Chapter 617 Remember to Bring a Gift

Chapter 617: Don’t Forget the Gift

Jiang Yu sighed, dead tired. Watching He Tingyue hold the baby, she dozed off while watching.

Once she was sound asleep, He Tingyue carefully placed the baby back beside her and pulled the blankets snug around them.

Looking closer, Ning Ning resembled Jiang Yu more.

She was born fair and soft-skinned, with eyebrows and eyes just like Jiang Yu’s.

Before meeting Jiang Yu, He Tingyue had never imagined he would marry and have a mother-daughter pair he would love with all his heart.

Just watching them quietly, doing nothing else, he felt his life felt utterly fulfilled.

He had pulled an all-nighter but felt no drowsiness now—he couldn’t tear his eyes away.

Before long, there was a knock at the door.

He Tingyue frowned in displeasure, as expected, Jiang Yu was awakened by the noise.

He patted her hand. "I’ll go see."

Opening the door, he found Elder He and his whole crew.

"Grandfather, why are you here?"

Elder He bristled, his beard quivering. "My great-grandchild is born, and I can’t come see?"

He Tingyue said flatly, "You could’ve come alone. What’s with the entourage?"

Especially He Jingyi and Wei Xiuru.

Elder He tch’ed impatiently. "Cut it out. Let us in."

He Tingyue said coolly, "You can come in, but watch your words around my wife."

The old man eagerly stepped inside and, upon seeing Jiang Yu, immediately presented the gift he had prepared.

"Jiang Yu, you’ve worked hard."

Jiang Yu didn’t look at what was inside the box, but whatever it was, it must have been valuable.

She grinned. "Thank you, Grandfather. It was worth it."

The old man peered eagerly at the baby in her arms. "Elder Jiang told me it’s a little girl, yeah?"

"How did Elder Jiang know?"

At this, the old man scowled.

His own great-granddaughter’s birth, and he had to hear it from Elder Jiang over the phone.

"Director Chen, who delivered the baby, must’ve told him."

It clicked for Jiang Yu. "Grandfather, want to give her a cuddle?"

These hands of his had carried rifles, seen combat, and spilled blood—but he’d hardly ever cradled a baby.

Not even He Tingyue or He Dongqi, his own grandsons, had ever been held by him.

"May I hold her?"

Jiang Yu said, "Let He Tingyue teach you. He's a pro now."

He Tingyue jumped in and picked up the child, placing her in the old man's arms.

"Remember the gift."

The old man glared at him. "Who asked you?"

Holding the little one in his arms, his heart melted.

Girls are the best—way sweeter than those noisy boys.

"Did you decide on a name?"

Jiang Yu replied, "He Ning—Ning as in ‘peace.’"

The old man nodded with a smile. "Perfect! Ning Ning—such a sweet name!"

He patted his pocket and pulled out a longevity lock, a traditional Chinese blessing charm, as big as Jiang Yu’s fist.

"This’ll keep Ning Ning safe. You hold onto it for now."

Then, he took out a pair of small golden bracelets.

"She’s too small for these now, so you hold onto them."

Jiang Yu accepted them cheerfully. "Ning Ning says thanks, Great-Grandpa!"

Wei Xiuru sneered to herself—just a girl, and he’s *this* thrilled?

Even He Dongqi had never received such doting.

He’s losing his marbles with age.

Biting her tongue, Wei Xiuru stormed out.

As soon as she opened the door, she bumped into Auntie Zou.

Seeing Wei Xiuru’s luxurious attire, Auntie Zou quickly apologized, "My apologies, ma’am, I didn’t mean to."

Wei Xiuru rolled her eyes hard and sidestepped to let her in.

Noticing Auntie Zou’s arrival, Jiang Yu asked with a smile, "Auntie, has your daughter-in-law given birth yet?"

Auntie Zou nodded happily. "Yes, a girl too! Same birthday as Ning Ning—talk about fate!"

Jiang Yu promptly offered congratulations, calling it destiny. She made a mental note to remind He Tingyue to give her a *hongbao* later.

"I’ve made pork knuckle soup. You should eat it while it’s hot."

Luckily, they had a thermos at home; otherwise, the food would’ve gone cold in the freezing wind outside.

"Auntie, I’ve got people with me. Why don’t you go check on your daughter-in-law first and see if she needs any help?"

Auntie Zou hesitated a bit, after all, she was on the clock.

"No, no—I’ll stick with you."

Jiang Yu smiled, "No worries, go on."

Auntie Zou thanked her before turning to leave.

She’d only had time to ask around but hadn’t even held her own granddaughter yet.

Wei Xiuru watched her walk away, lost in thought, and followed after her.

Auntie Zou, preoccupied with thoughts of her granddaughter, didn’t notice someone trailing behind.

She went straight to Yi Xia’s ward.

Since Yi Xia couldn’t afford better, she naturally stayed in a shared ward.

"Mom, you came just in time. I think she’s dirty—could you help change the diaper?"

Auntie Zou immediately took over. "You sit, I’ve got this."

Yi Xia watched her deft movements and leaned closer.

"Mom, why didn’t you bring me any soup?"

Auntie Zou paused briefly and explained in a low voice, "I made pig trotter soup today, and there wasn’t much. If I shared it with you, Section Chief He would notice. You didn’t eat?"

Yi Xia grumbled, "Yeah, but just an egg—no real food."

Auntie Zou said sympathetically, "I’ll make you something later and bring you two extra eggs."

"I don’t want eggs! I want pig trotter stew too!"

Yi Xia looked at her daughter—born full-term, just like Jiang Yu’s baby, but while Jiang Yu’s baby weighed six jin, hers was only five.

"Some have it easy, others don’t. I’m stuck with eggs while she gets rich soup! Mom, if you don’t take care of us, your granddaughter will go hungry!"

Worn down by her complaints, Auntie Zou relented, "Tonight, I’ll see what soup I can make and bring you some."

That finally cheered Yi Xia up.

"Once my girl’s older, she’ll definitely be filial to her grandma."

Auntie Zou sighed, "All I want now is for her to stay safe and sound. If I’m lucky, I’ll live to see her study, learn to read, get married, and have children."

After holding her granddaughter for a while, she figured it was about time.

"I should head back. I shouldn’t overstay."

Yi Xia pouted, "She’s got her man, hasn’t she? I don’t have a man—of course my mother-in-law should be here."

Auntie Zou patted her hand and advised, "Don’t say that. We’re being paid—we owe them that much."

The moment she left, Wei Xiuru walked in.

Yi Xia, seeing her approach, asked in surprise, "Yes? Can I help you?"

Wei Xiuru smiled. "I’m Jiang Yu’s husband’s mother. Auntie Zou mentioned that you also gave birth today, so I came to see you."

She pulled out five yuan and tucked it into the baby’s swaddle.

"Since we’ve just met, and I didn’t have time to prepare a gift, use this to get the baby something nice."

Yi Xia was overjoyed, "This is too much—I really shouldn’t."

Wei Xiuru said, "Take it. Otherwise, how can I ask you for a favor?"

Yi Xia stiffened, the five yuan suddenly feeling hot in her hand.

"You... you need my help?"

Wei Xiuru curled her lips into a smile, "Think of it less as a favor and more as teamwork. Something that benefits both of us. Not just you, but your child as well. You and your child would never want for anything—endless wealth and opportunity."