Chapter 352 – Pregnant?!
Soon, with everyone’s help, Xu Jinning had Xu Fanghua, who had fainted, taken to the nearest hospital.
During the process, Xu Jinning also had someone contact Xie Ting’an for her.
To be honest, Xu Fanghua’s sudden fainting had really frightened her. Even now, as they were at the hospital and the doctor was examining Xu Fanghua, Xu Jinning’s hands were still trembling slightly.
Xu Jinning wondered if her sister had fainted because she was too heartbroken over Song Yi’s departure.
It seemed like a likely possibility.
But soon, the doctor provided a different answer.
“Comrade Xu Fanghua is pregnant, already more than a month along…”
“What, pregnant?!” Xu Jinning was stunned by the news that her sister was pregnant.
She had never expected such an outcome.
Song Yi had just left, and he would be gone for at least three years, possibly five. And now, Xu Fanghua was pregnant.
The timing of this child was too coincidental.
Xu Jinning had initially thought that her sister would struggle during the years Song Yi was away, and now, with a child, wouldn’t that make things even harder?
However…
On the other hand, could this child provide some companionship to her sister, perhaps distracting her from missing Song Yi?
While Xu Jinning was lost in thought, Xie Ting’an arrived at the hospital and quickly saw her.
“Ningning, how is Sister Fanghua? What did the doctor say?”
“Sister fainted because she’s pregnant and has been overthinking recently, which has drained her energy.”
“But the doctor said it’s not serious. They’ll administer some fluids, and she should wake up soon.”
Xie Ting’an was also surprised to learn that Xu Fanghua was pregnant, especially with Song Yi having just left for his studies.
…
As the IV was administered, Xu Fanghua gradually regained consciousness.
“Sister, you’re awake. How are you feeling?”
“Ningning, what happened to me? Is this a hospital?”
“Yes…”
Xu Jinning then explained what had happened at the airport and finally added, “…Sister, the doctor said you’re pregnant. The baby is already over a month old.”
Xu Fanghua’s expression froze, and she slowly placed her hand on her abdomen.
“I’m… pregnant?”
“Yes.”
Xu Fanghua couldn’t believe that she was pregnant, especially with Song Yi just having gone abroad.
But she and Song Yi had taken precautions. How could this happen?
“Sister, the doctor said that no precaution is 100% effective. There’s always a chance of something slipping through,” Xu Jinning explained.
Clearly, the child in her sister’s womb was one of those rare cases.
“What are you planning to do, Sister?” Xu Jinning asked.
“Although having a child wasn’t part of my plan right now, since the baby is here, I’ll give birth to it,” Xu Fanghua decided.
Xu Jinning wasn’t surprised by her decision but had one question.
“Then, Sister, will you tell Brother-in-law?”
Xu Fanghua thought for a moment and then shook her head. “Not for now.”
Xu Fanghua understood that Song Yi, already struggling with his departure, would be even more unsettled knowing about the baby. She feared that it would distract him from his studies and make him anxious to return.
Since Song Yi was already abroad, and everything was set, she wanted him to focus on his education without additional concerns.
“We’ll wait until he comes back to tell him about the baby,” she decided.
Xu Jinning blinked in surprise, thinking, Wow, Sister is really something. She plans to keep the baby a secret from Brother-in-law for the entire time he’s abroad. But it’s her decision, and she supports it no matter what.
Although Xu Fanghua chose not to inform Song Yi, she couldn’t keep it from Song Yi’s family.
So, a few days after Xu Fanghua’s discharge from the hospital, a phone call was made to the Qinghe Production Brigade.
Song Yi’s mother answered the call.
“What? Fanghua, you’re pregnant!”
“What do we do now? Does Ayi know? Oh right, he’s abroad.”
“Fanghua, how about I go to Beijing to take care of you? I really can’t rest easy otherwise.”
“…”
Song Yi’s mother, upon learning about her daughter-in-law’s pregnancy, was first delighted but then immediately concerned about Fanghua being alone in Beijing while pregnant.
Though Xu Jinning was there, she was still young and in school, lacking experience and potentially not able to provide adequate care.
Song Yi’s mother decided she would go to Beijing to help.
After ending the call, Song Yi’s mother informed her family and also contacted the Xu family.
Soon, both families gathered to discuss how to address the situation.
“I plan to go to Beijing to stay and take care of Fanghua. Now that Ayi is studying abroad, Fanghua is all alone, and I really can’t rest easy about that,” Song Yi’s mother said.
“Anyway, there isn’t much for me to do at home. I’ll just be handling some household chores, which isn’t a big deal. I can easily leave.”
Song Yi’s family nodded in agreement.
Song Yi was the eldest son in the family, and the child Xu Fanghua was carrying was their first grandchild, so they naturally placed great importance on it.
Moreover, with Song Yi’s mother at home, there wasn’t much for her to do. The Song family was involved in fruit tree planting this year alongside the Xu family, and Song Yi’s father and the male members of the family could handle that.
In comparison, the child Xu Fanghua was expecting was clearly more important.
Xu Fanghua had to attend classes, be pregnant, and manage without her husband nearby, all the way in far-off Beijing. It was undoubtedly a tough situation.
Song Yi’s mother felt it was necessary for her, as the mother-in-law, to provide care.
Even if it was just cooking and managing household chores to ease Fanghua’s burden, it was something she could do.
When the time came for Fanghua to give birth, she could also help with the postpartum recovery.
“I want to go too…” Zhang Ailian expressed, her own daughter being involved. As a mother, how could she not feel heartache?
However, she was unable to leave.
Xu Xiangdong and Wen Yulan were busy every day, and their three children needed her assistance.
Sometimes even Xu Xiangbei, who was running a stall in the county town, needed her help.
She simply couldn’t get away.
“In-law, I’ll trouble you with this matter. You have to go to Beijing to take care of Fanghua.”
“I’ll buy the tickets for you. I have their current address, and I’ll write it down for you.”
“Alright, thank you.”
Thus, it was decided that Song Yi’s mother would go to Beijing to take care of Xu Fanghua.
Since she planned to leave the next day, they didn’t specifically inform Xu Fanghua beforehand, fearing she might refuse.
So, the two families’ mothers decided to act first and inform later.
After all, once she was in Beijing, could they really send her away?
“Fanghua is just too strong and resilient. Often, she keeps her suffering and grievances to herself, but she also needs care and attention,” Zhang Ailian said with a sigh. As she spoke of her eldest daughter, tears fell uncontrollably.
