Chapter 94 How about having another one?

Wen Xiaoxiao returned from the hospital with a happy expression on her face.

As soon as you enter, you'll see Zhou Lanying and Ma Chunying sitting in the shop shelling peanuts. With the Lunar New Year approaching, they're preparing some New Year's goods.

"Auntie, Sister Ma, guess what my sister-in-law gave birth to?" Wen Xiaoxiao put down her bag, deliberately keeping everyone in suspense.

Zhou Lanying looked up: "What else could it be? She gave birth to a baby."

"It's a girl!" Wen Xiaoxiao's eyes crinkled into a smile. "She weighs six pounds and six ounces, her little face is rosy, she's so pretty. We've already chosen a name, Han Jing, the Jing of quiet."

Ma Chunying stopped what she was doing: "Wow, what a nice name. Your brother must be so happy now, right?"

"She was so happy she couldn't stop smiling, staring at the child like a fool," Wen Xiaoxiao laughed, taking a sip of the hot water Zhou Lanying handed her.

Wu Jia, who was tidying up the clothes she had just ironed, chimed in, "Boss Wen, since you like children so much, why don't you have another one tomorrow? Your little one is already grown up, it won't be a hassle."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Lanying perked up: "Yes, Xiaoxiao, you're only thirty-three this year, still young. If you have another one, I can help take care of it. Now that we're better off, we're not as strapped for cash as before."

Ma Chunying laughed and said, "That's right. Even if there's a fine for family planning, your family can afford it. More children mean more fun."

Wen Xiaoxiao was taken aback by their words, then laughed: "You two are really going on and on... Having a baby isn't that simple. Right now, we have to take care of the shop, Zhao Fei's factory is just starting out, Yizhen and Yibao are only in elementary school, and Yidi is about to take the high school entrance exam..."

“These are no big deal.” Zhou Lanying patted the peanut shells off her hands. “If the child really wants to come, we can arrange everything.”

Wen Xiaoxiao smiled, didn't respond to the question, and turned to go upstairs.

But that little thought in my mind, like a pebble thrown into a lake, created ripples.

Zhao Fei came home earlier than usual that evening. Hearing that Wenbin had a daughter, he was happy for his brother-in-law: "Wenbin has been hoping for a child for so many years, and his wish has finally come true. Their family will be very lively now."

During the meal, Zhou Lanying brought the topic back: "Xiaofei, Xiaoxiao went to see her sister-in-law's newborn daughter today, and she loves her so much. I'm saying, you two should consider having another one. While I can still look after her, I can lend a hand."

Zhao Fei paused for a moment as he picked up some food with his chopsticks, then looked up at Wen Xiaoxiao.

Wen Xiaoxiao kept her head down as she ate her rice, but the tips of her ears were a little red.

"Mom, there's no rush." ​​Zhao Fei put a piece of meat on Zhou Lanying's plate. Zhou Lanying wanted to say something, but Zhao Fei changed the subject: "By the way, Wenbin will probably have to stay home to take care of her postpartum period these few days. I'll keep an eye on things at the factory. Mom, tomorrow you can help Xiaoxiao look after the shop. I have to go to the provincial capital to check on the equipment."

The topic then shifted.

At night, after Wen Xiaoxiao took a shower and went to bed, Zhao Fei was leaning against the headboard looking at blueprints. She snuggled up to him and rested her head on his shoulder.

“Zhao Fei…” she said softly, “What my aunt said today… I’ve actually thought about it before.”

Zhao Fei put down the blueprints and turned to look at her: "You want to have another child?"

“A little.” Wen Xiaoxiao fiddled with the buttons on his pajamas. “Look how big Xiao Gai is now. Sometimes when I see the kids running and jumping around, I think… it would be nice to have another little one.”

Zhao Fei was silent for a while, then reached out and turned off the light, embracing her in the darkness.

"Xiaoxiao, do you know why I don't want to?"

Why?

