Chapter 190: Chapter 188: Wang Xinxin Is Pregnant

The undercurrent of tension in the coffee shop finally came to an end when Zhou Rui had to leave early, claiming he’d received an important phone call.

Su Tang walked back to the family compound, her expression serene as the evening breeze brushed against her face.

But inside, she felt anything but calm.

Zhou Rui was more difficult to handle than she had anticipated. Although she had parried his probing questions, he certainly wouldn’t give up so easily.

He was like a tightening net, and Su Tang could feel its invisible threads silently drawing closer.

That night, after coaxing the tuckered-out Cheng’an to sleep, Su Tang sat at her desk and turned on the dim, yellow-litted lamp.

Spreading out a sheet of stationery, she picked up her pen and began writing a letter to Lu Xiao, who was far away in Beijing.

Xiao,

I hope this letter finds you well.

I imagine the weather in Beijing is getting warmer now. It’s still quite cool here in the mornings and evenings. I sometimes still wear that old sweater you left behind when I go out; it’s very warm.

Cheng’an has gotten a little heavier again; my arms get sore just from holding him for a little while. He’s been trying to stand up recently, wobbling as he holds onto the headboard. He almost fell once, which gave me a terrible fright. Now I don’t dare take my eyes off him for even a moment...

She began by rambling on about domestic life—the little details of their child’s growth, the trivial matters in the family compound—as if it were just an ordinary letter home.

The tip of her pen SCRATCHED against the paper. In the next room, Cheng’an slept soundly, occasionally letting out a few muffled, sleepy murmurs.

A few dog barks came from outside the window, making the night seem all the more tranquil.

Yet, as she wrote about these warm and trivial matters, her brows were furrowed with a heavy, persistent worry.

Her pen paused for a moment. She took a deep breath, then continued writing:

...There’s something I’ve been thinking about, and I feel I should let you know.

Zhou Rui is back.

He’s very different from before. He’s now Boss Zhou from Xiangjiang, making investments and donations with great fanfare. Grandpa Mu and many others in the compound have high praise for him.

He seems gentle and polite, but I can’t shake this feeling of unease.

He made a point of waiting for me at the hospital entrance today and insisted I join him at a coffee shop. Between the lines, everything he said was an attempt to find out if I had any misgivings about the supplies he donated.

I gave him a vague answer, but I’m sure he’s suspicious now.

Xiao, I’m not being paranoid, but his intentions are definitely not as simple as they appear on the surface.

He’s especially interested in the military’s food and water supply, and he’s been aggressively recommending import channels.

I’ve already privately asked Grandpa Mu and an acquaintance in logistics to be mindful of the safety of imported materials. I also had Xinxin quietly warn the families we know well, but the effect has been limited. After all, his reputation is soaring right now.

Your safety is the most important thing while you’re away. I just wanted you to be aware of this. Don’t worry too much about us at home; I will handle this with caution.

But this man is duplicitous, hiding a knife behind his smile. You need to be on your guard. Especially when it comes to logistical supplies, you must remind your trusted comrades to conduct rigorous checks and not let down their guard because of his supposed philanthropy.

She paused at this point, as if trying to push down her worries, not wanting to make her distant husband too anxious.

She wrote about a few more lighthearted matters before concluding with a final reminder:

Your mission is demanding, so remember to eat on time. Don’t push yourself, especially with your sensitive stomach. Cheng’an and I are both fine, so please don’t worry.

Su Tang.

After finishing, she carefully folded the letter, placed it in an envelope, and affixed a stamp.

Once that was done, she walked to the side of the bed. Gazing at her son’s tranquil, sleeping face, the storm Zhou Rui had stirred in her heart finally began to calm.

She knew it would take some time for the letter to reach Lu Xiao after she mailed it.

And in the meantime, she would have to face whatever troubles Zhou Rui might bring all on her own.

Zhou Rui didn’t appear again in the days that followed, leaving Su Tang worried.

