CHAPTER 278: CHAPTER 278: MISS ME?

Tang Chuxia didn’t say anything in the end, although she didn’t think there was a problem.

Tang Jianjun was so cautious, it was better not to provoke him.

The middle-schooler was still waiting, but unfortunately, Tang Chuxia changed the subject.

"Little guy, tell sister, would you like to be a soldier?"

Tang Chuxia teased the middle-schooler, who nodded vigorously, clearly in agreement.

Tang Chuxia didn’t continue to tease the little guy because she was preparing to go home, since Madam Tang was worried about her eldest brother and elder sister-in-law.

Grandma also reminded Madam Tang not to be overly concerned and to let the children handle it themselves.

Although Madam Tang agreed, she was ultimately afraid that her daughter-in-law might have negative thoughts, especially since postpartum was a vulnerable time.

When they returned home, the elder sister-in-law was holding the baby, wanting to go back to her parents’ house.

Madam Tang went up and slapped Tang Jianguo’s back, "Your wife is still in confinement, and you’re letting her leave like this? Don’t you care about her life?"

Tang Jianguo’s face turned ashen, but he still didn’t explain anything. Tang Chuxia and the rest also went up to help stop her, truly afraid that the elder sister-in-law might do something irrational.

The elder sister-in-law knelt in front of Madam Tang, "Mom, it’s my fault!"

Having survived, she realized what consequences her actions had brought, but she never imagined that wasn’t the worst part, everyone had gone to grandma’s house today. Tang Jianguo stayed behind, and she knew what would happen.

She was still struggling with how to handle it when Tang Jianguo asked her a question.

"Do you regret it?"

The elder sister-in-law was a strong person, how could she not regret it?

However, being stubborn, the elder sister-in-law didn’t speak, just pretended to sleep. Tang Jianguo patiently reasoned with her and even asked her to reveal who prescribed the drugs, but how could the elder sister-in-law say anything?

The result was Tang Jianguo, overwhelmed with rage, yelled at the elder sister-in-law, and then she wanted to take the baby and go back to her parents’ house.

Dangdang and Ah Duo both tried to persuade her, but it was of no use.

If it hadn’t been for Madam Tang and the others returning, the elder sister-in-law might have really left.

After listening to the situation, Madam Tang berated Tang Jianguo for being brainless, for not speaking kindly to his wife in confinement, and for getting angry; she was already scared, and now there was no way out, she had to be emotionally upset.

Although Madam Tang could understand, it didn’t mean that she unconditionally took her daughter-in-law’s side.

"You’re also at fault. If it weren’t for Xiaxia’s continued attempts to invite Master Sikong and Third Grandpa over, do you think you’d still be alive? Jianguo just talked to you and you felt wronged?"

After scolding her son, Madam Tang addressed her daughter-in-law.

The elder sister-in-law was crying terribly.

Madam Tang didn’t want to lecture her further, afraid she might push her to a breaking point.

"Forget it, you must already understand, Jianjun will be leaving on the sixth, don’t always think about what to do, rather discuss it together with him. It’s truly good if the child is well!"

The elder sister-in-law nodded repeatedly, indicating she understood.

Seeing her pale face, Madam Tang recalled the elder sister-in-law’s previous severe blood loss, and her body was still very weak.

Ah Duo took the baby out, while Madam Tang pulled the elder sister-in-law back to bed to lie down.

After settling the daughter-in-law, she even had Tang Chuxia and Dangdang stay with her, and then she took her eldest son by the ear and went outside.

Tang Chuxia tentatively asked, "Elder sister-in-law, are you afraid that elder brother will be angry and divorce you?"

The elder sister-in-law’s tears immediately fell, causing Tang Chuxia to panic. She was most afraid of seeing someone cry, especially since the elder sister-in-law was still in confinement.

Tang Chuxia apologized repeatedly, and the elder sister-in-law knew she was too sensitive and nodded embarrassingly.

"I just want a son, at least there will be no pressure in the future!"

Tang Chuxia: ...

Isn’t that too much?

Aren’t there a few more years for family planning?

"As long as the elder sister-in-law is in good health, she can still get pregnant in the future, but looking at her condition now, she would need to recover for three years before that time..."

Tang Chuxia didn’t know how to continue.

Fortunately, the baby born was indeed a son, and she wondered if the elder sister-in-law would regret the ordeal.

Dangdang was not as gentle as Tang Chuxia. She spoke with exasperation, "Sis, do you really believe what those people say? It’s only because our parents aren’t here. If they knew the lengths you’ve gone to just to have a son, they might break your legs!"

Tang Chuxia was curious as to why Dangdang would say that. Dangdang explained, "It’s just me and my sister in our family. Even if we are both girls, our parents still loved us the same. My mother’s health deteriorated after giving birth to me. She never got pregnant again, and my father was happy to have two daughters!"

The elder sister-in-law was about to cry again. Tang Chuxia repeatedly consoled her until she calmed down.

"It’s because our family doesn’t have any boys. Don’t you know what kind of life our parents led in the village? I just think that I must have a son so I wouldn’t end up like them."

Tang Chuxia: ...

Dangdang: ...

It was incomprehensible.

Dangdang didn’t bother explaining further; she simply bent down to organize the children’s clothes, finding it impossible to reason with someone whose mind was completely muddled.

Tang Chuxia didn’t know what to say either. In this era, talking about gender equality would probably be unbelievable to them after seeing so much inequality.

But Tang Chuxia thought of herself.

She wondered if she could have her own children in this era. If she ended up not having any, that would be okay too.

She was actually afraid of children, feeling that they were like little monsters—energetic, curious, and fragile.

Trouble!

Children were synonymous with trouble.

Tang Chuxia knew this all too well.

Fortunately, the elder sister-in-law soon grew tired. After she fell asleep, Tang Chuxia and Dangdang went outside.

"I’ll love my children, whether boys or girls!" Dangdang said resolutely.

Tang Chuxia patted her shoulder, impressed with her thinking.

"Xiaxia, what about you? How many children do you want to have in the future?"

Tang Chuxia: ...

She really didn’t know. Thinking about children without even having a man in her life?

That seemed a bit exaggerated.

Just as she thought about men, a man appeared.

Tang Chuxia saw Gu Beihuai and the second brother entering together, puzzled, she approached them.

"Why are you two together?"

Looking around, Tang Chuxia couldn’t understand when Gu Beihuai and the second brother had gotten close.

That wasn’t the key issue; the key was the gifts Gu Beihuai was carrying.

Hadn’t they already given New Year’s greetings? Why was he still carrying gifts?

She turned to Jianjun, who realized his sister was mistaken.

"This is for your younger brother; he’s going to visit your future sister-in-law’s home!"

Upon mentioning this, Tang Chuxia also remembered, but she was curious why Gu Beihuai was with them.

"I ran into him at the doorway, and I have something to discuss with you!" Gu Beihuai rarely initiated conversation. Tang Chuxia moved closer to his face, "Did you miss me?"

Gu Beihuai glanced at Jianjun, who was staring with widened eyes, and then touched Tang Chuxia’s forehead with his finger.

"Shouldn’t you reassure your second brother first?"

Tang Chuxia turned to see Jianjun’s shocked expression, thought for a moment, and directly grabbed Gu Beihuai’s fingers.