Three days later, An Family learned about the news of Zhao Jingyun's death.
It was Guo Momo who mentioned it. Since Pei JianGuo actually knew Liang Zhiwei, he was going to pay a condolence visit.
They were not very closely related to start with, so there was no need to take it to heart. Still there was some sadness for the old man Zhao.
Selfish people are really not as good as being a little silly. Even if she was deceived by Liang Zhiwei, it would have been better than her knowing her father was murdered yet pretending not to know for her own sake.
However, it can't be said that she was heartless. The guilt weighed on her heart and led to her untimely death at a young age.
When An Family arrived home on his bicycle with the twins, Zhou Nan came out to meet them, "I was just telling your third uncle to come to pick you up. From now on, bring the kids here. I didn't expect you to come by yourself."
After saying that, Zhou Nan started asking the twins questions. She also complained to An Family, "Wanqing has grown up. You can tie up her long hair for her. It looks better for a girl to have small braids. These two kids look too much alike. It's not good when they wear the same clothes, it's hard to tell them apart."
Even Zhou Nan who took care of the twins frequently could only tell them apart when they spoke, if they wore the same clothes.
It was fine with family, but outsiders knowing that she couldn't recognize her own grandchildren would be embarrassing.
"It's not that I don't want to tie her hair. This little girl doesn't like it herself. She deliberately keeps the same hairstyle as her brother, so that her brother takes the blame if she does something wrong." An Family teased Wan Qing on purpose, making the little girl stomp her feet in embarrassment.
She took the eggs, brown sugar and dates she brought on the bicycle and asked, "Where is eldest brother? Can he come back?"
Liu Ling was sent to the hospital yesterday afternoon. An Family also went to see her, but she returned home in the evening. Grandma said this morning that all the adults and children had come back, so she brought some gifts to visit.
"It's a girl. Your eldest brother also has both son and daughter now. You know, she is learning from you, always feels hospitals are unsafe. After giving birth without complications, she decided to bring the baby home directly to make it more convenient to take care of them." Zhou Nan took over the things in her hands and said.
An Family asked again, "Where is big brother? Can he come back?"
"He was notified a few days ago, probably in the next couple of days."
Zhou Nan led An Family to Liu Ling's room. Wen Qing Grandma was there with two daughters-in-law.
"Mother, my young daughter has come to see her sister-in-law." Zhou Nan deliberately put the things An Family brought on the table and said to Liu Ling, "An Family brought red dates. Eat some when you have time. This is better for nourishing blood than brown sugar."
Liu Ling still looked weak. She smiled and said, "An Family shouldn't have gone to so much trouble. Since you came, just come."
"What if the niece doesn't call me auntie in the future if I show up empty handed?" An Family joked. She also took out the small baby clothes she made, "I made light yellow little clothes that can be worn by both boys and girls."
With a room full of people, they were just praising each other.
Wen Qing brought the twins onto the bed to show off her little sister. An Family quickly urged them to be careful not to press on the newborn.
After chatting for a while, she called the twins out so as not to disturb the mother and daughter reunion time of Liu Family.
After An Family left, only then did Liu Mother nod in satisfaction and urged Liu Ling, "The difference between one's own and not one's own is obvious. My young sister-in-law, you are much better than the fake one before. Thoughtful and sensible. I guess Wen Qing is also very close to you. You must take good care of the children on a daily basis, right?"
"Why mention that person, ominous!" Liu Ling had almost forgotten about the days in the family when Gao Meiyun was there. Compared to that sister-in-law who always picked faults with her, it was definitely more comfortable to get along with An Family. "But An Family is very nice. Wen Qing thinks about going to visit his grandma's place every few days. He actually just wants to find his aunt and younger siblings. The twins in An Family's family also come here often, following Wen Qing."
Kids don't differentiate between males and females. Anyway, they stick together all day. Wen Qing used to be an only child, about two years older than the other two, but the relationship seems closer than typical blood-related siblings.
Liu Mother also reminded her, "Let's just talk about this privately. Don't mention the previous one in front of your mother-in-law."
After all, it was a child she had raised with her own hands. It may not be good, but still she couldn't bear to hear others speak ill of her.
Liu Ling smiled, "I'm not stupid."
Lunch was eaten here, with Liu Family's people as well.
Although An Family was an honored guest, she was still closer than Liu Family's people. She consciously went to the kitchen to help cook.
Second brother and sister-in-law came over at lunch time. Their two-month-old baby was able to go out now. The grape-like eyes seemed to radiate light and liveliness.
At the dining table, An JingZhi and Liu Father drank wine. Lunch lasted until mid afternoon before ending.
After Liu Family's people left, An JingZhi sprawled on the sofa while Zhou Nan held her waist to clean up the bowls and chopsticks.
An Family originally wanted to help, but Zheng Suchun stuffed a child into her arms and took the initiative to help clean up.
Finally An Family understood why Zhou Mother was so enthusiastic back then about introducing a country daughter-in-law to An ZhiXian.
It's not that countryside girls are not good and deserve to be looked down upon, but people always consider their own relatives first.
Whether it was Zhou Nan or Zheng Suchun, from the day they got married, they were conscious that they had married up. Therefore, they were always hard working and capable in handling household chores and taking care of children, never letting their husbands get involved or daring to ask them for help.
In his forties, An JingZhi still comfortably enjoyed Zhou Nan's dedication.
This was also most men's common failing. Even if there were loud calls for gender equality, when it came to family commitment, it was still unequal.
Even Zheng Suchun could see Zhou Nan's fatigue, but they chose to turn a blind eye.
Zheng Suchun took the initiative to clean up the dishes and utensils in the kitchen, taking on most of the work, so that Zhou Nan only needed to wipe the table and sweep the floor to rest.
Before she even sat firmly, An JingZhi opened his mouth, "ZhiXing's mom, make me a cup of tea."
He held a newspaper in his hand, eyes not leaving it at all.
"Mom, sit down. I'll go make it." An Family got up and handed the child to An ZhiXian, who was sitting to the side chatting with An JingZhi from time to time.
Zhou Nan lightly murmured, using her hand to gently support her lower back.
The tea leaves in An JingZhi's cabinet were pretty good, although not as nice as hers from the space.
An Family deliberately made a strong cup of tea for him and brought it over, putting it in front of him, "Dad, your tea."
Only then did An JingZhi look up in surprise, meeting An Family's meaningful eyes.
She was clearly smiling, yet he did not feel a smile at all.
In front of this daughter, An JingZhi had always felt guilty.
He mumbled a response, picked up the cup and took a sip, pausing slightly.
Sure enough, it was a strong tea. Mostly tea leaves in one cup of water. It made him feel bad for wasting his newly found good tea.
He cleared his throat and didn't dare say anything.
Wastage only this once. This was the only time she had made tea for him these years. He couldn't find fault with it.
