Chapter 482: 307 The Carnival of the Crowd vs. Fifth Master’s Loneliness (3 more updates)
Zhou Zhongqing wanted to adopt Tang Wan as his goddaughter, and even Shen Shuci was unaware of it, let alone the Jiang Family.
When he brought it up, since Jiang Jinsang had already informed the elder and others beforehand, they all thought he meant to adopt Jinsang as his godson.
As a result, it circled around and became this way.
"I know this may seem abrupt, and frankly, I’m also quite nervous. Mr. Tang has raised such a grown daughter and invested so much, and here I come just wanting to adopt her as my goddaughter. It really feels like I’m taking advantage of the Tang Family."
"But if Wanwan isn’t willing, let’s pretend I never mentioned it..."
"You and Xiaowu, you are both no different from my own children."
...
Tang Wan had not expected Zhou Zhongqing to have such an idea and was stunned for several seconds.
Tang Yunxian spoke up, "Dr. Zhou has mentioned it to me many times, saying he really likes Wanwan. Having one more person doting on her is a good thing. Xiaowu, what do you think?"
Having said that, what else could he say but nod with a smile, "It seems quite nice."
Jiang Yanting rubbed the small wine cup in front of him, "I didn’t expect Xiaowu’s hospitalization to lead to such a fortunate event. It’s indeed worth celebrating. Uncle Zhou doesn’t have his own children, saying that it’s like adopting a daughter, he will surely love her even more than a biological daughter."
"And having someone from her maiden family here after marrying far will be much better."
"There’s nothing to hesitate about, really."
...
Jiang Chengsi was dumbfounded, whispering to the person next to him, "Big brother is really ruthless. Xiaowu knows very well that this goddaughter will definitely be adopted, and big brother keeps implying, it’s just rubbing salt in the wound."
Jiang Shiyi sipped his wine, "The prawns weren’t eaten for free."
The Jiang family had two pairs of brothers; one pair was competitively adding the final touches while the other watched and enjoyed the drama.
"Wanwan, having Dr. Zhou as your godfather is quite good," the elderly lady smiled. "Back in Beijing, you’ll have a relative from your maiden family..."
"You don’t even know how many people wish to be connected with him; he likes you so much, it’s all fate, Wanwan. What are you still dumbfounded for? Hurry, grab your cup and propose a toast to him, calling him godfather." Fan Mingyu reminded aloud.
Normally quite clever, why are you like a little fool at the critical moment?
Only then did Tang Wan come to her senses, holding the wine cup and walking towards Zhou Zhongqing, just about to speak when he stopped the cup...
"Wanwan, are you sure you want to call me godfather?"
"Um." Tang Wan nodded.
"I can drink this cup now, but don’t rush to speak; you can still call me Uncle Zhou. Later, I’ll find a hotel, arrange a few tables, and have a lively event. I can’t give you a present or a red envelope and let you call me godfather just like that."
Zhou Zhongqing acting this way was unmistakably very fond of Tang Wan. Tang Yunxian, sitting to the side, naturally felt reassured.
Having such support in Beijing, his heart also felt more at ease.
"Alright, Uncle Zhou, here’s a toast to you." Tang Wan offered him the drink.
"Very good, very good—" Zhou Zhongqing smiled broadly.
"We really don’t need to have a banquet," Tang Yunxian bluntly said. "You accepting Wanwan as your goddaughter is her good fortune. If I’m ever not in Pingjiang, I’ll still need you to take extra care of her; we really don’t need..."
"Yunxian..." Zhou Zhongqing interrupted him, "This is my heartfelt intention."
That might be so, but Tang Wan still felt there was no need for a party, having discussed privately with Zhou Zhongqing, who directly stated:
"In my lifetime, I’ve never married, had no children, and never needed to host any celebratory banquet. Over the years, the money I’ve spent on gifts at others’ celebrations, it’s time to get some back." Zhou Zhongqing seemed to be joking.
Leaving Tang Wan speechless.
Getting the money back?
...
However, Tang Wan agreeing to become Zhou Zhongqing’s goddaughter pushed the atmosphere to another small climax; aside from Jiang Jinsang, everyone else was again lively, passing cups around.
Jiang Jinsang held his chopsticks, lowering his head and toying with the boiled green vegetables on his plate, as if all the hustle and bustle had nothing to do with him.
Even Taotao had returned to Jiang Yanting’s side unnoticed.
Inexplicably gaining a father-in-law, Jinsang knew very well, having known him since childhood, how tough Zhou Zhongqing could be; he wondered how to feel happy.
Meanwhile, Taotao, standing beside Jiang Yanting, peeled a shrimp herself, handing it to the plate in front of Yanting. The child peeled the shrimp, removing the head and tail, and lost some meat in the process, leaving only a nail-sized piece of shrimp meat on his plate.
