Chapter 99

Jiang Suihan felt a bit speechless. She and Xu Zhao hadn’t done anything wrong, but Jiang Weiyu was acting as if they were up to something scandalous.

“You go take a shower. I’ll go see if Chenchen is asleep.”

Chenchen was currently sleeping in the same bed as his parents, curled up under the covers. His little fists were raised above his head, and his face was rosy, likely dreaming about something delicious, as he smacked his lips in his sleep.

The more Jiang Suihan looked at her son, the cuter he seemed. She couldn’t help but lean down and kiss her little treasure. “You’re so well-behaved when you’re asleep. When will you grow up?”

It felt like children grew up in an instant. Now two years old, Chenchen’s little legs were strong enough to run and jump. The house could barely contain him; he always wanted to rush outside to play with his older siblings. The older kids didn’t want to play with the little one, complaining that he was slow and in the way.

Sometimes, when his aunt went to school to teach, Chenchen would throw a fit, wanting to tag along. He loved the excitement of being around more kids and would cry to join the older ones.

Once, Jiang Weiyu’s heart softened, and she brought him along. She taught first graders and arranged for him to sit in the classroom, instructing him to be good and not talk.

At first, he agreed, but after a few minutes, he couldn’t sit still. He started chatting with the other kids and sharing snacks, turning the class into a noisy market.

Just as she calmed one, another began to cry, giving Jiang Weiyu a headache. After that, no matter how much Chenchen pouted or threw a tantrum, she refused to take him to school again.

Because of this, the little guy ignored his aunt all night.

That evening, as they went to bed, Xu Zhao joked that their son took after his mother, having quite the temper. Jiang Suihan pinched his arm playfully and demanded he say that again, while Chenchen sat on the bed, clapping his hands, cheering for his mom. Xu Zhao chuckled, saying they were ganging up on him.

Wu Guihua came over with some eggplants. “The eggplants in the garden are growing fast, and we can’t finish them at home. I noticed you didn’t plant any, so I brought some for you.”

Their dinner table was filled with eggplant dishes daily. Jiang Suihan prepared stir-fried eggplant, braised eggplant, fish-flavored eggplant, and eggplant with potato slices. Each time Xiao Jun saw another eggplant dish, he would complain, saying that if this continued, he would turn into an eggplant himself.

Jiang Suihan wasn’t fond of seedy vegetables. They had a strange texture. However, out of goodwill, she accepted Wu Guihua’s offer with a smile and asked her for simple recipes, hoping to learn a few.

Wu Guihua said, “This is easy. Eggplant needs a lot of oil. Otherwise, it won’t taste good. Start by frying it slowly on low heat until it’s cooked through, then set it aside. Next, sauté some garlic, ginger, and scallions, add minced meat, and stir until it changes color. Then, mix in the pre-cooked eggplant, along with soy sauce, salt, and sugar. Pour in half a bowl of water and simmer for a minute or two until the sauce thickens. My husband, Old Zhao, says he can eat four bowls of rice with this dish.”

Jiang Suihan said, “That doesn’t sound too difficult. Xu Zhao bought some pork this morning, and we have sugar at home. I’ll give it a try tonight.”

She was only attempting it, unsure if it would taste good. After three years of marriage, her cooking had improved a bit, but only just.

Wu Guihua glanced at Jiang Suihan’s belly. “You must be close to giving birth, right? Have you been to the hospital to check if it’s twins?”

Jiang Suihan shook her head, smiling. “I went to the hospital already. The doctor confirmed it’s just one baby. My belly is about the same as when I was pregnant with Chenchen, and my due date is next month.”

Wu Guihua cautioned, “Take it easy during this time and eat less. If the baby gets too big, it won’t be good. Has Xu Zhao said if he wants a boy or a girl this time?”

Jiang Suihan smiled slightly. “Actually, we’d be happy with either. A boy would be nice, a girl would be too. They’re both our children. Chenchen says he wants a brother so he can take him out to play.”

As her pregnancy progressed, grocery shopping usually fell to Xu Zhao and Jiang Weiyu, whoever was free on a given day. Ever since Jiang Suihan became pregnant, the quality of their meals had improved dramatically. Chenchen was probably eating better than she was, with plenty of meat and eggs every day, plus fruit for dessert. However, she was worried about gaining too much weight, so she had been controlling her portion sizes and eating smaller meals more frequently.

