Chapter 41: Family dinner

Peng Hao stood at the gate of Dayonghe Restaurant, looked down at the map on his phone, and confirmed that it was the shop.
So he stepped in, and immediately there was a lady welcoming guest who came up and asked: "How many sir?
Peng Hao said: "Jinjiang private room."
"Please follow me." The welcome lady in cheongsam turned and led the way.
After taking Peng Hao to the door of the private room, she knocked on the door first, and then opened the door to let Peng Hao in.
As soon as the private room door opened, everyone in the room saw Peng Hao standing at the door, and someone waved to him: "Haohao is here? Come in, come in!"
After Peng Hao went in, he greeted the elders in the house one by one. He first walked to a white-haired elderly sitting at the table and said respectfully: "Hello, grandpa."
He turned his head and said to another white-haired old man sitting next to his grandfather, "Hello, grandma."
After a serious illness, the grandpa was a bit tired. He sat in the chair and didn't move. He just nodded, and said, even if he responded, the grandma beside him smiled and waved to Peng Hao: "Haohao, you are from home alone. Are you afraid of coming to Jincheng?"
A middle-aged woman with permed curly hair complained to her grandmother: "Hey, mom, don't treat Haohao as a child, she will be a college student soon..."
Peng Hao turned around and greeted the middle-aged woman and the middle-aged man standing next to her: "Good aunt, good aunt."
"Good." Auntie nodded and said: "My mother is right, no matter how old Haohao is, aren't they all children in her eyes?"
Then he turned his head and asked Peng Hao: "When did you come to Jincheng?"
"I have been here for several days, and I have reported to the school." Peng Hao replied politely.
"Why didn't you tell me in advance? I'll pick you up at the airport..." Auntie Dad "blame" Peng Hao with a smile.
"I specifically asked my mother not to tell you that I am all a college student and should learn to solve problems independently."
"Okay, promising. Much better than your younger brother!" Auntie praised, and then turned to shout to a child behind him: "Your cousin is here, I don’t even know if I come up to say hello, I know to hold him all day long. Play games on your phone!"
A fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy sitting on the sofa in the private room heard his father's roar, so he stood up reluctantly, pouting and greeted Peng Haoyao: "Good cousin..."
After speaking, he buried his head in the phone screen again, without even waiting for his cousin to return him.
Seeing that his son was so perfunctory, Peng Hao's aunt and aunt were also helpless: "This child..."
Peng Hao smiled and didn't care about his cousin.
Not only this cousin, he also has two elder brothers, he has not been able to play with them since he was a child, and his feelings are also very indifferent. If they suddenly become enthusiastic, he might not know how to get along...
Peng Hao arrived early, and the large round table in the private room that could accommodate twenty people was empty.
He sat next to his grandmother and chatted with his grandmother and aunt.
But it was mainly his grandmother and aunt who asked him questions, he answered, and would not take the initiative to say anything.
After a while, the family came again, it was my uncle and aunt, and his cousin.
After seeing Peng Hao, my aunt sighed that Peng Hao had grown up. The last time I saw him was three years ago when he returned to his hometown after graduation from junior high. At that time, the little girl brought her son Peng Hao back to play for a while, but she never saw it again. Unexpectedly, Peng Hao was admitted to An Dong University in Jincheng, and he would see him often now.
After seeing Peng Hao, my cousin greeted him and talked a few words.
Peng Hao responded one by one with a slightly shy smile, far from enthusiasm.
He sat there, if no one asked him to speak, he would sit quietly, and would never take the initiative to talk to anyone.
In the eyes of the elders, Peng Hao is as quiet and obedient as he was when he was staying at his grandparents' house.
In the eyes of his peers, Peng Hao is still as boring as he was when he was a child. So my cousin, after chatting with Peng Hao to death, went to find his little cousin and chatted with him about the game.
The last one who rushed was the family of three with the uncle and the uncle's cousin, and Peng Hao greeted them in turn.
The uncle asked Peng Hao about the university he was admitted to. After hearing that it was the leading university in the local area, An Dong University, his expression changed a bit, and then glanced at his son who had just graduated from university this year.
Peng Hao knew that the uncle was unbalanced, because his son, Peng Hao's grandson, went to college...
