Just then, there was the sound of a car from outside.

Su Nanchen peeked outside and smiled, "Dad and Mom are here too."

Professor Su and Mrs. Su got out of the car, walked into the yard, and Professor Su looked up at the two old locust trees.

The two chatted as they entered the house.

Su Butong saw his son and daughter-in-law and waved with a smile, "Come on in, have a seat."

Professor Su put down the fruit basket and first went to the old lady, bending over, "Mom, you look great today."

The old lady waved her hand, "What’s great? Still the same. You came at the right time, look at this great-grandson."

"This child, why is he so well-behaved? Smiling at everyone."

The old lady said, "Takes after his mom. Xiao Su was like this as a child, smiled at everyone, fine with anyone holding him."

Su Butong chimed in, "Better that he takes after his dad!"

Xiao Su pretended to be angry, "Grandpa!"

Su Butong waved his hand, "I’m just joking; it doesn’t matter who he takes after."

Professor Su sat down beside them, looked at the room full of people, and smiled too.

"It’s been a long time since we’ve all been together like this," he said. "The last time the whole family gathered was during the Mid-Autumn Festival." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Mrs. Su said, "Indeed, you all are so busy, it’s not easy to gather everyone."

Lin Lan felt a bit embarrassed, "It’s all my fault, I haven’t been able to move around easily lately and didn’t come to see Grandpa and Grandma as often."

Grandma waved her hand, "What are you talking about? Taking good care of yourself is the best way to show filial piety. Once the baby is born, there will be plenty of time to visit us."

Grandma held Lin Lan’s hand, looked her up and down, "Have you lost weight? Eating well? Sleeping well at night?"

Lin Lan answered each question, feeling warm inside. Her in-laws had always treated her well, taking her as their own daughter from the first day she married into the Su Family.

Meanwhile, the little one was having his face touched by one and his hand pulled by another, yet he didn’t cry, just sat there obediently, occasionally responding with a few baby sounds, almost as if talking back to them.

Yang Ping stood to the side, watching this scene with rare softness in his eyes.

Dinner was prepared by Mrs. Su herself. She spent the entire afternoon in the kitchen, making a table full of dishes: braised pork, steamed perch, steamed scallops with garlic vermicelli, sweet and sour ribs, baby bok choy in broth, tomato and beef brisket soup, and the pickled cucumbers Xiao Su brought, all laid out in a row.

The little one was placed in a highchair beside Xiao Su, looking at the table full of dishes, eyes wide with curiosity, smacking his little lips as if he wanted to try.

Su Butong noticed and laughed, "This child is such a foodie, just like his mom."

Xiao Su protested, "Grandpa, I wasn’t a foodie when I was young."

"Not a foodie?" Su Butong said, "When you were three, you sneaked some braised pork from the table, climbed up and knocked the dish over, covered yourself in grease. Have you forgotten?"

Xiao Su blushed, "Grandpa, how do you still remember that?"

"Of course I remember, how could I not?" Su Butong laughed so hard his eyes turned into slits, "Your mom spanked you, you cried loudly, and I was laughing on the side, your mom even glared at me."

Mrs. Su chimed in, "Dad, you had the nerve to laugh. You spoiled him rotten. Whatever Xiao Su wanted, you gave him, and I said you shouldn’t spoil him like that, but you wouldn’t listen."

Su Butong defended, "Wasn’t it out of love for the child?"

"It’s all right to love, but rules are rules," the old lady said, "In our Su Family, generations have lived this way. Love when it’s time to love, be strict when it’s time to be strict. Otherwise, how could we produce so many scholars?"

Su Butong nodded and stopped talking.

Professor Su picked up some food for Su Butong, saying, "Dad, eat more, you love this braised pork."

Su Butong looked at the braised pork in his bowl and sighed, "You all are thoughtful."

He paused, then suddenly looked at Yang Ping and asked, "Yang Ping, how is your research going recently?"

Yang Ping put down his chopsticks and answered seriously, "Still working on it, made a few new discoveries, planning to write a paper."

"Good, good," Su Butong nodded repeatedly, "I don’t understand your field, but I know it’s difficult. To achieve results is not easy."

Yang Ping said, "Thank you, Grandpa."

Su Butong then turned to Su Nanchen, "And you? After receiving the Outstanding Young Talent award, what’s your next plan?"

Su Nanchen said, "Planning to apply for clinical trials. The materials are mostly ready, just waiting for ethical review."

"Ethical review is important," Su Butong said seriously, "In research, especially clinical research, ethics must be the priority. As doctors, our primary responsibility is the patient, not papers, not grants."

Su Nanchen nodded, "I understand, Grandpa."

Grandma added, "Your grandpa is right; without this bottom line, you can’t be a good doctor."

Professor Su continued, "Dad and Mom are right. Nanchen, you must remember the Su Family’s tradition passed down for generations; you must uphold it."

Su Nanchen solemnly nodded, "I will remember."

Lin Lan watched this scene from the side, feeling a surge of respect. This is the Su Family, passing down not just knowledge but also medical ethics and the baseline of humanity for generations.

The little one suddenly babbled and reached for a spoon on the table. Xiao Su quickly picked him up and moved him away, "You can’t grab that; it’s not a toy."

The little one wasn’t happy, pouting, on the verge of crying.

Yang Ping took the child into his arms, gently patting him. The little one looked at him and surprisingly didn’t cry, obediently leaning against his shoulder.

Su Butong saw this and clicked his tongue in wonder.

"This child, why does he listen to you so well?"

Yang Ping said, "I don’t know, maybe he’s used to it."

Grandma laughed, "It’s normal for a child to be close to their father. Weren’t you the same back then? Your eldest liked you to hold him when he was small."