Chapter 2

Chu Xiaoxiao did not know who her grandmother was calling, but she was certain it was not her. She tried hard to make her grandmother remember her, yet she faced repeated setbacks and was filled with frustration.

Chu Jiadong was taken aback by his wife's serious expression, his gaze began to wander, and his tone suddenly weakened: "Let me think about it, let me think about it, I suddenly feel a bit uncertain..."

Xiao Bi shook her head and said, "You have no idea how many grievances the teacher has told her about."

As soon as Chu Xiaoxiao's voice fell, the house suddenly fell into a mysterious silence. The originally excited family members hesitated as they looked at the naive girl, momentarily at a loss for words

Chu Jiadong can be considered a model of filial piety. He is usually able to tolerate his daughter's various minor faults, but he cannot accept her neglecting her elders. He gently reminded her, "Xiaoxiao, Grandma is talking to you; you should respond to Grandma."

Chu Jiadong: "Xiao Yi has had no time to make phone calls in recent years..."

Chu Jiadong hurriedly picked up his phone, intending to quickly escape the scene, only to find it was a message from his eldest son. The content of Chu Xiaoyi's message was concise and to the point, lacking even an emoji, consisting of just one sentence

Chu Xiaoyi gazed at the WeChat page, still immersed in a prolonged state of shock, yet to emerge from the thunderous news.

"The Spring Festival is not joyful; going back home only means being pressured to get married and have children. I just want to work and make money..." The assistant sighed deeply, as if envisioning the life of the coming days

Han Yayiy was taken aback: "Shouldn't it be?" In her view, Chu Xiaoxiao's ability to read people's expressions was at its peak, and it made no sense for her to provoke the teacher's dislike

Chu Xiaoxiao left without a word, holding her iPad. As soon as she returned to her room, a furious voice erupted from the living room

She did not understand why her father was scolded by her mother, and it was likely due to some minor mistakes, such as using the cutting board for chopping raw meat or mistakenly throwing away her mother's lesson plans in the trash bin

At the dining table, Chu Xiaoxiao showed great interest in her new student and was eager to strike up a conversation with Han Ya. At that moment, Chu Jiadong brought the chicken soup to the table, diverting his daughter's attention from the guests, and said: "Xiaoxiao, go with your little uncle and call grandma to eat."

Chu Jiadong had just wanted to retort when the figure of Chu Xiaoyi appeared on the screen. Dressed in a red suit, Chu Xiaoyi slowly walked into the golden ensemble of dancers, performing classic CCTV-style dance moves, reminiscent of the atmosphere of a square dance in a park

Xiao Bi, upon hearing this, asked: "You have talked to Xiao Xiao about her brother, haven't you?"

Chu Jiadong held his breath in an instant, unsure of how to respond, feeling as though it was the next round of a deadly game. On the coffee table, Chu Jiadong's phone suddenly rang, and a message popped up on the illuminated screen, timely resolving the stalemate

Xiao Bi helplessly glanced at Han Ya and sighed, "You shouldn't praise him; he's just like Xiao Xiao, the more you flatter him, the more arrogant he becomes. I think it's Xiao Xiao who likes you, which has led to your misunderstanding. In kindergarten, she would argue fiercely with the teachers, showing no signs of being likable at all"

Chu Xiaoyi waited a long time without receiving a reply, secretly muttering to himself: Is this old man too slow in responding to messages?

The agent He Xin urged, "They need to go through the process over there, let's head over now"

Chu Xiaoxiao used to think that her grandmother was calling her, but she gradually discovered the truth; her grandmother could not remember her. Her grandmother had become increasingly confused, unable to clearly recall the people and events before her, only remembering things from the past. Her grandmother's sense of time was different from that of others; while normal people live in the present, her grandmother lived in the past

Chu Jiadong saw the little girl trying to run away, and he quickly pressed down on her shoulder, coaxing her, "Xiao Xiao, today is New Year's Eve, everyone is going to watch the Spring Festival Gala together"

The dance at the Spring Festival Gala is inherently repetitive and monotonous, with a slightly rustic flavor. Coupled with Chu Xiaoyi's recent vocal issues, this performance is truly difficult to watch. Chu Xiaoxiao repeatedly attempts to turn away and escape, but her head is turned back by Chu Jiadong. She endures three minutes of torturous cacophony with a tense expression, nearly suffocating herself in the process

Chu Xiaoxiao : `` ? ? ? ''

Chu Xiaoxiao: "It looks quite delicious." She likes strawberries and cherries

No.

