Applaud for Happiness - Chapter 39

 

Chapter 39

In the Shen family, there was no usual rule that everyone must gather for meals. After all, everyone was busy and rarely had time to gather. Moreover, the times were different now; aside from the oldest daughter-in-law, several had jobs outside of home, so they usually ate separately.

However, it was New Year's time and everyone was idle at home, so they ate together.

The whole Shen family, including the children, amounted to nearly twenty people. It was clearly impossible to fit all on one table. The senior matriarch decided, men at one table and women at the other, even distinguishing between the genders of the children.

Shen Qi was holding his youngest nephew, Dou Jin, whose nickname implied that he belonged to the third son of the Shen family. His own eldest son was given an even more common nickname, Fu Gui, much to the amusement of others.

Zhao Huaiyu sat next to Shen holding an image of a shy, well-behaved, and understanding child, one that adults loved.

Shen Qi didn't bother to burst his bubble. When he took Zhao Huaiyu to meet the president and others in the afternoon, Huaiyu maintained this facade, which wasn't a bad idea. After all, elders like their children to befriend students who are well-behaved and outstanding.

The senior matriarch especially adored Huaiyu's demeanor, holding his hand and mumbling for a while. It was inevitable; the children in the household were each one shrewder than the other. Last time, the Xiaobao already fascinated these women. Zhao Huaiyu, after years of acting, had mastered his craft. When he portrayed a fragile, well-behaved, innocent image, it was completely in character.

Once everyone was seated, Shen Qi placed Dou Jin, who was two years old and had inherited the Shen family's early intelligence, on the child's seat between him and Zhao Huaiyu. Dou Jin could already hold a small spoon and eat on his own.

While eating, Shen Qi also took care of Dou Jin, skillfully and appropriately picking out some dishes that the little one could eat and putting them in his bowl. At the corner of his sight, he noticed Zhao Huaiyu was looking at him as though he was some kind of rarity; which provoked curiosity.

He raised an eyebrow, picked up a piece of red-cooked meat with his chopsticks and put it in Huaiyu's bowl. He gestured with his chin, signalling "eat up."

Zhao Huaiyu quickly averted his gaze, a tinge of fluster was noticeable as he lowered his head.

Amused, Shen Qi continued to pick dishes for him. Huaiyu kept his head down, as if attempting to bury himself in his bowl.

This behaviour intrigued Shen Qi. It was the first time the young wolf didn’t dare to look at him. Intrigued, while continuing to serve Huaiyu, he chided, "What's the matter? Don't you like these dishes?" He spoke in the coaxing tone of a grandmother luring her grandchild. "Tell me what you like, I'll help you get it."

Huaiyu maintained a low profile, afraid to expose his thoughts.

The manner in which "Young Master Qi" was acting reminded Huaiyu of the phrase "a good wife and mother", a thought he definitely couldn’t let Shen Qi in on. He had a strong feeling that if his thoughts were discernible, the consequences would be serious!

Shen Qi, intrigued by Huaiyu's partridge-like demeanor in front of him, which wasn't due to pretense but rather genuine nervousness, decided to tease him further, continuing to serve him dishes, "Do you like this one? How about this? Try this one, and this one…"

The eldest lady glanced over and frowned, "Lao Qi (Note: Old Seven), don't bully Huaiyu. Huaiyu, just ignore him and enjoy your meal."

Shen Qi was immediately speechless, "How am I bullying him? I'm just helping him with his food."

The eldest lady gave him a sidelong glance, "I know you too well. It's fine to tease others when you're outside, but don't cause trouble at home. Huaiyu is timid, as his older brother, you should take care of him more and not scare him."

"I…" Shen Qi looked into the gloating eyes of Shen's father and several brothers, unable to speak.

Zhao Huaiyu turned to the eldest lady and stammered, "Auntie, you misunderstood, Seventh Young Master didn't bully me…" He quickly and cautiously glanced at Shen Qi before adding, "Really."

The eldest lady showed a knowing expression on her face and glared at Shen Qi, "Look how sensible Huaiyu is, still speaking up for you. You're supposed to be his older brother, aren't you ashamed? In the future, take better care of Huaiyu. And Huaiyu, if Lao Qi ever bullies you, come to me, and I'll discipline him for you!"

Shen Qi: …

Whose real mother is she, after all?

Before he could even complain, he heard a notification sound in his ear, "Happiness Value +1."

Shen Qi: …

Young Master Shen Qi was very angry. The consequence? He stormed off after dinner without giving Zhao Huaiyu a single glance, directly putting on his coat and heading towards his own courtyard.

Zhao Huaiyu didn't mind. He seemed to be in high spirits and quickly followed.

Along the way, the street lamps brightly illuminated the streets, casting shadows of the two bystanders. In the peaceful space, the shadows overlapped and separated. Looking down at this, Zhao Huaiyu suddenly experienced a strange surge of emotions, akin to how he felt when the eldest wife defended him but different in some way.

