Zhou Xiaomei welcomed everyone through the door.
The house wasn't large, but it had two rooms and a living room, plus a small kitchen.
Chairs were already set up in the living room, and Zhou Xiaomei invited them to sit down, have some water, and crack some sunflower seeds.
Jiang Zhixun and Shen Qingqing brought two cans of preserves.
Chen Shaojie brought a pack of White Rabbit candies.
Cheng Jingliang brought a bag of eggs, "To make steamed egg custard for Xiao Bao, it's nutritious, helps him grow fast."
"You just coming is enough, no need to bring all this."
Speaking politely, she smoothly went to take the child from Lin Fengmian's arms, "What's made him cry like this?"
Lin Fengmian felt a suffocating mix of emotions and said sarcastically, "He insists on being held by Miss Shen, without considering if others are okay with it."
Zhou Xiaomei ignored her sister-in-law.
Smiling, she said to Shen Qingqing, "Little guy must find you pretty, that's why he insists on being held by you. For someone so young, he loves playing with pretty girls."
With that, she handed her son over to Shen Qingqing, "Xiao Bao, do you find Auntie pretty?"
"Mm!"
The little guy's speech was unclear, but this word came out particularly clearly.
Seeing his innocent and cute appearance, Shen Qingqing's bad mood vanished instantly.
When the little guy reached out to be held, she took him from Zhou Xiaomei's hands.
"I'll hold him and play for a bit."
Jiang Zhixun frowned, "Be careful with your hands."
Shen Qingqing placed the little boy on her lap without looking at Jiang Zhixun, "No problem."
Zhou Xiaomei hadn't thought of that, concerned, she asked, "Does it still hurt? Maybe put Xiao Bao down, let him hold onto the table edge; as long as you don't leave, he definitely won't cry."
A one-year-old child wasn't very heavy.
Plus, sitting on her lap, Shen Qingqing didn't need to exert much effort, so it didn't affect her strain injury.
She lifted her arm slightly while untying her scarf, "It's nothing, he's overreacting."
Zhou Xiaomei teased with a smile, "Having a wife is different, Captain Jiang is getting more caring by the day."
Seeing Jiang Zhixun's embarrassed look and reddening ears, Zhou Xiaomei exclaimed how peculiar it was.
With this bashful behavior, who would dare say he doesn't like Miss Shen?
She wouldn't believe it!
Cheng Jingliang and Chen Shaojie also joined in teasing, "You wouldn't know, just now he couldn't wait to see Miss Shen, didn't even wait for us, picked up things and left."
Jiang Zhixun tutted, "What good is spreading falsehoods going to do for you?"
"What falsehood, it's the truth!"
Jiang Zhixun was too lazy to argue with them.
Whether he ran or was eager to see Shen Qingqing, he knew best himself.
Noticing Shen Qingqing's uneasy look, Jiang Zhixun warned them with his eyes.
"Stop talking nonsense."
"Old Jiang, that's not right, men need to be more proactive."
Zhou Xiaomei nodded in agreement, "I don't know what Miss Shen likes about you, but I like Lin Zhidong because he's considerate and willing to cheer me up, Captain Jiang, you should learn from him."
Lin Zhidong was cooking in the kitchen, dizzy with joy from his wife's praises.
He said proudly, "Old Jiang, I'm telling you, with your cold demeanor, if I were Miss Shen, I wouldn't marry you."
Chen Shaojie could be quite sharp-tongued at times, "Miss Shen is beautiful, surely she has many suitors in Beijing, Old Jiang, be careful someone might steal her from you."
Jiang Zhixun stuffed a date in his mouth, "If you can't speak properly, just shut up."
Except for Shen Qingqing, everyone else couldn't help but laugh out loud.
They'd known each other for three years, but it was their first time seeing Jiang Zhixun behave so unusually.
To say he doesn't like Miss Shen, who would believe that!
The group was so harmonious, they almost wanted to glue Shen Qingqing and Jiang Zhixun together.
Lin Fengmian was upset, eyes welling up with tears, suddenly shedding two drops.
