“Aww! Look at him—his little mouth keeps pursing. Isn’t that just too cute?” Zhang Huimin exclaimed, her voice filled with delight, as she gently touched the tiny hands of the children, watching their adorable reactions to her playful prodding.
Wei Jiajia, meanwhile, wore a forehead band, a forced accessory courtesy of her great-aunt, who insisted it was a preventative measure against headaches. Her protests had been futile, and her husband offered no reprieve. Resigned, she wore it, thankful the weather was still cool. The thought of wearing it in the summer heat was enough to make her shudder.
Sitting by the bedside, she sipped her chicken soup, chuckling at Zhang Huimin’s antics. “Stop teasing them, or they’ll start crying, and then they’ll never stop. You won’t think they’re so well-behaved then.”
Reluctantly, Zhang Huimin pulled back and settled into a chair, picking up a bowl from the table. She lifted it to her lips, took a cautious sip, and—huh? No nausea. She took a bigger sip, still fine. Then, with a newfound eagerness, she downed the rest of the soup in a few quick gulps. Placing the empty bowl down, she touched her stomach, realizing she finally had something in it. The chicken soup had actually sparked her appetite.
“How do you feel? No discomfort?” Wei Jiajia asked, noticing her friend’s reaction.
Zhang Huimin responded excitedly, “No! I think I can even eat something else. Did Grandma Wang add something special to this soup? How come I feel completely fine?”
Ever since she discovered her pregnancy during the New Year visit to her husband’s hometown, she had been plagued by relentless morning sickness. Even the faintest scent of cooking oil or food made her rush to vomit. She could barely eat, managing only plain rice and pickled vegetables. Her family had tried everything, but nothing helped.
Though she and her husband were overjoyed about the pregnancy, the constant sickness had been unbearable.
Because of her condition, she hadn’t returned to the military district with her husband after the New Year. Instead, her mother-in-law kept her at home until she reached her third month, when she was finally able to return to the base.
Upon arriving at the compound, she learned that her best friend had given birth to triplets half a month earlier. After a brief rest at home, she couldn’t resist visiting—she was simply too curious about the babies.
“Then why don’t you stay for dinner tonight? I’ll ask Great-aunt to make a little extra,” Wei Jiajia suggested.
The reason Zhang Huimin experienced a sudden reprieve from her nausea was a subtle secret. While Zhang Huimin had been captivated by the babies, Wei Jiajia had discreetly added a few drops of spiritual spring water to her soup. This was the key—the first time she could eat without immediate revulsion.
“No need, my mother-in-law must have already prepared dinner at home. I’ll just eat there,” Zhang Huimin said. Her mother-in-law had accompanied her to the compound, and she didn’t want to leave her waiting. Her mother-in-law planned a short stay before returning to work, promising to take leave again for the postpartum period.
It was her mother-in-law’s first visit to the compound, and Zhang Huimin felt obligated to keep her company. She couldn’t leave her alone.
“Then let Auntie come over and eat with us. We’re all family—no need to be so formal,” Wei Jiajia suggested. She understood it was a courtesy, especially for a first-time visitor.
Zhang Huimin appreciated the gesture but declined. “Let’s do it tomorrow instead. I’ll bring her over then.”
“Alright!”
“Oh, by the way, has your aunt heard about the triplets yet? You’ve given her three grandkids at once, including the granddaughter she’s always wanted. I bet she and Uncle are over the moon! Your uncle might be reserved, but I’m sure your aunt will find time to come see them,” Zhang Huimin said, her voice filled with curiosity.
She knew how much her aunt adored little girls. With only two sons, her aunt had always doted on Zhang Huimin and Jiajia. Now that Jiajia had given birth to triplets, her aunt’s joy would be immense.
“Your cousin called home the night they were born. Mom was ecstatic and said she would request leave first thing the next morning!” Wei Jiajia replied.
However, the next day, her mother-in-law called back, her voice tinged with disappointment. She had forgotten about a surgery scheduled in a few days. Taking a short leave was feasible, but traveling from Beijing to the northeast and back in such a limited time was impossible. Reluctantly, she had to postpone her visit to her newborn grandchildren.
Although Zhang Wenjuan couldn’t travel in person, her gifts made the journey with enthusiastic speed.
Upon learning of her three new grandchildren, she embarked on a shopping spree, acquiring anything that caught her eye. Every item seemed perfect for her little grandsons and granddaughter. She even sent money, concerned about their ability to provide for the triplets, urging them to save it for their future.
Qiao Mingli, the babies’ grandfather, wasn’t as openly expressive, but his pride was palpable. After returning home, he grabbed his teacup and strolled to the neighboring courtyard, ostensibly to discuss important matters. However, he quickly steered the conversation towards his three new grandchildren. He basked in the envious and admiring gazes of his old comrades before humming a tune and returning home, satisfied.
