The first lunar month is for making the rounds of the relatives.

Old Xu was an only child, so in past years not many relatives came by the house during the first month.

But this year was different.

Somehow, word had gotten out that Xu Ye was a big boss now. Early on the third day of the new year, a whole crowd showed up at the house. Just after eight, Xu Ye was woken by the noise in the living room. He got dressed and came out to see. The living room was full of people he didn't know, and the air was thick with cigarette smoke. He frowned at once.

"Xiangdong, looks like your son doesn't even know who we are."

It was a middle-aged woman sitting off to the side. She was smiling at Xu Ye, but she said it to Old Xu.

Old Xu had no choice but to introduce them. "Xiao Ye, this is your aunt, my cousin's wife. And these two are my cousins, your uncles."

Xu Ye didn't remember any of them. But he could see the disgust written all over Old Zhang's face, and he knew these people had definitely shown up uninvited. So he yawned, turned around and walked straight into the bathroom.

Old Xu had stopped having anything to do with them long ago. Who knew what wind had blown them in this year, but they'd come straight over without so much as a call. They were family, after all, so Old Xu couldn't very well throw them out. He'd had no choice but to grit his teeth and host them. He'd assumed they'd sit for a while and leave, but they showed no sign of going anywhere.

Xu Ye hadn't even said hello before disappearing into the bathroom. The aunt who'd popped up out of nowhere spoke up at once. "Xiangdong, now that you've moved into the city, you should still come home and visit sometimes. Come see us more. Look at your son, looking at us like we're strangers… We all grew from the same root, you know.…