After warming up for a while, Xia Liang's hands finally warmed up a bit. Zhao Danxiang asked, "What brings you back this time? When are you going back to work?" She remembered that her daughter-in-law only had two months of leave when she gave birth, so she assumed her daughter had something to do and had asked for leave to come back. Xia Liang replied, "I'm taking two months off directly, which, combined with maternity leave, will be four months. By then, the baby will be two months old, so I can take her to work without any problem." This time, she wanted to let the factory leaders know her attitude towards the big-character posters, so they wouldn't think she was a pushover that anyone could take advantage of. Secondly, she wanted to go home to prepare for childbirth, as both her parents' and in-laws' families were in the county town, where she felt safer. Seeing the little girl in her mother's arms, looking at her with wide, curious eyes, Xia Liang smiled and said, "Baby, come to Auntie's to hold you." As she spoke, she stretched out her hands to Xiao Ran. The little one, who had just been curiously looking at the stranger in front of her, turned around and stepped into her grandmother's arms when she saw the stranger was going to hold her, and dared not look at anyone. Xia Liang and Zhao Danxiang laughed heartily at her antics. Zhao Danxiang said, "This child is fine with anyone holding her at home, but she won't let anyone hold her if she doesn't see them often, like her grandparents." Xia Liang said, "Is it because you haven't taken her out to play? If she doesn't see people often, she's more likely to be shy." Xia Liang knew her mother was the type who didn't like going out and socializing, so of course she wouldn't take Xiaoxinran out to play. Xia Liang teased the little girl a bit more, but seeing that she still didn't want to be held, Zhao Danxiang said, "No, you can't hold her now. Stop teasing her. Be careful yourself. How are you? Is anything bothering you?" Xia Liang shook her head and tugged at Xiaoxinran's clothes, which had been lifted up by her struggles. "Nothing's bothering me, just a little inconvenient to move around. Nothing else is wrong." Indeed, compared to the various discomforts experienced by other pregnant women, Xia Liang was much happier. Except for the first three months when she couldn't stand the smell of braised pork, she hadn't experienced any discomfort in the following months. She could eat anything, and she was taking calcium supplements and drinking formula, so she didn't have any physical discomfort. Zhao Danxiang nodded: "That's good. Will Yanxiao come back when you give birth?" Xia Liang: "Yes, he wrote to me before saying that his annual leave this year will be adjusted to January, and he will come back to be with me during childbirth." Zhao Danxiang felt much more at ease after hearing this. Although she and her mother-in-law would go to take care of her daughter, it would still be different if her husband wasn't by her side.
Looking at her daughter warming herself by the fire, Zhao Danxiang thought of the old hen they kept at home and asked, "Are you home for lunch?" Xia Liang nodded, "Yes, I told Aunt Wu before I left that I'd eat dinner at home before going back." Zhao Danxiang said okay, "You stay here and watch over Ran. I'll go kill the chicken and make you chicken soup for lunch." Saying that, she put her granddaughter on the crib next to her and went out to kill the chicken while Xia Liang watched over her. When Xia Liang saw this crib, she realized it was the one she had suggested and drawn up the design for her father to make. She hadn't expected it to turn out so nicely, and she would ask her father to make one for her family in the future. The crib was supported by two triangular wooden frames, which were suspended by chains. There was a hook at the bottom of the chain that could be hooked onto the top ring, and once hooked, it would be fixed in place. The crib was surrounded by wooden boards to prevent her from falling off. When Xiao Ran is asleep, hang up the hook so she can sleep peacefully. When she is awake, put the hook down so you can gently rock the crib. Xiao Ran will laugh happily inside.
Xia Liang rocked the crib while warming herself by the fire. Xiao Xinran still curiously observed the stranger in front of her. Although she still didn't want to be held, she wasn't as resistant to Xia Liang's touch. Xia Liang stroked her smooth, chubby little face a couple of times; it felt like jelly, incredibly soft. Seeing Xiao Xinran's little mouth pout, ready to burst into tears, Xia Liang noticed her rattle drum beside the crib and quickly picked it up, shaking it and saying, "Baby, look what this is!" Xiao Xinran was attracted by the sound of the rattle drum, her eyes following it in Xia Liang's hand. Seeing that she wasn't going to cry, Xia Liang didn't dare tease her anymore; if she cried, she wouldn't be able to soothe her.
And so, Xia Liang warmed herself by the fire, turned on the TV, and Xiao Ran played with toys in the stroller. When she heard the TV, she turned over to face the TV and stared intently at the talking box. It wasn't until Zhao Danxiang brought in the food that Xia Liang got up to clear the table and eat. Seeing her daughter get up, Zhao Danxiang said, "You sit down, you don't need to worry about it. There aren't many dishes, I'll have them ready in a bit." Xia Liang stood up and said, "I'm not that delicate. If I didn't want to go back to the county town to give birth, I would have stayed until a few days before my due date." Hearing her daughter's nonchalant tone, Zhao Danxiang rolled her eyes and said, "You just don't care about your own health, you only think about the baby." Xia Liang laughed and teased, "Oh dear! You've fallen out of favor, haven't you? Some people aren't even grandmothers yet and they're already planning to abandon their daughters." Zhao Danxiang pretended to be angry and lightly patted her back. Xia Liang also pretended to be hurt and cried out. Suddenly, Xiao Xinran giggled. Xia Liang laughed and said, "You little ingrate, you're so happy to see your aunt get hit?" Zhao Danxiang pretended to hit her daughter again, and Xia Liang cooperated with the random cries. Sure enough, Xiao Xinran laughed even more happily. Zhao Danxiang was speechless. She stepped forward and wiped the drool from her granddaughter's mouth, saying, "You really are a heartless little thing. Your aunt bought you so much milk powder, made so many clothes, pants, and diapers, and you still laugh at your aunt." But Xiao Ran couldn't understand at all; she was just a baby who knew nothing.
That evening, Xia Rong and his wife Zhou Xiaohui returned home from get off work. Seeing Xia Liang sitting in the main room, Zhou Xiaohui happily went up to her and asked, "When did you get back?" Xia Liang replied, "I arrived last night. I'm going to give birth in the county town." Zhou Xiaohui was delighted: "Then we can see each other more often! Come visit whenever you have time." Xia Rong said, "Sister, you're working so hard right now. If you have trouble moving around, call me when you want to come back, and I'll pick you up." Xia Liang still wasn't used to her family treating her like a national treasure, and smiled helplessly, saying, "You have to work all day, where would you find the time to pick me up? Besides, I'm only seven months pregnant, not about to give birth. I can't be left alone." But Zhao Danxiang, remembering what had happened to her daughter-in-law, said with lingering fear, "It's still best to be careful. You're heavily pregnant now, and it's not easy for you to move around. It's best to have someone with you wherever you go." Thinking of this, she felt that her son-in-law's job wasn't so great after all. Although it was respectable and paid well, what good was it if he couldn't even stay home to take care of his wife during her difficult pregnancy?
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