I Became the Mother of His Child

"Brother Nan wants me to eat dinner at their house, but that auntie was unhappy and even yelled at Brother Nan loudly..." Song Chengguang couldn't understand the words of Shi Tao's mother, but he knew the voice was so loud and fierce, "She also glared at Chengguang." When Song Chengguang spoke, he felt aggrieved.

Song Chengguang was lively by nature; although he could be a bit mischievous at times, he was generally charming, and almost everyone in the family or among friends and relatives praised and doted on him. Guo Cuiping was definitely the only exception among these people, so it was not surprising that the little guy felt especially wronged and dejected.

But—

That crazy Guo Cuiping dared to glare at her Chengguang, and when Xu Xiuxiu heard this, she instantly felt a storm of anger with nowhere to vent it. Trying to control her emotions while on the brink of exploding, she was about to comfort her son's dispirited mood when she opened her mouth.

"Mom, does she think Chengguang eats too much, and that's why she was unhappy and scolded Brother Nan?" Song Chengguang said this with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

"Not at all," Xu Xiuxiu laughed.

"Then why did she yell at Brother Nan and glare at Chengguang? Is it because she is Brother Nan's stepmom? Xingxing also has a stepmom, and Xingxing says every stepmom is bad, that they abuse kids, that they are wicked witches. Mom, do you know about witches?" This was what little Song Chengguang brooded over the most.

Xingxing, that cute little girl?

Xu Xiuxiu frowned, looking down at the innocent Song Chengguang: "I know. But how come our Chengguang knows so many questions! You've even stumped Mommy! However, Xingxing is not right—not all stepmoms are bad." Regarding Guo Cuiping, Song Chengguang was too young to understand, and even if he could, Xu Xiuxiu didn't want to instill such negative thoughts in him, to tar everyone with the same brush.

"Then Mom, can you bring Brother Nan to our house to live with me?" Song Chengguang said hopefully, pulling Xu Xiuxiu's hand and shaking it a little. After speaking, as if to please Xu Xiuxiu and get her to agree, the little guy even struggled to take over the basket of food from Xu Xiuxiu's hands: "Mom, if you bring Brother Nan to our house, Chengguang will help you carry the basket. Later, Chengguang can also help wash clothes and cook meals, and Nan can eat less snacks, buy fewer toys..." Song Chengguang was very serious, not seeming to be joking at all.

Xu Xiuxiu looked down at Song Chengguang, who was struggling to hold the basket, and suddenly burst into laughter. Unaccountably, she found her son's earnest effort to please her, his struggle with the basket very cute and amusing. After a hearty laugh, Xu Xiuxiu suppressed the desire to keep laughing at her son, gazed at him softly, and with a helpless shake of her head, sighed: "Chengguang, Mom can't agree to your request."

She really couldn't fulfill Song Chengguang's request. Not to mention that Zhao Jian Country would not agree, just legally speaking, it probably wouldn't make sense—after all, Zhao Nan wasn't without parents; was it up to her, Xu Xiuxiu, to meddle and take care of him? Even if she didn't mind taking in another well-behaved child, Zhao Jian Country was not the kind of person who would agree to send his own son to someone else's house for them to help raise. Such a proud soldier, and so concerned about maintaining face, he would never agree to let his son be raised by another family while he himself worked to provide for a stepson with whom he had no blood relation—unless he was out of his mind.

"Why not?" But Chengguang couldn't understand the reasons Xu Xiuxiu had for not agreeing.

"Because Nan's dad wouldn't agree. His dad loves him a lot and definitely wouldn't bear to let him leave his own home," Xu Xiuxiu explained patiently, and then, leisurely, she led Song Chengguang back home, supposing that Song Yuanhuan should also be coming over for dinner soon!

"But..." Song Chengguang was conflicted and wanted to keep persuading Xu Xiuxiu.

"No buts, okay?" Xu Xiuxiu cut off what Song Chengguang was about to say, quite seriously, "Chengguang, let me ask you a question! Every time Mom tells you to eat less candy and more balanced meals, with more nutritious vegetables, don't you like it much?" Seeing Song Chengguang's stubbornness, Xu Xiuxiu decided to try a different approach, "What if Mom sent you to live with another family, where you could eat candy every day, eat meat every day, but then you couldn't see Dad, Mom, or your little brothers and sisters often? Nor could you see your aunt, little uncle, or little uncles, would you still be willing?" Xu Xiuxiu attempted to persuade Song Chengguang by asking him to consider the scenario from a different perspective.

Song Chengguang's little face tensed up in confusion as he shook his head, not quite understanding.

Given Song Chengguang's age, he didn't quite grasp what Xu Xiuxiu was saying. The thought of being away from his parents filled him with sadness, "Chengguang will eat fewer snacks and more vegetables in the future. Mom, please don't send Chengguang away, Chengguang doesn't want to leave Mom." Song Chengguang clung to Xu Xiuxiu teary-eyed, his small face showing a pitiful expression.

"Of course, how could Mom bear to send Chengguang away?" Xu Xiuxiu said with a smile as she bent down to hug the little guy, "Mom was only making a comparison. So, do you still want Mom to bring Brother Nan to stay at our house?"

"I don't want to anymore."

"That's a good boy." Xu Xiuxiu praised the little fellow.

Song Chengguang felt a sense of accomplishment, and his excitement settled down. However, being young, forgetful, and easily swayed, Xu Xiuxiu, as an adult, knew that Zhao Nan was not living a comfortable life. She felt a certain uneasiness about the situation. Some things just can't be helped no matter how much the heart is willing.

It's not that she didn't want to help, she simply couldn't.

Every family has its issues, and she, Xu Xiuxiu, had no right to meddle in others' family matters. She didn't want to be a busybody.

"Then, Mom, let's go home! Chengguang is hungry." Song Chengguang rubbed his stomach with his little hand, then struggled to grasp the food basket with his little hands. He had only walked a few steps before losing his grip on the basket, persisting in holding onto the basket while panting heavily, "Ah! Oof..."

Xu Xiuxiu's attention was brought back by the sound of Song Chengguang's struggle. Seeing him exerting himself as if his life depended on it, she reached out to take over, "Let Mom carry it!"

"Mom, Chengguang can still carry it." Song Chengguang clung to the vegetable basket, trying to show his strength.

"How about Chengguang helps Mom by pushing the stroller? Mom will take the vegetable basket, otherwise, the sweet and sour spare ribs might get spilled!" Xu Xiuxiu bribed the little fellow with the promise of meat.

Sweet and sour spare ribs!

"I'll help push baby brother and sister." Song Chengguang promptly handed over the vegetable basket to Xu Xiuxiu and then stood behind the stroller, pushing it with all his might, even though he was not taller than the stroller itself.

"Good! Chengguang is such a good boy, so capable!" Xu Xiuxiu praised the little guy as she took the vegetable basket and walked leisurely back to the family quarters of the military base with Song Chengguang.