He turned his body, stretched out his hand and saw his shadow do the same. Easily, he captured his shadow in his hand.

Desire.

A vague thought arose in his mind. Even though he wasn't very clear on what exactly he desired, he still wanted it.

Perhaps he wanted to stay here, have warm and joyful meals with everyone, or maybe he wanted to stay by Young Master Shen Qi's side, to be appreciated and supported, so he wouldn't have to return to the Zhao household and live a life worse than that of a servant, with no need to worry about the ill intentions of the wife and those concubines... In essence, he wanted.

But how could he stay?

In his life filled with constant loss, Zhao Huaiyu had a moment of confusion. Fortunately, he was clever, and quickly devised a plan in his mind.

Unexpectedly, Shen Qi hadn't thought that such a short journey could lead the wolf pup to think so much. He was indeed angry, and also frustrated. The absolute authority he had painstakingly established in front of the wolf pup had been punctured by his own mother. It would be impossible for him not to be angry.

And, to make matters worse, he was ridiculed by the wolf pup.

Thinking about the "+1 happiness," he gave a cold laugh. After entering the door, he immediately ordered Shen An, "Take Zhao Si (Note: Fourth Zhao = fourth son of Zhao). to the guest room, the one downstairs."

Then, without looking at Zhao Huaiyu, he went upstairs.

After taking a refreshing bath in his bedroom, he felt regret. Not because he had driven the wolf pup away, but because he had acted rashly.

He picked up the brush and wrote a scripture in silence. Soon, his mood calmed down.

Yes, in this world, he was a man destined to do great things. He needed to stay calm, restrained, and unflustered even in the face of collapsing mountains.

Form is emptiness, and the very emptiness is form.

Reinforcing his self-hypnosis, Shen Qi turned off the light and went to sleep.

________________________

On the 29th of the twelfth lunar month, according to custom, it was time for the ancestral worship. The Shen family followed old traditions, with the ceremony taking place in the afternoon and ending in the evening.

So, from the morning, the entire house was bustling. The ancestral hall of the Shen family was not here but in their ancestral home in the south. Given President Shen's current status, it was naturally impossible for him to travel thousands of miles back to his hometown for ancestral worship. What if an assassination attempt took place along the way? Who would be responsible then? Such incidents have happened before. During the early establishment of the Republic, President Hua was frequently targeted for assassination by various parties, even foreign ones.

Therefore, a temporary place was set up in Xinhuagong for ancestral worship. Interestingly, this ancestral hall not only housed the ancestors of the Shen family but also those of the Hua family. According to President Hua, his parents died early and he was an orphan. He was only able to study in peace thanks to President Shen's help in his early years. Since they became sworn brothers, the two families were regarded as one and would worship their ancestors together.

The previous president, President Jia, was from the capital, so there was no need to move the tablets in, leaving only the Shen and Hua families in the ancestral hall of Xinhuagong.

Shen Qi thought that if he hadn't seen President Hua being so affectionate with the ladies around him with his own eyes, he would have suspected that he had a secret crush on his father. To be honest, there were quite a few people privately speculating this, but nobody dared to say it openly.

It must be said that this was an excellent era as the old and the new intersected. Here one could witness stubborn adherence to outdated customs, as well as modern ideas that would make even contemporary people blush.

Add to it the impact brought by President Hua, there were always countless surprising and unusual things happening at every moment.

Perhaps for those who embrace new ideas, as long as they don't smoke, there's nothing they can't accept.

President Hua has been adamant about banning smoking for more than 20 years since the establishment of the Republic. The legal provisions have become increasingly strict, and the penalties for those who violate the smoking ban have also become more severe. His endless propaganda and the government's determined crackdown finally achieved the current results.

Just for this point alone, Shen Qi was willing to disregard his little personal interests. After all, the benefits that President Hua brought to the world far outweighed the drawbacks.

Although Japan and other countries are still eyeing us predatorily, as long as we can remain unified without internal discord for the next few decades, we won't need to fear.

It was the Shen family ancestral worship ceremony, with only members of the Shen family participating. Zhao Huaiyu was left at home in the garden. Shen Qi was kind enough to send someone to fetch Zhao Huaichao.

Shen Qi put on his coat, patted Zhao Huaiyu on the shoulder, and smiled warmly. "Since mother asked me to take care of you, I can't leave you here alone. It's perfect timing since you haven't seen your family in over a month. Have a good chat with your third brother."

Zhao Huaiyu was beginning to understand his temperament and chose to remain silent.

Seeing him keeping his composure, Shen Qi sighed. The boy was getting better at controlling his emotions, which made him less adorable.

After the lengthy ancestral worship ceremony, the Shen family was utterly exhausted. Shen Qi didn't bother to greet Zhao Huaichao or Zhao Huaiyu, going straight to bed to rest. The following day was New Year's Eve, and there was still much to do.

