CHAPTER 348: 348. PERSUASION, EXPRESSING STANCE, CHILDBIRTH

After another wave of pain subsided, Shuzhen smiled with pale lips: "My little girl has grown up and become sensible. It’s so nice that she knows how to be filial to her parents now."

"Of course, Mom, I’m ten years old now!" Xinqing nodded with delight, intertwining her ten fingers into a cross. She puffed out her small chest proudly, looking quite elated.

"Yes, ten years old, already a proud Young Pioneer! Look, my little girl has already become a squad leader and wears two stripes." Seeing the little one almost floating with pride from the compliments, Shuzhen shifted the topic: "So, our most excellent student, shouldn’t you prioritize your studies? It’s almost time for the final exams. Even if you feel overconfident, missing a day could affect your grades. You still need to set a good example for your classmates and little brother, right?"

"But I’ve been looking forward to this for such a long, long time. I just want to be the first to kiss, touch, and hold my little brother when he comes out. Plus, I’ve already talked with my big brother; once the little brother is born, I’ll be the first to call him. Didn’t you always teach us to be honest and keep promises? You said a promise is as good as gold!" Xinqing blinked her almond-shaped eyes, like her mother’s, hoping to get away with it.

However, Shuzhen wasn’t the type of mother to lose her principles just because her daughter acted cute, like the indulgent father Lianshan who always dropped his principles to the side.

The same trick, when used on her, didn’t even have half the effect.

"Don’t worry, once the little brother is born, I’ll make sure that, except for the doctors and nurses, no one in our family will hold him before you do. Making that phone call to your big brother, that’s all yours too.

I’ll make sure you can balance both academics and honesty.

So now, let your uncle drive you home, take advantage of the time that’s still left, and get yourselves to school!" Shuzhen decided firmly, without leaving room for discussion.

"But, Mom, even if we go to school, we wouldn’t be able to calm down and study properly, would we? Let us stay here with you, take care of you, and cheer you up, please?" Xinzhi spoke up, attempting one last struggle.

The others all chimed in, saying they wanted to stay to take care of and be with mom, to encourage her.

However, although Shuzhen was touched by her children’s filial piety, she was unwilling to scare them or leave any psychological shadows, especially for her three daughters.

Given her usual image as a strict mother, the children, despite their reluctance, obediently got into Liu Shouren’s car and went home to get their school bags.

Without the fear of losing face or scaring the kids, Shuzhen sighed in relief and looked up to see Lianshan frowning slightly.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Shuzhen laughed and waved her hand in front of his eyes.

"Oh, I was thinking about when to get the doctor to check and maybe give me a vasectomy or something!" Suddenly realizing what he’d just said, Lianshan was panic-stricken, remembering how furious his wife looked the last time this topic was brought up.

Afraid of being sent to sleep in the utility room, he quickly tried to salvage the situation: "Well, well, listen to me, wife! Anyway, your beloved youngest son will be here soon, and we’re really not getting any younger. With the family planning policy being so vigorously enforced, soon someone will make us take measures. If one of us should endure the suffering, I hope it’s not you, isn’t that right?"

To be honest, with the youngest son about to be born, Shuzhen genuinely felt content.

With seven children, they already made a complete set, she certainly didn’t want an eighth.

But as for a vasectomy, was there really a need?

At their age, wishing to have more was more aspiration than reality!

"Hey, don’t take it lightly. Before this youngest son was reporting for duty, I thought the same way.

But what happened? It’s better not to assume.

We’re so in love, having an eighth isn’t out of the question, right!

So it’s quite necessary to nip any danger in the bud. I don’t want you to suffer again, nor do I want to bear the anxiety anymore." So, it’s best to remove the problem permanently.

The couple was chatting affectionately in the ward when Lian Yue, Qiu Fang, and Liu Shouyi, who came to visit after hearing the news, found themselves awkwardly standing by the door, unsure whether to enter or retreat.

Seeing her sister-in-law’s face turn so red it almost seemed like she could fry an egg, Lian Yue couldn’t help but facepalm. She felt it necessary to remind her big brother: it’s great to be affectionate, but this is a public place, after all!

Despite going to school as they were told, the kids couldn’t focus at all.

With their hearts restless like grass growing, they yearned for the school noon bell, eager to rush to the hospital to see how their mom was doing, and if their little brother had been born smoothly.

They anxiously waited, suffering through each class with seconds feeling like years.

Finally, when the noon dismissal bell rang, the siblings sprang from their seats like arrows loosed from a bow, darting out of the classroom before the teacher even exited, racing toward the school gate.

When they arrived at the hospital, one after another, they found their father, uncle, aunt, and all their aunts waiting outside the delivery room.

And their most beloved mom had already been in the delivery room for over half an hour.

The delivery room door was tightly shut, the only small window covered by a thick curtain.

All views were blocked, with only the occasional painful scream piercing through the closed door.

Despite the assurance from their aunts that their mom was in good health and everything was going smoothly,

the kids couldn’t believe it: with such pain, how could it be nothing?

Without their authoritative mom around, even dad’s words didn’t hold sway.

They were firm in their decision: they would wait until the baby brother was born safely and their mom was confirmed to be alright before they would return to school!

Lianshan’s whole attention was on his wife inside the delivery room, so he couldn’t be bothered to argue with them.

If they wanted to show their filial piety, let them wait!

Hearing firsthand the suffering Shuzhen went through for each of them might even enhance their appreciation for her parental love and make them more filial.

From eleven-thirty until almost twelve, when the sound of a baby’s cry finally came from the delivery room.

Exhausted, Shuzhen struggled to open her eyes, looking at the little one, a bit plumper than her previous life but still so dark she joked about losing him on the ground, laughing happily: how wonderful, her little Yanzi, her youngest son was back! This time, Mom will love and cherish you well. Make you adored as the youngest in the family, fed well, clothed warm, and never deprived of schooling due to family reasons.

This time, whatever you wish, if you want to, no matter if it’s studying abroad, Mom can absolutely support it!