The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 194 - 193: The In-laws Have Arrived

Zheng Guofeng was deeply moved to hear the child would take his surname, Zheng, and a smile bloomed across his face.

Xue Yue winked at Zhang Qian, gesturing for her to look.

Seeing the irrepressible smile on her father-in-law’s face, Zhang Qian smiled too.

Zheng Guofeng was always very good to the younger generation, and they had long since accepted him wholeheartedly. It was only right for the child to take his surname.

Zhang Qian came up with the baby’s nickname. She said her son was so chubby, they should call him Tun Tun.

This made Xue Yue howl with laughter, but Xue Xingzhou indulged Zhang Qian, saying he thought Tun Tun was a great name too.

Two days later, Zhang Qian’s parents arrived in Beijing City, and Xue Xingzhou went to the train station to pick them up.

"Dad, Mom, you’re finally here!" Zhang Qian was overcome with excitement as she looked at her parents, reaching out to hug Huang Ying.

Zhang Qian hadn’t seen her parents in over a year. It was the first time since she’d grown up that she’d been away from home for so long.

Huang Ying hugged Zhang Qian, then pulled back to look her over carefully, nodding with a smile. "Mm, you’ve put on weight."

Zhang Qian pouted and whined, "Mom, can’t you talk about something else? I don’t even want to look in the mirror these days."

Huang Ying patted Zhang Qian’s cheek. "Every woman gains weight during pregnancy and childbirth. You’ll lose it gradually."

Zhang Hongjie, on the other hand, glanced at Zhang Qian the moment he entered before rushing over to see the baby. "Whoa, what a big, chubby boy."

Hearing this, Huang Ying’s curiosity was piqued, and she also went over to look.

"He really is! Qianqian, the baby’s so big. You must have suffered terribly during labor, didn’t you?" Huang Ying couldn’t help but ask.

Zhang Qian pursed her lips. "I had a C-section."

"A what?" Zhang Hongjie and Huang Ying didn’t understand what Zhang Qian meant.

Zhang Qian looked at Xue Xingzhou and stuck her tongue out at him playfully.

Xue Xingzhou explained to them, "The baby was a bit big, so it would have been difficult for Qianqian to have a natural birth. The doctor recommended a Cesarean section."

Zhang Hongjie asked in confusion, "Is it what I think it is? They cut an opening in her stomach and took the baby out?"

Xue Xingzhou nodded. "More or less."

At this, Huang Ying’s eyes went wide. She rushed to Zhang Qian’s side and tried to lift her clothes to see the wound.

Zhang Qian quickly grabbed Huang Ying’s hand. "Oh, Mom, stop! I’m fine, really. I didn’t feel anything. I just took a nap, and when I woke up, the baby was out. If it weren’t for the stitched-up incision on my belly, you wouldn’t even be able to tell."

Huang Ying was still worried. "How could you two be so bold? You didn’t even discuss it with us. What if something had gone wrong?"

Zhang Qian sighed. "It was the middle of the night. How were we supposed to discuss it with you? Besides, I’m perfectly fine now, aren’t I?"

Xue Xingzhou said, "Mom, Dad, it’s my fault. Qianqian wasn’t a picky eater during her pregnancy, and I was afraid she wasn’t getting enough nutrients, so I probably overfed her. That’s why the baby was too big to be delivered naturally. We had no choice but to opt for a C-section."

Zhang Hongjie said to Huang Ying, "Alright, what’s done is done. Let’s not dwell on it. But, honey," he asked Zhang Qian, "are you sure you’re okay?"

Zhang Qian patted her cheeks. "Look at me. I’m glowing with health. How could anything be wrong?"

Huang Ying gave her a light swat. "It’s just terrifying to hear about."

Zhang Qian’s lips twitched. ’It really is terrifying. Good thing I was asleep through it all.’

Zhang Hongjie asked Xue Xingzhou, "Is your father not home?"

