Chapter 570: The Capital City is So Big
Chapter 570: The Capital City is So Big
Father Jiang couldn’t bring himself to say what Jiang Dong blurted out: "Sis, how did you get so thin?"
Father Jiang’s foot itched, wanting to kick this clueless brat!
Can’t he speak properly?!
Why not ask in private?
Jiang Xia laughed, "Really? Finally, I’ve slimmed down! I’ll check how much lighter I am later to see if I’m back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I was so heavy before, I’d get out of breath after a few steps and was always so hot."
Jiang Dong honestly replied, "You’re not as thin as before you had the kids. But you’ve slimmed down a bit since you got out of the hospital. You were quite round right after giving birth."
Jiang Xia: "..."
Father Jiang looked at Mother Zhou and chuckled, "Not just Xia Xia, but Mother-in-law has also lost weight. Raising three kids must be exhausting! Thank you for all your hard work!"
Jiang Xia added, "Mom is the hardest worker, and she’s lost a lot of weight."
Mother Zhou laughed, "Raising three kids is indeed tiring. Xia Xia has it the toughest. Other mothers get tired from feeding a few times a day, but she has to do it several times more."
Even Mother Zhou, who is so capable, finds it exhausting.
Though the kids are well-behaved, they still need to be fed multiple times a day, their bottles washed, hot water boiled, diapers changed, and countless other tasks like bathing them, putting them to bed, and handling other household chores and farm work.
Mother Zhou hasn’t skipped a single task; otherwise, her and Father Zhou couldn’t manage three kids.
Zhao Cheng Lei sometimes goes out to sea during the day or checks on the construction site.
In short, having three kids means countless additional chores.
Previously, Mother Zhou would come upstairs at night to help with breastfeeding. Later, seeing her lose weight, Xia Xia and Zhao Cheng Lei found a better way to feed the kids, so she didn’t have to get up at night anymore.
Raising a child to adulthood is no small feat, and the term "enduring hardships" doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Father Jiang, who has two kids himself, understands the challenges all too well.
The family took the kids to see Doctor Gao for a prenatal check-up.
Gao Jie checked the kids’ pulses, measured their heights and weights, and performed some basic examinations.
Gao Jie smiled, "The kids are being well cared for, and with their parents’ good genes, they’re growing quite well. I expect by next month’s check-up, they’ll be as strong as single-born children."
Thinking about Jiang Xia going to the Capital City for university, Gao Jie asked, "You’re going to the Capital City for school. Will you take the kids with you?"
Zhao Cheng Lei had discussed this with her and planned not to bring the kids so she could focus on her studies and enjoy her college life. He intended to ask his elder sister-in-law and second sister-in-law for help, and also bring in her grandparents to assist. But he still asked, "What do you think, Doctor Gao?"
Doctor Gao shared her opinion, "I think that since these are triplets, they were born weaker than average children. It’s best to breastfeed them until they’re a year old. If you can’t make it to a year, at least try for six months. This is better for their health. It’s just a suggestion. Work and studies are also important, so plan accordingly."
Jiang Xia felt a bit hesitant, "Alright."
She’s never been indecisive, but this is the first time she’s had to make choices that affect her kids.
*
After leaving the hospital, they passed by the pediatric ward and saw Dr. Ruan. Jiang Xia greeted her with a smile, "Dr. Ruan."
Dr. Ruan smiled back and then looked at Father Jiang and Mother Zhou. She recognized Father Jiang and, from Mother Zhou’s appearance, deduced that she must be Zhao Cheng Lei’s mother. Zhou Chengsen looked more like Mother Zhou. She greeted them, "Uncle Jiang, Aunt Zhou."
Mother Zhou, who didn’t know Dr. Ruan, wondered why she was being addressed. She smiled, "Hello, Dr. Ruan."
Father Jiang nodded with a smile, "Hello. Drop by our place sometime with your father."
Dr. Ruan replied, "Sure."
Dr. Ruan then turned to Jiang Xia, "Please remind Comrade Zhou to come for his shot on the 2nd."
Jiang Xia smiled, "Sure, I’ll remind him when I get home. Dr. Ruan, you’re busy, we’ll head home now."
"Sure, take care."
