I returned to my hometown after winning the koi lottery.

Warm sunlight gently streamed onto the windowsill, casting a gentle golden glow inside the house. Sister Tao sat on the living room sofa, flipping through a parenting magazine, pausing occasionally to gently run her fingers across the pages, as if absorbing some valuable experience. Little Tao, on a nearby playmat, fiddled with her colorful building blocks, humming a tuneless tune and occasionally looking up at her mother, her eyes filled with dependence and innocence.

Suddenly, the silence was shattered by the rapid ringing of a phone. Sister Xiaotao put down her magazine, stood up, walked over to the coffee table, and picked up her phone. "Zhang Bei" flashed across the screen. She pressed the answer button, and Zhang Bei's excited, trembling voice rang out from the other end: "Sister Xiaotao, Xiao Xing is having a baby! At the end of this month, and it's twins!"

"Really? That's great!" Sister Xiaotao's eyes lit up instantly, and her voice unconsciously rose a few degrees, her joy was beyond words, "Zhang Bei, you have to take good care of Xiaoxing. If you need any help, don't hesitate to tell me anytime!" After hanging up the phone, Sister Xiaotao's face was still filled with smiles. She quickly walked to the crawling mat, squatted down, picked up Xiao Xiaotao, and kissed her pink cheeks again and again: "Baby, you will have two little brothers or sisters soon!" Xiao Xiaotao seemed to understand, but was also infected by her mother's emotions and giggled.

The news spread like a spring breeze throughout the family. Mother Zhang, upon learning she was expecting two grandchildren, beamed with joy, seemingly ten years younger. She paced back and forth across the room, muttering, "Twins! This is such a joyous occasion! I have to get everything ready! I can't let my two little treasures get away with anything." Then, rushing into the storage room, she rummaged through boxes and drawers, unearthing the long-prepared baby clothes, carefully examining each piece, a beaming smile on her face.

Sister Tao was also busy. She knew the arrival of a new baby meant a heavy burden of blessings and love. So, she carefully selected a pair of exquisite longevity and wealth locks, each engraved with lifelike auspicious patterns, symbolizing her best wishes for the babies' longevity, prosperity, and safety. She carefully placed the locks in a red brocade box and gently closed it, as if sealing a most precious gift.

Meanwhile, Xiaoqijie and Zhao Bufan were busy preparing for the arrival of their newborns. With her keen sense of fashion, Xiaoqijie selected several sets of soft, comfortable, and adorable outfits for the babies, each paired with a delicate hat and shoes. The pastel colors and playful patterns were a delight to behold. Zhao Bufan, on the other hand, carefully selected a crib bell online. With a gentle turn, it produces melodious music and casts colorful shadows—surely, the babies will love it.

Meanwhile, Zhang Tingjian was in deep distress. Sitting in his room, his brow furrowed, he gazed out the window at the azure sky, his thoughts drifting far away. He and his eldest brother, Zhang Bei, had a deep bond. From childhood to adulthood, his brother had always been like a towering mountain, protecting him from the elements and providing him with endless care and support. Now, his brother was about to have a child, and while he was filled with joy and excitement, he also worried about what gift to give.

He paced back and forth across the room, his mind racing with various gift options. Toys? They seemed too ordinary; books? Too early for a newborn. The more he thought, the more he struggled, his mood growing increasingly irritable. Suddenly, his eyes fell on a family photo on the desk. It was taken during a family trip the previous year. In the photo, everyone was smiling brightly, a sense of happiness filling him.

Looking at the photos, an idea suddenly struck Zhang Tingjian. He remembered how his eldest brother would always tell him stories about his grandfather's youth when he encountered difficulties. Those stories were filled with struggle, perseverance, and love. So, he decided to collect these family stories and compile them into a book, creating a unique family memoir as a gift for his eldest brother and his two children.

Zhang Tingjian acted immediately. He first called his grandfather and reminisced about the past. Though elderly, his memory remained sharp. He enthusiastically recounted the hardships of his youthful start-up, the days of striving for his family and his dreams, which brought tears to Zhang Tingjian's eyes. After hanging up, he contacted other elders in his family, collecting many little-known stories and precious memories.

As he compiled these stories, Zhang Tingjian gradually calmed down. He discovered that these stories not only embodied the family's legacy and spirit, but also overflowed with love and warmth. He carefully selected old photos, paired them with the stories, then printed them on fine paper and bound them into a volume. To perfect the memoir, he commissioned a cover design featuring a heartwarming image of a family holding hands, with the words "Family Stories, a Legacy of Love" written alongside.

Finally, a few days before Xiao Xing's due date, Zhang Tingjian completed this family memoir, the fruit of his labor. He gently stroked the cover, his heart filled with emotion. He knew that this gift, though inexpensive, held unique significance. It carried family memories and his deepest wishes for his brother-in-law and their two children.

At the end of the month, Xiao Xing successfully gave birth to a pair of adorable twins, a boy and a girl. As Zhang Bei held the two babies, his face beaming with joy at becoming a father, Zhang Tingjian stepped forward and handed the family memoir to his eldest brother. Zhang Bei took the book, looked at the words on the cover, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, and then tears of emotion welled up in his eyes. He hugged Zhang Tingjian tightly, his voice choking with emotion, "Thank you, brother. This is the best gift I've ever received."

Sister Xiaotao, Sister Xiaoqi, Zhao Bufan, and the others gathered around, their hearts filled with emotion as they watched this heartwarming scene. Everyone took out the gifts they had prepared, and for a moment, the ward was filled with laughter and deep love. The two little ones seemed to feel the joy, waving their fists and babbling, as if responding to everyone's blessings.

At this moment filled with hope and joy, the birth of a new life not only brought endless happiness to the Zhangbei family, but also brought the entire family closer together. The gift that Zhang Tingjian meticulously prepared, like an invisible bond, tightly connected the family's past, present, and future, becoming the most unique and precious touch of color in this joy.