It was evident that Qiao Mingli and his son, Qiao Haoyu, were cut from the same cloth. They shared not only a physical resemblance but also an undeniable smugness.
The moment Qiao Haoyu learned of his wife’s pregnancy, he had already begun bragging to his friends. Now, with the arrival of triplets, he seized the opportunity to put on a grand “performance” for everyone.
Thanks to the father and son’s enthusiastic broadcasting, word spread rapidly throughout the Beijing military compound. Everyone knew Qiao Mingli’s second son had triplets.
For days, the Qiao family became the talk of the town. People marveled at Zhang Wenjuan’s keen judgment, praising her choice of Wei Jiajia. They deemed her a lucky mother-in-law, acknowledging that while the marriage had occurred later due to Wei Jiajia’s young age, they had ultimately won in sheer numbers.
Even the old master of the Qiao family was so pleased that he ate an extra bowl of rice. Humming a tune, he rummaged through his treasures, preparing to send something special for his great-grandchildren’s one-month celebration.
The only one who wasn’t thrilled was Qiao’s second aunt. Furious, she skipped dinner and went straight to bed, resentful that Zhang Wenjuan had once again outdone her in the grandchild department.
Just the day before, Qiao Haoyu had returned home with two large packages. One was filled with baby essentials—clothes, toys, and supplies—all meticulously chosen by his mother.
The other, slightly smaller package came from the old master of the Qiao family. Upon opening it, they found several thick books inside. Initially puzzled, they soon discovered the surprise—the books had been hollowed out, creating hidden compartments for a small box. Inside the box were three exquisite jade pendants.
The ingenuity of the old master’s idea was remarkable. Wei Jiajia was astounded, marveling at the secret hidden within the seemingly ordinary books.
After Zhang Huimin departed, the youngest triplet began to stir, his tiny body wriggling. Sensing his impending wakefulness, Wei Jiajia quickly lifted him from his crib, preventing him from waking his siblings with his cries.
She laid him on the large bed and checked his diaper. As expected, he had soiled it again.
Undeterred, Wei Jiajia deftly removed the dirty diaper and tossed it into the basin on the floor, then cleaned him up.
Once the little one was fresh and comfortable, he drifted back to sleep, allowing Wei Jiajia a moment of relief.
She had had enough of her youngest son’s cries. Despite being the smallest, his cries were the loudest of the three. He was the fussiest, and his cries inevitably triggered a chain reaction, waking his siblings and leading to exhausting wails.
Thankfully, Qiao Haoyu was a great help, taking over as soon as he returned home, providing her with a much-needed break.
Just as she finished changing the youngest, the eldest began to wriggle. Without missing a beat, she repeated the process. Upon checking him, she realized he was likely hungry, so she lifted her shirt and began nursing him.
Fortunately, the triplets didn’t get hungry simultaneously. This allowed her to feed them one by one. Otherwise, if all three cried at once, at least one would have to settle for formula.
That evening, when Qiao Haoyu returned from work, he immediately washed his hands before heading inside.
“How were they today? Were they well-behaved? Did they cry much?” After kissing his wife, he went to check on the babies.
“They were fine. Not too fussy. Great-aunt and I took turns watching them, so it wasn’t too bad. I even got a long nap this afternoon, so I’ll take care of them tonight. I’ll wake you up in the second half of the night.” As she spoke, she noticed the dark circles under her husband’s eyes and felt a pang of heartache for him.
“There’s no need. You sleep—I’ll take care of them,” Qiao Haoyu insisted. “Besides, it’s not like I have to stay up all night. Once they’re asleep, I can sleep too.”
His wife had spent the entire day exhausted, nursing three babies. He couldn’t bear to add to her burden by making her stay up for the first half of the night.
Furthermore, enduring sleepless nights was routine during his missions. Taking care of the babies at night wasn’t tiring for him; in fact, he found it enjoyable. As for the dark circles under his eyes, he saw them as proof of his wife’s attentiveness. She noticed even the slightest signs of his fatigue.
Seeing her about to protest, Qiao Haoyu preempted her. He swiftly picked up the basin of dirty diapers and walked out, signaling the end of the discussion.
Wei Jiajia had no choice but to concede. At most, she would try to sleep lightly at night, preventing him from taking the babies outside to avoid waking her.
After dinner, the twins, seizing the opportunity during their great-aunt’s distraction, sneaked into the room.
“Sister, we came to see the babies!” Nuan Nuan whispered.
Peeking through the slightly open doorway, the brother and sister poked their heads inside. Seeing them, Wei Jiajia smiled and waved them in. The two children tiptoed inside and, remembering their great-aunt’s instructions, carefully shut the door behind them.
They had been strictly told that their sister and the babies couldn’t be exposed to the wind, or they might become ill. They took this rule very seriously.
