Chapter 94

Xu Xiaoling was carrying something in her hands, her neck hunched, and shivering from the cold. She drank a cup of hot water as soon as she entered the door, and took off her coat after she felt warmer.

“Mom, why are you home alone? Where are the others?”

Su Ying came out of the kitchen and said, “Your grandpa went to see an old comrade, and your dad took Chenchen out to play. They won’t be back until dinner. Gangzi and a few others just returned, and your brother went out with them. Sui Sui is sleeping upstairs, so keep your voice down.”

Xu Xiaoling replied, “It’s already past ten o’clock, is she still sleeping?”

Su Ying didn’t mind her daughter-in-law sleeping in until this hour. She casually remarked, “She probably got worn out from taking the train the past few days. There’s not much going on at home, so if she wants to sleep, let her sleep. It’s tough for her to take care of a child alone in the army, so it’s nice for her to rest while she’s home.”

Su Ying considered herself an open-minded mother-in-law. Having seen too many mothers-in-law meddling in their sons’ and daughters-in-law’s affairs and causing chaos at home, she had learned to let go of such things at her age. She didn’t want to interfere in the younger generation’s matters.

As for her previous dissatisfaction with Jiang Suihan, that was mainly due to Jiang’s family background, which she worried might affect Xu Zhao. But now that her daughter-in-law had given birth to Chenchen, she was more than happy and had no desire to make things difficult for her. After all, she wasn’t idle.

Xu Xiaoling pouted, “How come I didn’t get a mother-in-law like you?”

Su Ying retorted, “You chose to marry him, so who can you blame? Why are you here anyway? Where are Jianming and Xiao Zheng?”

Xu Xiaoling opened a bag and said, “Last night we made lamb dumplings at home, and there are some leftovers. I thought they tasted good, so you can try them tonight. Jianming and Xiao Zheng went to my mother-in-law’s house, and I didn’t want to go.”

The lamb was a gift from someone, chopped up for the dumplings. She had prepared the filling herself and made the dumplings with her husband. Last night, the three of them enjoyed a delicious meal of lamb dumplings.

Su Ying glanced at the bag, which had about a dozen dumplings. “With all this food at home, why not save some for Jianming and Xiao Zheng? You’re the daughter-in-law. It’s the New Year, and you’re not going to visit your mother-in-law? The neighbors will talk.”

Her daughter was already thirty, and she still didn’t understand these things—it was frustrating.

Xu Xiaoling shrugged it off. “Let them talk. I don’t live there. They can say whatever they want. Every time I go to my mother-in-law’s house, it’s torture. I end up doing all the washing and cooking while everyone else lounges around the living room, drinking tea and chatting. My mother-in-law doesn’t even let Jianming help me, saying he doesn’t get to eat my cooking all year and that I should just suffer a bit.”

“Mom, isn’t that just mocking me? Two daughters-in-law, and one just sits there eating sunflower seeds, while I’m the only one stuck doing all the work? This year, I’m definitely not going. Let’s see who cooks for them today!”

Having to deal with such a mother-in-law who could never see anything good about her daughter-in-law, she considered herself unlucky. Just as her mom said, she couldn’t blame anyone but herself since she chose the man and married him.

She used to give her mother-in-law too much face, truly believing that Xu Xiaoling had no temper and that anyone could walk all over her.

Su Ying poked her daughter’s forehead. “You and your temper! I can’t even be bothered to lecture you. Go check if Sui Sui is awake yet. It’s late, and she shouldn’t skip breakfast.”

Xu Xiaoling didn’t want to move. “I’m not going. If she’s hungry, she’ll come down on her own. Mom, you’re just worrying for no reason.”

Seeing her daughter was unresponsive, Su Ying was about to go check herself when she noticed Jiang Suihan coming down.

“Awake? Breakfast is warming in the pot. I’ll bring it to you.”

Jiang Suihan felt a bit embarrassed. She looked at the clock and saw it was ten o’clock. She hadn’t realized she could sleep so late. What kind of daughter-in-law sleeps in like this? It felt quite embarrassing.

“No need, Mom. I can get it myself.”

Su Ying watched Jiang Suihan eat breakfast while occasionally yawning. “You don’t look so good. Maybe you should see a doctor?”

Jiang Suihan didn’t like the soybean milk from this side of the capital, finding it odd. She drank half a glass of water to soothe her throat and slowly ate a bun.

Hearing her mother-in-law suggest a doctor, she quickly replied, “I’m probably just tired from the past few days. I just need to rest; there’s no need for a doctor. Going to the hospital is too much trouble.”

Su Ying insisted, “It’s not a hassle. Your Grandma Zhou is a doctor. She lives just two buildings over, very close. It’s just a short walk. Xiaoling, go check if Grandma Zhou is home, and if she is, ask if she has time to come over.”

Xu Xiaoling nodded and put on her coat before heading out.

Jiang Suihan silently watched as her mother-in-law and sister-in-law arranged everything with just a few words. The refusal she had wanted to voice stuck in her throat, and she quietly continued eating her breakfast.

After a while, an elderly woman with graying hair and a bun, looking to be in her seventies, walked in.

Su Ying stood up to greet her. “Sorry for bothering you, Grandma Zhou, on such a cold day.”

Grandma Zhou waved her hand. “It’s nothing, just neighbors helping each other. Is this your daughter-in-law? She’s quite beautiful and a good match for Xu Zhao.”

Jiang Suihan smiled and respectfully greeted her.

