Chapter 8, The First Family Banquet (Part 1)

Upon hearing these words, Uncle Dong could no longer hold his wine cup. In fact, when Cheng Shiling brought him out, he had specifically asked him to pass through various torture chambers along the way. Inside, the sounds of wailing and howling were unbearable, and the various tortures of scraping bones, removing flesh, and whipping were all vividly presented before him. Uncle Dong's legs turned to jelly, and he nearly could not walk out.

The more Cheng Mu Yue spoke, the more confident she became, addressing Uncle Dong: "You should stop thinking about this and that. This time, your theft of military supplies has brought significant trouble to your nephew. What, do you still want to drag him down further? You want to enjoy wealth and happiness while my son suffers and risks his life? How can there be such good fortune! You are the ancestor of the Cheng family, and we must support you no matter what!"

Before she could continue, Cheng Shi said, "Today’s banquet serves two purposes: first, to alleviate my uncle's shock, and second, I have a joyful matter to announce"

Uncle Dong was left speechless, glaring at his daughter-in-law, Ms. Lü, with a fierce expression as he scolded, "You shameless woman, what did you say to my sister!" Dong Yong also stood up abruptly, rolling up his sleeves, ready to slap Ms. Lü. Cheng Shi, who was sitting nearby, did not move his body but reached out an arm to pull Dong Yong down. In an unexpected twist, he pressed Dong Yong's arm behind his back and with a slight movement of his other hand, a sharp crack was heard, and Dong Yong's face immediately swelled up like a pig's head.

Cheng Shaoshang listened with great interest; if not for the fear of being scolded, she truly wanted to ask, 'What happened to that disloyal daughter-in-law later on'

Uncle Dong, taken aback, quickly organized his thoughts and said in a low and humble voice, "Sister, how could I dare to show off in front of my nephew? But now my nephew is becoming more and more accomplished, I, I..." As he spoke, he began to cry, "I only wish to share in some of the glory; who can blame me for my lack of success? I am neither accomplished in literature nor in martial arts, and in the future, I will truly have no face to meet our father..." At this point, tears streamed down his face.

First, Cheng Shi brought out an elderly woman with a weary face and gray hair. Upon seeing her, Cheng Mu immediately burst into tears. In the days when the Dong family was prosperous, Old Man Dong had employed several tenant farmers, and this elderly woman was one of the daughters who helped with farming at the Dong family. Cheng Mu grew up playing in the countryside with her, and they shared a sisterly bond. Later, as the family's finances became increasingly difficult, Old Man Dong had no choice but to dismiss the tenant farmers.

A-Lu hurriedly supported Cheng Shaoshang as she bowed to her elders, first to Cheng's mother, who was seated in the center, then to her uncle Dong, who was slightly off to the side. Next, she greeted Cheng's parents, who were seated in the first positions on the right and left, followed by her cousin Dong, who was seated in the second position on the right, to whom Cheng Shaoshang had to refer as 'uncle.' Then, she acknowledged Dong Lushi, who was seated in the second position on the left. Before Cheng Shaoshang could finish her greetings, Dong Lushi stood up with a smile, pulling Cheng Shaoshang up and saying, "You look truly beautiful, I hadn't noticed it before. These past few days, with your sister-in-law's help in dressing you up, you have completely transformed."

Walking along the corridor, Cheng Shaoshang wrapped herself in a luxurious gray fur cloak, discreetly surveying her surroundings—what a small courtyard this is, she could see the second gate at a glance. Her heart grew increasingly puzzled; with her attire being so splendid, why was the residence so small? Could it be that the property prices here are also exorbitant?

Cheng Shaoshang was unaware of the specific details of the situation; she only knew that each day, her father seemed to be a bit happier than the day before, until Cheng Shi informed her that there was an additional Hu Old Lady in the household. After learning a little about the background, Cheng Shaoshang couldn't help but sigh. Previously, Madam Xiao was busy striving alongside her husband to build their family business, prioritizing significant matters and having no time to contend with Cheng's mother, Ge. Once she found the opportunity to manage household affairs, she could easily handle these ignorant women in no time, demonstrating overwhelming strength.

