Axolotl Translations

Before long, it was New Year’s Eve. Early in the morning, the courtyard was bustling with people, filled with a lively, festive atmosphere.

The men of the household began pasting couplets on their doorframes, while the children, holding pre-prepared snacks, chased and played in the yard.

Looking around, one could see every household’s door decorated with a sea of red, each couplet written in various styles. Some were elegant and flowing, while others were messy and crooked, but most shared a common trait: the content was vibrant and easy to understand.

A few households had couplets with profound, difficult-to-understand phrases, but at this time, no one bothered to study them closely. As long as it was auspicious and festive, that was enough.

Wei Jiajia’s couplets were written by Great-aunt, who had excellent calligraphy skills. Qiao Haoyu’s calligraphy wasn’t bad either, but as for Wei Jiajia, her handwriting was delicate, and most importantly, she couldn’t write in calligraphy at all…

After finishing lunch at home, Qiao Haoyu went to the military camp to spend time with the soldiers. He wouldn’t return until after the New Year’s Eve dinner and the cultural troupe’s performance.

Speaking of the military’s New Year’s Eve celebration, it had always been tradition for the soldiers and military wives, along with the girls from the cultural troupe, to perform on stage.

When Wei Jiajia had just arrived at the military compound, she had quickly attracted the attention of the women’s organization. She was beautiful, a university graduate, and if she performed on stage, just her face alone would outshine the cultural troupe, bringing glory to the military wives.

A week ago, the leader of the women’s organization came to the Qiao household and asked Wei Jiajia to perform on stage. She politely declined, but they weren’t discouraged. They went to speak with Qiao Haoyu, hoping to persuade Wei Jiajia through him. However, Qiao Haoyu firmly rejected them. His wife was pregnant and had enough challenges; there was no way he would let her perform just because of a few words from the leader’s wife.

If his wife wanted to, even though he was worried about her health, he would support her. But now that his wife had clearly stated she couldn’t participate due to her condition, these people still came to him, trying to convince him with lofty principles. This made Qiao Haoyu somewhat displeased.

It wasn’t until the leader’s wife had spent half the day talking in circles, only to be met with unwavering resistance, that she finally left in frustration. She hadn’t expected this couple to be so unyielding, refusing to give her any face. Their complete lack of flexibility left her feeling a quiet resentment.

When she returned to the compound, she was met by the other military wives who had been eagerly awaiting good news. Embarrassed by her failure, she vaguely twisted the truth, spreading negative remarks about the couple. She insinuated that they looked down on the other military wives, that Wei Jiajia was spoiled and delicate, and that her husband didn’t need her to win him any honor.

These words only fueled the dissatisfaction of those who had already harbored resentment toward Wei Jiajia. Seeing the growing chorus of discontent, the leader’s wife finally felt a sense of relief, as if she had regained her lost pride.

Wei Jiajia had no idea that trouble had come knocking while she was minding her own business at home. Even if she had known, she wouldn’t have cared. People who didn’t share the same values weren’t worth the effort—better to minimize contact and keep her peace of mind.

This morning, she had joined the preparations for the New Year’s Eve dinner. Though she couldn’t do much heavy work, she helped wash vegetables and make dumplings. Great-aunt, Xiangdong, and Xiangxi took care of the rest. As for Yangyang and Nuannuan, as long as they didn’t cause trouble, it was already a blessing.

But the two children had no interest in cooking today. After breakfast, they grabbed the firecrackers Great-aunt had bought last time and ran outside. Every now and then, bursts of firecrackers would sound, followed by the excited cheers of the children.

That evening, when Qiao Haoyu returned from the military camp, the Qiao family finally began their New Year’s Eve feast.

Great-aunt, surrounded by the younger generation, was so overjoyed that her eyes crinkled with happiness. Raising her glass, she spoke first: “The greatest joy of this year has been Jiajia and Haoyu’s wedding. And now, they’re about to welcome a child of their own. I hope that the two of you will always be like this—supporting each other, loving each other, and growing together.”

Under the table, Qiao Haoyu held his wife’s hand tightly. They exchanged a smile before he solemnly assured Great-aunt, “Don’t worry, Great-aunt. We will.”

