CHAPTER 396: CHAPTER 396: TRAVEL TOGETHER

"Smart, my wife is the smartest." Song Yuanhuan reached out and grabbed her little hand to stop her from teasing him and then, with a deep voice, followed up on her little pride to compliment her. In all honesty, looking at the delicate little woman in his arms, seeing how she still looked like a young girl after giving birth to three children, with a slender and tender figure, and a face even more exquisite than that of a TV star, Song Yuanhuan’s heart throbbed even more intensely.

"Mhm, your wife is the smartest." Xu Xiuxiu nodded with satisfaction and joined in the conversation.

"Let’s take the kids out on a trip!" Song Yuanhuan, seeing her happy, immediately suggested his plan, "I don’t have to report to the military district for another week. Now that we have the time, and it’s not during any specific holiday period, how about the two of us take the kids out for some fun?" Song Yuanhuan gently played with her long, black hair.

In fact, deep down, he wished it could just be the two of them, Xu Xiuxiu, traveling without the kids, without the worry of the kids being around, just enjoying their couple’s world. But he knew all too well that Xu Xiuxiu wouldn’t possibly leave the three children behind to travel with him, which is why he never even brought it up. Their couple’s world could wait until the children grew up a bit more! After all, they had a whole lifetime ahead of them. By then, his job might be more stable, and they would surely have time.

"Sure!" Xu Xiuxiu agreed without hesitation. Due to being busy, their family indeed never had proper time to travel, and now that the twins could walk and run, a vacation for a family of five seemed like a wonderful idea, "Where should we go on our trip?"

"How about going to the seaside for a vacation?" Song Yuanhuan suggested.

"Sure! I’ll listen to you." Xu Xiuxiu said with a smile.

Since F Province was located in the mountains and Imperial City did have a sea, Xu Xiuxiu hardly had time to go out with the kids, and she had not seen the endless sea for a long time. It had to be said that Song Yuanhuan’s suggestion now really excited her.

Song Yuanhuan had only a week to travel, and Xu Xiuxiu originally wanted the family to go to the seaside holiday city of SY, but seven days was ultimately a bit short. Moreover, at the moment, traveling was mostly by train, which was convenient, but the journey between Imperial City and SY took excruciatingly long. Xu Xiuxiu really didn’t want to waste those seven days on a train, and driving would also take its toll. Truly getting to SY might leave them too exhausted to even enjoy themselves. So, after consulting with Song Yuanhuan, they decided to drive to T City and Qin Island nearby Imperial City.

The first stop was T City, the largest port in the north and a jewel by the Bohai Sea, embracing both the imprint of Western colonial times and the rich traditions of Chinese culture. It indeed was a place worth traveling to, and Xu Xiuxiu was very much looking forward to it.

As for Song Yuanhuan, as long as he could stay with his wife and children, no matter where they went, he was satisfied, even if it meant just spending time at home.

However, just as Xu Xiuxiu was enthusiastically getting ready to leave, the family of five, all prepared, ran into the boisterous kid, Shi Yu, "Uncle, Auntie, take me with you too! I want to go on a trip with Cheng Guang." Shi Yu’s face was full of longing and desire.

To be honest, Xu Xiuxiu had not considered including Shi Yu in the plans, as it was the first time for the family of five to go out together. Although Shi Yu was just a child and it wasn’t much trouble to take him along, even though they were close on regular days, in her heart, Shi Yu and her own three children were not on the same level—this was a mother’s selfishness. Moreover, Xu Xiuxiu did hope to create some beautiful memories with her own children during the trip.

So, after discussing the trip with Song Yuanhuan in a drowsy state last night and before going to sleep, she asked Song Yuanhuan to wake up early and send Shi Yu back to his own home to stay for a while, and to explain the situation to Shi Yu’s parents. Because when their family returned from the trip, they might spend a considerable amount of time within the Military District too. The Military District, similar to a military academy in its strictness, but comparatively more solemn, and with stringent security on the entrance and exit, might not leave much time to take care of Shi Yu.

Xu Xiuxiu thought everything was settled smoothly. However, seeing Shi Yu, who had been sent back by Song Yuanhuan, return all by himself, burdened with his belongings, Xu Xiuxiu felt distressed and troubled, "Shi Yu, Aunt Xiu Xiu has never gone out to have fun with just your brothers and sisters, so we’re not bringing you this time. Next time we have a chance, Aunt Xiu Xiu will take you and Cheng Guang to play together, alright?" Xu Xiuxiu coaxed gently.

"Auntie, can’t you really take Shi Yu with you? I have never gone on a trip before. I really want to go," Shi Yu said with some disappointment, his grip tightening on his small backpack as his gaze seemed to dim. Accustomed to having his requests never denied by Xu Xiuxiu, learning from his mother that Cheng Guang’s family was going on a trip after he had been sent home, he couldn’t help but also want to go. He thought that by coming to Aunt Xiu Xiu and acting a bit spoiled, Aunt Xiu Xiu would surely agree.

Seeing Shi Yu like this, Xu Xiuxiu felt somewhat remorseful, yet she genuinely wanted to have a trip alone with Song Yuanhuan, bringing along only their own children. So, she was also quite conflicted now, "Wouldn’t it be alright for you to join us next time, Shi Yu? We’re going to be gone for seven or eight days, and it’s not like being at home. I might not have the energy to look after you as well. Do you still want to go?" Xu Xiuxiu inquired, thinking that if Shi Yu still insisted on being stubborn, then she would take him along as well.

"Auntie, I want to go," Shi Yu said firmly.

"Mom, let Brother Shi Yu come with us!" Little Baby, dressed in a cute floral dress and carrying the adorable cartoon backpack that Xu Xiuxiu had specially bought for her, saw the pitiful look on Shi Yu’s face and also spoke in his favor, "We’ll all be very well-behaved. Little Baby can walk on her own, too, without needing to be held by mommy and daddy."

"Really?" Xu Xiuxiu asked doubtfully.

The little girl was a little princess spoiled by her father and brothers; her little legs were barely used, and on some days her shoes wouldn’t even touch the ground since she was always carried when they went out. When Song Yuanhuan was around, she spent almost the entire time in his arms, and he really spoiled her.

"Really," Little Baby answered earnestly.

"Alright!" Xu Xiuxiu nodded helplessly, planning to also bring along Shi Yu. It was a reluctant compromise, but Shi Yu was still young, and after spending so much time together, she couldn’t bear to see him disappointed.

"Yay!" Shi Yu exclaimed, clenching his fists in excitement upon hearing this.

Due to this unexpected situation with Shi Yu, Xu Xiuxiu’s family stayed for about another hour. Xu Xiuxiu packed some clothes for Shi Yu as well before they finally set off on their trip from the Imperial City.