"Xiao Shi, you’re truly blessed to have a daughter like Xiao Qing. Look at that little monkey of mine, despite spending so much time with Xiao Qing, she hasn’t picked up any of her gentleness!" Chen Fang joked as she watched Gu Tingting hopping around.
"Chen Sister, what are you talking about? Tingting is lively and cute, with her own unique little girl charm. My Niuniu is just too sensible, sensible to the point that it makes our hearts ache. I think, for girls, it’s better to be a bit spoiled," Kong Shi said fondly as she looked at the figure of An Yiqing sitting in front of the makeup mirror.
As soon as the words were spoken, Chen Fang and Yu Xiaoyan immediately realized that Kong Shi must be regretting not having fulfilled her duties as a mother over the past decade or so. Both of them being mothers, they could certainly relate to such regret.
"Xiao Shi, don’t overthink it. You and Xiao Qing will have lots of time together in the future. Didn’t Lao San say he acquired a villa next to your house? Let them come to your place for meals every day, you just make sure to feed Xiao Qing until she is plump and fair, and then you can have a little grandson! By then, all of us will be envious of you, surrounded by your grandchildren, what blissful moments those will be!"
"Exactly, exactly, Xiao Shi, don’t fret. There are so many good days ahead," Yu Xiaoyan echoed.
Listening to the reassurances from Chen Fang and Yu Xiaoyan, Kong Shi almost seemed to see that plump little baby in her arms in a few years, and she couldn’t help but smile involuntarily.
"Sister Yu, Chen Sister, you two really know how to comfort someone. And to be honest, when I think about having a little grandson or granddaughter a few years from now, oh, it makes my heart as sweet as honey."
"Isn’t that the truth? My two mischievous sons haven’t even caught a glimpse of a girl yet, while Lao San knows strategy. He caught Xiao Qing early and cherishes her in the palm of his hand, far better than his two older brothers," Yu Xiaoyan said as she scolded her sons in good humor and looked at the back of An Yiqing, her eyes full of satisfaction, "If my future daughter-in-law is even half as good as Xiao Qing, I’ll be content!"
As a mother, Kong Shi couldn’t help but be overjoyed when others praised her daughter, "Sister Yu what are you saying? Your Zhun Lin is a fine young man, handsome and distinguished, a well-known Diamond Single King in Xuandu City. Girls flock to him. Just wait to enjoy the blessings of a daughter-in-law!"
On hearing this, Yu Xiaoyan also nodded happily, but suddenly she seemed to remember something and a hint of bitterness appeared at the corners of her mouth: "Chen Sister and I still have plenty of time to enjoy the blessings of sons and daughters-in-law, but... Xiao Xia no longer has that opportunity..."
"Xiao Xia?" Kong Shi faltered, prompting a response.
"Oh, look at my poor memory!" Yu Xiaoyan slapped her forehead, laughing as she said, "Xiao Xia was Lao San’s mother, who passed away twenty years ago. Back then, she was a close friend of mine, sigh... time flies so quickly. But, if Xiao Xia knew that Lao San could find such a good wife, I bet she would be very happy in heaven."
Hearing Yu Xiaoyan’s explanation, Kong Shi immediately understood.
Gu Yelin’s mother, surnamed Ji, had a simple name contains a single character Xia, which was filled with the essence of sunshine. Ji Xia had been a painter who fell in love with Gu Weijun and then married him, giving birth to Gu Yelin. However, when Gu Yelin was five years old, Ji Xia fell ill with a rare disease and passed away within a year.
Gu Weijun, heartbroken by the loss of his wife, sank into despair for quite a while. It was only because of Old Master Gu’s words and the young Gu Yelin that he finally picked himself up again. But in the more than twenty years since, Gu Weijun had never remarried; perched at his bedside was always a photo of Ji Xia and him together. All members of the Gu family had seen Gu Weijun often speaking to the photo frame, his eyes filled with nothing but tenderness.