Pregnant and Pampered: The Heiress in a Military Compound

The elderly couple was eager to go take a look, but they didn’t dare do so without Xie Changning’s permission.

That’s right. In their eyes, Xie Changning’s permission was more important than Yue Yihan’s.

Seeing the elderly couple’s hesitation, Xie Changning spoke up. "Aren’t you going to see your grandchildren?"

"Ah!"

The elderly couple’s faces lit up, and they happily entered the house.

The moment they saw their two grandsons, they began to shower them with praise. "Oh my, just look at them! As expected of babies born to Changning, they’re so handsome. They look so bright!"

"Isn’t it the truth? It just goes to show how blessed Ashan is to have such a wonderful wife!"

Hearing the elderly couple’s words, Yue Yihan couldn’t help but glance over.

’Other parents would credit their sons for their grandchildren’s virtues, but his biological parents were different. They liked Changning more than they liked him.’

’Still, this was exactly what he’d hoped to see.’

A happy expression appeared on his face as well.

Xie Changning glanced at the elderly couple’s backs, then at Yue Yihan’s profile. She knew their doting was an extension of their feelings for her, so she didn’t say anything more.

Of course, she was happy to see them dote on the two children.

After seeing the children, Chief Han and Mrs. Han completely forgot about their son and daughter-in-law, turning all their attention to their grandsons.

They only came out reluctantly when Aunt Wang and Aunt Zhao announced that the meal was ready.

Yue Yihan expertly brought the two babies out of the room, placed them in their high chairs, and prepared a bottle of milk for each, letting them drink on their own.

"Let’s eat."

The two babies were being raised to be very independent.

They held their bottles and drank their milk on their own, without crying or making a fuss.

Every time Xie Changning saw this, she felt that these two children had come to repay a debt of gratitude. They hadn’t hindered her career in the slightest; on the contrary, they were helping it flourish.

It tugged at the heartstrings of Chief Han and Mrs. Han, but they knew this was Xie Changning’s parenting method.

Though their hearts ached for the children, they didn’t interfere.

"They’re only seven or eight months old, and they can already feed themselves. That’s wonderful..." Mrs. Han couldn’t help but remark. She recalled how her other grandchildren, even at two or three years old, couldn’t eat by themselves.

Xie Changning nodded.

"Yes, they’re very quick learners. They’re already eating solid food."

Xie Changning based her child-rearing methods on her own knowledge. Of course, she only proposed the methods; it was the two aunts who put them into practice.

This also proved that her methods were sound.

The two children had always been perfectly healthy, without any major illnesses.

After the meal, the elderly couple asked if they could hold their grandsons for a while.

Xie Changning agreed. "Don’t hold them for too long, or they’ll become clingy," she explained.

The elderly couple agreed. After holding them for just a short while, they reluctantly placed the children on the warm brick bed to play by themselves.

Watching his family get along so harmoniously, Yue Yihan couldn’t help but think, ’Isn’t this the life I’ve always wanted?’

Late that night, after the children were asleep, the elderly couple approached Xie Changning and Yue Yihan. "We have a favor to ask, and we hope you’ll agree."

The moment they spoke, Xie Changning and Yue Yihan knew what was coming: they wanted to buy a house in Anong County.

Xie Changning glanced at Yue Yihan, who deferred to her to speak.

Xie Changning nodded.

"Please, go on."

"We’d like to buy a house with a courtyard here, to make it easier to see our grandsons... We wouldn’t have to come over often... We..." Mrs. Han began nervously, already backtracking on her own terms in the hope that Xie Changning would agree to her request.

A smile spread across Xie Changning’s face.

"Of course."

"We don’t want to cause you any trouble, we just... Wait, Changning, you agree!?" Mrs. Han was still trying to explain, her mind catching up a beat too late to realize that Xie Changning had just agreed to her request.

Mrs. Han turned and grabbed her husband’s hand.

"Did you hear that? We can stay here and look after our grandsons!"

"Yes, yes, I heard!"

"We have plenty of rooms, you can stay here tonight," Xie Changning offered. She asked Aunt Wang and Aunt Zhao to prepare a guest room and had Yue Yihan go heat the brick bed.

Chief Han and Mrs. Han were even more moved that Xie Changning had them stay.

Mrs. Han wiped away her tears.

"I’ve been dreaming of a moment like this for almost twenty years..." she said, her voice choked with emotion.

Chief Han nodded, his own eyes red-rimmed as he consoled his wife. "This is a happy occasion. What are you crying for? Don’t cry."

Mrs. Han nodded.

"Yes, yes, you’re right. This is a happy occasion. I mustn’t cry!"

In any case, the couple ended up staying in Xie Changning’s home, and one night turned into many.

During those days, they were constantly looking for a house to buy, trying to find one as close to Xie Changning’s as possible.

However, the surrounding area was filled with factory dormitories.

Knowing that it was difficult to find a house nearby, Xie Changning offered to let them live with her.

"I may have to go abroad for a competition soon, so I won’t be at home. I’ll have to trouble you both to look after the house."

"How long will you be gone?"

Chief Han and Mrs. Han were delighted they could stay at their son’s house, but they couldn’t help frowning when they heard their daughter-in-law had to travel far away.

In their minds, foreigners were not good people and were known to bully the Chinese.

Privately, they didn’t want Xie Changning to have any contact with foreigners.

"It’s a major mechanical engineering competition."

I have to go.

Upon hearing this, Chief Han recalled something. Before leaving Beijing, he had heard about an international competition that was inviting some of the nation’s most brilliant young talents.

He’d heard the competition was very important.

It represented China’s technological status on the world stage; participation was mandatory.

He just never expected that person to be his daughter-in-law.

Since it was for the good of the country, he didn’t try to stop her. He nodded at Xie Changning. "Don’t you worry. Your mother and I will definitely take good care of everything at home. You’ll have nothing to worry about."

’Yue Yihan was serving the country, and in her own way, wasn’t Xie Changning doing the same?’

Since her husband had spoken, Mrs. Han had to nod in agreement, however reluctant she felt. "That’s right. We’ll take care of the home front!"

Seeing them both agree, Xie Changning’s eyes curved into a smile.

"Thank you."

"We’re all family. Don’t mention it!"

With Han’s parents there, Xie Changning could finally focus on her work with peace of mind.

Meanwhile, in their conversations with Aunt Wang and Aunt Zhao, Han’s parents learned more about Xie Changning and Yue Yihan’s story. The more they learned, the more they came to admire their daughter-in-law.

Time passed, day by day.

Ten days later, Teacher Qin arrived.

Teacher Qin was Xie Changning’s beloved mentor and a professor at Beijing University. When she arrived in Lin Province, the provincial leadership held a special reception to welcome her.

During the reception, Teacher Qin explained the purpose of her visit, and the Lin Province leaders all readily agreed to help.

As long as she was willing to come, Lin Province would give her its full support!