I Became the Mother of His Child

Song Yuanhuan's military leave during the New Year was not long—just ten days, coinciding with the festive period. Although he wanted to use up all his saved leave at once, his superiors would not approve it, leaving Song Yuanhuan with no choice but to head back to Z City alone.

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, Song Yuanhuan hardly spent all day at home constantly accompanying Xu Xiuxiu. If there was something to be done in the Song Family home, Song Yuanhuan would actively lend a hand. In the afternoon, he went out and later returned home with seven or eight old hens and two fish, probably because he saw that his sister-in-law, Wang Qinghua, having recently gotten pregnant, had been drinking a lot of chicken soup. He feared that Xu Xiuxiu wasn't replenishing her body enough.

On the seventh day of the first lunar month, Song Yuanhuan started packing his luggage at home.

During these days at home, Xu Xiuxiu, pampered and doted on by Song Yuanhuan, had almost forgotten that Song Yuanhuan actually didn't have many leave days to spend with her. Earlier, when he came back home, Song Yuanhuan had mentioned to Xu Xiuxiu that he could only stay in his hometown for about ten days. He might even have to return to Z City before seeing Xu Xiuxiu give birth. Thankfully, the boy and girl twins had energetically arrived early.

Now, seeing the man already packing his luggage alone, Xu Xiuxiu, who would still reside at her hometown for about a month or half a month, suddenly felt a wave of sadness. She despondently sat on the edge of the wooden bed, her eyes slowly welling up with tears.

"What's wrong? Are you going to miss me?" Song Yuanhuan's personal belongings weren't many, and he quickly finished packing his clothes. Finally, seeing Xu Xiuxiu sitting silently aside, sulking, he approached with a smile and asked.

"Mr. Song, why don't I come back to Z City with you!" Having had a lackluster holiday season this year, Xu Xiuxiu thought, if Song Yuanhuan was to refuse her under the pretext of confinement, she had reasons to rebut. After thinking it over, Xu Xiuxiu decided she didn't want to stay in her hometown any longer; she might as well go back to Z City, where she could live in their new house.

"Stop joking." Song Yuanhuan regarded Xu Xiuxiu as just throwing a small tantrum. "You wait until the confinement is over, and when the twins are a little older, then go back to Z City. I'll go ahead to handle military duties and move into the new house. I'll wait for you to come before buying furniture and appliances." Song Yuanhuan had a high tolerance for Xu Xiuxiu's whims. He had considered her suggestion, and he couldn't bear to be apart from Xu Xiuxiu either, but the twins were too young. If they caught a cold while traveling, what would they do? This period after the New Year was about to welcome the coldest and dampest season of spring, and Song Yuanhuan couldn't bear to let his frail little daughter suffer midway on a train.

"I'm not joking." Xu Xiuxiu wrapped her arms around Song Yuanhuan's neck, cooing, "I really don't want to stay here any longer, I can't even relax during my confinement here." The holiday season severely stressed Xu Xiuxiu; she felt that coming home for the New Year was like going into battle, and indeed, her feelings weren't off—the year couldn't be more boisterous!

"Sigh!" Song Yuanhuan wanted to refuse, but he also had to admit, what Xu Xiuxiu said was indeed true.

Mrs. Song's house is a mess, and the Song Family isn't easy either! Everything else is okay, but the key issue is Wang Qinghua, Yuanhuan's sister-in-law, who is also restless. She recently caused some serious troubles, but now, she's pregnant, and acts as if she's holding the children as leverage over the nobility. For Xu Xiuxiu, maintaining her health in this family is indeed difficult.

Song Yuanhuan now truly cherished Xu Xiuxiu as a precious jewel, and the thought of not being able to see her for a long time, and not being able to personally watch his little girl grow up, filled him with regret! Thinking about it, Song Yuanhuan also began to hesitate, maybe he should take Xu Xiuxiu and the child back to City Z with him! If it becomes necessary, he could hire a nanny to look after Xu Xiuxiu for a month or two, that way he could see her every day, and at least be more at ease.

"Yuanhuan, just agree, please! I really don't want to stay here anymore, I'm begging you..." Xu Xiuxiu saw that Song Yuanhuan seemed touched and softened, and immediately lifted her hands to hang on Yuanhuan's neck, then pouted her red lips coquettishly.

For the sake of going back to City Z, Xu Xiuxiu was really putting herself out there.

What Song Yuanhuan couldn't resist the most was Xu Xiuxiu acting coy towards him; naturally, he compromised, "Okay! If you want to go back, let's go back! I'll pack the luggage." Song Yuanhuan inhaled deeply and agreed to Xu Xiuxiu's suggestion.

"You're so good." Xu Xiuxiu was delighted, wrapping her arms around Song Yuanhuan's neck, then brought her red lips to his cheek for a passionate kiss.

Song Yuanhuan's typically cold face immediately blushed, then he reached out to pull down Xu Xiuxiu's arms, holding her cheeks and covered her red lips for a while, and then when Xu Xiuxiu was short of breath, he started to organize various clothes and luggage for Xu Xiuxiu and the children.

During dinner, Song Yuanhuan brought up the matter of Xu Xiuxiu returning to City Z at the Song Family's dinner table. Mrs. Song was stunned, "Wasn't it agreed that Xiuxiu would complete her confinement period at home? Why suddenly leave so soon, did I do something insufficiently well?" Mrs. Song asked, then looked at Song Yuanhuan helplessly, questioning herself.

"No, Xiuxiu has a restaurant in City Z that definitely can't go long without management. I don't understand restaurant business, and she needs to take care of it herself, so naturally, she wouldn't stay at her hometown for too long. I was just thinking, since she has to rush back to City Z at any time and taking a train alone with three children would be too inconvenient, and if something were to happen on the way, I also have a lot of army duties to handle after the new year, and I cannot find a spare moment for a month or two. She can't stay still at home either, so I thought it'd be best to head back to City Z together, with me by her side, she would be more relaxed," Song Yuanhuan unusually explained to the Song family members, not hoping Mrs. Song to harbor any minor grievance towards Xu Xiuxiu's impulsiveness.

"But if she goes to City Z, who will take care of her? She can't touch water now..." Mrs. Song frowned, worried. Here in her hometown, although the conditions were also ordinary, as a mother-in-law, Xu Xiuxiu didn't let her touch her very private clothes, but she could help wash other big clothing items that got dirty. As for daily meals, she, as a mother-in-law, made sure everything was taken care of right in front of her. She might not dare boast about how well she served, but having assistance and having none were far different, Mrs. Song considered herself a good mother-in-law.

If Xu Xiuxiu went to City Z, she'd have to handle everything herself, and she would also have to take care of the two children and manage the restaurant. There was no way she could handle it all; money can't be earned indefinitely, she must put her health first.