Free Web NovelChapter 1101: Chapter 974: Having Grown-Up Sons Is Really Difficult
After taking the kids, Zhou Jiao led her sons home via a different route, passing by a sports field. When they say sports field, uh, it’s just a few ping pong tables and basketball hoops not far from each other.
In the military unit, besides playing ping pong, basketball is also a popular recreational activity. On the one hand, it trains physical fitness, and it also fosters team spirit and a sense of collective honor.
Of course, negatively speaking, it also serves as a form of release.
Not to mention this cool autumn evening, even on the recently passed hot summer nights, this place is always bustling with people.
It’s the same at this moment, a crowd surrounds the area, and from a distance, one could hear the loud shouts and noises from the games.
"Da Bao, want to show off your skills?"
Ping’an was troubled by the new nickname his mom recently gave him. He’s a grown man, still being called Da Bao? But compared to being called "baby," it was indeed more "grown-up."
"Not interested."
Zhou Jiao turned her gaze to Liu Yi.
A startled Liu Yi hurriedly said, "Don’t call me Er Bao."
Instantly, the three mother and sons burst into laughter. Was this jumping into a pit on one’s own?
Liu Yi rolled his eyes helplessly. His mom recently burst into a naughty sense of humor, what triggered it! Thankfully, she never played around like this in front of outsiders.
Otherwise, just imagining his buddies all calling him Er Bao, he would cry, how could this match his mighty and domineering image?
May 1st stopped laughing and whispered, "Mom, outside he’s known as Sixth Brother."
"Then what about you, Brother Wu? What about your dad then?" Zhou Jiao looked at him amusedly. Still calling him Sixth Brother? It seems her children are quite popular outside.
"That’s why I’m worried, I can’t let people call me Brother Wu, otherwise it feels like someone is calling my dad. But what kind of nickname would suit me, the young master?"
Ping’an patted his head, "Stop talking nonsense. Sixth Brother? Be careful Liu Yi gets mad at you."
Meanwhile, Liu Yi gave an eye roll to May 1st, "Third Young Master, enough already."
Oh no, everything’s exposed now. May 1st stomped his foot, giving Zhou Jiao an ingratiating silly smile, "Mom, we’re just playing around."
Zhou Jiao laughed, "Then is your eldest brother the First Young Master?"
"Huh? You found out."
Seeing his silly son startled, Zhou Jiao reached out to touch his head and laughed, "Sounds interesting. Playing is fine, just make sure you three brothers keep boundaries when interacting with outsiders."
Ping’an nodded, "Mom, we know."
Some topics are not suitable for discussion outside, especially now that the kids are older, they should have their own world, and she’s not worried about them being at a disadvantage.
But she couldn’t help feeling some regret.
It’s really difficult when sons grow up!
Looking at her grown sons, especially at Ping’an’s tall figure, she really missed those delightful times carrying him as a small bundle riding around in the sidecar.
Unlike the secluded path earlier, on the return from the sports field, they met quite a few pedestrians along the way, occasionally encountering military families with young children chatting along.
Ping’an watched his mom exchanging greetings with people with a smile in his eyes. His mom always told the three brothers to learn his dad’s social skills, handling things smoothly, and she seemed like a people-skill expert.
In his memory, his mom was always soft on the outside, firm on the inside, decisive and straightforward, with a mix of kindness and skepticism in her interactions with people...
He wanted to become such a person.
As they passed by the Cheng Family, seeing the lights on, Zhou Jiao paused her steps, "Shall we go see Great-Grandma?"
Ping’an had no objections, and seeing his brothers running toward the gate, he followed behind his mom into the Cheng Family residence.
Soon, the uncles and aunts of the Cheng Family would be reassigned back. Although the elderly have great-grandsons for company, the three brothers could no longer come in and go out freely.
Liu Yi, holding May 1st’s hand, ran to the door. The two brothers slowed down their pace, smiled at each other, and walked into the yard.
May 1st shouted, "Great-Grandma, are you resting?"
Aunt Cheng, hearing the voice, came out from the kitchen and waved her hand, quickly walking forward, "No need to be quiet, the old lady and the others are not resting; they are in the living room."
"Is there a guest?"
"No, just the chiefs playing chess."
Mr. Cheng, hearing the approaching sound, paused his hand and laughed, "How about a draw?"
Old Mrs. Cheng looked up confusedly at him, "You’re about to win..." Before she could finish, hearing the sound at the door, she turned her head with a delighted smile, "Who’s here?"
"Great-Grandma, Great-Grandpa, hello." The brothers greeted in unison and ran to the coffee table.
May 1st glanced at the chessboard, "Great-Grandma, playing chess?"
"Yes, indeed, playing more chess at my age helps prevent Alzheimer’s." Old Mrs. Cheng smiled, waving her hand, "Why did you brothers come running over? Did you inform your family?"
Liu Yi pointed outside, "My mom and my brother are behind us."
May 1st immediately followed, "Uncle Yi brought his son to our house, and my mom was worried his family might be concerned about the little one’s safety, so she saw your lights were on when we passed by."
Mr. Cheng looked at him amusedly; it was quite the detailed explanation. He glanced at the clock in the living room, guessing the kids hadn’t eaten a late-night snack. Auntie indicated to bring over some fruits and snacks.
Ping’an, coming in a bit later, Mr. Cheng didn’t wait for him to greet and immediately pointed to the sofa next to him, smiling, "Our Ping’an has turned into a fine young man."
Old Mrs. Cheng was even more pleased the more she looked at him, her mouth unable to close with happiness, "Just the other day, my old friends were saying that all the handsome men in Beijing are in the Zhou Family now."
Mr. Cheng, seeing his wife happy, teased, "Isn’t there more to it? Are they interested in introducing their daughters?"
"Need you ask? Even our Liu Yi and May 1st, this young, have people eyeing them. Hahaha... Thankfully, it’s no longer a time where parents arrange marriages."
"In the future, when marrying a daughter-in-law, Jiao Jiao has to carefully check. As they say, a good wife brings less trouble to her husband, and a filial son brings peace to the father’s heart. A good daughter-in-law is crucial to a family."
Old Mrs. Cheng didn’t fully express one thought: Especially for Ping’an and his brothers, they have to be particularly careful in the future when choosing partners; otherwise, bringing a daughter-in-law from the Zhou Family who looks down on the Zhang Family could cause a joke.
Ping’an, having been teased many times, was long used to it, now calmly accepting the fruit plate Auntie handed over, and thanked her.
Mr. Cheng, seeing this, gave a silent nod of approval. This child, with the upbringing from his grandfather and father, surpasses his peers by far, with limitless potential.
Taking a look at the pair of delicate twins, he sighed inwardly: If Brother Jinyu were still alive, how delighted he would be at seeing such outstanding descendants.
"Why didn’t you go to the military camp this summer?"
Hearing this, Ping’an paused but quickly reacted, smiling, "My grandfather was on a business trip, or my parents were working overtime, lots of things going on lately."
Mr. Cheng, with interest, asked, "Have you decided on your future path?"
Ping’an shook his head, "Discussing it now is premature, in these years I want to carefully think it over."
Mr. Cheng nodded approvingly.
The current situation is unstable, and having this consideration is right.
The commendable thing is that this child, besides training with the troops, diligently practices martial arts regardless of the scorching sun or the biting cold, never giving up over the years.
