Chapter 578: No Humility?
Chapter 578: No Humility?
After parking the car outside the compound, Jiang Xia immediately got out to pick up the children from the back seat.
A black sedan parked behind them.
Dong Yan got out of the car, glanced at Jiang Xia, then at the jeep’s license plate, and walked into the compound.
Zhao Cheng Lei carefully got out of the car with his daughter in his arms.
Jiang Xia opened the back door and, seeing his tall frame crammed into the narrow space, said, "You drive back. I’ll take care of the children."
Zhao Cheng Lei handed his daughter to Jiang Xia, saying, "No need."
He had been cramped in that position for so long, his legs were numb. How could he let her do it?
"You take the children first. I’ll unload the stuff."
Jiang Xia took the children.
Zhao Cheng Lei got out of the car, first taking out the stroller, unfolding it, and setting it on the ground.
Jiang Xia placed her daughter in the stroller and then went back to get the older and younger brothers. "You’re so tall, it must have been tough for you to sit there with the children. I can sit sideways, and there’s still space on both sides. Your legs must be numb, right?"
"They’re not numb." Zhao Cheng Lei took out the items for the old leader.
"You drive back." Jiang Xia didn’t argue further, diving back into the car. "Mommy’s here, babies!"
The two brothers, surprised by her sudden appearance, froze for a moment before breaking into smiles.
Their faces were nearly identical, and their smiles were the same.
Jiang Xia’s heart melted. They were so adorable!
This wasn’t the first time they had smiled, but it was the first time they had been made to laugh!
"Zhao Cheng Lei!" Jiang Xia called out to him.
"What’s wrong?" Zhao Cheng Lei quickly put down the items and climbed into the car.
"They’re smiling! I made the older and younger brothers laugh!"
Then Jiang Xia demonstrated for Zhao Cheng Lei, hiding her head behind the seat and suddenly popping out. "Mommy’s here!"
The younger brother laughed again.
This time, the older brother didn’t.
"See? They’re smiling! Just now, both of them laughed, including the older brother! They look exactly the same when they laugh!"
The joy in her heart was indescribable, and Zhao Cheng Lei’s eyes were full of tenderness. "Yes."
Both parents had broad smiles on their faces.
This was the happiness of first-time parents when they saw their children make even the slightest progress.
It filled their hearts with joy and satisfaction!
"Try to make Baby laugh. I don’t know if Baby can laugh yet."
Jiang Xia was referring to a conscious, social smile, not the unconscious ones that the children sometimes displayed. Zhao Cheng Lei had even captured some of these moments on camera.
Zhao Cheng Lei quickly went to play with his daughter, squatting behind the stroller and popping out suddenly like Jiang Xia. "Daddy’s here!"
It didn’t work!
He tried again.
"Baby, Daddy’s here!"
Still no luck!
He kept trying!
...
Zeng Yuan, Zeng Jing, and Zeng Mother came out of the compound and saw Zhao Cheng Lei repeatedly playing "Daddy’s here!" in a silly manner.
The three women: "..."
Jiang Xia, holding the younger brother, came out. "That’s enough, the little sister might not be able to laugh yet."
Zhao Cheng Lei tried one more time before giving up, planning to continue in the evening. He stood up and saw the three women.
He nodded at Zeng Mother. "Mrs. Zeng."
Jiang Xia placed the younger brother in the stroller and, since Zhao Cheng Lei hadn’t introduced her, she didn’t greet them. She went back to the car to get the older brother.
Zeng Mother walked over, followed by her daughters.
Mrs. Zeng approached them, "Cheng Lei, it's been a while. This is your wife and children?"
Zhao Cheng Lei nodded, "Xia Xia, this is Mrs. Zeng."
Jiang Xia said, "Mrs. Zeng, hello."
Mrs. Zeng glanced at Jiang Xia and smiled warmly, "Hello. No wonder so many people tried to set Lei up with someone. Each one was more outstanding than the last, but he never agreed. But when the Old Leader mentioned it, he said yes. We were all surprised Lei would agree, especially since we heard Comrade Xia had just finished high school. We introduced him to so many girls—teachers, announcers, nurses, doctors, cultural workers, and college students—but he refused them all. Seeing Comrade Xia today, I finally understand."
She then turned to Zhao Cheng Lei, "Lei, your wife is truly beautiful, even prettier than the stars on TV."
This was a subtle jab at Zhao Cheng Lei for valuing appearance over substance, implying that his wife was just a pretty face, a mere ornament.
After all, being a teacher, announcer, cultural worker, doctor, or working at the supply and marketing cooperative or a department store were the most desirable jobs for women in those times. Who wouldn't want to marry someone with such a promising career?
But Zhao Cheng Lei just wasn't interested!
Marrying a pretty face meant having children, nothing more.
Zhao Cheng Lei replied, "Yes, she's not only beautiful but also incredibly smart, unmatched by anyone."
Mrs. Zeng was speechless.
Jiang Xia smiled, "Thank you for your kind words, Mrs. Zeng! Lei has excellent taste, which is why he chose me. He doesn't need a wife to support him financially. Marrying a wife isn't the same as hiring an employee; of course, he wants the best, the most beautiful. Marrying me means he's also giving his children an excellent mother! Let me introduce myself: I'm Jiang Xia, Zhao Cheng Lei's wife, the mother of three children, and a freshman at Q University. I ranked second in the province on the Gaokao and was the top scorer in both Chinese and English."
The three Zeng women were speechless.
They had never seen someone so full of self-praise!
Didn't she know that modesty was a virtue?
Her face was thicker than the palace walls!
How shameless!
Jiang Xia lifted her children a bit, "Look, who else can give birth to three perfect babies in one go, with both boys and girls? Look at the beauty of my three children. Who else could have such naturally beautiful, national beauties, and floral beauties as a mother? Do you think it was wise for Zhao Cheng Lei to reject all those doctors, teachers, and cultural workers and choose me?"
Zhao Cheng Lei said, "Indeed, marrying you was the wisest and luckiest decision of my life. There are many college students, but how many top scholars and second-place scholars are there? You're so smart; you could be a doctor, teacher, lawyer, translator, or scientist. The school even said you could choose any major you wanted. They even suggested aerospace engineering, computer science, and electronic information engineering."
Mrs. Zeng was speechless.
Zeng Yuan was speechless.
Zeng Jing was speechless.
Was this really Zhao Cheng Lei?
At that moment, a few claps echoed from behind them.
They turned around.
The three brothers, Zhang Rui, Zhang Zheng, and Zhang Rong, approached.
Zhang Rui said loudly, "Sister-in-law is right! It was the wisest choice for Fourth Brother to marry you. I can vouch for it; none of the girls introduced to him before were as beautiful, smart, or as good at having children as you! You are the country's finest talent, the most virtuous wife, and the greatest mother!"
Jiang Xia smiled, "Thank you!"
If she had known they were acquaintances, she wouldn't have said all that!
The three Zhang brothers greeted Mrs. Zeng.
Mrs. Zeng asked, "Why are all of you here today?"
Zhang Rui replied, "Fourth Brother brought Sister-in-law and the three nephews to meet the family. We were worried someone might bully her, so we came back!"
Mrs. Zeng was speechless.
She had only wanted to stand up for her daughter, but now she felt even more upset.
Her daughter had waited for Zhao Cheng Lei for so many years, even following him to a distant place to become a doctor, returning with scars. What was wrong with her saying a few words to vent her frustrations?
But everyone seemed to be ganging up on her! (End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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