Ma Donghua was speechless, but after her eyes darted around, she still argued, "I ordered this bracelet in advance. I thought my eldest grandson was supposed to be born that day, no way!"

Her lie was so clumsy that the onlookers couldn't help but criticize her.

Zheng Weidong's face turned from a deep purplish-red to a grimace, and he couldn't help but shout, "Mom, that's enough!"

After saying that, he stood in front of Ma Donghua and bowed to Lin Xiaohui and Yang Jianguo, apologizing, "Auntie, comrade, I'm sorry, it was my mother's fault. I apologize to you on my mother's behalf."

If this doesn't quell your anger, then go ahead and call the police or whatever; I will not protect you.

When the crowd heard Zheng Weidong's words, they didn't think he was particularly noble for sacrificing his own family for the greater good.

Instead, he looked at her with disdain.

"This is the kind of quality a college student his mother raised with such difficulty! He doesn't even know how to protect his own mother, he doesn't deserve to be called a human being, a college student, pshaw!"

...

Zheng Weidong's face immediately turned as colorful as if a plate of five colors had been overturned.

Why does it seem like everything he does is wrong, and everyone looks down on him for everything he does?

He felt a surge of resentment.

On his way back, he imagined that when he arrived at the hospital, everyone would know he was an oil worker and would admire and envy him.

He even practiced in his mind how he would respond when others complimented and praised him.

But from the moment he stepped into the ward, everything went against his expectations.

It's all his mother's and Zhou Xiaoying's fault. What sins did he commit in his past life to end up with such a mother and wife!

He had no desire to say anything more to the crowd at that point.

Seeing that Yang Jianguo and Lin Xiaohui had no intention of calling the police, he pulled his mother away from the hospital.

After leaving the hospital, he pulled Ma Donghua into a nearby alley and yelled, unable to contain himself any longer, "Can you please change your petty theft habit? When I was a kid, people called me the son of a thief woman. I finally left the village, and I don't want to be called the son of a thief woman anymore!"

Ma Donghua was stunned by Zheng Weidong's scolding, then cried out and tore at Zheng Weidong, cursing him for being heartless.

However, these things have nothing to do with Yang Qiaoqiao.

When Lin Xiaohui and Yang Jianguo returned to the ward with the gold bracelet, Huo Beixiao had already brought the two children back after they had taken a bath.

Lin Xiaohui told Yang Qiaoqiao about how she found the gold bracelet.

Yang Qiaoqiao gave Yang Jianguo a thumbs up and praised him, saying, "Big brother is becoming more and more calm in doing things now."

Yang Jianguo had a domineering demeanor when he was facing Ma Donghua just now.

Now, facing his sister's praise, he scratched the back of his head a little shyly, "Qiaoqiao, don't praise your brother like that, it makes me feel embarrassed."

"I'm like this now; I've only learned a tiny bit from you and Beixiao."

Huo Beixiao also praised, "Brother, you are indeed very capable. Qiaoqiao and I only gave you a few pointers occasionally, and you are already handling things calmly and wisely."

Some people, even with guidance, will never learn to be calm.

Although Yang Jianguo was a little embarrassed, he was still very happy to be praised.

Lin Xiaohui put the gold bracelet back on An'an's hand. An'an, who had been pouting and about to cry when she woke up while taking a bath and found that her sparkling bracelet was gone, finally grinned with her toothless little mouth.

Her smile instantly melted Huo Beixiao's heart, and he quickly picked her up. "Oh my, Daddy's sweet little girl likes gold! Daddy will buy you more gold in the future."

How about one gold bracelet a year? No, one a month instead.

"Dad is saving it all for An'an, to give as her dowry later."

Hearing his words, Yang Qiaoqiao couldn't help but chuckle. "What? Our daughter is only three days old, and you're already thinking about her dowry? You're that eager to marry her off?"

Huo Beixiao was just saying it offhand.

Now that Yang Qiaoqiao reminded him, he seemed to really imagine the scene of his daughter getting married in the future.

He immediately shook his head vigorously, "No, no. Daughter, Daddy misspoke, please don't take it to heart."

"Daddy doesn't want you to get married. No scoundrel is good enough for my precious daughter. Daddy will take care of you for the rest of your life!"

Yang Qiaoqiao: ...

She always felt that Huo Beixiao acted like an idiot whenever he talked to her daughter.

Yang Qiaoqiao only needed to stay in the hospital for three days after giving birth naturally.

But Huo Beixiao was worried that she wouldn't recover well, so he kept her in the hospital for two more days.

In the past two days, Huo Beixiao finally decided on the names for his two children: Huo Anran for the older sister and Huo Junmu for the younger brother.

The older sister's name means "peace and tranquility throughout life," which also echoes her nickname.

The younger brother's name was chosen to signify a humble gentleman who cultivates himself with modesty.

On the fifth day, Yang Qiaoqiao finally took Huo Anran and Huo Junmu out of the hospital.

They happened to run into Zhou Xiaoying, who was being helped by her mother to move around in the corridor after her cesarean section.

When Zhou Xiaoying saw them, she apologized to them with some guilt.

Yang Qiaoqiao and the others knew that Zhou Xiaoying was not the same kind of person as Zheng Weidong and her mother-in-law, so they naturally wouldn't blame her.

Yang Qiaoqiao chatted with Zhou Xiaoying and her daughter for a while longer.

After learning that they had brought the gold bracelet back that day, Zheng Weidong bought a train ticket and left, citing work commitments that required him to return early.

No one knows what Zheng Weidong said to Ma Donghua, but Ma Donghua is quite well-behaved now. After Zheng Weidong left, she hasn't come to the hospital even once.

When Yang Qiaoqiao was saying goodbye to Zhou Xiaoying and about to leave, Zhou Xiaoying stopped her and asked, "Comrade Yang, are you the owner of the Yiren Clothing Store in Yun County?"

Yang Qiaoqiao was quite surprised when Zhou Xiaoying asked her that question.

Most people recognize her because they've seen her in the newspapers; she's the owner of a garment factory.

"Comrade Zhou, are you from Yun County?" Yang Qiaoqiao asked.

Since Zhou Xiaoying could recognize her as the owner of Yiren Clothing Store, it could only mean that she had been to her store.

Zhou Xiaoying laughed and said, "No, my aunt married into your Yun County. Last time I went to her house, she told me that the clothes in your shop were very beautiful and unique, and she took me to see them."

Yang Qiaoqiao sensed something from these words and asked Zhou Xiaoying, "Are you also in the clothing industry?"

She originally wanted to ask Zhou Xiaoying if she was in the clothing business, but then she thought that if Zhou Xiaoying had been in the clothing business for the past two years, it was impossible for her not to make money.

If she had money of her own, how could she be so easily manipulated by her mother-in-law?

Zhou Xiaoying gave a wry smile. "I just like making clothes."

Her mother quickly added, "When Xiaoying was at her parents' home, she often made clothes for the people in our team. Her clothes were so beautiful. Everyone in our team said that her skills were better than those of the tailors in the tailor shops!"