The uncle who was uncomfortable didn't say anything anymore, but the aunt came out and made a rounding round: "Oh, when I was young, Hao Hao was the one who knew how to study, and now I am proud..."
The brother in the lobby who followed his parents in heard his mother say so, and couldn't help rolling his eyes, and muttered in a low voice: "What's so great about being a broken An..."
He said it very quietly, but he said it just when he walked past Peng Hao, so let Peng Hao listen.
I don't know if it was a coincidence or intentional.
But Peng Hao didn't react at all, just as he didn't hear it.
People are all here, so naturally they sit down and eat.
Today is a family dinner. The convener is the head of the family who sits first. Peng Hao's grandfather is also the father of his uncles, aunts, and aunts.
The name is Peng Hao, who welcomes to Jincheng to study at university.
As the son of a younger sister who is married away, Peng Hao is also a member of this big family, although he rarely comes back, and his relationship with these relatives is not deep.
However, when he was a child, because of his parents' work, he used to go to elementary school in Jincheng for two years and stayed at his grandfather and grandmother's house. It was his grandpa and grandmother who took care of his diet. So he still has a deep relationship with his grandparents.
But in fact, the two years in Jincheng were not pleasant for Peng Hao.
A child in the second grade of elementary school left his hometown, left his parents, came to his hometown to attend elementary school, and was sent under the fence. This in itself was pitiful enough. After I came here, I was bullied by my cousins ​​from time to time, as well as the uncles and aunts who occasionally showed disgust — maybe they all forgot, but Peng Hao still remembers.
The elders' evaluation of him as "faithful and obedient", but in fact it is another meaning of "cowardly and cowardly".
Parents are not around, and no one will stand up to help him if he is bullied by his cousins. The parents of the cousins ​​are naturally biased towards their children, human nature. In this way, don’t you have to be honest and obedient?
How else?
Is it like cousin Hu Lai, doing with each other?
But after the cousin finished the fight, his mother stood up and lifted the table and took him home.
After finishing the fight on his own, without a mother or father, he will only be bullied even worse...
Peng Hao still remembers that once he had a conflict with his brother in the lobby. He was yelled by his uncle who had drunk. He was particularly aggrieved. The pillow towel that a person was crying in bed was soaked. The next day, I sneaked out to find a public phone and called my mother.
At that time, smart phones had become popular, and there were very few public phones on the streets. He searched for a long time and went around several streets before finding a working public phone in an old alley.
After the call was connected, he did not tell his mother what he was wronged, but only said that he missed her.
Because in the process of looking for a public phone, he also wanted to understand, what is the use of telling his grievances to his mother? It is impossible for a mother who is busy with work to run to Jincheng to take him away, otherwise he would not be sent here to be sent under the fence at all.
Since it is impossible to come and take him away, and saying it will only make mother feel worried and anxious, then don't say it at all.
So he forced a smile, and dealt with his mother's surprised question on the phone, trying not to let her know that he was actually not happy at all here...
Later, he ran out to find a public phone to contact his mother. Everyone knew about it. Relatives used it to tease him, or praised him for being smart and sensible. He even remembered his mother's phone number and gave it to him if he wanted to. Mom calls.
But no one knows the story behind his cleverness and sensibility.
In that environment, he must be smart and sensible, even if he is actually timid and cowardly in the eyes of his cousins-when Hu Lai was fighting with his cousins, he watched the whole process by the side. He knew that it was not Hu Lai who snatched their toys, but because Hu Lai wanted to play with them, but they were unwilling. Instead, they insulted Hu Lai's father with words.
But after the fight between the two sides alarmed the adults, in front of the grandfather, facing the adults in a house, the cousins ​​first complained, saying that Hu Lai had robbed their toys and broke them.
At this time, Peng Hao, who was hiding in the crowd, knew the cause and effect of the incident. If he stood up, perhaps Hu Lai would not be pointed out by Qianfu. But he chose to be silent, and quietly shrank in the corner, and did not come out to say a word of justice for Hu Lai. In the end, the deceived grandfather cleaned up Hu Lai fiercely, and also caused Hu Lai’s mother, that is, his little aunt, to give everyone an unhappiness on New Year’s Day...
