Chapter 655: Chapter 563

Hao Hueling and Ai Wenmu were resolute in their attitude, and Grandma Tang was someone who saw things in black and white. Previously, whenever Ai Baoguo ran into Grandpa Tang at various functions, the two would exchange a few words, but it was limited to polite pleasantries; it was never the right time to bring up other matters. Moreover, he never showed his face in front of the mother and daughter. He only occasionally sent people to the Hao Mansion to deliver things the pair might like, but of course, everything was always returned. Because of this, most people thought Ai Baoguo knew his place, unlike his shameless relatives. Unexpectedly, after the one-month-old celebration, Ai Baoguo suddenly became more proactive. He started calling the Tang family at a fixed time almost every weekend, asking to visit his daughter and grandchildren.

Ai Wenli was furious. Grandpa and Grandma Tang couldn’t bear to see their daughter-in-law upset, so naturally, Ai Baoguo was refused. Even when he came to their door in person, the Tang family would slam it in his face without hesitation. They refused to accept any of his gifts for the babies, either.

Ai Baoguo was a man of some standing and had his pride to consider. Besides, as a military general, he had a bit of a temper. After being rejected time and time again, he flew into a rage out of humiliation and finally stopped coming.

However, the group of people behind him, led by Old Mrs. Ai, refused to give up. Ai Baoguo knew what was at stake and forbade them from going to the Tang family’s home to cause a scene. It wasn’t that they hadn’t tried—they just couldn’t get in the door and were even driven out of the lane. Furthermore, the Tang family’s residence was so grand and imposing that it was intimidating to behold, and they simply didn’t have the nerve. So instead, they relentlessly and single-mindedly went to the Hao Mansion to cause trouble, which infuriated Hao Hueling. Things only quieted down after Tang Qingshan returned and gave Ai Baoguo a stern warning, but that’s a story for another time.

The babies’ 100-day celebration was, as expected, a low-key affair. Invitations were only sent to close relatives and friends, with six tables set for the banquet. Once again, Xiao Man planned the menu and acted as head chef. The dishes were rich and varied, a feast of fine food and wine that left everyone’s palates satisfied. With no insufferable people there to cause trouble, both guests and hosts had a wonderful time. It was a truly festive and lively day.

The twins’ names were officially decided. The older one—the baby whose motto seemed to be "silence is golden" and who always looked like he was deep in thought—was named Tang Haobo. The younger one was named Tang Haofang.

The younger twin’s name was quite interesting. If you considered it carefully, you could discern Grandpa Tang’s ulterior motive. Everyone was tactful enough not to point it out, simply laughing and praising, "What a great name! A great name!"

When Tang Qingshan and Ai Wenli were alone in the kitchen, he said, half-joking and half-serious, "Didn’t you want to incorporate your family name? When we have another child, I’ll name him Tang Haohe. How about that, honey?"

Ai Wenli let out a laugh. "I don’t mind, but would you dare have another one?"

Tang Qingshan laughed too. "Oh, right. I have elders above me and children below me to take care of now. I can’t break the rules and lose my job. Losing my official post would be one thing, but having no money to support my wife and family would be a disaster."

Ai Wenli dished up some spicy and sour cold vegetables and fed a piece of kelp to Tang Qingshan. "Don’t you worry. Your wife is no pushover. If that day ever comes, I can still support my husband and family on my own!"

"I’m so lucky to have married such a wonderful wife. You have no idea how envious everyone else is of me!" Tang Qingshan wrapped an arm around Ai Wenli’s shoulders and nuzzled his face against hers. "I’m getting good at taking care of the little ones. Our eldest daughter calls me a ’super dad.’ That girl, always coming up with the strangest things to say. But... what if I’m actually starting to like this gig? Maybe I should just quit my job, stay home, and focus on having more kids?"

"Okay, I have no objections!" Ai Wenli’s heart swelled with sweetness. She kissed his cheek and giggled. "But would your father and mother agree?"

"Mother would be ecstatic. Father, on the other hand, would probably curse me out."

