I Became the Mother of His Child

Xu Xiuxiu's family had returned to City Z just a few days when people learned about the birth of her boy and girl twins, and quite a few came to pay a visit. After all, they knew quite a few people around City Z. Sister-in-law Cai Qiufen, due to staying close to the Sichuan Pavilion, brought over a basket of eggs and ten yuan as a gift quite early. Su Juan, Qi Hehua, and others, even if they didn't have time to visit, had also contributed money. Other people came by sporadically, even Yan Molin, who served in the military, made a special trip to see her, then stared at the twins with boundless envy.

"Xiuxiu, you are truly blessed, and you raise the kids really well. Look how adorable they both are!" Yan Moli reached out to play with the twins, looking at the two little ones dressed in bright-colored jackets, cradled in delicate red and blue baby bunting by Xu Xiuxiu, then stared at her without any stranger anxiety, their innocently cute appearance made Yan Molin, who had been married to Xu He Ping for several years with no baby news, feel both a pang of envy and a sense of urgency.

Therefore, ever since she heard about Xu Xiuxiu's situation from her husband Xu He Ping and learned that Xu Xiuxiu had given birth to boy and girl twins, her envy was indescribable.

"If you ask me, you and your husband should simply find some time to go to the hospital for a checkup. Hospital technology is continuously improving. If there are any minor issues, a checkup at the hospital can reveal them. While you're young, it's best to treat the right condition, right?" Xu Xiuxiu saw that Yan Moli genuinely liked children and knew she had been married to Xu He Ping for a few years, so she spoke up to comfort her.

In fact, people these days are quite averse to going to the hospital for checkups, often thinking it's shameful, and indeed, the inability for a woman to bear children is seen as unfortunate. But in Xu Xiuxiu's view, this was as normal as could be; not everyone is born with a strong body capable of childbirth, and who knows how many men and women will be unable to bear children normally in twenty or thirty years? A hospital visit would be good to figure out the exact issue and apply the right treatment. What's there to be so embarrassed about? Xu Xiuxiu really couldn't understand it.

"Xu He Ping will never agree to a hospital checkup." Yan Moli shook her head helplessly. She knew Xu He Ping too well. With his stubborn nature, how could he ever agree to go for a checkup? That would be like asking for his life. How could a soldier be humiliated like that? Going for a checkup would be an indirect admission that he was infertile, which to him would be an insult.

"You just ask him whether he wants children or not," said Xu Xiuxiu sternly. "Yan Moli, listen to my advice. Bearing children is not solely a woman's matter. There are plenty of cases where the issue lies with the man. Don't take it lightly!" Xu Xiuxiu spoke bluntly. Having interacted with Yan Moli a few times and gradually becoming familiar with her, she genuinely liked Yan Moli's character, so seeing her a bit disheartened, she spoke up to remind her.

"Mhm." Yan Moli knew. How could a cultured woman not know that blaming one person for childbearing issues was extremely foolish? But was Xu He Ping the kind of man who could be easily persuaded? Clearly not! Yan Moli fell silent, casting her eyes down in thought for a moment. She seemed to take in what Xu Xiuxiu had said, yet she also seemed not to.

Seeing her dispirited expression, Xu Xiuxiu didn't continue. Saying more might seem like showing off, especially since she had given birth to three children, and this time two at once—such a lucky thing! Moreover, matters between husband and wife should ultimately be resolved by the couple themselves; outsiders really can't be of much help. If Yan Moli truly wanted children, she would find a way to persuade Xu He Ping.

...

Xu Xiuxiu, during her confinement, had no shortage of visitors. And having given birth to boy and girl twins was itself a reason for joy. So, she thought that when the children were a month old, she would throw a lively full-month banquet, combining it with a housewarming celebration for her new home. It was sure to be bustling and festive.

Thinking and planning, Xu Xiuxiu suddenly realized that once the confinement was over, her days of leisure would soon end. She really should take advantage of the justified idleness of the confinement while she could, for after all, she was unlikely to enjoy such treatment again in her lifetime.

And so, in a mix of irritation and enjoyment, Xiuxiu's confinement finally ended. It had truly been a long, dark month.

As soon as her confinement was over, before doing anything else, the first thing Xiuxiu did was heat some water and take a thoroughly enjoyable bath. The comfort was indescribable—only women who have gone through confinement could understand. It was truly blissful!

On the day of the twins' full-month celebration and new home's housewarming, the new house was bustling with activity. Two tables were set up in the living room just to accommodate all the familiar faces.

Mrs. Song and Father Song had also wanted to come to City Z for the occasion. After all, moving into a new house was a momentous event in rural life. But Father Song was too old to endure a long train ride, and Mrs. Song, being uneducated, coming to City Z alone wasn't practical. After some discussion, they reluctantly dropped the idea of coming. Nevertheless, Mrs. Song had sent Xiuxiu a bunch of local dried goods and brightly colored clothes for the twins early on, including two pairs of silver bracelets adorned with jingling charms, thus fully expressing the elder couple's good intentions.

Mr. and Mrs. Xu also didn't fall behind in such matters. Apart from preparing two silk baby quilts for the children, they also made two pairs of anklets for the twins. It seemed that both families had a good understanding or must have consulted with each other beforehand—hence why there were exactly two pairs of bracelets and two pairs of anklets for the twins.

Zheng Guohui and Fu Guanglei, both close friends with Song Yuanhuan, arrived early and took a tour around the new house.

"Song Yuanhuan, you've really outdone yourself! This time I have to praise you—look at this new house you've got. It's in a good location and the decoration is exquisite. Your wife is virtuous and beautiful, she gave you a son and now a set of twins as well. I'm saying, it seems you've hoarded all the good luck. You're making us bachelors, me and Fu Guanglei, green with envy!" Song Yuanhuan's friends, Zheng Guohui and Fu Guanglei, had almost all come to the housewarming. As soon as these two big guys stepped into the new house, they started to offer their unsolicited opinions, and then began to thump Yuanhuan on the chest.

"Envy won't get you anywhere," Yuanhuan, proudly cradling his little daughter, wore a look of ostentation, "I'm saying you two should just find someone to settle down with. Not getting any younger and still single—are your parents really not worried?" Song Yuanhuan, as a successful man with both a son and a daughter, and thriving in both family and career, was unreservedly flaunting his achievements while giving a lesson to his two companions who had stood with him through thick and thin.