Nobody noticed her tears, making Lin Fengmian feel even worse.
She turned and entered the room.
Wanting to slam the door shut, but afraid her brother and sister-in-law would scold her, also afraid Jiang Zhixun would get mad and cut ties with the family.
At the last moment, she restrained herself.
Gently closed the door.
Listening to the laughter and chatter outside, Lin Fengmian hugged her pillow and cried silently.
These people were so unfair.
They knew she liked Brother Jiang yet still brought Shen Qingqing over for a meal.
Bringing her over was one thing, but teasing those two right in front of her.
Were they treating her like air?
No consideration for her feelings!
The more she thought, the sadder she became, and Lin Fengmian's tears wouldn't stop flowing.
Upon first meeting Jiang Zhixun, she had fallen for him at first sight.
Now, it felt like a breakup.
She had no plans to interfere in someone else's marriage, why couldn't they just give her some time to accept the fact Jiang Zhixun was already married?
They were so cruel.
Those teasing jokes, those coaxing laughs, were all salt on her wounds!
Zhou Xiaomei knew her sister-in-law was angry again.
Although it wasn't the best thought, she believed it was better her sister-in-law stayed in the room than targeting Shen Qingqing.
Worst case, she would set aside the two chicken legs for her at dinner.
If there's good food and drink and she's still mad, then Zhou Xiaomei wouldn't know what else to do.
She brought the ginger sugar water from the kitchen, handing it to each person.
Letting Xiao Bao play with Shen Qingqing, Zhou Xiaomei went to assist Lin Zhidong.
It wasn't the first time Chen Shaojie and others visited, so there weren't many formalities, and they followed into the kitchen to help.
"Old Lin, what delicious food do you have this time?"
"Stewed chicken."
Besides that, he prepared two vegetarian dishes that could be quickly stir-fried when the time came.
The main course was corn buns.
Not many varieties, but plenty in quantity, enough for a full meal.
A braising pot was set on the coal stove, and as he spoke, Lin Zhidong removed the lid.
A rich aroma wafted out.
The little guy sitting in Shen Qingqing's lap let out an "ah", wrinkling his little nose.
Shen Qingqing found him adorable, lowered her head, and gently asked, "Baby, do you want to eat meat?"
The little guy nodded with effort, murmuring, "Eat～"
Drool trickled out of his mouth.
Shen Qingqing was amused by his greedy look, glancing around the living room for tissues to wipe his mouth.
This scene in Jiang Zhixun's eyes made it seem like he glimpsed how Shen Qingqing would be if she had a child in the future.
She was so gentle, kids would surely like her.
Both of them weren't young anymore. Setting aside the farce from three years ago, it would indeed be timely to have a child now.
Seeing Xiao Bao's drool about to drip onto Shen Qingqing's hand,
Jiang Zhixun quickly grabbed a corner of the bib to catch the string of drool.
"So young, yet already such a foodie?"
The little guy didn't quite understand words at his age, but he could sense the tone of speech.
Jiang Zhixun's serious face made it seem like a scolding.
The little boy's mouth quivered, then he began to cry with hiccups.
Wailing as he burrowed into Shen Qingqing's embrace.
Tears smudged her coat, making Jiang Zhixun's eye twitch.
He reached to take the little one out of instinct.
At this age, kids have fast reflexes.
Not wanting to leave Shen Qingqing's arms, he grabbed a strand of her hair.
Jiang Zhixun's movement was so swift that it made Shen Qingqing wince.
Her body instinctively leaned toward the man.
Jiang Zhixun took a long step forward to block behind Shen Qingqing.
Gently patting the little guy's hand, "Release her hair, okay?"
Zhou Xiaomei peeked out and scolded Xiao Bao a bit.
Maybe Jiang Zhixun looked intimidating, or maybe the little guy understood the adult words; eventually, he let go of Shen Qingqing's hair.
Looking at them in confusion.
A small face full of bewilderment.
Chen Shaojie teased, "I get it now, in Old Jiang's heart, no one can treat his wife wrong!"