CHAPTER 348: CHAPTER 350: CARRY BACK HOME

As soon as he stepped out of the room, Zheng Xianghong had already returned and was cooking in the kitchen.

Xia Xiao entered the kitchen and said, "Mom, you’re back. Where are Dad, Big Brother, and Yu Hua?"

"Your dad is still at the headquarters, Jiazhi left early, and Yuhua probably took Weilin to Youth Point," Zheng Xianghong finished, then looked at Xia Xiao, "You must be hungry, the food will be ready soon."

"Not hungry," Xia Xiao shook his head, smiling as he took out a wrapped package containing two meat buns, "My sister went to town with the car today and bought me several meat buns. I saved these two for you and Dad to eat."

"No need, you keep them. If you get hungry tonight, just eat them," Zheng Xianghong shook her head, then added, "Pregnant people can feel hungry easily, I don’t even know if you usually get hungry at night..."

Xia Xiao picked up at that point, "I’m not hungry, mom, don’t worry. If I am, I’ll come and find something to eat."

While saying this, Xia Xiao took a bowl, filled it with two meat buns, and handed it to Zheng Xianghong, "Mom, eat these while they are hot. I’ve already eaten, and I’ll wait to eat dinner later."

"You keep them for yourself," Zheng Xianghong said.

"Mom, you’re being too formal with me. You’re always so good to me, I want to be good to you too. They’re really tasty, try them," Xia Xiao urged and added, "I also shared half of them with Weilin today."

As for Gao Jiazhi and Sun Yuhua, Xia Xiao didn’t bother about them. Both adults had gone into town, and if they didn’t buy anything, so be it.

After all, she hadn’t bought them, Xia Jing had. And frankly, Xia Xiao didn’t really like Sun Yuhua that much nowadays.

But she preferred to make less trouble rather than more, avoiding any quarrels with Sun Yuhua, so Gao Guoqiang, Zheng Xianghong, and Gao Jiazhi wouldn’t be put in a difficult position.

Xia Xiao could see that Gao Guoqiang favored Jiaxing over her, while Zheng Xianghong tried hard to balance attention between the two, as if afraid of being accused of favoritism.

Just then, Gao Guoqiang came home. The two meat buns that Xia Xiao had given and Zheng Xianghong had warmed up were ready. Xia Xiao urged Zheng Xianghong to eat one, then personally brought one to Gao Guoqiang.

With Gao Jiazhi and Sun Yuhua not at home, Gao Guoqiang and Zheng Xianghong could eat, but if Gao Jiazhi and Sun Yuhua were present, it would be awkward for them to do so.

Meanwhile, when Jiaxing met with Liu Yuanchao, Liu Yuanchao discussed with Jiaxing about their recent assembly at the military base. They were sent to a secret small island where they couldn’t contact their families and even had to sign a nondisclosure agreement.

So, Jiaxing immediately ran to the post office to send a telegram to his family, with only four words: "All is well, don’t worry."

Before heading to the small island, Jiaxing and his teammates left letters for their families, which the military would later send.

"When will we be able to come back?" Jiaxing asked Liu Yuanchao, feeling somewhat conflicted. He was eager to join the military, but the thought of being newly married to Xia Xiao and now having to go to the small island with no clear return date made him feel reluctant and sad.

Liu Yuanchao patted Jiaxing’s shoulder, "We’ll come back, don’t think too much. Let’s go."

So, their group was taken to a secret island for training, where they had to rely solely on themselves with limited resources. It was a true test of self-sufficiency.

Currently, surviving better on the small island and improving their training was their own responsibility.

Meanwhile, Xia Xiao spent the past few days observing the Fang Family, finally finding out which hospital and department Fang Yuan’s sister-in-law worked at.

She wasn’t sure if Fang Yuan’s sister-in-law would adopt Ge Liang, but she wanted to try, so while Ge Liang was asleep, Xia Xiao took Ge Liang out of Black Bear Cave with her spatial ability. When she saw Fang Yuan’s sister-in-law coming to the restroom, Xia Xiao put Ge Liang inside and then disappeared back into her space.

Fang Yuan’s sister-in-law, Tang Jiao, was working the night shift, and she was shocked to see a four- or five-year-old child lying naked on the floor when she went to the restroom.

"Whose child is this?" Tang Jiao felt pity. Why weren’t the adults watching him? And why was the child sleeping here, not wearing any clothes? Why is he covered in leaves? How could the adults be so careless with their child?

Tang Jiao gently touched Ge Liang’s forehead, relieved to find he didn’t have a fever, then nudged him gently.

Ge Liang woke up, bewildered, then, seeing he was not in the safe Black Bear Cave, he pushed Tang Jiao away in panic and curled up in the corner.

"Child, where are your family?" Tang Jiao asked patiently.

Ge Liang didn’t respond, just watched Tang Jiao warily, not letting her come closer.

Seeing this, Xia Xiao felt a pang of heartache, but she couldn’t tend to Ge Liang right now. He couldn’t stay in the Black Bear Cave any longer; he needed to come out, and having someone adopt him would be best.

As a doctor, Tang Jiao could tell from one look at Ge Liang’s appearance that he was a troubled child.

And though Ge Liang was born well, he was dressed in leaves, not appearing like a normal child, but more like an abandoned troubled child.

At that thought, Tang Jiao felt a chill. Perhaps this child was abandoned, which would explain it.

Suddenly, like a small wild animal, Ge Liang pushed Tang Jiao away when she wasn’t paying attention and ran out.

Tang Jiao immediately chased after him, but Ge Liang had no idea where to run and ended up dashing into Tang Jiao’s office.

Throughout the night, Tang Jiao spoke to Ge Liang patiently, very curious about him.

Seeing Ge Liang like this, Tang Jiao couldn’t help but think of her own child, who, if still alive, would be about Ge Liang’s age now.

Her son’s disappearance had never been resolved between Tang Jiao and her husband.

Years ago, Tang Jiao and her husband were traveling with their child by train to visit her family. An incident on the train distracted them, and in that moment they lost their son. She blamed her husband, and her husband blamed her. Both thought the other would keep a close watch on the child, never imagining that they would lose him and never find him again.

That night, Xia Xiao barely slept, just watching Tang Jiao and Ge Liang. Ge Liang, being young and perhaps sensing no malice from Tang Jiao, couldn’t hold out until dawn and fell asleep in the corner.

Tang Jiao picked up Ge Liang, placed him on a chair, and covered him with her coat.

Seeing this, Xia Xiao didn’t linger; she had to return.

Having not slept all night, it was only the Divine Water that sustained Xia Xiao. She knew she was being willful, especially as she was pregnant, but she couldn’t relax about Ge Liang. What if Ge Liang had run out and Tang Jiao hadn’t chased after him? Then it would have been her fault for losing Ge Liang.

After drinking the spring water, Xia Xiao went back to her room and lay down to sleep.

At the Fangs’, early in the morning while everyone was eating breakfast, they saw Tang Jiao come back holding a child.