CHAPTER 345: CHAPTER 347: CORN FISH SOUP

In the evening, Xia Xiao again went to the Black Bear Cave to see Ge Liang, now feeling extremely troubled, not knowing how to take care of Ge Liang, and that staying in the bear cave was simply not a solution.

Ge Liang was still young but sensitive, it was the time for mimicking and learning things. If he continued to stay like this, he would turn into a wild child.

At this moment, Xia Xiao regretted not having found a place for Ge Liang before letting Zheng Xianghong and the others know about the pregnancy. Now that she was pregnant herself, if she really needed to send Ge Liang away, she wouldn’t have much time, especially without being discovered.

Looking at Ge Liang, who would eat raw vegetables when hungry, consume honey, whose skin had turned pale, yet his physique had become quite robust like a healthy child. But he was increasingly resembling Ge Lai; otherwise, Xia Xiao would have already brought him back to the Guangming Production Team.

Back in the room, Xia Xiao heard the sound of Zheng Xianghong knocking on the door, "Xia Xiao, Xia Xiao."

Xia Xiao hurriedly replied, "Mom, I’m here, what’s wrong?"

Xia Xiao immediately went to open the door; Zheng Xianghong said, "Did you sleep soundly? I’ve been calling for so long without a response."

Xia Xiao felt a bit guilty and smiled, "Yeah, I was sleeping soundly. Is there something you needed, Mom?"

Zheng Xianghong then took a few steps back, brought over a bowl and said, "Your dad caught a fish, and I made some fish soup with corn. Drink it quickly, it’s good for the child in your belly."

Xia Xiao was a bit surprised and welcomed Zheng Xianghong in, feeling slightly embarrassed, "Mom, am I the only one drinking it?"

"I made it specially for you to drink. I’ve saved a bowl for Weilin. Your sister-in-law is in the other room feeding the baby. Don’t worry, when she was pregnant, we also made it for her."

Upon hearing Zheng Xianghong’s words, Xia Xiao nodded, drank half a bowl, and then felt a bit bloated, telling Zheng Xianghong, "Mom, I can’t finish it. I’m full."

"It’s just a little bit left, you should finish it. There’s another bowl in the pot reserved for you, I’ll warm it up for you in the morning," Zheng Xianghong insisted, looking at the small amount of soup left.

Xia Xiao also felt it would be a waste not to finish it. Just as she was about to drink, Zheng Xianghong said, "If you really feel too full, I can pour it back. It’s all saved for you anyway."

Upon hearing this, Xia Xiao immediately drank the remaining soup from the bowl, and said to Zheng Xianghong, "Mom, don’t just save it for me to eat, you can make more soup, and the fish, corn, everyone can eat together."

"We aren’t eating it, we aren’t craving that bite, go to sleep now," said Zheng Xianghong as she carried the bowl out.

Caressing her belly, which felt somewhat full, Xia Xiao couldn’t sleep. She turned to Shitou and said, "Who do you think I should send Ge Liang to for taking care of him? He can’t just keep staying in the bear cave. Moreover, he’s starting to look like Ge Lai, everyone can recognize him at a glance, and I can’t take him back to the Guangming Production Team to raise."

"You could take him back to the city to Old Man Xue," Shitou suggested.

Grandpa Xue, Xia Xiao paused. She had indeed considered this option before; it’s just that the city was far. She had thought about leaving Ge Liang at Grandpa Xue’s doorstep, but what if Grandpa Xue didn’t take him in or sent him away?

Moreover, she wouldn’t be in the city to see for herself, which didn’t sit well with her peace of mind.

Xia Xiao let out a sigh, "Let’s sleep on it. I’ll think about it."

Returning to the city would take time. It would have been possible before, but now that she was pregnant, if she said she needed to go back to the city, Zheng Xianghong and the others would surely be worried.

Xia Xiao felt that in considering this, she might have missed many opportunities. Touching her belly, getting out of the house had indeed become inconvenient because of her pregnancy.

While thinking, Xia Xiao eventually fell asleep.

