Chapter 61

The capital city is Xujia.

"Why did you come back so late? Xiaoling is here too. Xiao Zhao, go get a set of bowls and chopsticks." Grandpa Xu put down the newspaper and turned to instruct a middle-aged woman in her forties next to him.

Aunt Zhao is the aunt in the family who is responsible for taking care of the old man's daily life. She came to our house when she was in her twenties. She was widowed when she was young and was kicked out by her husband's family. Her natal family also didn't let her go back. Later, by chance, she was introduced to the Xu family as a nanny. Because she did a good job, she stayed in the Xu family.

Aunt Zhao responded and quickly turned back to the kitchen.

"There are so many things. Are you moving the department store back home?" Xu Zhenguo raised his eyebrows when he saw two people coming in with large and small bags in their hands.

"Aunt Zhao, pour me a glass of water. I'm dying of thirst." Xu Xiaoling threw the things on the ground and sat on a chair beside her, looking exhausted.

"You don't have the right sitting posture. Don't teach Xiaozheng bad habits. Where did you and your daughter go? Why did you buy so many things?" Xu Zhenguo felt a headache when he saw his second daughter's sitting posture. No matter how many times he told her, she still didn't change.

"Mom, didn't you tell Dad and the others?" Xu Xiaoling moved her body, and her father finally stopped frowning.

"Oh, I forgot." Su Ying slapped her head. After hanging up the phone at noon, she immediately rode her bike to the company to ask for leave, and then took her second daughter everywhere to buy things, completely forgetting that she had not told other people in the family.

"I think mom is so happy. Grandpa, dad, I have great news for you." Xu Xiaoling no longer wanted to complain about her mom's stupid behavior today. She said mysteriously to her grandfather and dad, "Soon our Xu family will have four generations living under the same roof."

Grandpa Xu was the first to react: "Four generations living under one roof? Is there any good news from your brother?"

Xu Xiao took the water that Aunt Zhao poured for him, drank two sips, and then revealed the secret: "Grandpa, you just think faster than my dad."

Xu Zhenguo glanced at his second daughter and said, "You're everywhere. I was wondering why you bought so many things. It turns out that you bought them all for Xu Zhao and the others."

Su Ying said with a smile: "Xu Zhao called home at noon and said that Sui Sui is pregnant and it's almost two months. The child was not feeling well some time ago, and we went to the hospital for a check-up and found out that she was pregnant."

She has no opinion about her daughter-in-law at all now. The two children have been married for only three months and her daughter-in-law became pregnant. She is very content now that she has grandchildren.

Grandpa Xu smiled and said cheerfully, "Two months, that's still too early. The baby won't be born until next year, probably next June. The two kids probably won't come back for the New Year this year. They live far away. Take a look at what you have at home these two days. If you need anything, go to the department store and buy it. I still have some money and tickets, I'll give them to you later."

Grandpa Xu was really happy. He was over seventy years old. The older generation hoped that the family would prosper. He was going to be a great-grandfather in June next year. He was so excited that he couldn't help asking Aunt Zhao to take out a bottle of wine that an old friend had given him a few days ago. He wanted to celebrate.

Xu Zhenguo smiled: "The brat finally did well this time."

A few days ago, Commander He boasted in front of him that his daughter-in-law had given the family a little grandson. He was usually a man of few words, but when he talked about his little grandson, he became so noisy and annoying that it hurt his ears to listen to him.

Xu Zhenguo thought secretly that he would deliberately pass by Commander He's office on his way to work tomorrow and pretend to casually mention that he would soon become a grandfather, so that Commander He could enjoy the "good treatment" he had received before.

Grandpa Xu thought more deeply: "Xu Zhao has to train in the army every day, and sometimes he has to go on missions for several days. There are only granddaughter-in-law and her brother at home. Should we find someone to take care of them?"

Xu Zhenguo: "Dad is right. Xiao Jiang is young and this is her first pregnancy. There is no adult around. How about letting Xiao Zhao go and come back after the baby is born?"

Aunt Zhao put away the dishes and chopsticks. When she heard Xu Zhenguo mention her name, she quickly said, "I have no problem. It's just that there will be no one to take care of the old man."

