Axolotl Translations

“Oh my goodness, be careful!” Zhang Huimin said, grabbing Wei Jiajia’s arm just as she was about to step outside. “The snow’s coming down heavy, and the roads are slick. You really shouldn’t be going for a walk.” Her voice was a mix of concern and exasperation.

Did Jiajia even realize how far along she was? Her belly looked like she could give birth any minute. Who in their right mind would let her wander outside in this weather? If she slipped and fell, it could be dangerous!

“I’m just anxious! It’s getting dark, and they still haven’t come back,” Wei Jiajia muttered. She glanced down at her enormous belly, then reluctantly gave up on going outside and sank back onto the bench.

Her husband had gone to the train station to pick up grand-aunt and Xiangdong. Based on the time, they should have been back by now. Jiajia checked the clock again, unable to sit still. She’d just wanted to peek into the courtyard to see if she could spot them.

“The snow’s so thick, and the roads must be tough to drive on. They’re probably taking it slow for safety. It’s perfectly normal for them to be late,” Zhang Huimin reassured her, noticing the worry in her friend’s eyes.

No one had expected the sudden snowfall an hour ago. One minute the skies were clear, and the next, fat snowflakes were swirling down, quickly blanketing the ground in white. If the snow had started earlier, Qiao Haoyu and the others could have stayed overnight at the guesthouse and returned in the morning. That would have been much safer than driving in the dark. But now, with the roads buried in snow, Jiajia couldn’t shake her unease.

It had been over four months since she found out she was pregnant. By now, Qiao Haoyu had fully recovered from his injuries and returned to his unit, keeping busy with early morning departures and late-night returns.

Meanwhile, Jiajia’s belly had been growing at an alarming rate. By the time she hit the four-month mark, she looked like she was already six months along. When they’d gone for a check-up at the hospital, the doctor had confirmed what they’d already suspected—she was carrying twins.

Now, at six months, her belly looked like she was nearly due. When she glanced down, she couldn’t even see her toes anymore.

Thankfully, the spiritual spring water’s nourishing effects, combined with her well-balanced diet, kept Wei Jiajia remarkably healthy throughout her pregnancy. Her body handled the strain of carrying multiples with ease, and aside from a bit more drowsiness, she experienced none of the typical pregnancy woes.

Her complexion was fair and rosy, glowing with vitality. If it weren’t for her prominent belly, no one would have guessed she was expecting. She looked even more delicate and beautiful than many younger women. Every evening, as Qiao Haoyu escorted her on walks around the compound, they drew envious glances—a mix of admiration and jealousy.

Take Li Linlin, for example, who’d conceived around the same time. The contrast between the two women couldn’t have been more striking.

Since becoming pregnant, Li Linlin’s figure had lost its graceful lines, and her complexion had suffered from relentless morning sickness. Her once-smooth skin was now sprinkled with freckles, a cruel blow to her vanity. Unable to face her reflection, she’d practically become a recluse.

If Jiajia was the subject of envious whispers, then Li Linlin had become a point of comparison for the other women in the compound. Many took a perverse satisfaction in seeing that even a former “proud peacock” from the arts troupe was just as vulnerable to pregnancy as they were.

And Jiajia? Well, she was simply an anomaly. There was no point in comparing—no one could measure up, and trying to would only lead to frustration.

Ever since learning she was carrying twins, Qiao Haoyu had been quietly consumed by anxiety. Every time he looked at her growing belly, he worried whether her slender frame could handle the strain. Fortunately, Jiajia’s good spirits and robust health offered some reassurance.

After discussing the matter, Qiao’s mother and Auntie decided that since Jiajia couldn’t travel, great-aunt would care for her during her postpartum recovery. Once the decision was made, they informed Qiao Haoyu, who was greatly relieved. Having a trusted family member by Jiajia’s side would ease his mind while he was at work.

Truthfully, grand-aunt had been itching to come and help ever since she learned Jiajia was carrying twins. But she couldn’t just leave—she had to wait for the children’s school break. Leaving Nuannuan behind would have resulted in a flood of tears.

Finally, with the school holidays upon them, great-aunt wasted no time. She sent Xiangdong to buy the earliest train tickets and immediately called Qiao Haoyu to let him know their arrival time, so he could pick them up from the station.

Qiao Haoyu had been eagerly anticipating their arrival, and today was the day. He took a leave of absence, hopped into his car, and headed into the city.

The moment he left, Jiajia seized the opportunity to prepare at home.

