The Kang family was having dinner.
Except for the second sister-in-law, A Chan, who hadn't come back.
Everyone else was sitting at the dinner table.
"Dad, tomorrow is your birthday. What do you want for a gift? Tell us, as long as it doesn't require us to sell our house or wives, no problem. Just say the word," A Yao said proudly.
Kang Bo smiled in satisfaction after hearing that.
"Don't talk nonsense. Do you have a house to sell? Do you have a wife to sell?" The second brother retorted to A Yao.
"Can you advance it?" A Yao was helpless. Why was his second brother always picking on him?
"Third brother is just using a figure of speech. He's exaggerating," A Zu defended A Yao.
"Too exaggerated," the second brother complained.
"Okay, okay. I'm already very happy that you guys have this kind of heart. Whether you buy something or not doesn't matter," Kang Bo smiled and interrupted them.
"No, Dad, we still have to celebrate your birthday," Da Lao Guang brought out the shrimp Kang Bo bought in the afternoon.
"Wow, who's bleeding heavily? Little Uncle, did you buy this?" A Zong was surprised to see the shrimp. Shrimp was incredibly expensive these days, costing about thirty to forty yuan per pound.
"It's not me, it's your old dad. Because you guys are paying for his birthday banquet, he's spending a bit to replenish it for you," Kang Er Zheng pointed his chin towards Kang Bo.
"Thanks, Dad," A Zong didn't hesitate to grab one and eat it.
"A Zong, where's your wife?" Kang Er Zheng also took a shrimp and peeled it to eat.
Rest assured, there was one fewer person in the house.
"She went out to buy some things. She'll be back soon," A Zong replied.
Kang Er Zheng nodded.
"Alright, Dad, besides the banquet, how about we brothers chip in and buy Dad a gift?" Da Lao Guang suggested.
"Alright, alright. I agree," A Zong had no objections.
"Dad, whatever you want, just ask," A Yao also agreed, looking at his father.
Kang Bo didn't speak.
"Dad, don't think too much about it. Nowadays, aren't there many senior citizen groups? You and Mom can sign up and go on a trip," Da Lao Guang suggested.
"Big brother, you're getting old. There are so many people everywhere, crowded. What if they bump into Dad?" A Zong didn't agree with the suggestion. He offered his own idea, "It's the Millennium now, we need to do something new. We brothers will chip in and buy Dad a gym membership. First, he can work out, and second, he can also use the sauna."
"A Zong, are you buying this for your dad or for yourself?" Kang Er Zheng directly exposed A Zong's intention.
"Of course, it's for Dad," A Zong replied nervously.
He was thinking, "I can sneak in and use it too."
"Sauna, I don't agree," Mama directly opposed.
She had a bad impression of saunas now.
Many saunas didn't look very respectable.
"No, no. This thing isn't suitable for me," Kang Bo quickly agreed.
"In my opinion, it's better to buy lottery tickets. If you win the grand prize, Dad will have a car to drive," A Yao said.
"You can dream. What if you don't win?" A Zu countered.
If it were that easy to win, who would still run a lottery booth?
"Don't think too much about it, just go on a trip," Da Lao Guang insisted on his idea.
"You guys can do whatever you want. Just make sure I'm included," A Zu reminded them.
"Don't worry, even if you want to escape, it won't work," the second brother replied.
"Old man, look how filial your sons are," Mama said to Kang Bo with a smile.
Kang Bo smiled happily.
It was worth raising them all these years.
"It's good that you have this kind of heart. But are you really serious about giving me a gift?" Kang Bo had already decided what he wanted.
"Of course we are," the brothers nodded in unison.
"Okay, since you say so. You guys also know, your grandfather's generation..." Kang Bo started talking about the past.
"I'll go serve the rice," A Zong interrupted as soon as he heard Dad mention Grandpa.
"Stinky boy," Kang Bo scolded.
"Your grandfather's generation was all rich, they were noble families, they opened a herb shop, and business was booming," Kang Bo continued.
The brothers had heard this story many times.
Kang Er Zheng, however, had never heard it before, so he was curious.
He had previously heard from Mom.
The Kang family was indeed very wealthy before.
Later, Kang Bo's father's generation split the family.
Kang Bo's father got the big house in the west section.
The herb shop and the houses and land in the countryside were divided among the other brothers.
"When you were kids..." Kang Bo continued.
"Alright, Dad, stop talking about when we were kids. I've heard it hundreds of times," A Zu said impatiently.
"Hundreds of times? Big brother and I have heard it thousands of times," A Zong laughed.
"This is the first time I'm hearing it. I'm curious too," Kang Er Zheng was different from the other brothers. He wanted to hear about their past.
"Little Uncle, when you have time, ask Dad to tell you about it alone," A Zong said to Kang Er Zheng.
He really didn't want to listen anymore.
Every time, Dad would talk from beginning to end, rambling on and on for hours.
"Okay, I'll ask Big Brother to tell me about it when he has time," Kang Er Zheng knew that the other brothers didn't want to listen.
"Alright," Kang Bo nodded.
"Since you don't want to hear about the past, let's talk about things in the present," Kang Bo brought the timeline closer. "Now the country is prosperous, and we have enough to eat and drink. We old people don't have any wishes, we just hope that you brothers will start your families. Second brother, you're very capable, you took the lead and had a child."
The second brother proudly raised his head and laughed loudly.
"Second brother has always been capable," A Yao shrugged.
"If you really want to give Dad a gift, then bring your future daughter-in-law to meet your future father-in-law," Dad revealed his purpose.
Hearing this.
A Zu, A Yao, and Da Lao Guang all paused their actions.
"Did you hear that? Tomorrow, you each bring a wife to Dad," The second brother commanded them.
"Dad, do you have to be in such a hurry? We're not crippled," A Yao tried to stall. "Finding a wife is easy."
"It is. There are so many people on the streets nowadays, it's either men or women. You'll be spoiled for choice," A Zu agreed.
"Finding a wife, do you think it's arranged marriage? Just pick anyone?" Kang Bo said impatiently.
"It shouldn't be difficult for you guys to find a wife, especially A Yao. You're a government official, and you look so handsome," Kang Er Zheng deliberately pointed at A Yao.
A Yao's mouth twitched.
He lowered his head to eat without saying anything.
"A Yao, you need to work hard. Find a suitable wife," Kang Bo also nodded and looked at A Yao.
His most satisfied son was A Yao.
Because he was an assistant department head.
He was considered an official.