely realistic..."

Qiu Luming was stunned. She had never noticed this side of her father. She only knew that her father would occasionally go to see his friend named Zhang who was unwilling to reciprocate, to go fishing or play chess together, or to play the erhu or flute with a few people at the cultural center.

My father devoted most of his time to his patients, leaving little for himself and his family. He didn't talk much, and my mother did all the talking at home.

The father is just used to taking action. He silently influences his children with his words and deeds.

Zhang Weijing said with some pride, "I have read the books and picture albums in Uncle Qiu's box, which opened my eyes. My grandmother always said that Mr. Liang Sicheng's architectural drawings are unique and unparalleled in the world. I think Uncle Qiu can also be compared with him!"

"I don't dare!" Qiu Moshi waved his hands quickly. "My father is just an ordinary doctor. Viking is exaggerating."

"I'm telling you my true feelings. To be honest, Uncle Qiu's shelf of books doesn't have as many as my father's, but in that box, there are many precious manuscripts and photocopies that I have never seen or heard of. Just for these books, I have to find a chance to go to Jiayang!

Also, ever since that day when I showed off my skills in front of an expert, I have become a complete loser and have become thick-skinned. I am not afraid of being laughed at for showing off at all! "

These meaningful words made everyone laugh again.

Zhang Weijing added, "Come on, come on, the dishes are half served, let's eat and chat, today's welcoming banquet is mine, no one can compete with me! Let's raise our glasses together to welcome the arrival of Second Sister-in-law and Youyou! And I wish Youyou good luck in the exam and pass all the subjects!"

Everyone responded by clinking their glasses. Qiu Luming took a sip of white wine and put down the cup.

Several gentlemen drank all the wine in one gulp. Zhang Weijing grabbed the Moutai bottle to pour wine for everyone. Qiu Moshi took it and Fei Yuanhang also stood up and rushed to pour the wine.

Fei Yuanhang was born in 1966 or 1977, one year older than Qiu Moshi, his future uncle, but he always called him "third brother". He was just about to pick up the bottle to pour Qiu Moshi some wine, but Qiu Moshi quickly pointed at Zhang Weijing. Fei Yuanhang stretched out his arm and filled Zhang Weijing's glass before pouring wine for Qiu Moshi. He was about to pour for Fang Yuan, but Fang Yuan covered the glass with his hand and said, "I'll just have this one glass. Just try it. If you drink more, you'll make a fool of yourself."

Sun Ning also urged Fang Yuan to drink a little more, "This wine seems to be more than ten years old. Weijing must have stolen it from his grandfather's wine cabinet. It would be a waste if you don't drink it!"

Fang Yuan refused to drink and did not allow Qiu Luming to drink.

Sun Ning didn't try to persuade him any more. He called the waiter and ordered a few more drinks.

As they ate and talked, Qiu Luming talked about what she saw when her second brother took her to Beijing for a tour. "Our Beijing uncles and aunts are the most arrogant. When they chat on the street, they always look down and talk through their noses. They always talk about national affairs and world affairs. No matter who others mention, they will say: I know this person! When talking about the leaders' family matters, their tone is like talking about their own children and nephews, as if as long as he shouts, people will come to greet him! When they find out that we are outsiders, they raise their chins and look up and down. I immediately feel inferior to ordinary people like ants."

What Qiu Luming didn't say is that Beijingers today are much less polite than they were sixty years ago, and their Beijing accent has also changed a bit.

Sun Ning couldn't help laughing, and pointed at Qiu Luming, "You are such a cunning girl. Your third brother always praises you as the best sister in the world. Look at your little mouth, what's so good about it? No matter who you marry into, your mother-in-law will have a hard time with you!"

"I am a famous stupid and honest person in Jiayang. Sister Sun Ning must be angry because I hit upon some characteristic of you Beijingers, so she accused me of being cunning!"

"Look, I said I didn't wrong her!" Sun Ning said to Fei Yuanhang with a smile, "Do you have any sisters? How good are they at speaking? Are they powerful? Can they suppress your wife?"

Fei Yuanhang just smiled and didn't respond.

Qiu Moshi talked about the pride of Xi'an people, Zhang Weijing talked about the superiority of Shanghai people and the relaxation of Chengdu people. For a moment, everyone spoke freely and made up stories about major cities, and the atmosphere at the dinner table became lively.

After three rounds of drinks, everyone's topic inevitably fell on Qiu Moshi, the only lonely person. He waved his hands repeatedly, "Well, I'd better build a career first and then start a family. There's no rush. This is the good thing about being the eldest son. It's easy! You don't have to inherit your father's ambitions, and you don't have to be too promising. The two older brothers have taken care of everything. Even the most difficult senior year of high school has become stress-free because of Youyou's bottom grades."

Qiu Luming rolled his eyes at him.

Qiu Moshi looked at Fei Yuanhang with a smile, "This time, maybe my sister will get married first!" He raised his glass and said, "Yuanhang, you two are fine. Yoyo is a sincere person. She has recognized you and will treat you well for the rest of her life!"

Fei Yuanhang lowered the rim of his cup, "Yes, Third Brother."

Qiu Moshi pinched the wine cup with his thumb and middle finger, and used his index finger to point at Fei Yuanhang, "They all say that our Qiu family is a family of intellectuals, but that's wrong! Yuanhang, in Jiayang, your family is a family of serious intellectuals. Your father and brothers are all gentle and dignified, but my family is not like that. My mother was busy at work, so we three brothers were raised in a free-range environment and had to take care of ourselves.

When I was a little older, my second brother and I had countless fights over those who bullied and made fun of Yoyo. Haha, you were deceived by my second brother's face and police uniform. He almost went to the detention center at that time. Haha! That robber got it so easy! My dad even had to perform surgery on him! He was only sentenced to ten years! It was so easy for him! If I were at home, I would beat him half to death!

Fei Yuanhang, if you dare to bully my sister, I will be the first to fight back and kill you!"

Qiu Moshi seemed to be drunk, and his words became more and more harsh.

Sun Ning and Zhang Weijing watched with interest but said nothing.