I Became the Mother of His Child

"Yuanhuan, won't you talk to Xiuxiu? If she doesn't take proper care of herself postpartum, it might leave lingering health issues. Money is important, but it's not worth compromising her health. Moreover, taking such a long journey with boy and girl twins who are still so little is really not suitable!" Mrs. Song, concerned, discussed the matter with Song Yuanhuan. By now, Mrs. Song actually knew quite well Xiuxiu's temperament; once her daughter-in-law decided on something, her son found it hard to listen to his mother's comforting words.

As an elder, although she knew her words and actions might annoy the younger generation, she couldn't skimp on necessary advice—it was a matter of principle.

"Mom, Xiuxiu knows what she's doing," Song Yuanhuan defended.

"Ah, you just indulge her willfulness!" Mrs. Song sighed, then used the excuse that there were still some dishes left in the kitchen stove that hadn't been served, wiped her hands on her apron, and stood up to walk to the kitchen.

Father Song tended to be more open-minded about things, "Don't take your mom's words to heart. Be careful out there. You're the head of the family, with a wife and kids. Think carefully before making any decisions, and just make sure to take good care of our Little Moon, Little Baby, and little Chen Guang." Father Song, now satisfied with having grandkids, only worried that Song Yuanhuan, the unsophisticated father that he was, might not look after his grandson well; beyond that, he didn't worry much about other things. As he finished speaking, he glanced at Song Chengguang sitting beside him and added his eldest grandson's name with satisfaction.

"Got it, Dad," Song Yuanhuan nodded in response.

Speaking of who was the happiest about Xu Xiuxiu and Song Yuanhuan returning to Z city, apart from the little fellow Song Chengguang, it had to be Wang Qinghua. Additionally, since Song Yuanhuan originally didn't plan to bring Xu Xiuxiu and had bought several old hens in preparation, now that Xu Xiuxiu was going back to Z city with Song Yuanhuan, they certainly wouldn't be bringing the chickens for such a long journey with kids and luggage. This was definitely to Wang Qinghua's advantage, wasn't it?

Thinking this, Wang Qinghua had initially wanted to nag at Xu Xiuxiu at the dining table but suppressed any pretentious remarks.

...

The train back to Z city was in the morning, and they got up at dawn the next day. Song Yuanhuan was originally supposed to return to Z city alone, but when they actually boarded the train to return, not only was Xu Xiuxiu and three children with him, but also his sister-in-law, Xu Jingjing.

Xu Xiuxiu had to inform her family about going back to Z city, so when Xu Jingjing heard, she packed her luggage and expressed her unwillingness to stay in her hometown, saying she wanted to go to Z city with her elder sister to help out or even cause some trouble. Either way, the sister-in-law didn't plan to stay in that sorrowful place.

Xu Xiuxiu naturally had no objections to Xu Jingjing accompanying her to Z city and readily agreed, so there was an additional Xu Jingjing going to Z city.

"Yuanhuan, why don't you let Si Ya hold Little Moon? Although she's also inexperienced, she's still better than you, a big man." Xu Jingjing's condition wasn't great, but women are naturally more skilled at childcare than men, and holding a child was not a difficult task for Xu Jingjing.

Besides, Song Yuanhuan, being a big man, although very cautious in holding the child, appeared somewhat awkward in his protective posture due to the crowded train. Xu Xiuxiu couldn't bear to watch any longer. Seeing that everyone had already taken their seats, she wanted to rescue Little Moon and Yuanhuan's stiff arms from him, the expression on his face growing increasingly grim, the solemnity of his childcare efforts peculiarly heroic.

"Brother-in-law, hand Little Moon to me," Xu Jingjing, having settled Song Chengguang, then carefully reached out to take the child from Song Yuanhuan's arms.

Song Yuanhuan did not refuse Xu Jingjing's kindness and easily handed over the soft Little Moon, then quietly exhaled a breath of relief.

Xu Jingjing smiled softly and looked at the little Moon in her arms, "I'm holding Little Moon, sis, are you holding Little Baby?"

"Mhm," Xu Xiuxiu nodded.

"Little Moon is getting whiter and softer, but uglier too, really ugly, so ugly, especially ugly, right, Little Moon?" Xu Jingjing said to the sleeping Little Moon, but her praise made Xu Xiuxiu quite helpless.

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

Every "ugly" word that Xu Jingjing said was like stabbing Xu Xiuxiu in the chest. Xu Xiuxiu felt her smiling face slightly freeze, really unable to adapt to the local custom her sister was following. To compliment a child's appearance yet call them ugly was something she couldn't quite get used to, "Jingjing, maybe you should stop complimenting the kids."

"Eh, alright then!" Xu Jingjing paused and nodded in agreement.

Song Yuanhuan noticed Xu Xiuxiu's somewhat forced expression, and he guessed she was irritated by Xu Jingjing's repetitive use of the word "ugly," so he couldn't help but smile.

Everything on the train was okay, and Xu Xiuxiu didn't feel too uncomfortable. She had traveled to and from Z city several times so the journey time on the train wasn't too unbearable for her. However, when the twins were hungry and cried incessantly, Xu Xiuxiu felt more embarrassed than ever.

In her past life, Xu Xiuxiu had occasionally seen mothers breastfeeding their children in public spaces, and she never thought much of it. After all, a child's hunger comes first, right? But although she understood this, if it were up to her, she wouldn't dare—and now, on a train surrounded by so many people, Xu Xiuxiu didn't have the courage to breastfeed directly.

"Yuanhuan…" Xu Xiuxiu looked at Song Yuanhuan, embarrassed and troubled.

"I'll go get some hot water for making formula," Song Yuanhuan knew Xu Xiuxiu was shy, and he hadn't planned for her to breastfeed in such a public setting. It was his special privilege, and he wasn't about to let others benefit from it, so he gave Xu Xiuxiu a reassuring look and stood up to find the formula and bottles to prepare the milk.

Nowadays, hot water services were provided for free on trains, but there were so many people queuing up. It was going to be a while until it was Song Yuanhuan's turn.

Xu Xiuxiu and Sister Jingjing held the boy and girl twins, but no amount of soothing could calm the two children, possibly due to extreme hunger or the noisy surroundings. As they both had telepathy, when one cried, the other immediately followed without any pause.

Seeing the twins cry made Xu Xiuxiu's heart shatter like dumpling filling.

"Jingjing, you sit and keep an eye on Little Moon and Chen Guang. I'll go to the restroom and try breastfeeding Little Baby," Little Baby was more delicate than Little Moon to begin with. Little Moon's cries were strong and loud, while Little Baby's were much weaker, making Xu Xiuxiu hold her and soothe her with even more reluctance.

"Okay, be careful!" Xu Jingjing nodded and gave a word of caution.