Chapter 644: Side Story: Childhood 1

Side Story: Childhood 1

February 10th, the spring chill was still severe.

At 2 a. m., Shen Ningmu woke up in a dull pain, pushed herself sideways, and said, "Husband, it looks like I'm going into labor."

Jiang Su jolted awake from light sleep, instantly alert, swung his legs out of bed, and said, "Stay still, don't move—I'll be right there!"

The hospital under the Jiang Family had already received the news; the delivery room and doctors had been arranged in advance, all decided personally by Jiang Su.

As soon as the car came to a stop, Shen Ningmu was pushed into the operating room.

Jiang Su changed into sterile scrubs and never let go of her hand the whole time.

The C-section went smoothly; Shen Ningmu felt a brief pain when the anesthetic was injected, after which only a dull, vague sensation remained.

Less than an hour later, a clear cry came from the delivery room.

The nurse brought out the baby for them to see, saying, "It's a boy—look, he's so clean, and his eyes are big."

Jiang Su lowered his gaze to the baby's pale face, carefully took him from the nurse's arms, and felt that everything was perfect.

He held the baby close to his wife, eyes brimming with tears, and said, "Wife, you've worked hard—look at our son."

Shen Ningmu had already broken into a sweat from fright; seeing the baby was quite clean, she rubbed her cheek against his and softly said, "Baby, welcome to this world."

The baby, who had been crying, seemed to hear a familiar voice and instantly quieted, only opening his wet eyes to take in the world.

Jiang Su stroked his son's cheek and said, "I wonder whether Mu Yunshuo's baby is a boy or a girl."

Shen Ningmu leaned back on the pillow, smiling, and naturally hoped her friend would have a girl.

After all, Song Ningsheng was in her thirties, Mu Nian was nearly ten, and they had finally conceived triplets after great difficulty—all for the sake of having a girl.

She murmured, "Didn't Xiao Xi say there would be a younger brother and sister?"

Jiang Su muttered, "Who knows if what the kid said will come true?"

"Alright, the baby can be taken out to show Mom and the others."

On the day of Jiang Liangjin's full-month celebration, the Jiang family's old residence was packed inside and out.

The flowing banquet tables stretched from the main courtyard to the outside, with cups and chopsticks intermingling.

Tiny Jiang Liangjin was held in Shen Ningmu's arms, wrapped in a brand-new red swaddle, only his pink little face showing.

His eyes were half-open, as if seriously evaluating whether this noisy banquet was worth crying over.

Jiang Su stood at the door greeting guests, his smile never fading.

He reached out to accept a gift from a friend, stepped aside to let people pass, and said, "Come in and sit; the refreshments are inside."

The Song family had the most attendees, with Song grandmother leading the way, followed by Song grandfather, then a crowd of descendants.

Right after them came the Mu family clan.

Nine-year-old Mu Nian held the hand of little Mu Xi, who was over two, walking toward the rear of the group.

Little Mu Xi walked steadily, head tilted up to look at the surrounding red lanterns, his eyes blinking repeatedly.

Mu Nian saw him looking around and coaxed, "Don't run off later, or you'll be snatched by bad people."

Mu Xi nodded twice, "Mm-hmm."

Mu grandfather approached Jiang Ye Ye, they exchanged a few polite greetings with clasped hands, and then walked inside together.

Six-year-old Mu Yichi rushed into the crowd to find the little ones, spotted his longed-for younger brother, squatted, and said in a pinched voice, "Come here, Xi Bao, give big brother a hug~"

Mu Xi happened to not want to walk, so Mu Yichi scooped him up with open arms, spun him around, and exclaimed, "Yay, our Xi Bao is so well-behaved."

Mu Yichen pinched Mu Xi's cheek, his expression gentle.

Song Lujing, who was only a year older than Mu Xi, probably felt ignored, plopped down on the ground, and kept his lips sealed.

Mu Xianqi almost kicked him from behind, saying, "What are you doing sitting on the ground? Get up."

