CHAPTER 318: CHAPTER 318: IS SISTER ALSO FIERCE?

Mrs. Song saw Xu Xiuxiu’s disbelieving expression and spoke up, "How can you not know what kind of temperament Cheng Guang has? He just wanted to protect his younger brother and sister. Wang Qinghua wanted to touch Little Moon’s cheek, but her nails were so long." As she spoke, Mrs. Song gestured to show the length of Wang Qinghua’s nails: "Cheng Guang was just being cautious when he pushed her hand away, but she went around saying that Cheng Guang pushed her. She doesn’t consider how young Cheng Guang is—no one would believe she was pushed by him!"

Mrs. Song mumbled on, her mood exceedingly irritated whenever she recalled the nasty curses Wang Qinghua had hurled in the hospital.

Between an unwelcome daughter-in-law who could no longer bear children, let alone produce a grandson to carry on the family line, and who also had a repellent, irascible temperament, and the precious eldest grandson of the Song Family, Mrs. Song’s internal balance tipped in minutes. If it weren’t for the fact that Wang Qinghua had just given birth, Mrs. Song, as a mother-in-law, wouldn’t have bothered to take care of her.

"Regardless, I should still take Cheng Guang to the county hospital to see her at noon and explain everything in detail!" It was best to resolve the issue quickly; otherwise, the more it dragged on, the more muddled it would become. Xu Xiuxiu had no intention of getting entangled in an unending affair with Wang Qinghua.

"Xiuxiu, if you ask me, there’s no need to take Cheng Guang to the hospital. Wang Qinghua is like a scabrous dog—she’ll bite whoever she catches. Seeing Cheng Guang will surely make her cling and never let go. Besides, Cheng Guang is still so young, and the county hospital isn’t clean. He had just gotten over a high fever yesterday, and I really don’t feel good about letting him go to the hospital and suffer Wang Qinghua’s malevolence." Mrs. Song hesitated, well aware of Wang Qinghua’s vile actions; she truly did not wish to let Song Chen suffer at that woman’s hands in the hospital.

"Cheng had a high fever yesterday?" Xu Xiuxiu’s heart lurched upon hearing that Song Chen had a fever, no wonder Song Chen had complained of feeling dizzied before—it was due to the fever.

Mrs. Song’s face stiffened, then with a great deal of guilt, she explained to Xu Xiuxiu, "The other night Wang Qinghua had that terrible stomachache, remember? The house was in chaos, and I went along to the county hospital to attend to her all night. I didn’t come back until dawn and accidentally overslept. Around midnight, probably Little Baby and Little Moon woke up hungry, and Cheng didn’t call for anyone. He got up to prepare formula by himself, got his clothes wet and didn’t change them; he fell asleep like that. When I woke up, I found Cheng had developed a high fever. I took him to see the barefoot doctor, Old Song. Cheng’s constitution is robust, and after taking a packet of the herbal medicine he cooked, the fever subsided. Xiuxiu, I’m sorry! I didn’t take good care of the children."

So her son, without her knowledge, had grown into a very responsible big brother who could even prepare formula for his siblings? Xu Xiuxiu felt a twinge of sorrow in her heart and shook her head to comfort Mrs. Song, who was truly full of self-reproach.

"It’s alright, it’s good that the fever has gone down. Children’s illnesses come quickly and go quickly. Cheng Guang looked very lively today! But we still should visit my sister-in-law at the hospital. It’s basic courtesy and shouldn’t be neglected. I couldn’t visit her before because of my mother’s seventh-day passing ritual. Now that she’s been laid to rest, there’s no need for so many taboos." Xu Xiuxiu spoke calmly.

"That’s fine! I’ll start by stewing the old hen first, let it simmer on a low heat for a couple of hours, and then we’ll go to the county hospital together at noon." Mrs. Song nodded her agreement.

Xu Xiuxiu and Wang Qinghua were sisters-in-law. No matter what, paying a visit was the right thing to do, but who knew how Wang Qinghua would react upon seeing Song Chen? Sigh! Mrs. Song worried as she felt a growing unease in her heart.

"Mom, do you need any help from me?" Xu Xiuxiu politely asked Mrs. Song, who had turned back to continue plucking the old hen.

"No, you go inside and keep the children company! They’ve been missing you terribly these past few days." Mrs. Song had experienced their longing as they occasionally called for their mother.

"Alright then, call me if you need anything. I’ll head back inside now." Xu Xiuxiu responded and turned to go back into the house.

Song Chen had not seen his mother for several days. As soon as Xu Xiuxiu stepped out of the room, he had stood quietly at the entrance, watching the yard outside. Seeing Xu Xiuxiu speaking with his grandmother and then returning inside, he quickly stood by the wooden bed and shook a rattle for his brother and sister, his lips curling into a relieved smile. Yet, from his tense demeanor just moments before, one could still sense that the recent events had left Song Chen with lingering fears.

"Cheng Guang, come here, let Mommy hug you." As Xu Xiuxiu entered the room, she saw Song Chengguang amusing the boy and girl twins, and then she felt a sourness in her nose as she called out to him.

"Mommy." Song Chengguang, clutching the rattle, turned around and ran directly to Xu Xiuxiu without asking her why, extending his little chubby hands to encircle her neck, his chubby cheeks rubbing against her neck, warm and full of dependence.

"Mommy had no idea that our Cheng Guang had already learned to take care of his little brother and sister. Mommy is so proud and so happy." Xu Xiuxiu held him and sat him down on the edge of the wooden bed, her gaze falling on the twins cooing on the bed, her heart turning to mush. All her children!

"Cheng Guang is the big brother, and it’s only right to look after little brother and sister." Song Chengguang puffed up his little chest, his tone extraordinarily firm.

He had successfully been instilled with the responsibility of being a big brother by Song Yuanhuan, so he didn’t feel sad, but with so much happening these past few days, although young, Song Chengguang could also feel a sense of helplessness. Therefore, seeing Xu Xiuxiu back, when she stepped out of the room, he just wanted to stick to Xu Xiuxiu, inseparable from his own mother.

"Mhm! Cheng Guang is really great." Xu Xiuxiu kissed his cheek, and Song Chengguang’s face turned red in an instant.

"Mommy is great too, Mommy is the best mom." Song Chengguang shyly complimented Xu Xiuxiu in return.

"Mhm." Xu Xiuxiu, smiling, raised her hand to stroke Song Chengguang’s head. "Cheng Guang, would you like to go to the hospital with Mommy at noon to visit elder aunt and the little sister she gave birth to?" Xu Xiuxiu, seeing her son a bit shy and also remembering the trip to the county hospital at noon, decided to ask Song Chengguang’s opinion.

"..." Song Chengguang’s eyes flickered. "To visit elder aunt?" His tone held uncertainty and fear.

"Mhm."

"Can Cheng Guang not go?" Song Chengguang hesitated as he asked.

"Why? Does Cheng Guang not like elder aunt?" Xu Xiuxiu continued to ask gently.

"Mhm! Elder aunt is bad, she wanted to poke brother’s face, Cheng Guang wouldn’t let her and then she scolded Cheng Guang, it was painful and she also scolded Cheng Guang..." Song Chengguang pouted, listing the foolish things Wang Qinghua had done: "Cheng Guang doesn’t like her, she is mean, and sister is mean too." The little guy, speaking his mind, instantly thought of Song Tianxin Niuniu, his sister who also occasionally bullied him, and he really didn’t like her either.

"Sister is mean too?"