Chapter 169

After staying in the army for over a year, coming back here, Jia suddenly felt some unfamiliarity, especially for ZhiXia.

It was just past noon when the two returned home exhausted. At the door, they ran into Pei JianGuo who was just going out.

"Little uncle, you came back?" Pei JianGuo instantly revealed a delighted expression. But this delight dimmed slightly after he saw ZhiXia behind, "Auntie."

ZhiXia politely nodded and said to Pei Jing: "Let's go in first, my arms are sore."

ZhiXia was only holding her little daughter while Pei Jing not only held their son but also a large bag in his hand.

Hearing her say she was tired, he quickly nodded, "Okay, I called home earlier to let them know we'd be back so the room should be tidy. You go in and rest first. I'll go see dad."

Although Pei JianGuo didn't like this aunt ZhiXia, it didn't prevent him from being interested in meeting his new little nephew and niece who had just been born. He stretched his head to look at the child Pei Jing held, "Little uncle, let me hold..."

The eight month old kid was already very sturdy. He was sleeping soundly in his dad's arms now so there was no need to worry about holding him the wrong way and hurting him.

Seeing Pei JianGuo's longing look, Pei Jing handed over the child to him and even reminded: "Be gentle, didn't you go to work today?"

"I had a bit of a headache this afternoon so I took the day off and slept at home until I felt better," Pei JianGuo replied.

"Then where were you rushing off to just now?"

"No big deal, just felt dizzy after sleeping so wanted to go out for some air. Or I could've just stayed in. By the way, grandpa said you'd be back for New Year. He's been looking forward to it these days. Right now he must be pottering about his plot of land in the backyard."

As the two men talked, they headed inside. Pei Jing told him, "Then go show grandpa this little guy first. I'll put the things in the room then join you guys." "Sure." Pei JianGuo had just responded when he suddenly felt the hand holding up the child's bottom grow warm. His body instantly stiffened, the smile also froze on his face.

"What's wrong?" Seeing him freeze up so abruptly, Pei Jing had just asked when he saw the hand Pei JianGuo used to hold up the kid's butt was dripping water.

He instantly understood what was going on and gave a helpless laugh. First he put down the bag in his hand then took his naughty son from Pei JianGuo. He opened up the diaper tucked in the split-crotch pants. His son peed again.

There was a water pool in the yard so he draped the diaper over it with one hand while holding his child. After checking the pants hadn't gotten wet, he finally relaxed.

"Nevermind. Please help me carry the bag back first. We'll take him to the backyard together later," Pei Jing said.

The Pei house was quite big since there were many people living here. Not only were there main houses and side rooms, but courtyards both front and back too.

Old Pei had come from the countryside so he opened up a plot of land in the backyard for a vegetable garden and tobacco plants.

Jincheng's climate was relatively warm. Even winter had greens that could grow well. The old man pottered around when free, which was also a way to pass time.

Compared to when they left, the room didn't look much different now.

Upon entering, ZhiXia immediately took off the thick cotton-padded jacket she wore. The weather here was still rather warm. Having held a child while walking back, her back was somewhat wet.

The child had also slept fitfully the whole way back. The moment she was put on the bed, she woke up. Luckily she didn't pee like her brother had instantly upon opening his eyes. ZhiXia noticed her awakening and quickly carried her to the door to pee.

The brother in Pei Jing's arms stretched his hands towards his mom when he saw her carrying his sister, grabbing at ZhiXia's collar for a moment before she coaxed him to let go so she could head inside.

The kids were gradually able to understand words now so ZhiXia also talked to them as much as possible. When she had nothing to say, she would read to them by their ears to train their language abilities.

"They wore too many layers. I could feel their backs were a bit sweaty. Let's change them into thinner cotton-padded jackets," Pei Jing said.

So ZhiXia went to fetch lighter clothing for them to change into. The pair coordinated seamlessly, exchanging a few words occasionally.

Watching his little uncle seemingly be at his auntie's beck and call, Pei JianGuo felt very unhappy in his heart. But he didn't dare provoke them so he could only avert his gaze and put down the bag before leaving.

Old Pei already knew they were back. He didn't even have his jacket on, just a sweater with a sleeveless vest worn over it. He rushed over anxiously, "Little Jing, ZhiXia, where are my grandkids? Quick let me see." Old Pei was a particular man. Considering the room now belonged not just to his son but daughter-in-law too, he stood outside despite his impatience, not going in.

"It's too hot. I'm changing them into thinner clothes. Come on in, dad," ZhiXia said upon seeing Old Pei waiting outside without entering.

"Oh." Only then did Old Pei step inside. He saw Pei Jing had just finished putting on the kid's padded jacket. Those little legs kicked and swung while the little bird also bobbed along, looking very energetic.

"Ah... Ah..."

While having his clothes changed, Pei ChenYe didn't cooperate at all. He flailed his arms and legs, kicking and writhing about so much that even ZhiXia couldn't control him. Only Pei Jing could handle him.

In just a few seconds, he got the clothes on, even tying the back for him so his fussy hands wouldn't undo them.

After tending to the child, Pei Jing turned and immediately frowned deeply when he saw Old Pei wearing just a sleeveless vest. "Dad, you're already so old yet can't even take care of yourself. Where's your padded jacket?"

"I was working in the backyard just now so took it off because of the heat," Old Pei said unconcernedly as he stretched out his hands. "Hurry and let me hold my grandson."

Only then did Pei Jing carry over the child to hand to him. "Be gentle. He just peed on JianGuo's hands earlier. Haven't pooped yet today."

"Even my grandson's crap smells fragrant." It was true that skipping a generation made affections deeper.

Back when his sons were born, other than feeling happy and aware that he had become a dad when his eldest was born, he didn't have much feeling for the later ones. Just found them noisy and annoying.

But now, having grown older and fonder of liveliness, he especially loved new additions to the family.

Although Pei Meng's wedding wasn't held at home, Old Pei had still been very upset upon hearing about it.

He felt his kids had all grown up and were daughters who would marry out eventually. Meanwhile there was a lack of men at home so numbers would only dwindle more in the future.

Hearing ZhiXia and Pei Jing had birthed boy-girl twins, Old Pei was so happy he grinned even in dreams.

He didn't actually think much about gender bias, but the traditional mindset of old folks was firmly ingrained - that girls all marry out while boys bring their wives into the family, developing the clan prosperously.

But Pei Jing didn't agree with such talk. If not for the family spoiling Pei JianGuo this way all along, he wouldn't have grown up to be so spineless when faced with problems, always shrinking back timidly.

The one relief was that this child wasn't ill-tempered.

Suddenly, he felt ZhiXia's insistence to follow the army back then was right. This gave him the chance to nurture the children himself without worrying about them being spoiled at home.