Chapter 92

Xu Zhao opened the car door, carried Chenchen out, and Jiang Suihan and Jiang Leyun followed closely behind.

They forgot to wrap Chenchen in his little blanket, and a gust of cold wind made the child shiver. He clung to his father’s neck and said, “So cold.”

Jiang Suihan quickly wrapped Chenchen in the blanket. When she turned around, she saw several people standing at the door.

Su Ying said, “Hurry inside. It’s too cold out here!”

She didn’t want her precious grandson to get cold.

Jiang Suihan carried Chenchen, surrounded by a few people as they walked into the living room, calling out, “Grandpa, Dad.”

Grandpa Xu, with most of his hair white but looking sprightly, smiled and said, “It’s good you’re back.”

He took out three red envelopes from his pocket, saying they were gifts for his granddaughter-in-law and Chenchen. Jiang Leyun received one too.

Jiang Suihan caught Xu Zhao’s glance, saw him nod, and smiled as she accepted the envelopes, saying, “Thank you, Grandpa.”

Chenchen didn’t know what the envelopes were for, so he confidently tossed them to his mother, saying, “Thank you, Grandpa.”

The child’s cleverness fell flat in front of his elders.

Jiang Suihan wanted to cover her face. “It’s Great-Grandpa.”

Chenchen responded with a surprised “Oh,” and being a good child, corrected himself: “Thank you, Great-Grandpa.”

Grandpa Xu’s smile deepened the wrinkles on his face as he patted the little boy’s head, saying, “So good.”

Xu Zhenguo, usually serious, also wore a smile and handed Chenchen three envelopes as well, saying, “These are for buying candy.”

Chenchen curiously examined the envelopes, realizing they could be used for candy. This gift delighted him, and he flashed a bright, charming smile at Grandpa Xu, saying, “Thank you, Grandpa.”

Xu Zhenguo’s eyes crinkled with delight. He had thought the child looked good in photos, but in person, he was even more handsome. He felt a slight worry about how such a pretty boy would find a partner in the future.

However, this sweet worry lasted only a second. Xu Zhenguo soon shifted his mindset, feeling a sense of pride. Grandpa Sun always loved to brag about his grandson’s looks, but tomorrow, he would take Chenchen to show him off in person, and he wouldn’t feel outshone.

Chenchen was indeed the cutest and most beautiful child!

If Jiang Suihan knew about Grandpa Xu’s thoughts at this moment, she might exclaim that it was typical of the Xu family—Xu Zhao felt the same way.

Su Ying’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Chenchen. “Chenchen, I’m Grandma. Do you remember me?”

It had been more than half a year since they last met, and the child had a poor memory. He knew there was a Grandma, but he had almost forgotten what she looked like.

Chenchen found the person in front of him somewhat familiar, but couldn’t remember who. However, he could sense her kindness toward him.

Hugging his mother’s neck, he whispered, “Mommy, where is this place?”

Jiang Suihan gently ruffled his hair and softly replied, “This is another home for Chenchen. There’s Great-Grandpa, Grandpa, and Grandma. Do you like it here?”

Chenchen tilted his head, asking, “What about our other home?”

In his mind, the home at the military base was where he truly belonged. He was born there and grew up with his parents, uncle, aunt, and many friends.

Jiang Suihan explained, “This is where your dad grew up. It’s his home and also yours.”

Chenchen pondered, “So I have two homes?”

Jiang Suihan nodded, “Yes, you have two homes and many family members who love you.”

Chenchen’s big, sparkling eyes shone with innocent joy. “So many people love me. I’m so happy!”

Jiang Suihan often told him that Mommy loved him, and after hearing it so many times, he occasionally blurted out, “I’m so happy,” without thinking anything strange about it.

Su Ying laughed and teased, “That’s right. Chenchen is so cute and smart. We all love you!”

Chenchen shyly buried his face in his mother’s embrace.

“Don’t say anymore. It makes me shy.”

Everyone found the child’s innocent behavior adorable and couldn’t help but laugh.

Hearing the laughter, Chenchen buried his face deeper into his mother’s arms, reluctant to show himself.

Grandpa Xu glanced at Xu Xiaoling, who was laughing the loudest. “Alright, let’s eat first.”

In the north, the indoor heating made it comfortable. Jiang Suihan quickly took off her military coat upon entering, but she kept her cotton jacket on. After staying in the room for a while, it wasn’t so cold anymore. While helping Chenchen loosen his scarf, she asked, “Are you cold?”

Without the restriction around his neck, Chenchen felt much more comfortable and shook his head. “I’m not cold. Mommy, I want to take off my clothes.”

There’s a kind of cold that makes your mom think you’re cold.

Worried about Chenchen getting cold, Jiang Suihan had made him wear a sweater before they arrived in the capital. With his short arms and torso, wearing four or five layers made it hard for him to move, making him look like a little penguin, wobbling as he walked, which was quite funny to see.

Jiang Suihan touched Chenchen’s little hands; they were warm.

Su Ying said, “The heating makes it warm inside. If he wears too many layers, he might sweat and catch a cold.”

After taking off two layers, Chenchen felt much lighter and started to bounce around.

Grandpa Xu loved Chenchen and let him sit next to him during meals. Xu Zhenguo was envious, but being the son, he couldn’t outdo his father in their family.

Chenchen stared wide-eyed at the table full of dishes and exclaimed, “Wow! So much delicious food!”

He really wanted to eat!

Grandpa Xu served Chenchen a big chicken leg with a loving smile. “Do you like chicken legs?”

Chenchen grabbed the chicken leg and nodded eagerly. “I do!”

