I Bacame the Mother of His Child-Chapter 91 - 90: Wang Qinghua’s Complaint

Xiuxiu found Mrs. Song’s concern deeply touching, and seeing that the old lady was genuinely worried, she could not help but turn to her with a beaming smile, "Mom, our Cheng Guang is doing great! You might find it nerve-racking to watch him walk like he’s treading on a rope bridge, so shaky and wobbly, but did you know that ever since he’s been able to walk on his own, he hasn’t fallen once?" As she spoke, Xiuxiu, quite proud, gently shook little Song Chengguang’s arm in her hand.

Song Chengguang, shaken by Xiuxiu, giggled, revealing eight little white teeth!

"Really? Our family’s eldest grandson is that amazing?" Although Mrs. Song asked with a surprised look, her eyes ignited with an undisguised expression of pride, as if to say, ’of course, my eldest grandson is incredible.’

Understanding the old woman’s shared sense of honor, Xiuxiu confidently held Song Chengguang’s hand as they stepped across the courtyard into the main house.

Song Yuanhuan followed Xiuxiu, swiftly carrying the New Year’s shopping into the house. Then he went back out, taking the portion of holiday goods prepared for his father-in-law’s house next door. It was only after this that Song Yuanhuan returned.

In the main house, Xiuxiu, who had been weathered by her journey, now cradled a bowl of chicken soup, sharing it sip by sip with Song Chengguang, while Mrs. Song, watching Song Chengguang drink, couldn’t stop smiling—every time Cheng Guang took a sip, she joyously praised him for being wonderful.

Song Yuan Yao and Song Yuanming were both hiding inside the house reading books. The siblings had not spent much time at home, as they were both studying in the county, and were unaware of their sister-in-law Wang Qinghua’s increasingly vexing temper. However, having returned home for the winter vacation and endured Wang Qinghua’s cold looks and chilly air, they gradually took to studying as an excuse to stay in their rooms, only emerging when necessary—often being unseen until meal times.

Knowing that their second brother and sister-in-law would be coming home for the New Year’s celebration, and having consistently enjoyed Xiuxiu’s silent care, occasionally receiving various gifts and study materials by mail, the siblings had long since accepted Xiuxiu as one of their own, completely forgetting what the original owner of the body, Xu Xiuxiu, had done. As evening approached, the cooped-up siblings eagerly perked their ears in their room, waiting for any sound from the main house, ready to dart out at the first peep.

"Second sister-in-law, you’re back!" As soon as Song Yuan Yao and Song Yuanming entered the main house, they cheerfully called out to Xiuxiu, then, ignoring their second brother Song Yuanhuan, who they would usually greet with enthusiasm, they found a spot next to Song Chengguang and began staring at him with sparkling eyes as he drank his chicken soup.

Song Chengguang was clearly affected by their fervent gazes, hesitating to sip the chicken soup that Xiuxiu brought to his lips, looking bewilderedly at the somewhat unfamiliar yet somewhat familiar faces beside him.

"Cheng Guang, I’m your little uncle, call me ’Little Uncle,’" Song Yuanming tried hard to coax Song Chengguang with wide eyes.

Song Chengguang turned his gaze toward Song Yuanming for a moment, then straightforwardly ignored him and turned to the delicate beauty sitting beside him, Song Yuan Yao, "I’m your aunt," Song Yuan Yao immediately introduced herself with a smile.

"Auntie," Song Chengguang called out courteously.

Xu Xiuxiu saw Song Yuanyao melt instantly as if she had tasted candy. Turning to Mrs. Song, who was eagerly looking at Song Chengguang with anticipation, Xu Xiuxiu said, "Chengguang has come in and hasn’t even called for grandpa and grandma yet, has he? Sweetie, call out for grandma; be careful, or else grandma might never give you this delicious chicken soup again." After feeding the little one another spoonful of chicken soup, she coaxed him.

Song Chengguang hesitantly glanced at Mrs. Song. Everyone’s attention was immediately on him. It was obvious that Song Chengguang was trying to give face to Xu Xiuxiu, his mother. Although one could see the hesitation in the little guy, he still obediently called out, "Grandma." Song Chengguang did not disappoint and when he spoke, his childlike voice instantly captivated Mrs. Song.

"Ah! My dear grandson, don’t listen to your mom. Grandma, oh, loves our Chengguang the most. I would never refrain from giving him chicken soup. Our eldest grandson can have as much chicken soup as he wants." Mrs. Song was instantly won over by Song Chengguang’s call and could not help but blurt out all sorts of kind words. She almost seemed ready to run to the kitchen and bring out the entire pot of chicken soup for Song Chengguang to drink.

"Mom, don’t spoil him," Xu Xiuxiu said with a chuckle, playfully flicking the little guy’s nose.

Mrs. Song waved her hand and shook her head: "No problem, we can spoil him however we want since he is our only eldest grandson." Clearly, her affection for her own son was not as warm as it was for her grandson.

"Mom, that’s something I don’t appreciate hearing. You only talk about Song Chengguang as your only eldest grandson, but what about our Niuniu? Our Niuniu is also your eldest granddaughter. You can’t be so biased toward the boys and neglect the girls! Society doesn’t permit that kind of mindset anymore. Didn’t you see the new slogan they just painted on the wall outside? ’As society progresses, women hold up half the sky. Boys and girls are equally good, only by treating everyone equally can we build harmony.’" Just as everyone was in good spirits, Wang Qinghua came into the hall with Niuniu, Song Tianxin. Hearing Mrs. Song’s words, Wang Qinghua’s face turned sour as she let out a few sarcastic remarks, plunging the previously warm atmosphere in the hall into a chill.

Mrs. Song realized that her words might have carried an unintended meaning, but being twisted by Wang Qinghua in such a manner, she felt uncomfortable. Yet, remembering Wang Qinghua’s knack for stirring trouble, a weary Mrs. Song could only grit her teeth and swallow her indignation.

"Big sister-in-law is here," Xu Xiuxiu greeted Wang Qinghua politely but her eyes were drawn to Niuniu, Song Tianxin, who stood beside her, looking pale and thin as if she hardly had any flesh on her bones. Seeing the little girl’s eyes roll around in fright made Xu Xiuxiu instinctively furrow her brows.

She had not expected that in just a few months after the Mid-Autumn Festival, Song Tianxin would change from the lively little girl she once was to the frail and pitiful girl she looked like now, a condition even more alarming than Cai Qingqing’s previous critical and incurable state.

"Sister-in-law, don’t take what your eldest sister-in-law said to heart. That’s just how she is; she speaks without thinking," Song Yuantao, who was recovering well, came out of the house after hearing that his second brother’s family had arrived. His movements were quite slow and careful, but compared to the once likely outcome of being partially paralyzed, his current condition was unexpectedly good.

Xu Xiuxiu just gave a faint smile to Song Yuantao’s attempt to ease the tension and did not reply.

Wang Qinghua, however, disapproved of Song Yuantao’s apologetic manner towards Xu Xiuxiu: "Who are you saying doesn’t think before they speak? I’m just worried because Niuniu has not been feeling well lately and has gotten skinny as a rail! But Mom, it’s wonderful, isn’t it? She doesn’t care at all about her granddaughter’s well-being. The grandson hasn’t even arrived yet, and she’s hurried to make chicken soup. Her biased attitude as an elder not being fair between grandchildren, and me, as the mother feeling aggrieved, can’t I even speak a few words of protest?" Wang Qinghua burst out, angrily defending her daughter.