RYEY -Chapter 396 Returning to the Capital

Cheng Qiao shook her head helplessly. Yuan Qin now didn’t even greet her when she saw her, acting as if they were complete strangers. Cheng Qiao wasn’t anyone special to Yuan Qin anyway—why should she indulge her? So she simply treated her as if she didn’t know her either.

Zhu Qingde understood the underlying issues between the two and found it inconvenient to say much. Still, when it came to matters of life and death, he felt he had to give a reminder. Yet every time, Yuan Qin agreed readily—only to go back and continue eating and “supplementing” excessively.

“Meili, you know your mother’s baby is growing too big. If this keeps up, it might…”

Cheng Qiao didn’t finish the words difficult labor. She was afraid that if Yuan Qin really ended up having a hard delivery, the blame would be dumped on her. She had no desire to become that “sharp-tongued” person.

“I know, but I don’t dare say anything to her. The moment I do, she says I’m an ungrateful wretch who can’t stand the child in her belly. She even says that’s my younger brother—her own flesh and blood—far more important than a daughter like me.”

Cheng Qiao was speechless. Yuan Qin was clearly entering an irritable phase—worse, an irritable phase during pregnancy. If this continued, it would be fine if she gave birth to a son. But if it was a daughter, she would probably collapse.

“Cheng Qiao, can you tell whether the baby in my mom’s belly is a boy or a girl?”

“I don’t know.”

She truly didn’t know. She had never taken Yuan Qin’s pulse, so how could she tell the baby’s gender? Besides, even if she did know, what then—would they terminate the pregnancy just because it was a girl?

At this age, both terminating the pregnancy and carrying it to term carried risks. Any decision had to be made with extreme caution.

“Meili, if you trust me, I’ll take Xiao Chencheng to Beijing. You stay here to look after your mom. After all, she’s an elderly pregnant woman—I’m worried your dad won’t be able to handle her alone.”

Meili thought for a moment, then squatted down and looked at her son seriously. “Son, do you want to go to Beijing to see Grandma?”

Li Chen looked at Brother Cheng Li, then at Meili, hesitating. “Mom, can’t you come with me?”

“Your Aunt Qiao is right. Grandma is pregnant with your little uncle, and I’m worried something might happen, so I have to stay and watch over her. If anything really happened, Mom would regret it for the rest of her life.”

“Then can we ask Grandma not to give birth to the little uncle? He’s already so disobedient—if he’s born, he’ll definitely get beaten.”

“Pfft—”

Cheng Qiao couldn’t help laughing. Children really were little sages. What he said made perfect sense—if he didn’t behave in the womb, he’d surely get beaten after birth.

“You little rascal, you can’t let your grandma hear that. Otherwise, she won’t like you anymore.”

“She doesn’t like me now anyway. She only likes the little uncle in her belly. Last time I fell down, she didn’t even come help me up.”

“Silly child, your grandma’s belly is so big—how could she help you up? You’re a little man. You should learn from your dad—don’t fear hardship or exhaustion. So what if you fall? Just get up by yourself.”

When Li Chen heard that he should learn from Li Bing, he nodded vigorously. His dad was a hero, so he was a little hero too.

“Mom, give me the gift for Grandma. I’ll deliver it for you.”

“This child—say he’s sensible and he’s not, say he’s not and he makes your heart ache.”

“Eldest sister-in-law, you’re too modest. Little Chencheng is very sensible and well-behaved. Don’t worry—leave him to me.”

A three-year-old didn’t need a train ticket. So, on the originally planned date, Cheng Liguo set off with Cheng Qiao, Cheng Li, and little Li Chen. Qin Guoqing also had leave due to his injury and followed along.

Xiao Dan drove the van, took them to the train station, and helped carry the luggage. After all, Qin Guoqing was half-disabled at the moment, and they had a lot of baggage.

“Xiao Dan, this is for you. Next time you mail a letter, send this along to Chen Xiaoniu. Girls all like gifts. I wish you an early marriage to Chen Xiaoniu.”

Cheng Qiao handed him a large kraft-paper envelope. Inside was a cashmere scarf. This silly boy had been exchanging letters back and forth with Chen Xiaoniu for ages, yet there had been no real progress.

“Thank you, Second Sister-in-law! I’ll go mail it right away. I’ve already written five or six letters but haven’t had time to send them.”

“Work hard.”

Cheng Qiao waved without turning back, hugged little Li Chen, and boarded the train. From the time he could remember, the child had never been on a train before. Once aboard, he happily ran around.

Cheng Liguo worried the child might be snatched by traffickers and followed closely behind. After all, he was Li Bing’s only son—he had to be watched carefully.

When the train whistle sounded, the little one was clearly frightened. He whimpered and clung to Cheng Qiao for comfort. Amused, Cheng Qiao pulled all kinds of snacks out of her backpack. What could drive away fear? Only snacks, of course.

Seeing the small table covered with food and drinks, little Li Chen immediately forgot his fear. He popped a candy into his mouth, thought for a moment, then slipped a piece of chocolate into his pocket.

“Auntie, are these all for me?”

“These are for everyone. Whoever wants some can take them.”

Cheng Qiao knew the child had been somewhat spoiled by Yuan Qin. Fortunately, he was still young enough to be corrected. Sure enough, upon hearing that the snacks were for everyone, little Li Chen began distributing them obediently.

“Grandpa eats, Uncle eats, Auntie eats, big brother eats. Everyone’s eaten—so these are mine.”

Cheng Li looked at his little cousin in surprise. He hadn’t expected such a small child to be so calculating. Could he even finish that many snacks?

Although Cheng Li himself didn’t care much for snacks—his mom’s backpack had as many as he wanted—he felt like teasing the kid.

“Chencheng, these aren’t yours yet.”

“Why not? You’ve all had some.”

“But Grandma hasn’t. Grandpa Ye hasn’t. My big brother Xuhui hasn’t. My younger brother and sister haven’t either. And my dad—he hasn’t.”

“Ah… so many people?”

Panic flashed in little Li Chen’s eyes. He looked at the snacks on the table again, thought for a long while, then picked out a few brightly colored candies and put them in his pocket.

“Auntie, I’ve taken mine. These… these can be for them.”

Cheng Qiao nearly burst out laughing. This child was just too adorable. She gently pinched his chubby little cheek, packed the snacks into a paper bag, and told him he could distribute them after getting off the train—and whatever was left would all be his.

Little Li Chen happily waved his short arms, sat down beside Cheng Li, listened to him tell stories, and gradually fell asleep. Cheng Li leaned against Cheng Qiao as well, closing his eyes in contentment.

Li Huan stood at the train station, anxiously watching the arriving train. He and Cheng Qiao hadn’t seen each other for half a year—he missed her terribly. Today, at last, they would meet again.

Equally anxious was Mother Li. One hand held Li Ming’s, the other Ye Jing’s, while Ye Jing held Xiaonuan’s hand. Four people, eight eyes, all fixed intently on the slowly stopping train.