On Christmas Day, Gilbert and his entire family celebrated a grand holiday together at Melon Manor.
As the head of the family, Gilbert led everyone in giving blessings and prayers before dividing the roast turkey.
In fact, compared with traditional poultry like chicken, duck, and goose, turkey meat isn't particularly delicious. In many rural areas in China, families raise turkeys mainly to drive away birds of prey and protect their other poultry, not for eating.
As for why turkeys are eaten on Christmas, there's a story behind that. It is said that in sixteenth-century England, there was a king named Henry VIII who became very interested in turkeys because of a hunting trip.
During one hunt, Henry VIII discovered a turkey that actually dared to fight back.
So Henry VIII brought this brave turkey back to the palace, and to reward its courage, he personally cooked it.
As for why turkeys would appear in sixteenth-century England, one can only say that stories are often artistically embellished. And by that time, the Age of Exploration had already begun, so turkeys arriving in Europe wasn't strange.
Coincidentally, the main dish for Thanksgiving is also turkey. The reason traces back to the seventeenth century, when a group of colonists traveled from Europe to North America and were suffering from cold and hunger.
At that moment, a flock of turkeys suddenly appeared. The colonists roasted them and ate until they were full. Later, to express gratitude and remembrance, Thanksgiving was established, and turkey became the holiday's signature dish.
Those from different cultural backgrounds feel surprised when hearing this story for the first time, wondering if it sounds somewhat ungrateful.
From these two folk stories, one can also see a core viewpoint within Western society: the strong prey on the weak; the fittest survive.
A certain famous person once said: one must become someone who solves problems, not someone who becomes part of the problem.
Although this famous person was correct and indeed reflected the essence of Western society, he was still harshly criticized.
After dinner, the children happily opened their presents in front of the enormous Christmas tree.
Cameron Diaz, who was in charge of hosting the whole banquet, proudly said, "I pre-ordered this Christmas tree ahead of time. It was specially transported from Canada."
Gilbert acknowledged it but still expressed confusion: "It does look nice, but why did you hang two big red lanterns on the tree? It feels a little creepy."
"This is called combining East and West. I heard Chinese people hang lanterns and paste couplets during the New Year." Cameron Diaz then instructed Gilbert, "Help me stick the couplets on. I specially asked someone to write them."
Gilbert pasted the couplets and, after stepping back, saw that they were in Chinese. He laughed and said, "I thought you would have them written in English."
Naomi Watts laughed. "Chinese has a special charm. I've been learning it recently, but I'm not as good as you."
Ever since Gilbert made his decision, Naomi Watts and Cameron Diaz, who had reduced their workload, began preparing for the future, and learning Chinese was one part of that.
But when it came to learning Chinese, the children were actually better than their mothers—probably because kids learn faster.
After hanging the couplets and sending the children to bed, the women gathered around Gilbert in the living room to chat.
Noriko Sakai spoke first: "Actually, we can also go to the Japan. It's not bad there."
Ivanka disagreed. "Noriko, the Japan is deeply influenced by the United States. If we fail, it won't be safe there. Only China will be."
"That's right. Besides, we definitely won't fail. I believe in you, Gilbert." Scarlett had always been confident.
Gilbert reassured the group of women. "Don't worry. Nothing will happen to us."
Ivanka was the only one deeply involved in the plan and knew the details, but she didn't reveal them. Instead, she said, "Yes, everything is already arranged. But for the next few years, our family's life may not be very easy. Everyone needs to be prepared."
Charlize Theron, always generous and calm, said, "We're mentally prepared. I think China is great. I've been there many times."
Jennifer Connelly and Anne Hathaway also expressed their stance one after another, saying they would firmly stand with the family.
Gilbert was a little moved. There's an old saying: Husband and wife are birds sharing the same forest; in times of danger, they fly their separate ways.
But these women—regardless of their reasons for being with him—were willing to stand by him during such a difficult moment.
This gave Gilbert even more reasons not to lose or retreat.
Unifying the family's mindset was extremely important. A stable rear base was the foundation for fighting on the front line. If the back garden caught fire, Gilbert would have a much harder time.
When it was time to rest that night, Gilbert did not have everyone sleep together under one blanket. Instead, he stayed in Naomi Watts's room. As the eldest among the women, Naomi Watts carried the air of an empress from ancient China.
Generally speaking, the "prime years" of Western women are short, and many actresses experience a dramatic drop in their appearance after turning thirty. Even with technology, most Western actresses start showing signs of fatigue after thirty-five.
Naomi Watts was one of the few who escaped the burden of age, maintaining an exceptionally long prime.
She was two years older than Gilbert. Though petite, her delicate features and the rare tight, smooth skin—unusual among Western women—made Gilbert deeply fond of her.
After giving birth to their eldest son, Ilian, Naomi Watts starred in King Kong and still captivated countless men. People on the internet jokingly said she was a woman charming enough to make King Kong do anything for her.
After they finished their quiet time together, Naomi Watts rested her head on Gilbert's chest, listening to the strong rhythm of his heartbeat.
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