Chapter 816 First Meeting with Grandparents Shen Mo herself is a medical student, but she never expected to have such a headache over the two children.

"Let's try your method for now."

...

After dinner, Lu Qingyang asked Aunt Liu to take Xiao Shitou and Xiao Yuer to play in the inner room, while he and Shen Mo sat opposite his parents, Fang Zhongwen and Ding Panyun.

The living room was warmly lit, and the aroma of tea wafted through the air.

Lu Qingyang considered his words carefully before speaking: "Dad, Mom, there's something I'd like to discuss with you both. We're thinking of moving back to that courtyard house in Luogu Lane in a month."

Ding Panyun, who was holding a knitting needle, paused for a moment upon hearing this, somewhat surprised: "I'm living here so well, why do you suddenly want to move? Everything is so convenient in this compound, and I know all the neighbors."

Fang Zhongwen didn't speak, but simply picked up his teacup and waited for his son, Fang Zhongwen.

Lu Qingyang leaned forward slightly, his tone sincere: "If it's for the sake of the two children, Xiao Shitou, that child is as energetic as a little colt. In our house and yard, we can only run a few steps to the end, so it's inevitable that we'll bump into each other."

The courtyard in Luogu Lane is spacious, with room for children to run around freely.

Little Fish loved to paint quietly, so someone specially set aside an east wing room for her as her studio. It was well-lit and peaceful, and she could spread out her paints and paper as she pleased without worrying about making a mess.

She glanced at Chen Mo, who nodded slightly and said, "Yes, the kindergarten teacher also said that the two children have special personalities, and ordinary teaching methods are not suitable for them."

After moving there, Qingyang and his wife also adjusted their routines and spent more time with the girls.

Qingyang is right. When children are young, parental companionship is more important than anything else. This is precisely the time when we need to guide them properly and steer their personalities onto the right path.

Lu Qingyang continued, "Both Xiaomo and I are still young. While our careers and studies are important, children only have a few years to grow up. Once we miss that time, we can't make up for it."

We think that creating a more comfortable environment for you, and paying more attention to you, watching over you, and spending time with you, is more important than anything else.

We can't let children's development be compromised just because we adults want to save time and follow our habits.

Fang Zhongwen listened quietly the whole time. “Our older generation had limited resources in the past. We were lucky if we could even afford to eat and wear clothes. We didn’t have time for these little things. Now you have the means and are willing to put in the effort, which is a good thing.”

Ding Panyun sighed, her tone filled with reluctance but also understanding: "That's the logic... but once we move away, it won't be so convenient for us to see our granddaughters every day."

However, for the sake of the child, we have no objections. It's just that you two will have to work even harder, juggling work outside and home.

Shen Mo said softly, "Mom, don't worry, it's not far away. We will definitely bring the children back to see you and Dad often. If you two miss us, you can come and stay for a few days anytime. The house over there is all tidied up."

Lu Qingyang added, "Aunt Liu also came with us. As for Teacher Chen, she is actually a very good teacher, but her daughter said recently that she wants to take her to live with her in her old age. She told us that she is leaving, and we will find two more reliable teachers to guide us properly."

Although Ding Panyun was reluctant, she had no choice but to do so due to the special circumstances of the two children.

When Lu Qingyang put his idea into practice, he discovered that finding two private tutors in Beijing in the early 1980s who met the requirements and were willing to come to his home to teach was no easy task.

Through connections with Mr. Fang, Zhou Fang, and even professors from the medical school, and after nearly a month of effort, we finally managed to invite two teachers who satisfied us, at a consulting fee far exceeding the salary of an ordinary teacher.

The instructor for Xiaoshitou is a retired coach surnamed Yang. It is said that he used to coach gymnastics students at a sports school in his early years. After retiring due to injury, he has been teaching children basic gymnastics at the Children's Palace.

Upon seeing the small stone, he nodded and simply said, "It's a good piece of material; it just depends on how it's cut."

The teacher who teaches Xiaoyuer is a young female teacher who has just graduated from art school, and her surname is Su.

She still carries the idealism of an academic, unlike ordinary people who try to "correct" Xiaoyuer's wild imagination. Instead, when looking at her paintings full of strange lines and bold colors, one might whisper, "Xiaoyuer, tell the teacher, why is this purple dancing here?"

