Chapter 288 Winter Vacation
As soon as the final exams were over, Zhang Yueran, covered in snowflakes and carrying a suitcase, knocked on the Gu family's door.
Nan Zhiyi was a little surprised. While helping her take off her coat, she asked, "Didn't you say you were going to have dinner with your roommates after the exam and wouldn't come over until tomorrow?"
Zhang Yueran leaned her suitcase against the corner of the wall, slumped into the sofa, and said irritably, "Don't even mention it! We agreed to have dinner together, but someone went home right after their exam, and we couldn't even get everyone together. It's so boring! If I had known this would happen, I would have just come directly. It's a complete waste of my time."
Nan Zhiyi poured her a glass of warm water. "Maybe something really has happened at her home."
"Anyway, they don't keep their word, they're so annoying!" Zhang Yueran muttered, taking the water glass and taking a big gulp.
Her emotions came and went quickly; once she put down her cup, her attention was drawn to Xiaoman.
She beamed and reached out her hand to Xiaoman: "Xiaoman, come and let your auntie give you a hug!"
Xiaoman giggled and pounced on him, and Zhang Yueran hugged him and they started playing around on the sofa. The room was warm, and soon both of them were sweating profusely from their playful antics.
Nan Zhiyi looked at them and asked, "Are you staying at home for a few more days before going back to the military region? We'll have to wait until Fifth Brother officially starts his leave before returning to Jian'an. It's a pity it's not on the way, otherwise we could have given you a ride."
Zhang Yueran: "Then I'll relax here for a few days. I need to come back before the start of the semester to prepare for Professor Chen's lab exam, so I need to make the most of my time to study."
She turned to her and asked, "By the way, sister, didn't you say Anping gave birth? I haven't seen her yet. Can you take me to see her tomorrow? Should I prepare some money as a gift?"
Nan Zhiyi chuckled and gently poked her forehead: "You little rascal, why are you giving money as a gift? I've prepared a present for you to carry; consider it a token of your appreciation."
Zhang Yueran readily nodded: "Okay, I'll listen to you, sister!" Then she threw herself back into the battle with Xiaoman.
The next morning, Nan Zhiyi deliberately didn't wake Zhang Yueran, letting her sleep in, and also told Xiaoman not to disturb her aunt.
Xiaoman was always well-behaved, so she stayed in the study with her mother.
Nan Zhiyi was writing at her desk when he followed his mother's example. He asked for a paintbrush, lay down on the small table next to her, and started doodling in his sketchbook, quietly enjoying himself.
Nan Zhiyi didn't restrict what he could draw, only asking that he not draw on the walls or furniture.
Xiaoman's personality seems to have come from Gu Xiao; she is naturally focused and organized in her work, even when drawing, she stays neatly on the paper, which saves a lot of trouble to clean up and makes her very easy to manage.
She stopped drawing and taught him to draw a simple sun.
The little guy gripped the paintbrush tightly and tried very seriously to draw a circle, but unfortunately his little hand control was not good enough and the lines he drew were crooked.
He didn't get discouraged; with a furrowed brow, he tried again and again.
With the children enjoying themselves, Nan Zhiyi had more undisturbed time to immerse herself in her writing.
Zhang Yueran slept soundly until the sun was high in the sky.
She shuffled to the study door in her slippers, her hair disheveled, and poked her head in. "Sister! Did I oversleep? Didn't we agree to go to Sister Anping's place?"
Seeing her sleepy eyes, Nan Zhiyi couldn't help but smile: "No rush, it's the same if we go in the afternoon, there's no need for so many formalities."
Zhang Yueran finally breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest.
Just then, Sister Zhang heard the noise in the kitchen and called out, "Yueyue's awake? I saved some breakfast for you. Come and eat something first, or it'll be lunchtime soon."
Zhang Yueran couldn't refuse the kindness, so she scratched her head and walked to the dining table, where her sister brought her rice porridge and steamed buns.
