520, I love you!

Zhang Hongmei patted her son's head and said, "Okay, Mom supports you. You should go to military school."

But your high school grades can't be too bad. Actually, this class division is quite good; your older brother can keep an eye on you.

"Mom, don't worry, it's not that I'm stupid, I just don't like it, okay? These courses are a piece of cake. Although I can't compare to the eldest and the third child, I'm definitely not too bad."

"Haha. Great! Mom will be waiting to see your grades."

On September 1, 1976, the four of them still rode their bicycles to school, but they couldn't come back for lunch because the journey was too far, and Zhang Hongmei felt sorry for them.

Now only the three elderly people and Zhang Hongmei are left at home.

The four children were busy with classes, so I could only have lunch with them at noon.

Zhang Shouyi is also very busy right now. He is rushing to make time to accompany his wife during childbirth and postpartum confinement.

He didn't know his wife was pregnant, but she really suffered.

He used his lunch break to have a tubal ligation. Even if it's another son, that's it; it proves that neither of them is destined to have a daughter.

I can't let my wife suffer anymore, seven children are enough.

Time flies, and October arrived. The weather cooled down, and Zhang Hongmei's belly grew even bigger. She had an ultrasound during this time, and the baby was fine. However, Zhang Hongmei did not ask about the baby's gender.

That's it, everything's the same, I told myself.

No one else in the family dared to ask. But everyone secretly hoped for a girl, even the old lady who favored sons over daughters and Gu Chuanming themselves.

When Cheng Guangxu and the other two returned, they came to see Zhang Hongmei. "Hongmei, your belly is even bigger than last time. Are you pregnant again, with four?"

Zhang Hongmei rolled her eyes at Cheng Guangxu, "Get out of the way, there are three of them."

"Hehe, three of them. By the way, we've all been promoted; we're now regimental-level officers."

"Great! When can you come home every day?"

"It will take quite a long time. Only our dean can go home every day. Even the vice dean doesn't have that privilege."

"Then let's try our best."

"But we won't have to follow the research group every day anymore. We'll have a week off every month, which is great. I'm content with that."

"I didn't know you could do that. Not bad."

Cai Peilin and Zeng Zhongkang listened to them talk. All three of them were the same, able to take a week off every month. However, for special projects, they had to be available at any time.

That's enough for me; I can dream about my wife and children every month.

The three of them didn't stay that night, mainly because they saw Zhang Hongmei was in too much pain.

The whole family is extremely nervous right now. It's almost been nine months, and it's only because Zhang Hongmei is in good health that the baby was born long ago. Sometimes, Zhang Shouyi sees his wife unable to sleep night after night, and he just wants the babies to be born quickly. He feels like he's aged a lot in this past month.

I feel so sorry for my wife. She can't even take care of herself anymore. Although her hands and feet aren't swollen, her slender body is supporting her big belly, and I can't bear to look at her.

"Brother Zhang, you should go to sleep. I'm fine here. You have to go to work tomorrow."

"Hmm, I'm fine, honey. Why don't you take a bath?"

Zhang Hongmei shook her head, "I just soaked it last night. Brother Zhang, could you give Grandma a cup of water tomorrow? She's been staying with me these past few days, and I'm worried about her health."

"Yes, I'll give it to the old lady tomorrow morning."

Another week passed, and there was still no news from the children. Only Zhang Hongmei remained relatively calm; the rest of the family was practically frantic. However, none of them dared to show it in front of Zhang Hongmei.

Dr. Sun can't go home now, so he lives next door.

He is now over sixty years old, and taking this opportunity, Bai Xue and the other three girls are learning from Dr. Sun every day.

Zhang Hongmei was not unaware of the tense atmosphere at home, but what could she do?

Zhang Shouyi gently drew circles on his wife's belly, saying, "Children, come out quickly. Your mother has suffered too much, and you are not little anymore."

Zhang Hongmei ignored him and put one hand on her stomach.

The children probably felt their parents' hands interacting with them inside the womb.

Now Zhang Hongmei no longer feels pain from the movements of the babies in her womb; she's gotten used to it.

Zhang Shouyi continued to speak softly to the children.

The next morning, after Zhang Shouyi went to work, Lu Jing, Bai Xue, and the other three helped Zhang Hongmei to the living room. She couldn't eat anything at all. She was just enduring it like this.

Doctor Sun came over to take her pulse. "Madam, this child should be due in the next few days. If she really can't eat, give her some liquid food."

Dr. Sun felt sorry for his mother as she struggled to eat.

"Dr. Sun, it's alright. Although I can't eat a lot at once, I'll eat a few bites every now and then."

"Hmm, that works too."

The old lady had blisters all over her mouth, making it impossible for her to eat, and she was extremely restless.

The doctor had made all the arrangements, but Zhang Hongmei still refused to go to the hospital. The ultrasound showed that the babies were all fine, so there was no need to go to the hospital. It would be safer to stay at home.

Now all four children come home every day at noon, just in case their mother suddenly gives birth.

"You four are working too hard," Zhang Hongmei said, feeling sorry for her sons.

"Mom, it's okay. Even if we came all the way back, we're not tired. You don't need to worry about us."

Three more days passed, and now it's October 25th. It will almost be ten months.

Zhang Shouyi simply stopped going to work and started working from home, while Xiao Li and three secretaries ran back and forth.

"Brother Zhang, you're making me anxious. You should go to work."

"Honey, they're next door, don't worry about them. I can't do anything if I'm not by your side."

Zhang Hongmei was at her wit's end. This man was even more nervous than she was, but she felt it would only be a matter of a day or two.

On the evening of October 25th, Zhang Hongmei went into labor.

Zhang Shouyi finally breathed a sigh of relief. The gynecologist and pediatrician arrived within fifteen minutes.

The delivery room had been arranged in advance. Zhang Hongmei was helped inside by Lu Jing and the others.

With the help of the nurses, Zhang Shouyi was disinfected and then entered the delivery room.

The doctors made arrangements in an orderly manner. Although the leader's wife was lying on the bed and the leader was sitting next to her, they all knew that they could not lose their composure.

Zhang Hongmei is now numb from the pain. These three children are older than Zhenye and his siblings, so giving birth to them was more difficult than the last time.

Zhang Shouyi placed some spring water on one side, poured a cup, and helped Zhang Hongmei drink it.

"Wife, how are you?"

Zhang Hongmei nodded, too exhausted to answer his question now.