Once they left the Li Familyâs courtyard, the surroundings quieted down too. It was getting late, and many houses had turned off their lights for the night.
Qin Yang held Lin Chuxiaâs hand, his fingertips gently caressing the back of her hand, "Xiaxia!"
"Hmm?"
"What do you think of Li Weiâs son?"
Lin Chuxia turned her head, glimpsing his serious and handsome face in the moonlight, and nodded, "Heâs adorable, isnât he? Didnât I tell you yesterday already? Li Weiâs son is so chubby and round, just like a New Year picture doll."
"Well..." Qin Yang hesitated, swallowing before continuing in a raspy voice, "Would you like to have such a cute baby too?"
Lin Chuxia finally understood what he was getting at.
Over the past two-plus years, because they started living in different places and later she focused on her career, they had never discussed having children.
She thought he was the same as her, not in a hurry to have babies, especially since Qin Yang was even more career-focused than her.
But it turned out he was anxious about it too.
"Sure," Lin Chuxia agreed without hesitation.
She indeed had this in mind; seeing the little baby at Li Weiâs house yesterday suddenly made her look forward to having a child with Qin Yang.
After Lin Chuxia finished speaking, Qin Yang stepped forward and hugged her tightly, then hurriedly let go before she could fully react.
Lin Chuxia suppressed a laughâmen of this era really were chaste, and her Qin Yang was especially reserved and controlled.
If it hadnât been so late and dark, he wouldnât have made such a move.
Before she could say anything, he pulled her quickly towards their home.
"Hey, slow down!"
Lin Chuxia softly called out to him.
They were already at their small courtyard, Qin Yang quickly opened the gate, pulled her in, then locked the gate behind them and lifted her up horizontally.
Lin Chuxia yelped and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, "What are you doing?"
Qin Yang didnât respond, Yuan Bao, seeing their activities, excitedly circled around them.
Once inside the house, Qin Yang with a kick shut Yuan Bao outside, and his kiss followed immediately.
He pressed against her, his voice low and husky, "Making a baby, Xiaxia, we need to have a baby that belongs to both you and me..."
Lin Chuxiaâs heart softened, she kissed him back, "Okay!"
............
Meanwhile, at the family building.
As soon as they left Li Weiâs doorstep, Feng Dajun wore a grim look that lasted all the way home, and only after closing the door did he finally speak.
"Why did you say those words? Didnât I tell you when we went there? We are colleagues from the same department. Is there any point in comparing who brings what?"
Besides Qin Yang, the rest of them hold lower positions and are essentially his subordinates, so even if they brought something slightly more expensive, it would be justified.
He would be embarrassed if he brought the same as them.
He initially thought his wife had gotten rid of her petty mindset and did something to make them proud.
But unexpectedly, she even spoke about it and complained that the gifts from others were not as good as theirs.
Sister-in-law Feng didnât take it seriously, "I wasnât comparing, am I not speaking the truth? Such a small child, how much can they even use clothes and quilts? Itâs better to buy them fabric and let them make it themselves over time. I chose the gift with so much thought, who am I doing this for?"
Feng Dajun felt that they were not on the same page anymore and found it increasingly difficult to communicate with his wife.
But remembering that they still have to live in the family housing, he patiently explained, "But saying it like that, wonât it offend people? You meant well, but does it mean others who brought clothes and quilts didnât mean well?"
"They are all your subordinates, arenât they? Why are you still afraid of offending them?"
"Itâs not about fear, forget it, letâs wash our feet and go to sleep," he felt that no matter what he said, it was in vain.
Sister-in-law Feng snorted, not feeling there was any issue on her part, just that her husband was too cautious.
He had checked, apart from Li Wei and his wife, the other two also came from rural areas, none were nobler than others, they were still his subordinates, what was there to fear?
Sister-in-law Feng took a large kettle outside to boil water, noticing that the neighbors hadnât gone to bed yet, she greeted Sister-in-law Feng.
Knowing that Sister-in-law Feng attended Li Weiâs sonâs one-month celebration today, they also cheerfully spoke, "That Li Weiâs wife is truly fortunate. This afternoon, I saw her from afar, and just as she stepped outside, her mother-in-law called her back, saying she might catch a cold. She has just completed her âsitting-the-month,â why fear the wind? When I had my child back in my hometown, I hadnât even finished sitting the month before I started cooking and washing clothes for the whole family."
Sister-in-law Feng thought of Jiang Hong and Jiang Hongâs mother-in-law, indeed jealousy-inducing.
"Jiang Hong has a good life, her mother-in-law takes care of everything so thoroughly, must have amassed good fortune over many lifetimes."
"You can tell, I saw Jiang Hong gained quite some weight during her âsitting-the-monthâ, obviously no worries on her part."
After chatting briefly, they each carried their water back to their homes.
Sister-in-law Feng, carrying the water back, prepared the foot-wash water for her husband while still thinking about their earlier conversation.
Thinking about the scenes witnessed tonight, her envy was uncontrollable, and thinking about herself, she couldnât help but sigh.
"Jiang Hong really has a good life, just gave birth to a son. Look how happy Li Wei is, and her mother-in-law, Iâve never seen any mother-in-law that speaks so kindly to her daughter-in-law. And Jiang Hong just keeps sweetly calling her âmomâ."
As she placed the water next to her husband, she suddenly asked, "What if Jiang Hong had a girl, would Li Weiâs mom still treat her this well?"
Feng Dajun frowned, "What are you rambling about now? Canât you stand it if someoneâs mother-in-law treats their daughter-in-law well? Li Weiâs motherâs temperament is naturally gentle..."
"So, my motherâs temper is bad, which is why sheâs always causing trouble for no reason, not because I gave birth to a girl and it threatens your Feng familyâs continuation that she treats me this way?"
Before Feng Dajun could finish, Sister-in-law Feng coldly cut him off.
Feng Dajunâs frown deepened, "What has my mother done to you? Can you please stop being unreasonable? Back in our hometown, you always complained about my mother; now that youâve come out here with me, you still look down on her. If she really favored boys over girls, why would she dote on Lili from my older brotherâs family so much? Lili grew up under her care."
"You admit she favors your brotherâs Lili and looks down on our Jingjing? When I said this before, you accused me of making trouble. Of course, she likes Lili; thatâs her first grandchild, and soon after, your brother had a son. Why wouldnât she like them? As for us, we just have Jingjing, a girl, and you are a permanent worker not allowed a second child. I suspect she wishes our whole family would just serve your brother so that his son inherits everything, our lands are practically theirs now, will there even be a place for you in this village in a few years?"