Lin Qing said to Zhao Xuan with a serious expression, "Although I also plan to buy a lot of courtyard houses in Beijing in the future, it doesn't stop me from being pleasantly surprised to receive a courtyard house now, especially one that is so well preserved."
Zhao Xuan reached out and pinched Lin Qing's cheek, saying gently, "No need to thank me, you are my children too, it's only right that I give them to you."
The three sat down on the stone benches in the pavilion in the backyard. Zhao Xuan got up and took out a tea set from the study, along with a small charcoal stove and a bucket of water, and then began to brew tea.
Zhao Xuan is naturally gentle and elegant, and her movements when brewing tea are also very graceful.
Lin Qing rested her chin on her hands and stared intently at the painting, as if she were looking at an ancient picture of a maidservant preparing tea.
Soon, a pot of fragrant tea was brewed, its aroma filling the air. Bathed in the morning sunlight, the three of them quietly enjoyed the peaceful moment.
Lin Qing picked up her teacup, took a deep breath, and then said slowly, "This place is really nice, it's a pity we can't move in yet!"
Gu Nanxun squeezed Lin Qing's hand, his eyes full of tenderness: "That day will come. Time flies."
Zhao Xuan smiled and raised her teacup: "Qingqing, don't worry, in two years when the situation stabilizes, I'll have your dad use his connections to bring you back!"
Lin Qing nodded gently. She couldn't tell Zhao Xuan that this dark period would last for ten years.
...
The three stayed there until nearly noon before reluctantly locking the door and leaving the courtyard.
The three returned home to find lunch just ready. They helped their grandmother and second aunt bring the food to the table.
At this moment, Dad, Grandpa, eldest brother, second brother, and third brother also came in from outside.
"Well, have you two decided on a name yet? What's our little Nianqing's nickname?"
At the dinner table, Liu Xiuyun suddenly asked
Chen Guozhong looked at Gu Nanxun, then at Lin Qing, and said with a smile, "Jianjun and I thought about it for a long time, but we were never satisfied until this morning when we finally found one. His name is Chen Chen, which sounds like 'morning morning.' We hope that our child will shine like a star in the future."
"Chen Chen, what a beautiful name, and it has a profound meaning," Zhao Xuan nodded in praise.
Lin Qing smiled and said, "I also think this name is good. Chen Chen sounds like both a formal name and a nickname. It's easy to pronounce and sounds nice."
Gu Nanxun nodded in agreement.
"Okay, then let's call him Chen Chen."
Seeing that everyone was satisfied with the name, Chen Guozhong happily slapped the table a few times and said.
"Nianqing, you'll have a nickname from now on, Chen Chen. Are you happy?"
Lin Qing hugged Gu Nianqing and said happily.
Gu Nianqing's eyes were fixed on the dining table. After hearing Lin Qing's words, she did not react at all. It was just a name. As long as you are happy, that's fine with me, Gu Nianqing thought to herself.
"Alright, it seems the name isn't as appealing to Chen Chen as the food!"
Liu Xiuyun smiled and took a spoonful of steamed egg custard, then brought it to Gu Nianqing's lips.
Upon seeing this, Gu Nianqing immediately gave Liu Xiuyun a big smile, then opened her mouth and swallowed the egg custard in the spoon.
"Wow, Chen Chen is amazing!"
Liu Xiuyun praised Gu Nianqing happily, and then fed Gu Nianqing another spoonful of steamed egg custard.
Everyone at the dinner table laughed at Gu Nianqing's adorable antics, making the atmosphere even warmer.
Seeing this, Chen Guozhong's smile widened. He turned to Zhao Xuan and said, "Old woman, look how much Chen Chen is enjoying his meal. Children are so cute. Those rascals should hurry up and get married."
As he spoke, Chen Guozhong glared at Chen Zhihua, Chen Aihua, and Chen Yaohua.
The three brothers, Chen Zhihua, Chen Yaohua, and Chen Aihua, silently ate their rice, not daring to say a word. There was nothing they could do; the two youngest brothers were already married or had partners, while the three older brothers were still single.
Zhao Xuan turned to look at her three eldest sons and said gently, "It's okay. After the New Year, Mom will ask someone to put in a good word for you and try to introduce you to some good partners."
Upon hearing this, the three brothers exchanged glances, unable to help but question the meaning of life. At that moment, they desperately wanted to say to Zhao Xuan, "Mom, can we not take it?"
"I can also ask my girlfriends to help me introduce them."
Upon hearing this, Hu Ying quickly added her own words.
After hearing their aunt's words, the three brothers felt even more depressed. Could they also go to the countryside?
...
After lunch, the family sat around in the living room. Lin Qing took out a photo album, which was full of photos of Gu Nianqing from childhood to adulthood.
There are photos of newborns and those a month old; photos taken in spring, summer, and winter; photos taken in Chaoyang Brigade and Liaoning Province; photos taken alone and those taken with Lin Qing and Gu Nanxun.
As Lin Qing flipped through each photo, she would tell everyone when it was taken and what happened at the time. Laughter would occasionally drift out of the room as Lin Qing explained.
After Lin Qing finished speaking, Liu Xiuyun took the photo album from Lin Qing's hand and slowly flipped through it from the beginning, looking at each photo for a long time.
Seeing this, Lin Qing smiled and suggested to Liu Xiuyun, "Grandma, why don't we take a family photo too? We have a camera, and Brother Nanxun can develop the photos."
Liu Xiuyun's eyes lit up: "Did you take all these photos yourselves?"
Lin Qing smiled and nodded: "We filmed it ourselves."
"Let's go outside and take pictures now! The sun is shining brightly right now."
Hearing this, everyone was eager to try, so the group moved to the courtyard and began their photo-taking journey.
After an afternoon of hard work, they shot three more rolls of film. Only when Lin Qing said that the film was all used up did everyone reluctantly end the day's photo shoot.
"Once the department store opens, we'll buy more film and keep shooting!"
Chen Aihua said, still wanting more.
At this moment, everyone seemed to have forgotten that their family photo was missing two people: Chen Bin and Lu Xianghong, who had gone out to play.
...
As the sun sets, the day slips away quietly amidst the laughter and chatter of family members.
Gu Nianqing gradually drifted off to sleep in Lin Qing's arms, a satisfied smile on his little face, as if he could feel the warmth of home even in his dreams.
As night fell, the lights in the Chen family home remained warm and bright. The family sat around in the living room, discussing their dreams and plans for the future. Gu Nanxun and Lin Qing also silently made a wish in their hearts, hoping that Gu Nianqing could grow up healthy and happy and become their pride.
...
The next morning, as soon as Lin Qing and Gu Nanxun stepped out of their room, they heard a series of noises coming from the front yard.
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