After glaring at Dong Yong, Cheng Shi also raised his wine cup, drank it all in one go, and said: "Uncle should enjoy a life of ease now, managing the family’s fields and shops well, and living a leisurely life from now on"

The outcome was that Cheng Shi continued to fight his way through, gaining fame day by day, and this elderly woman with the surname Hu came to seek him out. Interestingly, when this Hu woman left her hometown with her newly married husband, Cheng's mother had just given birth to Cheng Shi, who had just begun to make a name for himself. If it had been any other son of the Cheng family, the Hu woman might not have dared to come forward and acknowledge him.

Ge sat down in anger, and who would have thought that when Dong and Lü returned to their seats, they spoke in a tone that others could clearly hear, saying: "Poor child, clearly it is her father who risks his life outside to bring back fine clothes and good things, yet every time I come, I see her only able to wear what others have picked over."

That night, Cheng Shi waited until Cheng Mu's anger subsided, and with a pair of symmetrical bumps on his forehead, he went to Cheng Mu's room, finally showcasing the acting skills and genuine emotions that had not been expressed during the day, and mother and son reconciled at last

On this day, upon rising early, A Lu smiled at Cheng Shaoshang and said, "Today, the whole family will have lunch together." At that moment, she immediately sensed the scent of a battlefield being cleaned up

After enduring and enduring, seeing the atmosphere gradually ease, Ge could not help but force a smile and said, "Aunt Jun..."

Madam Xiao is quite shrewd; while accompanying her husband on various military campaigns, she has been attentively searching for the compatriots and clansmen who scattered and fled during the past turmoil. She initially intended to find a few distant relatives of the Dong family to lend support, but after searching extensively, she found no news, clearly indicating that the members of the Dong family have indeed mostly perished.

As she spoke, Cheng's mother deliberately glanced at Madam Xiao, but to her surprise, Madam Xiao remained composed. Cheng felt embarrassed and said, "Mother, what are you talking about?" The previous story was one that Madam Xiao had asked him to tell Cheng's mother, while the latter was an improvisation by Cheng's mother. "If my nephews truly have potential, I would certainly help them. Moreover, is the Donglu family currently lacking anything?"

Madam Xiao took a sip of wine, elegantly set it down, and said, "Uncle and cousin, you both have quite the authority; those who do not know might think that the Cheng family is entirely under your control." She then turned to Lady Lü and gently said, "Aunt Jun, you are often lonely; please come by more often to chat and keep each other company."

Uncle Dong became anxious and quickly said, "This won't do. As the saying goes, 'Brothers fight tigers together, and fathers and sons go to battle as one.' Your words are rather distant. You toil and risk your life outside, how can I enjoy a life of ease? I should at least lend a helping hand..."

Uncle Dong stammered, "But sister, you and your silk and satin are living even more..."

Cheng Shaoshang was as happy as a joyful little mouse: Here it comes, the one who deserves a beating has arrived

Dong Lushi glanced briefly at Madam Xiao and turned back with a smile, saying, "Sister-in-law is overthinking it. I meant that the Fourth Young Lady is reuniting with her parents after a long separation; when a person is happy, their spirit lifts and their complexion improves"

Ge had several occasions when he wanted to go to Cheng's mother to deliver some eye medicine to Madam Xiao. However, he either encountered Cheng Shi telling a story, only to be met with disdainful glances from the mother and son who did not want a third party to intrude, or he stumbled upon Cheng's mother and Hu Lao reminiscing about the past, and was scolded out in a bad mood.

As soon as these words were spoken, both Ge and a girl sitting at the end of the table flushed with embarrassment. Cheng Shaoshang rubbed her forehead and immediately thought, 'This Ge must have sullied something that Old Man Cheng gave me.' Before she could think further, A Lu pressed her to pay her respects to her second uncle Cheng Cheng and Ge in turn, while Ge was already so enraged that she trembled and could not speak.

With the spirit of the Dong-Lü family revitalized, she feels that having a husband is not as good as not having one. Now, all her heart and soul are devoted to her several children. With the words of the Cheng couple in mind, how could she not comply

Uncle Dong looked at his elder sister in astonishment and said, "Sister, you, you..."

Cheng's mother came from a farming family and spoke very directly. In her early years, she would embarrass Madam Xiao in such a straightforward manner that it left others unable to save face. At that time, Ge was very fond of hearing Cheng's mother scold others, but now that it has fallen upon her, it is rather uncomfortable.