Han Yali politely said: "No, no, Xiao Xiao teaches quite well"

No one else expected the sudden emotions of the little girl. Han Ya listened carefully for a moment and uncertainly said: "Teacher Xiao, it seems that the old lady was calling for Xiao Yi?"

Xiao Bi: "What does this have to do with the endorsed product?"

Xiao Bi revealed a forced smile; her greatest fear now was that the siblings would not recognize each other, which would make their meeting extremely awkward. Chu Jiadong was undoubtedly the mastermind behind this blunder, and just thinking about him made her angry

What?

Chu Jiadong, as the main culprit, could only brace himself and say: "Xiaoxiao, that is your brother"

Chu Xiaoyi still has to wait for the stage performance later, and he does not want to be anxious about replying throughout the entire process; it would be better to wait until after the Spring Festival Gala to watch. Due to his avoidance mentality, he did not see his father's message immediately.

Xiao Bi pressed her lips tightly together, suppressing her anger, and refrained from shouting at her husband in front of the guests, planning to confront Chu Jiadong after the meal. She vaguely remembered mentioning Chu Xiaoyi to her daughter, but at that time, Chu Xiaoxiao was still in her swaddling clothes, and whether she could remember anything was debatable

Han Ya comforted, "How could that be? Children hardly remember people they haven't met. Xiao Yi has also been busy with work in recent years. It will be good for the siblings to meet each other!"

The whole family became instantly excited upon seeing Chu Xiaoyi make his appearance: "Xiaoyi is coming out!"

Although there were many strawberries, cherries, and peppers singing earlier, only the lonely tomato appeared in a solo scene, and it lasted for such a long time. In Chu Xiaoxiao's view, the singing and dancing of the vegetables and fruits were all quite mediocre, but the lonely tomato tormented her for the longest time, making it the primary focus of attention

Indoors, Chu Xiaoxiao calmly continued watching the animation, while softly lamenting: "Dad is really foolish, making mistakes again..."

Chu Xiaoxiao pressed her lips tightly together, her expression complex as she gazed at the figure of the red-clad fool on the screen, completely unable to comprehend the sudden excitement of her family.

Han Ya was amused by Chu Jia Dong's teasing and hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, yes, you teach well, that is why Xiao Xiao has this talent in this area..."

After Chu Xiaoxiao left, Chu Jiadong turned to Han Ya and said with a smile, "Isn't she quite difficult to deal with, just like a little schemer?"

I do not know who she is calling, but it is certainly not me! Chu Xiaoxiao, though small in stature, has a big temper. She hastily finished her meal in a few bites, unhappily tossed aside her bowl, and swiftly ran back into the room

Han Ya displayed a contemplative expression, convinced that her judgment was undoubtedly correct. The poor relationship between Chu Xiaoxiao and the kindergarten teacher might not necessarily indicate a lack of communication skills; rather, it seemed more like a deliberate act of defiance. Although Han Ya had spent little time with Chu Xiaoxiao, she was certain that the latter was not an unreasonable child, and there were likely underlying reasons for her behavior

Through initial observation, I believe that Xiao Xiao possesses strong abilities in language and interpersonal communication, particularly the latter, which is quite remarkable. To be honest, I have encountered many exceptionally gifted children with linguistic talents, but I have rarely come across anyone with a greater affinity than Xiao Xiao, and one could even say there is none.

Chu Jiadong looked at his daughter, who was completely out of sync, as if he could hear the footsteps of death

The elderly lady is now over ninety years old. Due to her hearing impairment, she has gradually lost her ability to speak and rarely opens her mouth to talk. She can no longer recognize her own son, Chu Jiadong, let alone call out the names of others.

Grandma Xiao was still sitting at the table, gasping for breath as she spoke

After Xiao Bi completed her postpartum check-up, she returned to school to take over the senior class, her state being extremely tense, leaving her little time to attend to family matters. Chu Jiadong always vowed to take care of everything, compensating for Xiao Bi's past contributions to the family. Moreover, with Chu Xiaoyi being a workaholic as well, she did not inquire much about the situation of the father and son.

Chu Xiaoxiao was called out of the room; she had been holding an iPad watching "Peppa Pig" but looked up to find her mother's emotional fluctuations.

