They were supposed to go pay New Year's visits, but they got delayed by what had happened.
Fortunately, the children's moods weren't affected.
When Lin Zhilan was angry, she liked to spend money to buy happiness.
It just so happened that the cinema in Xidan was open all year round, so Lin Zhilan invited the whole family out to watch a movie.
After the movie, she took the kids ice skating at Qianhai Ice Rink.
Finally, they took a family portrait.
At last, the gloom of the morning was dispelled.
At bedtime, Jiang Chengzhou came knocking on their door.
Su Lang opened it. "What are you doing up so late?"
"I'm looking for Auntie." Jiang Chengzhou dodged past him and ran into the room.
Su Lang leaned against the doorframe, his mouth twitching as he watched the boy duck under his arm.
Jiang Chengzhou had already run over to the vanity table and pulled something out from behind his back.
He held it out to Lin Zhilan with both hands. "Auntie, this is my New Year's gift to you."
In his hands was a square paper package, wrapped with a loop of white string and tied with a crooked bow.
"A New Year's gift? What is it?"
The tips of Jiang Chengzhou's ears turned red. His voice carried a hint of nervousness, along with a bit of irrepressible pride. "Open it and see."
Lin Zhilan put down her comb and took the package.
She untied the string and opened the paper.
Inside was actually a camera.
A Seagull brand camera.
Lin Zhilan's eyes were full of surprise. "Chengzhou, when did you buy this?"
"Today, when we came out of the cinema." Jiang Chengzhou scratched the back of his head, unable to stop the corners of his mouth from curling up.
He had wanted to give his aunt a camera for a long time.
When she had taken him and his sister beachcombing by the sea, she had mentioned that the seaside sunsets were beautiful and it would be great if she could capture them in photos.
Jiang Chengzhou had always kept those words in his heart.
Lin Zhilan gave him pocket money every week; he would spend a small portion and save the rest.
He had originally planned to give it to her as a birthday present.
But cameras were too expensive, and Jiang Chengzhou couldn't save that much money in a short time.
He hadn't expected that by returning to the capital for the New Year, he would receive so many red envelopes.
Those red envelopes, combined with his savings, were just enough to buy a Seagull brand camera.
"I didn't have any industrial coupons... Grandma gave one to me."
Jiang Chengzhou had wanted to give his aunt a surprise.
So he had gone to Xu Yueyun for help.
Xu Yueyun was very happy and actually managed to get him an industrial coupon.
While everyone was out having fun today, Jiang Chengzhou secretly went to the department store and bought the camera.
Lin Zhilan's voice softened, just like her heart. "Chengzhou, how can you be so sweet?"
Jiang Chengzhou's ears were so red they looked like they could bleed. He turned his head away, pretending not to care. "It's nothing. This was the cheapest one in the store. When I make money in the future, I'll buy you the most expensive one."
"This is the most expensive one," Lin Zhilan said, unable to put the camera down. "I love this one."
Lin Zhilan looked seriously into his eyes. "Auntie really loves this gift. It's the best present I've ever received."
Jiang Chengzhou pressed his lips into a thin line, trying desperately to hold back his smile, but the joy spilled out from his eyes.
Su Lang came over to interrupt, holding his hand out to Jiang Chengzhou. "Where is your uncle's gift?"
"Huh?" Jiang Chengzhou looked up. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Auntie, I'm going back to sleep."
After saying that, he walked out.
It was unclear whether he was afraid Lin Zhilan would say something mushy again, or if he was afraid Su Lang would ask him for a gift again.
When he reached the door, he looked back one more time.
Lin Zhilan was holding the camera in her hands, looking down at it with a curved smile, as if she were holding some rare treasure.
Seeing this scene, Jiang Chengzhou suddenly remembered his second uncle from that morning.
When Linlin received the airplane model, she had looked exactly like his aunt did now.
His second uncle had been very happy at the time too.
Jiang Chengzhou understood now.
The feeling of having a gift you gave be cherished and loved by someone was even better than receiving a gift.
In the room, Lin Zhilan proudly showed off the camera to Su Lang. "Isn't it beautiful?"
"It is." Su Lang crossed his arms over his chest, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.
Lin Zhilan couldn't bear to put it down. After a while, she carefully placed the camera on the vanity table.
She sighed and asked Su Lang, "Is this really the child I raised?"
How is he just like an angel?
Lin Zhilan had never given birth to children of her own, but in Chengzhou and Linlin, she had already found the sense of achievement and fulfillment of being a mother.
Su Lang walked over and hugged her. "It's because you are so wonderful that the children we adopted turned out so well."
Su Lang believed from the bottom of his heart that the credit for the two children growing into who they were today belonged entirely to his wife.
Lin Zhilan naturally wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down until their foreheads touched. "Do you know how happy I am?"
Su Lang couldn't help but smile, kissing her on the forehead. "I can feel it. Let me share in some of that joy."
He lowered his head, and his lips met hers.
...
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Su Jue accompanied Deng Jing to pay New Year's visits to the Deng family.
Su Lang and Lin Zhilan stayed at home to keep their parents company.
And to entertain visiting relatives and friends.
Unexpectedly, Cheng Qingshan and Tu Jing also came to pay a New Year's visit.
Cheng Qingshan held a high position. Although he had long told Lin Zhilan to let him know whenever she came to the capital, Lin Zhilan only treated him like an ordinary patient and had no intention of latching onto him for personal gain.
Coming to the capital this year, she naturally hadn't told Cheng Qingshan, nor had she planned to visit him.
As a result, they didn't visit him, but Cheng Qingshan came over instead.
Su Bingcheng and Xu Yueyun were both a bit shocked.
They hurriedly went forward to welcome him.
Strictly speaking, Cheng Qingshan was an old superior to both of them.
In the living room, Cheng Qingshan was already chatting with Lin Zhilan.
Su Bingcheng quietly asked Su Lang, "How do you know Chief Cheng? Why didn't you tell me?"
Su Lang smiled. "Zhilan has had so many patients in the past. Do I have to tell you about every single one?"
"Is that the same?" Su Bingcheng said anxiously. "This is Chief Cheng."
"So what about Chief Cheng? He still has to seek out my wife for medical treatment just like anyone else."
Su Lang understood what Su Bingcheng meant.
Being able to establish even the slightest connection with Cheng Qingshan would bring immense benefits in any aspect.
However, Su Lang also understood that the reason Cheng Qingshan valued his wife so highly was primarily due to her medical skills, and secondly, her character.
To say she was indifferent to fame and fortune might not be entirely accurate, but Zhilan certainly disdained currying favor with the powerful.
Whenever she wanted something, she would first display her own capabilities and let the other party come to "exchange" for it.
Su Lang was a military man, and he admired and respected this style of doing things.
Seeing that he was stubbornly unresponsive, Su Bingcheng gave up.
He just told Su Lang to bring out his best tea to entertain the distinguished guest.
Today was the second day of the New Year, and there were quite a few people coming to pay visits.
Seeing Cheng Qingshan at the Su family's house gave everyone a start.
Seeing so many people, Cheng Qingshan knew they probably wouldn't be able to talk about any serious matters today.
So he stood up to take his leave, specifically reminding Lin Zhilan before he left, "It's a promise, then. Come find me at my house tomorrow. Su Lang knows the way."
