At the beginning, he took his seven younger siblings to join Yi Zhonghai.

The family was chatting happily when another sound of footsteps came from the courtyard.

"Wow, Grandpa Yi's house is bustling with activity! I could hear the children crying from far away. Is this a welcome ceremony for my two younger brothers?"

A young man's nonchalant voice followed immediately.

With a flick of the curtain, Xu Damao peeked halfway in with a smile.

He was carrying a small net bag with two old hens inside.

This old hen, known as the "chicken butt bank," is more precious than meat during this festive season.

"Da Mao is here? Come in, come in quickly."

Yi Zhonghai greeted him with a cheerful smile.

"Auntie, congratulations! Congratulations!"

Xu Damao entered the room and first nodded and smiled at Bai Yushu, who was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Then he turned his gaze to the two babies, leaned closer to take a look, and exclaimed in amazement, "Hey, so handsome! Uncle Zhongding is so lucky!"

"Da Mao, where did you find this old hen? It's very valuable."

Yi Zhongding smiled and put the two liang back on the kang (a heated brick bed), then took the net bag that was handed to him.

"Hi, I was showing movies in the countryside a few days ago when I went out and I ran into Grandpa Yi and Grandma Yi going to the hospital. They said that Auntie was about to give birth."

"So this time when I went to the countryside, I was thinking of finding something nutritious, and I just happened to come across these two old hens."

"Don't worry, I definitely got it myself. It wasn't given to me by a fellow villager. I showed four more movies to that village and traded it with the village chief."

Xu Damao held his head high and puffed out his chest, laughing triumphantly.

"You're so thoughtful."

Yi Zhongding handed the old hen to his sister-in-law, remembering this favor.

Xu Damao's favors were even better than Yan Laoxi's, so he accepted them without hesitation.

At worst, we can treat him when he can no longer have children.

That's a greater kindness than that of two old hens.

"Oh, I was worried you wouldn't accept it. I was even thinking of shamelessly dumping it here and running away."

When Xu Damao saw that Yi Zhongding had accepted his gift, his smile became even wider than before.

"I have to think twice about what others give me, but I'll accept whatever you, Xu Damao, give me, no matter how much. Your father gave me a jar of old wine, and I accepted that too."

Yi Zhongding smiled warmly.

"Hehe, that's great! Hey, what did that silly Zhu give us? It's definitely not as good as what I gave you."

Xu Damao smiled happily, then his eyes darted around a few times before he asked softly.

"Why are you always comparing yourself to him? The fact that he even came shows me respect. We're all equally good."

Yi Zhongding smiled and said.

"Alright, then I won't ask. It's not that I want to compare myself to him, it's just that that stinky chef is too annoying. He's just a level two chef, but he acts like he's something special all the time."

"Just you wait, once I get promoted to a proper cadre position in the propaganda department of the steel rolling mill, I'll make him feel utterly ashamed."

Xu Damao rolled his eyes several times, looking at the main courtyard with a disdainful expression.

Xu Damao teased the younger children for a bit, chatted with Yi Zhonghai for a few moments, and then tactfully took his leave.

"Alright, I won't disturb your rest any longer, Auntie. I'll have a proper drink with you after the baby's one-month celebration!"

"These two red envelopes are to bring good fortune to my two younger brothers."

As Xu Damao spoke, he took out two red envelopes and placed them on the table. Before Yi Zhongding could speak, he quickly ran away.

He looked as if he was afraid Yi Zhongding would return the red envelope to him.

"This Da Mao, although he is usually glib-tongued, is no less skilled in social interactions than his father, and he is even more generous than his father."

"No young man in that courtyard can compare to him in this respect. It's a pity that he's just like his father in terms of character. Otherwise, he might have achieved great things."

Yi Zhonghai looked at the two old hens that he had brought to the door and said with a light laugh.

"This kid is indeed good at social skills and has a sharp tongue, but what you said is also true, brother. However, we don't need to worry about this. No matter what tricks he has up his sleeve, he wouldn't dare to use them on us."

Yi Zhongding also smiled and echoed.

"Why would I be afraid of that? Even his father wasn't a man of any standing in my hands."

Yi Zhonghai wiped his nose and said in a deliberately arrogant tone.

Yi Zhongding had no doubt about what he said.

Do you think the Moral Celestial is joking?

Do you think it's a joke that Nanluoguxiang has an invincible golden statue?

Xu Damao had barely left when footsteps echoed in the yard again.

This time there were two groups, one in front of the other, neither moving very fast.

"Is Zhonghai home? I've come to ask for a drink at his wedding!"

A slightly aged but powerful voice rang out in the courtyard.

Upon hearing the voice, Yi Zhongding knew it was the deaf old lady who lived in the backyard, and he quickly got up to greet her.

"Grandma, why did you come all the way here? It's windy outside. You could have just had someone pass on a message."

Yi Zhongding took a few steps out of the house.

Sure enough, they saw the deaf old lady leaning on her cane, slowly walking through the moon gate.

She also had a bamboo basket slung over her wrist, swaying gently.

Yi Zhongding quickly stepped forward and took her basket.

Regardless of their relationship status, the deaf old lady had just helped him out of a predicament at the gate, and now she had come to congratulate him in person.

Yi Zhongding should accept this gesture.

"What? Can't this old woman come and see? Your wife gave your Yi family two big, healthy boys. I've received a lot of help from your family, so I have to come and see."

The deaf old lady deliberately put on a stern face, but the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were full of smiles.

"Yes, yes, yes, of course it's great! Please come inside, it's warm inside."

Yi Zhongding smiled and stepped forward, gently supporting the old lady's arm as he led her into the house.

The deaf old lady entered the room, first nodding to Bai Yushu on the bed as a greeting, and then went straight to the two babies.

She didn't reach out to touch it. Instead, she bent down, squinted, and examined it carefully for a while before straightening up and nodding emphatically.

"Good! With full foreheads, straight noses, and thick earlobes, these two children are blessed."

"These two lads have a heroic air about them; they're destined for greatness."

The deaf old lady said with great certainty.

She spoke with such certainty, as if she were proclaiming some important conclusion.

Yi Zhonghai and Tan Xiulian stood aside, listening with smiles, and their smiles only grew brighter at the deaf old lady's auspicious words.

Having lived through decades of turbulent times and met countless people, the old lady's words often held some truth.

However, no one took it too seriously, considering it just the old man's auspicious words.

But the deaf old lady herself did not think so.

Of course, she didn't really think that the two children had any "destiny".

Rather, she was well aware that Yi Zhongding was no ordinary person and that his future achievements would only grow greater.

As his sons, as long as these two little guys aren't stupid, they'll be quite remarkable in the future if they follow in their father's footsteps.

This judgment is based on the father's respect for the son.

This also shows that the deaf old lady was truly insightful, understanding the underlying logic of the world and the human heart.