Xu Zhenguo and his wife are busy with work, so she usually takes care of Grandpa Xu. This won't be just two or three days. It will take at least half a year for the child to be born, and she will have to find someone else to take care of Grandpa Xu's food, clothing and daily life.

Grandpa Xu waved his hand and said, "My granddaughter-in-law needs more help. I don't have much of a problem here. You don't have to worry about me."

Xu Xiaoling finished a glass of water and said, "Don't argue about it. My mother has made up her mind. She will go there in person to see her precious grandson with her own eyes. Otherwise, she will not feel at ease staying in the capital. She will not be able to eat or sleep."

Su Ying gave her second daughter a slap on the head and said, "You're the only one who can talk. Xiao Zhao should stay at home. Dad can't be alone here. I've already asked for leave from work this afternoon. Find someone to buy me a train ticket to Li Province tomorrow. The time is set for the day after tomorrow. I'll prepare the things in the next two days and bring them over when the time comes."

Xu Zhenguo frowned. He didn't really want his wife to go over, but what his wife said was right. His daughter-in-law did need someone. Xiao Zhao had to take care of the old man and couldn't leave, so she was the only one who could go over.

Grandpa Xu made the decision: "Then it's decided. You go over and look after the young couple. The day after tomorrow I'll have Xiao Li take you to Li Province. You can't carry so many things by yourself."

Xiao Li is Grandpa Xu's orderly. He has been in the Xu family for more than three years. He is just in his early twenties. The young man is diligent and does things carefully and thoughtfully. Everyone can feel at ease with him taking the bus with them.

After deciding on the people who would go, the family began to discuss what to bring. Xu Xiaoling took a pen and a notebook and became a tool who only took notes and had no emotions.

"Is everything okay at home?" Qin Jianming poured a glass of water for Xu Xiaoling. It was a bit cold at night and she was sweating all over. He turned around and took a towel to wipe her sweat.

"It's okay. My brother called me at noon and said my sister-in-law is pregnant. My mother is impatient, so she took me to various places in the afternoon, including department stores, pharmacies, and overseas Chinese stores. We almost went around the entire capital. My legs are getting thin from running. Let me take a breath and rest for a while." Xu Xiaoling drank half a glass of water and rode back in one breath. She was almost dying of thirst.

The place where she lived was quite far away, and it took almost an hour to ride a bike there. It was dark at night, so she didn't dare to ride slower and kept speeding up. She was exhausted when she got home.

"This is a good thing. Mom was worried about Xu Zhao's marriage a few years ago. Now it's good. We will have grandchildren next year. I remember your brother's unit seems to be in the southwest. What are your plans? Should you let your sister-in-law come back, or should you find someone to take care of them?"

Qin Jianming has a good impression of his brother-in-law Xu Zhao. He has a good family background and is capable. I heard that he was recently promoted and became the deputy head of the group at a young age. He is a very capable person.

Before, his mother-in-law asked him to see if there were any suitable girls around. There was a female colleague of similar age in his unit, but he felt that the girl was not worthy of Xu Zhao. She was average-looking and had a spoiled personality, so he did not mention it.

Xu Xiaoling: "My mother will take the train there the day after tomorrow. Xiao Li will also be there. We will send her to Li Province safely and then come back. I remember you have a friend who works in a food company. Please ask him if he can get some dried seafood. Money is not a problem."

Qin Jianming: "Okay, I'll go ask him tomorrow. There are many people and they talk a lot. He may not have the answer. Jianhui just came back from a business trip to the south last week. Maybe he has a solution."

He has a friend who works in a transportation company and often goes out. People in a fleet would privately discuss buying some things from other places and bringing them back, and then resell them to make a profit from the difference and their hard work. The people in the transportation company basically acquiesce to this and they all know it. As long as it is not too excessive, no one will report it. After all, it is a good thing for everyone.

Qin Jianming suddenly said, "I didn't expect Xu Zhao to get married so suddenly. It seems like he got married just two or three months ago. Before, your mother was almost worried about your brother's marriage. Now they have a child. This fate is really wonderful."

