"You're coming to the capital?" Chang Hongbing was initially confused, then looked bewildered.
Every time they asked their daughter-in-law to bring their grandson to Beijing, their son always had a hundred reasons to refuse. This time, however, their daughter-in-law took the initiative to suggest bringing her grandson to Beijing.
It doesn't seem like anything's going to work!
On the other end of the phone, Qiao Sirui was extremely nervous when she didn't receive the answer she was expecting. Half a month ago, Chang Yaozu was already incredibly busy. She overheard that Chang Yaozu was still busy even after the summer vacation ended, so an idea came to her mind.
Taking advantage of Chang Yaozu's busy schedule, she wanted to take Enen to Beijing to reconnect with Chang Hongbing and his wife.
Time waits for no one. At my sister-in-law's age, even if she doesn't get married this year, she must get married next year. Otherwise, she won't be able to get married at all.
As soon as her sister-in-law gets married, it won't be long before she has a baby. The thought of this makes Qiao Sirui's heart ache.
That's compensation money for demolishing the house!
That's enough for her to squander for a lifetime.
She regretted it; even if she didn't take all of the Chang family's property, they shouldn't be shortchanged from what was rightfully theirs.
Enen glanced at her dazed mother and asked innocently, "Yes, Grandpa, can Mom and I go?"
"Yes, yes!"
Chang Hongbing nodded hastily without thinking twice. The house was so quiet and deserted, it was good that his grandson had come.
Enen turned around and smiled at her mother, "Mom, I did it!"
Qiao Sirui gave Enen an approving look, and the huge weight in her heart was finally lifted.
When Qiao Sirui hinted to her mother, her mother was extremely unwilling.
Qiao's mother argued vehemently, "What do you mean by closeness! They're the child's own grandparents, they can't just run away! What, do you think they'll dare to disown Enen in the future?"
Qiao Sirui didn't know how to explain, but she stubbornly insisted, "Mom, you can't say that. Enen has always been with you. It's nothing for her to go to Beijing for a summer vacation!"
Qiao's mother was furious: "I don't care about your opinions, no means no! Your father and I are taking Enen back to our hometown to pay respects to our ancestors during the summer vacation. It just so happens that the ancestral hall is being repaired, and Enen needs to go back to be included in the family genealogy!"
"Mom..." Qiao Sirui was at her wits' end, sweating profusely as she tried to persuade her.
Mr. Qiao came in from the living room after hearing the noise: "What's all the commotion about?"
Mrs. Qiao looked displeased and remained silent.
Qiao Sirui secretly watched her mother, but dared not complain.
At this moment, Enen tugged at Qiao's father's clothes and tilted her little head up: "Grandpa, I want to go to Beijing with Mom this summer vacation!"
Mr. Qiao doted on this grandson who bore their family name, and simply agreed, "Alright, alright, go! Come back a few days before the ancestral worship ceremony in our hometown!"
Enen exclaimed happily, "Grandpa, Grandpa, you're the best! We'll bring you a present when we come back from Jincheng!"
Mrs. Qiao grew increasingly unhappy, her displeasure blatantly displayed.
Qiao Sirui wanted to laugh but didn't dare. She secretly glanced at her mother's expression and breathed a sigh of relief.
*
When guests were coming to visit, Chang Hongbing bid farewell to Old Man Chang, who had always disliked him.
Old Man Chang was not happy about it.
Although his eldest son, Mumu, was a bit of a nuisance and a bad player at cards, he was quick and efficient at chores. The days of being waited on hand and foot were long gone. Old Man Chang complained, but he was secretly very satisfied.
Old Man Chang stopped him from going back: "There's no one else in your family. It's perfect for the two of us to be a couple. Where do you think you're going? Do you look down on your dad too?"
Chang Hongbing couldn't say these words, so he could only tell Old Man Chang the truth about his purpose for going back.
Old Man Chang became even more agitated after hearing this: "I think you've gone mad! How can you, as a father-in-law, have the nerve to live under the same roof as your daughter-in-law? Do as I say, you shouldn't go back!"
Chang Hongbing suddenly realized, and hesitated: "Maybe my mother-in-law will come along too. My father-in-law has to work and won't have time. I should..."
"That's even more unacceptable!"
Old Man Chang tugged at his sleeve: "Your wife has always been petty. When she's not home, do you dare to live under the same roof as your mother-in-law? Some gossipy women can be deadly when they're around. Aren't you afraid she'll come back, hear the rumors, and take it out on you?"
Old Man Chang reminded him of the most important point.
"The house you're living in now was bought by her. If you anger her, you'll have no choice but to come and rely on me. Then we'll be each other's only support."
Chang Hongbing shuddered. Some old people become more and more slovenly as they get older, and Old Man Chang was one of them.
Living with Old Man Chang is not an easy task.
Chang Hongbing accepted Old Man Chang's suggestion: "Then, Sirui and Enen will stay at home, and I'll continue living with Dad!"
Old Man Chang left satisfied; that was more like it, he had found a new nanny.
*
On the day Qiao Sirui and Enen arrived in Beijing, only her father-in-law, Chang Hongbing, was at the train station entrance; it was deserted.
Qiao Sirui forced a smile, her back drenched in cold sweat.
Was she late?
Enen let go of Chang Hongbing's hand and ran excitedly towards him: "Grandpa, I've come to see you!"
Qiao Sirui quickly forced a smile and hurried after him.
Chang Hongbing hugged and kissed his eldest grandson, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, with a smug look on his face: "I'm so lucky! Your grandma isn't so lucky. When she's at home, Enen doesn't have time to come to Beijing!"
Qiao Sirui paused, then immediately grasped the key point and hesitantly asked, "Dad, isn't Mom home?"
"Hmm..." Chang Hongbing gave a perfunctory reply and busied himself with being affectionate with his grandson.
A look of panic flashed in Qiao Sirui's eyes. Her father-in-law was a penniless man, and all the money in the house was earned by her mother-in-law. What was the point of having her mother-in-law at home when her father-in-law was the only one there?
Chang Hongbing didn't even have enough money in his savings to take a taxi home, so he borrowed a neighbor's tricycle to pick him up.
On the way back, Chang Hongbing and Enen were very affectionate. Qiao Sirui was preparing her words when she couldn't help but ask the question that was most urgent to her.
"Dad, when is Mom coming back?"
Enen hugged her grandfather's neck, turned around, and added in perfect unison, "Grandpa, I miss Grandma!"
Chang Hongbing laughed even more triumphantly: "Hahaha, your grandma is unlucky. She won't be able to come back when you go back after summer vacation!"
Qiao Sirui gripped the handrail tightly; her luck had hit rock bottom.
Although Enen and her mother are very close and have a great understanding of each other, she still doesn't understand the intricacies of their relationship.
Turning his head, he asked Chang Hongbing about An'an, Chang Pengfei's daughter, who had been his best friend since his last visit.
"Grandpa, can An'an play with me this time I'm back?"
Uncle Pengfei has arranged a lot of activities for Sister An'an: a competition today, tutoring tomorrow, and a small party the day after. Sister An'an, who is still young, is just as busy as her father and has no time to play.
Enen was terrified when she thought of Uncle Pengfei, the culprit.
Chang Hongbing couldn't guarantee it, so he said in a consultative tone, "Shall I go ask An'an's father?"
"good!"
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