She retrieved grain, meat, and vegetables from her storage space, carefully placing them in the kitchen and the backyard cellar. Once grand-aunt arrived, the house would be bustling, making it impossible to move things without being noticed. With her large belly, she couldn’t even use the excuse of going to the black market for trades. It was best to prepare everything beforehand.

As for the rooms, Qiao Haoyu had tidied them the night before. The three boys would share the larger room with bunk beds, while grand-aunt and Nuannuan would share the slightly smaller one.

Jiajia had been particularly thoughtful about the bedding. She took apart a thick quilt from her storage, removed the cotton filling, and had someone remake the blankets from scratch. Now, they were thick, heavy, and incredibly warm—perfect for the freezing winter nights.

After all, it was already the twelfth lunar month in the northeast, and temperatures had plummeted to between minus ten and twenty degrees Celsius. Even bundled up, three hours outside would leave anyone frozen solid.

Worried that the children’s clothes wouldn’t be warm enough, Jiajia had specially made them cotton-padded jackets and pants. She didn’t want them catching colds while playing outside, but she also couldn’t keep them cooped up indoors.

Fortunately, the military compound had fire-warmed walls for the single-story houses, and the apartment buildings had central heating. As long as the system was running, the homes remained comfortably warm all winter.

Some families even built kang beds directly inside their homes, which stayed warm all night. It was said that sleeping on a kang was good for one’s health, even helping to ease ailments like rheumatism. In the surrounding villages, every household had one.

Zhang Huimin, knowing Grandma Wang (great-aunt) was arriving, rushed over after work to help Jiajia prepare a welcome feast. Now, all that was left was for them to return so they could start eating.

Over the past few months, Zhang Huimin and Zeng Guoqiang had been trying to conceive, but her belly remained stubbornly flat. Worried, they’d even gone to the hospital for check-ups. However, the traditional Chinese doctor reassured them that they were both perfectly healthy; their time simply hadn’t come yet. Only then did they finally relax.

Eventually, they accepted it—perhaps it was for the best. This way, they wouldn’t have to postpone their New Year’s trip home.

After all, they’d only registered their marriage and hadn’t officially met each other’s families. This trip wasn’t just for the New Year; it was also to hold a proper wedding ceremony, introduce each other to their relatives, and let their families see their spouses.

“Brother-in-law, over here!” The moment the train pulled into the station, Xiangxi spotted Qiao Haoyu in his military uniform and eagerly leaned out the window, shouting.

Following the sound, Qiao Haoyu saw Xiangxi waving excitedly. He waited until the train came to a complete stop before heading towards them.

Once most of the passengers had disembarked, he boarded to help with the luggage. “Grand-aunt, you must be tired from your journey.”

Seeing Qiao Haoyu, grand-aunt’s face lit up. “Not at all! Jiajia’s pregnant, and I’m happy to be here to take care of her. Besides, we had sleeper berths—it was a comfortable ride.”

Qiao Haoyu helped great-aunt down first, along with the twins, while Xiangdong and Xiangxi stayed behind to gather the luggage.

After loading the luggage into the back of the car, everyone piled in. The children, shivering from the cold, rubbed their hands together for warmth.

“Brother-in-law, this winter is unbelievably cold! My hands are completely numb. How do you guys even handle this? You must get frostbite all over during training,” Xiangxi complained. He’d only walked a short distance carrying a small bundle, yet his hands were already stiff. He couldn’t fathom how the locals endured such winters.

As a southerner, he’d put on his thickest clothes before coming, yet he was still shaking uncontrollably.

“It’s minus twenty degrees right now,” Qiao Haoyu replied. “It gets even colder at night. You’ll get used to it in a few days.”

He handed them two thick military coats he’d prepared. “Here, wrap yourselves up in these to warm up.”

Noticing they had plenty of time before nightfall, he decided to take everyone to a state-owned restaurant.

“Come on, let’s get something warm to eat first. We’ve still got a three-to-four-hour drive ahead.”

As soon as they stepped inside and heard that lamb soup was on the menu, everyone was thrilled. Nothing sounded better than a steaming hot bowl of lamb soup on such a frigid day—it would keep them warm for hours.

Qiao Haoyu pulled out the meat and grain ration tickets, handing them to the staff. Each person received a bowl of lamb soup, a serving of stewed mixed vegetables, and a few flatbreads. His wife had given him the ration tickets before he left—he never carried such things himself.

After a hot and satisfying meal, they resumed their journey.

Halfway through the trip, soft rustling sounds came from the car windows—it had started to snow. The snowfall quickly intensified, growing heavier by the minute.

