Second watch.
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Yu Tao had a thin skin, and when Zhou Xikang teased her like that, her pink face imdiately turned beet red, unable to utter a single word.
"Alright, alright, just kidding around with you, look at you..." Zhou Xikang laughed as he pulled his wife into his arms, "You’re about to be a mom, and still so easily embarrassed, haha..."
"Haha, what haha..." Yu Tao glared at her husband, irritation swelling in her eyes, "Do you think just because I’m going to be a mom, nothing should matter anymore? That I don’t matter to you anymore?"
"What kind of logic is that?" Zhou Xikang looked at his wife, speechless, "Taotao, have I done sothing to make you unhappy?" His eyes darted around, and he chuckled, "Xiaomi ca to see Chuxia, and I didn’t co, that made you upset, right?"
"I’m not that petty..." Yu Tao rolled her eyes at him, "It was what you said earlier that was so annoying."
"I’ve lived with you for so many years, do you think I don’t know your personality?" Zhou Xikang chuckled and shook his head, "Your thoughts are all written on your face, just don’t deny it.
Silly Taotao, how could I not think about you? As soon as I’m done with work, I rush over here first thing, don’t I? Of course, if you want to be as crazy as Xiaomi, I might not be able to do that.
First, my age is here, and second, my personality isn’t like that, also, if I really did that, you’d probably be embarrassed in front of Grandma and Mom."
"I didn’t say anything, yet you’ve gone on about all this..." Yu Tao laughed, sitting up straight, "I admit, I envy my sister-in-law, but I declare, I am not jealous at all.
Expecting you to act like Laosan is simply impossible, besides, you brothers have different personalities, I can’t possibly expect you to do the sa things as him.
Chuxia is young, Laosan spoiling her is only right, I’m of such age already, if you were to spoil like that, I would be embarrassed to face people even without anyone else’s judgnt.
But to be honest, I’ve seen and heard so much these past couple of days, I’m particularly envious of Aunt Yulan and Uncle Baohe, Grandpa Zhao and Grandma Zhao, that kind of love, rooted in life and death, that is etched in the bones.
I just hope that when we reach their age, we can be like them, making each other an inseparable part of our lives."
"We will." Zhou Xikang reassuringly patted her back, "Even before we had a baby, I firmly believed in this, now, I believe it even more."
"Mm." Yu Tao nodded, "I’m sure too, probably because I’m pregnant, so things I’m very sure of in my heart, but I can’t help but desire a definite answer.
Zhou Xikang, if I ever do sothing that you dislike, please forgive , my behavior during this ti is sowhat beyond my control.
Also, yesterday when I was chatting idly with Chuxia, she ntioned sothing quite terrifying, which is after having a baby, a mother’s temper can beco particularly irritable.
I might feel the urge to get angry for no reason, find everything annoying, inexplicably want to pick fights, honestly, none of this is the mother’s intent, but the body’s sudden changes causing a kind of discomfort.
So, when that day cos, no matter what unreasonable things I might do, you must understand , forgive , because it’s not my true intent, you have to believe , alright?"
"Alright." Zhou Xikang nodded seriously, but couldn’t help letting out a soft sigh.
"You don’t want to?" Yu Tao stared at him, an apprehensive look on her face, "Did I upset you by saying that?" she asked as tears welled up, "This hasn’t even started, and you’re already losing patience, what about later..."
Zhou Xikang quickly interrupted her, "You’re misunderstanding, really, it’s a misunderstanding. I promise you, no matter what you do, I will absolutely tolerate you, okay?"
"Then why did you sigh just now?" Yu Tao looked at him eagerly and asked.
"Because what you said made think of..." He paused, then smiled at her, "Don’t ask, as long as you know that my sigh wasn’t directed at you, that’s fine."
Yu Tao beca imdiately nervous, "Did sothing happen at ho?"
"No, no."
"Then what is it, can you tell ? Otherwise, my mind won’t rest, and I can’t calm down."
"My self-control is still lacking..." Zhou Xikang walked to the door, opened it to look outside, then closed it and ca back, whispering, "I’m worried about my sister-in-law.
To put it bluntly, I’m worried about Xiaomi. In another month, he will deploy, and when my sister-in-law gives birth, he might not be by her side."
"Ah..." Yu Tao widened her eyes, "He... he can’t not go?"
"I tried to persuade him, but he said he made the most thorough preparations, and the team has always been led by him. He can’t be so irresponsible..." Zhou Xikang shook his head, "Grandpa and Dad support his decision, so there’s nothing I can do."
