I Became the Mother of His Child

Song Yuanhuan was on holiday, and there were only five days left until the New Year. Even though they were driving home in a car, breaks and rest on the road were inevitable, as it wasn't possible to drive non-stop all day. Thus, Xu Xiuxiu didn't dare waste any time—she quickly packed up, gathered some gifts and the kids, and the whole family joyfully set off in the car to head back to their hometown.

Riding in a car was relatively comfortable compared to the train. Although roads in that era were mostly dirt or tar, and despite the train's crowded, smelly conditions where one couldn't let their guard down and relax completely, the car was undoubtedly much better. The only drawback was the strain on Song Yuanhuan, since he was responsible for driving. Driving wasn't physically tiring, but it was mentally exhausting.

Yet, Song Yuanhuan didn't find it tiring. He drove leisurely as if he were on a vacation. He had covered a good distance the first day, setting out from Imperial City and arriving in City X by evening time. By then, they were only half of the distance away from their hometown. If they started early the next day, they would likely reach home by evening. Xu Xiuxiu planned their schedule cautiously, worried about Song Yuanhuan's fatigue from driving, and insisted the family find a place to rest overnight in City X.

Song Yuanhuan had no objections. He found a mid-range hostel for a night's stay. He decided on two rooms: Song Yuanming stayed in one room with Song Chengguang, the uncle-nephew duo, while Xu Xiuxiu and Song Yuanhuan stayed in another room with the boy and girl twins. After settling in, they went out for dinner and then returned to their rooms.

Xu Xiuxiu had wanted to go to sleep early, as she was already yawning continuously during their dinner outing. However, the current lodging conditions were fairly basic with poor soundproofing. Moreover, since it was close to the New Year, the hostel was fully booked. Perhaps due to the unfamiliar environment, the cries of children from the next room could be heard from time to time, and with the poor soundproofing, the light sleeper, Xu Xiuxiu, couldn't get proper rest.

Approaching midnight, the child next door was still crying, and occasionally, the sound of adults gathering and playing cards could be heard. The rest was hardly restful—it was so noisy it gave her a headache, especially the cries of the children next door. The cries were heart-wrenching and seemed never to stop. It was unclear whether their own parents were present as the crying continued till their voices were hoarse, yet there was no sign of comforting, and they still had the mood to play cards.

Frustrated, Xu Xiuxiu thought to herself to stay calm. It was a strange world where all kinds of extreme characters existed. She took deep breaths, closed her eyes, and pretended to sleep. In a drowsy state, Xu Xiuxiu felt like she heard more than one child crying. Perhaps due to her heightened sensitivity, she felt the presence of several children in the room next door, both boys and girls.

Once a person starts suspecting something, their mind starts racing. Xu Xiuxiu was always cautious and alert, especially since it was the end of the year—a time when criminals might be particularly active, seeking to gather money to celebrate the New Year back home. Although they committed crimes, they were also human, born of a father and mother, and wanted to go home for the New Year. With this in mind, Xu Xiuxiu opened her eyes and nudged Song Yuanhuan, who was already asleep.

Being a military man, for Song Yuanhuan, having a bed to sleep in was already a luxury; he could sleep almost anywhere without adjusting to the environment. However, it was the end of the year, and he was with his wife and children in a strange city. Even though he was asleep, Song Yuanhuan remained highly alert. He was aware of Xu Xiuxiu's restless tossing and turning, and when she nudged him, he didn't need any time to overcome sleepiness, he instantly opened his wise eyes.

"Yuanhuan, I think there's something wrong with the next room. I heard the cries of several children. It's very strange." And except for the one whose voice was particularly loud, the rest seemed somewhat feeble. Xu Xiuxiu wasn't sure, but she knew that in the 1980s, some places were chaotic with human traffickers being quite common. What if the next room was a hub for trafficking infants!

"Several?" Song Yuanhuan's brows immediately furrowed in concern.

"Yes." Xu Xiuxiu nodded firmly.

Without a second thought, Song Yuanhuan sprang up from the bed and grabbed the thick casual jacket beside him. Now no longer in the army but at the military academy, he wore civilian clothes more often, possibly provided by Xu Xiuxiu. He always obediently wore them, but even out of uniform, his well-trained physique made him look good in anything—even a burlap sack could look stunning on him.

"I'll go check it out; you stay inside and watch the children," Song Yuanhuan said, putting on his clothes and bending down to kiss Xu Xiuxiu on the forehead.

At this moment, Xu Xiuxiu could see the seriousness and caution in Song Yuanhuan's demeanor and vaguely sensed a shift in the situation, which made her feel uneasy and somewhat regretful for alerting Song Yuanhuan. If their neighbors were not traffickers, it would be fine, but if they were, what if Song Yuanhuan faced trouble alone? It was the holiday season, better to avoid extra trouble. Why did her curiosity get the better of her?

But her words were already spoken, and regretting them now seemed too late: "Yuanhuan, check on Yuanming and Chengguang first and tell them to lock the doors and windows tightly." Xu Xiuxiu was unclear about Song Yuanhuan's combat skills but was still worried about both him and Song Yuanming and Song Chengguang.

"Yes, don't worry," he said, sensing Xu Xiuxiu's anxiety and gently stroking her head.

"Be careful yourself. We still have to go home for the New Year. Don't force yourself too much in case of any trouble; after all, you're not a savior responsible for saving the world, okay?" Xu Xiuxiu said reluctantly, advising caution.

She knew her words were a bit selfish, but after all, she was just a woman. Both she and Song Yuanhuan bore heavy responsibilities, and she couldn't bear the thought of him risking himself.

"Rest assured," came his confidently low response.

Click. Song Yuanhuan spoke while swiftly stepping out of the room, quickly locking the door. Xu Xiuxiu felt her heart hanging in her throat with fierce and rapid beating. However, before her nerves could get the better of her, the firmly closed door was opened again shortly after.

Xu Xiuxiu shuddered in apprehension, only to see a groggy Song Yuanming entering first, followed by Song Yuanhuan carrying Song Chengguang under his arm: "Stay inside, everyone. No matter what happens, don't be curious and peek outside." Perhaps the unexpected turn of events made Song Yuanhuan address the situation with such caution and seriousness.