Satisfied with his promise, Grand-aunt then turned to Xiangdong and Xiangxi. “I hope you both excel in your studies and have a bright future ahead.”

Before either of them could respond, Nuannuan, unable to hold back any longer, blurted out, “What about me? Great-aunt, what about Yangyang and me?” She anxiously picked up her cup of water, standing up to clink glasses with Grand-aunt. After waiting so long, she couldn’t hold back anymore.

Auntie smiled and said, “I wish our Yangyang and Nuannuan a year of good studies, good health, and happiness.”

Nuannuan wasn’t too thrilled about the “good studies” part, but she still grinned and clinked her glass against great-aunt’s, mimicking the adults. Then, tilting her little head back, she dramatically downed her cup of water as if it were a fine aged Maotai.

At some point, the Wei family had gained a little drama queen…

After a lively and joyous New Year’s Eve dinner, Xiangdong and Xiangxi took their younger siblings outside to set off firecrackers, while Wei Jiajia and Qiao Haoyu curled up together on the sofa, listening to Great-aunt tell stories of the past.

By the end of the night, only three people remained on the couch to keep vigil for the new year—Qiao Haoyu, Xiangdong, and Xiangxi. The others had long since surrendered to sleep and gone to their rooms to rest.

At the stroke of midnight, firecrackers erupted outside, filling the air with loud, celebratory bursts. But with Qiao Haoyu’s careful hands covering her ears, Wei Jiajia slept soundly, undisturbed.

“Happy New Year! I love you!” Qiao Haoyu’s words of affection mingled with the crackling of fireworks.

……

“What did you just say? You two want to go back?” Wei Jiajia looked at her younger brothers in surprise, her tone uncertain.

Xiangxi sneaked a glance at his sister’s expression, a little nervous, and instinctively shrank back. Xiangdong, standing beside him, met Wei Jiajia’s gaze and explained, “Sister, Xiangxi and I talked it over, and we think it would be better to return to our high school in Shencheng. It’s just two more years, and we’ll be taking the college entrance exam next year anyway. Transferring schools now would only complicate things.”

This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. From the very beginning, neither of them had planned on transferring. Though their sister had hoped to keep them close, they felt that they were old enough now—they couldn’t keep clinging to her and making her worry about them all the time.

Their plan was to spend some time with their sister before taking the train back to school after the New Year. In the future, they would visit during holidays, even if it meant a bit of back-and-forth travel. But they were young, and a little travel didn’t bother them.

As for their younger siblings, they were still small, and with both their sister and Great-aunt here in the military district, it was clear they would stay.

Wei Jiajia looked at her younger brothers, who now stood taller than her, and remained silent for a long moment.

Seeing her impassive expression, even Xiangdong—who had felt confident they could convince their sister—began to feel a bit uneasy.

“Alright, I agree,” Wei Jiajia finally said after some thought, nodding. They were grown now and had their own opinions. If this was what they truly wanted, who was she to stop them? Besides, Auntie Fen and Uncle Zhuzi were in Shencheng—they would keep an eye on them.

“Really? Sister, you really agree?” Xiangxi asked, still a little incredulous.

Wei Jiajia rolled her eyes. “You sound way too excited about leaving me. Do you not even believe what I say anymore?”

At that, Xiangxi quickly hugged his sister, playfully whining, “Big Bro and I don’t want to leave you! But we really need to focus on getting into a good university next year, and high school is crucial for that.” Their current high school in Shencheng was one of the best, with top-tier education quality. Not wanting to transfer schools was, in part, a practical decision.

“Siter, thank you. Don’t worry—we’ll always be good to you,” Xiangdong said. He was usually the more reserved one, rarely expressing his emotions, so his sudden heartfelt gratitude caught Wei Jiajia off guard.

“Silly boys, I don’t need you to ‘be good’ to me. Just take care of yourselves—that’s enough. As long as you have bright futures, I’ll be happy,” Wei Jiajia said, touched by their sincerity. She hadn’t expected Xiangdong to remember the offhand joke she had made years ago.

That evening, when the family heard of their decision, they chose to respect it. Great-aunt had already suspected as much when she had gone to the neighborhood office to get their introduction letters.