"If you're really pregnant, are you still going to keep your wholesale business?" Zhao Fei's voice was clear in the darkness. "Going south to buy goods, long-distance travel, negotiating business with people—which of those things isn't tiring? You'll be heavier when you're pregnant, and after giving birth you'll have to breastfeed. You won't be able to get away for at least a year and a half. With your current personality, are you really willing to stay at home?"

Wen Xiaoxiao remained silent.

“It’s not that I don’t want children.” Zhao Fei hugged her tighter. “I just feel sorry for you. You’ve suffered so much in your life, and now you finally get to do something you want to do. Although I don’t completely agree with it, I don’t want you to have to put your career on hold because of pregnancy and childbirth. If you still want to have children in a few years, then we’ll have them.”

Wen Xiaoxiao buried her face in his chest, and after a long while, she said in a muffled voice, "Okay... I was thinking too simply."

Zhao Fei kissed her hair. "Go to sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow."

Wen Xiaoxiao nodded in his arms and closed her eyes. The ripples in her heart slowly subsided.

After Han Manjuan was discharged from the hospital, she began her postpartum confinement period, and Wenbin spent all his time taking care of her and the baby.

Zhao Fei simply gave him a leave of absence so that he could focus on taking care of his family.

Zhao Fei was now extremely busy.

There are countless things to do at the factory construction site, from equipment procurement and installation to personnel recruitment, and he has to make all the decisions.

They often leave before dawn and return in the middle of the night.

It was past 11 p.m. that night when Zhao Fei finally returned from the provincial capital.

When the car entered the city, there were hardly any people on the streets, only the streetlights were shining forlornly.

When passing through the old residential area in the west of the city, Zhao Fei slowed down. This section of the road is narrow, and vendors often occupy the road at night.

Just then, he saw a person standing under the streetlight.

The woman was wearing an out-of-season short skirt with an old coat over it, her hair was permed and dry, and she was shivering in the cold wind.

When she saw Zhao Fei's car, her eyes lit up, and she walked over in her high heels.

Zhao Fei squinted and saw the face clearly—it was Wang Juan.

She looked much older than she had a few years ago, with thick layers of makeup on her face that gave it an unnatural white hue under the streetlights.

She walked to the car, bent down, and knocked on the window.

Zhao Fei didn't open the window; he just looked at her through the dark glass.

Seeing no response from inside the car, Wang Juan knocked again, her lips moving as if to ask, "Big brother, wanna play?"

Zhao Fei felt a mix of emotions he couldn't quite describe.

This woman, who once caused chaos in Zhao Qingda's family, has now fallen to this state.

He thought of Zhao Qingda in prison, and of the years when Wen Xiaoxiao struggled to raise her child.

He lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.

Wang Juan was still waiting outside. Seeing that there was no movement in the car, she got up impatiently and walked to the side of the road to look for her next target.

Zhao Fei stubbed out his cigarette, shifted gears, and stepped on the gas.

The car slowly drove away from the dimly lit street corner.

In the rearview mirror, Wang Juan's figure grew smaller and smaller until it finally disappeared into the night.

The next morning, Zhao Fei was discussing wiring layout with the installation technicians at the construction site when his phone rang.

It was Wenbin calling.

"Zhao Fei, have you heard?" Wenbin's voice was filled with mixed emotions. "Wang Juan has been arrested."

Zhao Fei's expression remained unchanged: "You're paying close attention to her? What's going on?"

“It’s not that I noticed her; I have a friend who works at the police station. Yesterday, they raided a prostitution ring, and he told me today that it was prostitution,” Wenbin said. “She was caught red-handed last night and will be sentenced to half a month of re-education through labor and fined.”

Zhao Fei was silent for a few seconds: "Understood."

After hanging up the phone, he walked to the edge of the construction site and lit a cigarette. The winter wind was blowing, and it was chilly.

He took a drag of his cigarette and looked into the distance.

This punishment is still too lenient.

(Greetings to all lords! May you be blessed! Wang Juan will be offline tomorrow!!!)