Pregnant and Pampered: The Heiress in a Military Compound

"That’s all in the past. You don’t have to blame yourself. I’m doing very well now."

Xie Changyi backed up Xie Changning’s words. "That’s right. They didn’t get off to the best start, but their relationship is quite good. My brother-in-law only has eyes for her..."

Xie Changyi then shared a few amusing stories with Mrs. Xie.

Hearing her older daughter defend her younger daughter’s partner and seem quite pleased with him, Mrs. Xie finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"As long as he treats you well, that’s all that matters."

’If he didn’t, they would move heaven and earth to report it to the higher-ups and have the two of them separated!’

"It’s getting late. You should get some rest."

"Alright. You two get some rest, too."

Xie Changning had originally planned to head back the next day.

However, her parents’ return threw her plans into disarray. The next morning, she had no choice but to call Anong County and inform the factory that she would be returning two days late.

She still had some unfinished business in Chuncheng.

Even though Xie Changyi had suggested their parents go with Changning to Anong County, they had just returned and hadn’t seen Changyi in many years. It just wouldn’t be right for Xie Changning to take her parents away the very next day.

Xie Changyi understood what her sister meant and was grateful for her thoughtfulness.

Of course, by staying in Chuncheng, Xie Changning couldn’t escape either.

Once the leadership learned that Xie Changning was in Chuncheng, they held meetings every day and had her sit in to gain experience and offer her opinions.

Xie Changning was speechless.

’I took time off to be in Chuncheng to spend time with my parents, not to work!’

Unfortunately, her protests went unheard. The higher-ups continued to summon her for meetings, as unmovable as ever.

Meanwhile, her parents were thrilled to see their daughter being so highly regarded.

The night before Xie Changning was scheduled to return, she received a call from Anong County. It was Teacher Qin. "I heard your parents are back?"

Teacher Qin had only recently learned that the parents Xie Changning grew up with were not her biological ones, and that her birth parents were renowned experts in their field.

"Yes."

"Is your father’s name Xie Hengsheng? And your mother’s Sheng Yongmei?"

Xie Changning was surprised that Teacher Qin knew her father’s name. "Yes. Do you know my parents?"

At this, Teacher Qin sighed.

"Why don’t you come back a day later? I’m heading to Chuncheng tomorrow. I plan to pay a visit to my old teacher."

Xie Changning had never imagined that her parents would turn out to be her own respected teacher’s mentor.

Still, Xie Changning answered truthfully.

"I was planning to head back tomorrow, and my parents are coming with me. Should you wait for us in Anong County, or should I wait for you here in Chuncheng?"

"You’re... coming back together?"

"Yes. My sister is busy every day, and the apartment her work assigned her is small. There aren’t any suitable houses with yards nearby either, so I’m taking our parents back to live at my place."

’My place is spacious and there are more people around, so my parents will have things to keep them busy.’

Hearing this, Teacher Qin changed her plan. "In that case, I’ll just wait for you all in Anong County."

"Alright."

「The next day」

Xie Changyi saw them off to the car, reassuring her parents, "Don’t worry, my sister’s place is very spacious. When you get there, you can just help look after the children. If you really get bored, you can go give some guidance at my sister’s laboratory."

"We know, we know. You should get going."

Ms. Sheng Yongmei said her goodbyes to Xie Changyi without the slightest hint of reluctance.

Xie Changyi was speechless. ’My mother is so heartless!’

The car slowly pulled away. Ms. Sheng Yongmei was greatly looking forward to life in Anong County. She was in high spirits the entire journey, constantly asking Xie Changning about her life there.

Xie Changning could only answer her parents’ endless questions with a resigned patience.

Mr. Xie Hengsheng, however, gazed silently out the window. He wasn’t quite used to being so idle all of a sudden.

"What does your laboratory primarily research and develop?"

"We mainly focus on computer-related R&D," Xie Changning replied honestly.

Hearing that it was computer-related, Xie Hengsheng’s interest was piqued. "Tell me more."

"I’m not clear on the current progress myself, but someone will be able to answer your questions once we get to Anong County."

Xie Changning replied with a smile.

Seeing her being so mysterious, Xie Hengsheng began to wonder who she was talking about.

’Looks like there’s someone I know in Anong County?’

The trip to Anong County was neither long nor short, taking about four hours. Just as the elderly couple was starting to doze off, the car screeched to a halt.

The two of them opened their eyes to see a sign standing outside: Anong County Machinery Factory.

’We’re at the factory our daughter manages!’

Xie Hengsheng got out first and then helped his wife out of the car. The two of them looked around, full of curiosity.

After paying the driver, Xie Changning led her parents toward the factory. "It’s getting late. How about we eat at the cafeteria first, and then I can show you around the factory?"

The couple had no objections.

Teacher Qin knew that Xie Changning would be back around noon, so, as arranged, she was waiting for them in the cafeteria.

The moment Xie Changning led her parents into the cafeteria, she spotted her teacher and his wife. Their hair was white, but they looked to be in high spirits.

"Professor! Ma’am!"

Teacher Qin stepped forward, her face alight with the joy and surprise of seeing her professor again.

’Her professor hadn’t made a public appearance in years. She never thought she’d have the chance to see him again!’

Seeing Teacher Qin, Xie Hengsheng froze for a moment.

He felt the woman before him looked familiar, but he couldn’t quite place her.

It was Ms. Sheng Yongmei beside him who recognized her. "Are you Xiao Qin?" A small smile graced Ms. Sheng Yongmei’s face.

’She still remembered the days when Teacher Qin used to follow Xie Hengsheng around, getting sternly criticized by him.’

’To think that the young woman from all those years ago was now a university professor—and her own daughter’s teacher, no less.’

"Ma’am, it’s been so long." Teacher Qin’s eyes curved into a smile. She then turned to Xie Hengsheng and said with mock annoyance, "I would have thought your memory was better than mine, Professor. I can’t believe you don’t even remember me!"

Xie Hengsheng had only mentored a handful of students. It was impossible for him not to remember one.

It was just that—

"Don’t blame your professor," Ms. Sheng Yongmei explained to Teacher Qin. "There was an accident during a research project. He... it was a very close call. Ever since then, his memory hasn’t been what it used to be."

Hearing this, Teacher Qin’s expression was instantly replaced by shock. "Professor, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know..."

"It’s not your fault," Xie Hengsheng said. "I was just thinking that you looked very familiar, but I couldn’t remember from where. I never would have guessed you were one of my former students."

"Everyone’s waiting at the door. Let’s go eat first," Xie Changning interjected.

So why did Xie Changning bring her parents to her own factory’s cafeteria for lunch?

First, the cooks at her factory were excellent. (She had even instituted a special bonus system for them: the higher their monthly approval rating, the bigger the bonus they received!)

Even the state-run restaurants in all of Anong County couldn’t necessarily compete with the food from her factory’s cafeteria! Don’t look down on our mass-produced meals!

Second, she wanted her parents to see the factory she was running.