Chenchen was the only child in the family, getting all the treats, the love of his parents—everything was just for him.

Jiang Suihan worried that when the new sibling arrived, Chenchen might feel neglected, so she had told him early on that he would be a big brother and that he’d be responsible for his new sibling.

The little guy was quite responsible. Every morning, he would wake up and greet his mother’s belly, babbling sweetly to his brother or sister. Sometimes, when the baby moved around a lot, Chenchen would notice and scold his sibling to be quiet and not move so much.

At just two years old, with his chubby cheeks, he struggled to pronounce words clearly, but he would earnestly lecture her belly, making Jiang Suihan’s heart swell with affection. She couldn’t help but feel proud; her child was just so clever and adorable.

Wu Guihua thought to herself that, indeed, being born into the Xu family meant the child was already quite lucky. Good fortune was surely ahead.

“By the way, did you hear? Chen Xiaohong is pregnant!” Wu Guihua exclaimed.

Jiang Suihan was surprised. “She’s pregnant!? If I remember correctly, this is her fourth child, right? Isn’t that too much?”

Even pigs didn’t give birth this often!

Chen Xiaohong already had three daughters. Her oldest was just nine, now in second grade, followed by a seven-year-old and a five-year-old. All three girls were quite capable. The eldest even helped with laundry and cooking, often foraging for wild vegetables and mushrooms after school.

With an indifferent father and a mother who didn’t care, the girls wore tattered clothes and were thin and dark. Some people in the compound couldn’t stand it and advised Chen Xiaohong to treat her daughters better. But she thought they were meddling in her business, believing she could raise her daughters however she saw fit. As long as they had food, clothing, and shelter, it was fine for them to help out at home.

Occasionally, when Jiang Suihan saw the three sisters, her heart would ache. She would give them some snacks, and the eldest would thank her politely with her sisters in tow. They were such good kids, yet burdened with such irresponsible parents.

Wu Guihua added, “She has three daughters and dreams of having a son. I heard that when she gave birth to her youngest, she was in labor all night, and since then, her health hasn’t been great. That’s why there hasn’t been any news from her for years, and now she’s pregnant again. She kept it a secret for three months before telling anyone.”

“She’s so full of herself. Who hasn’t been pregnant? What’s so special about her?” 

Before her belly even showed, Chen Xiaohong was already bragging about how well her husband treated her. “Yesterday, I had chicken soup, today I’m having fish soup, and tomorrow it’ll be pork rib soup!”

At first, out of politeness, people would nod along, but after hearing it too often, they would turn away to avoid her relentless chatter.

Now, she barely cooks or washes clothes. Her three daughters were running around doing all the chores. The plan was for the eldest to drop out of school halfway through the year to take care of the baby. To Chen Xiaohong, her daughters were expendable, while a son was a treasure.

Jiang Suihan couldn’t help but frown. “Xiaolan is only in second grade. What can such a young child do? It would be better to have her mother-in-law come over to help for a while. After all, her mother-in-law has more experience than a child.”

It was hard to understand why Chen Xiaohong would expect a nine-year-old to handle postpartum care and look after a baby. It just didn’t make sense.

Wu Guihua said, “Her sister-in-law had a boy last year, but her mother-in-law has to stay back in her hometown to help, so she can’t come. By the time Xiaolan is ten, she’ll be considered a big kid, and in the countryside, children that age can be quite helpful. Since Chen Xiaohong can’t find anyone to help her, she has no choice but to keep Xiaolan from going to school.”

Wu Guihua thought Chen Xiaohong was being foolish. It wasn’t like they lived in the countryside, where everyone had to work the fields every day. It was beneficial for children to learn a few words. She didn’t believe the notion that education was useless for girls. If that were true, why did factories in the city look for middle school and high school graduates?

Anyway, her daughter Xixi would definitely go to school. If the child were as clever as Jiang Suihan, she would do everything possible to ensure her education. It would be a waste of talent not to pursue a good education; a solid degree could lead to a good job and a good husband in the future.

Jiang Suihan sighed. “Xiaolan is really a pitiful child.”

Wu Guihua glanced at Jiang Suihan. “Your face is so rosy and fair. It looks like Deputy Commander Xu is taking great care of you.”

