Axolotl Translations

Early the next morning, right after breakfast, Aunt Fen and Uncle Zhuzi headed to the hospital.

The twins, meanwhile, ran to the recycling station to help Uncle Zhuzi ask for leave.

The recycling station had only two workers: Uncle Zhuzi and an older man, nearly in his fifties.

His surname was Huang, but everyone affectionately called him Uncle Huang. He was a veteran who had fought in the War of Resistance Against Japan. On the battlefield, he had lost an eye to an exploding shell. Because his injury made him look somewhat intimidating, he had never married.

After the establishment of the People’s Republic, he was assigned to work at the recycling station, where he also lived.

Uncle Huang had no children of his own, so he was fond of the twins visiting frequently. The twins, in turn, enjoyed listening to his war stories and often helped out with small tasks.

Back at home, Wei Jiajia and Great-auntie anxiously awaited news of Aunt Fen. Sitting in the main hall, Grandaunt pressed her palms together, murmuring soft prayers for divine blessings.

The two young children, meanwhile, huddled around Wei Jiajia, persistently asking when their baby brother or sister would arrive to play with them.

Especially Nuannuan—ever since learning the night before that she would soon be an older sister, she had been running in circles in the courtyard, giddy with anticipation.

Watching her family’s mix of elation and apprehension, Wei Jiajia, too, felt a surge of anticipation. However, compared to the others, she remained relatively calm. The reason? She already knew Aunt Fen would eventually have a child.

After all, she had the mystical spring on her side.

When it came to the mystical spring in Wei Jiajia’s space, she hadn’t figured out its purpose right away. Every time she entered the space, she would see tiny droplets slowly trickling down, gathering into a small pool no larger than a washbasin. She couldn’t help but wonder—was this tiny bit of water actually the legendary mystical spring, the kind that could bring the dead back to life and heal wounds in an instant?

To test it out, she planted a few cabbages in the empty land within her space, watering them daily with diluted spring water. At first, there didn’t seem to be any noticeable changes—no miraculous overnight growth. But over time, she observed that the cabbages nourished by the spring water were remarkably crisp and tender, and had a noticeably sweeter taste compared to regular ones.

While the effects were not as miraculous as the legends claimed, she became certain that long-term consumption of the spring water was beneficial to the body, even if the effects were gradual.

With this realization, she began incorporating the spring water into her cooking, hoping to gradually improve her family’s health.

Uncle Zhuzi and Aunt Fen had suffered physical damage from their years of fleeing disaster, which had made it impossible for them to have children. Though the two had come to terms with it, and Uncle Zhuzi had always treated Aunt Fen with unwavering kindness, there were always people who couldn’t help but gossip behind their backs.

Whenever Aunt Fen overheard such whispers, she would sink into melancholy for several days. After all, if given the chance, who wouldn’t wish for a child of their own?

Now, after more than six months of consuming food prepared with the spring water, Aunt Fen’s health had undoubtedly improved. Judging by her reaction yesterday, there was a high possibility that she might finally be pregnant.

More than two hours later, Aunt Fen and Uncle Zhuzi finally returned. The moment the others heard them arrive, they all rushed into the courtyard, their eyes glued to the couple, waiting anxiously for news.

Seeing them gathered there, Uncle Zhuzi’s honest face broke into a wide smile. “I’ll go put the bicycle away first—let Shufen tell you all,” he said before pushing his bicycle toward the storage room.

With his words, everyone immediately turned their gaze toward Aunt Fen.

“Shufen, how did it go? What did the doctor say? Are you pregnant?” Great-aunt hurried over, her voice filled with anticipation.

“Godmother…” Aunt Fen called out softly, then suddenly threw her arms around Grandaunt without saying another word. Tears began to fall from her eyes.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry. It’s okay if it didn’t happen this time. You and Zhuzi are still young—just take care of your health, and I’m sure you’ll have a child in the future.”

Seeing Aunt Fen’s reaction, Great-aunt assumed she was crying because the doctor had said she wasn’t pregnant. She quickly tried to comfort her, yet deep down, she began to blame herself.

She shouldn’t have let Zhuzi’s smile mislead her into thinking the news was good. Who knew how much heartache the girl must be feeling right now? Great-aunt figured that Zhuzi was likely putting on a brave face for his wife’s sake, pretending to be unbothered so that she wouldn’t feel too upset. The more she thought about it, the guiltier she felt.

“What’s going on? Why are you crying? Didn’t the doctor tell you that pregnant women shouldn’t cry?” Uncle Zhuzi called out as he walked back from the storage room. Seeing the scene before him, he quickly strode over.

“I couldn’t hold back when I saw Godmother!” Aunt Fen quickly wiped her tears and turned to look at Uncle Zhuzi with misty eyes, her voice still choked with emotion.

“Wait… does this mean you’re pregnant?” Great-aunt’s eyes widened in shock as she turned to Aunt Fen.

“Yes, Godmother, I finally have my own child! The doctor said the baby is developing well—I’m already more than two months along.” Aunt Fen nodded with joy, gently placing her hands over her belly.

“You really are pregnant!” Grandaunts’s voice was noticeably louder than usual. She gently patted Aunt Fen’s arm and scolded lightly, “Then why were you crying? You scared me into thinking it was bad news!”

Aunt Fen smiled sheepishly and said, “I was just too overwhelmed! I held back the whole way home, but the moment I saw you, I couldn’t keep it in anymore.”

Standing nearby, Wei Jiajia finally let out a sigh of relief. For a moment, she had feared she had made a terrible mistake—getting Aunt Fen and Uncle Zhuzi’s hopes up, only to see them crushed again.

Of course, with continued nourishment from the spiritual spring water, Aunt Fen would have conceived sooner or later. But a setback like that would have weighed on everyone’s hearts. Thankfully, the spring water had worked its magic this time.