After exchanging greetings, the family left.
Mother Zhou suddenly remembered a doctor her granddaughter had mentioned and asked, "Is the Dr. Ruan we just saw the one who found Yingying and Zhou Zhou and brought them back?"
Jiang Xia nodded, "Yes."
Zhou Mu sighed, "I should have thanked him just now."
Jiang Xia, "It's okay, Second Brother already did."
They had lunch at the Jiang family's house.
Jiang Mother and Aunt Feng had already prepared the meal at home.
After lunch, while Zhou Mu was in the bathroom, Jiang Mother asked Jiang Xia, "When do you plan to go to Capital City?"
Jiang Xia, "On the 29th."
Jiang Dong immediately said, "Then I'll book a morning flight for the 29th."
He usually preferred evening flights when traveling alone, but it was better to leave in the morning with his sister. That way, they would arrive in Capital City in the afternoon, giving them half a day to settle in.
Jiang Xia, "No rush, I'll book the tickets myself. I haven't decided how many tickets I need yet."
Jiang Dong, "Let me handle it. I often book tickets and know how to do it. Just tell me how many tickets you need."
Jiang Mother, hearing this, asked, "So early? What are your plans with the kids? Are you taking them to Capital City?"
Jiang Xia, "I'm still considering. Doctor Gao said it's best to wean the kids after they're six months old."
Jiang Mother couldn't help but sound exasperated, "Of course, it's better to wean them later. It's already this late, and you're still considering? If you had listened to me and applied to a local university, there wouldn't be this problem! You never listen! How can you bring such young kids to Capital City and hire someone to take care of them? How can you concentrate on your studies?"
Zhao Cheng Lei, "Mom, I'll be there."
Jiang Mother, "Are you planning to quit your job and stay home to take care of the kids? You're still building the factory, right? You're not going to abandon it halfway, are you? What about the fish you're raising in the leased sea area? You've invested tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands. Do you want all that money to go down the drain?!"
Jiang Father, "Enough. Xiaxia clearly has the ability to attend the best universities. Do you think anyone can get into Q University just like that? What's the point of your constant nagging? They'll figure it out themselves. They don't need you to take care of the kids, so stop worrying!"
Jiang Mother, fuming, "Don't you talk! You've spoiled the kids! If Xiaxia studied in the city, I could help with the kids!"
One is studying abroad, who knows when they'll come back? The other is having kids and running to Capital City!
Jiang Father, "..."
With the kids and the in-laws present, Jiang Father didn't say anything more, afraid of starting an argument.
Zhao Cheng Lei, "Dad, Mom, don't worry. Taking care of the kids won't affect my work. We'll figure it out."
Jiang Mother, "Fine. You're so capable, figure it out yourselves. I can't control you. I'll go check on the kids."
Jiang Mother stood up and left.
Well, Capital City is so big.
The family, "..."
*
That night, after the kids were asleep, Jiang Xia waited for Zhao Cheng Lei to finish his shower and said, "I've thought it through. Ask Elder Sister-in-Law and Second Sister-in-Law if they're willing to come to Capital City to take care of the kids. I'll take the kids to Capital City for this semester, and you stay home. You can visit us when you have free time."
"Alright, I'll ask Elder Sister-in-Law and Second Sister-in-Law."
A flight from the city to Capital City only takes four to five hours, so he could easily travel back and forth.
After hearing what Doctor Gao said today, Zhao Cheng Lei knew Jiang Xia would change her mind. Fortunately, he had already arranged for Jiang Dong to buy a courtyard house in Capital City.
Zhao Cheng Lei pulled Jiang Xia into his arms.
Since the kids were born, she had put them first in everything.
She ate voraciously to ensure she had enough milk, drinking all sorts of lactation-boosting soups even when she felt like vomiting.
She used to sleep soundly, but now she woke up two or three times every night to check if the kids were bitten by mosquitoes or if they were properly covered.
When a mosquito bite swelled on one of the kids, she would be heartbroken for days, wishing she could exterminate the entire mosquito family.
During pregnancy, she had gained weight, and in just a month, she had lost it all while taking care of the kids.
This, perhaps, is what it means to be a mother.
Once you have kids, you no longer have time for yourself.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