But with her son Cheng’an around, her spirits were still decent, not completely soured.

During this period, however, a piece of good news arrived: Lu Xiao’s cousin, Wang Xinxin, was pregnant.

It was Wang Xinxin’s husband, Chen Zhengnian, who came over to share the news.

Just past noon that day, Su Tang was playing in the courtyard with Cheng’an, who was just learning to walk, when she heard hearty laughter and slightly rushed footsteps from outside the courtyard gate.

"Auntie! Uncle!"

Su Tang looked up and saw Wang Xinxin’s husband, Chen Zhengnian, striding in.

He was wearing a military uniform without a hat, his forehead glistening with sweat. His face was lit with a radiant smile he couldn’t contain, all traces of his usual composure gone.

"Congratulations, Chen Lü... Look how happy you are."

Su Tang teased with a smile, catching Cheng’an just as he was about to fall.

Although Chen Zhengnian had been promoted to Brigade Chief of Staff, the people in the compound who knew him well were still used to the old form of address.

Chen Zhengnian rubbed his hands together, grinning foolishly. His voice was so loud it nearly startled the sparrows from the trees. "Su Tang, Xinxin’s pregnant! We just found out! I’m going to be a dad!"

The news was like a ray of warm sunshine, instantly chasing away the gloom that had been lingering in Su Tang’s heart.

She was genuinely happy for the young couple. "Really? That’s wonderful! How’s Xinxin? How is she feeling? Is her morning sickness bad?"

"She’s fine! Just a bit of morning sickness. She doesn’t have much of an appetite and wrinkles her nose at the smell of anything greasy. She’s resting at home right now, but she insisted I come and tell you right away!"

Chen Zhengnian’s tone was filled with both concern for his wife and the thrill of a first-time father.

"My mother-in-law said she’ll be over in a couple of days to take care of her."

"This is wonderful news!"

A genuine smile spread across Su Tang’s face.

"I’ll go see her later. Morning sickness is awful; you have to find something to stimulate her appetite. I still have some dried sour plums that I had someone buy for me. They’ll be perfect for Xinxin."

"Oh, thank you!"

Chen Zhengnian nodded repeatedly, then seemed to remember something. He lowered his voice, but the joy was still practically overflowing.

"Xinxin also said that if it’s a girl, she wants you to be the godmother!"

"I’d be honored!" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Su Tang accepted with a smile. "And Cheng’an can have a little sister to keep him company."

Chen Zhengnian stood and chatted with Su Tang for a while longer, mostly rambling on about Wang Xinxin’s condition.

His joy was simply irrepressible. Mr. Lu and Mrs. Lu were also delighted to hear the news.

It wasn’t until a communications officer ran over to tell him he had a phone call that he snapped out of his daze, scratched his head in embarrassment, and rushed off again.

The courtyard grew quiet again. Cheng’an grabbed his mother’s finger, babbling as he tried to continue his great expedition.

Su Tang looked at her son’s innocent face, then thought of the new little life gestating in Wang Xinxin’s womb, and her heart softened.

"This is truly wonderful news."

Mrs. Lu was grinning from ear to ear as she spoke with Mrs. Su.

"Isn’t it just? Since ancient times, a new baby in the family has always been a joyous occasion!"

Mrs. Su was also infected by the joy, remembering how she had been just as happy back when Su Tang was pregnant.

"I’ll make some red eggs and take them over tomorrow. They can hand them out to the neighbors so everyone can share in the happy occasion."

"And I’ll send the food and supplies I have over to Xinxin. A pregnancy is the top priority."

The two mothers bustled off to prepare everything, while Su Tang, holding Cheng’an, could only shake her head with a resigned smile.

Mr. Lu took a sip of tea and said, "With Xinxin pregnant, the happiest ones of all must be her in-laws. They were so against our Xinxin at first. They must be over the moon now, eh?"