Chapter 1476 - 848: The Mechanical Bird-Teasing Buddha Dad, Busier Than the Groom (2)
Chapter 1476: Chapter 848: The Mechanical Bird-Teasing Buddha Dad, Busier Than the Groom (2)
Hexi Huo Family
After Huo Qinqi picked up the Shen Family elders, the whole family sat around the table for a meal. Jiang Xiaowai and Little Surprise lay together, one making sounds, the other responding, though no one could understand what they were saying. Still, it seemed they were communicating quite well.
And whenever the family gathered, they would certainly talk about Qi Zeyan’s wedding.
"I heard their family is going to have two receptions?" Old Mr. Shen inquired.
"Yes, one in Pingjiang, and then another back in Beijing," Tang Wan explained. "After all, nearly all of Xixi’s relatives and friends are in Pingjiang, and they have to manage work and family. Traveling back and forth takes at least two or three days. Even if the Qi Family could cover transportation and lodging, not everyone has that kind of free time."
"That’s true enough." Old Mr. Shen laughed, "Actually, I have something to tell you during this meal today."
"What is it?" Shen Shuci looked at her father.
"Your mother and I discussed it and we want to live in Pingjiang for a while. We originally stayed in Beijing because we couldn’t bear to leave you. We thought we’d help with Lanlan once she was born, but now we realize that there’s really nothing for us to worry about, and we find living in Beijing uncomfortable."
The Shen Family elders stayed in Beijing not just because they couldn’t bear to leave Shen Shuci, but also because they worried that Huo Qinqi was as hard as a rock and wouldn’t take care of his wife, given that he was often stationed elsewhere. But now it seems those worries were unfounded.
"How long do you plan to stay?" Tang Wan frowned.
"It depends. We’ll meet some old friends. We won’t stay long since I can’t bear to be away from Lanlan for too long." Old Mr. Shen looked affectionately at Little Surprise in the distance.
"So, when do you plan to leave? I’ll see you off." Huo Qinqi, being a man of action, asked.
"No need for that. It’s rare for you to be back, so spend more time with Shuci and the kid..."
"Let him see us off. We won’t feel at ease otherwise, with just the two of you going back," Liang Yun agreed.
...
After much deliberation, however, it was decided that Tang Wan’s family of three, and Shen Shuci’s family of three would all return to Pingjiang together.
Shen Shuci hadn’t returned to Pingjiang in a long time, so this trip was a bit of a holiday for the whole family. Usually, it’s Liang Yun who helps take care of their child, so this was a chance to ease her burden and allow her to have a proper rest.
The Shen Family elders planned to stay longer while Tang Wan and the others decided to stay until Qi Zeyan’s wedding in Pingjiang was over.
Tang Lao and Tang Yunxian were naturally overjoyed to hear they were coming back, preparing days in advance. On the other hand, Jiang Jinsang found himself a bit stressed.
He still had some unfinished business to take care of, and accompanying Tang Wan back would inevitably mean working late.
"You don’t need to come with me. So many people are going together, and apart from grandparents, there’s also uncle to take care of us, so nothing will happen." Tang Wan said.
"Old Huo taking care? Jiang Jinsang chuckled lightly, "I’m afraid he can’t even look after his own son."
"No, once you finish your work, come over when you have time. If not, don’t rush. Jiang Xiaowai isn’t a two- or three-month-old baby anymore; he’s not as difficult to soothe as before."
Tang Wan had taken Jiang Xiaowai back to Pingjiang before, so she was quite familiar with the routine. A few days in advance, Jiang Jinsang packed everything they needed, including gifts for Tang Lao and Tang Yunxian, with nothing left out.
**
In contrast to Jiang Jinsang’s calmness, Huo Qinqi was a bit at a loss.
The last time he returned to the base, the child was not even a month old. When he came back this time, the child had already changed dramatically...
If Shen Shuci hadn’t been holding him and told him it was his own son, he probably wouldn’t have recognized him.
He rarely cared for the child, so he had no clue that taking a child out is more challenging than him marching and fighting a battle - tons of miscellaneous stuff, not to mention even toys need to be brought along.
Liang Yun even crammed a last-minute lesson on the night before the departure, telling him how to soothe the child.
When to change diapers for Little Surprise, when to feed, what time to take him out for a walk...
Liang Yun acted like her son going out with him would mean inevitable hardship, warning him time and again. Huo Zheng watched quietly from the side, not saying a word.
After talking for more than two hours, Huo Qinqi thought he could finally return to his room to cuddle his wife and son. Yet, Huo Zheng, who hadn’t said a word, uttered one phrase:
"Have you remembered everything your mother just told you?"