"He went to work. He won’t be back until this evening."

Huang Ying leaned close to Zhang Qian’s ear and whispered, "What’s your father-in-law like? I’ve heard officials can be a bit difficult."

Zhang Qian looked at her mother with a smile. "My father-in-law is wonderful. He not only gives me money, but he’s always buying me all sorts of delicious food. Otherwise, how would your daughter have gotten so fat? And look at your grandson—he’s a little butterball."

Hearing Zhang Qian say that Zheng Guofeng was a good man, Huang Ying felt relieved.

"This is a nice house you have. It’s quite spacious," Huang Ying said, looking around the room. She knew that property in Beijing City certainly wasn’t cheap.

"It’s decent. My father-in-law’s place is the really nice one. If it weren’t so far from our university and inconvenient for school, I wouldn’t have even bought a house. We could have just lived with him. He didn’t want us to move out anyway."

As the mother and daughter, Zhang Qian and Huang Ying, huddled together whispering, Tun Tun woke up. Xue Xingzhou adeptly changed his diaper, while an excited Zhang Hongjie held his grandson, rocking him back and forth.

"Master, are there no cases recently? You were able to take time off," Xue Xingzhou asked.

Zhang Hongjie shook his head. "No major cases, just some petty theft. I can leave those to Liu Chunming and the others."

He then asked about Xue Xingzhou’s life at the university. Xue Xingzhou shared a few stories, and something he said made Zhang Hongjie roar with laughter, causing the mother and daughter to look over.

Huang Ying said, "Your dad is so happy to see Xingzhou. You have no idea. Ever since you two moved to Beijing City, I’ve heard your dad mention you constantly. He’ll complain that with Xingzhou gone, working with other people just isn’t the same."

Zhang Qian smiled.

That evening, Zheng Guofeng returned home with a basket of fruit. He knew his in-laws were arriving today and would have taken the day off if work hadn’t been so busy.

Zheng Guofeng grasped Zhang Hongjie’s hand. "My apologies for not being here to greet you. I hope you don’t take offense."

Zhang Hongjie smiled and said, "We know you’re busy. Xingzhou picked us up. We’re all family, no need to be so formal."

Huang Ying also nodded. "That’s right. I heard from Qianqian how much trouble they’ve been for you. With us not being around, they’ve relied on you for everything. Thank you for all your hard work."

Zheng Guofeng patted Zhang Hongjie’s hand. "I’m very fond of Qianqian, and now she’s given me a grandson. I couldn’t be happier. Taking care of them is the least I can do."

Zhang Hongjie replied, "There’s no ’least you can do’ about it. It’s they who are fortunate."

Zhang Qian chimed in, "We certainly are fortunate!"

"HAHAHAHA." Her comment made everyone laugh.

For dinner, Zheng Guofeng wanted to take them out to eat, but Zhang Hongjie politely declined.

"There’s no need. Eating at home is just fine. Xingzhou already bought plenty of groceries. We can have Qianqian’s mother whip up a few home-cooked dishes, and we can have a couple of drinks."

Huang Ying also smiled. "That’s right. With the baby here, it’s not convenient to go out anyway. I’ll make a few simple dishes for you to try."

Zheng Guofeng nodded with a smile. "That would be wonderful. I’d love to taste your cooking."

Throughout the meal, Zheng Guofeng and Zhang Hongjie’s conversation grew more and more animated. They hit it off immediately, as if they’d known each other for years. They discussed everything from family matters to the current state of the country, and by the end, both their faces were flushed from drinking.

Zhang Qian secretly asked Xue Xingzhou, "With Dad’s wound, is he really okay to drink that much?"

Xue Xingzhou glanced at Zheng Guofeng, who was drinking to his heart’s content, and said softly, "It should be fine. It’s rare for them to get along so well. Let’s just let them enjoy themselves."

Zhang Qian looked at Zheng Guofeng, too. ’She’d never seen her father-in-law laugh so heartily.’