Chapter 58.2

Thinking it over, he was right. Since they had the means to get help at home, why not accept it? Having someone take care of daily meals would be a relief, and not everyone has such an opportunity.

Xu Zhao insisted that Jiang Suihan not do any housework. He prepared a cup of milk for her, set up a chair in the yard for her to sit and get some fresh air, and busied himself with chores.

First, he cleaned the kitchen and sorted through the items they had brought back the previous night, checking what was missing and noting it down. Then he cleaned the house, both upstairs and downstairs, and the yard. He watered the plants, tackling tasks one by one in an orderly manner, staying focused and organized.

Jiang Suihan sat in the chair, watching him move around busily without a moment’s rest.

“Aren’t you tired? Take a break and have some water.”

He had been busy all morning since breakfast. Wasn’t he exhausted?

Xu Zhao wiped the sweat from his forehead and walked over to her. “Training is much tougher than this. Do you need water?”

Jiang Suihan shook her head, offering him the half-full cup of milk she was holding.

Xu Zhao took it, asking, “Aren’t you drinking it?”

“I can’t drink it, it’s a bit too rich.” Jiang Suihan replied.

Xu Zhao frowned. The milk was nutritious, and he had brought two cans back with him hoping to provide her with extra nourishment. He needed to find a way to get more if this continued.

With her eating so little, it was no wonder she wasn’t gaining weight.

He needed to make the call soon. Since there was no lunch prepared at home, he planned to have lunch at the cafeteria.

The phone was in Political Commissar Zhou’s office. Xu Zhao explained the situation to Political Commissar Zhou, feeling a bit awkward about using the official phone for personal reasons.

Political Commissar Zhou patted Xu Zhao’s shoulder with a smile, saying, “Good job, you’re quick. It’s time to share the good news with your family.”

He was genuinely happy for Xu Zhao. Who would have thought that just a few months ago, Xu Zhao’s marriage was a major issue, and now he was going to be a father?

Political Commissar Zhou stayed in the office, sitting at a distance. It wasn’t that he wanted to eavesdrop, but the military phone couldn’t be used casually. Even though Xu Zhao had made prior arrangements, someone had to be present, as per regulations.

The Xu family had a telephone, so Xu Zhao called home directly. He estimated that his mother would have gotten home from work by now.

Su Ying had just pushed her bicycle into the courtyard when the phone rang. She quickly stopped the bike, hurried inside, and picked up the receiver, saying, “Hello, who is this?”

“Mom, it’s me,” Xu Zhao replied.

“Why are you calling? Is something wrong?” Su Ying sat down on a nearby sofa, her heart tightening slightly.

Her son rarely called, especially not at lunchtime. She worried that something might have happened to the young couple.

“I just wanted to let you know that Sui Sui is pregnant,” Xu Zhao said calmly, showing none of the nervousness he had when he first heard the news at home.

“That’s good news. The family…” Su Ying began to respond casually, about to say everything at home was fine, but suddenly realized something was off.

She straightened up, stammering, “Pregnant!?”

Did she hear that correctly? Her daughter-in-law is expecting!?

“Yes, Sui Sui is pregnant, about a month along, not quite two months yet,” Xu Zhao said, his face relaxing with a pleased expression.

“Why didn’t you tell us sooner? Is Sui Sui’s health okay?” Su Ying’s mouth widened into a big smile, her eyes crinkling with joy.

This was wonderful news—perhaps heaven had heard her prayers. The Xu family would finally have a fourth generation.

Just as Xu Zhao was about to respond, his mother interrupted, “Is Sui Sui there with you?”

Jiang Suihan took the receiver from Xu Zhao and said, “Mom.”

“Ah, Sui Sui, how are you feeling with the pregnancy? Is your health okay? Is the baby doing well? Is there anything special you crave? I can send it to you,” Su Ying fired off several questions, eager to see how her daughter-in-law was faring.

“I’m doing fine, just a bit of nausea, but otherwise, I’m good. How is Grandpa and Dad?” Jiang Suihan answered sweetly while sitting on a chair.

“Everyone at home is fine. Your grandfather is playing chess with his old friends, and your dad is busy at work and won’t be back for lunch,” Su Ying quickly explained the situation at home, then shifted the topic back, “When I was pregnant with Xu Zhao, I also threw up all the time and couldn’t handle any meat. I could only eat vegetables and fruits. After three months, my appetite improved and I wanted to eat everything.”

“However, constantly vomiting and being unable to eat is not a good solution. Over time, it’s harmful to both you and the baby. You’re pregnant, so you can’t afford to lack proper nutrition. You need to eat meat, eggs, fruits, and vegetables every day. But it’s not convenient for you to go out and buy food where you are. What should you do?”

Thinking about the baby not getting enough nutrients from the mother’s diet made Su Ying anxious. The more she thought about it, the more restless she became.

“Never mind, I’ll take a leave of absence this afternoon and head to Li Province in a few days.” She made a decisive decision, slapping the armrest of the sofa.

Hearing her mother-in-law’s plan, Jiang Suihan instinctively tried to decline, “No need, Mom. We can manage on our own. The baby is still small, and I’m doing well. Traveling back and forth would be too exhausting for you and might interfere with your work.”