Grandma Zhou sat down and asked Jiang Suihan to extend her hand. It was Jiang Suihan’s first time seeing a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner take a pulse, and she watched with curiosity.

After a moment, Grandma Zhou frowned, causing Jiang Suihan’s heart to drop. She thought, could there really be something wrong with her health?

Xu Xiaoling, losing patience, asked, “Grandma Zhou, what’s wrong with my sister-in-law?”

Aunt Zhou didn’t answer right away. She removed her hand and smiled, saying, “You’re pregnant.”

Jiang Suihan was taken aback; it was an unexpected outcome.

Chenchen was not even two years old yet, and raising one child was already challenging enough. While she didn’t mind having a second child, she had hoped to wait until Chenchen was older, maybe in school, before considering it.

But plans change, and this news was too sudden, causing her more shock than joy.

Su Ying’s eyes lit up, unable to contain her excitement. “Really? That’s wonderful! Chenchen is going to have a brother or sister!”

After saying that, she focused on Jiang Suihan’s stomach and asked with concern, “Are you feeling dizzy? Do you feel like throwing up? Is there anything you want to eat? Mom will make it for you.”

Thinking about the adorable little grandchild arriving in a few months, Su Ying felt as if her heart were soaked in a jar of sugar, bubbling with sweet joy.

Xu Xiaoling was equally surprised to learn that Jiang Suihan was pregnant. With a beaming smile, she said, “No wonder you’ve been so tired and wanting to sleep! You really need to be more careful. Thankfully, Grandma Zhou is so skilled.”

Jiang Suihan, shaking off her daze, asked how many months along she was.

Grandma Zhou replied with a smile, “Not too far along—just under two months. You need to take good care of yourself. Make sure to eat plenty of nutritious foods like chicken, duck, fish, and meat, along with vegetables and fruits. Last time you did well during your postpartum recovery, but you look a bit thin. Your health seems good.”

Just over a month?

That meant it was around the time Xu Zhao returned from his mission. Jiang Suihan felt her cheeks heat up at the memory of that passionate night.

After seeing Grandma Zhou off, Su Ying felt a surge of energy, her face beaming with happiness. “Are you tired? Do you want to go upstairs and sleep a bit longer? I can wake you for lunch.”

Jiang Suihan shook her head. She had just finished breakfast and felt a bit sleepy, but she didn’t want to sleep too much. If she did, her bones would feel weak, and she wouldn’t have any energy. Plus, she was concerned about not being able to sleep at night.

Given her current condition, she shouldn’t worry too much about insomnia.

She didn’t want to help with lunch and wasn’t keen on dealing with guests, so she decided to go to her room. The top shelf had some books, mostly military-related, that belonged to Xu Zhao. To her surprise, she found a translated foreign novel among them.

Some people can finish a book in a day, but not her. She read very slowly, nearly word by word, and after an hour, she hadn’t even completed a tenth of it.

Feeling a bit tired, she dozed off again.

She felt someone gently touching her face.

Jiang Suihan opened her eyes to find Xu Zhao staring back at her. “You’re back?”

In the room, there was a thermos. Xu Zhao poured a cup of water, and Jiang Suihan took it from the enamel cup.

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t be back until tonight?”

Before leaving, Xu Zhao had mentioned catching up with an old friend and wouldn’t be home for lunch.

“Gangzi’s brother-in-law had some issues, so he left early and everyone else followed suit.” Xu Zhao placed his hand on Jiang Suihan’s belly, naturally displaying his joy. “When I got back, Mom told me you’re pregnant! How are you feeling? Any discomfort?”

Upon arriving home, his mother excitedly informed him that he would be a father again, leaving him momentarily stunned.

The surprise was overwhelming.

They had discussed waiting a few years before having a second child, planning to wait until Chenchen was older and in school, so Jiang Suihan wouldn’t have it too hard.

After having Chenchen, Xu Zhao had been indifferent about having a second child. He just hadn’t expected it to come so quickly—both he and Jiang Suihan felt a bit unprepared.

Jiang Suihan pouted at him. “Chenchen is still so small! I can barely manage him, and now there’s another one on the way. It’s too much!”

After marriage, women often find themselves trapped in family life, revolving around children and household chores, losing their careers, freedom, and gradually, their sense of self.

Chenchen was adorable, and having him brought great joy. Jiang Suihan loved him dearly, but even with the bias of a loving mother, it was challenging to stay calm when Chenchen acted up. Sometimes, his mischievousness could be truly exasperating.

She held Xu Zhao’s hand. “I don’t want to become a worn-out housewife.”

Seeing her distressed expression, Xu Zhao felt a mix of amusement and concern. He kissed her forehead and said, “I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”

Remembering the experience of Jiang Suihan giving birth to Chenchen, he felt a wave of apprehension.

Jiang Suihan pressed, “It’s all your fault! You said we’d decide about a second child in a few years based on circumstances. Now look what’s happened—everything’s in chaos! I’m about to endure the whole process of pregnancy, childbirth, and raising a child again. You men just talk the talk. You can’t be relied on!”

She scolded herself for being momentarily swayed by his charm.

It was true what the ancients said—beauty can be a powerful weapon.

Xu Zhao wrapped his arms around her waist and brought the enamel cup to her lips. “After all that talking, you must be thirsty. Have some water.”

As her anger faded, Jiang Suihan obediently drank, momentarily forgetting why she had been upset.

Suddenly, Xu Zhao asked, “Do you want to stay in the capital?”