Rebirth Counterattack with Space
Chapter 237 - 229: Gaining Favorability

Chapter 237: Chapter 229: Gaining Favorability

"Xuan signifies brightness, grandeur, and prominence. Both your grandfather and I felt this name suits you well,"

Zhang Min wiped away her tears and lovingly said to Shitou, "We only found out about your existence yesterday, and your grandfather spent the whole night thinking about your name. However, if you’re not comfortable with it, we can just change your surname to Pei Xin."

"Pei Xuan is very good," Shitou was indifferent; to him, a name was just a tag, as those close to him almost always called him Shitou. ’Pei Xuan,’ having been carefully considered by his grandfather all night, was naturally something he didn’t want to reject. Besides, he indeed liked the meaning behind the character ’Xuan.’

"Then it’s settled."

Seeing Shitou nod, Pei Qingyuan was also pleased. He began gathering the identification reports from the table and said, "I’ll handle this. I’ll have someone tipped off, then get all the records with Shitou’s name changed and add a note. The Lu family must be informed, too. Shitou, you should go tell them yourself tomorrow. Also, tell them that we’ve taken a liking to the little girl."

"Yes, tell her that we all particularly like her as our granddaughter-in-law. It’s just a pity that you’ll have to wait two more years before you can get married. Why don’t we hold an engagement celebration for you both? It can serve to introduce you two as a couple to family and friends, and let them know that you’re a child of the Pei family," Zhang Min added.

Zhang Min felt a stir in her heart, the more she thought about it, the more she saw it as an opportunity to establish her newly returned grandson’s rightful place in public. She looked at Pei Qingyuan expectantly, seeking his opinion.

Pei Qingyuan had the same intention; his grandson was so outstanding, and acknowledging his ancestry was a significant event.

He nodded slightly to Zhang Min, "Indeed, it’s natural that we inform everyone of Shitou’s return." He then addressed Shitou, "Invite your father-in-law’s family over tomorrow evening. On one hand, we need to express our gratitude for their many years of care for you and your father, and on the other, we can formally meet the in-laws and discuss how to handle the engagement party and what their requirements might be."

"Yes, they’ve been a huge help over the years." Zhang Min quickly nodded and turned to the others, "You’ll need to come back early tomorrow evening no matter how busy you are."

"Mom, don’t worry; it’s important, and I’ll definitely be back early," Pei Shaohua readily agreed.

Pei Kun also nodded repeatedly, "Grandma, even if knives were falling from the sky, I wouldn’t dare delay."

"You’re so glib."

Zhang Min was immediately amused by Pei Kun and tapped his head, pushing him away. "Get aside now; stop holding up important matters." She then pulled Shitou over and started asking him all about their preferences, "Shitou, tell me what each of them likes to eat..."

"To think I’ve been cast aside." Pei Kun, who’d developed the habit of teasing Zhang Min, noticed that her sorrowful mood had shifted, so he naturally started to mutter in a very low voice, pretending to be downcast as he stepped aside.

Seeing his "comical" demeanor, Ding Luoluo couldn’t help but pinch him discreetly and gave him a stealthy glare—now’s not the time for jokes, didn’t he realize that?

Getting pinched and glared at by his wife, Pei Kun immediately understood her point and flashed her a mischievously charming smile, quickly adopting a more "solemn" demeanor. His feigned seriousness only earned him another glare from Ding Luoluo, who eventually turned her head away in exasperation, joining Zhang Min and Shitou to discuss what to eat the next evening.

As the conversation went on, somehow, the topic drifted back to Lu Yun. Zhang Min and Ding Luoluo noticed that whenever Lu Yun was mentioned, Shitou became especially spirited, and he unconsciously spoke a lot more.

The two women shared a smile and led him on, so Shitou took the opportunity to share various daily anecdotes, mentioning that Lu Yun was the first to discover the ginseng, that she had accompanied them to sell it and had tricked the pharmacy master. He also highlighted how Lu Yun had always excelled academically, eventually becoming the top scholar in the college entrance examination—all to win Zhang Min’s esteem on her behalf.

After listening to Shitou’s stories, Zhang Min and Ding Luoluo’s regard for Lu Yun indeed increased significantly.

--

At 7:10 in the morning the next day, everyone was gathered together for breakfast when Shitou suddenly walked in.

Seeing him enter, Lu Yun, Lu Aiguo, Xia Yuan, and the second uncle and aunt of the Lu Family were both surprised and felt it was within reason.

"Have you eaten breakfast?" Xia Yuan didn’t bother asking anything else, prioritizing the important matter at hand.

"Not yet. Has Jinsheng left for school?"

Shitou peeked at the breakfast spread on the table, noting the variety, which included soy milk, deep-fried dough sticks, oil cakes, boiled eggs, fried eggs, two plates of stir-fried vegetables, dried radish, congee, millet porridge, pork buns, steamed buns...

He reached out directly and grabbed a pork bun from the table, eating as he headed to the kitchen.

"Yes," Xia Yuan replied with a smile, nodding her head, "he has to leave at seven every morning now."

"You, eating with your hands before washing them?" Lu Yun gave Shitou a disdainful glare. Shitou stuffed the pork bun into his mouth in just a few bites, turned around with a smile, "I’m going to wash them now."

Soon after, he came out of the kitchen with a bowl and chopsticks, took a seat next to Lu Yun, and showed her his still somewhat wet hands. "Look, I’ve washed them." He had the look of someone wanting praise.

The others couldn’t help but laugh. Lu Yun, slightly annoyed, pushed him, "You’re not a child anymore, no need for someone to keep reminding you."

"What’s all the fuss about?" Xia Yuan said with a laugh as she glanced at Lu Yun.

"Exactly, back when we were living in the mountains..." Lu Aiguo also supported Shitou but was cut off mid-sentence by Xia Yuan shoving a pork bun into his mouth, "You just eat your own, why show off about not being fussy?"

Lu Aiguo, with his mouth stuffed full of pork bun, couldn’t speak and had to take a bite before he dared to make another sound.

The second uncle and aunt of the Lu Family watched Lu Aiguo with concealed amusement as he struggled.

Lu Yun looked at Shitou with a small, smug smile, clearly thinking--see, Mom still stands by my side.

Shitou didn’t mind at all and chuckled. He served himself a bowl of millet porridge and took an egg, tapping it on the table to crack the shell. "I came back yesterday at noon, got taken straight to the Pei Family. The results of the DNA test came out last night, it’s confirmed now that my dad is the eldest son of the Pei Family."

"As expected, we all said that there couldn’t be such a coincidence in this world. It’s one thing to look alike, but to have such similar experiences too. We felt there was a nine out of ten chance. It’s unfortunate for you..."

The second uncle of the Lu Family sighed, paused, and then continued, "No matter what, having a day to recognize your ancestors and return to your roots is something your parents in heaven will find comforting."