Zhang Hongmei looked at Zhao Haozheng. It really was just as Wang Xinyi had said. No matter how she looked at him, it was unbearable.
Zhao Tiancheng finally returned. Seeing his pregnant wife walking towards him, he quickly took off his hat and helped her up.
"Xinyi, you don't need to worry about me. Someone from the Chamber of Commerce suddenly came over, and it was an emergency. I forgot to call you. You really don't need to wait for me anymore. I'm already this old, what could possibly happen to me?"
"It's alright, we've been waiting for you. Sit down quickly, I'll have Yunfang cook you some dumplings. On such a cold day, eating hot dumplings is the real treat."
"Hongmei, people from the Chamber of Commerce came to see me today. I don't know where they heard about you, but they want to invite you to dinner. I reckon they're just trying to get on your good side!"
"Uncle Zhao, please refuse them all for me. On the third day of the Lunar New Year, please help me choose a restaurant, and I will treat all the Chinese people to a meal."
"Hongmei, there's no need for that."
"Uncle Zhao, should we send New Year's gifts?"
Zhao Tiancheng was taken aback. "This has never happened before, so there's no need to prepare anything."
"Okay, I understand." That's perfect, it saves me the trouble.
Early Saturday morning, Zhang Hongmei had just finished practicing Tai Chi when she saw a car approaching in the distance. As it drew closer, she realized it was a car specifically for picking up and dropping off Annie.
The car drove straight into the yard, and Annie ran out of the car and hugged Zhang Hongmei tightly, crying, "Mommy, Mommy!"
Zhang Hongmei sensed that Annie was very down. She didn't say anything, but simply patted Annie's back gently.
"Honey, let's go inside, it's too cold in the yard." Zhang Hongmei took her hand, and the driver got out, said goodbye, and left.
It was still early, and Zeng Zhongkang had just returned from his run. Seeing the little girl looking rather unhappy, he took a Mickey Mouse plush toy from his bedroom and handed it to her.
"Annie, after Mommy washes up, do you want to come upstairs with Mommy or stay downstairs?"
"I want to go with Mom." Annie was a little scared. She had only told her grandmother that morning and had the driver bring her here. She was truly disappointed in her grandmother's family. How could this have happened?
Zhang Hongmei quickly took a shower, sat down next to Annie, and while drying her hair, casually asked, "Annie, why are you so unhappy?"
"Mom, do you think we have to flatter and fawn over our relatives too?"
Zhang Hongmei raised an eyebrow. Had this child been traumatized?
"That's not quite right, is it? But the fact that they've flattered you shows they're treating you well; it means you have value."
"But Mom, I've forgotten what my maternal grandmother looks like. And they've never called me before. When they saw me last night, they asked if I had a new mother, and said that after my little brother was born, there was no place for me in the house."
“Annie, although you are still young, I know you are very smart and can understand what your mother is saying.”
I don't know what your grandparents and father think. But I can assure you, Annie, that you must develop your own abilities.
The McCann family name belongs to your ancestors, not to you. Only when you have the ability can you stand proudly in front of others.
That's your capital. It means you can lose everything else, but what you've learned will always stay with you. Do you understand?
"Just like Mom? You're so smart, so Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, and Uncle Wyatt all love you very much?"
"That's one way to understand it. Because my mother can earn more money for them, which could potentially make their family bigger, they are willing to win me over."
Your understanding isn't wrong either. When you become successful in the future, you might not even care about anything related to your family anymore. Those things might not necessarily be good anymore, and you might even see them as your shackles.
Annie didn't understand, but she remembered it, always remembering what Zhang Hongmei had said. Whenever she felt tired, she would think back to that weekend morning.
"Alright, don't be upset anymore. Let's go eat. Aunt Chen made porridge today. Also, a lot of people from our hometown are coming over for dinner next Friday night. I wonder what your grandparents have planned?"
"Mom, I'm not coming that day. I don't like too many people."
"Okay, I'll come to your house on Saturday."
Annie wasn't in a good mood all day, even when Zhao Hao was playing with her, she was still listless.
In the evening, Carlos McKen came over, and he seemed to be in a bad mood.
"Dad, have Grandma and the others left?"
Carlos picked up Annie. "Yes, they're gone. Next time they show up, Daddy won't let them in."
Anne nodded gently. She didn't want to see them either. She was filled with self-reproach, and even blamed herself for her mother's death!
She didn't tell anyone about it, afraid they would think the same thing. But she was truly heartbroken; could it really be that she had caused her mother's death?
After dinner, Zhao Hao was taking Annie to play games when Carlos sat on the sofa and said, "Hongmei, thank you. Annie is too sensitive."
“Carlos, I don’t think what I said helped Anne much. She’s been unhappy all day.”
"It's obvious that her maternal grandmother resents her for causing her mother's death. But I don't know how to explain it to her. If I talk to her too much, I'm afraid she'll overthink it."
“Actually, I think Annie is quite mature. You can talk to her, and maybe the child won’t feel burdened.”
Carlos wiped his face. "I'll take her back today and talk to her."
"Yes, the child may really be unhappy for this reason. We need to make it clear that childbirth is inherently risky. It's unreasonable for adults to blame a child for this."
Carlos smiled wryly. He knew it too, but other people's words were the most damaging.
Zhang Hongmei seemed to know what he was thinking. "It's because you don't tell us that Annie keeps guessing. We must let her know the truth."
"I see."
"You're not actually protecting her. Annie is much stronger than you think."
Annie finished her game at eight o'clock. At Zhang Hongmei's urging, she went home with Carlos.
That evening, Zhang Hongmei went into the virtual space. She showed Zhang Shouyi's message, "Wife, they've all gone on holiday, only we're still working."
Don't be homesick. Old Gu has been talking about you a lot these past few days. Also, I've arranged everything for building the villa. Don't worry, Liu Jingze recommended this person, and I think it's a good idea. I reckon everyone in Liujiatun, young and old, already knows about the new house construction in the spring. They're sure to have the happiest New Year ever.
"And Wang Ying is back, you need to name the child, right?"
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