Chapter 61.1

In the Xu family’s residence in the capital.

“Why did you come back so late? Xiaoling is here too. Xiao Zhao, go get some chopsticks and bowls,” Grandpa Xu said, putting down his newspaper and instructing a middle-aged woman in her forties.

Aunt Zhao, who was responsible for taking care of Grandpa Xu, had come to the family when she was in her twenties. She had been widowed young and was driven out by her in-laws. Her own family wouldn’t take her back, so she was introduced to the Xu family as a housekeeper. Since she did her job well, she stayed with them.

Aunt Zhao agreed and quickly went back to the kitchen.

“Look at all these things. You’ve practically moved the department store home,” Xu Zhenguo remarked, raising an eyebrow when he saw the large bags and bundles the two of them were carrying.

“Aunt Zhao, pour me a glass of water. I’m about to die of thirst.” Xu Xiaoling threw the items on the ground and sat down in a nearby chair, looking exhausted.

“Sit properly. Don’t teach Xiao Zheng bad habits. What on earth were you two doing? Buying so many things,” Xu Zhenguo said, frustrated by his daughter’s careless posture. He had told her many times to improve it, but she never listened.

“Mom, didn’t you tell Dad and the others?” Xiaoling adjusted her position, relieved that her father’s frown had eased.

“Oh, I forgot,” Su Ying said, patting her head. After hanging up the phone at noon, she immediately went to take leave from work and then went shopping with her daughter, completely forgetting to inform the rest of the family.

“I think Mom is too excited. Grandpa, Dad, I have great news for you.” Xu Xiaoling said with a mysterious tone, no longer wanting to comment on her mother’s brainless actions today. “The Xu family will soon have four generations living together.”

Grandpa Xu was the first to react: “Four generations? Is there good news from your brother’s side?”

Xu Xiaoling took a sip of water poured by Aunt Zhao and then revealed, “Grandpa, you’re quicker than Dad to catch on.”

Xu Zhenguo glanced at his daughter: “You’re always involved. I was wondering why you bought so much stuff. So it’s all for Xu Zhao and the others.”

Su Ying smiled and said, “Xu Zhao called home at noon and said Suihan is pregnant—almost two months along. She wasn’t feeling well recently, and only after going to the hospital did they find out she’s pregnant.”

She had no complaints about her daughter-in-law. The kids had been married for just three months, and now she was already going to be a grandmother. She was more than satisfied.

Grandpa Xu’s eyes lit up with joy: “Two months along? That’s still early. The baby will be born next year, around June. Considering the time, they probably won’t come back for the New Year. You should check what we need at home and buy anything that’s missing from the department store. I have some money and tickets. I’ll give them to you later.”

Grandpa Xu was truly happy. At over seventy years old, he held traditional views, hoping for a thriving family. By June next year, he would be a great-grandfather, which made him excited. He couldn’t help but ask Aunt Zhao to bring out a bottle of wine given by an old friend for a little celebration.

Xu Zhenguo, smiling, said, “The brat finally did well this time.”

A few days ago, Commander He had boasted about his daughter-in-law adding a grandson to the family. Although He wasn’t very talkative, he was incessant and annoying when it came to his grandson, which made Xu Zhenguo’s ears ache.

Xu Zhenguo thought to himself that tomorrow, he would casually pass by Commander He’s office and mention that he would soon be a grandfather, so he could experience the “treatment” he had previously received.

Grandpa Xu thought a bit further: “Xu Zhao is busy with training and missions. At home, there’s just the daughter-in-law and her brother. Shouldn’t we send someone to help out?”

Xu Zhenguo replied, “Dad is right. Xiao Jiang is young and it’s her first pregnancy. There’s no elder to take care of her. How about we send Xiao Zhao over until the baby is born?”

Aunt Zhao, having put away the dishes and hearing her name mentioned, quickly responded, “I don’t mind, but there will be no one to look after the old man here.”

Xu Zhenguo and his wife were busy with work, and Aunt Zhao usually took care of Grandpa Xu. This wasn’t just two or three days away. It would take at least half a year for the child to be born, and she would have to find someone else to take care of Grandpa Xu’s food, clothing and daily life.

Grandpa Xu waved his hand: “My granddaughter-in-law needs more help. I’ll be fine here. Don’t worry about me.”

Xu Xiaoling finished a glass of water and said, “Stop arguing. My mother has already decided she’s going herself. She needs to see her precious grandson in person. Otherwise, she can’t rest easy or eat and sleep properly.”

Su Ying gave her second daughter a scolding: “You’re the only one who can talk so much. Xiao Zhao should stay at home. Dad needs someone here. I’ve already taken leave this afternoon. Tomorrow, get someone to buy me a train ticket to Li Province for the day after tomorrow. I’ll prepare everything in the next couple of days and take it with me then.”

Xu Zhenguo frowned. He wasn’t keen on letting his wife go, but she was right. His daughter-in-law really needed help, and Xiao Zhao had to take care of the old man and couldn’t leave. So, it was necessary for his wife to go.

Grandpa Xu made the final decision: “That’s settled then. You go and look after the young couple. The day after tomorrow, I’ll have Xiao Li take you to Li Province. You won’t be able to carry all these things alone.”

Xiao Li was Grandpa Xu’s aide. He had been with the Xu family for over three years, just over twenty years old. He was diligent and meticulous, so everyone felt more at ease with him accompanying them on the trip.

