The family banquet to acknowledge Xu Muchan as a member of the family was held at Xin Rong Ji.
It was one of Jiangcheng’s most prestigious time-honored establishments, a Chinese courtyard-style private club famous for its high-end private cuisine. The Xu family also had an investment in it.
To protect their privacy, and also because there were simply too many relatives in the family, Xu Qingming directly booked the entire second floor as the banquet venue.
The family of four went directly to the second floor via the elevator in the garage.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, waitresses dressed in qipao were already waiting at the entrance to guide them in.
Xu Zhifei walked in front with her arm linked through Xu Qingming’s. Xu Wangchuan and Xu Muchan followed behind. Because Xu Muchan was unable to see, he held a white cane in his right hand, while Xu Wangchuan lightly supported him with his left.
When the Xu relatives who had come over saw this scene, their gazes inevitably lingered on Xu Muchan for a little longer.
However, everyone who could appear here was clever. The Xu Corporation was currently thriving, and Xu Muchan was Xu Qingming’s only son. No one was foolish enough to bring up Xu Muchan’s eye condition and spoil the occasion. Instead, they praised him one after another for his handsome appearance, saying that he had inherited all the best features of his parents, especially resembling Xu Zhifei.
Naturally, this also led to plenty of praise for Xu Zhifei.
Xu Zhifei had Xu Muchan sit beside her. Holding his hand, she introduced the relatives from both sides of the family to him with a face full of smiles.
Xu Qingming’s parents had already passed away. Xu Zhifei’s parents, however, were still alive, though the elderly couple lived in their hometown. They were old and could not withstand too much excitement, so Xu Zhifei had only told them after everything had been settled. They had not yet arrived in Jiangcheng.
Those who had come this time were all cousins and relatives from both sides of the couple’s families. Xu Qingming alone had quite a few uncles and aunts. Those uncles and aunts had married and had children, and their children in turn had numerous cousins and siblings, along with their own children. Adding Xu Zhifei’s relatives to the mix, there were so many people that even eight tables were barely enough.
Not to mention that Xu Muchan could not see and therefore could not tell who was who. Even if he could see, it would have been difficult enough to remember so many people.
Thus, he simply sat there quietly, serving as a human decoration. There was even a slightly obedient and shy smile on his lips as he tilted his head and appeared to listen attentively to Xu Zhifei’s conversations. From beginning to end, he did not take the initiative to speak.
Only when Xu Zhifei told him to greet someone would he open his mouth.
If one ignored his lifeless eyes, he looked like a typical well-behaved child who was adored by his elders.
Xu Zhifei was particularly satisfied with his behavior.
When he had first arrived home, she had not had time to take a close look at the child she had been separated from for more than ten years. Only now did she discover that Xu Muchan really was exceptionally handsome, especially around the corners of his eyes and brows, where he looked very much like her. That was why all the relatives’ praise made her so delighted.
She affectionately held Xu Muchan’s hand and refused to let go. Her maternal heart began overflowing again, and she sighed softly before taking the initiative to bring up the topic that all the relatives had been afraid to mention lightly.
“After Muchan was abducted, he really suffered so much. It was only with great difficulty that we found him. When our assistant went to Yundong to bring him back, we learned that he had been injured because a landslide had suddenly occurred in the village, and he had also lost his eyesight.”
“So Muchan’s eyes were fine before?”
One of the relatives was surprised. “Oh my, then he really went through a terrible ordeal. You should hurry and take him to a major hospital for an examination. If the hospitals here can’t do anything, you can even go abroad. Don’t let the condition be delayed!”
Xu Zhifei said, “Exactly. I’ve already contacted an ophthalmology specialist, and we’re going for an examination in the next couple of days. After Muchan was abducted, he wasn’t adopted by a good family either. He suffered quite a lot as a child, and later his adoptive parents also passed away early. He grew up relying entirely on the villagers to feed him. And even so, he still managed to get into the best high school in the city. When the assistant went to handle his transfer, he saw his transcript and only then learned that Muchan had consistently ranked first in his grade and received scholarships every year. Even his homeroom teacher couldn’t bear to let such a promising student leave.”
Jiangcheng was a major province for the national college entrance examination. Regardless of their family’s circumstances, people here were all remarkably consistent in their attitude toward their children’s education—
In private, they secretly worked themselves to the bone to compete academically, while whenever relatives gathered, comparing which schools their children attended, what awards they had won, and how well they had scored on exams was practically a mandatory event.
