Chapter 251
Feng Wuquan was so amused by Nan Sheng that he burst out laughing. He touched his hair and said, "I guess I just take after my parents!"
The village chief stayed for quite a while before leaving. Fan Shuting knew her daughter-in-law was tired, so she asked if she wanted to stay in the west room or go back to her own house. In fact, the fires had been lit in both places. If they stayed in the old house, the mother and her two children wouldn't have to cook for themselves.
Nan Sheng knew her mother-in-law meant well, but she really didn't want to live together; it was too restricting.
"We'd better go back to our own place. It's not good to leave the house empty all year round. Are third brother and his family not home?"
"Yes, there's a funeral at your sister-in-law's family home, so they all went over to help. I think her uncle passed away."
Nan Sheng didn't chat much longer. She was quite exhausted after traveling all day. Besides, Mingli was coming tomorrow to pick them up to stay at her maiden home for a couple of days. Before leaving, she needed to take out the things in her bags and sort them out.
That night, the mother and her two children all slept in the east room. Nan Sheng was happy to indulge them; in a few years, when Sizhe got a bit older, he would be too embarrassed to share a room with an adult.
When she woke up, the kang bed was still warm and toasty. Nan Sheng guessed that the children had gotten up and stoked the fire.
Zhou Wei had woken up early to steam meat buns and brought over two plates. Sizhe had also cooked some porridge, and the two siblings had finished eating.
Nan Sheng wasn't in a hurry to eat after getting up. She opened her parcels and asked Sizhe to deliver the gifts for his grandparents and his uncle's family first.
This time, she had brought two cans of milk powder specifically for Zhou Wei's family to give Zhuzhu some extra nutrition. It was hard to buy around here, and she figured the eldest brother's family would be reluctant to spend the money on it anyway.
Yuting was incredibly touched when she saw the milk powder. Zhuzhu was already weaned, but she was a picky eater and had lost some of the baby fat on her cheeks. This milk powder would last her a month and would definitely help the child regain her health.
She murmured to Sizhong, "I just don't know how to thank Second Aunt."
Sizhong replied, "Before the New Year, Grandma came over asking for mountain goods, saying Second Aunt likes them. Next year, I'll go up the mountain to gather more and mail them to Second Uncle and Second Aunt."
Nan Sheng personally delivered the gifts for the village chief's family. She hadn't sat there for long before Sizhe came looking for her, saying they had a guest at home. The village chief had no choice but to let her leave; otherwise, he definitely would have kept her for a meal.
On the way back, Nan Sheng gave Sizhe a task. "Son, tell your grandma we're going to stay at your maternal grandmother's house for two days, and then go to your uncle's place to borrow a bicycle."
After sending her son off to borrow the bike, Nan Sheng arrived home first. Mingli was warming his feet on the kang. He had come all the way from the town and had frozen half to death on the journey.
Seeing Nan Sheng, he broke into a wide grin and called out, "Sis! I brought back some hotpot base. Let's have hotpot at home later."
Nan Sheng took out the things she had prepared for their parents and asked with concern, "How is your wife doing? Is this pregnancy tough on her?"
Mentioning this made Mingli's heart ache, but then his tone shifted to one of pride.
"For the first two months, Luotong would always throw up a few times after eating. Thankfully, we made it through. Sis, I'm going to be a father too!"
"I know, I know. You're amazing, alright? I heard you're planning to transfer to the county?"
Yu Feng had told Nan Sheng that Mingli was finally planning to make a career move. Right now, he was working at the Agricultural Bureau, which could offer Mingli some help. If he could climb higher in the future, it would be even easier to pave the way for him.
Nan Sheng thought to herself that she should lend a hand too. When she went back, she would make a call to the higher-ups to get the compound fertilizer project in Huaishan Town approved as quickly as possible. For Yu Feng, accumulating political achievements at this stage was the fastest way to eliminate any negative influences.
Speaking of this, Mingli felt quite guilty toward his parents. "I didn't expect Luotong to get pregnant so quickly. For the sake of the child, I need to work even harder. After all, development in the town is limited. It's just Mom and Dad..."
Just as they were talking, Sizhe returned with the borrowed bike. The siblings exchanged a glance, deciding to wait until they got home to talk further.
