novelraw Chapter 318: Almost Brought to Tears by Cravings
Chapter 318: Almost Brought to Tears by Cravings
On Shen Qingqing’s first day of work, she initially managed to focus on her tasks, but by the afternoon, she kept thinking about her two little ones.
Did they cry?
In order to spend quality time with her children after work and not bring her work home, Shen Qingqing sped up her work pace.
She even finished her lesson plans in the office.
As soon as it was time to leave work, she grabbed her things and hurried home.
Li Xue shook her head, "Being a mom really changes everything."
Teacher Ji laughed, "Being able to balance work and family isn’t easy, Teacher Shen still has a long way to go."
Li Xue: "Luckily, her family is supportive, otherwise, it would be difficult."
Teacher Ji nodded, "Having reliable elders at home is like having a calming anchor. They can support the children and take care of things at home, so the children can work hard with peace of mind."
Li Xue agreed, "For ordinary people, having healthy parents who don’t cause trouble is the greatest happiness."
A family like Shen’s cannot be simply encapsulated by the word "happiness."
The Jiang Family is anything but ordinary.
Shen Qingqing rushed home without stopping, and before she even reached the door, she vaguely heard the sound of babies crying.
She had developed the skill of identifying her children’s cries.
She quickened her pace.
Madam Jiang and Sister Zhou each held a baby, trying to feed them milk, but neither of the little ones would drink.
Even when the milk was brought to their mouths, they turned their heads away.
They’re so stubborn!
Crying while struggling.
Their little hands and feet were moving vigorously, just like lively little fish.
The adults didn’t dare hold them too tightly, worrying about hurting the little ones.
Madam Jiang glanced at the time and coaxed, "Mom will be home soon. Drink your milk like good children and fill your bellies so you can play with Mom."
The little babies ignored her and kept crying with their eyes shut.
One would cry loudly, and then the other would join in even louder.
It was like a competition.
Madam Jiang felt heartbroken, knowing that Xiao Man and Xiao Xi were usually very well-behaved. They only cried as a reminder when they were hungry or needed a diaper change; otherwise, they either slept quietly or played by themselves.
They had missed seeing Qingqing today, which was why they were crying so sadly.
It seemed necessary to quickly tidy up Qingqing’s room, so she could have lunch at home and see the children more often.
Then, in the afternoon, they could all return to the compound together.
The old man was anxious too, playing a tape recording for Xiao Man and Xiao Xi, but to no avail.
"I’ll go outside and see if Qingqing is back yet."
Speak of the devil, and she arrives.
Shen Qingqing put the eggs in the kitchen and then washed her hands.
"Why are they crying so much?"
Madam Jiang sighed in relief, "They miss you, having not seen you all day."
Shen Qingqing had fed the babies once in the morning before she left for work, and the little ones went back to sleep.
When they woke up and didn’t see her, they whimpered a bit.
Madam Jiang had managed to soothe them.
In the afternoon, when they woke up again without seeing her, they started crying non-stop.
Shen Qingqing felt deeply sorry, taking the child from Sister Zhou’s arms.
Smelling the familiar scent, Xiao Xi immediately stopped crying.
With big teary eyes, Xiao Xi looked up at her with such a grievance that Shen Qingqing’s heart melted.
She kissed her little face, "Mommy’s home, be a good baby."
The little one’s face was tear-streaked, and she nuzzled against Shen Qingqing, wanting to nurse.
Shen Qingqing took the bottle from Sister Zhou and brought it to Xiao Xi’s mouth.
The little one was so hungry, she latched onto the nipple without hesitation and started sucking eagerly.
Drinking, while fixating on Shen Qingqing.
It seemed she was afraid Shen Qingqing might disappear again.
Her little hands clutched the bottle, but she was too weak to hold it steady, so Shen Qingqing had to help her.
Once this baby stopped crying, the other was still wailing.
With no other choice, Shen Qingqing moved to the sofa and asked Madam Jiang to hand over the other child too.
"Can you manage to hold them both?"
"Yes."
This was what they meant by motherly strength, and Shen Qingqing now understood.
Let alone holding two children, she felt she could overcome any difficulty.
All as long as they stopped crying.
Xiao Man was crying so hard that her face was all red, and Madam Jiang’s heart ached seeing it.
She quickly handed over Xiao Man to Shen Qingqing.
With Sister Zhou on one side and Madam Jiang on the other, they surrounded Shen Qingqing and Xiao Man and Xiao Xi.
Shen Qingqing held the babies.
Madam Jiang and Sister Zhou held the bottles.
The crying subsided, now only replaced by the hums of them nursing.
From the little ones’ feet sticking up, it was clear how content they were.
Madam Jiang pinched her grandson’s little foot, "My, they’re already recognizing people at such a young age."
Sister Zhou laughed, "All kids are like this; they need their mom around all the time."
They can have formula when hungry, but without their mom, children will cry and fuss.
Shen Qingqing felt pity for the two little ones, seeing how much they relied on her as if she were their whole world, her heart filled with warmth.
She bent down to kiss their little cheeks.
Xiao Man and Xiao Xi, full and satisfied, thought their mom was playing with them and grinned happily.
They couldn’t babble yet, only make sweet baby sounds.
Listening to them filled Shen Qingqing with happiness.
Sister Zhou went to wash the bottles, while Shen Qingqing held the little ones, cherishing every moment.
Madam Jiang asked her, "How’s work? Going well?"
"Very well, the students even gave me a bag of eggs."
Madam Jiang: "No wonder you seemed to be carrying something earlier."
They already had plenty of eggs at home, and Madam Jiang prepared different dishes for Shen Qingqing every day.
"Dinner’s ready, and I’ve also made some braised ribs. Later, I’ll steam a bowl of minced meat egg custard and stir-fry a couple of vegetarian dishes, then we can eat."
As she spoke, she took out a jar of canned food from the cabinet, "Are you hungry? Have some to tide you over."
Working left Shen Qingqing quite hungry indeed.
She placed the two babies on the sofa, letting them lie face down to play.
Thinking that Shen Qingqing was leaving, Xiao Xi stretched out a little hand, seemingly wanting her mom to hold her.
Shen Qingqing sat on a small stool, watching over the two children to prevent them from falling off the sofa.
While opening the can, she coaxed, "Mommy’s not leaving."
She was right there, not going anywhere, which finally reassured the two little ones.
After Sister Zhou finished washing the bottles, Madam Jiang assigned her to watch the children.
"Watch some TV, lend a hand, and be careful the kids don’t hurt themselves. I’ll go stir-fry two more dishes so that we can eat when Zhixun’s dad comes home."
Sister Zhou had adapted to the Jiang Family’s way of living.
Her main task was to watch the children.
This was the most important thing!
She didn’t compete to do chores, instead taking a small stool like Shen Qingqing to sit beside the sofa, playing with the children and preventing any falls.
The children were growing day by day, much more lively than two months ago.
When they lay on their stomachs, their eyes darted around, who knew what they were thinking in their little heads.
The elder now enjoyed staying home, watching his great-grandchildren.
Beaming down at Xiao Man and Xiao Xi, "Laughing their faces off and crying, look at their spirit. They’re much livelier than Zhixun when he was little."
Shen Qingqing: "He was mature from a young age."
The old man: "Just like his dad."
Shen Qingqing nodded silently...
Unable to finish a whole can of food by herself, she scooped some into a small bowl.
Eating while playing with the children.
Bringing the food to their mouths, letting them smell it, then quickly pulling it away.
The little ones smacked their lips, wanting to taste but unable to reach it.
Frustrated and almost crying!