Chapter 471: Chapter 471
Fan Xiuying cradled her little grandson in her arms; this child really was adorable.
He inherited all the good qualities from his parents.
A high, straight nose, deep, large eyes, chiseled features just like his father’s, and full lips.
His skin completely inherited Jiang Xiaoxiao’s fairness, unlike other newborns who are red like little monkeys or some who have severe jaundice.
Instead, it was as white as fine porcelain, glowing.
At just three days old, the child had already fully opened his eyes and was curiously staring at Fan Xiuying in front of him, but he neither cried nor fussed.
Especially when Fan Xiuying spoke softly to him, he would unconsciously smile.
Jiang Xiaoxiao thought it was unconscious, but Fan Xiuying believed her grandson recognized her.
That was a smile for her.
"Mom, stop holding the baby all the time. You were the one who said it—if you keep holding him , he won’t want to lie in bed later and will get spoiled."
Jiang Xiaoxiao was worried about Fan Xiuying’s back; with her peach complexion, Fan Xiuying had really never been sick enough to be hospitalized!
But recently, because she had her baby, Fan Xiuying was practically stationed there all day, or she’d be back cooking chicken soup or meals, bustling around non-stop.
Jiang Xiaoxiao saw her massaging her back when no one was around. Fan Xiuying, after all, was not young, and running around for such a long time was too much even for an ironwoman.
Fan Xiuying looked as Jiang Xiaoxiao put the bowl down. As expected, half of the bowl of brown sugar water remained.
"You silly child, if you don’t eat and drink enough, how can our Tang Yuan have enough to eat? Every time you just eat a little, like feeding chickens. Look at our Little Tang Yuan; he’s not like what your mom says. Grandma loves to spoil our Tang Yuan, loves to hold him, and our Tang Yuan likes to be held by Grandma, right?
Look! Tang Yuan smiled. Our Tang Yuan is so clever, doesn’t cry or fuss. I haven’t seen another child as easy-going as our Tang Yuan. Grandma’s happy holding him."
Yes, the little guy was fair and chubby. Originally, Jiang Xiaoxiao thought he looked like Baozi and wanted to call him that.
Fan Xiuying, Jiang Laoshi, Old Sir Song, and Old Mrs. Song all did not agree.
How could a child from their family be called Baozi?
In the end, only Tang Yuan was acceptable to everyone.
A nickname can be anything.
Jiang Xiaoxiao looked at her spoiled son and shook her head helplessly. Ever since Tang Yuan was born, her mom had completely taken away the affection she had for her, focusing solely on Tang Yuan.
Fan Xiuying and Old Mrs. Song took turns watching the child.
The two of them held the child and played with him, not knowing what such a small child could understand!
But the two played with great enjoyment.
They even claimed it was to play with Tang Yuan, but Jiang Xiaoxiao felt they probably treated Tang Yuan as a toy to play with.
"I can’t eat, but I haven’t skimped on your grandson’s rations, so stop nagging at me. You feed me six meals a day; I’m turning into a pig, eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating. Look at my face; it’s all round now, yet you say I eat too little."
After giving birth, she truly lived a life of luxury.
The child did not need her care. Aside from feeding times when Tang Yuan was brought to her side, she didn’t have to do anything for Tang Yuan.
She hadn’t even learned how to hold the child properly.
Every time her son was brought to her, she was flustered. It was all because her mom and Old Mrs. Song never gave her a chance to practice.
"You are the child’s mother; if you don’t eat well, how will the child eat well? You must properly do your confinement month, or you will suffer later on. You need to listen! You can’t just do whatever you want."
Fan Xiuying didn’t care; seeing the child trying to walk, she was anxious and kept scolding.
Jiang Xiaoxiao closed her eyes, lying there obediently like a quail.
Otherwise, when Old Mrs. Song arrived, and she teamed up with her mom, she’d truly be in tears with nowhere to cry.
Her status had fallen significantly.
Even more so than Tang Yuan’s freedom.
Who could understand the feelings of a mother in August, trapped in a room with all windows and doors shut, so hot she was about to break out in prickly heat?
Even wiping sweat with a hot towel was impossible due to her mom’s strict watch.
Jiang Xiaoxiao really was close to dying.
Why did she have to give birth in August?
Fang Xiaohui held her daughter, who was crying so loudly it seemed as if she would tear off the roof, feeling very upset.
"Why aren’t you feeding her quickly? Can’t you hear her cries are almost drawing everyone in the corridor here? I’ve never seen a child who can cry so much."
Mrs. Song grumbled, annoyed.
"Others have children; you have children too. How is it that you were pregnant before her, but she ended up giving birth first? Alright, she gave birth, and Jiang Xiaoxiao had a son, and you see, the old lady loves him so much she guards the hospital room every day and won’t leave.
She’s practically moved into that hospital room, and you? You have no other skills, yet you can’t even manage to soothe your own child. You couldn’t give us a grandson for the old lady to dote on, and we were stuck with you as a daughter-in-law. But how can you not even soothe your own child? Tell me, what good are you for?"
Mrs. Song glared at her failures.
She had thought that her daughter-in-law could give birth to a grandson, at least holding the title of long-anticipated great-grandson.
Then the old lady might soften a bit for the sake of the great-grandson, especially when her son needed the old lady’s support.
Who knew it would turn out that Jiang Xiaoxiao ended up giving birth two days earlier, to a boy.
And so, the old lady doted on him, staying by his side constantly.
She cherished that child dearly, while her daughter-in-law, not only did she give birth later but after much anticipation finally birthed a girl, a girl who cried louder than anyone.
All day there was no peace, driving Mrs. Song to see everything as unpleasant.
Tears of grievance rolled down Fang Xiaohui’s face.
Song Mohuan glanced at his mother, "Mom, stop it. It’s no different whether it’s a boy or girl, right? Grandma even said it, boys and girls are the same, and she hasn’t even ignored our daughter! Stop blaming Xiaohui; it’s not her fault, you can’t control if it’s a boy or girl.
I’m a doctor, my dad’s a doctor; surely we understand this. Xiaohui, don’t cry. People say crying after childbirth isn’t good for your eyes. Don’t mind what my mom says."
He cherished his own wife, and seeing his mom going on, Song Mohuan was also impatient.
"Fine, fine, now I can’t even speak to your precious wife, can I?"
Mrs. Song retorted in frustration, while Fang Xiaohui didn’t retort, just cried, which made Song Mohuan’s heart tilt right away seeing his wife in tears.
"Mom, how can you be such a mother-in-law? Our daughter-in-law just had a child, and you don’t bring her chicken soup or supplements or meals; you come empty-handed, and still, you keep criticizing her.
If the child cries, is that her problem? If you really can’t stand our daughter, then maybe don’t come, it’s less trouble. Look at the state of the hospital room with you here.
Crying and fussing. Mr. Wang is coming to the hospital today too; how will it look if Mr. Wang sees this mess?"
Song Mohuan’s words gave Mrs. Song pause.
"Mr. Wang is coming?"
She had only recently learned that Fang Xiaohui seemed to know Mr. Wang and would visit him at his house.
"Indeed, it’s true. I called the Wang family, and Mr. Wang’s driver said they’d just set off in a car to this hospital. Surely it’s because he knows Xiaohui had a child, and he’s coming to see her. If Mr. Wang sees you , how will he think of the Song family?"
Song Mohuan had never met Mr. Wang, but once saw Mr. Wang’s driver bring Fang Xiaohui back, only then realizing his wife knew him. Mr. Wang was even more influential than his grandmother.
If he could gain Mr. Wang’s support, he’d prefer that over trying in vain to win the favor of his grandmother.