CHAPTER 292: CHAPTER 292: JUST GO AHEAD AND BE BUSY

Mrs. Song’s words, tinged with reproach yet full of concern, made Song Yuanhuan’s usually stern face soften as he spoke in a pleasing tone, "Not telling you was just because I didn’t want to worry you both!"

"But if you’re afraid of worrying us, not telling us just leaves us completely in the dark and even more anxious," Mrs. Song glared at Song Yuanhuan. As parents, they all felt this way. Although Yuanhuan had always been mature and composed since childhood, with the naughtiest thing he ever did being scrapping with the village lads, he was tall and robust, usually holding his own in a fight.

Even so, she still worried. Compared to seeing him in front of her, worrying about Yuanhuan who she could only see once a year made Mrs. Song feel both guilt and concern! Besides, he was a soldier, and his missions were dangerous.

"From now on, tell us everything, no more sneaking around or hiding things," Mrs. Song stared at Yuanhuan’s injured leg and then carefully adjusted his blanket, her tone full of sighs, "If you don’t, we’re only going to get more worried when we find out later."

"I understand," Yuanhuan nodded, then turned his gaze to his daughter.

"Dada." Little Baby and Little Moon were lying side by side in the stroller. Little Baby was right then stretching her legs and kicking, her round eyes staring straight at her daddy, wondering why he hadn’t come to hold her yet.

"Oh my! Can Little Baby say ’dada’ now?" Mrs. Song said in delight, reaching out to rescue her plump, fair little granddaughter from the stroller. Although she had long known over the phone that the twins could call out and had grown little milk teeth, hearing her granddaughter actually calling out filled Mrs. Song with fascination.

Look how smart her little granddaughter is! She can speak at just six or seven months!

"Our child is really smart and looks so bright, just like Xiuxiu. See these tiny eyes and little nose, aren’t they just like a miniature Xiuxiu?" Mrs. Song lavished praise, complimenting her granddaughter while also giving her daughter-in-law kudos in the process.

Father Song, being a man, usually maintained a strict fatherly image in front of his son. However, perhaps there was truth to the saying that grandparents are closer to their grandchildren. Even though he had several grandchildren, his affection for Niuniu and Cheng Guang was clearly evident. Still, he didn’t often show a warm grandfatherly demeanor and occasionally maintained his authoritative grandpa posture. But now, facing his plump and fair little granddaughter, his heart filled with joy, and he watched tenderly and kindly as his wife cuddled the little girl to her chest. Then, glancing at the well-behaved Little Moon lying in the stroller, he couldn’t help but beam with pleasure.

"Mm! The little ones are indeed handsome-looking," Father Song praised seriously and then carefully played with Little Moon in the stroller, who clutched at his finger with a happy grasp. Father Song felt his heart soften like cotton with that little clutch from his grandson.

"Dada." Little Baby, held in Mrs. Song’s arms, didn’t seem to mind and simply reached out towards Song Yuanhuan, her bright eyes shining.

"Mom, put Little Baby in my arms! I want to hold her," Song Yuanhuan’s heart melted by the call of his precious daughter.

"No, that won’t do. Your leg is still injured!" Mrs. Song firmly refused, instinctively feeling that Song Yuanhuan’s request was utterly unreliable. He was injured, yet he still wanted to take care of the child. "It’s enough for you to just look at her while I hold her," Mrs. Song declared authoritatively, bringing Little Baby close to Song Yuanhuan’s face, but without any intention of letting go.

Song Yuanhuan’s face darkened with disappointment. Was he really not allowed to hold his own daughter? Saddened at the thought, yet he dared not voice his true feelings, lest Mrs. Song start nagging him incessantly. So he could only sit on the hospital bed, receiving his IV drip and playing with his daughter, watching her little face break into a bloom of a smile, finally allowing himself a sigh of relief.

Xu Xiuxiu naturally knew how close the father-daughter relationship was, so close that it even made her, the mother, green with envy. Seeing Mrs. Song monopolizing Little Baby and Song Yuanhuan looking slightly deflated, Xu Xiuxiu couldn’t help but secretly delight in the scene, then signaled Song Yuanming, who had stayed the night, to hurry up and have breakfast.

"Sister-in-law, I’ve finished eating, and I need to go check on the construction site. Yesterday, Architect Fei seemed to have some urgent issues to discuss with you. I was so happy to see my parents when I got home last night that I completely forgot about it. Now that Mom and Dad are here, they can take care of my brother and the boy and girl twins. You should feel more at ease dealing with the matters of Soup City," Song Yuanming was not really an insensitive kid, after all, he was already of age. If it weren’t for seeing his sister-in-law swamped, he wouldn’t have let slip the details after just a couple of questions from his parents.

His parents’ arrival to Z city might not provide much significant help, but they were more than capable of looking after his second brother. This, in turn, could give his sister-in-law some peace as she dealt with her work. After all, the Soup City project was so massive. Even though the disaster had passed, the provincial leaders were still highly concerned about it, since it was one of F province’s largest projects in the next few years.

The words of Song Yuanming made Xu Xiuxiu somewhat tempted but also hesitant.

"Xiuxiu, go deal with your work! Leave the kids with me. If you’re really busy, Cheng Guang can go pick up from school. Don’t feel embarrassed about it. What’s the point of your father and I coming to Z city? Surely we didn’t come just to play the part of in-laws and cause you trouble, right?" Mrs. Song, hearing what her youngest son said, knew that her second daughter-in-law probably had a lot to take care of. She immediately patted her chest with assurance, telling Xu Xiuxiu to go handle her matters without worry.

"Thank you, Mom and Dad, then. I’ll try to come back early tonight," Xu Xiuxiu agreed after hesitating, feeling somewhat irresponsible recently. Song Yuanming, even as a Summer intern for Soup City, was almost flying with busyness. Moreover, post-disaster reconstruction had so much going on; all the issues, big and small, emerging from Soup City awaited her judgement, and she couldn’t just abandon them. Ye Hua was not the kind of person to casually risk everything and tolerate her irresponsibility.

"Go ahead with your work!" Mrs. Song said with a smile.

Since Xu Xiuxiu gave birth to the boy and girl twins during the coldest days of the year without properly resting at home during her confinement, Mrs. Song had been somewhat upset in private about it. She felt that her second daughter-in-law had become too capable and stopped listening to the advice of elders, coming off as too arrogant and not giving her mother-in-law due respect. Her heart was indeed bitter for a while, especially when Song Yuanhuan’s leave ended and she had to return to Z city with the three children despite her advice. She was really upset at that time, thinking that Xu Xiuxiu was far too willful.

But after returning to Z city after the holidays, Xu Xiuxiu as a daughter-in-law hadn’t failed to provide or do what was expected. Father Song, who was more open-minded, would sometimes murmur in front of her, praising the second daughter-in-law for being reliable and kind-hearted. Plus, their neighbors would all envy her for having a capable son and a very competent daughter-in-law, not to mention Wang Qinghua’s antics making her think twice. After giving it much thought, she had come to terms with it.

Well, compared to her eldest daughter-in-law, this second daughter-in-law was reliable enough. Young people have their own ideas. They as the elders could provide some guidance, so why bother with the details?