Chu Xiaoyi opened the latest video sent to him. In the frame, a little girl, resembling a glutinous rice ball, was watching television, while an old man shook her back and forth, calling out, "Xiaoxiao, you quickly look," as if he were shaking a toy bear.

This year marks the first time Chu Xiaoyi has taken the stage at the Spring Festival Gala, and Chu Jiadong wishes to take this opportunity to formally introduce his elder brother, Chu Xiaoxiao.

On the other side, Chu Xiaoyi steeled himself to send a message to his father, then set his phone aside, yet his gaze could not help but glance over. He forced a calm expression on his face, but inside he felt inexplicably anxious, unsure of what response Chu Jiadong would give. He did not want to appear overly eager to return home, which was why he sent such a subtle message implying "no work," yet he was also afraid that his father would not offer him an easy way out.

Han Ya stated seriously: "Parent-child games are one of the excellent ways to inspire talent, and this may be an extremely important aspect of Xiao Xiao's growth"

Many gifted children possess eccentric personalities, often struggling to communicate effectively with their peers and find it challenging to integrate into normal life. However, this was the first time Han Ya encountered a prodigy who was contrary to this trend and exceptionally skilled in interpersonal communication

The Pillars of the Family: [Video]

Chu Jiadong—Xiao Xiao is so intelligent, if you mention it casually on a regular basis, would she not remember? Is there a father like you!

Chu Xiaoxiao: Mother is angry, Father is scared, but it seems that it will not affect oneself

Chu Jiadong deliberately asked: "Xiaoxiao, do the older brothers and sisters look good?"

The interaction between the father and son is extremely awkward, always giving a sense of being unable to exert oneself. Chu Xiaoyi does not understand why, having lived under the strong authority of his father in his childhood, he now finds it even more difficult to communicate with his father, Chu Jiadong, whose character has gradually changed to become gentler.

Chu Xiaoxiao blinked and said seriously: "Sister Yang Yin said that brothers are all bad things and *books*"

If someone else were to read this message, they might think that Chu Xiaoyi sent it to his agent. However, Chu Jiadong, looking at the seemingly nonsensical sentence, accurately translated its meaning and reported to his wife: "Xiaoyi is likely to return home this Spring Festival!"

Chu Jiadong, upon hearing his mother speak, joyfully exclaimed: "Xiaoxiao, Grandma is calling you!"

The face of the lonely tomato finally disappeared from the television, and Chu Xiaoxiao let out a heartfelt sigh, unable to suppress her existential question: "This star can't sing, can't dance, how can they still be on television?"

Agent He Xin chatted with his assistants while tidying up his belongings, and he exclaimed: "Work is done, time to go home! Happy Spring Festival, everyone!"

No, they have already given birth for me

Xiao Bi cast a cold glance at her husband, and facing the silent pressure, Chu Jiadong quickly called for their youngest daughter to testify: "I think Xiao Xiao should know!"

Chu Jiadong: "She has a very strong temper in this regard; if you do not comply with her wishes, she can make your life difficult for an entire day"

Chu Xiaoxiao: My brother made such a fool of himself on television, how am I supposed to hold my head high in front of the children in the future

"Xiao Xiao, look quickly! Look quickly!" Chu Jiadong hurriedly shook his little daughter, reminding her not to lose focus

Xiao Bi could not tolerate the proud look on her husband's face. She reached out and patted his arm, frowning as she said, "Alright."

Xiao Biqiang suppressed his inner turmoil and calmly said, "Xiao Xiao, you can go back to the room and play for now"

Chu Jiadong, skeptical of the situation, took out a large stack of accumulated tissues, all printed with the name Chu Xiaoyi, and prompted, "No, no! Xiaoxiao, think carefully, why would Dad buy so many tissues?"

Seeing that his wife's attention had been diverted, Chu Jiadong hurriedly lowered his head and managed to cover up the matter successfully

Chu Xiaoxiao raised her head again, this time she pondered seriously for a long time, trying hard to recall the details of the shopping trip between father and daughter, and honestly replied: "Because there was a discount that day, Dad wanted to take advantage of it"

My uncle's educational level is not high; he does not know the specific content of "Peppa Pig," only that Chu Xiaoxiao loves to hold the pig.

Xiao Bi: "Did they not contact by phone?"