As for Qiao Haoyu, since his wife had already agreed, he had no objections either. He believed in them. Despite their young age, they knew what they wanted and were willing to work hard for it.

“Do you have any comrades heading to Shencheng in the next few days? Or anyone you know on the railway? I don’t feel comfortable letting them travel alone,” Wei Jiajia asked her husband. No matter how tall they had grown, they were still only fourteen. In modern times, kids that age would still need their parents to pick them up from school!

Before Qiao Haoyu could respond, Xiangdong spoke up. “There’s no need to find someone. We can go by ourselves.”

“Yeah, Sister, we’re tall and strong, and we’ve been training with Brother-in-law. No one can take us down that easily,” Xiangxi chimed in, even flexing his arm to show off his muscles.

Wei Jiajia ignored their boasting and turned to her husband, waiting for his decision. If they couldn’t find anyone reliable, the worst-case scenario would be letting them travel alone.

Fortunately, the next day, Qiao Haoyu brought good news. One of the soldiers in his regiment had a brother-in-law working in the railway system, and he could arrange for someone to look after the boys during their journey.

The soldier, upon hearing that the request was from his brother-in-law’s battalion commander, agreed without hesitation. It was a small favor, and it even gave him an opportunity to earn goodwill in front of his superior, which could mean some extra consideration during training. In the end, it was a win-win situation—his family got to do a small favor, and his sister-in-law would be happy about it too.

The following day, Qiao Haoyu arranged for two train tickets and personally saw the boys off early, ensuring they would make it in time for school registration.

Just two days after Xiangdong and Xiangxi left, Wei Jiajia still felt a little unaccustomed to their absence. But soon, she was distracted by Yangyang and Nuannuan’s school matters.

The little ones were transferring schools and starting from the second grade. On the first day, they insisted they didn’t need anyone to accompany them. Dressed in new clothes, each carrying a new schoolbag and military-style water bottle gifted by their brother-in-law, they ran off to school with their friends Chen Rou and Goudan.

And just like that, everyone returned to their own routines. For Wei Jiajia, the countdown to childbirth had officially begun.

In the final stage of her pregnancy, even with the nourishing effects of the mystical spring, Wei Jiajia couldn’t completely avoid the discomforts of swollen calves and frequent urination. Fortunately, her symptoms weren’t severe, and over time, she gradually got used to them.

With his wife’s due date approaching, Qiao Haoyu couldn’t help feeling uneasy. Lately, he made a habit of coming home for lunch every day—only after checking on her could he leave for work with peace of mind.

That afternoon, after lunch, the household resumed its usual routine—those who had work went to work, and those who had school went to school.

Wei Jiajia, ready for her midday rest, went to the bathroom before heading to bed. However, just moments after lying down, she suddenly felt a damp sensation between her legs. Confused, she wondered if she had somehow wet the bed—hadn’t she just gone to the bathroom?

Feeling a little embarrassed, she got up to change her clothes. But when she removed her pants, she noticed a faint pinkish hue in the moisture running down her legs.

At that moment, even if she had been oblivious, she couldn’t ignore what was happening—her water had broken. Yet, instead of panicking, she remained calm. She had always heard that labor started with contractions, so why wasn’t she feeling anything yet?

Without making a fuss, she changed her clothes and stepped out of the room. Seeing her up and about, her great-aunt looked at her with surprise. “Why are you up?”

“My scalp suddenly feels itchy. I think I’ll wash my hair before taking a nap, or else I won’t be able to sleep,” Wei Jiajia said, her tone so steady that not a hint of urgency could be detected.

Taking her words at face value, her great-aunt didn’t question her and simply went to fetch the water for washing her hair.

Wei Jiajia wasn’t being reckless—she simply knew that if she didn’t wash her hair now, she wouldn’t have the chance anytime soon. Once she gave birth, it would be a long time before she could do it again. No matter how doting her husband was, he would likely insist she follow traditional postpartum care, which meant no hair washing for weeks.

Sure enough, as soon as she finished washing her hair, a wave of pain radiated through her belly. The contractions had begun. Not bothering to dry her hair, she turned to her great-aunt and said, “Great-aunt, grab the prepared baby blanket—we need to go to the hospital.”

