Chapter 472 – A Bittersweet Moment for Xu Jinning
“It’s good that you understand. Grandpa still feels quite reassured with you,” said Grandpa Xie. “When you return to Beijing, to your home, Grandpa will arrange for someone to take good care of Girl Ning.”
Grandpa Xie was planning to hire a nanny, preferably someone skilled in cooking and experienced in taking care of pregnant women. He thought he should be able to arrange for that.
If conditions allowed, he wanted to create a better living environment for Girl Ning. After all, pregnancy was tough for women from the beginning until after childbirth. If he could make some preparations to ensure Girl Ning suffered less, he would gladly do so.
Xie Ting’an had no objections to Grandpa’s arrangement. After all, Ningning was his wife, and he, too, wanted to give Xu Jinning the best.
With Xu Jinning’s pregnancy, the busiest person in the Xu family was Zhang Ailian, her mother. When her eldest daughter was pregnant, Zhang Ailian had been stuck in their hometown and unable to personally care for her, a fact she had always felt guilty about.
Now, with her youngest daughter pregnant and right by her side, of course, she was determined to take good care of her.
The first priority was making whatever her daughter wanted to eat.
She made sure her daughter was well-nourished during the early stages of pregnancy.
Whether it was a blessing baby in her belly or just because Zhang Ailian’s cooking as a grandmother-to-be was especially delicious, Xu Jinning had no morning sickness during the entire two months of summer break.
She ate when she was hungry, slept when she needed to, and even played when she wanted, only avoiding dangerous and strenuous activities.
Not only did she avoid morning sickness, but her complexion grew better by the day.
Her face glowed with health, and she became even more beautiful.
No one was more pleased by this than Zhang Ailian.
Xu Jinning hugged her mother and said, “Mom, I’m sure this is all thanks to you. Your grandchild loves eating the food you make.”
Zhang Ailian immediately laughed, tapping Xu Jinning’s nose and saying, “You figured that out, did you? Could the baby have told you that?”
Xu Jinning, feeling justified, replied, “I’m the baby’s mother. We’re connected, so I know exactly what she’s thinking.”
“You…” Zhang Ailian shook her head, feeling helpless with her youngest daughter. However…
“Summer break is over now, and soon you’ll be heading back to Beijing.”
“Ah, once you’re married, you’re all focused on your careers and your in-laws. After you leave, the next time we’ll probably see each other will be at Spring Festival.”
“Mom, I’m sorry…” When Zhang Ailian mentioned that, Xu Jinning’s heart sank, and she immediately felt emotional. Coupled with the sensitivity that came with pregnancy, her eyes reddened.
She… she couldn’t bear to leave her mother.
“Don’t cry, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have said that,” Zhang Ailian felt regretful. Maybe it was because she was getting older, or perhaps because she’d been through many goodbyes, that she found herself getting more sentimental.
Saying such things in front of a pregnant Ningning wasn’t right.
But Xu Jinning didn’t mind too much. After all, her mother was speaking the truth.
In her heart, she promised herself that she would return to Qinghe Village whenever she could to visit her family.
Even if she didn’t have time, she would make time.
For daughters who are married and can no longer live with their parents, each visit home is one less opportunity to see them.
So, she resolved to cherish every moment and spend as much time as possible with her parents.
Especially for parents whose children are far away, with only the two of them at home, the best form of filial piety is often simply the company of their children.
No matter how reluctant they were to leave, September was approaching, and Xu Jinning, Xie Ting’an, Xu Fanghua, Song Yi, and the others eventually had to say goodbye to their parents and hometown to head back to Beijing.
“Auntie, I don’t want you to go,” Xiao Yu’er clung to Xu Jinning’s leg, her eyes red and filled with sadness.
Every time her aunt came home, Xiao Yu’er was the happiest. She naturally felt close to her and enjoyed playing together. So, when it came time for her aunt to leave, she was heartbroken.
“Xiao Yu’er, be good. Your aunt will come back again,” Wen Yulan comforted her daughter as she hugged her.
In the end, all Xu Jinning could do was hug the nearly-crying Xiao Yu’er, pat her small head, and then leave.
Perhaps it was because of her pregnancy that Xu Jinning was feeling particularly emotional this time.
Of all the times she had left home, this was the saddest for her.
Even after sitting on the plane, she couldn’t shake the feeling for quite a while.
Xie Ting’an seemed to sense her emotions and held her hand, letting her rest on his shoulder as he gently said, “We’ll come back again. Whenever you want, I’ll take you home.”
“Okay.”
Xu Jinning had thought about asking her parents to come live with her in Beijing since she had bought a courtyard house there, and there would certainly be enough room for them to stay.
But if her parents left, her eldest brother and second brother would miss them too.
She couldn’t exactly bring her brothers and their families to live with them in Beijing as well.
Now that they had grown up, with families, children, and their own careers, it was impossible to stay together in the same household like before, when no one was married.
Separation was inevitable, and there would always be distance between them.
This was the price of growing up.
It was something everyone had to go through.
Xu Jinning told herself that she had to learn to accept goodbyes, to embrace the joys and sorrows of life, and even to prepare herself for the possibility of facing the aging, illness, and eventual death of her loved ones or herself in the future.
Xu Jinning was quite a clear-minded person. Although she felt emotional and sad, she eventually came to terms with it. With Xie Ting’an’s constant silent support by her side, she felt reassured.
…
By the time they got off the plane, Xu Jinning’s emotions had already settled down.
Outside the airport, the Xie family’s car was already waiting for them.
Upon hearing that they were returning today and learning their flight details, the old man had arranged for someone to pick them up. The timing was perfect.
As soon as they got into the car, it headed straight to the Xie family’s residence.
When they arrived and stepped out, the first thing Xu Jinning saw was an elderly man at the entrance, continuously looking out in their direction.
The moment he saw them, his eyes lit up. If it weren’t for the walking cane and his limited mobility, he might have run toward them.
“Girl Ning, Xiao An, you’re back,” he called out.
Xu Jinning quickly ran toward her grandfather, saying, “Yes, Grandpa, we’re back.”
“Girl Ning, don’t run, don’t run, there’s no hurry. You’re still pregnant, remember.”
Seeing Xu Jinning running, both Grandpa Xie and Xie Ting’an became anxious.
Xu Jinning quickly stopped in her tracks, feeling a bit dazed, and then said something that left everyone both amused and helpless: “I—I forgot.”
Indeed, perhaps because she had never been pregnant before, or maybe because her belly was still flat after just over three months, Xu Jinning often forgot that she was pregnant.
Just now, after getting out of the car and seeing her grandfather, she got excited and started running.
