Chapter 373 - 375 Military News
October 1st, National Day, the arrival of twin boys at five in the morning filled the Gao family with joy.
At noon, Xia Xiao was awakened by the cries of the children. By then, Zheng Xianghong, Xia Jing, and Gao Jiazhi had all come in.
"Xia Xiao is awake," Zheng Xianghong announced with a smile on her face. "Jiaxing is back."
Xia Xiao immediately caught Jiaxing’s affectionate gaze. Although Zheng Xianghong, Xia Jing, and the two children were there, Xia Xiao couldn’t help but feel a lump in her throat and the urge to cry.
"I’ll take the children out to give them some water," said Zheng Xianghong, picking up one child and handing it to Xia Jing, then carrying the other out.
Xia Xiao: "..." She hadn’t even gotten a good look at the children yet.
But by then, Jiaxing had already come to her side. Xia Xiao lowered her eyes and couldn’t help but want to cry.
Although this was her choice, having gone through pregnancy and childbirth only to see her husband return, Xia Xiao didn’t blame Jiaxing, but she still couldn’t help feeling aggrieved.
If Jiaxing hadn’t returned, she would have remained strong and wouldn’t have cried, but now that he was there, the sight of him made Xia Xiao’s fragile defenses begin to crumble.
"Xiaoxiao, I’m sorry you’ve suffered," Jiaxing said. At his words, tears streamed uncontrollably down Xia Xiao’s face.
"Don’t cry," Jiaxing sat down, pulled Xia Xiao into his embrace, and gently soothed her. "It’s my fault, you have every right to be upset with me, Xiaoxiao. Don’t cry, mother said you shouldn’t cry during confinement; it will harm your eyes."
Xia Xiao shook her head and gently wiped away her tears. "I don’t blame you. I’m happy you’re back, but I just can’t control these tears."
She just felt like crying.
Jiaxing gently stroked Xia Xiao’s back and slowly said, "Our troop has already built housing. Next year, you should be able to apply to be a Military Wife. I’ve missed you terribly on the island, and it’s been hard not being able to contact you. As soon as I heard from mother and Xiao Jing about your pregnancy, I felt terrible I couldn’t be by your side. It hasn’t been easy for you alone; I’ve let you down."
"Don’t say that. Otherwise, I’ll start crying again," Xia Xiao quietly nestled in Jiaxing’s arms. It wouldn’t be true to say she didn’t feel aggrieved; she indeed felt wronged.
Once a woman is married, she must consider not just her own feelings but also those of her in-laws.
Not to mention Wang Xueyong and Wang Yuncai. People like Old Lady Gao, Lin Xuebi, and Li Shengmei also affected her. Xia Xiao realized she wasn’t as forbearing or open-minded as she had thought, and her mood was still unpleasant.
And when her mood was affected like this, being pregnant, although Gao Guoqiang and Zheng Xianghong were all very kind to her, they weren’t Jiaxing. She desperately wanted Jiaxing by her side, yet she couldn’t simply go back to her parents’ home capriciously.
So during the ten months of pregnancy, Xia Xiao could only manage her mood herself. Now that Jiaxing was back, she felt a great relief and was very happy.
"Brother Gao, I want to see the children," Xia Xiao said.
"Alright, I’ll ask mother to bring the children in," Jiaxing released Xia Xiao and went out.
After a while, having been given water, Zheng Xianghong and Xia Jing brought the children in.
The two children lay side by side. Xia Xiao asked, "Mom, which one is the older brother and which one is the younger brother?"
"The one on the left is the older brother, the one on the right is the younger brother," Zheng Xianghong smiled and said.
Xia Xiao looked at her two sons. True to being twins, they looked very similar, and she, their mother, couldn’t even tell them apart.
"Has dad named the babies yet?" Xia Xiao asked.
"Yes, your dad thought of quite a few names and wrote them all down on a piece of paper, and said that you and Jiaxing should choose one."
As soon as Zheng Xianghong and Xia Jing left, Zheng Xianghong soon came in holding a piece of paper with several names written on it.
Xia Xiao and Gao Jiaxing looked over the names, which fit the era—Gao Donglai, Gao Dongze, Gao He’an, Gao Heping, Gao Kangle, Gao Kangsheng, Gao Feiyang, Gao Feiyue...
"Brother Gao, which one do you like?" Xia Xiao asked.
"They all sound good, you pick." Gao Jiaxing said.
"I think Heping and He’an, Feiyang and Feiyue sound smoother," Xia Xiao said,
"Then let’s go with Heping and He’an," Gao Jiaxing suggested.
"But I think Feiyang and Feiyue are also nice," Xia Xiao suddenly couldn’t decide.
"Let’s just go with Feiyang and Feiyue," Gao Jiaxing added.
Xia Xiao speechlessly said, "You really are indifferent."
"You’ve had a hard time giving birth, you decide," Gao Jiaxing said.
Xia Xiao glared at him, "So I can rename them too?"
"It’s fine, dad won’t mind," Gao Jiaxing said.
Xia Xiao shook her head and, looking at the two children, she slightly smiled, "Then let’s still go with Gao Feiyang and Gao Feiyue." Heping feels too dated and there will definitely be others with the same name.
"Alright, Gao Feiyang and Gao Feiyue it is," Gao Jiaxing murmured as he gently touched the children’s faces.
How magical, he thought, to have two sons so soon, so small and soft. Gao Jiaxing carefully touched the children’s faces, terrified of harming their delicate skin with his rough hands.
Xia Xiao also tenderly watched the children, reaching a finger under their nostrils to feel their light breaths, marveling at how magical and moving life really was.
"Brother Gao, when are you returning to the brigade?" asked Xia Xiao.
Gao Jiaxing stiffened, "I’m leaving tomorrow."
Xia Xiao fell silent. So soon, he was leaving tomorrow. Yet, she nodded and gave Gao Jiaxing a reassuring smile, "Aren’t you saying that next year, we can join the military with you? This temporary separation is for a better reunion later. After all, you belong to the military and must follow orders. Brother Gao, I will take good care of the children, and you come get us next year."
Deeply touched, Gao Jiaxing gripped Xia Xiao’s hand firmly, "Xiaoxiao, it’s harsh on the island, and there’s even no military doctor."
"But there will be a military doctor eventually, right?" Xia Xiao said. With space and water, she wasn’t too worried. She had been working in the production team as well. What did hardship matter if from time to time she could see Gao Jiaxing and they could be together as a family?
Gao Jiaxing nodded, "I’ll talk to your cousin about it later. I already have two sons; he’s still impatient for his, even though your cousin-in-law qualifies to join the military. But surely there won’t just be one military wife there; there’ll definitely be a group of them going."
Xia Xiao smiled, the children would be one next year, and it might even be the year after. In any case, she could care for the two children by herself.
After all, the six years apart had just ended, so Xia Xiao was quite willing to stay on the island. Then after a few years, she planned to return to study and take exams, and the children would also need to come back for school.
Xia Xiao longed to join the military; otherwise, just thinking of staying at the production team, with Wang Xueyong and Wang Yuncai coming around occasionally, made her feel uneasy.