They clearly cared to death, yet verbally they still had to casually say, “Oh, we haven’t really managed him much. As long as the child is happy, that’s what matters.”
Naturally, today was no exception.
Xu Qingming joined in with a cheerful smile. “Zhifei was actually planning to donate a building, but who would have thought that after we sent the transcript to the principal of Nanming High School, they discussed it among themselves and agreed to accept him.”
“Once Muchan’s eyes recover, he can go directly to the school and complete the enrollment procedures.”
Xu Muchan had originally been drowsy, but the moment he heard them talking about school, his spirits immediately lifted. Unable to resist, he spoke up on his own.
“Can I go to school first?”
Xu Zhifei was slightly surprised. “You can, but you can’t see right now. Won’t it be difficult for you to keep up?”
Xu Muchan was unexpectedly persistent. He explained, “During winter vacation, I already studied the courses for this semester by myself in advance. I’m very familiar with the textbook material, but there are still some differences between the curriculum in Yundong and Jiangcheng. Even though I can’t see, I can still listen. This semester ends and I’ll be entering my senior year of high school, and I don’t know how long it will take for my eyes to recover. At least this way, I won’t fall too far behind.”
Even Xu Zhifei and Xu Qingming had not expected Xu Muchan to value his studies so highly that he would insist on attending school despite being blind.
Xu Zhifei wanted to persuade him a little more, but Xu Muchan was very determined.
After thinking for a moment, Xu Qingming said, “It’s not impossible. I’ll speak with your principal. When the time comes, we’ll have you placed in Wangchuan’s class. A driver can take you to and from school, and Wangchuan can look after you at school. There shouldn’t be too much inconvenience.”
Xu Muchan said eagerly, “I can manage by myself at school. I won’t trouble Xu Wangchuan too much.”
He wasn’t calling him Brother again this time.
Xu Wangchuan glanced at him when he heard this. The corners of his tightly drawn lips coldly twitched, though his voice still carried a smile.
“How can it be troublesome for an older brother to take care of his younger brother? But I’m in the Excellence Class. Everyone in my class is a top student or an academic prodigy. The pace is very fast, and the pressure is also very high. Even I have difficulty keeping up. You transferred here from Yundong, so you may not be able to adapt to such a high-pressure environment. It would be better for you to take a leave of absence first and treat your eyes. You can go to school after your eyes recover. If you’re worried about falling behind, you can also hire a private tutor to teach you at home.”
Xu Wangchuan’s face was full of concern, and what he said was not without reason. Xu Zhifei looked at her adopted son, then at her biological son, and was clearly somewhat hesitant.
But this time, Xu Muchan was unusually insistent. Facing in the direction of Xu Zhifei and Xu Qingming, he pleaded, “I want to give it a try. If I really can’t keep up, I can take a leave of absence then.”
Xu Zhifei sighed helplessly and said to the relatives, “This child values his studies so much that we parents don’t even know what to do.”
Naturally, the relatives followed along with a barrage of praise.
Xu Zhifei stroked her son’s head and said, “I’ll have your father speak with the principal. We’ll let you try it first. But you don’t have to push yourself too hard. There’s still more than a year before the college entrance examination. Even if you really can’t keep up, you can repeat your final year. If you don’t want to repeat, you can also go abroad. Your father and I work so hard precisely so that you don’t have to struggle so much and can have more choices.”
Xu Muchan obediently nodded, his expression grateful, but inwardly he did not take it to heart.
The Xu family’s wealth belonged to Xu Qingming and his wife. It had nothing to do with him.
Today, the couple could feel sorry for him and let him ask for whatever he wanted. Tomorrow, they could just as easily decide that he had entered the house with his left foot first and brought bad luck to the old Xu family, then ruthlessly throw him out of the house just as they had when he was three years old.
Only his college entrance examination score belonged to him. How well he scored would determine what university he could attend.
He had already looked up the relevant information before. Blind people could also take the college entrance examination. The Xu family had money and extensive connections. If his eyes could be cured, that would naturally be best. But if they truly could not be cured, he would apply to take the college entrance examination for visually impaired students afterward.
Technology was highly developed nowadays, and the better the university, the more facilities it tended to have for people with disabilities. Being blind in both eyes would not affect his ability to study at university.
