Nominal: Intercepting Zhong Xiaoai, Dominating Handong

"Do you prefer a son or a daughter?" Zhong Xiaoai asked.

"I like them both," Gu Mingyuan said earnestly.

"I love any child that is ours."

"You're so glib," Zhong Xiaoai said reproachfully, but a happy smile played on her lips.

On November 5th, Zhong Xiaoai's parents arrived from Beijing.

Chung Cheng-kuo took his annual leave to come see his daughter.

Lin Jing, Zhong Xiaoai's mother-in-law, was a gentle intellectual. As soon as they arrived home, she took Zhong Xiaoai's hand and looked her over carefully: "You've lost weight. Is your morning sickness still bothering you?"

"Mom, I'm much better, but I haven't been sleeping well lately," Zhong Xiaoai said.

"That's normal; it happens all the time later on," Lin Jing said, having experience with this.

"Mom's here this time to give you a good nourishing meal."

Zhong Zhengguo and Gu Mingyuan were talking in the living room.

"Mingyuan, how's work going?" Zhong Zhengguo asked.

"Smoothly, the airport construction has started and is progressing well." Gu Mingyuan made tea for his father-in-law.

"That's good." Zhong Zhengguo nodded.

"I've seen Pingzhou develop very quickly this time; there's construction everywhere."

"Yes, Secretary Pei is very focused on development."

"Comrade Yihong is a capable person." Zhong Zhengguo took a sip of tea.

"It's fate and a blessing that you can be with him. Cherish it, and learn and do more."

"I understand, Dad."

As the father-in-law and son-in-law were chatting, Gu Yun returned from outside, carrying two live fish.

"Our in-laws are here!" Gu Yun greeted them somewhat reservedly.

"My dear in-law, thank you for taking care of Xiao Ai." Zhong Zhengguo stood up to greet him warmly.

"It's no trouble at all, it's my duty," Gu Yun quickly replied.

Two fathers, one from a high-ranking position in Beijing and the other from a rural area in Lincheng, originally had very different life trajectories, but became in-laws because of their children.

Gu Mingyuan felt a warmth in his heart as he watched them chatting amicably.

Family harmony is often more difficult than work harmony, but fortunately his family members are all reasonable.

On the evening of November 7th, Zhong Xiaoai began to have regular contractions.

Gu Mingyuan was so nervous that his hands were trembling, but he still calmly made the arrangements.

At the hospital, Zhong Xiaoai was wheeled into the delivery room.

Gu Mingyuan paced back and forth outside the door, never feeling that time had passed so slowly.

His mother-in-law, Lin Jing, arrived later and comforted him, saying, "Don't be nervous. Xiao Ai is in good physical condition; everything will definitely go smoothly."

At three o'clock in the morning, the loud cry of a baby came from the delivery room.

The nurse brought out the swaddled baby: "Congratulations, it's a boy, weighing 6 pounds 8 ounces. Mother and child are safe!"

Gu Mingyuan rushed over and, looking at that wrinkled little face, almost burst into tears.

His hands trembled; he wanted to hug her but dared not.

Lin Jing took the child and examined him skillfully: "Good, the features are regular, the cry is loud, it's a healthy child."

When Zhong Xiaoai was pushed out, she was pale but smiling.

Gu Mingyuan held her hand, his voice choked with emotion: "Xiao Ai, you've worked so hard."

"Let me see the child," Zhong Xiaoai said weakly.

Lin Jing placed the child next to her pillow.

Zhong Xiaoai looked at the tiny life, her eyes filled with maternal tenderness: "Mingyuan, he looks like you."

"You're like me, beautiful," Gu Mingyuan said.

Zhong Zhengguo and Lin Jing kept looking at their grandson, while Gu Yun and Ling Fei were so moved that they kept wiping away tears.

Outside the delivery room, the joy brought by new life was palpable.

The nurse asked Gu Mingyuan to register the child's name.

He had already made up his mind, and he picked up his pen and wrote three words on the registration form: Gu Pengyu.

"Pengyu?" Zhong Zhengguo murmured the name.

"A good name. May your future be bright and your spirit be lofty."