Indeed, the 'good aunt' Ge, sitting in the third position on the left, could no longer contain herself, and she sharply exclaimed: "Oh dear, all the elders are here, the Fourth Young Lady is just waiting for you. How did your aunt teach you in the past? You must be filial and understand propriety; today..."

Cheng, feeling impatient with his nonsense, went directly to see Cheng's mother. It was evident that the communication between mother and son had been very smooth in recent days. Cheng's mother slammed the dining table and said emphatically: "Just shut up! When my son first started his venture, why didn't you fight alongside your own brother? When my son was fighting for his life, why didn't you join the battle as father and son? If you had lent a hand or two, my son would have had an easier time!"

Lady Qingcong smiled and said, "No need to worry." She then lowered her head and spoke to Cheng Shaoshang, "These fine items have been saved by me for Fourth Young Lady for a long time, and now they can finally be used."

Uncle Dong, upon learning of Cheng Shi and his wife's plans, immediately fell to the ground and wept, saying: "Sister, you are abandoning your brother. Have you forgotten what you promised our father before he passed away? Can you truly face our father?"

Mother Cheng glared and said: "That is the official rank they risked their lives and the lives of their descendants to fight for under your command! How can it compare to sitting comfortably in a study and being an official!"

He glanced at the Cheng couple and wanted to say, "Sister, how could you possibly compete with your new daughter-in-law without my help?" However, it would not be appropriate to say it directly in front of them. He turned his eyes and smiled, saying, "Sister, you are considerate of your younger brother, but your nephew and his wife are busy all day. If you want to hear some interesting stories, who will tell you?"

Upon receiving the reminder, Cheng's mother immediately said to her younger brother, "You should stop crying as well. At this age, one should be aware of their destiny. After living most of your life without achieving anything, do you really expect to suddenly change in your old age? As for your nephew, if he truly had ambition, he wouldn't have waited until today. Since he has no prospects, he should live a humble and honest life without constantly thinking about taking advantage of others. Relying on your nephew's name to oppress others will only bring trouble to the Cheng family in the end. It is crucial to teach the children properly; that is what truly honors our father."

How could such a trivial matter escape Lady Xiao's scheme? Mother Cheng had long been taught by Old Lady Hu, and she retorted, "How could I not care for you? Nowadays, you wear fine silk and cotton, eat chicken, duck, fish, and meat, and have servants at your beck and call. When your father was alive, life was not so good; it is much more comfortable now. How have I wronged your father?"

Then let us dine! At the sound of Cheng's command, the Dong family father and son hurried back to their seats, picking up their wooden chopsticks, moving faster than rabbits.

Mother Cheng said expressionlessly: "In the future, when I am free, I will call my niece-in-law in to talk. You two, father and son, are indeed men, and it is not convenient for the women of this household to come and go. So, unless necessary, you should come less often. " She glanced at the old woman Hu, who was serving chopsticks nearby, and added, "If there are matters at home, let Madam Lu come. In short, you should not come here. Since Shier's official rank is to be promoted, the family must also observe some rules. We cannot continue as we did in the countryside, where any trivial matter would have the uncle and elder brother wandering around the house indiscriminately."

Mother Cheng was indeed overjoyed, embracing Hu Lao and laughing while crying, playfully scolding Cheng Shi for not bringing Hu Lao out sooner. Cheng Shi quickly explained, saying: "At that time, Mother was in a fit of anger, and if I had brought her out, it would have seemed like I had ulterior motives. Now that Mother is no longer angry, I want her to know that I only did this to make her happy." Upon hearing this, Mother Cheng was even more moved, and she learned that Cheng Shi had incorporated the descendants of the Hu family into his retinue and kept Hu Lao by her side to assist her in managing affairs. She felt that her son was truly considerate towards her.

Interrupting Cheng Shaoshang's enjoyment of the show, she thought to herself with annoyance, what good news could it be, are you planning to take a concubine?

Hu Lao has endured hardships for decades, well-versed in the ways of the world, capable of persuasion and flattery, and her ability to discern Cheng's mother's thoughts far surpasses that of the likes of Dong's aunt. This skill has been honed since her youth. Having witnessed the severity of Madam Xiao and the harm caused by books, she naturally knows how to speak and act appropriately.

