He refused to accept them. I said, "Thanks to your support over the years. Otherwise, our family wouldn't have made it to today. These cigarettes are just a small token of my appreciation."
My mother said, "Take it. It's a cigarette of respect from your nephew."
What was originally a joyous occasion turned sour when my aunt said, "We don't want them. These are fake cigarettes!"
The joy on my uncle's face faded, my parents' faces turned ugly, and at this moment, my father's sister stepped in to defuse the situation. "Sister-in-law, your words are too harsh. William has grown up under our care since he was young. By saying that, aren't you undermining his dignity?"
My father's sister has been fond of me since I was young, but with so many people around her, she couldn't directly criticize, so she had to try to smooth things over.
Lucy also noticed that my aunt was at odds with our family and looked at me with some concern. I patted her hand to reassure her.