Gu Mingyuan said, "The Zhuangzi's 'Free and Easy Wandering' says: 'In the Northern Darkness there is a fish, its name is Kun. Kun is so large that no one knows how many thousands of miles it is. It transforms into a bird, its name is Peng. Peng's back is so large that no one knows how many thousands of miles it is. When it is angry and flies, its wings are like clouds hanging from the sky.' I hope he can be like the Peng, with lofty aspirations and soaring through the nine heavens."

"Great! It has a story and a meaning!" Chung Cheng-kuo nodded approvingly.

"My grandson, Chung Cheng-kuo's grandson, should have this kind of spirit!"

Zhong Xiaoai looked at her husband, her eyes full of tender smiles.

She knew that this name carried her father's best hopes for his son.

Because Zhong Xiaoai was giving birth, Gu Mingyuan asked Pei Yihong for three days off.

Pei Yihong not only readily approved the proposal, but also personally called to congratulate him: "Mingyuan, congratulations on becoming a father! This is a major life event. Spend quality time with Xiao Ai and the baby. I'll have others keep an eye on the groundbreaking ceremony, so don't worry."

"Thank you, Secretary Pei!" Gu Mingyuan said gratefully.

For the past three days, Gu Mingyuan has stayed by his wife and children's side without leaving them for a moment.

He learned to change diapers and feed the baby with a bottle, and although he was clumsy, he enjoyed it.

Zhong Xiaoai felt as sweet as if she had drunk honey as she watched him carefully holding the child.

My parents-in-law stayed in Pingzhou for a few days to help take care of Zhong Xiaoai and the child.

Although Chung Cheng-kuo holds a high position, he is just a kind father and grandfather in front of his daughter and grandson.

He held Xiao Pengyu in his arms, laughing like a child.

"Mingyuan, seeing how well you've achieved in both your family and career, your mother and I are relieved," Zhong Zhengguo said to his son-in-law.

"Xiao Ai was right about you; you're a responsible man."

"Dad, I will always be good to Xiao Ai and take responsibility for this family," Gu Mingyuan solemnly promised.

On November 9th, Zhong Zhengguo and his wife had to return to Beijing for work reasons.

Before leaving, Lin Jing held her daughter's hand and gave her many instructions, while Zhong Zhengguo called Gu Mingyuan aside.

"Mingyuan, you are now a deputy division-level cadre and have just become a father. The responsibilities on your shoulders are even heavier," Zhong Zhengguo said earnestly.

"Remember, the most important thing for a man is not how high his official position is, but his responsibility to his family and his duty to the people. You must do both of these things well."

"Dad, I understand."

"Okay, I'm leaving now. Call me anytime if you need anything." Zhong Zhengguo patted his son-in-law on the shoulder, turned around and got into the car.

After seeing off his parents-in-law, Gu Mingyuan immediately threw himself into the final preparations for the groundbreaking ceremony.

Although he was only away for three days, he had to personally oversee many details.

With children, the focus of the family completely shifts.

The first thing Gu Mingyuan does when he gets home every day is wash his hands, and then he holds his son and looks at him endlessly.

The little one changes every day; his eyes gradually opened, becoming dark and shiny, just like Zhong Xiaoai's.

"Mingyuan, look, he's smiling!" Zhong Xiaoai said in surprise.

"You can smile at such a young age?" Gu Mingyuan leaned closer and saw that his son's lips were slightly upturned.

"That's called an unconscious laugh, but it's also very cute." Zhong Xiaoai's maternal instincts overflowed.

In December, Pingzhou enters winter.

The airport construction site, however, was bustling with activity.

The runway foundation has been completed, and the main structure of the terminal building has risen from the ground.

Gu Mingyuan goes to the construction site at least twice a week, wearing a safety helmet and rubber boots, and carefully inspects the site.

"Director Gu, the concrete curing here needs to be strengthened. The temperature difference between day and night is large recently, which makes it prone to cracking," he said, pointing to a section of the runway foundation.

"Okay, we'll arrange to add an insulation layer right away." The construction manager quickly made a note of it.

"The spacing of the rebar ties is not up to standard and needs to be rectified." He discovered another problem.