Three seats were arranged at the end of the table, with Cheng Shaoshang seated in the center. To the right was the girl who still had a flushed face, and to the left was a chubby boy, barely old enough to use chopsticks properly. Both were dressed in luxurious attire adorned with gold and silver. The girl's skin was a light honey color, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, yet she appeared listless and withdrawn, as if her life was even more miserable than that of Cheng Shaoshang

After walking no more than fifty or sixty steps, they arrived at the residence of Cheng Mu. Lian Fang assisted Cheng Shaoshang in removing her shoes at the steps and also took off the heavy fur cloak from her body. The snow-white velvet socks she wore stepped onto the dark red lacquered wooden floor, making her small and delicate feet appear even more charming. At that time, meals were served in a separate dining style, with each person having their own small table arranged in two rows in the hall. Cheng Shaoshang looked up and saw that everyone else had already arrived, and she was the last one. She immediately thought to herself that this was not good.

Ge flashed his eyes and chuckled, "Uncle, why do you seem so startled? We are family, why be so afraid?"

Ge did not know how to respond to this remark, and Dong Lushi quickly said: "It is still thanks to the general; otherwise, my lord and uncle would not know how much suffering he would have endured." While speaking, she shot a glare at her own husband across the table, and Dong Waidi hurriedly raised his cup to express his gratitude to Cheng Shi.

Upon seeing her younger brother relent, Mother Cheng felt a twinge of compassion. Lady Xiao let out a soft chuckle and slightly turned to speak gently to Dong and Lu: "Bring the children to see me when you have a chance. It has been ten years since we last met, and I wonder what they are like now." Cheng Shi quickly chimed in: "Indeed, those who should study must study, and those who should seek employment must seek employment. They should not follow in the footsteps of their fathers and ancestors, only knowing how to indulge in ease and despise hard work, engaging in deceit and trickery!"

Uncle Dong is at a loss for words at this moment

Then, Madam Qingcong personally styled Cheng Shaoshang's hair. In front of the blurred bronze mirror, Cheng Shaoshang vaguely saw that she had been adorned with a pair of playful and lovely double buns, while the excess hair at the back was simply tied up. At that moment, Lianfang opened a small lacquered wooden box, and Madam Qingcong took out a pair of dazzlingly bright pearls, fastening one on each of Cheng Shaoshang's double buns.

Cheng Shaoshang was immediately amused, thinking to himself, does Dong Yong believe that everyone else is blind and cannot see that Cheng's father has bulging eyes like a flounder?—Because of these eyes, the next day, Dong Yong was beaten up by unknown assailants on the road, leaving him bedridden for several months, after which he never entered the Cheng residence again

Mother Cheng listened to Hu's words about how fierce the battle ahead was, how many generals were missing arms, legs, eyes, and ears. She touched the old wounds on her son's body, her heart nearly breaking. Thinking of how difficult it was for her son, and that Uncle Dong was still trying to profit from the situation, she wished she could immediately cut off her younger brother's flesh to stew and nourish her son.

Madam Xiao did not remain pleased for long. When Cheng Shi returned to the room, she noticed a bump on her husband's forehead. After inquiring about the cause, she was instantly filled with anger and picked up a lacquered wooden wine cup, striking the other side of his forehead, creating a matching bump for General Cheng.

Cheng stared at the Dong family father and son, and said in a deep voice: "Do you all understand?" Dong Yong, fearing another beating, nodded vigorously, while Uncle Dong, a beat behind, quickly followed suit and nodded as well

Seeing my younger brother's lips move, as if he was still unconvinced, Mother Cheng quickly said: "Don't try to deceive me with sweet words all day long. That... what was her name... the Empress Dowager from the previous dynasty... wasn't she always thinking about supporting her family? In the end, she ended up giving away the entire kingdom to her family's nephew, which led to chaos in the world and caused countless families to be ruined! Only in the end did she realize her regret, but it was too late. I wonder what face she has to go down to the ground!"

Cheng had been fighting in the sea of blood for many years, and this fierce momentum was truly formidable. The Dong family father and son were already weaklings, and upon hearing this, they could only respond with hesitant agreement. Cheng Shaoshang silently exclaimed "bravo" in his heart; this idea was simply brilliant, taking everything into account and leaving no flaws; there was nothing to say both inside and outside the home.

