The first watch has arrived.
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"Mom, Third Aunt, please have a seat." i Xiaofeng smiled and greeted her mother-in-law and Wang Lei. "It’s all my fault for causing you and Third Aunt so much trouble."
"Xiao Feng, don’t say that. It’s my fault for not raising Zhongkang properly, which has caused you to suffer..." Liang Xiaohong looked at her daughter-in-law apologetically and tentatively asked, "After you’re discharged, can you move back ho?"
"Of course, we’ll move back..." i Xiaofeng nodded vigorously. "Mom, Zhongkang and I had already planned to move back during the New Year. Even if we live outside in the future, we’ll still visit grandpa and grandma, and you and dad every week."
"That’s good, that’s good..." Liang Xiaohong wiped her tears in joy. "I’ve been so worried about whether I could persuade you two, but now it’s all resolved."
"Mom, I’m sorry for making you worry." i Xiaofeng looked at her mother-in-law with guilt. "In the future, Zhongkang and I will definitely be filial to you and dad."
"If your dad hears this, he’ll be overjoyed." Liang Xiaohong sighed and said, "He’s a man of few words and doesn’t often talk about you two, but every ti he sees Big Brother’s family getting along so well, he can’t hide his envy. Now, with his own son and daughter-in-law getting closer to the family, he won’t have to just longingly wait anymore."
As the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatted warmly, Wang Lei sat to the side with a cheerful smile, not interrupting. In this lifeti, she regretted not having children, felt envious, but not jealous.
Moreover, since marrying into the Zhou family, Zhou Huakang treated her with great closeness, giving her a vague sense of motherhood. Yingying also stuck to her, and though being a grandmother at this age felt a bit unusual, it fulfilled her longing for raising children.
So, seeing the second sister-in-law and niece-in-law having a close conversation now, she was genuinely happy for them. Though she hadn’t been married into the family for long, she truly regarded the Zhou family as her own.
She understood the implication of leaving her and Liang Xiaohong here. This was explicitly telling her that, although she and Zhou Shanping were married later in life, the Zhou family treated her the sa as the other two daughters-in-law. Otherwise, why would they leave her here for sothing like this?
What she liked most about the Zhou family mbers was that so things weren’t just said; they were done in a way that made you feel truly comfortable.
"Ugh..." Suddenly, Wang Lei felt a wave of nausea in her stomach and dry-retched twice, imdiately getting up and hurrying to the bathroom.
i Xiaofeng anxiously pushed Liang Xiaohong, "Mom, go check on what’s wrong with Third Aunt."
"Hey, child, you stay here and don’t get out of bed. Mom will be right back." Liang Xiaohong reassured her before chasing after Wang Lei.
In the bathroom, Wang Lei was washing her hands. Seeing Liang Xiaohong co in, she gave a bitter smile, "I might have eaten too much cold food tonight; my stomach feels a bit off."
"Did you throw up?" Liang Xiaohong asked worriedly as she patted Wang Lei’s back for comfort.
"Just a little bit, but I feel better now."
Seeing that it was just past eight in the evening, Liang Xiaohong said, "Let’s go get a check-up. If you need dicine, take it; if you need an injection, get it."
Wang Lei waved her hand, "No need, it’s just a minor issue. I’ll be fine soon. My stomach has always been like this, getting upset easily when I mix cold and hot food. It’s my fault for being greedy at this age. How could I resist when Big Sister-in-law’s marinated cabbage cores were so crisp and tasty?"
"You’re only in your early forties; what’s so old about that?" Liang Xiaohong suddenly stopped, looking Wang Lei up and down. "Sister-in-law, could it be... could you be expecting?"
"How is that possible?" Wang Lei imdiately denied, "I’m already so old, it’s absolutely impossible!"
"You’re just forty-four. There are people pregnant at forty-eight. No, we have to be cautious about this," Liang Xiaohong said, taking her hand to lead her outside. "Let’s go for a check-up now. If by any chance it’s true, we need to take good care of you."
"Second Sister-in-law..." Wang Lei blushed intensely, "I really just ate sothing bad. If you really take for a check-up, how can I show up at the hospital after this? To check on sothing like this at my age, I would really beco a famous story."
"No way..." Liang Xiaohong sighed. "You just think you’re old at forty. Isn’t it quite normal to get pregnant at this age? Moreover, since you got married late and had children late, it’s completely normal, too.
Let’s not guess blindly. First, calculate how long it’s been since your last period to see if there’s a possibility. If there is, we’ll go for a check-up. If not, we won’t go."
Hearing this, Wang Lei’s face turned even redder, "According to my cycle, it should co in the next few days."
"Then what’s there to hesitate about?" Liang Xiaohong forcefully dragged her outside. "Let’s go back to the room to inform Xiaofeng first, so she won’t worry."
"Second Sister-in-law, let’s not tell them... what we’re checking, okay?"
Liang Xiaohong readily agreed, "Sure, just say your stomach is uncomfortable, I’ll go with you to check it out."
"I’ll go by myself. Second Sister-in-law, you stay with the niece-in-law. I’m not comfortable leaving her alone."
