Chapter 117 We Are a Family
After dinner, Shen Changfeng took Chenchen's hand and took him to play in the yard. Chenchen skipped after his uncle, holding a small windmill in his hand. When the wind blew, the windmill whirred and spun, making him giggle. Mu Nanyan stood at the door, watching them leave, a gentle smile unconsciously rising at the corner of her mouth.
Back in the living room, Mu Nanyan sat down with her grandparents and uncles and aunts to drink tea. The aroma of tea lingered, but the atmosphere gradually became quiet. I don't know who mentioned Shen Yi's name first, and the topic turned to Mu Nanyan's late mother.
Mr. Shen put down the teacup in his hand, a trace of guilt appeared on his old face. He sighed, his voice low and hoarse:
"Yan Yan, you've suffered so much over the years. If we hadn't been too busy to take care of your mother, maybe she wouldn't have gotten into trouble, and you wouldn't have been bullied by those people from the Mu family, and none of the things that happened later wouldn't have happened..."
Old Lady Shen's eyes were slightly red. She reached out and held Mu Nanyan's hand, her fingertips trembling slightly:
"Yes, Yanyan, grandma and grandpa are sorry for you and your mother... We have been unable to get over this in our hearts for all these years."
Mu Nanyan felt the warmth of her grandmother's palm, and her heart ached. She lowered her head, gently held her grandmother's hand, and said in a gentle but firm voice:
"Grandma and Grandpa, please don't say that. I have never blamed you. You gave up your own family for the sake of everyone else. This is your responsibility. I understand."
She raised her head, her eyes clear and calm, as if the suffering she once endured had long been washed away by time:
"Besides, the past is the past. I have Chenchen, you, and my uncle and aunt now. I am already very happy. If Mom knew that we are living well now, she would definitely be happy too."
Mr. Shen was silent for a moment, a trace of relief flashed in his eyes. He nodded, his voice choked:
"Good boy, if you can think this way, grandma and grandpa will feel better. But... it's really not easy for you to raise Chenchen alone over the years."
Mu Nanyan smiled, her tone becoming more relaxed:
"It's not that difficult actually. Chenchen is very sensible and never makes me worry. Besides, now that I have you guys by my side, I think it's all worth it."
My aunt interrupted and said:
"Yes, Chenchen is a smart and well-behaved child. It really makes people feel distressed. Yanyan, don't carry it all on your own anymore. If there is anything, tell your family. We are a family, don't be so formal."
Mu Nanyan nodded, a warm feeling welling up in her heart. She looked out the window. As the night deepened, the clear and cheerful laughter of Chenchen and Shen Changfeng could be heard from the yard. She suddenly felt that the hardships of the past seemed so far away from her.
Old Mrs. Shen patted the back of her hand and said gently:
"Yanyan, you can live here peacefully from now on. Chenchen is still young and needs a complete family. Although our Shen family is not rich, we will never let you and your child suffer any grievances again."
Mu Nanyan's eyes were slightly hot, and she hummed softly. She knew that from this moment on, she and Chenchen finally had a real home.
Chenchen was tired from playing, so he ran back to the house and threw himself into Mu Nanyan's arms, looking up at his little face and asking:
"Mom, why do my great-grandfather and great-grandmother have red eyes? Did I make them angry?"
Mu Nanyan smiled and touched his head:
"No, my great-grandfather and great-grandmother were moved to tears because they loved you so much."
Chenchen blinked and said seriously, "Then I love my great-grandfather and great-grandmother, too! And my uncle and aunt!"
His words made everyone laugh and the atmosphere became much more relaxed.
Shen Changfeng sat down, drank a sip of tea, and suddenly said:
"Dad, Mom, I have an idea. Chenchen is smart and interested in military affairs. Why not let him get some military training from a young age so that he can inherit our Shen family's tradition in the future."
Mr. Shen nodded: "This is a good idea, but it depends on Yanyan's opinion."
Mu Nanyan thought about it and said with a smile: "As long as Chenchen likes it, I have no objection. But he is still young, so don't be too strict."
When Chenchen heard this, he jumped up excitedly: "I want to learn! I want to be as awesome as my great-grandfather!"
It was late at night, and everyone went back to their rooms to rest. Mu Nanyan held Chenchen in her arms and lay on the bed, and asked him softly: "Chenchen, do you like it here?"
Chenchen nodded. "I like it! Here are my great-grandfather, great-grandmother, uncles, and uncles. They are all very kind to me. Mom, we will live here from now on, okay?"
Mu Nanyan kissed his forehead and said softly, "Okay, we will live here from now on and never separate again."
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The next morning, Shen Changfeng took Chenchen to the army, and his uncle and aunt also went to work. Mr. Shen and some old comrades went fishing, leaving only Mu Nanyan and Mrs. Shen at home.
Old Lady Shen always loved to play with flowers and plants, and the small garden in the yard was her meticulously tended world. Although Mu Nanyan wasn't very good at it, she still followed along with great interest, learning and chatting with the old lady about family matters.
"Yanyan," Old Lady Shen asked softly while trimming the branches, "Didn't you tell Chenchen's father about his existence?"
Mu Nanyan paused for a moment, then lowered her head and replied softly:
"Well, he and I never had any feelings for each other. It was just an accident. From the moment I decided to leave the capital, I made up my mind that Chenchen was only my child and had nothing to do with him."
Old Lady Shen nodded, and she understood a little. That Lu Yiran was indeed not a good match. He had a constant stream of women around him, and was not suitable for entrusting his life to. She pondered for a moment and asked tentatively:
"That's fine. Chenchen is grown up now and will be going to kindergarten soon. Have you ever thought about... finding him a stepfather?"
Mu Nanyan was stunned for a moment, the scissors in her hand suspended in mid-air, motionless for a long time. Over the years, she had lived in Country F, and many people had pursued her, but she could never find the same heart-thumping feeling she had at the beginning. Perhaps because she had experienced too much, she no longer had any expectations for love, and even felt that this kind of life was good enough.
"Yan Yan?" Seeing that she was lost in thought, Old Lady Shen called her softly.
Mu Nanyan came back to her senses, forced a smile, and said:
"Grandma, I haven't thought about this yet. Besides, love is something you can't find just by looking for it. Let it be. I have everything I need now. Chenchen and I are living a good life together."
Old Mrs. Shen sighed, reached out and gently patted the back of her hand, her tone gentle but with a hint of heartache:
"You are always so stubborn. Grandma just hopes that you can have someone to rely on and not always carry everything by yourself. Although Chenchen is sensible, he is still young after all, and you also need someone to take care of you."
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