Tang Qingshan shrugged. "Well, we have three kids already, so we should be content. It’s just a shame no one will be named Tang Haohe... No, wait, there’s still a chance! Mother would never let Qingyun stay a bachelor forever. And what’s-her-name? Isn’t that girl, Fan, always chasing after him? He’ll probably have a kid eventually. When he does, I’ll tell Father that we get the naming rights!"

"But Qingyun doesn’t like Fan."

"If it’s not Fan, it’ll be someone else."

"And what if Qingyun and his new wife don’t agree?"

"Don’t forget, I’m the eldest brother. That guy lost his head and made a huge mistake once. We’ll have that to hold over him for the rest of his life. What can he do? He can be furious, but he won’t dare say a word!"

"..."

Tang Qingyun was in the living room, laughing and chatting with guests, when he suddenly turned away and let out a series of sneezes. As he took out a handkerchief to wipe his nose and mouth, a strange, ominous feeling washed over him.

His gaze shifted, and sure enough, he saw the female officer, Fan, staring intently at him. Her expression was serious, but her eyes were filled with concern. Tang Qingyun frowned slightly, his good mood instantly evaporating. He used the excuse of going to the restroom to get away. As he walked, he thought, ’I’d better not go out after the party. Wu Xiaowen is probably waiting at the mouth of the lane today. It’ll be a huge pain if she corners me again.’

As expected of a former married couple, a sliver of telepathy must have remained between them. Wu Xiaowen was indeed waiting at the mouth of the lane. Her face had healed without a single scar, and she was dressed in a fashionable, expensive new winter coat. From behind, she still looked slender and elegant, but from the front, it was clear she had lost weight. Her face was pale and her expression anxious, yet she wore fiery red lipstick. The stark contrast was actually quite jarring to see. She stared down the road, waiting with desperate eyes for Tang Qingyun’s car. Tang Qingyun, knowing what to expect, had cleverly avoided this trouble. Xiao Man, however, ran right into her.

Halfway through the banquet, Pang Xiaoji, Cheng Yaji, and some others came to get Xiao Man to hang out. Xiao Man treated her friends to some snacks, and they decided to take advantage of the clear skies after the snow to take a walk downtown. That way, they could visit several fun new places that had recently opened. The group of four or five friends walked on, chatting, laughing, and playfully shoving each other. As they reached the mouth of the lane, they were caught completely off guard when Wu Xiaowen rushed straight at them, shrieking, "Manman, it’s Mommy! I’m your biological mother! You can’t abandon your mommy!"

Passersby on the street all turned to look. Fortunately, the weather was cold, and everyone was hurrying on their way, so no one had time to stop and gawk at the unfolding drama.

Xiao Man’s expression darkened. Wu Xiaowen spread her arms, trying to hug or grab her, but there was no way Xiao Man would let her succeed. With a slight shuffle of her feet, she easily dodged the woman’s clutches.

Her friends were at a loss, standing dumbfounded to the side. They all knew about Xiao Man’s history, but since it wasn’t their own story, they couldn’t truly appreciate the feeling. Besides, Wu Xiaowen had clearly been standing on the street corner for a very long time. Though the snow had stopped, a cold wind was blowing. Her hair was disheveled, her makeup was smeared, and she looked frozen stiff. Lunging for Xiao Man and missing made her seem utterly pathetic and wretched. The soft-hearted Cheng Yaji couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for her. She quietly whispered to Xiao Man, "She’s still your birth mother... Maybe we can skip hanging out today? You could take her somewhere to get warm?"

Their earlier excitement had completely evaporated, and Xiao Man was no longer in the mood for fun. She nodded, apologized to her friends, and said her goodbyes. Pang Xiaoji shot Cheng Yaji a fierce glare. She knew full well that putting Xiao Man and Wu Xiaowen together was a recipe for conflict. Still, this wasn’t the time to argue, and lingering would only make things worse. Instead, she ran to hail a taxi and dragged the others away with her.

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