Chapter 59

“Mom will definitely stay for a while. How about we clear out Lele’s room so he can sleep with us, and Mom can stay in Lele’s room?”

Jiang Suihan walked beside Xu Zhao, thinking about how her mother-in-law had come all the way from the capital to take care of her. Whether out of a desire to please her mother-in-law or out of gratitude, it was only right to make her comfortable.

“I’ll tidy up the study and Lele can stay there. I’ll also buy some things for the house. I’ll drive to the county tomorrow. The road conditions are rough, so you can’t go with me. Just make a list of what you want to buy and give it to me.”

Xu Zhao didn’t agree. The house had three rooms, two of which were occupied. If they moved the bookshelf and desk out of the study, the space would be enough for a small bed.

In truth, he had other thoughts on his mind. After two months of sleepless nights alone, he had finally returned home, able to hold his soft and fragrant wife every night. Now, with his brother-in-law suddenly coming into the picture, how could he possibly be happy about it?

Jiang Suihan considered this arrangement acceptable. The study was about the same size as Jiang Leyun’s room. If they moved the furniture to one side and rearranged it simply, it could serve as a bedroom.

She wanted to visit the department store to buy many things, including clothes and supplies for the baby. She needed to start preparing for the baby slowly.

Thinking of the accident in the book that caused “her” death, and now that she had a baby, she was more cautious and didn’t dare be careless. She wouldn’t go out unless absolutely necessary, prioritizing her life. Just the thought of spending eight to nine months in the military made her feel a bit depressed.

“What’s wrong?” Xu Zhao asked when he saw her standing still, seeming lost in thought.

“It’s nothing. I was just thinking that we’re running low on fabric coupons and need to prepare baby clothes in advance. I’m worried about not having the energy or time later,” Jiang Suihan changed the subject, offering an excuse.

“Mom will likely prepare the baby clothes. It’s a small matter. If we run out of fabric coupons, I’ll borrow some from Zhang Xiangqian and others. In a month or two, as your belly grows, you won’t fit into your current clothes. I’ll bring back some fabric to make a few looser outfits for you.” Xu Zhao slowed his pace and glanced quickly at her flat belly.

He had seen his elder sister’s big belly when she was pregnant. Her belly was so large it looked like she was carrying a big watermelon. Watching her walk, he couldn’t help but worry. In a few months, Jiang Suihan’s belly would be as big, and if he were away on a mission, it would be hard to leave her without someone to take care of her.

“Oh right, I forgot about maternity clothes. I really have a goldfish memory,” Jiang Suihan said, annoyed with herself for only thinking about the baby’s clothes and forgetting her own.

Was she a selfless mother?

“Am I getting silly?” She pouted, looking at Xu Zhao, hoping for comfort.

Xu Zhao, living up to her expectations, calmly said, “No, you’re as smart and lovely as ever.”

He had grown accustomed to such reassuring words and could say them effortlessly.

Jiang Suihan couldn’t help but smile. “You should say I’m smart and beautiful. Only if you can’t find any other virtues would you say I’m just cute. Have I become less attractive?”

She pressed her lips together, looking at him as if she would become angry the moment he answered incorrectly.

No woman ignores her own figure. She was only two months pregnant, but she was already anxious about potential changes in her body and appearance. With over eight more months to go, plus the confinement period and raising the baby, relaxation would be a distant dream for at least a year or two.

Xu Zhao wasn’t lacking in emotional intelligence. He scrutinized her face and said, “Oh, what a beautiful fairy my wife is.”

His tone was exaggerated, but his expression remained calm.

Jiang Suihan’s face immediately turned red. She was genuinely surprised that such exaggerated praise came from Xu Zhao. It was unlike his usual demeanor, which made it rather magical.

“Have you been influenced by someone?”

“Huh?” Xu Zhao didn’t understand the question and looked puzzled.

“Oh, I meant if something happened outside that made you talk so sweetly? Did you eat candy today, making your words so sweet?” Jiang Suihan changed the topic, curious.

“No, I just wanted to say something nice to cheer you up.” Xu Zhao’s ears turned slightly red. His kind words were actually inspired by Zhang Xiangqian’s experience.

During Dai Jia’s pregnancy, Zhang Xiangqian had been through quite a lot, frequently hearing complaints about the moodiness and sensitivity of pregnant women, who would often cry and accuse their husbands of not caring. Zhang Xiangqian, unable to argue with his pregnant wife, had to come up with ways to keep her happy.

When Jiang Suihan asked if she had become unattractive, seeing her mood seemed down, Xu Zhao decided to say something flattering to cheer her up. Unexpectedly, his words exceeded the original level, making her wonder if he had been influenced by something.

Jiang Suihan’s eyebrows curved in a smile, her face beaming: “How did you know I was feeling down?”

She had noticed that she had been feeling off lately, occasionally feeling depressed and wanting comfort. Even she felt a bit melodramatic, but it hadn’t reached the point of crying over falling flowers.

Xu Zhao held her hand, slowing his pace while watching his step to avoid a small pit, thinking that her emotions were plainly visible on her face, making it hard for anyone not to notice.

Jiang Suihan looked at their intertwined hands and remembered when he had once pulled his hand away. She couldn’t help teasing him: “Aren’t you embarrassed this time?”

Xu Zhao remained calm and unflustered.

Jiang Suihan muttered, “Hypocritical.”

She thought that if women are often hypocritical, men are not much better.

