I Bacame the Mother of His Child

As everyone was discussing Wang Qinghua, Song Tianxin, who sat next to the hospital bed with her head drooping, suddenly began to cry, "Wuu wuu... Auntie lied, Mommy won't abandon Niuniu and Daddy. Mommy is just borrowing money for Daddy's treatment, wuu wuu..." Song Tianxin was still young and couldn't understand why Grandpa and Grandma were angry, nor why Auntie said Mommy didn't want her, and she definitely couldn't understand how Daddy got hurt and bled. All she knew was that Mommy loved her and would never abandon her, and certainly not Daddy.

At that moment, the child's sudden outburst was something that no one in the ward had expected. Mrs. Song, Liu Shuxiang, glanced at her normally well-behaved granddaughter and, with heartsore tears, did not come forward to comfort her.

Mr. Song furrowed his brow and his hands instinctively fumbled for his tobacco pipe. Realizing that he had left it at home and did not bring it along, he became agitated and silently sighed with his hands behind his back.

Clearly, no one in the ward was much inclined to soothe her feelings.

Song Yuan Yao was very fond of her little niece Song Tianxin. Wang Qinghua, although also doting on her, wasn't very attentive, and often it was Aunt Song Yuan Yao who bought the little girl her snacks and toys. Therefore, Niuniu and Aunt Song Yuan Yao had a reasonably good relationship. "Niuniu, be good, don't cry. Auntie said the wrong thing. Mommy hasn't abandoned Niuniu, so don't be scared, okay? And as long as Niuniu behaves, your mommy will definitely come back, okay?" Song Yuan Yao stepped forward to wipe the little one's face and, seeing Song Tianxin hiccuping with sobs, her heart ached as she spoke to comfort her, although she knew that her comfort might not last long and was indeed another kind of benevolent deception.

But watching Niuniu break down in tears, she genuinely couldn't bear it. After all, it was best not to involve children in adult matters.

"Really?" Song Tianxin dried her tears and looked at Song Yuan Yao with hiccupping sobs. She didn't know if what was said was true or false; she only knew that if Song Yuan Yao nodded, it meant it was true.

"Really." Song Yuan Yao honestly felt uncertain inside, and she didn't think her sister-in-law, Wang Qinghua, would return to the Song family. But with so many troubles at home, her elder brother lying in the hospital uncertain of life or death, and with medical bills, hospitalization fees, and future rehabilitation expenses looming, these were all sizeable headaches. It was unlikely that anyone at home would spare much thought for a little girl—her only option was to soothe Niuniu's emotions.

"Okay, then Niuniu be good, don't cry." Song Tianxin, as though making a firm decision, clenched her little hands on her knees and sat straight up, prim and proper.

The people in the ward, while feeling a twinge of sadness, also had varied thoughts.

"Mommy, sister is crying." Song Chengguang was young and didn't understand why everyone in the ward looked so somber, but he had been staying quietly in his mother's arms until he saw Song Tianxin in tears; only then did he pout his little mouth and speak to Xu Xiuxiu.

Xu Xiuxiu also felt quite sorry for the little girl, Song Tianxin, especially after learning that Wang Qinghua might choose to abandon her. She was so young, and if their uncle ever became paralyzed, life would probably be difficult for her. Thinking this, Xu Xiuxiu handed Song Chengguang to Song Yuanhuan, "Mom, Dad, here's a thousand yuan. It's a little something from Yuanyao and me, take it for now. If it's not enough, we'll find a way to gather more." She handed Mr. Song ten grey hundred-yuan bills.

Mr. Song looked at the banknotes handed to him and felt a swirl of emotions. His hands, slightly trembling, took the money, and his weary eyes were filled with tears. "Xiuxiu, I thank you on behalf of Yuantao. I'll hold on to the money for now, rest assured, I will find a way to pay you back as soon as possible." His second son had told him that his daughter-in-law had opened a restaurant in the city. Although he had never traveled far, he knew that money wasn't easy to come by, especially when it was a thousand yuan or more. He had exhausted his savings and borrowed heavily from relatives to accumulate a similar sum. That his second daughter-in-law was willing to give a thousand yuan in one go filled him with immense gratitude. Thus, he couldn't neglect his second son because of his eldest son's plight. He had to find a way to repay this money no matter what.

This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēnovelkiss.com.

"It's fine, Dad. There's no rush about the money, as long as Uncle is getting better." Sichuan Pavilion was turning a good profit, and although it was currently being renovated, she had managed to earn some money over the past couple of months. If a thousand yuan could cure Song Yuantao, it might even save a family. It would be a good deed, and after all, Yuantao was known to be a decent person in normal times.

She had sought Yuantao's help when visiting the military base, and it was he who, without hesitation, took the initiative to catch the thief during that terrifying night. These were all acts of kindness that Xiuxiu had taken to heart. Not to mention, since Song Yuanhuan was her brother-in-law, it was only reasonable for her to help out with some money at such a critical time.

...

Due to the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, the hospital allowed only one person to stay with the patient, and this exception was made only because of Song Yuantao's severe injuries. After discussing it, Yuanhuan stayed in the hospital, while the rest returned home.

The muddy road to Song Family Village was always full of potholes. The last time she left, Xiuxiu was nearly jostled so badly she felt her rear-end might split open. Now, sitting back on the tricycle, she immediately felt the ferocity of the muddy road, shaken and jolted so much that she nearly couldn't hold onto Song Chengguang.

She thought if she had failed to hold on to Song Chengguang and he'd fallen, Xiuxiu reckoned she'd be tempted to slap herself. Frightened after the fact, she clenched her teeth and held Song Chengguang tightly in her arms.

"Second sister-in-law, let me hold Chengguang!" Song Yuanming, sitting next to Xiuxiu and seeing her struggle, frowned and spoke up.

He didn't want to bother with Xiuxiu at first, but since she had visited her second brother and hadn't returned home, treating him and Yuanyao quite well, sending study supplies and new summer clothes when the vacation hadn't started, and even called during the summer break asking if they wanted to spend summer in the city, suggesting they could stay until school resumed as if on a trip.

He was quite tempted, but Mr. Song had sternly warned them not to disturb his second brother. Although he and Yuanyao ultimately didn't go, he remembered her kindness, and besides, Chengguang was his little nephew. He didn't want the little one to get hurt.

"Okay, thank you, Yuanming." Xiuxiu gratefully said, looking at Yuanming with an embarrassed expression.

Yuanming carefully took Song Chengguang from her. Rural kids tend to be quite strong, and he held Chengguang firmly on his lap with one hand, while the other gripped the rear iron pole of the tricycle. Despite the rough terrain jostling the vehicle, he was unaffected, keeping Chengguang secure in his arms. Seeing this, Xiuxiu breathed a sigh of relief.

Half an hour later, the tricycle finally entered Song Family Village, and everyone got off and went home.