His gaze tightened, turning his head to look at the little girl with greasy hands.
"My hands are very clean. Do you think I did a poor job peeling, so you don’t want to eat?"
"No, thank you."
Having his shrimp eaten by someone else, yet tasting the shrimp peeled by his daughter, it wasn’t too bad a deal.
Taotao was a very perceptive person; sensing Jiang Yanting’s unhappiness, she immediately came over to comfort him, after all, this uncle...
Super rich.
And most importantly, willing to spend money on her!
She was almost guaranteed to get whatever she asked for; she definitely had to hold onto this benefactor tightly.
...
At this meal, aside from Jiang Jinsang, everyone was delighted. Later, Jiang Zhenhuan had someone open two bottles of wine.
"By the way, Xiaowu, how are you feeling? If you’re not feeling well, you should head back to your room to rest early," the old lady said with a smile, "I reckon this meal is going to last a while longer. You’ve just been discharged from the hospital and you don’t even drink alcohol—you don’t need to keep us company. Go rest first."
Jiang Jinsang merely smiled, "It’s no problem."
"How can it be no problem? You’ve just recovered; you shouldn’t overexert yourself. Hurry back to your room."
Then, this "outsider" was forcefully arranged to rest in his room.
This meal was supposed to celebrate his discharge from the hospital, but what ended up happening...
Zhou Zhongqing recognizing Tang Wan as his goddaughter had already been leaked by Jiang Chengsi into their little circle.
Qi Zeyan had burst into laughter at the time.
[Jiang Xiaowu, that’s impressive, gaining a father-in-law right after getting discharged. Congratulations on your continuous happiness.]
[Seriously, congratulations to you and your sister-in-law. Uncle Zhou is a leading figure in the medical field. Having him take her as his goddaughter is a major win.]
[I thought given his and your relationship, Xiaowu, he might take you as a godson. How come he went for your sister-in-law instead? Truly remarkable.]
...
While the Jiang brothers were eating and drinking, no one spoke in the group chat for a long while until someone finally broke the silence with two concise and to-the-point words:
[Congratulations!]
The laughter outside was loud. Jiang Jinsang lay on his bed staring at the ceiling, feeling a sense of sorrow.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, "Second Uncle, are you asleep?"
Jiangjiang’s tender voice.
"Not yet." Jiang Jinsang’s abdomen, where he had been operated on, was still very sore; he propped himself up with his hands, leaning on the headboard. Seeing him push the door open, carrying a cup, and judging by the way he walked, it was definitely filled with water.
Despite the onset of spring, Beijing’s heating was still on, making the indoors inevitably feel a bit dry. Was this little guy here specifically to bring him water?
Jiang Jinsang smiled and hooked his lips; after all these years, his affection wasn’t wasted.
"Second Uncle..." Jiangjiang handed him the cup, "Grandma asked me to remind you not to forget to take your medicine."
"..." Jiang Jinsang held the warm cup in his hands, a complex feeling in his heart, "I’ll take it."
"Grandma told me to keep an eye on you, afraid you might not be obedient."
This little sergeant Jiangjiang was utterly diligent and dutiful. He waited until Jiang Jinsang had taken all his medicine, holding the water cup, preparing to leave, "Grandma said to rest well."
"I understand."
Jiang Jinsang clenched his teeth—getting sick, being hospitalized, undergoing surgery, and even now, coming home only to have this brat thinking of ruling over him?
**
This meal, starting from noon and lasting until after three in the afternoon, marked Jiang Jinsang’s recovery. A huge relief washed over the Jiang family. Zhou Zhongqing had taken a goddaughter, and everyone was happy, and drank a little too much.
Tang Wan, who could hold her liquor well, helped settle several of the elders, then quietly pushed open Jiang Jinsang’s room door.
"I thought you might be asleep. Haven’t rested?"
"How do you think I could sleep?" Jiang Jinsang leaned against the headboard, a small wooden table before him with many puzzle pieces scattered on it.
"Playing with puzzles?"
"Left here from before, never finished it. Just took it out to fiddle with when I’m bored," Jiang Jinsang just wanted something to distract him, "During my hospital stay, you and Uncle Zhou got along well?"
His world had been confined to that small hospital room; naturally, he was clueless about outside matters.
"That’s true; I brought him some goodies and drinks, but you know all this."
"Then why would he suddenly decide to take you as his daughter?"
"Could it be..." Tang Wan pursed her lips, "when you were unconscious, I sent him some gifts."
"What?"
"Compression stockings."
"..."
Jiang Jinsang rubbed the puzzle pieces in his hands. So... in his eyes, he was less important than a pair of stockings?