“What?” Her great-aunt stood frozen for a moment before Wei Jiajia’s words fully sank in. Then, flustered, she stammered, “You’re in labor? When did this start? Don’t tell me… was it when you were washing your hair? You really have some nerve—about to give birth and still worrying about looking good!”

“I’ll go call someone!” she said, gathering the prepared items. But as soon as she stepped outside, she realized the house was empty—there was no one around to help get Wei Jiajia to the hospital.

Just then, Wei Jiajia, still relatively calm despite the contractions, reached out to stop her. “No need to call anyone. Let’s just walk there.”

“Walk? Are you sure you can manage that?” The great-aunt hesitated, eyeing her uncertainly. Wei Jiajia’s face still looked normal—she didn’t seem to be in too much pain.

“I’ll be fine. The hospital isn’t far, and walking will actually help with the labor. Even if I go by car, the doctors will still make me walk around once I get there.”

Seeing that Wei Jiajia was serious, her great-aunt decided to go along with it. Supporting her with one hand and carrying the baby blanket with the other, she guided her toward the hospital.

When they reached the compound’s security post, the great-aunt stopped a guard. “Quick, inform Qiao Haoyu! Tell him his wife is in labor—he needs to come to the hospital right away!”

By the time Qiao Haoyu received the news and rushed to the hospital, he arrived just as the delivery room doors swung open. Two nurses stepped out, each cradling a newborn baby in their arms.

“Family of Wei Jiajia?”

“I am!” the great-aunt and Qiao Haoyu blurted out in unison.

“Congratulations! It’s a set of dragon-phoenix twins,” one of the nurses said cheerfully. “This is the older brother, and this is the little sister.”

A wave of excitement rippled through the hospital staff—they had never delivered twins before, let alone a dragon-phoenix pair. It was an incredibly rare event. The mother inside was truly fortunate—her first pregnancy had given her both a son and a daughter.

“How’s my wife?” Qiao Haoyu barely spared a glance at the babies. His only concern was for the woman still inside the delivery room.

“The mother is doing well. The delivery went smoothly. She just needs to be cleaned up, and then she’ll be out,” the nurse said before handing the newborns to the two waiting relatives.

Great-aunt reached out and took the baby boy, leaving the little girl for the doting father. Qiao Haoyu, stiff and unsure, clumsily took his daughter from the nurse’s hands. He stood there, momentarily at a loss.

Seeing his cautious and awkward demeanor, the nurse couldn’t help but smile. Just as she was about to correct his posture, an urgent exclamation rang out from inside the delivery room—

“Wait! There’s still another baby inside!”

Qiao Haoyu stumbled back, his heart skipping a beat. He looked up at the nurse, his voice tight with worry. “What… what do they mean?”

The nurse’s expression also shifted. Without answering him, she turned and hurried back into the delivery room, shutting the door firmly behind her, cutting off their view.

Great-aunt suddenly understood. Wei Jiajia hadn’t been carrying twins—she had been carrying triplets. No one had even considered the possibility.

Both of them, now each holding a newborn, stood motionless, their expressions solemn as they fixed their gaze on the delivery room door, silently praying for good news.

At that moment, Qiao Haoyu couldn’t even begin to describe his emotions. The initial joy of becoming a father had faded, replaced by a suffocating anxiety.

Every minute, every second felt endless. He knew nothing about what was happening inside. Was his wife okay? How had her petite body managed to carry three children? Was she in terrible pain? And what about the third baby—why hadn’t he been born with his siblings?

All he could do was pray—pray that both mother and child would be safe. At this moment, he wished he could turn back time, back to the very start of her pregnancy. If he had known, he would have told her—he didn’t need a daughter. He just wanted her to be safe.

Inside the delivery room, Wei Jiajia was equally shocked. Just when she thought she was done, another sharp pain ripped through her abdomen. This time, the birth was even harder than before. She wasn’t sure if it was because the baby had been cramped inside for too long or because she had already exhausted all her strength. It felt like an eternity—thirty minutes? An hour? Or even longer?

Finally, when she was at the very limit of her endurance, the baby slipped from her body. Before she could even catch a glimpse of the child, the sound of a newborn’s cry echoed in the room. And with that, exhaustion overtook her, and she sank into unconsciousness.

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