After seeing Xiaolong off, Yang Fengxia finally had a chance to ask Fang Qiao, "Xiao Qiao, why did you bring Xiaolong back? Where are your older brother and sister-in-law?"
Fang Qiao: "My sister-in-law is pregnant, but her condition isn't good. My brother took her to the hospital. They're both busy, so they asked me to bring the baby back."
"Pregnant?"
Fang Xue, who had been casually tending the fire, immediately looked up at Fang Qiao in disbelief: "Really? My sister-in-law didn't mention the pregnancy when she went out this morning."
Yang Fengxia was also somewhat incredulous: "Xiao Qiao, really? Your sister-in-law hasn't gotten pregnant for five or six years since she gave birth to Xiao Long. I saw her getting her period a few days ago, and she stained the sheets, which I had to wash."
"Whether she's pregnant or not, you can ask them directly when they get back from the hospital." Fang Qiao didn't want to say more and said she was leaving: "My mission is complete once I bring Xiaolong back. These are things my older brother and sister-in-law bought and asked me to bring back. You can handle them as you see fit. I'm leaving now."
"No, why are you leaving so soon after we arrived?" Yang Fengxia quickly tried to persuade her to stay.
Fang Xue also said, "Wait a while before you leave. Tell me about your sister-in-law's pregnancy."
"I don't know the specifics of my sister-in-law's matter. You can ask her when she gets back." Fang Qiao waved to Fang Xue and said to Yang Fengxia, "Mom, I wasn't planning to come today. If my brother and sister-in-law hadn't asked me to take the kids, I wouldn't have come. There are still kids at home. It'll get dark if I don't leave soon. Please don't keep me. I'll come back after the New Year, on the second day of the Lunar New Year when I go back to my parents' home."
"Alright then, come back on the second day of the Lunar New Year. I'll pack you some meatballs," Yang Fengxia said, but she didn't move her feet.
Fang Qiao immediately understood; it was just a polite remark. She waved her hand and said, "No need, I'm leaving."
"Alright, then take care on your way." Yang Fengxia saw Fang Qiao to the door and watched her walk out of the alley before turning back.
Seeing that Fang Xue was still sitting on the stool in front of the stove, without even moving her bottom, he immediately complained, "Your sister is leaving, why didn't you stand up to see her off?"
Fang Xue scoffed, "What's there to give her? We don't even get along."
“What do you mean by not getting along? You’re sisters, there’s no one closer than you. Don’t always be so stubborn and pick on her.” Yang Fengxia said earnestly, “Her husband is successful. If you get along well with her, you can benefit from his success in the future.”
Upon hearing this, Fang Xue immediately became unhappy, her lips drooping: "What benefit do you have? Mom, you've seen how stubborn she is. She doesn't care about my younger brother's affairs, and she's stingy with the gifts she brings when she goes back to her parents' home for holidays. She's like a miser to her own family. No matter how good the relationship is, it's all for nothing."
Hearing Fang Xue say that, Yang Fengxia felt uncomfortable. She pursed her lips, remained silent for a while, and said, "We still have to maintain a good relationship. You are sisters, so you should be close. If things get awkward, the neighbors will laugh at you."
Fang Xue scoffed but didn't say anything.
She knew in her heart that she and her younger sister had broken off their relationship seven years ago.
She knew that it was unfair of her to agree to go to the countryside and then back out at the last minute, ruining her younger sister's dream of going to high school.
But so what?
People are selfish. Why should she be sent to the countryside just because she is the oldest?
Let whoever wants to suffer can go; she certainly doesn't want to.
She didn't want to go, so she had to find a way to get her parents to send someone else.
It's normal for her younger sister to blame, resent, or hate her; she accepts it all but doesn't regret it.
Even if she had to do it all over again, she would still make the same choice, maybe just marry someone else. She realized she was too hasty in finding someone to marry back then. After all these years of unspeakable suffering, she finally understood why people said it was unwise to marry into a family with orphans and widows.
Yang Fengxia sighed and began to lecture Fang Xue with profound principles.
Fang Xue, growing impatient, frowned and interrupted her, "Mom, is it true or false that my sister-in-law is pregnant?"
Yang Fengxia shook her head: "I don't know."
"Mom, didn't you say you saw her on her body? How could she be pregnant?" Fang Xue was puzzled.
Yang Fengxia was also puzzled: "I didn't even see her having morning sickness."
"It might not have started yet," Fang Xue said, subconsciously touching her stomach. "Mom, my sister-in-law hasn't gotten pregnant for five or six years after giving birth to Xiaolong, which is so similar to my situation. Do you think if she really gets pregnant, it'll be my turn next?"
Yang Fengxia looked at Fang Xue's stomach, opened her mouth, but ultimately didn't say anything.
Everyone has a different belly, so how can you be sure?
She knew her daughter had been hoping for another son, but after so many years and drinking a lot of traditional Chinese medicine, there was still no sign of pregnancy.
Zhang Jun is the only son in three generations, and his mother has been hoping to have a grandson ever since he got married.
When Panpan was born, although it was a girl, Zhang Jun's mother was disappointed, but she didn't say anything. After all, it was her first child, so a girl was fine, and she would just have more children.
To everyone's surprise, Fang Xue's belly stopped showing any signs of pregnancy after that, which greatly worried Zhang Jun's mother.
After all, she had only one son in three generations, and the line couldn't end with her son!
Because of this, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law have argued a lot. Zhang Jun used to protect his daughter, but now he has started to complain that his daughter's belly is not cooperating.
If things continue like this, the couple's relationship will only get worse, and their daughter's life will become increasingly difficult.
Yang Fengxia became increasingly worried and comforted Fang Xue, saying, "Don't worry, don't worry, maybe it's just that our destiny hasn't arrived yet. Just wait and it will come."
Fang Xue's face turned bitter.
Wait, wait, wait, she's already waited six or seven years, when will she finally get it?
*
After a hectic afternoon, Fang Qiao returned to her family compound by bus just as dusk was falling.
The streetlights at the entrance of the residential compound are already on. The light is dim and yellowish, not very bright, but it provides sufficient illumination.
Once inside the gate, there are no more streetlights, but I'm familiar with the way home, so even without streetlights, I can walk steadily.
Fang Qiao saw a flashlight beam shining ahead.
The next second, Cheng Baidong's voice rang out from ahead: "Wife?"
"Hey," Fang Qiao replied crisply, "Why did you come out?"
"It's getting dark, and I'm afraid you won't be able to see the way, so I came out to meet you."
Cheng Baidong ran a few steps, walked up to her, and naturally took her hand in his large palm. He felt the temperature, interlocked his fingers, and put her hand into his pocket, saying, "It's a little cold. Let me warm it up for you."
"OK."
Fang Qiao nodded with a smile and cooperatively put her hand into his coat pocket.
The couple nestled together as they slowly walked home.
As they walked, Cheng Bodong asked, "How is your sister-in-law?"
Fang Qiao shook her head: "I don't know. My older brother took her to the hospital. I don't know if the baby can be saved."
In their past life, their eldest brother and sister-in-law only had Xiaolong as their only child. I wonder if they never got pregnant in between? Or maybe they did get pregnant in this life, but didn't know it and didn't take timely precautions to protect the pregnancy, which led to the miscarriage?
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