Cheng Shaoshang thought to himself that this truly is a mother and son relationship, where both can scold and hit each other without any hint of subtlety

Uncle Dong's eyes were filled with tears, and he indignantly said: "Sister, you wear gold and silver, while your brother can only live a life slightly better than that of a farmer?" Cheng Shaoshang, who was listening from behind, was amused and thought to himself that it was only because the Dong family started too low that there was so much room for improvement.

At this moment, the maidservants entered the room in succession, serving dishes to each table. It was a simple family banquet, featuring a fragrant roasted pork dish, a steamed fatty chicken with winter bamboo shoots, a venison soup, and two types of pickled vegetables. On the adults' table, there was also wine, while Cheng Shaoshang and the other two had only a pot of freshly made rice milk, steaming and aromatic.

"What more is there to say?" Cheng Mu interrupted, "The good days of the Cheng family today are earned through my son's blood and struggle. What does that have to do with you? If you had been willing to put in some effort back then, you could also be living such a life now"

In history, the famous empress dowagers known are only Cixi and Wu Zetian, along with half of Xiaozhuang. Xiaozhuang wanted to give but could not, because her grandson was Kangxi; if Cixi were to give the throne to her family, what would the foreign powers do? Could it be that they were referring to Wu Zetian? Cheng Shaoshang, puzzled, looked down at his chest, wondering why the collar was so high that not a bit of his chest was exposed, as the clothing of the Tang Dynasty was so conservative? Even if he was flat-chested, Madam Xiao was quite ample; how could she not reveal even a little?

What is even more remarkable is that throughout the entire process, Madam Xiao was exceptionally discreet, fully maintaining a state of invisibility. She busied herself with household chores and comforted the bereaved families of the fallen soldiers, allowing this mother and son to express their feelings of parting. At one moment, they were tearfully lamenting the difficulties of war, and at another, they were animatedly discussing the beauty of the outside world, with Granny Hu beside them, chiming in and wiping her tears. In that moment, the bond between mother and son was truly unbreakable.

Everyone else began to eat with their chopsticks, but only Ge was restless and uneasy. Ever since Aunt Dong was expelled a few days ago, she had a vague sense that something was amiss. It seemed that Mother Cheng and Madam Xiao had reached an understanding; during their recent encounters, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law no longer quarreled. No matter how she tried to instigate, it only resulted in a lack of interest, and no one paid her any attention.

A Lu looked at it, slightly furrowing her brows and said: "Qing Jun, this—"

Compared to that unfortunate Empress Dowager, Cheng's mother felt that she was far more composed, and she said with great satisfaction: "And then there is the woman from the third branch of the Donglu family, who spends all her time supporting her natal family. When Mr. Wang, who was staying at the Donglu family, said he wanted to study with Master Yan, he could only take one disciple, yet she secretly sent her nephew from her family. Hmph, can't such a large Donglu family find a clever child? Her own two sons are quite studious, and later on, it turned out well; her natal family became scholars and officials, while the Donglu family had to curry favor. Her own two sons are quite studious, and later on, it turned out well; her natal family became scholars and officials, while the Donglu family had to curry favor. Hmph, all the women in the world should know about this!"

The expressions of the people at the table varied: Cheng's mother turned her head, pretending not to see and showing indifference; Cheng's second uncle lowered his head, lost in thought, genuinely oblivious and indifferent; Uncle Dong trembled under Cheng Shi's gaze; Dong Lushi covered her face with her sleeve, yet the corners of her mouth slightly curled up; Madam Xiao appeared unfazed; only Ge's family and the two children at the end of the table looked on in astonishment.

Mother Cheng slammed the wooden chopsticks and glared, saying: "Why don't I just move half of the Cheng family's storeroom to you?" She was one who yielded to soft words but not to hard ones. If her brother had spoken gently and pleaded, perhaps there would have been a chance for a turnaround. Unfortunately, Uncle Dong used the wrong approach. Mother Cheng scolded, "All these years, you have consumed what the Cheng family provided, and now you still want to show off your power over the Cheng family? Get this straight: you are a Dong family child, and I am a Cheng family woman. Although we are siblings, our ancestors are different. I certainly cannot take everything from the Cheng family to support you." Mother Cheng spoke bluntly and harshly, but the effect was quite good, leaving Uncle Dong somewhat bewildered

After taking the medicine and turning around three times in the room, Madam Qingcong brought in a brand new deep robe and a lacquered wooden box. The robe, made of cream-colored brocade, was embroidered with branches of crimson plum blossoms, and the collar and cuffs were trimmed with four-finger-wide bright red satin. The inner garment was made of pristine white fine cotton. The deep robe was spacious, and both Xulianfang and Aju worked together to help Cheng Shaoshang put it on, elegantly cinching the exquisite brocade in circles. They paired it with a dark red belt adorned with jade decorations, also four fingers wide. Even without a full-length mirror, Cheng Shaoshang could feel the splendor of the attire.