"No way, if I don’t go with you, what if you fool ?" Liang Xiaohong waved her hand, "Don’t worry, Xiaofeng doesn’t have to be with soone all the ti now. I’ll let the nurse know to watch her closely.
This matter is a huge deal for our family, and there’s no room for any carelessness. If our parents find out I wasn’t diligent, they’ll definitely bla ."
"Second Sister-in-law..." Wang Lei didn’t even know what to say. She originally thought the chances of this possibility were near zero, but with Liang Xiaohong’s persistent nagging, she wasn’t so sure anymore.
"Third Aunt, are you feeling better?" Seeing the two enter the ward, i Xiaofeng hurriedly asked.
Wang Lei answered awkwardly, "I’m... feeling better."
"Xiaofeng, your Third Aunt is still a bit uncomfortable..."
Before Liang Xiaohong could finish, i Xiaofeng hurriedly interrupted her, "Mom, you should quickly take Third Aunt to see a doctor. I’m fine here. Besides, there’s a call button at the bedside. If I want to use the bathroom, I can just ring for a nurse to co help."
"Alright, I’ll remind them at the nurse’s station. Are you okay being alone here?"
"Mom, what’s there to be afraid of?" i Xiaofeng said with a laugh, "This is a hospital, not a battlefield."
Liang Xiaohong smiled happily. She was increasingly satisfied with this daughter-in-law. She rembered when her son and daughter-in-law had just gotten married, she secretly went to see them. The daughter-in-law treated her politely but distantly, which could directly be interpreted as cold. Now, though not as close as Chuxia is with Lin Yanqiu, she was already beginning to think for her. She believed that, given ti, her relationship with i Xiaofeng would not be worse than Sister-in-law’s relationship with her two niece-in-laws.
With this thought, she felt particularly hopeful about the future.
"Second Sister-in-law, why are you so happy?" Wang Lei was a bit puzzled looking at Liang Xiaohong, who was smiling as if she had found a gold ingot, and couldn’t help being curious.
"I was thinking about the situation when Zhongkang and Xiaofeng just got married and comparing it to now. I feel really happy. Before, I envied Big Sister-in-law so much because her two daughters-in-law treated her like their own mother. Now, it’s finally my turn."
Liang Xiaohong didn’t hide it and directly voiced her thoughts, making Wang Lei smile, "I see, Second Sister-in-law can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and is overjoyed."
"Right, that’s exactly it." As they talked, they reached the nurse’s station, where they asked the nurse on duty to help keep an eye out, and then the two went straight to the duty room on the third floor.
Earlier, Yoon Duo had ntioned when she ca to the ward that she was on duty tonight and had given the room number, so at this ti, Liang Xiaohong directly brought Wang Lei to find her. For this kind of thing, going to another doctor wouldn’t feel appropriate.
"Second Aunt, Third Aunt, co in quickly." Yoon Duo was reading a book when she looked up and saw Liang Xiaohong and Wang Lei, and warmly invited them in.
Liang Xiaohong glanced at the book Yoon Duo was reading and praised, "Duo Duo, you are so diligent and hardworking, not even willing to rest a bit during your duty shift."
"It’s just passing ti, so I casually read," Yoon Duo said while preparing to pour water for the two, but Liang Xiaohong quickly stopped her, "Duo Duo, don’t bother. We’re here because we need a favor."
Yoon Duo put down the cup, "What’s the matter?"
"Your Third Aunt was suddenly feeling a bit nauseous earlier. Based on timing, she should be on her period these days, but just in case, I brought her for a check-up."
As Liang Xiaohong spoke, Wang Lei’s face turned as red as a bright red cloth. At her age, getting checked for this kind of thing made her feel unspeakably awkward. However, the possibility of having her own baby made her full of anticipation. For a woman, not being able to beco a mother would be a lifelong regret. She originally thought she’d certainly have this regret in her life, but now there was suddenly a variable. She couldn’t describe her conflicting emotions.
Chuxia and Zhou Mikang, along with the others, returned ho with Old Madam Zhou and Old Master Zhou at nearly eight o’clock. Zhao Yulan, Lin Baohe, and Old Master Wan were sitting in the hall waiting for everyone. Seeing the attendees enter, they all looked over with concern.
Old Madam Zhou smiled and said, "Don’t worry, the child is fine and recovering well," while poking Zhou Zhongkang, "It’s all this bear boy’s fault. Alright, quickly go wash up and get so rest."
"Thank you, Grandma." Zhou Zhongkang was truly exhausted. After thanking her, he greeted Lin Baohe and the others before heading upstairs.
"The bear boy is finally back." Old Madam Zhou sighed as she sat next to Old Master Wan, "Big Brother Wan, seeing our bear children, don’t you feel a little hope too?"
"It’s not the sa." Old Master Wan waved his hand, "Wan Yuqiong is single-mindedly for her husband’s family. Waiting for her to change her mind, I probably won’t live to see it. I’ve already given up. As long as you all don’t find annoying, I’m quite content living like this."
"As long as you don’t find us annoying, we’d be burning incense in gratitude. Why would we find you annoying?" Old Madam Zhou said while pointing at Old Master Zhou, "He doesn’t know how happy he is having you living here." (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welco to visit Qidian to vote with recomndations and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users please read on m.qidian.)
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