Jiang Suihan replied, “Oh, Sister-in-law, you flatter me! The baby inside is much more cooperative than when I was pregnant with Chenchen; it doesn’t cause me much trouble. I’m eating well and sleeping well, so naturally, I look better.”

During her first three months with Chenchen, she couldn’t keep anything down—everything made her nauseous. She couldn’t stand even the smell of meat or fish. Those months left her looking pale, and Xu Zhao was worried too. Thankfully, once the morning sickness passed, she could eat normally. Otherwise, she would have suffered even more.

She had a feeling this time it would be a girl. Xu Zhao also wanted a sweet, soft little girl. When he asked Chenchen whether he wanted a sister or a brother, the little guy blinked his big eyes and said he wanted both. Jiang Suihan found this both amusing and exasperating, telling him they could only have one, but Chenchen stubbornly insisted on both—a brother and a sister, not one less.

“Mommy!”

The sound of little feet pattered closer, and Chenchen came running with his short legs. Although winter was over, the weather was still a bit chilly, and the little guy was bundled up like a rice dumpling, making his run a bit unsteady.

Sure enough, his left foot tripped over his right, and with a thud, he made a close acquaintance with the ground.

He was well-padded, so it didn’t seem like it hurt.

Jiang Suihan instinctively wanted to get up but then sat back down, encouraging her child, “Can you get up?”

Chenchen pouted, lying on the ground and looking up at his mother. “Mommy, pick me up!”

Jiang Suihan, wanting him to get up by himself, refused. “Mommy’s legs are numb. I can’t get up. Can you try to get up on your own?”

Chenchen was determined to be held and wouldn’t budge from the ground. “Pick me up!”

Xu Zhao walked in carrying a fish. Upon seeing his son’s bright eyes staring up at him, he asked, “What happened?”

Were the mother and son having a spat?

Jiang Suihan sighed. “He tripped while running too fast and fell down. I told him to get up, but he insisted I pick him up.”

Xu Zhao easily lifted their son with one hand. Chenchen found it amusing and wrapped his arms around his father’s arm tightly, as if they were swinging—this was a game his dad often played with him, and he loved it.

Chenchen pointed at his mother. “Mean!”

Mommy won’t pick me up, so Daddy, you have to tell her!

Xu Zhao understood the look on his son’s face. “Real men get back up where they fall. Mommy has a little baby in her belly and can’t pick you up.”

Jiang Suihan smiled smugly at the little one. “Your dad and I are the best in the world. You’re just an accident.”

Chenchen turned and buried his face into his father’s embrace, ignoring his mother.

“Where did you get the fish?” Jiang Suihan asked.

Chenchen reached out to touch the fish, but Xu Zhao quickly pulled it away. “Don’t get your hands dirty.”

The little boy huffed in frustration. If an adult had acted like that, it would have seemed rude, but it was quite endearing coming from a two-year-old.

Xu Zhao said, “Chenchen loves fish. I’ll make him some braised fish later.”

Chenchen happily wrapped his arms around his father’s neck, leaving a drooly mark on his face. “Daddy!”

Xu Zhao felt warmth in his heart and patted his son’s fuzzy head.

Time passed unnoticed, flowing like water.

When Chenchen woke up and didn’t see his mother, he threw a tantrum. His uncle tried to soothe him for a long time, offering milk and soft, fluffy steamed eggs, and playing with toys, but all he wanted was his mommy. He cried until his voice was hoarse.

“My little ancestor, I give up! Let’s go find your mommy now, okay?”

Chenchen’s tears stopped instantly as he pointed to the door. “Go!”

Jiang Leyun carried his little nephew toward the hospital, asking a nurse for directions and making their way to the second floor.

The little guy had sharp eyes and called out with his baby voice, “Daddy!”

While his wife was inside giving birth, Xu Zhao was anxious and restless, pacing around the hospital corridor as if wearing a path on the concrete floor.

Hearing the little voice, he initially thought he was imagining things. “How did you bring him here?”

Chenchen reached out for his father to pick him up, his eyes darting to his uncle. “Mean!”

Uncle didn’t let me see Mommy—he’s a bad guy!

Jiang Leyun protested, “Hey, you little troublemaker! I’ve been working hard to wash your face, feed you, and play with you. If you don’t appreciate it, that’s fine, but don’t go telling tales!”

Finally, they brought the rambunctious child out. When he behaved, he was like a little angel, melting hearts, but when he was restless, he turned into a whirlwind of energy, never stopping.

In his father’s arms, the child found comfort and ignored his uncle. “Mommy.”

Xu Zhao gently coaxed, “Mommy is busy and hasn’t come back yet. Are you hungry?”

Jiang Leyun added, “After waking up, he drank a bottle of milk and had a bowl of steamed eggs, so he shouldn’t be too hungry. I brought a pack of biscuits and a bottle of water. If he gets hungry, he can have some.”

Xu Zhao asked Jiang Leyun to open the package and handed a biscuit to Chenchen. The little boy had no resistance to food, and after eating half a biscuit, Xu Zhao poured a capful of warm water, which Chenchen drank from his father’s hand.

“Do you want more biscuits?”

Chenchen shook his head. He wasn’t really hungry—after eating half a biscuit and drinking some water, his little tummy was satisfied.

Xu Zhao adjusted his hold on the little guy, resting his head on his shoulder. “If you’re sleepy, go ahead and sleep. Daddy’s got you. When you wake up, Mommy will be back.”

Chenchen believed his dad completely. His little head bobbed up and down, and soon he fell asleep.

When the little guy woke up again, there was a new member in the family. He tiptoed to look at the bed and saw a wrinkly, red little baby, whose eyes were still closed.

At two and a half years old, he knew about beauty and ugliness and made a face. “So ugly!”

Jiang Suihan couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. “He’s not ugly. You looked just like that when you were born.”

She and Xu Zhao both thought that the second child would be a girl, and prepared clothes with mostly small florals and bright colors. However, they found out it was a little boy after the baby was born, and their dream of having a little princess would have to wait until the next life.

Chenchen wrinkled her nose and reached out to touch her ugly brother’s face. She touched it very lightly and immediately pulled it away. It was soft and tender: “Tofu.”

Yesterday, Sister Wu brought over a block of soft tofu. Jiang Weiyu chopped some pork to make minced meat tofu. Considering there were children and a pregnant woman in the house, he didn’t dare add chili, keeping the flavor light. Surprisingly, even a day later, the little one still remembered it.

Chenchen hadn’t seen his mom for nearly a day and was eager to be close to her. Puffing and panting, he dragged over a small stool and climbed up onto it, trying to reach the bed, his face turning red from the effort.

Once he was beside his mother, Chenchen felt much safer. He held her hand, puffing out his cheeks and blowing air. “Not hurt.”

Jiang Suihan paused, realizing that the hormonal changes from pregnancy were making her overly emotional. Her eyes moistened as she stroked her son’s fuzzy head. “Mommy isn’t hurt. Who told you that Mommy is hurt?”

Chenchen rubbed his little head against her palm, thought for a moment, and then shook his head.

Jiang Suihan guessed it might have been a casual comment from family that he overheard, and suddenly, all the hardships she endured while pregnant with Chenchen felt worth it.

“My precious big boy, Mommy loves you!”

Chenchen beamed. “Love you!”

Sitting up, he planted a kiss on his mother’s cheek, then tilted his head as if that wasn’t enough and leaned over to kiss her on the other cheek.

Xu Zhao walked in with a bowl of chicken soup just as the mother and son were being affectionate. He chuckled quietly at how no one noticed him enter, placing the soup on the nearby table.

“The soup is still a bit hot. Let it cool for a while.”

He went over to help Jiang Suihan sit up, propping her up with a pillow. Seeing her pale face and bloodless lips, he touched her hand. “Why are your hands so cold? I’ll bring you another blanket in a bit.”

Jiang Suihan squeezed his hand back, smiling as she shook her head. “I’m not cold. The chicken soup will warm me up.”

As Xu Zhao lifted the bowl and got a spoon ready to feed her, a baby’s cry broke the tender moment.

Jiang Suihan took the bowl from him. “Must be a diaper change.”

Xu Zhao picked up the little baby, checking under him to find a wet diaper. He found a clean cloth and changed him, then went to prepare some milk. With food, the little one stopped crying.

Chenchen, however, was uninterested in his baby brother, leaning against his mother and watching the bowl in her hand.

Noticing her son’s eyes on the soup, Jiang Suihan offered him a spoonful. Xu Zhao had simmered the soup for two hours, skimming off the fat and adding only a little salt for flavor.

Chenchen took a sip, finding it tasteless, turned his head, and refused to eat.

After a month, the baby shed his red skin, transforming day by day into a plump little dumpling. Chenchen no longer found his brother ugly. The first thing he did upon waking was rush to see him.

After enjoying a relaxing hot bath, Jiang Suihan felt much lighter. “Have you thought of a name for the baby?”

Xu Zhao dried her hair with a clean towel. “It’s a name from Grandpa: Xu Xi.”

Jiang Suihan read it aloud. “Xu Xi? Sounds good, it sounds like a brother to Chenchen.”

Seeing she had no objections, Xu Zhao asked, “Should we give him a nickname?”

After some thought, Jiang Suihan said, “Sister Wu’s little girl is named Xixi, which is a bit too similar. Let Chenchen decide.”

At dinner, Jiang Suihan told Chenchen to choose a nickname for his brother. Excited, he looked at the pot of yellow soybeans and pig trotters and raised his hand. “Dou Dou!”

Jiang Leyun nearly spat out her food. “Now that’s a name with flavor!”

Not wanting to dampen her son’s enthusiasm, Jiang Suihan thought “Dou Dou” was catchy, far better than names like Tie Dan or Gou Dan. She happily accepted it.

With his mother’s praise, Chenchen beamed even more, eating faster, eager to share the news with his brother.

Xu Zhao asked, “Why are you here, Dahe?”

Wang Dahe seemed a bit flustered. “I, I…”

Jiang Weiyu stood up and walked over to him. “I called him over.”

Wang Dahe stole a glance at Jiang Weiyu, and the sudden appearance of a strong young man made everyone around chuckle.

Seeing the two of them, Jiang Suihan suddenly understood. She lightly tapped her fingers together. “So you two have broken the ice?”

Jiang Weiyu and Wang Dahe’s faces flushed instantly, and they shot Jiang Suihan a shy look. “Sister!”

Jiang Suihan seized the moment to let the young people go outside for a stroll. She sat back down, propping her chin on her hand, sighing softly.

Xu Zhao asked, “What’s with the sigh?”

Jiang Suihan couldn’t help but reflect, “I remember when Xiaoyu first came here at just sixteen, a frail little girl. Now look at her, all grown up. Time waits for no one. I’m getting old.”

Xu Zhao glanced at her. During her recovery, the family had taken good care of her, and she had even gained a bit of weight. Her face was rosy, her skin fair, and her eyes bright, looking no different from a young girl.

“Don’t say things like that outside in the future.”

“Why not?”

“I’m afraid someone might hit you.”

Jiang Suihan pretended not to understand, blinking at him.

Xu Zhao replied, “You’re beautiful.”

Jiang Suihan stared at him. “Have you eaten too much candy today? Your words are so sweet.”

Xu Zhao met her gaze and chuckled, “Want to try some?”

After a moment of silence.

Jiang Suihan lightly bit her lip. It was indeed quite sweet.

When Chenchen was in the second grade, Xu Zhao received an assignment to the capital military district. They initially had time to pack leisurely, but then Grandpa Xu suddenly fell seriously ill, forcing the family to rush to the capital, planning to send their luggage later.

Xu Zhenguo, who had lost most of his hair, came to the station to meet them after retiring from the army last year.

Xu Zhao greeted him, “Dad.”

Xu Zhenguo patted his son’s shoulder and said, “I’m glad you’re back.”

Chenchen is a chatterbox. He squeezed to the front with a smile and said, “Grandpa, I’m here too!”

Xu Zhenguo scooped up his eldest grandson. “You’ve grown so big, Grandpa can hardly lift you anymore!”

Chenchen, being considerate, climbed down from his grandfather’s arms and took his hand. “Let’s go home!”

Noticing his mom standing in a daze, he called out anxiously, “Mommy, hurry up!”

Jiang Suihan slowly smiled. “Coming!”

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Ayalee: Thank you all for your continued support. I truly appreciate each and every one of you. I wish you good health and happiness, and remember—don’t let stress take over. It only brings harm. Take care and stay well! See you guys on my other translation project. ୧(-′º◡º‵)(′º◡º‵-)୨

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