As the day for Qi Xiaoqiās full-month banquet approaches, Cheng Su, being someone who plans things well, calls back home again to ask how many people are coming. This way, Qi Taiguo can book the rooms at the guesthouse in advance. Otherwise, if it exceeds their budget and more people come without enough places to stay, it wouldnāt be nice.
"Youāre becoming more and more thorough in your work. Even our dad praised you!" Qi Taiguo said, satisfied, as he hugged his wife and laughed.
Cheng Su said proudly, "Iāve always been thorough."
Qi Taiguo laughed, gently pinching her cheek, saying, "Look at you, your nose is going all the way up, just like a pigās nose!"
"How dare you call me a pig! Take this!" Cheng Su pinched him as they playfully tangled together.
Qi Xiaoqi, lying at the foot of the bed, stared at the ceiling: Truly childish.
After the couple played around for a while, Qi Xiaoqi made a strange noise. It wasnāt that he wanted to interrupt his parentsā antics, but his stomach was truly hungry.
Cheng Su picked up her son, checked him over first, since he neither wet nor dirtied himself, then lifted her clothes to feed him. Qi Taiguo watched with a hungry expression, his eyes full of envy and jealousy.
Qi Xiaoqi noticed and sucked with even more vigor.
Qi Taiguo couldnāt help but feel envious.
Cheng Su said, "The journey is too far, so not many are coming from home. Just my dad, your mom and dad, your second aunt, and Jianmingās wife will come."
Qi Jianmingās current wife is no longer the Taozi that Cheng Su once met. He has changed to someone else, seemingly named Xiao Fen, who is currently pregnant and returned home to nurture the pregnancy until delivery.
"Donāt worry, Iāll book the rooms at the guesthouse soon," Qi Taiguo replied.
Cheng Su nodded, saying, "Luckily, not many are coming this time. Otherwise, it would be hectic to manage, especially since itās far."
There arenāt that many relatives back home, but not particularly few either. If they were to host a banquet back home, thereād surely be ten or twenty tables, as was the case when Qi Jianguo got into university.
Cheng Su thought about Qi Fenglian and mentioned her.
"Huh, why didnāt you tell me earlier?" Qi Taiguo was quite concerned about his eldest sister.
Cheng Su chided, "Youāve been busy these days, sometimes even at work during shifts. I and our son rarely even see you. How was I supposed to say anything?"
Hearing this, Qi Taiguo apologetically said, "Thereās been a lot going on in the troops recently. Soon itāll be Mid-Autumn, and preparations for holiday readiness need to be arranged too."
Cheng Su curiously asked, "There were holidays before, but you didnāt seem this busy?"
Qi Taiguo explained, "Chief Ning got promoted, and the regiment commander seems to favor me too. Heāll be promoted to commissar early next year, so while thereās time, heās probably giving me some extra training."
He spoke casually, but Cheng Su caught the hint: "Could it be that youāre getting promoted?"
Qi Taiguo remained calm, saying, "Thereās no such intention yet. I only got promoted to this position less than two years ago. But with the previous military achievements at hand, if I improve my capabilities, getting promoted will only be a matter of time."
Cheng Su was overjoyed. Many people spend their entire lives stuck at the company commander level. Although her husband hasnāt been promoted yet, having the opportunity is already a big step ahead.
"This is just a thought, donāt go telling anyone," Qi Taiguo reminded her.
Cheng Su teased him, "Do you think Iām daft from pregnancy for three years? I wouldnāt say anything about something that hasnāt happened yet." Sheās not one to act without certaintiesāif it doesnāt happen, people might laughāand then she laughed, "Seems like Xiao Qi is lucky for you."
"You guys are all lucky for me," Qi Taiguo laughed, flattering her.
He was just saying it, knowing her cautious nature. Then he asked about his sisterās second chance at romance.