Chapter 136

“Wow.”

This “wow” was short and crisp, unlike when he was younger.

The “wow~” from his childhood used to be drawn out, with a twist in the tail, particularly melting hearts.

But these past two or three years, Qiao Wei has hardly heard that “wow~” from Yan Xiang.

As children grow older and become more familiar with the world, it becomes harder for them to be amazed by anything new.

Finally, today, he exclaimed “wow” again.

Because Mom and Dad told Yan Xiang that he’s going to be a big brother.

This time, it’s a celebration of life.

He’s going to be a big brother.

Yan Xiang is still looking forward to it: “We have to wait until it’s born to know if it’s a little brother or a little sister, right? Do we really have to wait that long?”

Yan Xiang’s lack of a negative reaction reassured Qiao Wei.

Her worries were unnecessary; Yan Lei couldn’t understand them at all—what eldest sibling wouldn’t be happy about having younger siblings? Almost every family has several children, right? Even if they don’t have them in their own family, they see plenty in other families, so why not be happy?

Generation gap.

But even though Yan Lei couldn’t understand Qiao Wei’s unnecessary worries, one thing he could understand was that Qiao Wei loves Yan Xiang.

That’s enough.

Yan Xiang has never given much thought to having younger siblings.

He keeps himself company with books, spending his time absorbed in knowledge, without feeling lonely.

But suddenly knowing that he’s going to be a big brother, a novel joy rushes into his heart. He goes to fetch paper and pen: “Are there any things I should be careful about?”

Yan Lei: “…”

Yan Lei calmly takes his paper and pen: “Go read your books. You don’t need to worry about it.”

Taking over his dad’s job.

Yan Lei lies on the coffee table and silently writes for a quarter of an hour, jotting down a bunch of things.

Qiao Wei leans over to look, reading about backaches, swollen legs, inability to smell, loss of appetite, and so on…

Qiao Wei chuckles, naturally saying, “You remember all these?”

Yan Lei also naturally, eagerly says, “Yes, back then…”

But his voice abruptly stops.

Qiao Wei sees a moment of confusion on this man’s face.

“Back then…” his voice trails off, “that was the first time being a father…”

There are too many firsts in life back then, of course they remember.

He also remembers promising during the arranged marriage that he would take care of her well for the rest of his life.

But…

It seems like they’ve forgotten all these years, only to remember now. It’s a defeat in his life.

It’s one of the few promises he gave but couldn’t fulfill.

How can he not be confused?

Qiao Wei reaches out to hold his hand. Yan Lei grips her hand back.

Qiao Wei holds his hand tightly and says, “Sometimes, fate just hasn’t arrived between people.”

Yan Lei nods.

Qiao Wei says, “Otherwise, let’s build a tomb.”

Yan Lei knows what a tomb is. Many comrades never came back, and that’s where tombs were built.

Qiao Wei rummages through the bottom of the box and finds two old clothes from the past.

Put it in a small jar and bury it in the corner of the yard.

A tombstone couldn’t be erected.

Yan Lei found a pleasing stone by the riverside, about the size of a basketball, brought it home, and placed it on top, serving as a marker in place of a tombstone.

Yan Xiang quickly noticed the inexplicable addition of a large stone in their yard’s corner. Occasionally, there would be some snacks placed there—a piece of cake, a fruit, or something similar.

He asked Yan Lei, and Yan Lei was momentarily unsure how to answer.

Qiao Wei said, “It’s a wishing stone. If you have any wishes, you can tell her.”

Yan Xiang was speechless, “I’m not a child anymore. I’m a materialist, a staunch communist soldier.”

Qiao Wei said, “Even the staunchest communist soldier can have wishes.”

That’s true.

Yan Xiang still secretly made a wish.

He clasped his hands together and said, “Let it be a sister.”

“Don’t let it be a brother, please not a brother.”

“I want a sibling like Junjun, it’s too annoying.”

Junjun had grown up too; he was a year older than Yan Xiang.

He perfectly inherited the genes of Captain Zhao and Sister Yang, robust like a little calf.

When he gets into mischief, it’s especially forceful.

Captain Zhao often felt that raising this son could make him live ten years less.

Qiao Wei took a leave of absence from her idle position in the Revolutionary Committee when she wasn’t feeling well.

Meng Zuoyi was still too rigid, even more so now than five years ago.

Taking advantage of the excuse of pregnancy could avoid many things.

Sometimes in the afternoon, she would sneak off to the library. After Yan Xiang finished his morning classes, he would go to the Revolutionary Committee compound to have lunch with her. After lunch, he would go to the library.

Nowadays, Zheng Ai was the director there, and everything was the same as before.

These people in the library could be considered his teachers in some respects; they accompanied him as he grew up.

In some respects, it could even be said that these few people might understand Yan Xiang better than his own father.

When Qiao Wei arrived, Xiao Wu was talking to Zheng Ai, and they both stopped when they saw her.

“What’s up?” Qiao Wei asked, puzzled.

Xiao Wu said, “Director, Xiang Xiang…”

He didn’t know how to say it.

Yan Xiang was different from other children—this was something that everyone at the library had gradually come to understand over the years.

Zheng Ai adjusted his glasses and said, “You’d better go and see for yourself.”

Qiao Wei was curious and went over. Yan Xiang was in the reading room, lying on the large table, writing and drawing something. There were many papers on the table.

Qiao Wei went over, and he didn’t notice, very engrossed.

Qiao Wei looked at those papers, filled with symbols and equations.

Qiao Wei remained silent for a moment, then quietly retreated and asked the two of them, “When did he start doing this?”

She thought it might have been a few hours, after all, there were so many sheets of scratch paper.

