Chapter 375 Chaff

Before long, Xiaoman's attention was drawn to her mother's movements as she scooped out the dough.

He slid off the sofa and ran to Nan Zhiyi's side, looking up at her with his little face: "Mommy, I want to play with dough too."

Nan Zhiyi tore off a small piece from the large dough and handed it to him: "Here, be careful not to spill it on the ground."

Xiaoman happily took the dough, climbed onto the chair next to her mother, and began to knead it carefully with her chubby little hands, just like her mother.

While peeling the vegetables, Nan Zhiyi asked him softly, "Xiaoman, why aren't you watching TV? Isn't the color TV interesting?"

Xiaoman frowned, sighed, and said in a precocious tone, "I don't understand it. It's all just gibberish and boring."

His mature demeanor not only amused Nan Zhiyi, but also made his sister-in-law and fourth sister-in-law, who were making dumplings, chuckle.

Nan Zhiyi had just vaguely heard some noise from the TV; it seemed to be showing traditional opera. No wonder her son said he couldn't understand it.

She gently comforted him, "That show is for adults. When it gets dark, your uncle will take you to the yard to set off fireworks, okay?"

Xiaoman nodded vigorously upon hearing this, "Great! Let's set off fireworks!"

He played with the dough for a while, then realized that kneading it was all the same, and began to take an interest in the plump white dumplings on the table, reaching out his little hands to help.

If they were at home in the capital, Nan Zhiyi would mostly let her son play, even if he produced a few strange "works".

But at this moment, with the whole family in front of us, and it being the Lunar New Year, it wouldn't be right to let Xiaoman waste food or delay important matters.

She looked up at the living room and called out, "Gu Yan!"

Gu Yan responded lazily, stood up, and walked over.

Nan Zhiyi gestured to Xiaoman with her eyes: "Get your nephew away and go play with his dad or grandpa."

Gu Yan understood, bent down and scooped Xiaoman up, holding her in his arms.

Xiaoman was held tightly in his arms, but she didn't struggle. Instead, she used her two flour-covered little hands to hug Gu Yan's face and sweetly asked, "Uncle, will you really set off fireworks for me tonight?"

Gu Yan, despite having flour smeared all over his face, wasn't annoyed. He smiled and touched the little guy's forehead with his own: "Really! Uncle keeps his word and bought you a whole bunch! Now let's go find Grandpa and see what he's doing, okay?"

"Okay!" Xiaoman responded loudly and obediently let Gu Yan carry her away.

After we finished wrapping a whole tray of dumplings, we finally heard the sound of a car coming from the yard.

The third sister, Gu Min, and her family arrived.

Commander Gu had been thinking about his daughter whom he hadn't seen for two years, and upon hearing the noise, his gaze involuntarily drifted towards the door.

Seeing this, Gu Xiao got up, took a military overcoat and put it on his father, supporting his arm: "Dad, Third Sister has arrived, let's go to the corridor to greet her."

The group followed them to the door.

The men naturally took Zhao Zhigang and Gu Min's luggage, exchanged pleasantries, and ushered them into the living room.

Everyone took their seats around the sofa.

Looking at her father, who was noticeably thinner and older than before, on the sofa, Gu Min thought about how he had been seriously ill recently and how she had been unable to be by his bedside to show her filial piety. Her eyes reddened and her voice choked with emotion.

"Dad... I'm so sorry I couldn't come back to see you sooner..."

Zhao Zhigang, holding their one-year-old son in his arms, quickly stepped forward upon hearing this, speaking earnestly: "Yes, Dad, it's all our fault. We work far away and can only worry on the phone, unable to do our best."

Commander Gu looked at his daughter and son-in-law and waved his hand: "Let's not talk about these things. I know you're both busy with work. I'm doing fine, I'm recovering well, don't worry."

His gaze fell on the baby in Zhao Zhigang's arms, and he beckoned, "Come here, Zhigang, bring my little grandson closer so I can see him."

Zhao Zhigang took two steps forward and gently presented his youngest son to his father-in-law: "Dad, look, this is your little grandson, Zhao Heng."

Commander Gu stretched out his withered hand and touched the child's soft cheek, and said with a smile, "Zhao Heng... good, Heng means fragrant grass. Ancient books say that gentlemen wear fragrance. It's a good name, elegant."

He played with his little grandson for a bit, and seeing the old man happy, Zhao Zhigang felt a little proud. Holding his son, he turned to his brothers and said, "Come on, look at my son! Fourth brother, sixth brother, you'd better hurry up, a man who's married should..."

Gu Min, who was listening nearby, was alarmed, fearing that her husband might say something outrageous like "we must have a son" in his excitement. She quickly and quietly tugged at his arm.

When his wife pulled him, Zhao Zhigang immediately realized he had misspoke and swallowed the rest of his words, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face.

Gu Yan was incredibly clever. Hearing the unfinished words, he immediately understood that his brother-in-law was still clinging to outdated, feudal ideas. He didn't bother arguing with him, and even secretly scoffed: If he were to ask himself, if they were ever to get married, he'd much rather have a daughter; daughters are so adorable…

Gu Weimin, who was sitting a little further away, felt a pang of anxiety when he heard his brother-in-law's words, fearing that Wang Juan, who was making dumplings at the dining table, might hear him.

He secretly glanced over there and, sure enough, saw Wang Juan looking up at him with a half-smile in her eyes.

Gu Weimin was startled and quickly gave his wife a fawning smile.

Unfortunately, Wang Juan had heard everything clearly. She glared at her husband angrily before turning away and spitting in a low voice, "...What a piece of trash...So what if I have a son? My daughter is smart and clever, she's worth several of his sons!"

Nan Zhiyi wholeheartedly agreed: "Yes, my daughter is so thoughtful. I think she's both studious and sensible; she's like a warm little cotton-padded jacket."

Li Xiuqin also sighed, "That makes sense! Daughters are closer to their mothers and are willing to share their innermost thoughts. Sons are fine when they are young, but once they grow up and start their own families, their minds are mostly on their own little families. Isn't that just like the saying, 'Once you have a wife, you forget your mother'? Thinking about it really makes me feel a little uneasy."

Nan Zhiyi chimed in, agreeing with her sister-in-law, "Yes..."

Wang Juan was coaxed into a smile by the two of them, and her earlier displeasure vanished. She said with a touch of pride, "That's right! My daughter is in the top three of her class again in the final exams! Her brain and self-discipline are better than many naughty boys!"

Li Xiuqin immediately thought of her own family's worries: "Sigh, don't even mention grades! My son Gu Meng is at the bottom of the class again this semester. He didn't pass a single subject, Chinese or Math. His dad and I are so worried about his grades that our hair is turning white! We've tried everything, from beating him to scolding him, but he just won't get it. All he does is play around!"

The conversation naturally shifted from "having a boy or a girl" to the more practical "educational issues".

Several women exchanged their unorthodox parenting experiences regarding their children's studies.

As Nan Zhiyi listened, she looked up towards the living room.

Gu Min was bent over, with one arm around one of her twin daughters, whispering instructions to her.

The two little girls looked up attentively as they listened to their mother, nodding obediently from time to time.