Time flies like an arrow, and before we know it, it's almost the end of 1972.

This year has had its good and bad moments, with different stories unfolding every day.

At the end of March, the young man fully recovered and returned to the team. Recently, there has been good news: he may be getting a promotion. Also, Ah Xiang gave birth to a big, healthy baby boy, weighing 6.8 pounds. When he was born, both of them together weighed the same as one other person.

Lu Shuxin, who got married, is doing well. She doesn't need to work to earn work points anymore; instead, she's doing temporary work and is reportedly pregnant.

The biggest changes this year were to Pingping and An'an.

He's grown a lot taller and heavier, and looks chubby, but not fat; he has that baby fat look, which is very cute.

They've talked a lot, and can now speak in complete sentences with clear pronunciation. Especially An'an, she can talk non-stop, sometimes even making sense when she's being unreasonable.

Yu Yin and Lu Shurui's relationship has also become more stable. Over the past three years, they have worked well together and are both moving in a positive direction, reaping many rewards.

"An'an, slow down, don't bump into anyone."

This is a scene that plays out every day. After get off work, when I pick up my child from school, An'an is like a little colt that has broken free of its reins, running wild and unrestrained, and I can't stop her no matter how much I call her.

Yu Yin was exhausted. She wanted to be a lady today, wearing a light, breathable floral dress sent by her second sister, Lu Erjie—very flowy and elegant. But she ruined her look the moment she saw An'an. She got so excited that her voice almost cracked. That brat, she's a master at making her mother miserable.

"I could hear your voices from far away."

"Sister Yixian, out for a walk?"

Yu Yin ignored the little brat and ran into the Chu family's house next door.

"Yes, your brother Chu came back early today. He ate after picking up the kids. He ate a bit too much, so he came out to digest."

"You need to exercise more, then you'll be fine."

Su Yixian and her husband wanted a daughter, so they had their third child.

"That's what I think too. Yangyang and his wife had a pretty smooth delivery back then, and my mother-in-law was keeping an eye on me. Yu Yin, Pingping and An'an are older now, aren't you planning to have any more children?"

"Sister Yixian, I had a difficult childbirth when I gave birth to them, and I almost lost all three of us. The doctor said that my body was damaged and the chance of me getting pregnant again is almost zero."

"Oh, I see!"

Su Yixian has been here for over a year and knows only a limited number of people. She prefers to stay at home and has almost no friends except for Yu Yin. She really hadn't heard about this.

"It's okay, I don't plan to have any more children. These two are enough for me. Having more would be too much!"

"Hehe...you're so funny."

"Sister Yixian, I have to go home and cook. Tell my two little ones to come back later, and keep them away from my An'an. Those kids are unruly when they're running wild, so please make sure they don't run into you."

"Alright, go ahead and cook. I'm keeping an eye on things."

Yu Yin hurried home to change her clothes, wash her hands, and cook, but soon complained of being hungry again.

It's late tonight, so I'll just make some simple pickled bamboo shoot rice noodles, add a few poached eggs, and I'm all set.

"What are we having for dinner? What about the children?"

Lu Shurui put her things away, but couldn't see the two children. She went to the kitchen, where Yu Yin was busy cooking.

"I chatted with Sister Yixian for a while after get off work. It's late, so I'll make some pickled bamboo shoot rice noodles. Go next door and call them back; I'm going to make the rice noodles."

"I'll go right away."

Yu Yin deftly cooked the rice noodles, then opened a can of meat, sliced ​​it, added a few eggs, pickled bamboo shoots, and a handful of greens. The rice noodles, a perfect combination of meat and vegetables, were ready—a convenient and easy meal.

"Mom, I'm hungry."

"Mom, what do you want to eat?"

Two children, as big as calves, rushed in and almost bumped into Yu Yin.

"Slow down, running around in the kitchen like that, do you want to get a beating?"

Yu Yin was startled and realized she wasn't holding anything, or she would have burned herself.

"I'm sorry, I was wrong."

"Mom, I won't do it again next time."

The two little rascals admit their mistakes quickly, but they also repeat them just as quickly.

I don't know if it's the rebellious phase that parenting experts talk about in children, with three years old being a typical timeframe. Even Pingping, who is usually quiet, has become much more unruly, driving Yu Yin to the brink of exploding.

"Go wash your hands and eat. Walk slowly."

This is my own child, I've told myself countless times, otherwise, I really couldn't stand it. This child isn't even seven or eight years old and already so annoying! Sometimes Yu Yin is glad she couldn't have children, otherwise, she'd go crazy!

After finishing their meal, Lu Shurui cleaned up the kitchen, and Yu Yin had already given An'an a bath.

"Give Pingping a bath, and then it's time for her to go to sleep."

"Okay, I'll go call him. Pingping, come and take a bath."

"They're here."

By the time the family was in bed, it was already past eight o'clock. Lu Shurui sat by the children's bedside and was reading them bedtime stories.

Yu Yin lay in bed, feeling weak all over, as if she had just finished a marathon. When will her child grow up?

"Asleep?"

"They're asleep, they're all snoring."

Lu Shurui lay on the bed and casually massaged Yu Yin's shoulders.

"Mmm, that feels good. Use a little more force."

Is that so?

"Yes, that's it."

Yu Yin squinted, enjoying Lu Shurui's service.

“Yu Yin, let’s go back to Shanghai for Chinese New Year this year. Grandpa and Grandma are getting old, and I want to go back to see them and let the kids see the elderly too. It just so happens that Shuqi is going back this year as well, and he can help carry things on the way.”

"Okay, I'll take a few more days off then and have a good look around the legendary Bund and broaden my horizons."

Yu Yin's idea was to use this opportunity to monetize the resources in the space. This was a rare opportunity; who knew when she'd get another chance?

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