I can only let Mom come over. Tuantuan is learning to walk recently, and itâs keeping Mom really busy.
Seeing the large group of great-grandchildren, Grandpa is overjoyed and doesnât bother to meet his old buddies anymore. Heâs busy tinkering in the yard, setting up a playground, and even bought a kidâs inflatable raft for water play. He fills it with water in the morning, and lets the kids play in it by noon. Itâs quite a spectacle, attracting a bunch of rowdy kids from the compound, keeping the place lively and bustling every day.
Aunt was busy for two days, then came back to help Mom take care of the kids. Seeing the yard full of kids running around bare-bottomed, she helplessly shook her head, "Only our Dad could come up with such an idea. Now itâs great, no need to watch the kids, even if itâs noisy, itâs less work for us."
"Yeah, looks like youâll be turning the place upside down for these next couple of months."
Liang Hongmei isnât going home at night now; sheâs staying here with the two kids at the second home. Lin Guozhi is currently doing evaluations and hardly comes home once a week.
When he occasionally comes back, he also comes here. Now the house is just left with the son and daughter-in-law.
"Go ahead and turn the place upside down. Look, Xiao Yuan even brought Yangyang over because itâs lively here."
"What about Yangyangâs grandparents?"
"They went out traveling, joined a group tour or something, costs fifteen bucks a person for climbing mountains in V city."
"Thatâs tourism! Wow, in this hot weather, seems they are in good shape."
"Sure they are, theyâve always had a good relationship. Now with their son and daughter-in-law settled down and not having to worry about the grandson, theyâre quite carefree. I wonder when Guowen will take me out for a trip."
"Wait for the grandson to grow a bit, let Brother Wen take you out to enjoy the scenery."
"Iâm waiting for that, but who knows when thatâll finally happen," Wang Lu thought about her husband, always so absorbed in his work, never neglectful, "Sister-in-law... how about we organize a family outing sometime?"
"Sounds good, letâs take Mom and Dad out somewhere nearby for fun."
"We do need to go out for some fun. Since you all came back, youâve been busy with work, and we havenât had a proper family trip," Grandma Lin chuckled, hearing the daughters-in-law talk in the living room.
"Mom, you and Dad havenât really relaxed these years while looking for Guozhi. Let us know if thereâs somewhere youâd like to go, and weâll take you there," Liang Hongmei had mixed well in the courtyard circle and learned a lot about pleasing her in-laws.
Indeed, hearing this, Grandma Lin laughed heartily, feeling satisfied, "Your dad and I traveled everywhere when we were young and got tired of it. As long as you all are together, we can go anywhere as a family. Better ask An Liang and Ying Hui about their thoughts on where they want to go."
"Mom, you canât listen to them. Surely, theyâll want to climb mountains or go boating, things we canât do. Letâs wait for the big brother and Guowen to come back and talk with Dad."
"Sure, sure, whatever you all decide," Grandma Lin is now at a stage where she enjoys her later years in peace.
The second daughter-in-law used to be quite accomplished, a director-level in the National Construction Bureau. If it werenât for her and her husband, she wouldnât have retired early. Speaking of which, the old couple feels regretful about this daughter-in-law.
However, the eldest daughter-in-law is also remarkable. Since their return, sheâs been frequently visiting, helping share some of the burdens. Whenever sheâs around, sheâs always coming up with ways to cook delicious food for the entire family.
Sheâs highly successful, bought a plot of land, and built a hotel restaurant, running smoothly. Even the government people came to eat there during this yearâs festival.
Of course, this couldnât have happened without her second son taking care of business.
Now, when people in the compound see the elderly couple, they canât help but give them compliments.
The Old Lin Family has worked hard for their sons in the past, and contributions always bring rewards. Now things are good, as their sons choose to stay by their side, sons are excellent, and the daughters-in-law are both respectful and considerate.
The younger generation is promising, too, with each one showing great potential.
Sheâs just a happy old lady, amused at the praise from her old friends. But Old Lin is different; heâs always out boasting to his old comrades, and sheâs worried if he keeps showing off, his old buddies might just walk away.
...
"Sister-in-law Jiang, I heard youâre going to become the principal of a kindergarten?" Lin Wan learned this from her cousin. Today, on the way home from work, she met her cousin, and they happened to return together.