He was still thinking that his brother-in-law had no news at all, and he might be alone again during the New Year, unable to escape the pitiful fate of being urged to get married by his old mother. But who would have thought that things would turn around, and his father-in-law's random matchmaking would actually tie the couple together.

Xu Xiaoling couldn't help but complain to her husband: "Don't mention you. Our whole family was confused at the time. My mother was so angry that she almost kicked my father out of the house. Fortunately, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I am quite curious about my brother's wife. My brother has a personality that most people can't stand. I don't know what kind of girl can conquer him."

Jiang Suihan, who is not an ordinary girl, was lying on the bed. She slept a lot in the afternoon, but she was not sleepy at this time and wanted to find someone to talk to.

She pushed Xu Zhao beside her and asked, "Are you asleep?"

Xu Zhao: “No.”

Jiang Suihan: "I can't sleep, why don't you chat with me?"

Xu Zhao turned sideways and faced her: "What are you talking about?"

Jiang Suihan said casually, "It's all right, just chat about anything. When you heard that I was pregnant this morning, were you excited?"

Xu Zhao said vaguely: "Not bad."

He will be a father soon and must maintain a mature and stable image in front of his child and his mother.

Jiang Huihan raised her eyes and glanced at him, her expression clearly showing disbelief: "You're bragging, I saw it all, you were dumbfounded at the time, and you ignored me for a long time."

Xu Zhao was silent, secretly complaining, you saw it all and still ask.

Jiang Suihan didn't need his answer and continued, "At that time, I wanted to vomit as soon as I smelled the fishy smell. I didn't even think about being pregnant. Now that I think about it, I was such a careless mother."

She was extremely thankful that nothing happened. If the antipyretic medicine she took had affected the baby in her belly, she would have felt guilty for the rest of her life.

Xu Zhao touched her face and said, "It's my fault for not taking good care of you."

He felt very guilty. She was sick and pregnant. He didn't know how sad and scared she was at that time. As a husband, he couldn't be by her side to protect her, which made him feel very bad.

Jiang Suihan rubbed his palm and comforted him: "This is not your fault. You are a soldier and you have more important things to accomplish. Only with a big family can we have a small family. We are both first-time parents. We have no experience and don't know anything. But it doesn't matter. We can learn together, work hard together, make a little progress every day, and slowly accumulate, we will definitely be the best parents."

In fact, she was not mentally prepared to be a mother. She felt that she was still a child, and she had to suddenly change roles and enter the reserve of a prospective mother. She was afraid that she would not do something well. She was also worried that after the child was born, she would not be able to raise the child and would teach the child bad things.

She needs encouragement and someone to give her confidence and tell her that she can be a good mother.

Xu Zhao paused while stroking her face and nodded slightly: "We are the best parents."

Even if it is not now, it will be in the future.

Find time to go to the hospital and ask the doctor some other day. Remember to bring a notebook and a pen. Ask him how to take care of a pregnant woman and what taboos should be avoided in daily life. He should be a good husband and a good father.

Jiang Suihan suddenly had an idea: "Do you like boys or girls?"

Xu Zhao helped her pull the quilt up a little: "There is no tradition of favoring boys over girls in our family."

Jiang Suihan expressed doubt: "You have two older sisters and you are the youngest. How dare you say that your family does not favor boys over girls?"

The reason was so strong that Xu Zhao didn't know how to refute it for a moment. He was silent for a moment: "I like both boys and girls. If it's a boy, the brother can protect the sister. If it's a girl, she will be the little princess of the family."

He didn't have the idea that he had to have a boy to carry on the family line. Whether it was a boy or a girl, as long as it was his and her child, he would like it. In fact, if he had a little girl as cute, beautiful, soft and well-behaved as her, he thought he would not be able to help but want to hug her every day and want to stay by her bed and watch her fall asleep.

Thinking about it this way, he seemed to be favoring girls over boys, and for some reason he felt a little guilty.

Jiang Suihan said seriously: "I have thought about it. I will have two children. It would be best if they are a boy and a girl. The age difference between the two children should not be too big. It would be best if they are two or three years apart. This way they can play together and go to school together."

She stared at Xu Zhao intently, wanting to see how he would react.

Xu Zhao's expression remained unchanged: "Well, it's up to you to decide. You can have as many children as you want. I respect your opinion and will listen to you."