The Shen family held a unique status – they were royalty in the past and leaders in the present. Their New Year's Eve was naturally distinctive.

Early in the morning, President Shen began distributing lucky characters and couplets. Anyone close to him received these gifts. As for the military leaders, these items were mailed in advance and should be arriving about now.

The residence had been decorated since yesterday, adorned with door gods, couplets, placards, and peach charms, giving it a renewed look.

Embassies from various countries began to arrive, delivering New Year's gifts. Although the concession areas have been reclaimed, international citizens are not barred from coming and going. Scholars, businessmen, and others still maintain contact, and foreigners can often be seen on the streets.

Seizing this opportunity, every member of the Shen family, including baby Doujin, who had just started speaking, were required to give New Year's greetings and blessings to the entire nation over the radio and through the phonograph.

This radio greeting was Shen Qi's idea, who believed that at such a pivotal moment, one must make a mark among the people to build prestige. It was also to remind the citizens who leads them, deepening their impression.

Put simply, it's about being down-to-earth.

In an era without the internet, the radio is the quickest and most effective means of communication.

Starting with President Shen, the New Year's blessings couldn't be just a few simple words. One must first review the past, subtly and tactfully informing everyone of the good deeds he, as the president, had accomplished for them during the year. Then look ahead to the future, indicating the good deeds he plans to perform in the coming year.

Citizens listening to the broadcast shed tears of emotion: what a good man, what a good leader.

Meanwhile, armies always ready to seize power thought: How could anyone be so shameless!

After the speeches, there was a New Year's gala. It started at seven in the evening and ended at eleven. Then it was time for the vigil feast, which lasted until midnight. It was clear that President Hua came up with these festivities. All the performances were put on by current masters, and of course, beautiful women were not in short supply. President Hua met his two former mistresses in this very manner.

President Shen sat poised, while Shen Qi and his three older brothers took charge of entertaining the guests. He kept Zhao Huaiyu by his side, and Zhao Huaichao was handed over to Shen's second brother, as they had more in common to discuss.

At the banquet, Shen Qi held a cup of wine, mingling with the guests, exchanging pleasantries and toasts. Zhao Huaiyu followed closely behind, maintaining an innocent and timid demeanor whenever introduced.

Approaching midnight, Shen Qi managed to slip away and went to the resting loft. He took off his coat and accepted the towel from Shen An, wiping his face clean. The warm steam relaxed his entire body. He put down the towel and glanced at Zhao Huaiyu beside him, then lazily stretched out on the sofa: "Tell me your thoughts now, and how do you feel?"

He brought him along for the entire night, not just for the sake of free food and drinks.

Zhao Huaiyu had recovered from his initial surprise and apprehension. After all, it was his first time seeing such a scene, being able to maintain his composure from start to end was quite commendable.

In just under two months, since meeting Shen Qi, being handpicked by him and sent to the military camp, Zhao Huaiyu had been abruptly exposed to an entirely new world. Witnessing events and encountering people that forced him to broaden his perspectives, he finally realized how narrow-minded he once was.

He was not foolish. On the contrary, he was very intelligent. He almost instantly grasped Shen Qi's intention and understood his thoughts.

Looking at Shen Qi's flushed face from the effects of alcohol, Zhao Huaiyu knelt down on one knee under Shen Qi's seemingly amused gaze, offering his loyalty without words. His actions alone expressed his complete submission.

Shen Qi was extremely satisfied. He appreciated Zhao Huaiyu's intelligence, his choice, and most of all, his absolute submission. Especially since he had personally nurtured this submission, regardless of whether Zhao Huaiyu had other thoughts or even hidden intentions, the displayed submission still granted Shen Qi immense satisfaction.

"Very well," Shen Qi beckoned with his fingers, and the submissive wolf cub moved on one knee to his front. He lifted Huaiyu's chin and looked down at him from a high position, "I don't like to hear about the process, I only care about the results. I'll give you four years. No matter what means you use, take over Zhao Zhenghe's Lu Army, otherwise, you don’t need to see me again."

Zhao Huaiyu felt something ignited within his bones. It was explosive, filled with excitement. A hint of crimson appeared in his eyes, and his wild dreams hidden in his heart were uncovered. However, exposing these thoughts to the man in front of him did not make him feel embarrassed or panicked. Instead, he experienced an indescribable excitement that made his blood boil.

"Go on," Shen Qi drew back his hand, a lazy grin on his face colored by the mild intoxication of wine. It was careless, uninterested even, "I hope to see you again in four years."

Zhao Huaiyu felt his entire body aflame. He lifted his gaze, his reddened eyes fixed on the man lounging on the sofa. Out of nowhere, courage flooded him. He sprang to his feet, lunging at Shen Qi, hurriedly, clumsily, pressing his lips against the surprised, radiant face, or rather, biting down.

Their touch was brief.

Then, Zhao Huaiyu left hastily, swiftly, yet his posture remaining upright as ever.

He didn't look back.

Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter