Chapter 89 2/2

When there are too many children, their value diminishes. The father’s love becomes diluted.

Especially when the father doesn’t love the mother who ran away with another man, this kind of aversion likely creates a rift between father and son.

Ah, it’s infuriating.

Yan Lei actually doesn’t love Yan Xiang anymore, or at least not exclusively.

Just the thought of Yan Lei possibly doting on younger sons and daughters, showering them with affection, giving them money to spend, buying them new clothes, feeding them delicious food and drinks, while Yan Xiang stands quietly in the corner, makes Qiao Wei explode with anger!

She’s been angry all the way home! When she sees Yan Lei at home, how can she possibly have a good expression!

“Ignore him! We’re ignoring him!” she says as she sits in the house, holding Yan Xiang.

Yan Xiang: “?”

Not quite understanding what’s going on with his mother.

“Don’t be angry, Mom.” Yan Xiang gently pats her chest to comfort her.

Though he doesn’t understand, it doesn’t stop the young boy from being gentle and considerate towards his mother.

Qiao Wei’s nose is tingling, tears are almost falling.

This is her son.

She remembers.

Carrying him for ten months, her belly was heavy, often tight and uncomfortable.

Even turning over in bed was difficult.

On the delivery bed, she cried out for her father and grandmother; childbirth was like facing death.

This is her child, she remembers this.

Qiao Wei knows rationally that she’s transmigrated, taking over the original Qiao Wei’s place.

But now, both mentally and physically, she’s truly Yan Xiang’s mother.

The thought of other children diluting the love Yan Xiang deserves, she can’t bear it.

Not even a bit!

“No more children! Mom won’t have any more children!”

At this moment, Qiao Wei makes a decision.

Yan Xiang is confused.

“Mom won’t have any more children, and you’ll always be Dad’s only son, his precious treasure!”

“Your dad shouldn’t even think about having other children!”

Yan Xiang thought for a moment, then cautiously asked, “So I don’t have any brothers or sisters?”

Aunt Yang had mentioned it to him many times, telling him to ask his parents to have more children so the family would be livelier. But Yan Xiang always felt that Junjun was too rowdy, and Wu Nier was too worrying; he was always concerned she might trip and fall. So, Yan Xiang never brought up the topic of having siblings with his parents.

“Yep! No brothers or sisters. We, Xiang Xiang, are Dad’s only child.”

“He must only love you.”

“Dad is Xiang Xiang’s only dad, and no one can take that away.”

Yan Xiang asked, “What about Mom?”

Qiao Wei said, “Mom is also only Mom to Xiang Xiang, and no one can take that away either.”

Yan Xiang became happy. “Good, no need for brothers or sisters.”

At this moment, Yan Lei called out to Yan Xiang from outside, “Xiang Xiang, Xiang Xiang — come out for a moment, Xiang Xiang —”

Yan Xiang looked at the window, then back at his mother.

“Go ahead,” Qiao Wei let him go.

Her emotions calmed down.

She could be angry with Yan Lei, but she couldn’t instill the idea that “Dad is not good” into Yan Xiang’s mind.

She had to let him love his dad too. Love is mutual. Only when Yan Lei feels Yan Xiang’s love for him will he love his son more.

Father and son must love each other until old age, until death.

Hmph.

Yan Lei squatted down and asked Yan Xiang softly, “What’s wrong with Mom? What were you two talking about inside?”

Yan Xiang said, “We were talking about having siblings.”

“Huh?” Yan Lei hadn’t expected this topic. He was surprised. “What did Mom say?”

“Mom said she won’t have any more children, that I’ll be the only child.”

Yan Lei rubbed his chin, pondered, and asked, “Did you meet someone outside?”

Sometimes, his comrades’ wives were quite gossipy, and they loved meddling in other people’s affairs. Sometimes, they would pester him.

Not to mention the wives, even Old Zhao had mentioned to him a few times to have more children; one child wasn’t safe. But when Yan Lei thought about Gangzi who struggled to recite texts and Huazi who lacked ideas, or Junzi who wiped his runny nose with his shirt directly…

Yan Lei deeply felt that quality mattered more than quantity when it came to having children.

There was intelligence in Yan Xiang’s eyes.

Several times, he saw Yan Xiang reading books, wondering if he could really understand them. His mother said, “I’m teaching him to read.”

Obviously, his son had inherited his mother’s ability to learn. He would definitely be a cultured person in the future!

Yan Lei was very confident; his one son could match ten sons of others.

Of course, it would be even better to have nine more sons like him. If there were a few more cute little girls like flowers or snow, that would be even better.

But unfortunately, Qiao Wei refused to have more children.

She was scared after giving birth to their first child.

Sigh.

Yan Lei patted Yan Xiang’s back. “Go play with Junjun at Uncle Zhao’s house.”

“Huh? But…”

Junjun was too noisy, and Yan Xiang didn’t like playing with him much.

“Go on, stay at Junjun’s house until eleven, then come back. Dad will reward you… um, with three candies.”

Yan Xiang’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Really. Don’t tell your mom.”

Otherwise, both of them would get scolded.

“I won’t!” Yan Xiang covered his mouth. “Then I’m going!”

He ran off quickly on his little legs.

Yan Lei stood up and went back into the house.

Although he didn’t know which gossipy sister-in-law had angered Qiao Wei, causing him to suffer this undeserved calamity, Yan Lei intended to use the method of “bed-end harmony” to calm her down.

It had been proven effective through practice.

Yan Xiang went to play with Junjun, but Junjun wasn’t home.

“They’ve all gone out for a bike ride,” Captain Zhao smiled and greeted Yan Xiang, “Come, Xiang Xiang, come. It’s rare for you to come and play with Junjun. Come and have some peanuts.”

They had just bought some fresh peanuts. Gangzi showed off by riding out, and his younger siblings followed him.

Captain Zhao enjoyed drinking and eating peanuts, undisturbed and very happy.

When Sister Yang, wiping her hands on her apron, saw Yan Xiang, she immediately smiled, “Xiang Xiang is here. Where’s your mom?”

She thought it was Qiao Wei who had come over, but there was no one else.

Yan Xiang said, “Mom is at home. Dad asked me to come over and play.”

Captain Zhao pulled him to sit on a stool by the small table and fed him peanuts, saying, “And where’s your dad?”

Yan Xiang swallowed the peanuts and said, “He’s at home talking to Mom.”

Captain Zhao fed him another peanut, “What are they talking about?”

He threw one into the air and caught it with his mouth.

“They’re talking about having siblings,” Yan Xiang chewed the peanuts, “Dad asked me to come home at eleven.”

Suddenly, a choking sound erupted from his windpipe.

The 821st Division, 15th Regiment Commander, Zhao Dongsheng, narrowly avoided a heroic death by a peanut.

Sister Yang’s laughter pierced the heavens.