As the year drew to a close, a messenger from the Southwest came to the courtyard to announce the good news: Liu Lili had given birth to a daughter.
Grandma Yan smiled and handed over a large red envelope: "The Yan family has gained another little girl, Fu Bao has a companion now."
Cuihua also pulled out a large red envelope: "Southwest, can you take care of Lili by yourself? I'm a bit busy here, how about I come over every three days?"
Southwest came excitedly to announce the good news: he finally had a daughter, a daughter just like Nan Nan.
Shouldn't Grandma and Mom have jumped up happily? Why did they all react so calmly?
And then there's that kid, Wu Jinban, who doesn't even lift his eyelids when he sees me, let alone call me "Dad."
When the boy heard that he had a daughter, he turned around and walked away. Duoduo, for better or worse, said "Congratulations, Dad!"
Yan Xiaoqiang patted Xinan on the shoulder: "Xinan, congratulations on having both a son and a daughter. You'll have to work hard these days. Your mother, your grandmother, and I are all getting old and don't have much energy left to run around."
Southwest was startled. Yes, her grandmother was already over eighty, almost ninety, and her parents were over sixty. There was no way they could take care of everyone.
When Dongnan gave birth to Fubao, her mother and grandmother were very happy. Why were they so calm when she gave birth to a daughter?
"Southwest, has the little girl been named yet?" Grandma Yan asked.
“Yes, he’s been born. His nickname is Bao Bao, and his formal name is Yan Bao’er,” Southwest replied quickly.
"Yan Bao'er, hmm, what a good name. All the daughters of the Yan family are precious." Grandma Yan touched her waist, only then remembering that her pipe had been confiscated by Nan Nan.
Upon hearing Grandma Yan's words, Yan Xinan's face instantly lit up with a smile. "Grandma is so kind. Grandma really likes girls."
Ye Ren walked in and handed over three red envelopes: "Congratulations, Southwest! This is only three red envelopes from three generations of our family. This is our heartfelt gift. It's wonderful to have a daughter. You must raise her well."
Southwest was a little embarrassed. He hadn't come to collect red envelopes; he had come to share good news. He simply wanted to share his happiness.
Cuihua brought out a lot of things from the kitchen: eggs, longan, red dates, fish, meat, white rice, and white flour.
They also found some brand-new cashmere yarn and soft cotton fabric in the room, as well as a lot of milk powder and the little clothes that Yushu wore when she was a child.
"Southwest, take these things back first. When I have time, I'll help the baby make some clothes or something."
Looking at the large stack of red envelopes in his hand, the several baskets of food at his feet, and the large bundle of cotton clothes, Yan Xinan's eyes reddened.
I was wrong. I thought my parents didn't value their daughter. Look at all these things. They still cherish their granddaughter. I can't be petty anymore.
"Thank you, Mom and Dad, thank you, Grandma, thank you, Grandpa Ye, thank you everyone. I'll bring the baby over when he/she is a month old."
Yan Xiaoqiang nodded repeatedly: "Yes, we'll hold a proper full moon celebration then."
Southwest left with his things, leaving only his newborn daughter and wife at home, which made him a little uneasy.
When Yan Xinan, whose bicycle was laden with belongings, returned to the staff dormitory, Tang Jianjun was waiting for him downstairs.
"Master, what are you doing here? Duoduo hasn't finished school yet," Southwest asked curiously.
"Your mother-in-law has arrived, and she brought bedding and blankets. She said she's staying here to help you take care of the children," Tang Jianjun said.
Southwest's heart sank. He had listened to Liu Lili and given a bride price of three hundred, hoping to buy off their family ties, but they were too naive.
"Master, put all the things in the car here with you. These things were given to us by my grandma and the others. We can't let this old man get away with them."
Without saying a word, Tang Jianjun shouldered the package and carried the basket in both hands as he headed home. The Yan family was always generous, so the contents must be good stuff. He really couldn't let that old hag get away with it.
Southwest ran home empty-handed, opened the door, and sure enough, saw that dirty bedding had been spread on the sofa in the living room.
Liu Lili's mother was sitting on the sofa with her feet up on the coffee table, leisurely eating sunflower seeds.
"Oh, Southwest's back! I'll cook for you." The old woman dropped the melon seeds and ran to the kitchen.
She saw it early in the morning: there was rice, meat, fish, and a large jar of oil in the kitchen.
This good-for-nothing is living such a good life, she doesn't even know to move all these things back to her parents' home, it's a complete waste of her resources.
He opened the stove's sealed door, washed the rice, cooked the rice, and lit the kerosene stove to start braising pork.
Let's make fish soup. I'll serve a bowl for my youngest son first, and then add some water and cook it for Lily a little longer.
Her youngest son is coming over for lunch, so she has to cook a lot more, and use plenty of oil to make it worthwhile.
Tang's mother walked in, glanced at Liu Lili's mother, picked up the fish, and prepared to leave.
"What are you doing? These are fish my son-in-law bought. What do you want to do?" Liu Lili's mother quickly snatched them away.
"I'll take it back and make soup for Lily," said the mother.
"Pah! Lily, is that what you call me? Southwest's wife is my daughter now. What business is it of yours? Your daughter divorced Southwest a long time ago," Liu Lili's mother cursed viciously.
Tang's mother was a little embarrassed. She had been thinking that the fire in the stove wasn't strong enough, so she could take the medicine back and cook it so that she could give it to the new mother sooner. It was really a case of good intentions gone unrewarded.
"Wife, come back, we're going to pick up Duoduo," Tang Jianjun called out from his doorway.
Tang's mother glanced at Southwest, noticing his ashen face, but unsure whether it was directed at her or Liu's mother.
Southwest came out, holding the fish from earlier in his hand: "Teacher's wife, could you please cook it for me? Lily doesn't have much breast milk, and I can't let my daughter go hungry."
At this moment, Tang's mother smiled, knowing that in Southwest's heart, her master and mistress still held considerable weight.
Liu Lili's mother was so angry that she almost bit her gums to pieces. This son-in-law really didn't know what was good for her.
Duoduo's chattering voice came from the stairwell: "Grandpa, what's for lunch today? We need to eat quickly, I have an exam this afternoon."
"Don't worry, Duoduo, your grandma cooked your favorite pig's trotters for you today. Eat a couple more."
"Thank you, Grandma, thank you, Grandpa," Duoduo said politely.
Yan Xinan opened the door: "Duoduo, you're back from school. Do you want to come see your sister?"
Duoduo smiled at Southwest and said, "Hello, Dad. I'm busy today. I'll come see my sister when I have time. Grandma, hurry up and go."
Duo Duo quickened her pace and rushed into Tang Jianjun's house.
Southwest felt a little sad. Everyone says that happiness should be shared, but apart from his grandmother and mother, who could respond to his happiness, his two closest sons were very indifferent.
He returned to the inner room dejectedly, looking at his little girl sleeping soundly. Southwest felt a little lost, wondering where he had gone wrong.
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