Chapter 35: Smile When Visiting the Elders

After traveling all day, both women were exhausted. The moment their heads hit the pillow, they fell asleep.

The two little ones were equally worn out—they didn’t even wake up in the night for milk.

Cheng Hongying got up early the next morning. She hadn’t heard any water boiling the night before, which meant they had probably been too tired to even prepare anything for the babies.

Quietly, she tiptoed into the room and, as expected, found the twins awake. They weren’t crying or fussing—just lying there, their big round eyes fixed on their mother.

Dabao: Truly, not acting like a proper mom at all!

Sensing his grandma’s presence, he immediately kicked his legs happily and made a few eager noises.

Cheng Hongying quickly hushed him with a finger to her lips. “Shh, let’s go. Grandma will take you to drink your milk.”

He Ziqing, still groggy, quickly sat up on the kang bed. Her voice was low and full of guilt. “I’m so sorry, Auntie. I overslept. I’ll take care of it.”

“You were on the road all day yesterday. Of course you’re exhausted. Go back to sleep for a bit. Once you’re up, I’ve got some other tasks for you.”

With her usual strength, Cheng Hongying gently pushed He Ziqing back down onto the bed.

She even covered her eyes with her hand. “Your sister’s still asleep, so you stay asleep too.”

Then, carrying one baby in each arm, she walked out of the room.

Lying there, He Ziqing couldn’t help but smile. The warm blanket made her sleepy again.

She hadn’t had a proper rest in days, always worried about getting caught.

Now, having made it to the peaceful village of Ping’an, several dozen kilometers away, she could finally let out a sigh of relief.

—

Qiu Yinuo had faintly sensed her mother entering the room to carry the children out, but she was too tired to fully wake up.

When she did finally open her eyes, it was because the sunlight had not only reached her backside—it was glaring straight into her eyes.

There were no curtains in the house, so the bright light streamed directly through the window, giving her nowhere to hide.

Left with no choice, she dragged herself out of bed, stretching lazily.

From the outer room, she could hear the children giggling. Not having to soothe them herself—this feeling was incredible.

Coming home wasn’t so bad after all. At least now, life was easier than before.

After years of constant hard work, she could finally take a breather.

Once she got dressed, Qiu Yinuo stepped down from the bed.

Seeing her mother and younger brother each holding a baby, she asked, “Where’s Qingqing?”

“That girl’s out chopping firewood! You should go talk her down—she’s been at it all morning without a break.”

Qiu Yinuo knew that Qingqing was working herself to exhaustion as a way to repay her. If she didn’t let her do something, she’d probably feel even more uncomfortable.

“Alright, I’ll tell her to come in and rest in a bit.”

After breakfast, Cheng Hongying brought Yinuo and Qianjin along to visit their grandparents.

From a distance, Aunt Qiu could already see the three of them approaching. Her expression immediately darkened.

The thought of three extra mouths showing up for lunch made her snap the rag she was holding and grumble, “It’s too early in the morning to already be in a foul mood.”

With that, she turned and stormed back into her room.

By now, Cheng Hongying had grown a thicker skin. She couldn’t care less how angry her sister-in-law was.

“That’s just how your aunt is. We’re here to see your grandparents, not her.”

Qiu Yinuo nodded. “Mm.”

The original owner’s eldest aunt and younger uncle’s wife had both failed to produce sons and had become twisted with jealousy. They couldn’t stand to see her mother doing well.

Qiu Qianjin pushed open the courtyard gate and shouted loudly, “Grandpa! Grandma! My sister’s here with the babies to visit you. You have to see how adorable these two little ones are!”

Upon hearing the voice of their eldest grandson, the elderly couple of the Qiu family came out immediately.

First, they checked on their eldest grandson with warmth and care, then their gaze shifted to Qiu Yinuo. There was a bit of resentment in their heart toward her—her father had passed away, and she hadn’t even bothered to come back and visit. But at the same time, they pitied her for becoming a widow at such a young age.

Their feelings were complicated, but they didn’t show any animosity toward her.

“It’s cold outside. Hurry up and bring the kids inside,” they said.

Once inside, Qiu Qianjin became talkative, and no matter what he said, it made the elderly couple laugh heartily.

It wasn’t until Qiu Yinuo and her mother unwrapped the swaddles from the two babies, revealing their delicate, rosy faces, that the elderly couple couldn’t help but marvel to themselves at how beautiful the children were.

Grandpa Qiu asked, “Which one is the elder, and which is the younger?”

Because of her embarrassing mix-up the previous night, Cheng Hongying didn’t dare guess this time.

“This one is Dabao, Shao Xingchen. That one is Erbao, Shao Beichen.”

Shao Xingchen, groggy and barely awake, opened his eyes to see an elderly face full of wrinkles hovering above him. Startled, he almost burst into tears.

Then he remembered that his grandmother had said this morning that they were going to meet their mother’s grandparents.

Back in the orphanage, he’d heard: old people love babies who smile at them—it means the old folks will live long lives.

A little gasp escaped his throat, followed by a high-pitched sound, and Shao Xingchen reacted quickly, turning it into a giggle.

For the sake of his mother’s future happiness, he put in the effort and forced a smile that revealed his little teeth.

Grandpa Qiu paused. “Why is this child so happy to see me?” He seemed to remember something and gently reached out to stroke the child’s tiny hand. “Are you smiling because you think your great-grandfather will live to be a hundred?”

Shao Xingchen quickly nodded, thinking to himself, this old man really understands.

His nod left everyone in the room stunned.

Qiu Qianjin couldn’t stop praising him. “Grandpa, didn’t you notice? My eldest nephew just made it so obvious! You’ll definitely live to a hundred, just like Grandma, healthy and happy.”

Who didn’t love hearing such kind words, especially when they came from the eldest grandson? The elderly couple was delighted.

Looking at the two little children now, their affection for them had grown even more sincere.

Grandma Qiu leaned over curiously. “Let me see, does our eldest smile at great-grandma too?”

Shao Xingchen: Smile? Of course. I’m equal-opportunity with my charm.

At moments like this, he always wondered why his younger brother was such a country bumpkin.

If he were like himself, wouldn’t there be someone to share in such moments?

“Old man, did you see? This child smiled at me too. Looks like we’ll both live to be a hundred. And when I take a closer look, they kind of resemble our Jinzi.”

Hearing this, Qiu Qianjin was over the moon. “Grandma, you noticed too! When I saw them yesterday, I was stunned. Just look at the shape of the eyebrows and eyes, don’t they look just like mine? And the lips, the nose—it’s like they were carved from the same mold as me.”

The eyebrows did resemble Qiu Qianjin’s, but the rest of their features clearly took after their father.

However, the elderly couple was so easily charmed by their eldest grandson that they lost their ability to think clearly. Now, looking at their great-grandchildren, they truly felt like they were cut from the same mold, their affection deepened.

The younger one, Shao Beichen, had been woken up by his brother’s laughter. His sleepy eyes opened, and he waved his little hands as if trying to grab something. By chance, he grabbed great-grandma’s hand, and a tiny curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Qiu Qianjin was so excited, he almost shouted, “Grandma, did you see? Erbao smiled at you too!”

Qiu Yinuo: … Why did she feel like the second one was just twitching his lips?