As the year-end approached, various accounts needed to be compiled, and Chen Liyuan was incredibly busy.
Just as she finished a detailed report and was about to stretch her back, the phone on her desk rang. She quickly picked it up. "Hello, this is the finance department."
Hearing her slightly weary voice, Chen Lishu swallowed the words she had intended to say. "Still busy?"
Gu Xingdong, standing nearby, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Lin Qi's request wasn't messed up, it was fine.
"Eldest Sister?" Upon hearing Chen Lishu's voice, Chen Liyuan immediately began to complain with a wronged tone, "I've been incredibly busy lately. Apart from a quick lunch, I haven't moved from my spot. Otherwise, I would have already come to see my little nephew and niece. I haven't seen them in a week; I miss them so much."
Chen Lishu felt a pang of sympathy. "You should focus on your work, but you also need to rest. Your brother-in-law booked tickets for home tomorrow. Come over for dinner tonight, and after eating, I'll have him drive you back to your unit."
"Leaving tomorrow? Alright, I'll come over after I finish work."
Not long after, Chen Lishu hung up the phone.
Gu Xingdong said, "I think that child Lin Qi is quite good."
Chen Lishu nodded. "Lin Qi is indeed very good. People who have suffered hardship cherish life more. I'm just a bit annoyed with Liyuan... Oh well, it doesn't matter now whether I talk about it or not, as long as they have a good relationship."
Because Chen Liyuan was coming over, the dinner was quite elaborate, with four dishes and one soup.
"I heard from your brother-in-law that Lin Qi wants to visit during the New Year?"
After dinner, the sisters went to the study for a private chat.
Chen Liyuan appeared a little embarrassed. "Eldest Sister, you know about it?"
"I'm your sister. What's there to hide about dating?"
"We haven't been dating for very long, and who knows what the future holds? But he insisted on meeting the elders at home."
Chen Lishu smiled. "That shows he values you. Lin Qi is a good person. If you're going to date him, do it properly."
Chen Liyuan nodded. "Mhm."
The sisters chatted for a while longer, Chen Liyuan hugged the two little ones again, and then Gu Xingdong drove her back to her unit.
The next morning, after giving Zhao Qiuyue a few instructions, the family took a car to the train station.
It was freezing outside, and the two children were bundled up tightly. Only after entering the carriage and sitting down were their swaddles opened.
This was the first time the two little ones had left home since they were born.
Despite the unfamiliar environment and people suddenly appearing before them, the two children showed no fear. Instead, they curiously turned their little heads, looking around.
When children are quiet and not crying, it saves adults a lot of trouble. The day passed by in a blur. As Chen Lishu and her family alighted the train, they suddenly heard someone calling them from outside the platform.
"Mom, Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law—"
Gu Xingye saw them looking over and immediately waved his arm. When they approached, he quickly reached out to take the luggage from Li Xiulan's hand.
"Fourth, why are you here?"
Gu Xingye grinned. "It's not just me; Dad is here too. He was so happy to hear you were coming back. He said the two little ones shouldn't be exposed to the cold and rushed over here specially. Eldest Sister-in-law even prepared two quilts for the journey. Let's go."
Soon, they exited the train station and indeed saw Gu Shoufou waiting by the horse-drawn carriage. The weather was too cold, so he had his hands tucked into his sleeves. Seeing them emerge, he immediately walked over.
"How were they? Did the two children fuss on the train?"
Rui Rui looked up. "Grandpa, younger brother and sister were very obedient. They didn't cry at all. I even played games with them, and they laughed very happily."
"Good child." Gu Shoufou patted the little head, which was covered by a hat, and then beckoned everyone into the carriage.
The horse-drawn carriage was much faster than walking. They reached home in less than an hour.
Zhang Qin and Gu Xingping were already home. Seeing them get off the carriage, they immediately came to receive the children.
"Since they were born, I feel like my family status has plummeted?"
Everyone was eager to hold the children, having long forgotten about Chen Lishu and Gu Xingdong.
Gu Xingdong squeezed her hand and said softly, "Don't worry, your status with me will never change."
Knowing they were bringing the children back, the stove at home had been kept burning since early morning, so as soon as they entered, a wave of warmth washed over them.
Xiao Chengzi and Xiao Bai, who had been confined for the entire journey, lifted their little heads the moment their swaddles were opened.
"I've heard Xingye say before that your two children are very good-looking, and seeing them now, they truly look like dolls from a New Year's picture," Zhang Xiaoju praised with a smile.
The other children in the family also gathered around. Rui Rui immediately tensed up, protectively positioning himself around his younger siblings, afraid that someone might accidentally be too rough and make them cry.
Before long, Chen Li Dun and Wu Chunmei heard the news and also brought their children over.
As the saying goes, grandparents dote on their grandchildren. Chen Lishu was the eldest in the family, and her children were the first grandchildren. Upon seeing the children, the couple's hearts seemed to melt.
"Dad, Mom, let me hold them. I'm an aunt now," Chen Lizi said, stretching her hands out eagerly on her tiptoes.
Wu Chunmei stopped her. "You're too young. Don't drop them. Wait until they're a bit older."
Chen Lizi could only withdraw her hands with a sense of grievance.
In response to everyone's enthusiasm, Xiao Chengzi was very cooperative, grinning widely and smiling at everyone. However, because he was teething, drool continuously dripped from the corners of his mouth. Li Xiulan quickly took out a handkerchief.
Seeing everyone fawning over the children, Chen Lishu and Gu Xingdong were left unattended. They were happy to have their freedom and picked up their luggage to go to their room. They discovered that the kang cabinet was gone, and a new double-door wardrobe had appeared in the corner.
"Knowing you and Third Brother were returning, and with two children to care for, we were afraid there wouldn't be enough space in the room, so we took the liberty of replacing it for you," Zhang Qin explained as she followed them in.
"Not at all. Thank you, Eldest Sister-in-law, for thinking ahead. Otherwise, Xingdong and I would have been very busy. By the way, how much was the wardrobe? I'll pay you."
As Chen Lishu spoke, she reached for her money, but Zhang Qin stopped her.
"Your eldest brother found someone to make it. We only paid a processing fee, which wasn't much. Quickly, take it back. You guys unpack first, and I'll go make dinner."
With that, she turned and left.
Soon, Chen Lishu began to organize their belongings.
Not long after, there was a knock on the door. Chen Lishu opened it and found her third sister, Chen Lifei, there. She smiled and pulled her into the room.
"Eldest Sister, there was a thief on the mountain the night before last..."
Then, Chen Lifei recounted the entire incident.
After listening to her, Chen Lishu asked, "What did the police say?"
"It snowed heavily that night, and even footprints were unclear. They said the investigation is difficult."
Chen Lishu nodded. "Having someone on night duty might be effective to some extent, but the mountain is so vast; there are always blind spots."
The chicken coops and pigpens alone covered a considerable area.
"I've thought of a way. It should be somewhat effective."
Chen Lishu detested these thieves the most. They were perfectly capable with their hands yet chose not to work diligently and sought to gain without effort. They deserved to be taught a lesson.