But Zheng Ai said, “It’s been several days.”

Among the people in the library, Xiao Wu loved mathematics. She said, “I can’t understand it at all.”

Qiao Wei sighed softly.

Zheng Ai said, “We were just discussing it. Why don’t we tidy up the suite in our office and let Xiang Xiang use it? It’ll save him from being disturbed by others.”

And it’ll prevent others from seeing him.

Sometimes, being too different from others might not necessarily be viewed positively by those who are ordinary. It could even evoke negative emotions.

Especially in the current era, intellectuals weren’t in classrooms but in makeshift sheds.

“Okay,” Qiao Wei said, “I’ll leave it to you.”

The people in the library silently guarded Yan Xiang.

Qiao Wei’s belly grew bigger with each passing day.

Spring sows, autumn reaps.

The county hospital’s doctors were not all there.

Qiao Wei went to the military hospital to give birth.

Mr. Yan and his eldest son were anxiously waiting outside the delivery room.

Even Yan Xiang was surprised to see his own father so unsettled for the first time.

He paced back and forth in the corridor repeatedly.

His military cap was almost crumpled.

“It must be very painful,” he was a little anxious, “She hates pain the most.”

“Ah, why can’t the doctors come up with a way to give birth without pain? Can’t medical technology advance a bit more?”

Today, the new father’s mouth couldn’t stop.

This annoyed Yan Xiang.

Instead, Yan Xiang remained calm, “Dad, calm down.”

The new father knocked on his head and said, “I’m very calm.”

When the delivery room door opened, both rushed in.

The midwife came out carrying a swaddled bundle and smiled, “Mr. Yan, congratulations, it’s a girl.”

The wishing stone actually worked.

Both were overjoyed.

Yan Lei asked, “And my wife?”

“Just wait a moment, they’re dealing with the placenta first. I’ll show you the baby first.” After showing the new baby to the father, the midwife took her back into the delivery room.

The big and small ones continued to wait eagerly. Another half an hour passed before both the adult and the child were pushed out together.

Qiao Wei’s temples were damp with sweat.

Yan Lei held her hand and asked, “Does it hurt?”

Qiao Wei was too weak to speak.

“Okay, don’t speak, don’t speak.”

Holding her hand all the way, they were pushed into the VIP ward.

After feeding Qiao Wei some water and giving her some prepared chocolates to replenish her energy, Qiao Wei finally had the strength to speak.

“It hurts so much,” she gritted her teeth, “I’m never doing this again!”

Yan Lei immediately promised, “No more.”

Yan Xiang was a bit confused.

Mom had given birth to him, so he already knew about the pain of childbirth.

But his dad’s words indicated that whether to give birth or not was actually controllable by humans.

“If you can choose not to give birth,” he asked strangely, “then why do people still get pregnant and have children?”

Even geniuses have blind spots in their knowledge.

Mainly because, at this time, there weren’t many books on reproductive education even in the library, so he lacked input on this topic.

Both Yan Lei and Qiao Wei froze at the same time.

Yan Lei frowned, “Adult matters, kids shouldn’t ask about them.”

Qiao Wei couldn’t hold back her laughter.

But as soon as she laughed, it was like a floodgate opening, and she had to force herself to stop.

It was really hard.

Yan Xiang couldn’t understand, shook his head, and went to see his sister.

His brow furrowed.

Qiao Wei noticed something amiss, “What’s wrong?”

Yan Xiang furrowed his brow and said, “Nothing.”

If he had known his sister would turn out like this, he wouldn’t have made that wish.

This was just…

It was even worse than having Junjun.

But she was his own sister after all. Yan Xiang went against his conscience and said, “My sister… she’s quite cute.”

His words sounded too forced, anyone could tell.

Especially Yan Lei, who immediately understood.

He chuckled, “Do you think your sister is ugly? Let me tell you, she looks exactly like you did when you were just born.”

“What?” Yan Xiang was surprised. “I looked like this when I was born?”

All wrinkly, like a little monkey?

Qiao Wei had some memories, and she burst into laughter.

“All babies look like that when they’re just born, but in a few days, she’ll grow into her looks,” she said decisively, “Your sister can’t be ugly!”

“Really?” Yan Xiang remained skeptical.

Three days later, Yan Xiang began to really enjoy himself.

His wrinkly sister had indeed become beautiful as she grew!

She was so beautiful!

As the days went by, the baby became plumper and plumper.

With her soft cheeks, bouncing with each touch of his fingers, Yan Xiang never got tired of playing with her!

My sister is having so much fun!

His sister was so beautiful that she deserved a piece of chocolate as an offering.

Yan Xiang clasped his hands together and said, “Thank you, wishing stone. I have a sister now.”

He unwrapped the chocolate and placed it on the stone.

“My sister is prettier than other people’s sisters.”

But naming their daughter proved to be a challenge for Qiao Wei.

Mainly because she really wanted to give her daughter a beautiful name, and she couldn’t accept common names like Feng, Ying, Lan, or Zhen. She also didn’t want to give her daughter a name with too much contemporary or political significance, like Aihua.

But the problem was, the “beautiful” names she came up with seemed politically incorrect in this era.

Yan Lei watched as she crossed out one name after another.

Yan Lei couldn’t help with this matter. If he were to help, it would end up being something like Yan Lan, Yan Ying, or Yan Zhen.

Finally, Yan Xiang contributed a word.

“I’ll be Xiang,” he said, “Let my sister be called Fu.”

“Xiang is abundant in hibiscus flowers, hence the saying ‘a hibiscus country in the autumn wind’.”

“Yan Fu.” He smiled, touching his sister’s cheek like peeling an eggshell, “Your name is Yan Fu.”