Grandma Yan really dotes on these two children. She would make some rice cakes and malted milk powder, then prepare two cups of milk powder, then find some snacks to stuff into their mouths, and also take out milk candies and other treats.
Tang Xiaoling was really envious. She could have any child like either Liujin or Nannan. But they had been married for so many years and her belly was still not growing. Xinan kept saying not to rush, but she still liked Liujin very much.
Cuihua privately suggested that the two of them go to the hospital for a checkup, but it seemed like they couldn't bring themselves to say it, so they kept putting it off. It seems they should go after the Lunar New Year this year, lest they be embarrassed when their older brother's second child is born and they haven't even had a child yet.
Grandma Yan went to tear off the calendar pages as usual. In a couple of days it would be the little girl's and her own birthday. A few days after the birthday, Daqiang would be coming back, this time with his grandson whom he had never met before.
Grandma Yan needed to prepare a gift for her grandson, but what should she give him? She leaned closer to Yan Xiaonan and said, "My dear, what do you think is a good gift for your uncle's son?"
Yan Xiaonan looked around and saw that there was no one else besides Liu Jin. With her back to Liu Jin, she took out a few pieces of cloth, a ginseng root, and a lingzhi mushroom from her spatial storage.
“Grandma, Uncle has an old injury, ginseng can replenish his vital energy, and Aunt eats lingzhi to nourish her skin, so it’s perfect for them. As for the two older brothers, just make them two coats.”
Grandma Yan picked up the ginseng and exclaimed, "Good heavens, it's over a hundred years old! It's really suitable to nourish my eldest son's body. His eldest daughter-in-law is also a good one; otherwise, most daughters-in-law would have turned against her long ago if her son sent so many things back every year."
With her worries settled, Grandma Yan called out to Cuihua repeatedly. Cuihua was second to none in needlework skills. Her eldest son's eldest son was a year younger than Dongnan, so she would be made according to Dongnan's height. Her second son was the same age as Xinan, so she would be made according to his height.
Cuihua looked at the fabric: "Mother, what do you want to make, a lined jacket or an overcoat?"
Grandma Yan thought for a moment and said, "Let's make an overcoat. A lined jacket is too much trouble. Can you help me cut it out and I'll make it?"
Cuihua nodded. Since there was a sewing machine at home, she could just have Nannan keep an eye on things and let her mother do it.
Cuihua brought over a large pair of scissors, a wooden ruler, and chalk. She spread the fabric out on the kang (a heated brick bed), held the ruler in one hand and the chalk in the other, and started making marks on the fabric. Then she picked up the large scissors and began cutting along the marked lines.
In just over an hour, the two garments were cut. Yan Xiaonan quickly removed the cover from the sewing machine, took the machine head out from the inside, and helped her grandmother thread the needle, as her grandmother's eyesight was not good enough to see the needle eye.
Yan Xiaonan helped her grandmother thread the same colored thread through the fabric. Grandma Yan put on the reading glasses that Dongnan had brought back and began sewing with the cut fabric. The clattering sound of the machine attracted Liu Jin's attention.
"Auntie, what is that?" Little Liu Jin asked, pointing to the sewing machine.
“That’s a sewing machine, specially made for making clothes. Our Liu Jin’s clothes were made with this,” Yan Xiaonan said, tugging at Liu Jin’s clothes.
Liu Jin nodded: "Auntie, I'll make clothes for you when I grow up."
Yan Xiaonan picked up Liu Jin and kissed his cheek: "Auntie, wait for me."
Grandma Yan's robotic hands are truly impressive; she finished a garment in just two days. Cuihua is sewing buttons onto the garment with needle and thread. Xuemei and Tang Xiaoling are cooking in the kitchen. Today is Grandma and Nannan's birthday, so they not only need to cook some delicious dishes but also plenty of longevity noodles.
Xuemei skillfully rolled out the dough, making it very thin and long. She scooped the longevity noodles into a bowl, added minced meat and gravy, a poached egg, and some pickles, and served it to Grandma and Nannan.
"May Grandma live a long and healthy life, and may Nan Nan have all her wishes fulfilled."
As if they had planned it all along, everyone offered their congratulations in unison. Yan Xiaonan stood up and playfully bowed to everyone: "Thank you, Mom and Dad, thank you, brother and sister-in-law."
Liu Jin, who was standing next to him, also stood up and bowed to everyone, just like them: "Thank you, Dad and Mom, thank you, brother and sister-in-law."
After a moment of stunned silence, everyone burst into laughter. Grandma Yan laughed until tears streamed down her face, and Xuemei even hugged Liujin tightly and gave him a light pat on the bottom, being mischievous.
Yan Xiaoqiang also flicked Liu Jin's nose: "My grandson is so smart."
Southeast took out a slightly worn Chinese-English dictionary and some English learning materials and handed them to Yan Xiaonan: "I've finally found what you've always wanted."
Yan Xiaonan was thrilled. This was a great helper for learning English. "Big brother is amazing! He even found this!"
Southwest took out a military green backpack and a complete set of pencil cases and handed them to Yan Xiaonan: "Nannan, how can a student not have a backpack? Your second brother wishes you progress in your studies."
Yan Xiaonan looked at the schoolbag from this era and carefully placed it aside. She had a floral schoolbag, but this military green schoolbag was a symbol of this era, and she wanted to treasure it.
Grandma Yan sat beside her, watching her grandson give her granddaughter a gift. Her eyes were almost closed until dawn. It's good to have many children in the family. Her grandsons are really good to Nan Nan.
Dongnan walked up to Grandma Yan and took a dark green coat from Xuemei's hand: "Grandma, this is a birthday gift I saved up for a year to give you. I wish you a long and healthy life."
Southwest also stepped forward and took a padded jacket and trousers from Tang Xiaoling's hands. "Grandma, these are clothes and trousers that I bought for you with half a year's worth of savings. I wish you a long and happy life."
Seeing her two grandsons holding birthday gifts, Grandma Yan was overjoyed. Her son and grandson were both filial, and all the hardships she had endured in the past were worth it. It was a pity that Bei Nan was no longer here.
Yan Xiaonan walked up and took out a cotton jacket with a front opening from her small basket. This kind of jacket could be worn in the summer and even to sleep. "Grandma, this is what my mother taught me to make. I'm giving it to you to wish you a long and healthy life."
Grandma Yan quickly took the clothes, touching them with both hands. The cotton fabric was so fine, and the little girl had made it herself. Her eyes felt a little sore and hot, so she quickly took out a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped them.
Yan Xiaoqiang and Cuihua also came up and presented a set of coffee-colored sweater and trousers. Yan Xiaoqiang had bought the yarn in the county town, and Cuihua had spent three or four months knitting it in the house.
Grandma Yan hugged the sweater and woolen pants to her chest. These were the first sweaters and woolen pants she had ever owned in her life, and they were all made of pure wool. They felt warm to the touch. Her son and daughter-in-law really thought of her.
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