"Great-Grandma, how are my second grandfather and the others?"
"They called me once during the Chinese New Year, but I don't know the specifics."
Zhang Hongmei stopped talking. The old lady probably just wanted her second and third sons to visit her more often. She wondered what those two were thinking. They were both in their sixties and seventies; didn't they understand the importance of family?
In fact, Zhang Hongmei really wronged Liu Changhong and Liu Changhai. How could they not miss their old mother? They just didn't have the courage to come back and see her.
After dinner, the three went home, but the children hadn't returned yet. Were they up in the mountains and didn't want to come back?
After Zhang Hongmei and the other two finished washing up, they sat in the living room waiting for them. The two elderly people, in particular, missed their children very much.
Looking at the two elderly people who were restless, Zhang Hongmei said, "Grandpa and Dad, you should still go up the mountain with them next week. I'm fine here. My great-grandmother has decided to wait until I give birth before going back."
Gu Chuanming nodded. "Okay, even though I'm at home, my heart is with Zhenye and the others."
The family waited for another half hour before Zhang Shouyi and his four children returned together.
"Mom, you don't need to wait for us. We'll definitely be back early next week." Zhang Zhenye felt sorry for his mother, seeing that it was almost nine o'clock and she was still waiting for them in the living room.
"Okay, come back early next week."
"Honey, it's my fault. I went straight to the mountain after get off work, and something took up my time."
"It's alright, hurry up and wash up, you have to go to school tomorrow. Oh, by the way, your aunt Jingxiang gave birth to a little brother yesterday. Go straight to your great-grandmother's house after school tomorrow at noon."
"Okay, Mom. But why is it always a younger brother? Don't you have a younger sister?" Zhang Weiyu said with a grin, leaning against Zhang Hongmei.
"Yeah, there aren't any girls around us yet."
Zhang Ruifeng sat opposite his mother, looking at her belly, and asked, "Mom, is there another little brother in your belly?"
Gu Yaozu chuckled. "Second brother, are you itching for a beating? Waiting for Dad to teach you a lesson? How dare you say something like that? Mom and Dad are really looking forward to having a little sister."
Zhang Zhenye and Zhang Weiyu laughed too; this second son was just asking for trouble.
Zhang Ruifeng also remembered, and immediately smiled obsequiously at Zhang Hongmei, saying, "Mom, you must be carrying a little sister. I just realized that my second aunt's son was a bit disgusted with her."
Zhang Hongmei laughed, "Xiao Er, you better watch your mouth next time. If she's really not your sister, you're in for a beating."
"Mom, don't worry, it must be my sister," Zhang Ruifeng quickly assured her.
The family was having a good time, and by 9:30, they all went home to rest.
The next morning, Zhang Hongmei and her family of three went to the old lady's house together, each bringing a gift for the child.
Lu Jing and Cheng Zi went to pick her up in two cars. When Ma Li returned, she looked as if she were covered by a blanket. However, she took the child directly to the old lady's room.
Hu Aifen unwrapped the package layer by layer, revealing the baby inside. Zhang Hongmei stared intently, "Too big, I don't think Yuhui looks much like Jingze."
The old lady stared at the child and said, "He looks like your great-grandfather, about 60% like him."
The child was still fast asleep, and the change of environment did not wake him up.
Gu Chuanming and Zhang Xingguo also came over. "Hmm, this kid is indeed quite good-looking. His nose, mouth, and jaw all resemble Second Brother's."
Only Gu Chuanming has ever seen this place.
The old lady reached out and picked up the child. "Yes, you're right."
Gu Chuanming and his companion both took out gifts and placed them next to the child.
Despite the lively atmosphere at home, Yu Hui didn't wake up until after 10 o'clock when he needed to pee and was hungry, at which point he started whimpering.
The nanny quickly came over, wrapped it up, and handed it to Mary.
Around noon, Zhang Zhenye and his three brothers arrived by bicycle. The baby was in the pregnant woman's room. Since Zhenye and the others were still young, there were no taboos, and Er Ya led them in to see the baby.
"Second Aunt, when will my little brother wake up?" Zhang Weiyu asked with a smile.
"He should wake up hungry around midnight."
"Alright, Second Aunt, you rest. We'll come back to see him when he wakes up."
Zhenye and the others said a few words of concern and then came out.
The four of them sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) with the old lady.
Since Zhou Shixiong's death, a shadow has been cast in their hearts. Whenever they are near their ancestor, they will always stay close to the old man.
The four of them took turns trying to cheer up the old lady, telling her funny stories about going to school.
After finishing their meal and resting for a while, they went to check on their younger brother, who had already woken up, before the four of them went to school.
Today is like giving a baby a third-day bath.
After finishing her meal, Ma Li lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) and said, "Mom, this child was born into a blessed family."
"That's right, now I'm relieved. Your dad should be here soon."
"Mom, do we have the money to buy a house in the capital?"
"Yes, don't worry."
“Hongmei has a service company, so we’ll contact her in the future.”
"Yes, you don't need to worry. Just take good care of yourself. It would be great if you could have a few more children."
"That's what I think too. It would be great if we had another one. If we had more children, I'd ask if one of them could have our family name. You and Dad only have me as your child."
"Don't worry about it. It doesn't matter what your surname is, you all have the blood of the Ma family."
"We'll see. I think if I can have another boy, my in-laws probably won't object."
"Ma Li, will you raise the child yourself, or will it be taken back to your hometown?"
Ma Li shook her head and said, "I don't know either. I hope you will be raised by my dad, but I can't make that decision. It depends on my great-grandmother's decision."
I think my great-grandmother will wait until Hongmei gives birth before going back. By then, the baby will be eight or nine months old, and they'll probably take it back with them.
"Don't worry too much. If you really take the child back, you can recuperate and have more children."
"Mom, I won't overthink it. Even if the child isn't by my side, he's still my son. I understand that. Look at Chongyu, even though he grew up in our hometown and studied at Hongmei's house, he still comes back on weekends and is very close to my brother Jingxiang."
Actually, deep down I still prefer my great-grandmother to teach the children. Chongyu was taught very well.
I learned a lot, especially from Hongmei. I come back every week to test Chongyu, and I think he could easily be in third grade now, and he's in good health. I've seen him practice his exercises in the mornings.
Only Hongmei could raise children like that. Besides, it's not that I'm materialistic; I genuinely hope that the two brothers can be close to Zhenye and the other three, so they won't have to worry about anything for the rest of their lives.
"Okay, I'm relieved that you've thought it through. Having someone to raise your child is a blessing."
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