Chapter 590 - 509: Making a Fuss
Chapter 590: Chapter 509: Making a Fuss
Tang Qingshan hadn’t returned to Beijing just to visit family; he had other matters to attend to as well. He was only home for a short while before heading out.
Xiao Man sidled up to Mrs. Ai, reaching out to touch her belly. "It’s huge," she exclaimed. "Like a balloon."
Grandma Tang chided her, "What a thing to say! You’re a medical student, don’t all pregnant women look like this? What do you mean, a balloon? That’s your little brother in there. Do you really think he’s a toy?"
Xiao Man burst out laughing. "Grandma, you’re the one who just reminded me! I’d almost forgotten I was supposed to treat him like a toy."
Mrs. Ai gently stroked her belly, patting Xiao Man’s hand with a smile. "Didn’t you and Hao Hao say you each wanted one? Well, it looks like you spoke it into existence—there are two in here. Why else would my belly be this big?"
Xiao Man and Grandma Tang were both shocked and delighted. Grandma Tang quickly asked, "You’ve been to the hospital? Are you sure? Why didn’t you tell us sooner?"
Mrs. Ai smiled and nodded. "I had a check-up before we came back. It was my first ultrasound, and that’s when they saw them. It’s definitely two! Qingshan was too busy to come with me, so the secretariat sent someone along. I didn’t say anything, but the woman who came with me went and asked someone, then came back and whispered to me that they’re both boys. Qingshan was afraid you and Dad would get too excited and worry, so he asked me to keep it a secret until we were back home and settled in."
"Oh my goodness! This is just wonderful! My dear little grandsons!" Grandma Tang was grinning from ear to ear. "Now I won’t have to feel so inadequate in front of Old Mrs. Gu anymore! I have plenty of grandsons too, and twin grandsons at that! And my granddaughter is prettier, more sensible, and more accomplished than hers! Bwahahaha!"
Xiao Man was speechless.
’Grandma, aren’t you getting a little carried away? Oh well, have it your way. We’re at home, after all. You can be as smug as you want!’
That evening, when Grandpa Tang and Tang Qingshan came home and heard the good news, they were overjoyed as well. Grandpa Tang announced that he would give Tang Qingshan and Ai Wenli a reward. As for what that reward was, he neither gave it on the spot nor specified, so Xiao Man was left in the dark.
News that the Tang family’s daughter-in-law was pregnant with twins quickly reached the Gu family. The Gus sent their congratulations along with a gift. Since it was about time for one of their get-togethers anyway, they decided to hold a banquet at the Tang Mansion so the two large families could celebrate together.
Tang Qingshan had brought his wife back to rest during her pregnancy and await the birth, while also taking care of some official business. He could only stay in Beijing for three or four days, so the family gathering was scheduled for noon the next day. Taking advantage of the hospital’s proximity, Xiao Man planned to run home for lunch.
Whenever Sun Yiming didn’t have surgery and wasn’t too busy, he would always be found hovering around Xiao Man, ostensibly to familiarize himself with Sun’s Traditional Chinese Medicine. He was a sharp one, and noticed that Xiao Man was in an exceptionally good mood today, her smile particularly sweet. He started probing for the reason, and Xiao Man didn’t hold back, telling him directly about the happy news in her family. As the hospital’s vice president, Sun Yiming decided to grant Xiao Man permission to leave two hours early. Of course, there was one small condition: she had to take him home with her and solve his lunch problem.
Xiao Man happily agreed. ’Her heart belonged to Gu Shaojun; only he could make it flutter. All other men, no matter how outstanding, looked the same to her. Sun Yiming wasn’t unpleasant, so he could be a friend—a friend just like Yang Liu’er, Pang Xiaoji, or Cheng Yamei. It wasn’t as if she’d never brought friends home before. There was no need to overthink it.’
Sun Yiming was delighted and prepared a gift to bring along.
The Gu family went to the Tang Mansion in two groups. In truth, three cars would have been enough for everyone, but Granny Gu claimed she needed to find something and told Grandpa Gu and the others to go on ahead. She and Gu Shaoling stayed behind. Zhou Hui Lan wanted to wait for her mother-in-law, but Granny Gu sent her away as well.
It wasn’t that she was looking for anything. The truth was, Gu Shaoling was throwing one of her spoiled fits again, refusing to go to the Tang Mansion for dinner. Granny Gu, for her part, doted on her granddaughter and worried she wouldn’t eat properly if left home alone. She was also concerned that if Grandpa Gu found out Shaoling was deliberately staying behind out of spite, he would surely reprimand her. If this kept up, her granddaughter’s image in the eyes of her husband and the other family elders would be damaged beyond repair.
’What happens to a girl from a prominent family when she is cast aside?’
’Her own beloved daughter, Gu Qi Yue, had been abandoned on her husband’s single command. He had forbidden anyone to search for her, giving her up just like that. In the end, she had died a tragic death on the grasslands. It was a wound in Granny Gu’s heart that would never heal, and she would absolutely not let her granddaughter walk the same path.’
"Shaoling, my dear, please stop being so willful and come with Grandma. You don’t like the Tang family, so we won’t stay long. I promise, we’ll come right back after we eat, all right?" Granny Gu clutched Gu Shaoling’s arm tightly to keep her from pulling away, pleading with her patiently.