Xu Zhao chimed in, “Can those little baby teeth of yours handle it?”

Chenchen had a bad habit of always wanting the biggest portion—big buns, large bowls of noodles, and the largest piece of apple. If he didn’t get the biggest piece, he would cry. Jiang Suihan and Xu Zhao had tried to correct this behavior many times, but it often returned after a while.

When Chenchen couldn’t finish the chicken leg and didn’t want to waste it, Jiang Suihan disliked the idea of eating after the child, refusing to touch his leftovers. So, inevitably, Xu Zhao ended up finishing it.

Chenchen pounded the table and lifted his chin defiantly. “Hmph! I can finish it!”

Xu Zhao’s expression darkened. “No banging on the table. That’s impolite. If you do it again, I won’t give you any food.”

Chenchen shrank back at his father’s stern look, afraid to speak.

Seeing his grandson being scolded, Grandpa Xu glared at Xu Zhao. “Why are you being so harsh? The child is still young and doesn’t understand. When you were little, you used to tap your chopsticks on the bowl. Did I say anything to you?”

He turned to Chenchen with a kind smile. “Don’t be afraid, Chenchen. Grandpa will help teach your father a lesson.”

Su Ying joined in against Xu Zhao. “How old are you? Chenchen isn’t even two yet. What’s wrong with banging on the table? Since he arrived, he hasn’t cried or misbehaved. You just have something against my grandson. I have something against you, too!”

Then, a piece of braised pork rib appeared in Chenchen’s bowl. “Grandma specially made this for you, Chenchen. Try it and see if it’s good!”

As the head of the family, Grandpa Xu stated, “It’s New Year’s, don’t be too strict with the child.”

Xu Xiaoling giggled quietly, “Serves him right.”

Qin Jianming struggled to suppress his laughter, feeling sympathy for Xu Zhao. Now that there was a grandson, Xu Zhao had taken a backseat and was no longer the apple of his parents’ eyes. Xu Zhao needed to realize his place in the family.

Good luck to him!

Jiang Suihan laughed along, surprised at the Xu family’s dynamics, which were a bit unexpected.

Xu Zhao helplessly rubbed his forehead, watching Chenchen, whose little head was almost buried in his bowl as he enthusiastically gnawed on the meat—truly a little ancestor.

Halfway through the chicken leg, Chenchen lost interest. “Daddy.”

Xu Zhao looked at his child’s greasy little hands holding the half-eaten chicken leg, constantly reminding himself that this was his biological child.

He took the chicken leg from Chenchen’s hand and put it back in the bowl, only to see Chenchen reach instinctively to wipe his hands on his clothes. Xu Zhao wanted to close his eyes and ignore it.

He grabbed Chenchen’s hands. “How many times have I told you? Your hands are all greasy. You can’t wipe them on your clothes. They won’t come clean!”

Raising a child truly posed many challenges and tested one’s patience. Jiang Suihan couldn’t stand the dirt. Every meal with Chenchen became a messy affair, with food scattered all over the table. After eating, the child was always filthy, and at that point, she absolutely wouldn’t hold him. He was just too dirty.

When Xu Zhao was home, feeding Chenchen became his responsibility. He held high standards for himself, like not wiping his hands on his clothes when they got dirty. Sometimes, Chenchen remembered, but most of the time, he forgot.

Grandpa Xu couldn’t bear to see his grandson being reprimanded, believing that Chenchen was still young and could be taught gradually. “Why are you yelling? You’ll scare the child.”

Xu Zhao grabbed a towel to clean Chenchen’s little hands and looked at his father in exasperation. “Dad, when I’m trying to teach the child, can you please not undermine me? It makes it difficult for me. Kids can read faces and know when someone is backing them up. They won’t be afraid of anything.”

His father, always serious and fair, was unexpectedly being undermined by a less-than-two-year-old kid—truly a little ancestor in the making.

Xu Zhenguo responded, “You can teach him. I have no objections, but can’t you keep your voice down? What if you scare Chenchen? You’re a father now, yet you’re still so impatient. I don’t see much improvement in you over the years.”

Xu Zhao immediately fell silent.

Well, with a grandson around, his status as a son seemed to fade. He should have realized this sooner.

Chenchen, having slept well on the train, was still wide awake, while Jiang Suihan felt exhausted and went to rest in their room.

They were staying in Xu Zhao’s old bedroom, which was filled with red decor—red bed, red quilt, red pillowcases, and even red couplets on the window. It was clear that his mother-in-law had put a lot of effort into it, and Jiang Suihan felt a bit touched.

Xu Zhao walked in. “Have you washed your hair?”

Jiang Suihan, with her long hair still wet from washing, knew it would take a while to dry, especially after being on the train for so long. She had gone two days without washing her hair, and not doing so made her uncomfortable.

“Where’s Chenchen?”

Xu Zhao replied, “He’s downstairs. Grandpa and Dad are playing with him.”

Jiang Suihan couldn’t help but smile. Grandpa Xu, almost eighty, and her father-in-law, who was no spring chicken, were respected figures outside but had no qualms about playing around with their grandson at home.

“Your son has quite the presence.”

Xu Zhao picked up a dry towel to help her dry her hair and chuckled, “He’s your son, too.”

Both grandparents wanted Chenchen to sleep with them, but Jiang Suihan worried the child wouldn’t be used to it and might cry at night. So, she decided it was best for him to sleep with her and Xu Zhao.

The next morning, she heard laughter and chatter coming from downstairs; it was lively.

After getting ready, Jiang Suihan walked downstairs and casually glanced around, but didn’t see Chenchen.

“Hello, are you the one that Brother Xu Zhao is dating?”