I have not worked since this year's Spring Festival Gala

Chu Jiadong did not hear clearly, and he slightly furrowed his brows: "What did you say?"

At home, Chu Xiaoxiao was forcibly pressed in front of the television to watch the Spring Festival Gala, and her beloved iPad was also confiscated. She was immediately filled with complaints, muttering: "I don't want to watch this..."

Chu Xiaoyi has an acute understanding of his father's choice of words and sentence structure. The phrase "your sister" in the message is clearly unrelated to his cousin or paternal cousin.

Han Ya seemed to have gained some insight, and indeed discovered that the old lady was unresponsive to sound; it was necessary to wave in front of her to get her attention. Chu Xiao Xiao sat beside her grandmother, occasionally trying to attract her attention, moving about energetically.

The pitiable, weak, and helpless Chu Xiaoxiao, after suffering the torment of the performance, made a succinct summary of the program: a lonely tomato mixed into golden scrambled eggs—quite unappetizing

Chu Jiadong actively sought to save himself. He took out the laundry detergent endorsed by Chu Xiaoyi, pointed at the portrait on it, and earnestly asked, "Xiaoxiao, do you know who this is?"

Chu Xiaoxiao glanced up briefly, then lowered her head to continue looking at the iPad, replying: "A star"

After Chu Xiaoxiao sensed the atmosphere of the scene, she felt at ease to continue watching the animated series

Chu Jiadong: "Of course, with so many of Xiao Yi's endorsed products at home, how could she not know?"

Xiao Bi was taken aback, and a look of joy appeared on her face: "Really? When will he arrive?"

After Han Ya left, Chu Jiadong immediately sensed the impending storm. Unfortunately, his uncle and aunt had already fled, distancing themselves from the turmoil. Uncle Chu Qingfeng went to the kitchen to wash the dishes, while Aunt Song Chun assisted Grandma Chu Zhen back to the house

Grandmother gazed at Chu Xiaoxiao in confusion, laboriously opening her mouth. Her voice was somewhat hoarse, resembling a broken bellows, as she drew out the syllables: "Xiao—Xiao—"

Han Ya has encountered many prodigies, among whom are several notable figures, such as the "youngest Mensa member" and so on, but few are of the type like Chu Xiaoxiao

Han Ya originally wanted to greet the old lady, but unfortunately, Chu Zhen did not respond to her voice. Xiao Bi explained: "The old lady is quite old and has some dementia; she cannot remember people clearly now and is hard of hearing."

Xiao Bi's red heart began to beat violently, while Chu Jia Dong's red heart shrank timidly. Through observation and analysis, Chu Xiao Xiao discovered that the color of the heart represents others' attitudes towards oneself, while the shape and movement of the heart reflect the current emotional state of the other party

Chu Xiaoxiao buried her head in the rice bowl, mumbling something indistinctly.

"That is true, it's the same old routine every year..." He Xin sighed with a smile, unaware of Chu Xiaoyi's stiff figure. He casually patted the other person and joked, "Maybe in a few years, your uncle and aunt will urge you to get married and have children!"

The father and son of the Chu family have always been cryptic in their communication, their exchanges laden with profound meaning, akin to an underground party speaking in riddles, or to a couple in a state of ambiguity, where every word requires careful consideration and every sentence is shrouded in mystery

My uncle-in-law spoke with an accent and echoed, "Yes, yes, yes, this year is not the Year of the Pig, so stop looking at pigs all the time!"

Chu Jiadong was about to introduce Chu Xiaoyi, but unexpectedly, his daughter flatly refused. He widened his eyes in astonishment and asked, "Why?"

Chu Xiaoyi had not yet received a reply from his father, so he simply handed his phone to He Xin, saying out of sight, out of mind: "Alright, you hold onto it for me."

Chu Xiaoxiao climbed onto her chair, she placed the spoon into her grandmother's hand and softly said: "Grandma, it's time to eat"

However, Chu Xiaoxiao's earlier words revealed a hint of abnormality, making Xiao Bi feel that some details had been overlooked

Chu Xiaoxiao wanted to ask her mother for help, but unexpectedly, Xiao Bi chimed in: "Xiaoxiao, you have been holding the iPad for a long time today, and I haven't said anything to you. Now sit further away to watch TV."

Xiao Bi: "Isn't it because you indulged her back then, playing games with her every day during class..."

