Chapter 510: The hierarchy in a family.
She passed by her parent’s house, needing to see them and her brother Chi Wei who she was fully aware of was home. The minute she saw her father, Chi Lian used her childish voice to call, "Father."
"Eh, Chi-Chi, you are back." Papa Chi quickly hugged her. "Why didn’t you make a call? We would have told the chef to prepare for you something to eat. Is your husband coming too?"
"No father, I came alone because I missed you. I have not seen you and mother for two weeks now. I feel like I have been a very bad daughter."
"Eh," Papa Chi scratched his newly grown beard. Ever since he started growing one he enjoyed acting pretentious about it by closing his eyes and scratching it. Chi Lian was giving it one more week before her mother made him trim it off.
"Nice beard father, it has grown significantly longer since I last saw you." she laughed softly.
"Thank you my good daughter, your brothers are of the opinion that it doesn’t suit me but I knew you would side with me. By the way, we saw each other at your tea shop last week so why are you saying that it has been two weeks?"
"Right." Chi Lian nodded, "We saw each other briefly. Father, is grandfather around? I have some things I would like to discuss with him."
Papa Chi shook his head, telling her no. "Your grandparents are living in their home, it will look like favoritism if they spend all their time here without ever visiting your uncles and aunts. Are you looking for him because you want to speak to him about your brother’s marriage?" Papa Chi had the feeling that either old tiger or spider had told his daughter about it. They told her about everything that occurred at home faithfully.
"Mmm," she nodded. "I was so surprised to hear that he is discussing Chi Wei’s marriage. Why is grandpa in a hurry to see Chi Wei marry? Is there a special reason?" Until now, she had failed to think about what kind of reasoning the old man was using.
Papa Chi sighed and asked Chi Lian to sit down. Seeing him sigh like this, she wondered how much this issue was weighing on him.
"What is it father? Is the issue serious?" she pressed him for answers.
"It’s not that it’s serious but your grandfather is not a man that can easily be dissuaded once he makes his mind up about something. According to him, even in families there must be a hierarchy. Wei is the oldest son and future patriarch, his wife will be the matriarch. Your grandfather says that before Chi Rui marries Wei should marry first in order for the family to have proper order in future. This is the kind of thing that used to be done in the ancient days, I did not think that it could still be applied today.