——————
Yan Jinsu looked at the three little buns with a beaming smile as her in-laws held a first birthday celebration for them. Although it was just a small family gathering and her husband was not home, his military colleagues were very thoughtful.
Those who were local and not out on exercises or missions almost all came. They should have stayed for lunch before leaving, but they didn’t. Instead, they brought small gifts, nothing grandiose, just some ordinary items. Some brought home-grown fruits, others carved toys with their own hands, and one who had learned craftsmanship made a delicate little bed suitable for the triplets to sleep together.
In any case, the military colleagues came, presented their gifts, and left promptly, impossible to detain.
It was Yan Jinsu who made a quick decision, asking her mother-in-law to fetch the rice dumplings they had prepared to sell and give back a pair to each of the big-headed soldiers who came bearing gifts. This was a form of reciprocation.
The Yan Family also sent people over, the three Yan brothers to be exact. Knowing Yan Jinsu was not too keen on seeing her birth mother, and with Qi Chunlan’s health deteriorating over the past two years, no one dared bother her to come over.
She felt that this arrangement was good. With feelings that were not exceedingly fervent, their interactions did not make her uncomfortable. The kinship by blood was still there, and such a mild and warm approach made it comfortable for everyone involved.
Perhaps Yan Xiqing and his son Yan Dongsheng might feel some regret, but seeing that Yan Jinsu did not completely cut off from the Yan Family and that the two families could still interact as relatives, it was already a good thing for them.
There are too many things in life that can’t have the best of both worlds, no need to forcefully keep relatives by one’s side at the cost of making others (Qi Chunlan/Wang Qiuling) uncomfortable. Having a relationship that is neither too close nor too distant is a kind of liberation.
The Yan brothers did not pay attention to the little schemes of the elders, but if their sister (or elder sister) ever encountered an issue, one of them would always be there to show concern.
It was these three brothers that made Yan Jinsu feel that the Yan Family was not without its merits.
For the triplets’ first birthday, each brother brought a piece of jade jewelry as a birthday gift. Not particularly expensive, but something that can be kept and might appreciate in value, considering the price of jade was not very high at the time.
Thus, the first-birthday celebration for the three little buns passed by unremarkably.
Xie Jingchen submitted his mission report and only arrived home a week after the triplets’ birthday celebration was over.
Although Xie Tiesheng had been grumbling inwardly about his Third Son, when he saw him return home safe and sound, he was still moved to tears.
Zhou Xiuhua was so angry yet ended up gently beating her Third Son’s chest, crying uncontrollably and whispering hoarsely, "My Third Son, you are finally back~~"
Previously, being so far apart, the two elderly had no idea how dangerous Third Son’s missions really were. They assumed he had always been safely within the military ranks, doing drills and exercises (this was all Xie Jingchen had told his parents), without too much danger.
But since they started living with Xie Jingchen and Yan Jinsu, they gradually realized just how challenging it was to be Brother Rong, and even more so for Mrs. Rong!
"Dad, Mom, don’t be sad, I’m back safe and sound, right?" Xie Jingchen reassuringly wrapped his arms around his parents, comforting them gently.
This mission had indeed been tough on Xie Jingchen; he had lost weight and his body was covered with new and old wounds. Now that it was summer, he couldn’t hide the abrasions on his arms under short sleeves.
However, most of the wounds had healed, and they looked worse than they were just because of the scarring.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Transmigration: I Have Storage Space in the Apocalypse