The children, who’d rarely seen snow, were beyond excited. They all crowded near the windows, staring out in awe. If it hadn’t been so cold, they probably would have rolled the windows down and reached out to catch the falling flakes.

Among them, Nuannuan was the most captivated. The little girl spent the entire ride pressed against the car window, her small mouth slightly open, her eyes filled with wonder at the unfamiliar snowy landscape.

A journey that usually took just over three hours ended up taking an extra hour due to the snowfall. By the time they arrived at the military district, the sky had turned completely dark.

At the entrance, soldiers stood tall and straight, their uniforms and hats dusted with a layer of white snow. Even their eyelashes were coated with frost. Seeing this, Xiangdong and Xiangxi couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of respect.

The environment here was completely different from the military district they’d visited when Wei’s father was stationed in the south. The winters there were nowhere near as harsh. But instead of being deterred, the cold only strengthened their resolve to join the military one day.

Great-aunt couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache as she looked at the young soldiers standing guard. To her, they were still just children—far from their parents, enduring hardships in service to their country. She could only imagine the pain their families felt, knowing their sons were living such a hard life.

She’d always supported Xiangdong and Xiangxi joining the army when they grew up. But ever since their parents had died in the line of duty, leaving her to bury her own children, she’d started having second thoughts. She didn’t want them to put themselves in danger.

She didn’t want to outright forbid them, but she also feared future regrets if she didn’t intervene.

Luckily, they were still in high school. University was still ahead, and there was plenty of time for such a life-altering decision.

Qiao Haoyu parked the car in front of the guard post and got out to register great-aunt and the others. Only after their information was recorded were they allowed to enter.

This military district wasn’t just home to a combat brigade—it also housed a top-secret military research institute, where many national scientists worked. Because of this, security was exceptionally tight, with strict inspections on all personnel coming and going. A single lapse in vigilance could allow a spy to slip in.

Wei Jiajia, who had been anxiously waiting, finally heard the sound of a car pulling up outside the courtyard gate. With Zhang Huimin’s support, she hurriedly stood up and made her way outside. Zeng Guoqiang, who’d just returned from work, also rose and strode towards the entrance.

Seeing her aunt being helped out of the car by her husband, Wei Jiajia’s eyes filled with tears. She rushed forward and embraced her tightly. “Great-aunt, I’ve missed you so much!”

“You silly girl, you’re about to be a mother, and yet you’re still such a crybaby. Wipe those tears, or the baby in your belly will laugh at you.” Though her words were teasing, Grand-aunt’s heart was full of affection. She held Wei Jiajia tightly, reluctant to let go.

“Sister, you didn’t even see me!” Nuannuan, standing to the side, pouted in jealousy. She’d been eagerly awaiting her sister’s attention, but Wei Jiajia had only hugged their aunt.

Hearing her familiar tone, Wei Jiajia laughed. Releasing her grand-aunt, she turned to the little girl, whose lips were pursed in a sulky expression, and gently pinched her cheek.

“Of course I missed you too! My little girl has grown even prettier in the past six months,” she said, quickly soothing her.

“Granny Wang, it’s too cold outside. Let’s hurry inside—Jiajia has already prepared dinner, and we’ve all been waiting for you,” Zhang Huimin said, stepping forward to help grand-aunt.

Grand-aunt walked ahead with Zhang Huimin’s support, while Wei Jiajia held Nuannuan’s hand with one of hers and Yangyang’s with the other. Together, they made their way inside, leaving the four men to handle the luggage.

Inside, the fire-warmed walls radiated comforting heat. As soon as they stepped in, the warmth melted away their exhaustion.

“Wow! It’s so warm in here—it feels just like spring!” Nuannuan exclaimed in amazement.

Yangyang, equally curious, looked around, trying to figure out if the warmth came from a stove.

“The walls of this house have built-in heating, which is why it’s so warm inside,” Wei Jiajia explained.

Hearing this, the two little ones ran to the walls and pressed their hands against them. Feeling the warmth seep through, they squealed in delight.

Wei Jiajia let them be and picked up a washbasin from the rack. She went to the kitchen to fetch a basin of hot water and carried it out for everyone to wash their faces and shake off the chill.

As she carefully maneuvered back into the room, her belly slightly protruding, Qiao Haoyu, who had just entered, immediately set down his things and hurried over. Taking the basin from her hands, he frowned and said, “Do you even realize how heavy this is? What if you lose your balance? Don’t do this kind of work anymore—just wait for me to come back.”

Wei Jiajia rolled her eyes internally. Ever since he found out she was carrying twins, he had become ridiculously overprotective. The moment he was around, she was treated like fragile glass, forbidden from lifting a finger. As long as she sat still and did nothing, he was at ease.

