I Became the Mother of His Child

"All right, no worries. Giving birth is a big deal around here; what's a little trouble? Yuanhuan, hurry up and grab a couple of quilts from inside for your wife to pad with, to prevent her from getting bumped on the way." Song Jiabao, who was well into his forties and always polite and hearty, readily agreed when he learned that Song Yuanhuan was planning to take someone to the county hospital. Having taken pregnant women to the hospital a few times, he had some experience and offered a helpful suggestion to Song Yuanhuan.

Upon receiving the reminder from Song Jiabao, Song Yuanhuan immediately nodded, went straight into the house, and came back in no time with two quilts in his arms. He didn't care if the tricycle was dirty or not; he just spread the quilts out directly.

Since the start of her contractions, Xu Xiuxiu dared not move her body. She tightly clutched the bars of the small tricycle with both hands, dripping with cold sweat and occasionally taking a deep breath. Seeing Song Yuanhuan lay out the quilts neatly and quickly, she gently moved onto the quilts with Yuanhuan's cautious assistance.

Mrs. Song saw her son move deftly without hesitation and lent a hand before turning to rush into the house. She went to the kitchen to pack up the simmering ginseng chicken soup.

Luckily, she had thought that since she had not gone to Z City to care for her daughter-in-law, she had made some ginseng chicken soup to nourish Xu Xiuxiu. Now that Xiuxiu was in labor, the soup could fill her stomach and boost her energy. With that in mind, Mrs. Song also sat in the tricycle, planning to accompany her to the county hospital.

"Mom, you don't need to go! It's freezing out there tonight," Song Yuanhuan said, looking at Mrs. Song as she sat in the vehicle.

"Nonsense! When has a mother-in-law ever not accompanied her daughter-in-law during childbirth?" Mrs. Song gave Yuanhuan a look, "Brother Jiabao, let's get moving!" Mrs. Song turned and called out to Song Jiabao in front.

"Alright! Everyone hold on tight!" Song Jiabao responded, grabbing a stout car key and inserting it into the tricycle ignition, turning it forcefully back and forth a few times.

Rumble rumble! The tricycle started successfully and zoomed towards the county.

"Xiuxiu! Don't be scared! This isn't your first child; you've already had Song Cheng, so you know childbirth can be quick. Just bear with it, and once we're at the hospital, you can drink some ginseng chicken soup. You'll have the strength, and after a little pain, the baby will be born," Mrs. Song set the chicken soup aside, cupped Xiuxiu's hand, and patted it reassuringly.

She was going to have another grandchild! Truly, it was a happy occasion!

"Mhm!" Xu Xiuxiu nodded weakly and took a few deep breaths. As the pain in her belly grew worse, her complexion turned even paler.

Song Yuanhuan held onto Xu Xiuxiu tightly. Normally, riding the tricycle in winter was enough to freeze someone solid, but at that moment, he was breaking out in a cold sweat, "Wife, don't be afraid! We'll be at the county hospital as soon as we make this turn. You and the baby will be just fine," Song Yuanhuan reassured Xu Xiuxiu, as though he was also consoling himself.

Although the person experiencing the labor pains was Xu Xiuxiu, Song Yuanhuan nevertheless gave her an illusion that he had taken all her pain upon himself. Taking deep breaths, Xu Xiuxiu managed a smile, "Mhm! Song Yuanhuan, have you thought of a name for the baby?" Xu Xiuxiu shifted her focus and asked Song Yuanhuan.

"I've decided!" Song Yuanhuan immediately nodded in response, "If we have a daughter, her name will be Song Chenxi, with 'Chen' from the generation name Chen Guang, and 'Xi' meaning cherish, Song Chenxi, and her nickname will be Song Baobei, how about that?" Song Yuanhuan answered solicitously, his normally tough demeanor warming into a sunny brightness at the mention of a daughter, "But if it's a boy, his name will be Song Chenxi, with 'Xi' taken from the word hope." Unconsciously, a soft smile played at the corner of Song Yuanhuan's mouth when he spoke about a daughter, but his tone became much sterner when mentioning a son. The difference in treatment couldn't be more apparent.

Xu Xiuxiu effortlessly picked up on his preference for girls over boys, "Why didn't you come up with a nickname for the boy?" Gasping through the pain in her abdomen, Xu Xiuxiu grimaced and interrogated Song Yuanhuan.

"I... I forgot," he would never admit that the boy's name was merely an afterthought while he was considering names for a girl, holding the unlucky expectation that he might actually have a son; after coming up with a boy's name, why would he think of a nickname for the boy? What need is there for a nickname, when boys are tough and rough-skinned! Song Yuanhuan brooded angrily.

"..." Xu Xiuxiu rolled her eyes speechlessly, her labor pains growing increasingly unbearable, "But for two babies, one name isn't enough!" Xu Xiuxiu took deep breaths as darkness encroached her vision, the pain unbearable.

"What do you mean, not enough? Two babies? You're carrying two babies?" Song Yuanhuan, who hadn't been paying attention during Xu Xiuxiu's prenatal checkups, asked with furrowed brows, his face a mask of confusion and shock.

Looking at Song Yuanhuan's expression, Xu Xiuxiu was at a loss for words, "Didn't you know there are two in here?" she yelled, scrunching her face in pain. It turned out this man had always believed she was pregnant with just one child.

"Ah! Really, two?" Song Yuanhuan was struck dumb, as if thunderstruck.

He really had no idea that his wife was carrying twin treasures! He thought it was just one, calculating the approximate due date, which is why he brought his wife back home. If he knew there were twin treasures in her belly, surely they would be early, and he wouldn't have dared to bring his wife back home!

"Oh my God! Xiuxiu, are you carrying twins?" Compared to Song Yuanhuan's stunned silence, Mrs. Song was significantly more composed. Upon hearing Xu Xiuxiu mention two children, her thought of gaining one more grandchild instantly doubled into two, and she felt as if she had hit the jackpot!

"Hmm!" Xu Xiuxiu clenched her teeth and braced through the pain, suddenly feeling a warm wetness in her lower body.

Could this be her water breaking?

"You child, not even knowing how many your wife is carrying, how are you supposed to be a father and husband," Mrs. Song chided humorously, then she brightened up, looking at her capable and blessed daughter-in-law.

"Xiuxiu, breathe deeply! It's okay, two children are better. Later, I'll have your father-in-law look through the family records to pick out the best names for the children," Mrs. Song soothed Xu Xiuxiu excitedly.

"Hmm!" Xu Xiuxiu responded with difficulty, feeling the wetness in her lower half increasing as sweat soaked her entire body.

Fortunately, the tricycle was reliable, laboring along until they reached the county hospital. Song Yuanhuan frantically jumped off, then carried his wife into the hospital, while Mrs. Song, carrying the chicken soup, followed behind, praying fervently in her heart, "Amitabha, may the Lord Buddha bless us!"