That was the first Spring Festival that Peng Hao had after arriving in Jincheng, and it was also the last time he saw his aunt's family.
When he graduated from the third year of junior high school, he once went back to the Jincheng veteran with his mother, and his relatives also gathered together, eating and drinking, and chatting. But he did not see his cousin Hu Lai and his aunt on that occasion.
Although his mother hadn't explained it to him, he still knew from the words of the adults and cousins. The little aunt's family seemed to be having trouble with his grandfather and uncle, and they hadn't come back for a long time, just like strangers.
It was at that time that he was a little envious of his cousin's family, at least they didn't have to act pretentiously with people they didn't like because they were all relatives.
For example, until now, he can only try to maintain his "quiet and well-behaved" persona in front of relatives he doesn't like, so as to avoid dealing with relatives.
Cousin is different, he doesn't need to look at their faces here at all.
※※※
The waiters come in and out, put the pre-ordered dishes on the table one by one, after introducing the guests, and then exit the private room, so that the customers can chat and eat without being disturbed by outsiders.
Everyone's topic naturally comes to Peng Hao, because he is the nominal protagonist of today's dinner.
Everyone talked about the university Peng Hao was admitted to An Dong University.
This topic was picked up by the uncle: "Haohao, An Dong University is also pretty good, but it's still a bit short in the whole country. Why didn't you get a Huaqingyan University?"
He seemed to be talking casually, as if asking casually.
But Peng Hao still smelled the sourness in his uncle's tone.
Obviously, the university his son went to is not as good as that of Anton University. Why is he looking down on Anton University's tone now? Maybe if your son was able to get admitted to the University of Anglo-Saxon, you would like to have a feast in this Daronghe restaurant, right?
Why didn't you get a Huaqingyan University? You regard Huaqing and Yanda as the Pheasant University that your son can go to with the money? Can be admitted casually?
Thinking like this in his heart, Peng Hao replied to his uncle with his usual politeness: "I think about coming to Jincheng to go to college, so I can see my grandpa and grandma often..."
Grandma was very happy to hear Peng Hao's answer: "Good grandson!"
Grandpa also smiled and nodded.
Seeing the attitude of his parents, the eldest uncle was not happy to say anything, and just nodded without saying a word.
Seeing him like this, Peng Hao didn't mean to continue.
In fact, his parents once asked this question, because his score is more than enough to go to Anton University. You don't have to go to Anton University. It's okay to go to a better university.
Then why choose An Dong University?
At first, this university was not in his application plan.
After all, Jincheng, as his hometown, didn't actually leave much good impression in his memories. If he came to Jincheng to go to university, he would face the situation like today, and he might often deal with these nasty relatives. Although the uncle was rich, he was stingy and mean; the younger uncle would only be eager to please the uncle every day. , I hope that the other party can arrange work for his son in the future; only the aunt is slightly better, perhaps because the aunt and his mother are sisters, and the relationship between the sisters when they were young is better than the relationship with the brothers.
But when he saw that his cousin Hu Lai had joined Jincheng's Shining Star, he immediately changed his mind. To come to Jincheng for college, he should be closer to his cousin.
So he chose Anton University, and when faced with his parents' questions, he gave exactly the same answer as today.
In order to see grandpa and grandma often.
He can often see his grandparents, but for another reason, he didn't say anything.
※※※
Starting from the topic of Peng Hao's entrance to university, the content of the chat on the table gradually shifted to another person.
It’s still the eldest uncle. After drinking a glass of wine, he put down the glass and he said: "Haohao is indeed promising, much better than the one from the third sister's house. I remember Hu Lai also took the college entrance examination this summer, right? How is it, did you waste the money I lent to their family..."
"The third sister didn't notify us, it must have failed the exam. If the exam is really successful, can I not say anything?" My uncle helped.
"I knew that when I borrowed money to go out, I knew it was meat buns hitting dogs..."
Peng Hao frowned when he heard the word "dog" beside him. In any case, the uncle said that his sister's house is a bit too much.
At this moment, he heard his aunt complain: "Big brother, what are you talking about? Our dad is responsible for the bulk of the money. Dad didn't say anything..."