Song Lujing pressed his lips together and ignored him.

Mu Xianqi saw Song LuXiao walking ahead, sighed, and had no choice but to pick him up.

Just as Jiang Liangjin was brought to the front hall, the Mu and Song families arrived.

Shen Ningmu held the baby, smiling, and called out, "Song Ningsheng, come quick and have a look."

Song Ningsheng, six months pregnant with twins, was supported by her husband Mu Yunshuo as she walked in.

She lifted the velvet cap off little Jiang Liangjin, took a look, and said, "Oh, our A Jin will surely grow up to be a handsome charmer."

Song grandmother also came over, gently touched the baby's cheek, and said, "This little face really looks like Mu Mu."

Jiang Su smiled and thanked his wife, saying, "Thanks, Song auntie."

The adults of the Mu and Song families began praising one after another.

Mu Yichi had already put Mu Xi down; now Mu Nian led him by the hand, tiptoeing at the edge of the crowd, straining to peek into that pale blue swaddle.

But all he could see were the adults.

Mu Xi tugged hard at Mu Nian's pants, so Mu Nian bent down and lifted him up.

His field of view instantly widened.

One-month-old Jiang Liangjin lay in Shen Ningmu's arms, kicking his legs restlessly, his tiny fists clenched, his eyeballs rolling around.

Mu Xi stared at him for a while, then suddenly reached out and lightly poked his cheek.

Jiang Liangjin winced at the poke, turning his face away.

Shen Ningmu laughed at the scene, tilted her son toward him, and said, "Our little Xi likes the baby brother so much?"

Mu Xi said in a childish voice, "Like."

After saying that, he poked again, this time with more force.

Jiang Liangjin opened his mouth, made a muffled protest, and his little hand slipped out of the swaddle, waving in the air.

Mu Xi's eyes lit up at the reaction, and he reached out again, ready to poke.

But Mu Nian gently grabbed his wrist, saying, "Don't poke—he's about to cry."

Mu Xi obediently withdrew her hand, but her gaze remained stuck on that pale, tender little face.

Shen Ningmu smiled lovingly the whole time.

Mu Yichi curiously asked, "Aunt Shen, isn't this a little sister?"

Shen Ningmu patiently said, "This is a little brother, his name is Jiang Liangjin; the little sister is still in your second aunt's belly."

Mu Yichi exclaimed "Wow!" and felt he would soon have two little sisters, so he wouldn't need to look at other people's sisters anymore.

Song Ningsheng reached out to tease Jiang Liangjin's little hand.

Shen Ningmu's expression was full of anticipation, and she said softly, "When A Jin gets a bit older, he can play with your little Xi, and there are also the two little treasures in your belly."

Song Ningsheng stroked her belly and said, "Great, then we'll let them visit each other every day, grow up together from childhood, and have a good relationship."

Mu Yunshuo echoed, "Exactly, exactly, exactly."

Jiang Liangjin kicked his legs in Shen Ningmu's arms, and his eyelids slowly closed.

April 15th, the spring light was bright and beautiful.

Outside the Mu family's delivery room, the hallway was packed with people, livelier than the Jiang family's scene two months earlier.

Mu grandfather sat in the middle of the bench, holding a string of prayer beads, idly turning them while glancing at the tightly closed door of the delivery room.

Mu grandmother clasped her hands in front of her.

Song's maternal grandmother and grandfather paced back and forth nervously.

Mu Nian sat on the bench, with Mu Xi, who was yawning nonstop, sitting on his legs; the little tyke's eyelids were almost glued together, his chin drooping bit by bit.

Mu Nian stroked his face and said, "Little Xi, don't sleep; your brother and sister are about to come out."

No one could tell the gender of the baby in Song Ningsheng's belly, but Mu Xi was certain, saying there would be a brother and also a sister.

Family members kept telling him the benefits of having a sister, and Mu Xi especially wanted a little sister, "uh-huh."