Madam Xiao suddenly realized the potential for profit and quickly arranged for the seriously injured son of Hu Aolao and her gravely ill grandson to be brought back to the capital. Originally, upon their return, Cheng Shi intended to bring Hu Aolao out immediately, but was dissuaded by Madam Xiao, who established a plan with steps one, two, three, and four.

Cheng Shi was very pleased with his mother's performance, and with a face full of beard, he smiled charmingly at Cheng Mu. Cheng Shaoshang couldn't help but shiver for a moment, but Cheng Mu was extremely pleased and became even happier.

The next step is to consolidate the situation of the battle

Cheng Shaoshang stole a glance and saw that Uncle Dong resembled Cheng's mother quite a bit; both were tall and stout. However, it seemed that he had recently undergone a rather hasty weight loss, as the flesh on his cheeks had sagged. He was extremely fearful of Cheng Shi, hardly daring to meet Cheng Shi's gaze directly, and spoke in a stammering manner.

"Aunt Jun is a family elder, not an enemy army to be vanquished by a single blow, where casualties are of no concern as long as victory is achieved," Lady Xiao said with a smile. "We must take our time; first, let Aunt Jun vent the anger she has harbored for the past decade, allowing the master and her son to resolve their misunderstandings. Then, we can facilitate a reunion between old sisters, which will lead to a natural and efficient outcome.

She glanced at her husband across the way, then at Mother Cheng at the head of the table. The recent tempestuous argument had left her unable to interject, let alone considering the matter concerning the Dong family; the sting of that slap from a few days ago still lingered.

Cheng Shaoshang was astonished: "What? There is such a peculiar Empress Dowager? How come I have never heard of her?" He then remembered that he was a pure and innocent science and engineering student, and it seemed like he hadn't attended a history class in several lifetimes.

Due to Cheng Shaoshang's young age, she wore only a pair of delicate golden silk lilac flowers on her ears and a pair of slender bracelets made of golden silk threaded with bright red coral beads on her wrists. A Lu and Lian Fang admired her repeatedly from the side, all praising her.

Cheng Shi coldly said: "This is the Cheng family, and it is not your place to flaunt your power." He cast a stern glance at Uncle Dong.

Dong Waidi has a well-known name in a play, Dong Yong, and also possesses the common appearance of a young man in plays, with a flickering gaze and loose skin, clearly a sign of excessive indulgence in wine and pleasure; while expressing gratitude, he secretly glanced at Madam Xiao.

Uncle Dong raised a lacquered wooden bowl with two ears and said to Cheng Shi: "I will first toast my nephew with this first cup of wine. This time, being able to return safely relies on my nephew. I, I..."

At this point, the Dong family father and son had nothing more to say; the entire room was enveloped in silence, with only Dong Yong softly sobbing while covering his face. Cheng Shi was very pleased and turned to the Dong family father and son, saying fiercely: "If I find out that the Lu family has suffered any harm, I will treat both of you the same way!"

Cheng Shaoshang felt dizzy and disoriented from the greeting, unable to react, yet those around him understood the meaning of Dong and Lü's actions. Ge straightened up and said with dissatisfaction: "What do you mean by this? Are you implying that I do not treat Fourth Miss well on ordinary days?"

Madam Xiao glanced at her and slowly said: "The northern army's prison is indeed lacking in decorum. Although they have temporarily postponed the handling of the matter at the request of the esteemed official, they still executed several others who were guilty of the same crime right in front of my uncle. He must have been quite frightened."

Not yet finished speaking, Cheng's mother, sitting at the very front in the center, had already grown impatient and said in a gruff voice: "You should say a few less words; everyone here, except for the young ones, is older than you. None of us have spoken, so what business is it of yours!"