As for employment, there was no need to worry too much either. Not only did the government have various support programs, but the range of jobs available to blind people was also far broader than ordinary people knew.
But the prerequisite was that he could keep up with the coursework and get into the university he wanted.
Although losing his eyesight had caused some deviation in Xu Muchan’s plans for the future, he had long since become accustomed to climbing over mountains when he encountered mountains and crossing rivers when he encountered rivers. No matter what happened, he could always find a way forward.
There was still one year before the college entrance examination, and he wanted to make as many preparations as possible.
As for the repeating of his final year and going abroad that Xu Zhifei had mentioned, neither was within Xu Muchan’s considerations. After all, who knew whether he would still be in the Xu family a year from now?
Xu Muchan’s mind was turning over countless thoughts, but not a trace of them showed on his face. Instead, the relatives gathered around him again and showered him with praise.
The lively family-recognition banquet did not end until ten-thirty at night. By the time they returned to Oak Manor, it was already nearly eleven-thirty.
Xu Wangchuan had been anxiously checking the time throughout the drive. The lingering fear from what had happened during the day was still with him. He was afraid that if he returned home too late and went to sleep late, he might encounter the God of Joy traveling through the house again.
Thus, as soon as the car came to a stop in the underground garage, he opened the door and jumped out. He hurriedly said to Xu Zhifei, “Mom, I’m going back to my room first,” before taking two steps at a time and rushing upstairs.
“This child…”
Xu Zhifei muttered something before helping Xu Muchan out of the car, and the family of three took the elevator upstairs.
Xu Muchan smelled that nauseating odor again in the elevator. It was even stronger than it had been on the first floor, as though the thing giving off that smell had also ridden the elevator before.
Xu Muchan frowned and finally confirmed that the thing from his childhood was still in the Xu family home.
He couldn’t be bothered to investigate why that thing had continued following Xu Qingming and his wife. He simply thought that later he would need to go to the kitchen and get a bowl of rice and an egg.
Ghostly things were far more active at night than during the day. Xu Muchan remembered the thing that had played hide-and-seek with him when he was a child, and goosebumps rose all over his body.
He still didn’t know what the situation would be like at the Xu family home tonight, and his older brother was currently still angry and completely ignoring him. The connection between them had always been one-sided. If his brother did not show himself voluntarily, Xu Muchan could not even tell whether he was actually beside him.
To be safe, he still had to think of a way to coax him, he thought.
Xu Qingming and Xu Zhifei lived on the third floor. The couple escorted Xu Muchan back to his room and only left after confirming that he had adapted well to his new room.
Xu Muchan pricked up his ears. After confirming that the couple had already gone upstairs and that the sound of rushing water had begun coming from Xu Wangchuan’s room next door, clearly indicating that he was already taking a shower, he pushed open the door and felt his way toward the kitchen.
There was no light before his eyes, making everything much darker than before. Apparently, the villa’s lights had not been turned on.
Xu Zhifei did not like having outsiders in the house, so the Xu family’s hired nanny and chef did not live in. At present, there were only the four members of the Xu family in the entire villa.
And only Xu Muchan and Xu Wangchuan lived on the first floor.
The entire first floor was extremely quiet. There was not even the sound of insects or birds.
Following the route he remembered, Xu Muchan found the kitchen. After carefully searching around, he successfully found the rice container and refrigerator.
Fortunately, there were eggs in the refrigerator.
Xu Muchan found a soup bowl, scooped a full bowl of rice, and took an egg.
After thinking about it, he took two more.
If he wanted to coax someone, he might as well add two more eggs.
Xu Muchan carried the uncooked rice and eggs back to his room. After locking the door from the inside, he opened the cabinet door, sat cross-legged in front of the cabinet, and faced the shrine.
In a soft, coaxing voice, he said, “Brother, I’m back.”
“I brought you something delicious.”
He transferred roughly one-third of the full bowl of rice into the small bowl used for offerings. Then he cracked three raw eggs into it and mixed them together. After that, he lit a stick of incense and placed it before the shrine.
“Here, Brother, hurry up and eat.”
“These are eggs I’ve saved for a long time because I couldn’t bear to eat them,” Xu Muchan said without changing his expression.
The thin incense inserted into the uncooked rice released wisps of faint smoke, enveloping the devout-looking young man.
The glow at the tip of the incense flickered.
Then went out.