"What’s wrong with Xiaohe?" Xu Nianji asked subconsciously, looking at Zhou He beside him with a face full of concern and worry.
"Doctor Du, I’m troubling you."
Ji Ying said this with a smile, giving no explanation to Xu Nianji.
Glancing at the shy Zhou He and considering they had been married for half a year, Doctor Du stood up to take Zhou He’s pulse. His suspicions confirmed, he laughed and said, "Congratulations, you’re going to be a father."
Xu Nianji was confused. Just a moment ago he had been concerned that Zhou He might be feeling unwell, but now he was hearing Doctor Du’s words, and he felt like he couldn’t understand them.
Going to be a father?
Did it mean what he thought it meant?
Excited joy shimmered in Zhou He’s eyes. Previously, she had only guessed, but now, with the confirmation, she was going to be a mother. She felt nothing could be more thrilling or exciting.
"Xiaohe, we’re going to have a baby."
Xu Nianji couldn’t care less about the crowd, happily embracing Zhou He like a foolish boy, repeatedly exclaiming that he was going to be a father.
Inside the room, only Xu Nianji’s excited laughter remained.
"Be careful, don’t bump into the baby." Ji Ying was afraid Xu Nianji, with his roughness, might hurt the child in Zhou He’s belly!
That was her first grandchild after all. Hmm, even if it was a granddaughter, she would be just as delighted.
Xu Nianji’s entire face beamed with a smile, his eyes also brimming with joyous laughter.
"We are happy too, but, you need to be careful," Ji Ying reminded him.
"That’s great, I’m going to be an aunt."
Xu Nianhua said excitedly, "I’m going to serve the dishes now, can’t let my nephew or niece go hungry."
Xu Nianhua walked with a spring in her step. Her elder brother and sister-in-law could finally be together in happiness, and soon they would have a token of their love. She felt overjoyed.
The dinner was exceptionally lavish, especially Xu Nianhua’s taro rice pudding, which received rave reviews from everyone!
"This is delicious!" Cheng Hao devoured the rice pudding, digging into the dishes, each one home-cooked, yet tasting even better than restaurant food.
Ling Dong ate silently, but the speed with which he devoured his meal spoke volumes about how delicious it was.
"Nianhua made this rice pudding; we have quite a lot of it around here, and there are several ways to make it," Ji Ying explained, pride evident on her face. All three of her children made her immensely proud.
"If it’s tasty, eat more; we made a lot of the rice pudding."
Ji Ying said with a laugh, scooping another bowl of chicken soup for Zhou He, urging her to eat more to nourish herself.
In the past, when money was tight, simply having a bowl of chicken soup was not easy, let alone eating fish and meat.
Nowadays, life was good, and Ji Ying made sure the New Year’s meals were well-prepared and abundant.
"Brother Qinghe, your children are all so accomplished. I’m truly envious," said Du Chang, who had drunk quite a bit, now on familiar terms with Xu Qinghe.
Over the years, Du Chang had always been alone, deeply engrossed in medicine, and rarely interacted with neighbors.
Now that he was so close to the Xu family, Du Chang was also happy.
"Doctor Du, you have such an outstanding grandson in Yicheng. I’m the one who’s envious," Xu Qinghe had also had his fair share to drink.
"Stop calling me Doctor Du; it feels so formal," Du Chang urged, drinking with Xu Qinghe. From brotherly addresses, they progressed until Du Chang suggested, "Brother Qinghe, if you don’t mind, just call me Uncle Du."
He had originally wanted to be referred to as Elder Brother Du, to seem younger, but then he reconsidered. Seeing Xu Nianhua talking with Zhou He, he suddenly became clear-headed; he couldn’t mess up the generational hierarchy.
"Uncle Du," Xu Qinghe called out with ease, completely unaware of Du Chang’s intentions towards his daughter.