She flashed him a sweet, appeasing smile without arguing. It was pointless anyway—if she protested, he’d just come up with an endless stream of logical reasons to justify his stance.

Seeing his wife’s resigned expression, Qiao Haoyu could only shake his head helplessly. He carried the basin to the washstand and called everyone over to freshen up.

Great-aunt observed the couple’s interaction with a satisfied nod.

The moment she saw Jiajia’s glowing complexion, she knew the girl was living a happy, comfortable life, free of hardship. Only a woman truly cherished by her husband could look so soft and radiant, her face brimming with happiness.

Seeing the Zhang family girl and the Zeng boy finally together filled Auntie with joy. Before she left, Zhang family’s grandmother had specifically asked her to keep an eye on their relationship—to see whether it was truly as good as Jiajia described in her letters. The family was worried she might be hiding any grievances, reporting only the good and not the bad.

But after observing them in person, great-aunt could tell at a glance—their marriage was strong and full of love.

After everyone had washed up, Wei Jiajia pulled Great-aunt over to the dining table and had her sit down. As they settled in, she eagerly asked about everything that had happened at home since her departure. Meanwhile, the others busied themselves in the kitchen, bringing out the dishes one by one—starting with her prized copper hot pot.

Given the freezing temperatures, she’d specially prepared the hot pot, knowing that grand-aunt, having traveled so far, might not be accustomed to the frigid weather.

On a night like this, nothing could be more comforting than gathering around a steaming hot pot.

She’d even asked her husband to stop by the provisions store earlier to buy an assortment of fresh seafood.

The evening meal was lively and warm, filled with laughter and conversation. After dinner, Zhang Huimin and her husband headed home, while great-aunt and the younger siblings, exhausted from their long train journey and the lack of proper rest, retired early to their rooms.

Back in their own quarters, Qiao Haoyu brought in a basin of hot water and placed it on the floor. Rolling up his sleeves, he knelt down and began his nightly routine—washing his wife’s feet.

Ever since Wei Jiajia’s belly had become noticeably round, Qiao Haoyu had forbidden her from doing it herself. Every night, at the same time, he would soak her feet in warm water, then gently massage her legs. He had learned from the old doctor that pregnant women were prone to leg swelling and cramps, and regular massages helped prevent discomfort.

“Happy to see your family today?” he asked as he worked, his hands skillfully kneading her feet.

“Very happy!” Wei Jiajia nodded, her eyes curving into a smile.

Seeing his wife so cheerful, Qiao Haoyu felt a deep sense of satisfaction. With great-aunt and her siblings by her side, she would surely remain in high spirits for a long time.

The doctor had emphasized that a pregnant woman’s emotional state was crucial. It was essential to maintain a positive mood—not only for her own well-being but also for the baby’s health.

After finishing the massage, Qiao Haoyu quickly washed his own feet using the same basin of water. Then, he carried the basin out, and upon returning, he immediately started his next nightly routine—telling stories to their unborn children.

This was something Wei Jiajia had insisted on. She had read somewhere that if the father spoke to the baby in the womb every day, it would help the baby recognize his voice early and even serve as a form of prenatal education. She wasn’t entirely sure if it was scientifically accurate—after all, she hadn’t paid much attention to this kind of thing in her previous life—but she figured storytelling couldn’t hurt.

The only problem was that Qiao Haoyu wasn’t exactly a natural storyteller. After awkwardly fumbling through bedtime stories for two nights, he finally came up with an idea—telling the babies about battles.

From that point on, he began recounting various military campaigns, describing them in vivid detail and even analyzing the strategies he had learned from them.

Wei Jiajia couldn’t help but wonder—if their babies were girls, what kind of people would they grow up to be under their father’s influence? Would they still be soft, gentle little ladies, or was that now out of the question?

Whether or not the babies actually understood their father’s war stories, Wei Jiajia had no idea. But one thing was certain—she always managed to fall asleep just as he was getting more and more excited.

Tonight was no different. Qiao Haoyu had barely begun speaking when his wife, nestled against his chest, closed her eyes and drifted off.

Looking down at her sleeping form, he gently whispered to the babies inside her belly, “Mommy is asleep now, so you two be good in there, alright? Don’t make trouble for her. Daddy will continue the story tomorrow.”

Feeling a slight movement under his palm, a warm smile spread across Qiao Haoyu’s face.

He leaned down to place a soft kiss on his wife’s forehead, whispered a quiet “Goodnight,” and then held her close as he, too, fell into a deep sleep.

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