Chapter 718 - 691: Not Allowed to See the Child

Little Star’s expression was so cute that it almost melted everyone’s heart in the family. Instantly, everyone was amused by her.

Hu Lijuan held back her laughter and led Little Star to her room, where she gave her a small red xylophone.

"When you get to Grandma’s house, remember to think of us, okay? Also, behave well at school. When New Year comes, Auntie will buy you a gift, okay?"

"Pinky promise," Little Star nodded, wanting to seal the deal with Hu Lijuan.

....

Two days later, Han Yi packed his luggage simply and took the child to Z City first.

Mom’s restaurant was already open. It’s the Shuxiang Pavilion #3 Store. This is their third Shuxiang Pavilion store.

The large building next to it was completed, and it’s now attracting tenants. Lin Wan was right; it’s indeed a large shopping mall, with all private businesses inside, none requiring tickets.

There are quite a few people coming to see the shops. Some have already signed contracts and started doing business. With the bustling atmosphere, their store’s business is also particularly good.

To put it frankly, their store in Z City is already well-ranked. Not to mention its luxurious renovation, it’s also clean.

Currently, in summer, just like here, it’s operating a night market. When it gets cold, their hotpot will be officially available.

Mom has been quite busy these past few months, taking care of Saozi postpartum, and also busy with staffing for the store opening.

Mom is exhausted, but there’s joy amidst the hardship; Saozi gave birth to a big, chubby boy, bringing much joy to the family.

The name Dad chose is Lin Youjia, meaning happiness and joy. His nickname is Tuantuan.

He’s chubby, Lin Wan came back once, and Little Star already remembered this little cousin, always clamoring to play with the little brother.

This time, sending Little Star early, Mom will have another worry added.

Hu Dong is going to college, Lin Wan specifically prepared some fitting clothes for him. The lifestyle and fashion of Shanghai are incomparable to here. First impressions are important, and attire is certainly something to pay attention to.

Otherwise, Brother Wu wouldn’t always drag her clothes to the south for sale.

....

"Where is the child? It’s been almost a year, and through countless phone calls, you always have some reason or another to avoid letting us see the kid. Even during New Year, you avoided us and didn’t come home. Tell me... isn’t this woman deliberately doing this? Difficult for us, not letting us see the child?" G City military quarters, district compound, Mei Langchi’s home. Xie Lingzhi took several days of travel by train. This time, she came just for her grandson.

Who would have thought upon entering her son’s home, not even a hair of the child’s was to be seen. The household was neat and clean, all adult belongings, without any traces of a child’s life.

Xie Lingzhi immediately felt deceived. Her son surely wouldn’t lie to them; the first thought was this daughter-in-law who couldn’t see eye to eye.

"Mom, where are you thinking? Both of us are busy; we don’t have time to take care of the child. We’ve let my mother-in-law take care of them."

"Busy? How busy? A woman just needs to assist her husband and educate the children at home. Our family’s condition doesn’t require her to make money, does it? You both are really careless, sending the child to S City right after birth. S City’s weather is so cold that spilled water can instantly freeze. Can a child so young bear it? Not drinking your own milk, always letting the child drink formula. That kind of formula, who even knows what it’s made of? Does it meet nutritional needs? Over such a distance, would you know if the child gets sick? And... her mom, an old rural lady, who knows how she might be taking care of the child. Get going, pay a visit, bring the child back to me."

"Mom, why are you saying that? Ah Qing’s mom is quite capable of taking care of the child. Now the child hasn’t been sick even after several months. You come by and want to bring the child back now, but I’m really busy, the military is really busy these days."

Ye Qing hadn’t spoken since Xie Lingzhi arrived, obediently displaying the demeanor of a little daughter-in-law. Seeing her mother-in-law being difficult this time, she suddenly thought of something, quickly got up, returned to the bedroom, and brought out Hua Hua’s photos from several months earlier to show Xie Lingzhi.

"Mom, look, these are Hua Hua’s pictures. Taken recently."

Upon hearing they were pictures of her grandson, Xie Lingzhi hurriedly took them, looking at the photos of her chubby grandson, overjoyed, "Oh, look at my darling, growing so chubby, so cute. Looks exactly like Xiao Chi when he was little."