"This is too..." After a mont of hesitation, Yu Tao finally said, "This is too unfair to my sister-in-law. She’s so young, and she’s having twins. When she needs Laosan the most, he’s not there.
I know that Laosan is serving the country, and I know that when faced with such choices, the bigger picture should be prioritized. But in tis like this, my main concern is still my loved ones.
Besides, it’s not like it has to be Laosan. There are so many talented people. He could completely wait until after my sister-in-law has the baby to join the mission.
What kind of life did he have before? He finally t soone he likes and is living a normal life. I believe if he makes this choice, no one would bla him."
Zhou Xikang sighed: "In this regard, I don’t understand as thoroughly as Xiaomi, so I can’t give you the most satisfying answer. But I can tell you, as his brother, I wish he could stay, but as a soldier, I know choosing this now is right.
Taotao, I ca today, firstly because I’m thinking of you, and secondly to see Grandma and Mom’s reactions. I don’t know if they’re aware yet, even if Xiaomi doesn’t say, soone else might leak the news to them, and if they show sothing that Chuxia notices, it’ll be trouble."
"Yeah, although sister-in-law is about to pass the critical period, she’s having twins, which is a few degrees more dangerous than others. If she’s unhappy, the fetus will definitely be affected.
Zhou Xikang, you should quickly persuade Grandma and Mom to go back to City A. If they stay here, sooner or later, sister-in-law will notice. Anyway, there’s Aunt Yulan and Uncle Baohe here, and now there’s Grandma Zhao and Grandpa Zhao, sister-in-law has so many good friends. Without us here, she wouldn’t be affected."
"That’s what I was thinking." Zhou Xikang nodded, "It’s just that I didn’t want you to worry, I wanted to keep it from you. Now that you know, let’s persuade them together."
"Alright." Yu Tao nodded, "Tell what to do, and I’ll do it, I’ll definitely cooperate well with you."
After thinking, Zhou Xikang said: "With you, it’s much easier. Just say that you’re not acclimatized here and feel unwell, and want them to accompany you back."
Yu Tao frowned and shook her head, "Grandma might not want to go back, earlier she said she wanted to stay with Grandma Zhao here."
"This..." Zhou Xikang paced anxiously, "That rascal Xiaomi, he’s usually so sharp, but what is he doing this ti? He caused trouble and just left, not thinking about the people at ho.
If there’s anything wrong with sister-in-law, I don’t believe he could be at ease. Yet, when I speak to Grandpa and Dad about these, they think I’m being narrow-minded.
I want to serve the country wholeheartedly too, but for , there has to be a family first. Without a family, if there’s no motivation to live, where would the strength to fight for the country co from?"
"Look at you, getting more outrageous. You must not let such words slip in front of outsiders..." Yu Tao said as she covered his mouth, "If these words got out, our family would be in trouble again."
"I know, I’m not stupid, I wouldn’t go around saying these..." Zhou Xikang sighed, "I’m just truly hurt. If this hadn’t happened to our family before, I wouldn’t have such thoughts.
Forget it, it’s all in the past, I don’t want to dwell on it. Overall, our family still has good luck, better than those who took the wrong side and lost completely.
Honestly, they used to bully us arrogantly, and now, we’re doing well, they’re all locked up. Thinking this way, it seems quite fair."
"Husband, have you been...?" Yu Tao hesitated, studying him, "Have you been deliberately suppressed again?"
"No..." Zhou Xikang shook his head, "For our family’s current situation, and my position now, no one would suppress . I just heard so news and felt uncomfortable.
I can’t talk about this with anyone else, so I vent to you a bit, and once I’m done, I’ll leave it here. I still have to strive when needed, I need so achievents to help Xiaomi. As the big brother, leaving all the responsibility of bringing honor to the family to the younger brother, that would be too much, right?"
"What kind of words, can you tell ?" Yu Tao asked carefully, "Of course, whether you say it or not, is up to you, no matter what, I won’t bla you."
"It was about before the Xiao family’s incident, the i family really wanted to..." After a pause, Zhou Xikang continued, "Wanted to suppress the Zhou family. I told Grandpa and Dad, but they said, in those tis, whatever things happened shouldn’t be blad. Now, the most important thing is to do well what needs doing.
Because of their mindset, and Xiaomi having to be at the forefront again, I can’t get over this hurdle in my heart. Taotao, do you think I’m quite useless?" (To be continued. If you like this work, welco to Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian for reading.)
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