Chapter 1260 [Bonus chapter] Elixir Of Life
"Did she forget we have so many maids in the house?" asked Xiang Wai. nOVe-lb-1n
"Now, your inner fragile child isn't hurting?" came Xiang Weimin's question in return.
"Ge, don't change the topic."
"I changed the topic or you did?" he was really baffled by her changing mind. Shaking his head, he said, "Did you just notice that she always forgets we have maids at home? I think Grandma takes the credit for that."
"Why?"
"Because your grandma trained your aunt and your father to do their own work and not depend excessively on others," came Xia Zhao's response as he joined the two of them. "She always made them clean their own rooms and do their own laundry too. There was only one nanny in their house at that time. And that was because your grandma wasn't a very good cook."
"What? But I always heard that grandma was very good at cooking," said Xiang Wai.
"There are three people in this family who know how was your grandma's cooking back then. Your grandpa, your aunt, and your father. And trust me, the three of them never dared to tell your grandma that her food didn't taste good. So, if they didn't do it when she was alive, all the more reason they won't say it when she is no longer around."
"But isn't that lying? I thought no one lied in this family."
"How is it a lie?" asked Xia Zhao. "Maybe you don't understand it but to all these three people, no matter what kind of food your grandma made was the best food. Because they knew how much effort she put into it. Your grandma was the real young miss of a capitalistic family. Where she stepped, people would put their hands down so that she doesn't get hurt. She was someone whose fingers never touched water. That's a metaphor, by the way."
"I can understand that," said Xiang Wai while Xiang Weimin pursed his lips to hide his smile.
"I thought I should make it clear for you."
"Uncle, do you think I'm an idiot?"
"I don't think so."
Xiang Wai tsked at him.
"Anyway, where was I? Ah, yes. So, your grandma grew up like a princess. You can say she had to change a lot to marry your grandpa and give up on a lot of things too. After all, the Xiang family had always been low-key and unpretentious. She had to adapt. So, when she made the effort to cook for her husband and her kids, this family accepted her effort and her love. In the end, the taste of the food didn't matter. At least, it was edible and no one got the food poisoning too."
"I suddenly feel like you know more about my family than I do," commented Xia Zhao.
"And you find it sad? Why? I am older than you. I came to the Xiang family when I was young. I had a lot of interactions with your family. I learned a lot about your family from my grandparents too. So, it's not really surprising that I know more than you." Xia Zhao lifted his hand wanting to rub her head but held back as he added, "You really the fragile child of this family. That's such a surprise considering I always heard how strong-minded people the members of this family were."
"I'm the oddball."
"No, you're the most special one in this family of weirdos."
Xiang Wai smiled and soon it turned into laughter, "I heard this before."
"Then you should believe it too."
"What are you guys talking about?" asked Mu Chenyan as she came with a glass of juice which she gave to Xia Zhao, to repay him for his hard work today.
"Nothing," said Xiang Wai. "I think your boyfriend is funny."
"Is he?" Mu Chenyan raised a brow at Xia Zhao in question who shrugged nonchalantly as he sipped on the juice.
"Uncle Zhao!"
"Hm?"
"I just realized something."
"What?"
"Your grandparents are a generation above my grandparents, right?" asked Xiang Wai.
"Yes, that's true," answered Xia Zhao.
"And they are still alive?" she asked in shock. "How old are they? Hundred?"
"I don't know actually," replied Xia Zhao. "Why don't you know? That's your grandparents."
"Because I never thought of asking them their age," answered Xia Zhao.
"Huh? Then don't they celebrate their birthdays? No, maybe not every year. But don't old people like to celebrate their big birthdays after every decade?"
"We don't have such a tradition," answered Xia Zhao.
"They are the oldest people in your family. How can you not pay attention?" Xiang Wai seemed to be stuck on this topic.
"But they aren't the oldest people in the clan," replied Xia Zhao.
"What? So, there is someone older than them too? There is definitely someone older than a hundred in your clan, right?"
"I think so, yeah."
"Your reaction is too bland," she said.
"How else am I supposed to react?" he asked. "I don't know." Xiang Wai looked disgruntled. Thinking of something, she asked him again, "So, are there many old people in your clan?"
"Yeah."
"Do you have a secret for a long life? Like your clan found some elixir of life or something?"
Xia Zhao chuckled softly at that. "Are we in a cultivation world or a martial arts world?"
"I don't know. I'll believe whichever one you say."
"I didn't know your niece was so adorable," said Xia Zhao to Mu Chenyan who had the same expression as him. "Yeah. She can be really adorable sometimes," said Mu Chenyan with a sigh.
"Wai, there is no such thing as an elixir of life. If there is anything, I can tell you that the people in my family live long because they always live a healthy and balanced life. There is no such thing as abusing your body. Most of all, you'll find hope in their eyes even though they are old. They still laugh and live."