From the ten months of pregnancy to the birth of the baby, only the expectant mother can experience the hardships and difficulties during this period. As a bystander and also a vested interest, he has no reason to require her to have several children. Even if she says she doesn't want to, he will not force her.

Jiang Suihan couldn't help but want to pinch his face: "You really listen to me in everything?"

Xu Zhao suddenly said, "Zhang Xiangqian said that if you tell me to go east, I will definitely not go west. I think he is right."

Jiang Huihan was stunned at first, not realizing why he was talking about Zhang Xiangqian for no reason. Then after two or three seconds, she understood what he meant.

No, can't you just admit that you listen to me? You have to beat around the bush.

There's no outsider here, so do you really need to save face?

Jiang Suihan was too tired to complain, so she continued the previous topic and said, "What if both of your children are girls? Wouldn't your parents and grandfather have any objections?"

Xu Zhao said arrogantly: "We don't live with them, so we don't need to pay attention to their opinions."

Jiang Huihan rolled her eyes at him: "It's easy for you to say that. I will be the one who gets rolled my eyes then."

She knew in her heart that many people's thinking at that time was still stuck in the past. Some feudal ideas were deeply rooted and could not be eliminated in a short period of time. Xu Zhao was the only male grandchild in the Xu family. It could be said that he was the only child. The elders must hope to have many sons and grandchildren.

However, although she knew that Xu Zhao was just coaxing her and that she might not believe everything he said, she was still very happy. At least he had a good attitude. He was not like some men who were particularly patriarchal and would marry a woman and only want her to give birth to and raise children. Moreover, she must give birth to a boy, and if she couldn't, they would continue to give birth until she did.

This kind of man is simply a feudal cancer. When a woman meets such a man, she is going through a tribulation, a tribulation of ninety-nine and eighty-one kinds of heavenly thunder.

Xu Zhao consciously skipped this topic: "It's getting late, it's time to go to bed."

It would have been fine if he didn't say it, but as soon as he mentioned the word "sleep", Jiang Suihan yawned and thought, I'll let you go for now.

After the people fell asleep, Xu Zhao gently reached his hand into the quilt and slowly placed his hand on her abdomen. After a long time, there was still no reaction from her stomach.

He couldn't help but laugh. He was really confused. The child was less than two months old. How could he have any reaction? He was too impatient.

The next day, Xu Zhao got up and went to the cafeteria to buy breakfast, then borrowed a car from the logistics department.

Zhang Xiangqian sat in the passenger seat, yawning and eating a bun in his hand. "I said, can't you let me sleep in? I've been living in fear outside for the past two months, and I can't eat or sleep well. I finally get home and can sleep peacefully. Why do you wake me up so early in the morning? "

I was woken up by Xu Zhao early in the morning. I only had time to wash my face before he hurriedly pulled me into his car.

Xu Zhao stared at the road ahead, not even looking at Zhang Xiangqian: "Let's go to the county department store."

There was a pothole ahead and the road was narrow so there was no way to avoid it. Zhang Xiangqian had just taken a bite of the bun when the car was shaken. He almost choked: "Water, give me some water."

Xu Zhao: "The kettle is on your left."

Zhang Xiangqian immediately picked up the kettle, unscrewed the lid, held the kettle up and poured it into his mouth. Then, he was careless and a little anxious, and choked, and the clothes on his chest got wet.

After coughing repeatedly and recovering, he said to Xu Zhao unhappily, "I don't think it's appropriate for me to go out today and be with you. Why don't you bring your Comrade Xiao Jiang with you? Aren't you two always inseparable? Can't you live without each other?"

Remembering that his mother had specifically told him not to tell anyone on the phone until he was three months pregnant, Xu Zhao replied calmly, "I think you're jealous."

Zhang Xiangqian immediately jumped up and said, "I'm jealous!? I would be jealous of you? What kind of joke is this? What is there about you that I would be jealous of?"

Xu Zhao said calmly, "I'm jealous of my happy marriage, that I'm younger than you, have a higher position than you, and am more capable than you."

He counted them one by one, without even paying attention to Zhang Xiangqian's increasingly ugly expression.

