"Uncle, auntie, this is so rice grain I portioned for you both, and this jar is pickled vegetables that our nanny, Aunt Luo, helped prepare," Xu Xiuxiu said as she set down the items in the living room, placing the jar beside them. "She’s skilled and the taste is pretty good, too. We have plenty at ho, so I thought I’d bring a jar over for you. It’s not easy to go out to buy groceries in this weather; this jar of pickles will be great with als!"
"Girl, thank you so much for your thoughtful kindness. We’re just two old folks not sure how to repay your generosity," the old lady said, her pleasant face beaming with a smile. It seed she suddenly rembered that Xu Xiuxiu and the others might not know their nas, so she introduced herself, "Look at , so busy welcoming and bothering you all that I forgot to introduce myself. My na is Su Ya, and this is my husband, Zheng Baochuan. We’re just an old couple, you’re all younger, just call us uncle and auntie, that’s fine."
"Mhm." Zheng Baochuan also nodded solemnly and cleared his throat in agreent with Aunt Su Ya’s introduction, his eyes then riveted on the boy and girl twins and Song Chengguang, who were sitting across from them on the sofa, shining brightly.
"Alright then, Uncle and Auntie, let introduce my family to you," Xu Xiuxiu continued, smiling. "This is my younger sister-in-law, Song Yuan Yao, and this is my little brother-in-law, Song Yuanming; they’re here on sumr vacation to visit Z city. This is my sister, Xu Jingjing; and these three on the sofa are my children. They are the twins, and this is Song Chengguang, my eldest son. My na is Xu Xiuxiu. You can call whatever you like, Xiuxiu or Miss Xiu is fine." Then, she rembered Song Yuanhuan, "My husband had to step out for so business today; I’ll introduce him to you another ti when we have the chance."
"Sure, since we’re the older couple, we’ll just go ahead and call you by your nas!" Su Ya said seriously, yet in a teasing manner.
"Of course." Xu Xiuxiu smiled and nodded.
Zheng Baochuan, in the middle of the chat between Xu Xiuxiu and Su Ya, was quietly beaming at the adorably dazed children sitting on the sofa, then he spoke heartily, "You really are blessed! Having three children at ho, it must be very lively, right?" he said, his eyes and tone full of envy.
Although Xu Xiuxiu hadn’t interacted much with the old couple, she knew they were usually just the two of them at ho, rarely having lively tis, and their daily life must be quite quiet and deserted.
Moreover, elderly people usually have a natural affection for little children, and the twins were so cute and chubby, Song Chengguang also adorable with delicate features. Not to ntion anything else, just the children’s cherubic faces alone were enough to attract a whole bunch of grandparents—didn’t you see them adored by a plethora of elderly n and won when they went downstairs for evening walks around the neighborhood?
So, it wasn’t a surprise to her that Uncle Zheng would say such things.
"They can be quite a handful! It’s all thanks to their young age and ignorance. Feed them and take care of them well, and they’re fine for the day. But once they get a bit older and can run and jump around, the walls of this house, they’ll certainly be brought down with noise," Xu Xiuxiu joked in response.
"It’s good for kids to be lively!" said Zheng Baochuan, his voice filled with emotion. "And I can tell these three children are going to be promising. With eyebrows like the crescent moon, they’re sure to never lack food or clothing, to have dangling earlobes and strong noses, signs of abundant fortune and prosperity. Look how well they are growing, so smart and charming." As Zheng Baochuan complinted the children, he gestured for Song Chengguang to co closer, "Child, co over here to grandpa, let’s have a chat, how about that?" Although he was trying to please, there was an enticing tone to his suggestion.
"Pfft!" The family burst into good-natured laughter at the scene.
"Don’t mind him, the old man just loves children," Su Ya kindly continued to explain, worried that Xu Xiuxiu might feel put off.
"I know, it’s alright, Cheng Guang doesn’t recognize strangers either," Xu Xiuxiu shook her head to show it didn’t matter to her.
Persuaded by Zheng Baochuan, Song Chengguang agreed naively, "Okay, Grandpa." Song Chengguang readily agreed, slid off the couch, and then reluctantly left the side of his sister, Little Baby, to sit by Grandpa Zheng’s couch. "Grandpa, I can’t chat with you for too long, my sister likes , and if I stay away too long, she’ll be unhappy," Song Chengguang declared with a serious face, talking nonsense.
His innocent words imdiately had everyone in the living room laughing again at his earnest seriousness.
"Okay, okay," Zheng Baochuan nodded with laughter, "How about you bring your sister over to sit with us too, is that okay?" Zheng Baochuan was extrely patient, his gaze full of tenderness as he coaxed Song Chengguang.
"..." Song Chengguang pondered with a serious face, "But my sister doesn’t want to be separated from her brother, and since they’re boy and girl twins, sitting apart will make them unhappy." Song Chengguang fretted over the idea.
"Well, you could just bring your brother over to Grandpa’s side to sit together," Zheng Baochuan continued to coax Song Chengguang with patience.
"Sure!" Song Chengguang was easily persuaded by Zheng Baochuan and nodded with a beaming smile.
"..."
The onlookers in the living room fell silent.
Actually, it wouldn’t have been so troubleso, there was really no need to move all three children around, Old Zheng could have simply sat next to the three kids himself! Xu Xiuxiu watched Old Zheng carefully move the twins, then silently coordinated with Song Chengguang with a smile, feeling sowhat embarrassed by the thought.
Perhaps everyone in the living room had the sa thought but didn’t have the heart to say it out loud, and then everyone pretended not to notice. However, Old Zheng really got along well with the three children, and the living room beca lively, a departure from its previous dullness.
The weather was enough to make one feel irritable and uneasy, and knowing that the elderly couple would be cooking alone upon returning, Xu Xiuxiu insisted they stay for lunch at her place. At first, the elders felt a bit embarrassed to decline but, seeing that Xu Xiuxiu was genuinely sincere, they did not put on airs and agreed to stay.
After the al, the relationship between the elderly couple and everyone, including Xu Xiuxiu, ward significantly. Of course, between people, as long as there is a real desire to get along well, it is actually quite easy, so it was not surprising that everyone beca familiar with one another. Even Zheng Baochuan, because he especially adored children, ca to Xu Xiuxiu’s ho early the next morning to spend ti with the three kids, and then beca even more enthusiastically frequent in his visits.
As for this, Xu Xiuxiu also extended a warm welco. It wasn’t just that the elders were cultured people, exuding an aura that was quite convincing, but also, Xu Xiuxiu could feel Zheng Baochuan’s affection for her children. Knowing soone genuinely cared for her children, Xu Xiuxiu naturally wouldn’t turn them away, and therefore she was all the more welcoming of the elders’ visits.
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