Xiao Bixin had other matters on her mind and smiled helplessly, saying: "You really have witnessed a joke."

Xiao Bi scolded her husband, Fang Feng, harshly, while inwardly cursing herself for being careless and having been deceived by his good behavior in recent years. She pressed her forehead in frustration and casually asked, "Does Xiao Yi know Xiao Xiao?"

Home has a pillar: When you have time, come back home to take a look, your sister misses you

Chu Xiaoxiao received a task, which allowed her to temporarily forget Han Ya and refrain from continuing her teaching to the latter. She leisurely walked towards the bedroom to invite her grandmother, Chu Zhen, to dinner along with her uncle, Chu Qingfeng.

Chu Jiadong gently guided: "So, do you want a handsome older brother?"

The elderly lady has a slight accent from her hometown, and her Mandarin is not standard. Additionally, she struggles to articulate her words, often mispronouncing the sound for "逸" which can easily be misunderstood as calling out "肖肖".

Han Ya is unable to move away from academic terminology; she can only select easily understandable vocabulary. She explained: "Simply saying interpersonal communication is not quite accurate; it should be said that Xiao Xiao has a very strong ability for empathy and communication. She can accurately perceive the attitudes of others, thereby establishing communication with them... In other words, if she wants to win someone's favor, it is a very easy task for her"

Xiao Bi: "That's just right, the two of them will be able to meet this year after all, Xiao Yi has been too busy in the past two years..."

Chu Jiadong: `` ? '' What kind of logic is this

Xiao Bi sneered upon hearing this, casting a mocking glance at Chu Jiadong

Chu Xiaoxiao put down her bowl and raised her voice, saying: "I said Grandma didn't talk to me"

Chu Jiadong indeed extended a helping hand to his son, advising Chu Xiaoyi to return home for a visit, but the steps he laid out nearly caused his son to stumble and fall

The stage design of the Spring Festival Gala was dazzling, making one feel dizzy. A large group of people in red outfits took the stage to perform, their costumes varied yet strangely unified, with only subtle differences. ... Chu Xiaoxiao could not remember faces at all, only feeling as if a bunch of tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, and cherries were bouncing in front of her.

Chu Jiadong displayed surprise: "Is interpersonal communication still considered a special ability? Isn't it something that everyone possesses?"

Chu Xiaoyi: Busy with work, I passed by my home three times without entering, and my parents actually responded to the call to have a second child

Chu Jiadong: "This is the program with the highest viewership tonight"

" ? ''

Chujia Dong: "It must end with the Spring Festival Gala!"

Chu Xiaoxiao's small mouth was pouted enough to hang an oil bottle, as she sat on the sofa with no soul, staring at the television in a tasteless manner, completely unable to comprehend the bright red and yellow images on the screen

Han Ya sensed that the atmosphere at the dining table was off, and immediately shrank back like a quail to eat. After the meal, Han Ya asked Chu Xiao Xiao to finish the test questions, then took the completed papers to bid farewell, preparing to return and study the results

Chu Xiaoxiao: "I don't want to."

Xiao Bi exclaimed, "Did you ever tell Xiao Xiao that she actually has a biological brother?"

It seems that indeed, Chu Jiadong was suddenly enlightened by a single remark, realizing, "My mother has indeed spent a long time with Xiao Yi, probably treating Xiao Xiao as him. Xiao Xiao is truly something; even when Xiao Yi is not at home, she can still get angry..."

On the other side, Chu Xiaoyi finished his performance and returned to the waiting room. As soon as he saw his father's message, he stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning

Chu Xiaoxiao was feeling downcast and bluntly pointed out: "Is it because there are no other programs today?"

Chu Jiadong narcissistically touched his face and said seriously, "Then don't I also have a special ability? I believe my affinity is quite strong"

I have not worked since this year's Spring Festival Gala

As everyone was talking, Chu Xiaoxiao and her uncle had already helped Grandma Chu Zhen out. Her uncle supported Grandma as she walked unsteadily, while Chu Xiaoxiao, still not tall enough, could only circle around her grandmother's feet. Grandma Chu Zhen looked bewildered, sitting dazed at the dining table, glancing left and right, unsure of what to do.

Do not think that you are still young and an idol; sooner or later, you will be urged to find a partner and have children

Chu Xiaoxiao had just been playfully teasing her grandmother, but at this moment, she lowered her head in silence and began to eat the rice in her bowl.