Peng Hao was a little surprised-he knew that his uncle had borrowed a huge sum of money to Hu Lai's family, because his uncle had mentioned it more than once in the family WeChat group. But what he didn't know was that grandpa gave the bulk of the money? Didn't it mean that grandpa and aunt fell out? Until now, the aunt is unwilling to join the group, and the other is unwilling to go home for the New Year. Obviously, she hasn't solved the knot of the year easily... How could she ask grandpa to borrow money?
The uncle did not expect that he was punctured by the elder sister, coughed, glanced at Peng Hao and said, "Then I also paid for it!"
Aunt smiled and said, "If it wasn't for your dad to force you, can you take it out?"
Seeing that the atmosphere on the dining table began to develop in the wrong direction, Grandpa, who had been sitting still, finally spoke: "Okay, don't talk about it."
He has a hoarse voice and lacks of breath.
In Peng Hao’s memory, grandpa was a very loud speaker. He stood at the door and chatted with neighbors. He could hear clearly in the rooms upstairs and downstairs...
That serious illness had a deep impact on the grandpa.
The head of the family spoke, and both the eldest uncle and the aunt shut up.
But it was clear that the uncle was upset. Maybe when I came in, I heard that the second sister's son did better than his own in the exam, so I felt upset...
So the topic turned around and turned to the Hu Lai family.
It's just that I won't talk about college entrance examinations or universities this time.
Talking about the child's work, after all, the uncle's son graduated from college this year.
"I intend to let him come to my company." The uncle patted his son who was sitting next to him, "But he didn't do it, he had to go out and start a business. I thought it was not a popular start-up? He has this idea. It's good to chew the old, so I support..."
By the way, you also supported a lot of money to become a venture fund, right?
Peng Hao complained in his heart.
After being frustrated with the topic of college, the uncle really tried every means to get his son back...
He also opened a small company and earned the same amount of hard money every year, but when this was said, it made people feel that it was a business of hundreds of millions and hundreds of millions.
"...After all these years, young people have to try other ways. I am not afraid of failure. I am here. I told my son that there is a brighter world, even if you go out. No matter what, you will have food when you go home. What are you afraid of if you have a house to live in? You won't get stuck on guard, right? Ha!"
"Big Brother, what you said... How could Miaomiao go to work as a security guard..." The younger uncle agreed. "He's going to be a security guard. Haven't you done it for nothing all these years?"
Uncle laughed happily.
Peng Hao lowered his head. Although the eldest uncle and younger uncle did not directly call the names, he knew that this was making fun of his cousin's family.
Because the cousin's father, this is his aunt and a security guard.
"So what's the future of playing football? At the end of the game, I will be a security guard. I even have to borrow the money for my children to go to school... Anyway, I will put it here. Repay the debt. It is justified. My dad can not mention it. Help him remember. That's our father's pension money..."
The uncle really drank too much. Grandpa just said that this topic should not be mentioned again, and he turned it out again.
Peng Hao thought this in his heart, then raised his head and looked surprised: "Huh, isn't it? Uncle, haven't you heard of it?"
Tan Xing Zhengnong’s eldest uncle was interrupted by Peng Hao, and was a little upset. He glanced at his nephew: "What did you hear?"
"Cousin Hu Lai is now a star."
When a table of people heard Peng Hao say this, they all looked at him.
"What star? Acting?" Aunt asked in surprise.
"Football star, it succeeded." Looking at everyone's surprise, Peng Hao's eyes widened, pretending to be shocked, "What? Don't you know? As long as it is Jincheng fans, who doesn't know An Dong Shan now? The star’s top scorer, Hu Lai, is so famous...Eh, don’t you usually watch the ball?"
Looking at a room of dumbfounded people, especially the dumbfounded uncle, Peng Hao deliberately asked again.
The uncle reflexively replied: "I'm not a fan, what ball do I watch..."
"Oh, that's no wonder. Hu Lai is hot now." Peng Hao nodded.
My uncle's son also suddenly remembered something at this time, and his eyes widened and exclaimed: "I've heard of this before! But at the time this name was not connected with that Hu Lai at all..."
The big brother snorted: "There are so many people with the same name in this world, how do you know that it must be the "Hu Lai" that we all know?"
Peng Hao did not answer his question, but got up and called the waiter outside the private room to let her turn on the TV set on the wall of the private room.
