Suddenly, the phone rang—it was Grandpa urging them to come home for dinner. Before leaving, Shen Xi Fan sneaked another glance at the photo and whispered to him, “Next time you take a photo, try to look less handsome!”
He had agreed without hesitation, “I’ll do my best!”
After the photo session, a group of doctors and nurses gathered around the computer to check the results. The photographer reviewed the documentation and said, “Dr. He, you’re military, right? The regulations require a photo in uniform.”
He Su Ye hesitated. “My uniform is at home. I don’t usually wear it to work.”
The photographer smiled. “No problem, there’s another session tomorrow. You can come back then.”
He nodded. “Thank you for understanding.”
As he prepared to leave for home, he received a call from Shen Xi Fan.
“He Su Ye, we have a class reunion tonight, so I won’t be home for dinner.”
“Alright, I’ll head to Grandpa’s house. Call me after it’s over, and I’ll pick you up?”
“No need. We’ve all agreed not to bring family. Don’t worry, I’m not a child.”
He couldn’t help but caution her. “Drink less alcohol, come back early, and if you can’t find a ride, call me. Got it?”
On the other end, she laughed. “I’ve had my ID for over a decade, Dr. He—I’m not some underage teenager anymore!”
* * *
The faint fragrance of osmanthus greeted him even before he parked. Grandpa’s garden was lush after the rain, the green leaves looking vibrant. The clusters of pale yellow osmanthus were still budding—some as small as millet grains. His mood lifted instantly.
As soon as he stepped out of the car, he saw He Shou Zheng in the yard. The boy, who seemed to have grown taller in just a few days, ran up to him with excitement. “Uncle, come quickly! Pick that bigger bud for me—I can’t reach it!”
Curious, he asked, “What do you need it for?”
“To make honey-preserved osmanthus. Mom taught me how.”
He laughed. “Alright, I’ll pick it for you, but bring me a basket first.”
“Uncle, do you need some too? There’s still some preserved osmanthus in the kitchen cabinet from last time.”
“Yes, your Aunt Xi Fan loves osmanthus tangyuan.”
He Shou Zheng scrunched his nose. “She’s Shen Jie Jie (Sister Shen)! Calling her ‘Aunt Xi Fan’ makes her sound so old.”
He Su Ye teased, “And yet you’ve always called me ‘Uncle.’ Doesn’t that make me sound old?”
He Shou Zheng nodded solemnly and teased, “You’re not that young anymore, Uncle. Marrying Shen Jie Jie is just an old ox eating tender grass!”
The osmanthus honey filled an entire jar, its delicate and elegant fragrance seeping even through the tiny gaps.
During dinner, the family’s conversation somehow veered toward the topic of children. He Su Ye was focused on eating when, out of the blue, the elders asked him, “Su Ye, when do you and Xi Fan plan to have children? You’re both not young anymore.”
Caught off guard, he choked on his rice, awkwardly swallowing before forcing a smile. “We’re both very busy right now and haven’t thought about it yet.”
Grandpa chuckled. “That may be true, but having a child completes the family. Just look at your cousin’s family—Shou Zheng is so smart and endearing.”
Shou Zheng beamed and added, “If Uncle has a kid, I’d be older than them! Great, finally I’ll have the upper hand!”
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