Once the decision on who would go was made, the family began discussing what to bring. Xu Xiaoling took out a pen and notebook, becoming a detached note-taker.

“Is everything okay at home?” Qin Jianming poured Xu Xiaoling a glass of water. The weather was a bit chilly in the evening, but she was sweating, so he turned around and got a towel to wipe her sweat.

“Everything’s fine. My brother called this afternoon and said my sister-in-law is pregnant. My mother, being her usual impatient self, dragged me around everywhere this afternoon – department stores, pharmacies, and overseas Chinese stores. We almost covered the whole capital. My legs are about to give out. Let me catch my breath for a moment.” Xu Xiaoling drank half the glass of water, having ridden the bicycle back quickly and nearly dying of thirst.

She lived a bit far, and the bike ride took about an hour. It was dark in the evening, and she didn’t dare go slowly. She sped up all the way, and when she got home, she was exhausted.

“It’s a good thing. A couple of years ago, Mom was worried sick about Xu Zhao’s marriage. Now, they’re going to have a grandchild next year. I remember your brother’s unit is stationed in the southwest. How does the family plan to handle it? Will they bring your sister-in-law back or find someone to go take care of her?”

Qin Jianming had a good impression of Xu Zhao, his brother-in-law. With a good family background and capability, Xu Zhao had recently been promoted to deputy regiment commander at a young age, demonstrating his competence.

Previously, his mother-in-law had asked him to look for a suitable girl around. He did have a female colleague of a similar age at his workplace, but he felt she wasn’t a good match for Xu Zhao – her appearance was average, and her personality was somewhat arrogant. So, he never brought it up.

Xu Xiaoling said, “Mom will take the train to Li Province the day after tomorrow. Xiao Li will accompany her to ensure she gets there safely and returns. I remember you have a friend at a subsidiary food company. Can you ask him if he can get some dried seafood? Money isn’t an issue.”

Qin Jianming replied, “Sure, I’ll ask him tomorrow. With so many people around, it might not be easy to get, but Jianhui just got back from a business trip to the south last week. Maybe he has a way.”

He had a friend in a transportation company who frequently went on trips. A team would often discuss bringing back some items from other places and selling them for a profit, which was a well-known practice among transportation company employees as long as it wasn’t excessive. No one would report it, as it was beneficial for everyone involved.

Qin Jianming suddenly said, “I didn’t expect Xu Zhao’s marriage to be so sudden. It seems like they just got married two or three months ago. Before, your mother was so worried about your brother’s marriage. Now, they’re going to have a child. It’s really quite a twist of fate.”

He had thought Xu Zhao might still be single for the New Year and that he would be tormented by his mother’s marriage pressure. Who knew things would take a turn, and his father-in-law’s matchmaking had actually worked out.

Xu Xiaoling couldn’t help but complain to her husband, “It’s not just you. Our whole family was stunned at the time. Mom was so angry she almost kicked Dad out of the house. Luckily, it turned out well. I’m quite curious about my sister-in-law. With my brother’s temperament, it’s hard for anyone to put up with him. I wonder what kind of girl managed to tame him.”

Jiang Suihan, who was not just an ordinary girl, was lying in bed. Having slept a lot in the afternoon, she wasn’t tired yet and wanted someone to talk to.

She nudged Xu Zhao next to her, “Are you asleep?”

Xu Zhao replied, “No.”

Jiang Suihan said, “Since you can’t sleep, why don’t we chat?”

Xu Zhao turned to face her, “About what?”

Jiang Suihan casually replied, “Anything. Just talk about something. When you heard this morning that I’m pregnant, weren’t you particularly excited?”

Xu Zhao replied vaguely, “It’s okay.”

He was soon going to be a father and had to maintain a mature and composed image in front of the baby and the baby’s mother.

Jiang Suihan glanced at him with a look of disbelief, “You’re lying. I saw it myself, you were stunned at that moment and ignored me for a long time.”

Xu Zhao remained silent, feeling frustrated inwardly. She had seen it, so why ask?

Jiang Suihan continued without waiting for a response, “At that time, I felt nauseous at the smell of fish and didn’t even think about being pregnant. Looking back, I’m really an inattentive mother.”

She was particularly relieved that nothing went wrong. If taking fever medicine had affected the baby, she would have felt guilty for life.

Xu Zhao touched her face, “It’s my fault for not taking better care of you.”

He felt quite guilty. She was sick and pregnant, and he was unable to be there to protect her, which made him feel very uneasy.

Jiang Suihan rubbed his palm and reassured him, “It’s not your fault. You’re a soldier, and you have more important things to do. Having everyone around is crucial for the family. We’re first-time parents, so we don’t have experience. We don’t know everything, but it’s okay. We can learn together, work hard together, and make small improvements every day. We’ll definitely be the best parents.”

She wasn’t mentally prepared to be a mother yet. She felt like she was still a child herself and was worried about making the transition into becoming a prospective mother. She feared she might not be able to properly raise her child and might even make mistakes that could harm the child.

She needed encouragement and someone to give her confidence, to tell her that she could be a good mother.

Xu Zhao’s hand, which was gently touching her face, paused for a moment, and he lightly nodded: “We will be the best parents.”

Even if not now, we definitely will be in the future.