As she spoke, Jiang Baihe’s tears fell, and Chai Jianguo’s eyes also reddened.
No one knew how much effort Jiang Baihe had exhausted over the past four years just to get pregnant.
She wanted to conceive more desperately than anyone else.
That was why it hurt her so deeply every time her mother-in-law called her a “hen that couldn’t lay eggs.”
Ever since finishing her treatment with Gu Jianing, she had prayed every day for a pregnancy.
She never expected it would actually happen now.
“Jianguo, now that I’m pregnant, you won’t have to… with Chai Xiaojuan—”
Before Jiang Baihe could finish, Chai Jianguo stopped her. “Baihe, don’t talk nonsense. Whether you were pregnant or not, I would never have anything to do with that woman. And don’t take my mother’s words to heart—just treat her as if she’s gone mad, spouting nonsense.”
“I’ll arrange for her to return to our hometown as soon as possible.”
“Right now, you shouldn’t overthink things. Just focus on taking good care of yourself and having a safe pregnancy.”
Jiang Baihe let out a soft “Mm,” finally soothed by Chai Jianguo’s words. She stopped crying, and her emotions gradually stabilized.
Perhaps it was the news of her pregnancy, or perhaps it was the IV drip for stabilizing the fetus, but Jiang Baihe slowly felt the pain in her abdomen easing. Still, her face remained somewhat pale.
Dr. Hao prescribed brown sugar and instructed Chai Jianguo to brew a cup of brown sugar water for Jiang Baihe to drink.
Just as Jiang Baihe was sipping the warm drink, Old Lady Chai arrived.
She should have been there much earlier, but she didn’t know the way to the military hospital. Being somewhat directionally challenged, she had to ask several people for directions before finally making it.
The moment she stepped in and saw Jiang Baihe drinking brown sugar water, her face twisted in displeasure. “She’s fine—what does she need brown sugar water and an IV for? Even I, her mother-in-law, haven’t had brown sugar water!”
Jiang Baihe hadn’t expected her mother-in-law to follow them to the hospital. At her words, she frowned, about to retort.
“Keep drinking. Let me handle this,” Chai Jianguo said.
The next second, before Old Lady Chai could continue her tirade, Chai Jianguo forcefully pulled her out of the ward.
“Chai Jianguo! What are you doing? Have you lost your mind? I’m your mother—the one who gave birth to you and raised you!”
“Yes, I know you’re my mother!” Chai Jianguo released her arm and said in a low voice.
And precisely because she was his mother, he had tolerated her behavior until now.
But he could no longer endure it.
“Mom, pack your things and go back to the countryside later. I’m sure my younger brother and your grandsons miss you dearly.”
Did Old Lady Chai want to go back? Of course she did!
Compared to this place, she much preferred taking care of her grandchildren.
But she hadn’t come to the military base to see her eldest son on a whim.
So she couldn’t just leave like this.
Besides, it was one thing if she chose to return on her own, but being urged to leave by her son? Unacceptable.
People might think she’d been kicked out.
“Jianguo, what do you mean by that? Are you trying to drive your own mother away?”
“Tell me—did that little bitch Jiang Baihe put you up to this?”
“My life is so bitter! My husband died young, and I struggled all alone to raise my children. And now that my son is grown, he forgets his mother the moment he gets a wife!”
Old Lady Chai theatrically prepared to throw herself to the ground in a fit.
Chai Jianguo felt a splitting headache coming on from her shrieking. The curious glances from people around them only darkened his expression further, and his voice rose despite himself.
“Mom, how much longer are you going to keep this up? You’ve already agitated Baihe to the point of miscarriage—what more do you want?”
“Are my younger brother’s children your grandsons, but mine aren’t?”
Chai Jianguo’s voice was almost a low growl, instantly silencing Old Lady Chai. She quickly grasped the meaning behind his words.
“What? Miscarriage? Y-you mean she’s pregnant?”
“Yes!”
“How is that possible?!” Old Lady Chai shrieked. “Jianguo, did that woman cheat on you? Yes, that must be it! Damn it, that vixen should be thrown in a pig cage—”
“Shut up!” Chai Jianguo roared, instantly cutting off her tirade.
“Mom, don’t you think I’d know if the child is mine? Or do you just not want me to have a child at all?”
Old Lady Chai’s lips twitched, but she said nothing.
Of course not. Deeply entrenched in old-fashioned thinking, Old Lady Chai naturally wanted her eldest son to have children.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have thought it was a good idea when Chai Xiaojuan offered to “compensate” by bearing Chai Jianguo a child.
The very reason she had come to the military base was to persuade her eldest son to have a child, no matter what.
And now, Jiang Baihe was actually pregnant!
Old Lady Chai knew her eldest son wouldn’t lie to her.
So… had Jiang Baihe really been pushed to the brink of a miscarriage because of her?
No… that couldn’t be.
Old Lady Chai hesitantly asked, “Then… the baby in her belly…”
“Luckily, we got her to the hospital in time. The doctor gave her medicine to stabilize the pregnancy. But she also said that in the early stages, her emotions mustn’t fluctuate too much, or the baby could be lost at any time.”
Old Lady Chai pursed her lips and muttered, “So what you’re really saying is you want me to go home.”
After a moment’s thought, she finally gritted her teeth and said, “Fine! I can go back to the countryside!”
For the sake of her future grandson, she could let Jiang Baihe off—for now.
“But…” She paused. “I spent all my money coming here this time…”
Chai Jianguo understood her implication. “I’ll give you a hundred yuan and some food coupons.”
Old Lady Chai’s face immediately brightened. “Good! Then buy me a train ticket, and I’ll leave tomorrow.”
The thought of returning tomorrow and seeing her precious grandson soon filled her with joy.
Chai Jianguo pressed his lips together and said nothing.
He knew that 99% of that money would end up being spent on his younger brother’s family.
But he didn’t care anymore.
A hundred yuan in exchange for peace and quiet? He could live with that.
When Chai Jianguo returned to the ward, he told Jiang Baihe that his mother would be returning to the countryside the next day.
Jiang Baihe let out a sigh of relief. Her mother-in-law was finally leaving.
Honestly, she was afraid that if the old woman stayed any longer, she might end up with another threatened miscarriage from sheer frustration.
“Jianguo, once I’m feeling better, let’s buy some gifts and go thank Sister Jianing,” Jiang Baihe suggested.
She knew there had been a problem with her body before, which was why she hadn’t been able to conceive.
Now, getting pregnant so quickly was all thanks to Gu Jianing’s treatment.
They couldn’t forget this kindness.
“Yeah, you’re right,” Chai Jianguo agreed.
Two days later, Gu Jianing was visited by the Chai couple, who came bearing gifts to thank her and share the news of Jiang Baihe’s pregnancy.
Given the earlier scare, Chai Jianguo was still worried and asked Gu Jianing to check Jiang Baihe’s pulse. Only after hearing that the baby was developing well did the couple finally relax.
Not long after they left, a guard from the military base came to inform Gu Jianing that Qin Tian was looking for her.
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