Actually, in Nan Sheng's opinion, he would have to go out and make a living sooner or later. It was better to do it while their parents were still young. Once he made a name for himself, it wouldn't be too late to bring their parents to live with him.
Originally, Mingli planned to ride the bike with his sister on the back, and let Sizhe carry his little sister. However, Sizhe refused and insisted on carrying Nan Sheng himself. Over the past year, the boy had grown quite a bit taller. Now, riding a bike to his grandmother's house no longer left him panting from exhaustion.
Zhong Yanyan and Nan Jingyu were both waiting at the village entrance. Seeing their daughter return, Zhong Yanyan took her daughter's hand in one and Qiqi's in the other as they walked home, not forgetting to greet her grandson. Nan Jingyu did the same; he took the bicycle and walked alongside Sizhe.
That left Mingli standing all alone in the wind, feeling utterly neglected. This was just too much!
Once inside the house, Zhong Yanyan and Nan Jingyu started the fire to make hotpot. Nan Sheng and the others went to the west room to keep Grandpa Nan company and chat with him.
She had previously received a letter from home saying that Grandpa Nan's health was getting worse and worse. Seeing him now, it was indeed true; his energy levels were quite low.
"Grandpa, I brought the kids back to celebrate the New Year."
"Ah, it's good that you're back, good that you're back. Eldest boy, Qiqi, come let your great-grandfather give you a hug."
The two children snuggled up next to their great-grandfather. After chatting for only a short while, the old man fell asleep. Mingli tucked him in with a quilt, and they all quietly exited the west room.
Mingli said, "Grandpa has been like this lately, dozing off from time to time."
Mingli had been running back and forth between home and the town, which was enough to keep him incredibly busy.
Nan Sheng had also brought milk powder and malted milk extract to help nourish Grandpa Nan's body. However, given his current condition, it was uncertain whether he would hold on until Mingli's child was born.
When it was time to eat, everyone tacitly agreed not to wake Grandpa Nan. He needed to eat soft, easily digestible food now, which had to be prepared separately.
The atmosphere during the meal today was a bit heavy. The two children couldn't muster any happiness seeing their great-grandfather in poor health. Instead, it was Nan Jingyu and his wife who were more open-minded about it.
"Whatever you do, don't show these expressions in front of the old man. It will make him uncomfortable. Your mother even made him new clothes, new shoes, and a new hat this year, and he's very happy about it."
After dinner, the family sat on the kang and talked. Mingli brought up his transfer to the county, and both his parents were extremely supportive.
Zhong Yanyan said, "Go for it. But with things this way, when Luotong gives birth, I won't be able to go over and take care of her. We'll have to trouble her mother."
Mingli replied, "That's a minor issue. My mother-in-law is more than willing to take care of her during her confinement; after all, that's her own daughter. I'm just worried about things here at home. Once I move to the county town, I'll only be able to come back once every half a month."
Nan Jingyu had been mentally prepared ever since he learned his son was marrying the county magistrate's daughter. "You don't need to worry about home. Just come back and see your grandpa when you're not busy. Your mother and I aren't at the age where we need someone to wait on us yet."
Grandpa Nan woke up around one o'clock in the afternoon. Zhong Yanyan first mixed him half a bowl of malted milk extract to line his stomach, and Nan Sheng went to the kitchen to make steamed egg with minced meat for him.
There was only a small bowl of steamed egg, and just under half a bowl of rice. In the end, Grandpa Nan finished all the steamed egg but only took a few bites of rice. Seeing that the old man loved it, Zhong Yanyan said she would make it like this from now on.
Nan Sheng stayed at her maiden home with the children for two days, only returning to Xiangyang Village on the twenty-eighth of the first lunar month. Having the two children keep him company over those two days made Grandpa Nan incredibly happy, and his spirits lifted significantly.
Upon returning home, the two children couldn't hold back and immediately ran outside to play, while Nan Sheng just wanted to sleep heavily.
She had only dozed off for half an hour when Sun Qian came over with Siyu. "Second Sister-in-law? Are you asleep?"
Nan Sheng sat up in a daze, only to see that Sun Qian had already brought the child onto the bed. Siyu's cheeks were flushed red, and she kept shrinking back into Sun Qian's arms. The little girl didn't seem nearly as lively as she used to be.