"Why do you turn on the TV?" the cousin asked impatiently.
Peng Hao was not annoyed, and patiently explained: "I wanted to show everyone the photos on my mobile phone, but I was afraid that everyone could not see clearly. After all, I took the photos from the stadium stands. It was too far away and the light was dim... …I just thought that a TV show about Cousin Hu Lai was about to be aired recently. This time today happens to be when the trailer airs..."
He shook his phone. In a Hulai fan QQ group he joined, someone was talking about this, reminding everyone to watch TV.
The TV was quickly turned on, and the default is Anton TV channel after the screen is turned on.
The screen first appeared in the thunderous stadium, and a figure jumped up in the stadium, making a celebration.
At the same time, subtitles were put on the screen: "The New Hero of the Star"
Then the scene of the noisy stadium darkened and disappeared, and a close-up of Hu Lai's front face gradually appeared in the black screen.
In the close-up, the out-of-picture sound played, and it was Hu Lai’s own original voice:
It’s never too late to pursue a dream.

Peng Hao pointed to the close-up of Hu Lai's face on the TV screen and asked the brother in the lobby: "Cousin, please help me to see if this person is the one we all know...your cousin, my cousin?"
His cousin opened his mouth and couldn't say a word.
The elder uncle, who was triumphant before, looked at the TV screen like a ghost.
The others, one counted as one, all stared at the TV screen with brilliant expressions on their faces.
Just then grandma exclaimed: "This is Hu Lai's!"
It blocked the mouths of all those who were not reconciled.
After Hu Lai’s face disappeared, a program trailer was played on the screen. A vigorous baritone familiar to the people of Anton Jincheng said: "Hu Lai: It’s never too late to pursue a dream! Please look forward to the new one. The issue of "People", at 8:30 on Wednesday evening, locked on Anton TV..."
""Characters"? How could this be..." Uncle's question blurted out.
How could the older generation of Jincheng people not know the meaning of the show "Characters". It is precisely because of knowing that it is difficult for him to accept this reality-Hu Lai, who was laughed at by him just now, appeared in the program of "Characters"!
Is something wrong in this world?
Hearing what my uncle said, Peng Hao frowned and said in confusion: "That's why I am surprised that my cousin can be on a show like "Characters". Don't you even know the uncle and uncle? I’m not in Jincheng, but I’ve heard of my cousin’s deeds before. Last year, the champion of the National High School Student Football Championship was Dongchuan Middle School where my cousin is located. He also won the best scorer and best player in that game. , And then entered the professional echelon, the youth team of the Super League team!
"In July of this year, he transferred to Flash Star and became a real professional player. Now he has played in the Flash Star six matches and scored seven goals. Before he came, the Flash Star team only had half a season. He scored 16 goals, and now he has scored nearly half the total number of goals scored by the Flash Star team in a half-season! How else does the TV say that he is the "New Hero of Flash Star"? You can't talk nonsense about this...
"In the last game, he completed a hat trick! Oh, uncle, you are not a fan, let me explain to you, the so-called'hat trick' means that a player scores three goals in a game. A great performance is not something that everyone can do. The cousin can perform like this because he is a genius! I was on the scene at that time and I was sitting among the away team fans~EbookFREE.me~Result The cousin's performance even convinced the visiting team fans who were defeated by him. When the cousin was replaced, these visiting team fans all stood up and applauded for him! I tell you, the scene at that time was a shock! It’s hard for me to describe it to you in words... Hey! Anyway, it’s "Character" on Wednesday. I thought that this game would definitely be mentioned in the show. The celebration video in the trailer just now is the game list. Brother's celebration after scoring a goal. You will know how amazing your cousin is after you watch it!"
Peng Hao poured out all he wanted to say in one breath while everyone was in a daze. After speaking, he let out a long breath, and his thoughts were clear.
As a cousin who has been watching his cousin's game secretly and idolizing his cousin silently, he didn't have the opportunity like today to confess all those words in his heart.
He wants to tell those relatives who look down on his cousin to let them know what a great person his cousin is already!
Then he panted heavily, looked around at everyone in the room, looking across each of their dumbfounded faces, until he saw Grandpa, he was stunned-sitting on the chair when everyone was dumbfounded. Grandpa looked at him calmly.