At times, what Zhai Hua said made more sense than Miao Jing, and she knew more than Miao Jing.
As such, the Zhai family handed the task of taking care of Qiao Nan to Zhai Hua. They also hoped that she would be more ladylike, detailed, and patient while taking care of Qiao Nan.
Fortunately, Zhai Hua seemed to be doing a good job. It had been more than three months and she had been taking good care of Qiao Nan. She never behaved recklessly or caused harm to Qiao Nan and the babies.
“It’s so warm.” Zhai Hua had postponed their walk to seven o’clock in the evening to avoid the hot and stuffy afternoons in July and August.
Qiao Nan would feel unwell in the summer. Particularly now that she, a pregnant lady, had a higher body temperature, the evening stroll was a torture to Qiao Nan.
Whenever she was back from her stroll, her blouse would be drenched with perspiration.
Thankfully, after strolling for a few months, Qiao Nan noticed that she was physically stronger.
“Nan Nan, I have applied for leave for you. You can rest well at home.” As her elder and mother-in-law, Miao Jing made a phone call to the principal of Peking University at the end of August to help Qiao Nan apply for leave, hoping that he would approve of her leave.
Since Madam Zhai made the phone call personally, the principal had no way to reject her request.
Although Miao Jing did not state clearly Qiao Nan’s reasons for applying for leave or when she would return to school, the principal had no other choice but to approve the leave.
“Thank you, Mom.” Qiao Nan sat on the sofa, touching her tummy. She did not look well.
She was in her eighth month of pregnancy. Qiao Nan knew that her tummy was especially large.
The weight of her tummy was almost unbearable for her. Qiao Nan did not feel comfortable sitting, standing, or even lying down on the bed. She felt unwell and exhausted.
Her fair and slender legs were swollen due to pregnancy.
Her lower limbs were swollen and her upper body felt bloated as well.
Qiao Nan could not fit into all the clothes that she bought in the past and she had to buy new clothes.
Qiao Nan could only wear slippers and she had to buy large sizes in order to fit into them.
Qiao Nan went through a lot of suffering for the babies. Outsiders would not be able to know the tortures that mothers went through.
Zhai Hua was startled at how swollen Qiao Nan was. She moved into Zhai Sheng’s and Qiao Nan’s room so that she could share a room with her and take care of Qiao Nan when she woke up feeling unwell in the middle of the night.
Zhai Hua, the auntie, had done everything that Zhai Sheng, as a father, should have done. Zhai Hua would wake up in the middle of the night to massage Qiao Nan’s legs when she woke up crying due to leg cramps.
“Mom, Nan Nan doesn’t look well. The doctor reminded us that Nan Nan will have premature labor. Nan Nan’s tummy is very large and she is in her eighth month. I am worried…”
Zhai Hua’s heart ached seeing how Qiao Nan suffered due to the pregnancy. Giving birth was a torture to women.
It was no wonder that people used to say that giving birth was akin to making a trip to hell.
Apart from her tummy, Qiao Nan’s figure looked like that of a young lady when she was in her sixth month of her pregnancy. But once she was in her seventh month, she started to become swollen and went out of shape. She had the figure of a middle-aged auntie, doing her groceries in the market.
There was once when Qiao Nan had terrible leg cramps and she cried in pain until her eyes were swollen. Zhai Hua made a phone call to the army and gave Zhai Sheng a lashing. “You are a brat. You had happy times fooling around with Qiao Nan, but do you know the pain that she is in now that she is pregnant with your babies? You can’t even stay by her side to take care of her and she has to face everything by herself. Zhai Sheng, although you are my brother, I can’t stand it anymore. If you do not treat Nan Nan well in the future, I will take your children away and we will despise and ostracize you for being such a bad father!”
Zhai Sheng wanted very much to stay by Qiao Nan’s side, but he could not do that.
He was not angry that Zhai Hua lashed out at him. In fact, he felt heartbroken.
Even though he did not see it for himself, he could tell from Zhai Hua’s tone and anger that Qiao Nan, who was carrying twins, must be going through a lot.
Zhai Sheng worked extra hard to complete his missions and the orders from his higher-ups in order to go back as soon as possible to accompany Qiao Nan and to be by her side when their babies were delivered.
“Stop saying nonsense.” Miao Jing gave Zhai Hua a light smack. “Nan Nan will panic at your words.”
Miao Jing had seen a lot of cases whereby the pregnant ladies would go into premature labor after being affected by the people around her.
“Nan Nan, you are in your eighth month. It will be harder on you. If you can’t take it, let’s go to the hospital in advance. We can ask the doctor if we can deliver the babies earlier than the due date.”
Since Nan Nan had such a large tummy, her babies must be well-nourished.
If she carried the babies for a few more months, the babies would be fine but the mother might not be able to take it. “The babies should be well-developed in the eighth month. It will not be a problem to deliver them.”
Qiao Nan took a deep breath, forcing a smile on her face. “Mom, I understand your intentions. There is no need to expedite the delivery. I can still take it. Perhaps I am too dainty. Other ladies feel especially well despite carrying twins or triplets. They will not feel as tired as me.” It was better not to have premature labor.
After reading many books on pregnancy, Qiao Nan knew that it would be better for the babies to stay in the mother’s womb for as long as possible.
They were Brother Zhai’s and her babies. They were very precious to them.
If other mothers could do it, so could she. She believed that she would do a better job.
Since Qiao Nan was insistent, Miao Jing had no other choice but to go with her decision.
Miao Jing was worried for Qiao Nan. It was not that she was dainty, but it was because she was too young.
Qiao Nan did not lead a good life when she stayed with the Qiao family. Miao Jing knew that there was a period of time where she was undernourished.
Miao Jing was unhappy with Ding Jiayi. It must be due to Ding Jiayi that Qiao Nan had such a difficult time carrying the twins.
If Ding Jiayi was not so biased and had taken better care of Qiao Nan, she would have a stronger constitution, and she would not have such a difficult time now.
Miao Jing had never seen such a vicious mother.
The Zhai family was concerned for Qiao Nan and her babies. Miao Jing and Zhai Hua spent all their time taking care of her.