Ye Qing felt relieved seeing Xie Lingzhi happy, but nearly choked when hearing her next words.

"Why don’t you find some time to bring the child back? I’m not particularly busy at home; it’s better to raise the child in the Capital City. I can help you take care of him. Besides, your grandparents are always talking about their great-grandson, originally thinking you’d come home during New Year. The banquet was ready, and then you pulled this on us. Our Mei Family finally has a new member after so many years, and the child’s almost one year old, yet not even a banquet has been held. Listen to the idle talk around the compound."

"Mom, weren’t you dissatisfied with Ah Qing as a daughter-in-law? Besides, our wedding wasn’t held, and the child is born to a daughter-in-law you deem unsuitable. We thought you would look down on them too." Mei Langchi now displayed a bit of a rebellious mentality in front of his family.

"How can you talk like that? Looking down? Didn’t we also not tell her to leave? Now everyone around the compound knows; she’s our family. Did we ever say anything?"

"Mom, don’t be upset. Langchi didn’t mean it. You must be tired from days of traveling on the train; I’ll tidy up your room. Please rest for a bit."

As Ye Qing spoke, she didn’t forget to wink at Mei Langchi, telling him not to be impulsive and to soothe his mom.

Ye Qing realized that this time Xie Lingzhi’s visit seemed tricky, not easy to muddle through.

Mei Langchi was also quite troubled, realizing that they hadn’t considered so many things back then, thinking they could hide it for a couple of years. At two or three years old, it wouldn’t show much.

But they hadn’t thought about concealing the matter; it certainly wasn’t an easy task.

After the New Year, his father informed him that the formation of the special unit, sectional rearrangement, already began selecting people for review among various units. All secretly executed. Every task given to the selected individuals post-New Year could potentially be a top-secret review.

Dad said he himself was on the list. In each mission these past six months, he was especially cautious, performing well. Yet for some unknown reason, he wasn’t selected.

This frustrated him immensely; he had been at the rank for more than a year, originally hoping to join that special team, subsequently rising further. His family had arranged everything for this; unexpectedly, those who were with him all set off for Z City’s departmental team to report, but he had no news at all. Clearly, he wasn’t chosen.

This result caught the Mei Family off guard. They had a good grasp of Mei Langchi’s abilities, never expecting any trouble to arise.

They were unfamiliar with the person in charge of this review, and even if they wanted to inquire, no important information could be obtained.

Originally, Junzi wasn’t arranged for this time, and Junzi didn’t intend to go in, as Z City’s base unit also needed personnel. He was required to stay behind to lead troops.

The idea was for Xiao Chi to enter, stay for three to five years, and then return to the Capital City, climbing upward more smoothly.

Unable to enter the special departmental team, he couldn’t just remain stagnant in this position. Mei Shuping had no choice, asking an old comrade to prepare for Mei Langchi to transfer to Z City’s departmental team, where a full regiment position was conveniently vacant and ready for him.

Mei Langchi didn’t want to be in the same city as Han Yi, always feeling that the city was Han Yi’s territory. His father-in-law was influential at the military district over there, and Mei Lang Jun was also there between him and Han Yi. He was convinced that Mei Lang Jun wouldn’t side with him. This time his mother came to inform him that arrangements over there were almost complete, and transfer orders would come soon, aiming to settle down his unpleasant affairs over the next couple of years, subsequently returning to the Capital City.

Musing over his eldest son and grandson, the patriarch silently sighed, realizing that despite his success and prestige, if his descendants were unworthy, it’s all in vain. Without the second son and grandson, the Mei Family might decline in the next generation.

In the evening, Mei Langchi brought home several dishes from the departmental team, and Ye Qing cooked some porridge at home. Since Xie Lingzhi was present, Ye Qing also fried some eggs.

Seeing the table filled with dishes from the sectional unit, Xie Lingzhi frowned and criticized Ye Qing, "With me here today, you still get meals from the military, so when I’m not here, I suppose you never cook, do you?"

Xie Lingzhi’s words accurately pinpointed the couple’s situation, leaving both noticeably stunned!