That day, Gu Mingyue was playing with Chenchen's dolls on the playmat when footsteps came from the courtyard gate.

Looking up, I saw Luo Haiping pushing two children in a stroller and carrying a cloth bag: "Mingyue, bring the children to keep Chenchen company."

Gu Mingyue welcomed them with open arms. Luo Haiping's two little girls were so lovely and charming that they were hard not to like them.

She put the children on the playmat, and the three little ones immediately huddled together, grabbing toys from each other's hands and tugging at each other's little shirts, their giggling laughter filling the yard.

Luo Haiping sat on a bamboo chair, opened the cloth bag to reveal the fabric inside: "Our factory recently produced a batch of flawed fabric, mostly with minor inconsistencies in the pattern or slightly off-color. It would be a waste to throw them away, but I thought you're skillful, so I'm asking if you want them."

Gu Mingyue reached out and touched it. The fabric was thick and durable. Although there were minor flaws, it did not affect its daily use.

“Yes, this cloth is so practical.” Gu Mingyue’s eyes lit up. “It’s perfect for making some coarse cloth clothes for work, and for everyday tasks like picking vegetables and cooking. They won’t get dirty. I can also make two smocks for Chenchen. He loves to climb around now, so if he wears the smocks over his clothes, he can just wash them when they get dirty, which is so convenient.”

Luo Haiping smiled and nodded: "I knew you'd find it useful. I've saved a lot of this fabric for you. I'll have my husband deliver it to you later."

As they were talking, Chenchen, who was on the playmat, suddenly grabbed a small piece of cloth and stuffed it into Luo Haiping's child's hand. The three little ones looked at each other and smiled, then continued to roll around in a ball.

Luo Haiping looked at the three children making a fuss. She then remembered the arranged marriage they had discussed back then, "Luckily, I didn't agree to it back then, otherwise I really wouldn't know what to do with the two children now."

Gu Mingyue was both amused and exasperated. "That's exactly right."

At the time, they didn't know that Luo Haiping was pregnant with twins. If they had actually arranged a marriage between their children, they wouldn't have known whether she should be with the eldest or the second child.

"Da Shuang and Xiao Shuang are such good babies, they never cry or fuss. This is the greatest happiness God has given me. Just the other day, my aunt advised me to have another son while I'm still young, but I won't." Luo Haiping pouted.

She's not stupid. Her two children are still young. If she has another one, can the family afford it? The physical damage alone would be enormous.

Despite not having had much formal education, she has a very clear understanding of this subject.

Back in my hometown, there was a sister-in-law who became pregnant again not long after giving birth, which ultimately led to the deaths of both mother and child. Just thinking about it makes me terrified.

Her mother-in-law wasn't a sexist, and her husband said it didn't matter whether she had children or not; her health was the most important thing.

Whether it's sincere or not, the fact that they said those words makes me feel good just hearing them; at least they've done their part.

When people advised her to have children, Luo Haiping just smiled and remained silent.

Gu Mingyue didn't expect that her child had only been born for a short time before people were already advising her to have a second child. "This is too scary."

"It's normal that you didn't hear me."

Gu Mingyue's first child was a son, and she will probably be pressured to have a second child as well, but it might be a bit late. They will probably come up with a different excuse then.

People say that having both a son and a daughter is the best, and no matter what, there will always be people pressuring you to get pregnant.

Humans are strange like that; they always have an inexplicable possessiveness towards other people's things.

Just thinking about that scene made Gu Mingyue shudder.

He is not opposed to having children. He hopes to have a child with the person he loves, a child born out of mutual happiness, rather than having the child under pressure from others, as that would be unfair to everyone.

A few days later, Luo Haiping asked her husband, Wang Erniu, to deliver the fabric.

"Comrade Wang, thank you so much for making this trip. Here are the money."

Wang Erniu laughed and said, "No need to be polite, it's nothing. You go ahead and I'll head back now."

Gu Mingyue carried the fabric and hugged Chenchen as she walked back.

A gentle sea breeze was blowing. Chenchen, perched on her shoulder with her little head tilted, suddenly uttered a muffled syllable: "ma~ma~"

Gu Mingyue stopped abruptly, her heart pounding as if struck by something.

She looked down at Chenchen and tentatively called out to him, "Chenchen, call me again?"

Chenchen blinked and then gave a soft, sweet hum: "ma~"

Although the voice was still unclear this time, the tone was clearly that of someone calling for their mother.

Gu Mingyue's eyes instantly reddened, she tightened her grip on Chenchen's arm, and quickly walked into the house.

"Lu Lin," Gu Mingyue's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement, "Listen, Chenchen can call me 'Mom' now."

At this moment, Lu Lin had just returned from training and was sitting in the yard wiping his military uniform.

Lu Lin quickly put down the cloth in his hand, walked over and picked up Chenchen: "Really? Chenchen, call Daddy."

Chenchen, as if on purpose, turned to Gu Mingyue and softly called out, "Ma~"

Gu Mingyue smiled broadly and leaned close to Lu Lin, showing off: "Did you hear that? You called her 'Mom' first, not 'Dad'."

The two had previously made a bet about whether Chenchen would call him "Mom" or "Dad" first, and it seems she won the bet.

Lu Lin pinched Chenchen's little face with a mix of helplessness and amusement: "This kid is just as biased as you."

Zhong Yuxiu came out of the house and, hearing that Chenchen could call her "Mom," came over to tease him: "Chenchen, call Grandma!"

Chenchen just giggled, grabbed Gu Mingyue's hair with her little hands, and buried her head in her arms.

The next morning, Gu Mingyue had just sat down in the courtyard with Chenchen in her arms when she called out over the wall, "Qinghe, Haiping, come here quickly."

Xia Qinghe, with Yangyang and Luo Haiping holding the child, quickly came over and asked curiously, "What's wrong? Why did you call us in such a hurry?"

Gu Mingyue deliberately kept everyone in suspense, then gently patted Chenchen's back: "Chenchen, say hello to the aunties and call them Mom."

Chenchen blinked, her little mouth moved, and she actually managed to mumble "ma~" Although her voice was soft, everyone present could hear it clearly.

"Oh my, he can call me 'Mom' now!" Xia Qinghe was the first to react, reaching out to rub Chenchen's chin. "This child is so smart, he started talking much earlier than Yangyang."

Luo Haiping nodded with a smile: "We should definitely celebrate. You explained it quite clearly."

Gu Mingyue smiled from ear to ear and tried to guide Chenchen: "Chenchen, call me 'Mom' again."

Chenchen seemed to understand the encouragement, and this time her voice was clearer: "Mom."

Laughter immediately filled the courtyard. Yangyang, imitating Chenchen, grabbed Xia Qinghe's hand and called out, "Mommy, Mommy."

The two children chatted back and forth, making the atmosphere even more lively.

Zhong Yuxiu came out carrying freshly cooked sweet soup and distributed it to everyone: "This is great news! Chenchen has started calling people, and she will be able to learn to speak slowly in the future."

Luo Haiping smiled and said, "Da Shuang and Xiao Shuang are only just starting to call out to people. Chenchen is smart; he can do it even before he's nine months old."