“Exhausting? We’re family, there’s no such thing as too much trouble. You young people don’t have experience. You don’t know how to take care of a pregnant woman, what you should eat, what to avoid, and other precautions. I’m coming over in a few days. I’ll send Xu Zhao the train schedule and have him pick me up.”

Su Ying waved her hand decisively. The most important thing now was to take care of her daughter-in-law and ensure the smooth arrival of the fourth generation of the Xu family. Everything else could wait.

Jiang Suihan looked at Xu Zhao helplessly. Without her having to say anything, her mother-in-law had already volunteered to come help. She now understood Xu Zhao’s earlier comments about his mother being decisive and efficient.

Su Ying was thrilled. In just over eight months, she would become a grandmother!

Su Ying walked around the living room, calming her excited emotions, then went upstairs to her bedroom. She opened a cupboard and took out a tin box where she kept the leftover tickets each month. She had accumulated quite a few.

After quickly counting them, she realized she was short on some tickets and needed to exchange them. She packed the money and tickets into her handbag and set off on her bicycle.

“Su Ying, where are you rushing off to? Is something wrong?” Wang Chunyan saw Su Ying riding her bicycle and called out to stop her.

She wondered if something had happened to the Xu family.

“I’m going to ask for leave from work,” Su Ying stopped the bike and replied casually.

“Why ask for leave all of a sudden?” Wang Chunyan asked in confusion.

“I just found out that my daughter-in-law is pregnant, nearly two months along. It’s surprising they didn’t tell us sooner, but it’s not too late. I plan to take some time off to go over there. They’re inexperienced and I’m worried.”

Su Ying couldn’t help but show off in front of Wang Chunyan, “You said my son couldn’t find a partner, but look, my son is not only married, he will soon have a son.”

“You haven’t seen my daughter-in-law yet. She’s incredibly beautiful. I’ve never seen a girl so pretty. She’s a perfect match for Xu Zhao. Just imagine how beautiful their child will be. Too bad I didn’t bring any photos with me. Otherwise, you could see for yourself.”

So what if you have two grandson? Are they as pretty and cute as my good grandson?

Wang Chunyan forced a smile, “Xu Zhao and his wife haven’t had their wedding yet, have they? With a baby on the way, I hope they don’t skip the wedding.”

She thought, everyone has grandchildren, but it’s not certain that your grandson will be born without any mishaps. Don’t be so proud now, or you might end up with a long face later.

Su Ying was unaware that Wang Chunyan was secretly cursing her precious grandson in front of her. If she knew, she would definitely scratch her in the face.

“The two of them aren’t ones to care much about formality. They’re a happy couple, and we have no objections. When they come back, we can have a meal with everyone.”

Su Ying had previously asked Xu Zhao about their thoughts on a wedding. The couple had said they didn’t want one, finding it troublesome. Although Su Ying felt a bit regretful that they couldn’t announce their son’s marriage in front of everyone, she considered herself an open-minded elder and respected their wishes. If they didn’t want a wedding, then so be it.

“It’s not right to be so casual about this. A girl getting married and a son getting a bride—how can it be so informal? I think it’s better to have a wedding to avoid any gossip,” Wang Chunyan said with a raised eyebrow, feeling that the Xu family was being stingy. The daughter-in-law was brought into the family without any ceremony, and they still prided themselves on being a respectable family, taking advantage of the girl’s situation.

The girl was pitiful. The Xu family had previously ignored her, leaving her in Li Province with Xu Zhao. Now that she was pregnant, Su Ying was rushing over, claiming it was to take care of the pregnant woman, but everyone knew it was really for the sake of the grandchild.

“Let them talk if they want. I can’t control what others say. I need to go now, I’m rushing to take leave and then to the department store this afternoon.” Su Ying rode off on her bicycle.

She thought to herself that some people, like Wang Chunyan, were probably the ones talking. Everyone in the courtyard knew Wang Chunyan was the one who gossiped the most.

Far away in Li Province, Jiang Suihan had no idea that someone was defending her. She encountered Sister Wu and her daughter Xixi on the road.

“Deputy Commander Xu is back?” Sister Wu greeted with a smile.

“I just came back last night.” Xu Zhao nodded slightly towards Sister Wu.

“I’m glad you’re back. Xiao Jiang has had a hard time these past two months. She even had a fever last month, and she looks a lot thinner than before.” Wu Guihua was talking quickly, not noticing that Xu Zhao’s expression changed when she mentioned Jiang Suihan’s fever.

Xu Zhao turned to Jiang Suihan with a slightly serious expression. “Why didn’t you mention you were sick before?”

If it hadn’t been for meeting Sister Wu, he might never have known.

Jiang Suihan felt a bit guilty but then remembered it wasn’t intentional. She said, “I forgot.”

Forgetting and being so unapologetic made Xu Zhao unsure of how to respond.

Jiang Suihan shook his hand and said, “I really did forget. I only had a fever for one day, and it was fine the next day.”

After confirming her pregnancy, she stopped taking fever-reducing medication. She specifically asked Dr. Zhong if it would affect the baby, and Dr. Zhong assured her that since she had only taken two doses, the impact would be negligible and there was no need to worry.

She regretted it deeply and felt she had been careless. Thankfully, the baby was fine, or she would have felt guilty for life.