When we returned to the compound, Chen Ji drove us.
Xu Ruantang is now heavily pregnant and is sitting in the back with Wang Xiuxiu.
As soon as she got in the car, Chen Ji handed her two hot roasted sweet potatoes, saying, "These are for you."
Xu Ruantang took it and said with a smile, "I've been craving this for days."
But she didn't tell Chen Ji that she dreamed about sweet and fragrant roasted sweet potatoes, and thought she must buy them during the day, but she forgot about them when she woke up.
Chen Ji started the car, and Xu Ruantang handed one to Wang Xiuxiu.
Hers was already half-peeled, so she could eat it right away.
The instruction Chen Ji just gave her was to eat the peeled food.
Wang Xiuxiu looked utterly humiliated, and helplessly pouted, "Sigh, they really don't let others live."
The three of them chatted about Shen Qingwen's family in the car.
Actually, it was Wang Xiuxiu who started it. While peeling sweet potatoes, she asked, "The Shen family always seems to be out and about. This time, Shuhe gave birth, but we haven't seen a single one of them."
After eating two bites of the soft, sticky sweet potato, Xu Ruantang felt her stomach warm up. She said lightly, "When the baby is born, the grandparents come to visit. We have to show our appreciation. At least we have to arrange a peace lock and a red envelope. No one would be willing to part with that."
"no."
For the first time ever, Chen Ji spoke up while they were chatting, and the two people in the back seat immediately perked up their ears and sat up straight, waiting for Chen Ji to answer their questions.
"They arrived, but were stopped at the hospital entrance and couldn't come in."
Xu Ruantang, with one hand on the passenger seat, leaned forward and asked, "So they didn't cause any trouble this time?"
Chen Ji frowned slightly and said without turning his head, "Sit down."
Xu Ruantang blinked, but still sat obediently.
Chen Ji always felt that his wife had become much easier to find out about since she became pregnant.
It's probably because not going to work and staying at home is a bit boring.
“Li Shuyang handled it; he wasn’t as indecisive as Li Shuhe.”
Chen Ji raised an eyebrow. "He wouldn't let that family in, and he wouldn't acknowledge their identities, so naturally the sentries at the gate wouldn't let them in."
He spoke with a very serious expression.
Xu Ruantang frowned as she listened; she felt something was amiss.
He patted his stomach and said, "Are you sure you didn't see wrong? It's possible that Shen Qingwen would do something like this, but Li Shuyang has always been humble and gentlemanly. Even if he were a member of the Shen family, he probably wouldn't do this."
After she finished speaking, she looked at Wang Xiuxiu.
Wang Xiuxiu nodded while biting into a sweet potato, "Yes, it's really unlikely that Teacher Li would agree."
Chen Ji glanced at the back seat through the rearview mirror and asked in a cold, indifferent tone, "What are their children's names?"
The two people in the back seat were both baffled, wondering how the topic had suddenly jumped to this point.
But Xu Ruantang still replied, "It's not decided yet. We haven't even thought of a nickname. Li Shuhe wanted to name the child Watermelon, but after we talked to her, she's thinking of something else."
Upon hearing this, Wang Xiuxiu stared at Xu Ruantang's clearly visible belly and asked, "So what about you two? What are you planning to name the baby?"
Xu Ruantang finished eating, leaned back in her chair and thought for a couple of seconds. "I haven't decided yet. The main problem is that the baby isn't born yet, so we don't know if it's a boy or a girl. If it's a boy, his father can name him, and if it's a girl, we'll think of a name together."
Wang Xiuxiu poked her arm. "What do you mean? Are you being biased?"
Xu Ruantang shook her head. "No, I just can't think of any nice-sounding names for boys with the surname Chen."
To be honest, if you hadn't heard the meaning behind Chen Ji's name, it wouldn't sound very appealing at first glance.
At least I wouldn't think he's a handsome guy.
When she first saw this name on the train, she couldn't even imagine what kind of person she was about to meet.
Seeing that the conversation between the two was going off on a tangent, Chen Ji coughed lightly and said, "Li Shuhe's daughter will take her surname."
Upon hearing this, Xu Ruantang became excited again, "Really?!"
Chen Ji smiled slightly and said, "Yes, really."
"So Shen Qingwen agrees too? Isn't that just being a live-in son-in-law?"
Wang Xiuxiu echoed this sentiment.
In this era, unlike in later generations, it was a big deal for a child to take the mother's surname.
Many people who don't have sons will have to have another child their whole lives, for fear of ending their family line.
If the Shen family finds out the child has taken the woman's surname, they'll probably make a huge scene.
Knowing what the two wanted to ask, Chen Ji answered directly, "He agreed, and Aunt Li and Uncle Li also promised that if they have any more children, regardless of gender, they will take his surname."
The two people in the back seat fell silent for a moment.
Xu Ruantang moved her lips, "Then he'll probably be disappointed. Shuhe is in so much pain with just one child, he definitely won't want to have a second one."
Although I didn't witness Li Shuhe giving birth, just listening to her description, I knew how much pain she was in.
When the two arrived home, Xu Ruantang tilted her head and asked Chen Ji, "If I also want the child to take my surname, would you agree?"
Chen Ji didn't stop taking the apron; he tied it as he walked toward her.
Xu Ruantang looked wary.
Chen Ji walked over and stroked her head a few times with his large hand. "Wife, you gave birth to me, so of course I should take your surname. If my father weren't still alive, I would have changed my surname to yours."
After he finished speaking, he went to the kitchen to cook.
Xu Ruantang was petrified on the spot.
After a long pause, her lips twitched, and she shouted towards the kitchen, "I already have two children, I don't need a third!"
In private, Chen Ji would often tell these incomprehensible, lame jokes.
Sometimes it's so cold it can freeze you to death!
Xu Ruantang casually mentioned wanting the child to take her surname.
She actually thought Chen Ji was right; no matter whose surname the child took, it was still hers.
Those are naturally her biological children.
Since no one had given her the task of spreading the surname, she didn't care about it at all.
It was too cold in winter, so Li Shuhe finally decided not to hold a full-month celebration for her child.
She plans to hold the 100-day celebration after the Lunar New Year, when spring arrives and the weather warms up.
This year, the old lady was still in the hospital during the Spring Festival, and the atmosphere at home wasn't very good.
Xu Ruantang brought her godmother over here. Except for visiting the Chen family on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, she spent the rest of the time in the courtyard.
This is her second year spending the New Year here.
This year is different; there's a little life growing inside me, and everything feels different.
Besides her lover and friends, she also had blood relatives.
Of course, Xu Ruantang still misses Xiaobao very much.
Originally, it was all planned that Gao Baoliang would take Xiaobao's family back to Beijing for the Spring Festival, and then get together with Chen Jixu and Ruan Tang.
Just before boarding the train, I received a call saying that Xiao Bao was sick and couldn't come back.
The whole family, I don't know if they ate something, got fevers and diarrhea, none of the four of them escaped it.
On the contrary, my aunt, who was in poorer health, was fine.
Fortunately, a phone call came on New Year's Eve that Xiao Bao's fever had subsided and the whole family was feeling better.
The train was crowded during the Spring Festival. Chen Ji didn't want her to squeeze in, and Xu Ruantang herself knew that she could only stay at home and not go anywhere.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, I woke up to a world of white.
It's snowing.
When Xu Ruantang woke up, Chen Ji had already swept all the snow from the yard.
She was sulking when the courtyard gate opened, and then someone came in—
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