Shen Qiaoyue led Xiao Nian in, and Lu Chen followed in carrying several large bags of gifts.
When Shen Qiaoyue came in, she saw that the family's living conditions were quite good.
Shen Qiaoying led Shen Qiaoyue in, her smile never fading.
“Yu Yu just fell asleep. I made dumplings and realized we were out of soy sauce, so my mother-in-law went to buy some. Since you've just arrived in Beijing, we wanted you to eat well, so we asked her to go to the restaurant up ahead and buy some roast duck.” Shen Qiaoying knew her sister was coming and got up early to prepare the ingredients.
"Yes, Xiaoying started preparing yesterday. She was so excited that she couldn't sleep all night. She got up early to buy meat and vegetables. Your relationship is so good that it's enviable." Father He also spoke warmly to Shen Qiaoyue.
Pinpin looked at the two unfamiliar people and sized them up.
“This is Pinpin, Auntie, want a hug?” Shen Qiaoyue reached out to hug her sister’s child.
He's father handed the child to Shen Qiaoyue, and he helped pour tea and bring out the fruit, candy, and biscuits to serve the guests.
Lu Chen looked around at the He family's living environment, which was similar to his own.
Xiao Nian watched her mother holding her younger cousin, then she went to her father's arms and leaned against him.
"Qiaoyue, how long are you staying this time?" This was the first time He's father had met Shen Qiaoyue and Lu Chen, but he had heard of them as a couple.
Shen Qiaoyue had come to see Shen Qiaoying's father last time but hadn't met him. He and his wife were both busy with work. It was only because it was close to the New Year and they had a holiday that they had time to get together with everyone for the New Year.
"I'll only stay for about ten days. I'll be going back as soon as the factory starts operating again," Shen Qiaoyue replied to He's father.
Shen Qiaoying took out the fried sesame balls and placed them on the table.
"Qiaoyue, these are your favorite sesame balls. I just fried them. How about you try my cooking?" Shen Qiaoying always remembered what Qiaoyue liked to eat. "I also stewed some braised pork ribs for you, which you love."
"Thank you, sister." Shen Qiaoyue was overjoyed to hear that her sister had prepared her favorite food.
"You two chat, I'll go cook first." Father He thought Shen Qiaoying must have a lot to talk about with her sister.
"Dad, it's okay, I can do it." Shen Qiaoying had been busy in the kitchen since early morning, and she had almost finished.
Father He said again, "It's alright, I'll take care of the aftermath, stir-fry some vegetables, and boil some dumplings so we can have dinner."
Lu Chen stood up and said, "I'll go help too."
"No need, you two chat, I'll do it." Father He said with a smile, "There's no reason for guests to do chores, please sit down."
Father He went into the kitchen to cook, and Lu Chen felt embarrassed to go in.
Shen Qiaoyue looked at the house and realized it was a bit smaller than Lu Chen's home.
The living room has a sofa and cabinets, and the space isn't very big. There are two rooms opposite the living room. The one inside should be where He's parents live, and the other room outside has a bed and other things belonging to the other child. The room opposite should be where Shen Qiaoying and He Ping live.
There was also an empty room, the door was not closed, and it was filled with various odds and ends.
A small courtyard with four rooms is already quite nice.
However, this room was probably converted into a two-bedroom apartment, and a wall was installed for privacy.
The blue-green doors and windows have faded paint, indicating they come from an old house.
There's a bookshelf in the living room, which used to be used to hold books, but now it's probably not suitable for storing those books anymore, so it's empty.
The family's life is very simple.
"Sister, how is Yuyu? Is her illness very serious?" Shen Qiaoyue asked worriedly.
“Yu Yu has had chronic health problems. When I had my first child, it was a difficult delivery. Yu Yu was born late and has developed many health issues. Pinpin is in better health and has no problems.” Shen Qiaoying felt very guilty when she mentioned her daughter. “I looked into it and found that there are many complications with C-sections. I was really scared, so I chose natural childbirth. It was Yu Yu who suffered a lot.”
Seeing her sister's distressed expression, Shen Qiaoyue sat down beside her and comforted her, "It's alright, sister. When the child gets older, he might recover. After spring arrives and the weather warms up, the child will grow up and have a stronger immune system, so he won't get sick so easily."
"That's what the doctor said too," Shen Qiaoying sighed helplessly.
Looking at Shen Qiaoyue's child, he realized what was happening and asked Shen Qiaoyue in surprise, "Why didn't Da Nian come?"
“Da Nian went to see a movie with his aunt. I told him I was going to visit my aunt, but he insisted on going to see a movie. I couldn’t do anything about it, so I asked Lu He to watch over him,” Shen Qiao explained.
"Is Lu He on vacation?" Shen Qiaoying asked again.
"Yeah, I was working yesterday, but I'm on vacation today. It's so tiring at work, it's good to go see a movie and relax." Shen Qiaoyue didn't mention Lu He's blind date.
Shen Qiaoying smiled and said, "Did you go on a blind date with Battalion Commander Xu?"
"Sister, you know this too?" Shen Qiaoyue was both amused and exasperated.
Shen Qiaoying raised an eyebrow and said, "Have you forgotten that Battalion Commander Xu works under your brother-in-law?"
Shen Qiaoyue realized that this was true; Xu Feiming, a battalion commander, must have told his superiors to be able to come back on leave.
"What happened to Battalion Commander Xu?" He Ping returned from outside, carrying a roast duck he had bought from the restaurant. As soon as he entered the door, he heard the name Battalion Commander Xu.
"Brother-in-law is back?" Shen Qiaoyue greeted him first.
"Qiaoyue, is Lu Chenlai happy?" He Ping looked at the couple with a smile.
Xiao Nian looked at He Ping. She couldn't remember who he was, but it seemed like she had seen him somewhere before.
"Brother-in-law?" Lu Chen greeted him.
He Ping handed the roast duck to Shen Qiaoying, glanced at Lu Chen, and then gave Lu Chen a huge hug.
"Lu Chen, is this your first time coming back for the New Year?" He Ping asked Lu Chen.
“Yes, this is my first time coming back for the New Year.” Lu Chen and He Ping were previously considered superior and subordinate. “You have a bright future ahead of you. I heard there are promotion opportunities available recently. You’re known as a young hero.”
Lu Chen did have the opportunity to be promoted again, but he chose not to.
He's already done very well to become a regimental commander at his age. If he were to be promoted further, it would bring a lot of criticism. So he took the initiative to apply and wrote to the leaders, arguing that he was not suitable for promotion at this age.
Even though he was intentionally groomed and made many contributions, having been in the military since a very young age, he was indeed not suitable for further promotion. Not only was he not qualified enough, but he also couldn't command respect and lacked the necessary abilities.
Although I basically meet the promotion requirements, except for not being eligible for the age requirement.
When Lu Chen was promoted to regimental commander, he was criticized for giving him preferential treatment. As a result, he worked very hard to fulfill his duties as regimental commander.
Many people have forgotten that he went to the battlefield when he was a teenager, and he participated in almost every battle after he returned. It's just that everyone saw his age and erased all his military achievements.
After everyone found out that he was Jiang Mingjing's son, Lu Chen felt an even heavier burden on himself.
"Brother-in-law, please don't say that. I can't take the blame," Lu Chen said modestly to He Ping.
He Ping understood this, just like he had done back then. The bigger the tree, the more the wind blows, and he ended up working in the countryside for half a year.
Lu Chen is different now; he's pregnant, and he can't afford any mistakes.
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