If he hadn't considered that they were in the car now, Zhang Xiangqian really wanted to punch Xu Zhao in both eyes. He bit his back teeth and snorted through them: "Yes, what you said is true, but there is one thing you can't flatter as well as me, I have a son, and you don't."

As soon as he finished speaking, he burst into laughter unrestrainedly.

Xu Zhao smiled without saying anything. His son was already on the way.

We joked and joked along the way and arrived at the county in more than an hour.

Zhang Xiangqian got out of the car and stretched himself. "It just so happens that Youyou's clothes are a little short. I'll buy some cloth and ask his mother to make him two new sets of clothes."

Xu Zhao walked into the department store first, holding a piece of paper covered with words. Zhang Xiangqian followed closely behind him and came forward to take a look curiously: "Milk powder, malted milk, biscuits, brown sugar, toffee, canned fruit, why are they all food?"

Xu Zhao didn't answer and just walked forward.

A crowd of people gathered in front of us, making a lot of noise. We heard the salesperson shouting, "Everyone line up. Today we have fresh osmanthus cake and poria cake. The quantity is limited. First come, first served. Each person is limited to two kilograms."

These two kinds of pastries are not the snacks sold in department stores on a daily basis, and the supply time is irregular. I was lucky enough to come across them today.

Xu Zhao turned and joined the queue for buying cakes.

Zhang Xiangqian followed closely behind. He happened to have a pound of pastry tickets in his hand, so he bought some for his wife and son to try.

"Hello, comrade. Is the purchase limit two kilograms of each item, or two kilograms in total?" When it was Xu Zhao's turn, he first asked the salesperson about the purchase conditions.

"Each person can only buy two kilograms. You can buy one of each, or buy both separately." The salesperson was sweating profusely from his busy work, and his voice was a little hoarse from shouting.

"Give me two pounds each." Xu Zhao took out the money and ticket and handed them over.

The cake ticket in Zhang Xiangqian's hand could only buy one pound, and he didn't know which one tasted better, so he just did the same as Xu Zhao and bought half a pound each.

Next it was Xu Zhao's shopping time, and Zhang Xiangqian became the little runner who helped carry things, running up and down behind him with bags in his hands.

Finally getting a break, Zhang Xiangqian couldn't help but complain that Xu Zhao was heartless. They had promised each other a deep brotherly love, but in the end he tricked him into doing hard labor.

Xu Zhao put the things in the back seat of the car: "Let's go."

Zhang Xiangqian: "Where are you going?"

Xu Zhao only replied with two words: "Black market."

Zhang Xiangqian followed quickly: "Isn't this enough? There are only three mouths to feed in your family, so take it easy."

Xu Zhaoxin said, you are wrong, there are four mouths to feed in my family.

He had been to the black market with Jiang Huihan last time. The location remained the same, but the entrance was relatively hidden. The two of them walked in in silence. After they saw something interesting and the price was right, Xu Zhao paid for it directly.

When Zhang Xiangqian saw beef for sale, his eyes lit up. He was wrong. Today was an auspicious day for traveling. His luck was extremely good.

Pork in the grocery store costs 79 cents per pound, while the price on the black market is 14 cents more expensive. Beef is a little more expensive than pork, at 1.2 cents per pound.

When Zhang Xiangqian heard the price, he couldn't help but take a breath. This meat is really expensive.

It was a rare opportunity to come across beef for sale, so she gritted her teeth and ordered five pounds, intending to take a detour and deliver two pounds to her husband's mother on her way back.

One time when they were having a meal, Xu Zhao heard Jiang Huihan muttering that she wanted to eat beef. Jiang Leyun also echoed that he wanted to eat tomato beef, and he asked for five pounds.

Ten kilograms of meat were sold at once. The vendor, with his face wrapped in cloth, grinned happily and happily cut two kilograms of meat for each of them.

Xu Zhao also bought some chestnuts, a chicken and ten kilograms of fine rice. Zhang Xiangqian watched him take out the money and sighed silently that he was indeed not as good as Xu Zhao in spending money.

This guy spends money without blinking an eye, as if buying things is free.

After buying things, the two did not stay for a moment and quickly left the black market.