As she ate in small bites, she turned her head and asked, "Sister Zhang, is Fifth Brother coming back for lunch?"
Sister Zhang was picking vegetables in her hands, and shook her head: "Minister Gu told us a couple of days ago that with the end of the year approaching, there are a lot of things to do in the department, and he will probably have to work overtime these few days. He probably won't be back for lunch or dinner most of the time, and told us not to wait for him."
Zhang Yueran said "Oh," and added, "Fifth Brother must be really working hard."
Even so, her shoulders visibly relaxed as she focused on eating her brunch.
When they finished getting ready to leave in the afternoon, Zhang Yueran belatedly asked, "Sister, are we going to the General Logistics Department compound?"
Nan Zhiyi was half-squatting, carefully wrapping Xiaoman into a round cotton ball, with the scarf wrapped around her again and again, only revealing a pair of big, dark eyes.
Without looking up, she replied, "Yes, Aunt Song came all the way from Jian'an to take care of me during my postpartum period. I took Xiaoman there once before."
Zhang Yueran said "Oh," tied her scarf, and asked with a hint of anticipation, "Sis~ After we finish watching Sister Anping, can we play outside for a while before going home?"
Nan Zhiyi understood her. She was naturally lively and usually busy studying at Peking University, so she rarely had time to go out. When she finally got to go out, she naturally wanted to wander around.
She smiled and nodded, "Okay, let's wear warm clothes and play. The sky looks gloomy, it might snow later."
Zhang Yueran smiled brightly: "Okay!"
The afternoon sky was overcast, the snow had not yet melted, and the air was dry and cold.
The two adults and one child, bundled up in thick clothing, trudged through the still-snowy ground towards the bus stop.
Xiaoman was led by her mother and aunt, one on each side, walking in the middle. Her little leather boots deliberately made a squeaking sound as she happily skipped and jumped.
When they arrived at Zhou Anping's house, Nan Zhiyi took a wrapped gift from the bag she was carrying and handed it to Zhang Yueran before the two of them knocked on the door.
The door opened quickly from the inside, and standing in the doorway was Zhou Zhengping.
Nan Zhiyi was stunned for a moment; she hadn't expected to meet him here.
She quickly concealed her surprise, a distant smile curving her lips: "Zhengping, long time no see."
Zhang Yueran, who was standing next to her, was clearly also taken aback. She pursed her lips and reluctantly called out in a low voice, "Brother Zhengping."
Hearing the noise, Song Lanxin, who was inside the house, quickly came out to greet them, her face full of smiles.
"It's Zhiyi and Xiaoman! Oh, and Yueran too! It's been so many years since I last saw Yueran. Come on, come inside, it's freezing outside."
Zhang Yueran put on a sweet smile, "Aunt Song, you said it's been so many years since we last met, but you look just as young and stylish as ever, you haven't changed at all!"
Song Lanxin became even more enthusiastic, repeatedly inviting the three of them into the house.
Zhang Yueran took off her coat and went into the house first. "Aunt Song, where is my sister Anping?"
Song Lanxin led her into the inner room, saying, "She just woke up. Come on in and see the little baby. Zhiyi, come and see too. She's gotten quite chubby these past few days."
Nan Zhiyi exclaimed, "Coming!"
She helped Xiaoman untie her scarf, took off her heavy cotton-padded coat, and introduced her to Zhou Zhengping, who was standing silently to the side: "Zhengping, this is my son, Xiaoman, whose full name is Gu Zhao."
As she spoke, she gently patted her son's head, "Xiaoman, this is Uncle Zhou, say hello to Uncle Zhou."
Xiaoman looked up at the unfamiliar uncle in front of her, gave him a sweet smile, and greeted him in her childish voice, "Hello, Uncle Zhou."
Zhou Zhengping's gaze fell on the little boy who looked remarkably like Gu Xiao. After a moment of silence, he slowly raised his hand and gently touched Xiaoman's head.
Hello, Xiaoman.
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