Huo Zheng was particularly fond of this grandson, the kind of love typical of grandparents that showed vividly in him.
"I’ve remembered it all," Huo Qinqi replied.
Huo Zheng nodded, "Then briefly say what your mother just emphasized to you?"
"..."
Huo Qinqi had no idea that taking a child out could be so challenging.
His ability to act and execute is strong. He could handle a group of troublemakers under his command, so he thought he could certainly handle a mere baby. Yet, reality struck him hard.
He really couldn’t manage his own child.
On the way back to Pingjiang, Jiang Xiaowai was quite peaceful, almost sleeping throughout, without causing trouble.
It was Little Surprise who was quiet in anyone’s arms, but whenever Huo Qinqi held him, he wriggled and wouldn’t cooperate.
Especially during diaper changes, Huo Qinqi’s forehead veins were visible, and he felt like giving the kid’s behind a slap.
He could only silently remind himself that this was his biological son - he couldn’t hit him!
Watching Huo Qinqi care for the child made Shen Shuci quite anxious, especially knowing that when someone was cleaning the kid’s bum, he felt like his son was a fragile chick being tossed around.
Once, the little guy almost rolled off the bed. Shen Shuci didn’t catch him, but luckily Huo Qinqi, with a quick hand, grabbed one of his feet and lifted him up.
On the way back to Pingjiang, Huo Qinqi was quite exhausted, and upon arrival, everyone settled into the Tang Family’s residence.
The Tang Family home was originally a three-courtyard residence, with plenty of rooms, making it lively with everyone together.
Old Mr. Tang and Old Mr. Shen had a fixed morning exercise routine and would take Jiang Xiaowai with them. Huo Qinqi also took his son out for some air early in the morning.
The two old men liked to practice Tai Chi at the small park, which left Huo Qinqi with a brief period of having to watch over the two kids by himself...
Taking care of eating, drinking, sleeping, and cleaning was one thing, but also needing to entertain them.
The elder folks have their hobbies like drinking tea, going for strolls, and listening to storytelling. Tang Wan and Shen Shuci often went out together for grocery shopping or leisurely walks.
Knowing that taking care of kids was tough for most wives, Huo Qinqi took on the childcare responsibilities when Shen Shuci wanted to step out.
In the Tang Family courtyard, the most common sight was...
Jiang Xiaowai and Hua Mei "battling," with Little Surprise on the side "cheering them on," while Huo Qinqi stood by with an unchanging expression.
Two kids and a bird, the noise level was imaginable.
Most importantly, humans and birds couldn’t communicate. One babbled, another chirped incessantly, nearly driving Huo Qinqi crazy.
Though, having the kids’ attention focused on the bird was better than them crying all the time.
At first, Huo Qinqi was somewhat overwhelmed, but as time went by, when the two kids and Hua Mei "battled," he simply sat beside them, playing Minesweeper.
He had adopted a "let the wind and rain blow, I stand unwavering" attitude.
He had become completely zen.
Even when changing diapers and cleaning little bottoms, he could do it expressionlessly.
Jiang Jinsang heard about Huo Qinqi being "the best of friends" with the two kids and found it amusing. When he arrived in Pingjiang and saw the dynamic firsthand, he nearly burst into laughter.
Huo Qinqi sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, holding a bird teasing stick, poking at Hua Mei, with the two kids cheering him on. The whole scene was especially bizarre.
Most notably, the person kept a straight face, just mechanically repeating the bird poking action.
The two kids, on the other hand, were thoroughly entertained.
Huo Qinqi had never anticipated being so eager to see Jiang Jinsang. He had hoped Jiang might come over to help alleviate his stress.
But instead, Jiang barely stayed around, always tagging along with Tang Yunxian to the company.
They claimed he was working and gaining experience.
As a result, the primary responsibility for minding the children fell on Huo Qinqi. Sometimes he was close to resorting to demonstrating a set of military boxing moves in front of the kids out of desperation.
...
However, as Qi Zeyan and Ruan Mengxi’s wedding day approached, Pingjiang became lively.
They had another wedding scheduled in Beijing, and not all their relatives and friends could make it to both locations, but Jiang Chengsi, an important friend on the groom’s side and the groomsman, was sure to attend.
With him juggling the duties of spending time with his girlfriend, pleasing his future father-in-law, and helping his brother with wedding preparations, Qi Zeyan’s wedding required him to travel far out of town.
People even joked:
Fourth Master Jiang hasn’t even married yet, but he’s busier than the groom himself.
Dubbed "the man busier than the groom," it almost made him spill his drink in frustration.