Hearing that his daughter could make sounds, Qin Yang immediately dropped everything and rushed into the room.
Little Qi Qi, who was over 20 days old, was awake and had grown fair and chubby. She wore a small red bellyband, waving her lotus-like little arms and legs, while pouting her lips and cooing.
Yuan Bao was also in the room, pacing in circles and whimpering, either not understanding the commands of his little master or trying to communicate with her.
Lin Chuxia was even more engaged, bowing her head and chatting back and forth with her daughter in coos and gurgles.
Seeing Qin Yang return, Lin Chuxia’s eyes sparkled, “Qin Yang, come here quickly, Qi Qi is talking.”
As Qin Yang stepped forward, little Qi Qi’s gaze immediately locked onto him, her little pouty mouth moving: “Coo… coo…”
Qin Yang’s heart melted, “Missing daddy, aren’t you? Come on, let daddy hold you…”
After playing with the child for a bit, Qin Yang glanced at Zhuang Jingshu’s busy figure in the yard and said to Lin Chuxia, “It looks like you two have been getting along well today.”
Lin Chuxia nodded, “Mom wants to stay and help with the baby, and I’d like her to live with us.”
Qin Yang immediately picked up on Lin Chuxia’s use of the word ’mom.’ It was her first time calling Zhuang Jingshu by this title.
He smiled knowingly, “Won’t that be too exhausting for her? Her health still needs careful nurturing, right?”
Lin Chuxia shrugged helplessly, “She mentioned it several times this morning. You don’t know how envious she was of your mom staying in the guest room before.”
Qin Yang was aware of this.
Every time Zhuang Jingshu was about to return to the guesthouse, the way she looked at Mrs. Qin was telling.
“Alright, then I’ll tidy up the room and change the bedding for mom later.”
Having his mother-in-law stay to help with the wife and child was something he couldn’t be happier about.
In the afternoon, Zhuang Yang came to pick up Zhuang Jingshu. Knowing she would stay at the Qin Family, he felt both happy and concerned.
He was glad that the chairman’s wish had come true but also worried about her health.
However, thinking about Old Sir He being Lin Chuxia’s mentor, he was assured they wouldn’t let anything happen to her, turning his concerns into contentment.
He immediately went back to the guesthouse to pack the chairman’s things and sent them over directly.
If the house had more rooms, Zhuang Yang would have wanted to pack himself along too.
The following days were uneventful.
Lin Chuxia had initially thought Mother Lin would come over to cause trouble, knowing very well about the nature of the Lin Family.
But that didn’t happen.
Not even a phone call was made.
Lin Chuxia truly believed what Zhuang Jingshu had said, that she need not worry about the Lin Family causing her trouble. With her around, the Lin Family would no longer bully her.
It seemed that when she visited Daqing Mountain Village last time, Zhuang Jingshu had really handled things thoroughly.
………
Days passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was time for Qi Qi’s full month.
According to customs, a grand feast should be held for a child’s full month celebration.
The more the family values the child, the more elaborate the feast is.
If they were still in the village, with the Qin Family’s connections and their importance on little Qi Qi, at least a dozen tables would have been set.
But since Lin Chuxia had given birth and been in Yan City, it wasn’t possible to go back and forth, so they decided to keep it simple and hold the feast at their residence here.
They didn’t know many people here; when they moved and held a feast before, they mainly invited Qin Yang’s direct superiors and colleagues from the office.
Now, Qin Yang was the only one in his office, and being recently promoted to Deputy Minister, it required more attention in inviting guests.
Minister Wei, his former leader, and his wife, Sister-in-law Gong, definitely had to be invited.
Moreover, during the postpartum month, Sister-in-law Gong and Sister-in-law Fu had visited her, so it was proper to invite these two families as well.
Then there were Li Wei and his wife who should also be invited.
Finally, there were Fu Shouquan and his wife.
They had invited Fu Shouquan’s whole family when they moved, and they had attended.
Back then, Qin Yang and Fu Shouquan worked in the same office, and Qin Yang had just transferred, so inviting them to the housewarming was also a way to build relationships.
Since Qin Yang’s promotion, there have been some changes in Fu Shouquan’s position—not a promotion or demotion—but his work has become less connected to Qin Yang’s.
Although they lived in the same residential area, the interaction wasn’t like that with neighbors such as Sister-in-law Fu.
After Lin Chuxia gave birth, Fu Shouquan’s wife, Sun Yanmei, hadn’t made any contact, so they decided not to notify them for this feast.
After all, a full month celebration is different from a housewarming; besides expecting a gift, it represents the continuation of family ties. If you invite them now, it means frequent interactions in the future.
Colleagues living in the same residential area didn’t always have deep ties.
There were also some uninvited ones who came early with gifts like a piece of fabric, two jin of eggs, or a jin of brown sugar.
These people Lin Chuxia wasn’t very familiar with, knowing they came for Qin Yang’s status.
Lin Chuxia was prepared, accepting their gifts and returning a gift of similar value.
These weren’t people they were close enough with to receive charity from; however, turning them away would have been awkward for both parties.
Especially since Qin Yang was in a high position, and their family was known to be well-off in the residential area; it wouldn’t be good to be labeled as looking down on others.
Lin Chuxia didn’t mind these things herself, but since they were all colleagues of Qin Yang, any gossip wouldn’t sound good if it spread.
Accepting the gift and returning one of similar value preserved the dignity of both sides and reminded the others that their families weren’t at the stage of having frequent interactions. You came this time because I had something, but if you have something, I might not come; it’s an even exchange.
Not all gifts can be taken without a guilty conscience, especially given Qin Yang’s position now.
Mrs. Qin came to Yan City the day before, bringing a lot of things.
Besides fresh vegetables from home and an old hen she raised, she also brought some full month gifts from the villagers.
“This is from your brother Qin Liang’s wife, this is from Wu’s wife, this is from Da Jiang’s wife, and these are from the village chief’s wife, the accountant’s wife, Old Lady Sun…”
Mrs. Qin showed each gift to Lin Chuxia while commenting, “After receiving so many gifts, without inviting everyone for a feast, I feel quite ashamed.”
Qin Juan, having arranged restaurant matters in advance, came over to help and didn’t think much of what Mrs. Qin said.
“Why worry? These families have had interactions with us. Take Old Lady Sun, for instance; did she ever come to help when we had matters in the past? No, right? So why did she eagerly bring gifts when Xiaxia had a baby? Furthermore, this isn’t something the old lady bought.”
In the village, for a child’s full month, gifts usually were eggs, flower buns, and sometimes millet if the family had it. Buying two jin of brown sugar or a piece of fabric was considered generous.
Old Lady Sun brought a set of children’s clothes and a piece of patterned cotton cloth that was quite thick, clearly showing it was a significant amount.