The number of people in the household has also increased.

Knowing that Aunt Liu was getting older and would find it difficult to manage such a large new house on her own, Lu Qingyang found two quick and efficient young nannies with clean backgrounds through the neighborhood committee.

Aunt Liu had become the de facto "housekeeper," guiding them through the household rules, everyone's preferences, how to sweep the spacious courtyard, how to care for the few potted plants that Lu Qingyang had specially transplanted, and how to prepare the snacks that the two teachers and children liked.

Lu Qingyang and Shen Mo both made it clear that once she brought out the new bride, whether she wanted to stay and enjoy a peaceful life or return to her family, it was entirely up to her, and she would never mistreat her.

Aunt Liu said "we'll talk about it later," but she was even more motivated to work because of the respect and reliance she received.

For the first two days after moving into the spacious and quiet courtyard house, Shen Mo was indeed a little unaccustomed to it.

Leaving the familiar sounds and layout of the military compound, the nights always felt too quiet; the compound was so large that even footsteps echoed.

But soon, she realized the benefits of this place.

Little Stone can chase after Master Yang's sandbags in the yard until he's sweating profusely, without worrying about bumping into other people's piles of clutter;

In Xiaoyuer's bright art studio, paints and paper were scattered everywhere, and no one complained about the mess anymore.

Shen Mo adjusted her routine; whenever she didn't have classes, she would stay at home.

Sometimes I would read in the covered walkway, keeping Little Stone company as he practiced horse stance in the courtyard, grimacing in pain.

Sometimes, in Xiaoyuer's art studio, the mother and daughter would each occupy a corner, one grappling with difficult medical texts, the other painting a dreamscape that no one could understand but was vibrant with color. The only sound in the air was the soft scratching of paintbrushes on paper, a quiet and warm atmosphere.

Lu Qingyang also significantly reduced the time he spent traveling, delegating more administrative tasks to Zhou Fang and the increasingly mature team.

Even during his lab internship, he would only go every few days.

However, Professor Qian had no objection to this, because the design drafts submitted by the lab were enough for the lab to study for quite some time. As for Lu Qingyang, the lab would definitely protect and support him.

That evening, as soon as Lu Qingyang stepped into his home, the phone rang in the living room.

It is Mother Ding Panyun (녈来놅).

"Qingyang, make some time for yourself these next few days. There's something important going on at home. Your grandparents are coming back and will be arriving in Beijing tomorrow. After they settle in, they want to come see you, as well as Xiaoshitou and Xiaoyuer."

Lu Qingyang held the receiver, slightly taken aback.

Grandparents?

This applies to relatives who exist in conversations where parents occasionally mention them.

I heard that my maternal grandfather, Ding Hanhai, was a senior diplomat stationed at a foreign embassy, ​​and my maternal grandmother, Qin Peiwen, was also fluent in several languages ​​and served as a cultural counselor who accompanied her for many years.

"Okay, I understand."

The next day at noon, Lu Qingyang and Shen Mo specially brought Xiao Shitou and Xiao Yuer, who were dressed neatly, to their parents' house ahead of time.

My maternal grandfather, Ding Hanhai, still stands tall and straight, dressed in a well-fitting dark Zhongshan suit, meticulous in every detail, his silver-white hair neatly combed.

The woman holding my arm is an elegant old lady, my grandmother Qin Peiwen.

She wore a light gray cashmere cardigan, an elegant silk scarf around her neck, and a gentle smile on her face.

Finally, his gaze fell on Lu Qingyang and the two children, and his smile deepened.

"Dad, Mom, this is Qingyang, and also my beloved Chen Mo. These are the two children, Xiao Shitou and Xiao Yu'er," Ding Panyun quickly stepped forward to introduce them.

"Grandpa, Grandma," Lu Qingyang stepped forward and greeted them respectfully, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant.

Shen Mo also greeted them softly and gently nudged the two children.

Little Stone looked up at his imposing great-grandfather and timidly greeted him, "Hello, Great-Grandpa; Hello, Great-Grandma."

Little Fish peeked out from behind Shen Mo, blinked its big eyes, and didn't say anything.