“Come, come, let’s go inside. It’s far too hot out here! You’re carrying a baby now, so you have to be extra careful. Forget about housework—there’s no need for you to lift a finger. From now on, we’ll handle everything…”

Great-aunt took Aunt Fen’s hand and led her into the house, her voice filled with endless instructions and words of concern.

Aunt Fen smiled softly as she followed Grandaunt into the main hall, listening attentively to her reminders. She never found her nagging bothersome—instead, she cherished the care behind each word.

She used to think the luckiest thing in her life was marrying Zhuzi and collapsing at Godmother’s doorstep during their time as refugees. Even though they had resigned themselves to never having children of their own, she had always felt far more blessed than most. She was content.

Now, as she gently caressed her belly, she felt that fate had been even kinder than she had ever dared to hope. Not only had she been blessed with a loving family, but she had also been given the child she had longed for.

Aunt Fen’s heart swelled with gratitude as she turned her gaze toward her husband, who walked beside her in silence, his every movement full of quiet attentiveness toward her.

Uncle Zhuzi noticed her glance and met her eyes. Though no words were exchanged, the two, having spent a lifetime together, needed none. A single look was enough to understand each other’s thoughts.

This unexpected pregnancy had filled them with indescribable joy. The moment the doctor confirmed she was two months pregnant, the emotions they felt were so overwhelming that Uncle Zhuzi knew he would remember that instant for the rest of his life.

At their age, this child was truly a miracle—an unexpected blessing from the heavens, a precious gift for the two of them.

He felt deeply grateful for the peaceful times they lived in, which allowed them to work and live without fear.

And above all, he was thankful for the family around them—not only had they given him and Aunt Fen the strength to keep going, but they had also filled their lives with the warmth of true kinship.

Since the passing of Mr. and Mrs. Wei, he had become the sole pillar of the family, and he vowed to do everything in his power to give his family the best life possible.

He was committed to raising the children with care, ensuring they grew up strong and healthy. Even though he was about to have his own child, the Wei children still held a special place in his heart. They were, without question, his true family.

The couple exchanged a look and smiled, silently understanding each other.

The moment Aunt Fen’s pregnancy was known, the atmosphere in the house changed instantly.

When Xiangdong and Xiangxi returned home that day and heard the news, they immediately declared they would take turns handling the household chores to ensure that Aunt Fen would not be overworked.

Now, whenever Aunt Fen went outside, the two boys would follow her, anxious about her and the baby’s well-being.

Though they were still young, the boys’ concern for Aunt Fen was palpable, and every time Aunt Fen saw the twins’ worried expressions, she was touched beyond words.

Great-aunt, too, had brought out the fabric she had saved over the years and started making quilts and little clothes for the baby.

Wei Jiajia also found excuses to go out each day, returning with bags of milk powder and other nutritional supplements she had traded for in the black market. She explained it was to help Aunt Fen with her nutrition and to prepare for the children’s future needs.

Even Yangyang and Nuannuan, not willing to be outdone, brought out their own savings of candy and their favorite toys, saying they wanted to keep them for their younger siblings.

Thus, the entire family busied themselves, preparing for the arrival of the new life.

One day, the postman arrived with a letter from Qiao Haoyu to Wei Jiajia and a package from Aunt Wenjuan.

That evening, after bathing and returning to her room, Wei Jiajia carefully opened Qiao Haoyu’s letter.

Dear Jiajia,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing this shortly after my return to school. On the day I left, as I made my way to the train station, I watched your figure gradually fade from view, and at that moment, my longing for you began. Your every expression, every smile, lingered in my mind, refusing to fade.

As for the food you asked me to bring, I shared a bottle with each of my roommates, but the rest I locked in my cupboard, reluctant to consume it. It was simply too delicious. If I wasn’t careful, they’d snatch it away—especially Zeng Guoqiang, who loves to cause a ruckus.

Since my classmates have tasted it, they’ve all been envious of me for having such a wise and virtuous fiancée like you. They all get these jealous looks in their eyes, their envy almost burning through them.

Every time I see those jealous gazes, I feel an immense satisfaction in my heart. I think to myself, they may never find a fiancée as outstanding as you in their lifetime. So let them be jealous—after all, I’m the one who found the best!

But I still don’t want you to work so hard. I want your hands to always remain as white and smooth as they are now. I want you to be able to pursue your passions in the future, and I desire every day of your life to be filled with joy. I want to be your tree, shielding you from all the storms, just wishing to safeguard all that is beautiful in your life…

When you write back, send the photo of us together and your solo portrait. I plan to look at these photos whenever I miss you, because they’re the only thing that can soothe my heart, which aches with longing for you…

With love, Haoyu, who misses you.

After reading the heartfelt letter, filled with several pages, Wei Jiajia had a sweet smile on her face, one she didn’t even realize was there. She whispered to herself, “Such a thick skin,” then began to take out a piece of paper to write a reply to Qiao Haoyu.

In her letter, she told him not to be frugal with the meat sauce, and that she’d send more when she could. She also mentioned that cooking was one of her hobbies and that he didn’t need to worry; her hands remained in fine condition.

Then she updated him on what had been going on. She told him that Zhang Huimin had already reported to the military art troupe just a couple of days after they left.

She also shared the exciting news that Aunt Fen was pregnant, and how happy everyone was for the new life. She mentioned that ever since he left, Xiangdong and Xiangxi hadn’t missed a day of training and always talked about joining the military academy. Even Nuannuan and Yangyang kept asking where Big Brother Haoyu had gone for several days in a row.

Once the letter was complete, she carefully placed the photographs and the letter into an envelope and sealed it, intending to mail it the following day.

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