In the next room, Sun Yuhua was feeding the baby and eating at the same time, which Gao Jiazhi couldn’t help but remark on, "That’s supposed to be for the child, and you have the nerve to fight over food with her?"

"The bowl is so large, Weilin couldn’t possibly finish it. You’re just jealous I have food to eat. Come on, have the last half-spoonful of soup." Sun Yuhua extended the bowl towards Gao Jiazhi.

Gao Jiazhi shook his head to avoid it, "I don’t want it."

Sun Yuhua drank it herself, then passed the bowl to Gao Jiazhi, "You take it out, I’ll put the child to sleep."

Gao Jiazhi looked at his somewhat sleepy daughter, nodded, and took the bowl and went out.

Zheng Xianghong was still busy in the kitchen at that time. Gao Jiazhi said, "Mom, aren’t you tired? Whatever it is, you can do it tomorrow morning. Why are you still washing? Cleaning up the kitchen tomorrow will be just the same."

Zheng Xianghong shook her head, "After cooking in the kitchen, it definitely needs to be cleaned up right away. Otherwise, seeing the kitchen dirty and sticky first thing in the morning, I can’t stand it."

As she spoke, Zheng Xianghong said, "Give me the bowl, you hurry up and go to sleep. I’ll go to bed after I finish cleaning up."

"I’ll wash the bowls." Gao Jiazhi simply squatted down to help.

Zheng Xianghong laughed, "Are you at your wit’s end with boredom? Hurry back to your room. Weilin hasn’t slept yet, has she?"

"Yuhua is putting her to sleep now." Gao Jiazhi washed the bowl and spoon he was holding first, then the rest. Squatting down for a while and then standing up, he felt it really wasn’t easy.

So at that moment, Gao Jiazhi took a look at the kitchen and said to Zheng Xianghong, "Mom, washing dishes squatting on the ground is too tiring. I’ll see about building a platform later, it’s definitely better to stand and wash than to squat. Otherwise, after squatting for a long time, you feel dizzy when you get up."

Zheng Xianghong said, "Don’t fuss about so much. In these times, doing less is better than doing more. Go do what you need to do; the kitchen chores aren’t anything major."

Gao Jiazhi was about to say something when Zheng Xianghong added, "Mom knows you’re filial and care for mom, but it’s not necessary right now. I’m not at that decrepit old age yet where I can’t walk."

While talking, Zheng Xianghong wiped here and there with a rag, neatly finishing the chores.

"There’s some corn fish soup in the clay pot for Xia Xiao. I just gave Weilin a bowl; there’s still a little more than one bowl left. Do you want Mom to serve you some to drink?"

"No need, I didn’t come for the soup." Gao Jiazhi was exasperated. It was for the pregnant woman and child; he wasn’t coveting that soup.

Zheng Xianghong then said, "Alright, hurry on out. Mom is going to sleep too."

Soon, Zheng Xianghong went back to her room, and Gao Jiazhi also returned to his.

Weilin had fallen asleep by then, lying in the middle of the bed, with Gao Jiazhi and Sun Yuhua lying on either side.

Sun Yuhua reached out and poked Gao Jiazhi’s arm, "Are you asleep?"

"What’s the matter?" Gao Jiazhi responded.

"Jiazhi, why don’t we take a trip to the county tomorrow?" Sun Yuhua said.

"What for?" asked Gao Jiazhi.

"I want to have a look. What if I really am pregnant and Mom didn’t notice. Plus, my period still hasn’t come, it’s definitely not normal, and Mom didn’t notice it either," Sun Yuhua said faintly in the darkness.

"It’s only been a few days late. Go to sleep; it might just come tomorrow," Gao Jiazhi said, feeling sleepy.

Seeing Gao Jiazhi’s indifferent attitude, Sun Yuhua sat up somewhat angrily, "What do you mean by that? Are you hoping I’m not pregnant?"

Seeing her reaction, Gao Jiazhi said, "Fine, fine, fine, we’ll go to the county tomorrow."

Only then did Sun Yuhua lie down again.