While walking, they inevitably encountered people. Xu Zhao remained composed, chatting with acquaintances and nodding to strangers. Jiang Suihan, however, felt a bit uncomfortable under the gaze of others, even if it was subtle.

She concluded that compared to Xu Zhao, her own ability to keep a straight face was lacking—he was as thick-skinned as a wall.

Chen Xiaohong nudged Wang Liying with her shoulder: “What’s wrong?”

Wang Liying shook her head, eyes lowered with a subtle expression: “I’m just feeling a bit uncomfortable.”

Seeing Xu Zhao and Jiang Suihan being so affectionate, and thinking about her poor younger sister who was still in the hospital, Wang Liying felt distressed. Her sister was still bedridden.

Wang Lijuan had previously exploded in anger at home, repeatedly saying “I’m the commander’s wife” and “It’s fake.” Her husband did not understand the whole story. Wang Liying secretly looked at her younger sister’s notebook and naturally knew what her younger sister meant by those words. It also confirmed her guess that her younger sister was really sick.

She asked her husband to knock the girl unconscious and tie her up. The next day, she asked the army for a car and drove her to the hospital. She was worried that the doctors at the county hospital might not be able to cure her, so she went directly to the city hospital. The doctors diagnosed her sister with a delusional disorder.

Wang Liying didn’t understand the medical terms and asked the doctor to explain. The doctor rephrased it as a mental illness where the patient confuses reality with imagination, unable to distinguish between the two and becoming immersed in delusions.

There was an old woman in the village. Her husband died early in her life, and she worked hard to raise her son. Later, her son joined the army and died on the battlefield. Even his body never came back. The old woman went crazy and often talked to herself. Whenever she saw someone, she would tell them that her son had become a high-ranking official and was going to take her to the army to enjoy a good life. But the magical thing was that she would occasionally wake up, sit in front of the house and look into the distance, as if waiting for her son to come back.

The children in the village were naughty and called the old woman a crazy woman, but the adults did not allow them to call her that. The old woman had an unfortunate life and her son died for the country. The people in the village took good care of the old woman, often sending her food, helping her repair the house when they were free, and sending her some firewood.

Wang Liying couldn’t understand why her younger sister, who had been pampered at home and never suffered, became ill when she stayed in the military. Could it really be Xu Zhao’s fault? Could a man really make her sister go mad?

Wang Liying regretted sending the letter home, wishing she could tear it up to prevent her sister from coming to the military and encountering Xu Zhao.

She couldn’t even tell her family about her sister’s illness. A healthy person had become severely ill in such a short time. The doctor said the illness was hard to treat and could only be managed with medication to control symptoms.

Just thinking about the cost of medication every month gave her a headache. While her husband might not mind for a month or two, how could he not have concerns after four or five months, a year, or even two or three years? It was only a distant relative, and the emotional bond wasn’t deep. Furthermore, if her husband’s family in the hometown learned about it, there would be another round of disputes.

Chen Xiaohong, not thinking about these issues, said bluntly, “They are a young couple who just got married and their relationship is good. It’s okay for them to be a little clingy. I really didn’t expect that Xu Zhao would be such a person. He would hold Xiao Jiang’s hand when walking, and his eyes were almost glued to Xiao Jiang. I remember my husband wasn’t as clingy when we first got married.”

She sighed again, “Good-looking people always have an advantage.”

Chen Xiaohong didn’t think she was shallow. Who doesn’t like good-looking people? If she had the beauty of Xiao Jiang, she would have chosen someone with better conditions when she was younger, and wouldn’t have ended up marrying her current husband.

But she knew well that given her conditions, she had a pretty good life now. Compared to the village girls she knew, who faced the harsh realities of life, working hard in the fields every day, washing clothes, cooking, and taking care of children like an overworked mule, her life was much better.

Although she had given birth to three daughters and hadn’t produced a son for the Zhang family, her husband Zhang Laizhong was still decent to her. He didn’t beat or scold her. As for the criticisms from her mother-in-law calling her an eggless hen, Chen Xiaohong didn’t care. Let her scold as much as she liked, as long as she wasn’t there in person.

She was grateful her mother had found her a good man, and she was thankful.

Chen Xiaohong touched her slightly protruding belly, making a silent fist. She had a premonition that this time she would definitely have a son.

Wang Liying forced a smile, “After all, this is the military, so you should pay attention to the impact. Xu Zhao is still an officer. His thoughts haven’t changed much. He used to be a serious person, but I think he was led astray by Xiao Jiang.”

She felt a surge of anger. If it weren’t for Xu Zhao, her younger sister wouldn’t have to suffer these hardships. It was all Xu Zhao and Jiang Suihan’s fault. They were the ones who wronged her sister.

Chen Xiaohong took out a handful of pumpkin seeds and chewed, “I think Xu Zhao is just like that by nature. He’s just used to being formal in front of others. When he’s with Xiao Jiang, he no longer hides it. That’s why I say you need to be very selective when choosing a spouse. They seem like a good couple, both good-looking. Their future children will definitely be even better looking.”

She glanced down at her belly, “I hope my baby will be half as good-looking as their children. I’d be satisfied.”

Her appearance was considered delicate. The men in her family were not particularly good-looking. They were just not unattractive, far from handsome. Fortunately, her three daughters resembled her. If they had taken after their father, finding a good match in the future would have been a problem, and they would have needed a substantial dowry to get married.

No one spoke, and Wang Liying couldn’t continue the conversation alone. She glanced at Chen Xiaohong’s belly and silently grumbled, “It’s probably another daughter.”