CHAPTER 291: CHAPTER 291: THEN I’M RELIEVED

Fu Guanglei had just left when Xu Xiuxiu was called by the Song Family’s elderly couple to elaborate on Song Yuanhuan’s leg injury. To keep the elderly couple from worrying, Xu Xiuxiu picked the better aspects to report, "He’s doing well, although it looks severe. He’s also quite spirited after resting these past few days. However, since the injury did reach the bone, it’s said that it takes a hundred days for a bone or muscle injury to heal, and it might take at least a year and a half for him to fully recover." Xu Xiuxiu vaguely explained, and she didn’t mention the possibility that Yuanhuan might not walk properly or even might be discharged from the military.

The Song Family elders had always been proud of Yuanhuan being a soldier. If they knew about his situation, they might be massively upset.

"That’s good, that’s good," Mrs. Song nodded and sighed in relief, "As long as he can recover well, what does it matter if it takes some time? Just like your eldest uncle, who was severely injured back in the day and is now energetic as ever! He still grabs all the heavy and tiresome tasks in the fields." Mrs. Song was optimistic, and now she was even comforting Xu Xiuxiu, worried that she might feel burdened by the prospect of caring for her son for an extended period.

"And besides, now that your father and I are here, and you have Aunt Luo looking after the house, I can also help you take care of Yuanhuan on a daily basis. You just go and take care of whatever you need to." Ever since her youngest son and daughter-in-law came to the Z city, Mrs. Song had a better impression of this daughter-in-law. Listening to the younger ones, this daughter-in-law had a big, successful career, was very busy and worked hard, and naturally, as elders, they could provide some help, seeing as there was nothing much for them to do back in their hometown anyway.

"I’m relieved then. You’ve always been more meticulous than me. Now that you’re here, I can even afford to be lazy," Xu Xiuxiu joked. "But, my sister-in-law’s pregnancy is also due soon, isn’t it? Won’t she mind that you both came to Z city to take care of Yuanhuan?" She calculated the dates; it was early August now, and Wang Qinghua had gotten pregnant before the New Year, so she was almost due.

"I don’t care about her antics! Even if I made chicken soup for her every day, she would still complain that I’m not caring enough," Mrs. Song suddenly frowned, her tone filled with complaints, "I never cared for my daughters as much as I do for her. Look at you, when you were pregnant with the twins, you never made such a fuss, and I never had to take care of you for even a day. But her! Since she got pregnant, she’s been nothing but trouble; she’s worn me out."

Originally, after driving her youngest son and daughter-in-law away using her pregnancy as leverage, Wang Qinghua made Mrs. Song quite angry. However, thinking of the child in her belly who was ultimately her grandchild, she endured and took care of her. But Qinghua was just discontent with everything; if the chicken soup was brought in ten minutes late in the evening, she could cause a huge commotion. She really had a knack for stirring trouble.

Plus, usually facing Qinghua alone, Mrs. Song had no one to talk to about the frustrations. Talking to neighbors or relatives would only invite ridicule. Now that she was in Z city, facing the sensible and capable daughter-in-law, she felt like she had found a confidant and could pour out all her grievances.

Father Song was sitting beside Song Chengguang on the sofa, playing with him. Seeing his wife and daughter-in-law starting to talk about the eldest daughter-in-law, he shook his head in disapproval but didn’t intervene. Occasionally, he played with his eldest grandson Song Chengguang, glanced at the well-behaved boy and girl twins, and then looked at the chestnut-colored clean walls, nodding his head contentedly.

Indeed, this daughter-in-law was a good one.

Soon, time passed swiftly as they chatted, and the busy Song Yuan Yao, Song Yuanming, along with Xu Jingjing, returned home from their summer jobs. Dinner in the household, amidst the raging storms outside, was a rare and relaxed meal.

After dinner, Song Yuanming was arranged to go to the hospital and stay overnight with Song Yuanhuan. Since Song Yuanhuan had injured his leg, they feared he might need help during the night, so Xu Xiuxiu and Song Yuanming took turns keeping watch.

The next morning, right after breakfast, Song Yuan Yao and Xu Jingjing headed out again. Sichuan Pavilion was experiencing financial issues and these two ladies had been very busy lately. Xu Jingjing even negotiated with the vegetable and seafood suppliers to save on costs, as the recent continuous heavy rains had caused a notable increase in vegetable prices. Xu Jingjing strived to reduce the purchasing costs.

"Dad, mom, let’s go to the hospital! If we go early, we can relieve Yuanying sooner," Father Song and Mrs. Song had actually been anxious to visit their second son at the hospital last night, but after Xu Xiuxiu mentioned that the Military District Hospital had limited visiting hours, they had dismissed the idea. This morning, after breakfast, despite being happy playing with the twins, it was clear that both were eager to see their son.

"Okay!" Mrs. Song immediately responded with a smile, still holding Little Moon in her arms, somewhat hesitant. "Should we also bring Little Baby and Little Moon to the hospital?" Although her thoughts were primarily on her second son, she did not forget her little grandson and granddaughter. "They are still small, maybe they will catch something unclean at the hospital!" Mrs. Song’s worry was not unwarranted. Back in their hometown, children would rarely visit the hospital unless absolutely necessary because hospitals were places where dirty things abounded; many children after visits would end up crying or falling ill.

"They’re quite brave, especially Little Baby. She throws a tantrum if she doesn’t see her dad for a day!" Xu Xiuxiu explained with a laugh. Initially, she had also objected to the twins visiting the hospital, but Little Baby was so attached to her father that, after seeing Song Yuanhuan awake at the hospital, she eagerly awaited each visit, or else she would cry incessantly. Xu Xiuxiu, having no choice, had brought the twins along.

Fortunately, the concerns Xu Xiuxiu had were unfounded; both twins were doing quite well in the hospital.

In the Military District Hospital ward, Song Yuanhuan sat spiritedly on his hospital bed. Seeing his parents anxiously enter, he lifted a consoling smile, "Dad, mom, you came." Song Yuanhuan joyfully greeted them.

"Yuanyuan, how is your leg? What did the doctor say? Does it still hurt? How did you get hurt so badly, why weren’t you more careful!" Though they had already inquired the specifics from Xu Xiuxiu, seeing Song Yuanhuan still made Mrs. Song’s eyes turn red, and she urgently asked him, needing him to reassure her verbally that nothing was wrong before she could settle down.

"Mom, I’m quite well; my leg is also healing fast. I’m sorry for making both of you worry," Song Yuan said with a sense of guilt.

"It’s fine as long as you’re okay." Mrs. Song held Song Yuanhuan’s hand and gently patted it. "Let me tell you, Yuanhuan, you better not do anything foolish again. You were hiding this from us after getting so badly hurt. If it weren’t for Yuanying being unable to hide things well and letting slip something when I pressed him further, your dad and I would still be clueless!" Mrs. Song got a bit angry thinking about it; their second son had been injured for so many days, and they had only just found out, which made her feel guilty.

Even though they were trying to keep their elders from worrying, wasn’t keeping it hidden also concerning?