Walking over to the babies’ crib, they leaned against the side, watching curiously and whispering to each other.
“How do they sleep so much?” Nuannuan had been observing them for a while, but none of them had woken up to look at her. Disappointed, she turned to her sister and asked.
Wei Jiajia chuckled. “Because they’re still little! They need lots of sleep to grow.”
“Were we like this when we were little?” Yangyang asked, his eyes widening in surprise at his sister’s words.
“Of course! You two were just like this—sleeping all day like little piglets. That’s why you’ve grown so tall and are now elementary school students,” Wei Jiajia teased.
Hearing this, the twins looked slightly embarrassed. They hadn’t realized they were such sleepy babies.
“Sigh! I really wish they’d grow up faster. Then I could take them outside to play! But they grow so slowly—it’s really frustrating,” Nuannuan sighed dramatically, folding her hands behind her back as she gazed at the three oblivious little “piglets” on the bed. She sounded like an old woman lamenting life’s burdens.
Wei Jiajia was momentarily speechless, watching her sister’s theatrical display.
She had no idea when it started, but Nuannuan had become increasingly dramatic. The girl seemed dedicated to performing, constantly finding opportunities to put on a show.
Next to her, Yangyang glanced at his sister and secretly rolled his eyes. Here we go again…
Initially, he played along, but after numerous repetitions, he grew tired of it. He eventually realized she didn’t need a partner; she could perform perfectly well on her own.
“I knew it! You two sneaked in here again,” their great-aunt scolded as she entered. “Didn’t I tell you not to disturb your sister so late at night?”
These two troublemakers! The moment she turned her back, they vanished like the wind. Previously, they’d run outside to play after dinner, but now they headed straight for Wei Jiajia and her husband’s room.
“It’s fine, it’s still early, and I’m not tired yet,” Wei Jiajia said with a smile. Besides, she knew they kept coming because they adored their little nephews and niece.
“Even so, you should rest early. The better you take care of yourself now, the healthier you’ll be in the future. And don’t forget Haoyu—he’s been working hard taking care of the babies at night. He should get some sleep before they wake up again, or he won’t rest properly.”
With that, she took the twins by the hand and led them out of the room, giving the couple some peace and quiet.
With those two around, neither Wei Jiajia nor Qiao Haoyu could get any rest. And besides, the twins had school in the morning—they needed to go to bed early too.
Not long after their great-aunt left, Qiao Haoyu entered the room.
He first checked the babies’ diapers. If any were wet, he changed them and placed them in a basin, intending to wash them in the morning.
Once the children were cared for, he finally approached the bed.
“Ugh—stay away from me! Don’t hug me, I smell awful!” Wei Jiajia pushed away her husband’s outstretched arms and scooted back. She hadn’t washed her hair in nearly two weeks. Even she could smell it; how could she possibly let him hold her?
“You don’t smell bad. You still smell nice.” Ignoring her protests, Qiao Haoyu pulled her into a firm embrace. Then, he leaned in and took a deep sniff of her hair before confidently declaring, “I’m not lying. You really do smell good.”
Wei Jiajia: “……”
What kind of strange habit was this? Was his nose broken?
He was going to great lengths to prevent her from washing her hair during her postpartum period. But how could he say such an obviously false statement with a straight face?
The truth, however, was that Qiao Haoyu wasn’t just saying it to make her feel better—he genuinely thought she smelled good. There was a faint, indescribable scent on her body, mixed with a hint of milk, and to him, it was pleasant. It was nothing like the “bad smell” she imagined. And even if she did smell bad, he wouldn’t mind in the slightest.
Wei Jiajia struggled twice, but it was futile—he only held her tighter. In the end, she gave up resisting altogether.
Fine. If he truly didn’t mind and insisted on holding her while they slept, what could she say? Besides, who would turn down the comfort of a human furnace in bed?
Seeing his wife finally cease resisting, a small smile played at the corners of Qiao Haoyu’s lips. As if he’d ever let her avoid him.
If he didn’t hold her while sleeping, he wouldn’t be able to fall asleep at all!
Even with the children present, he didn’t believe he had to forfeit his privileges.
That was precisely why, long ago, he had commissioned a carpenter to create a custom wooden crib with railings for the babies—ensuring that even with the three little ones, he and his wife wouldn’t have to sleep apart.
When they had just returned from the hospital, even their great-aunt suggested Qiao Haoyu sleep in another room with Yangyang, allowing him to rest properly for work, while she stayed with Wei Jiajia to assist with the night feedings. But Qiao Haoyu had firmly and righteously refused.
His reasoning? A father should care for his own children, and a husband should share the burden with his wife. His words moved their great-aunt, who nodded repeatedly in approval, praising Wei Jiajia for marrying the right man.
But only Wei Jiajia herself knew—the part about caring for the children was true, but his refusal to sleep separately? That was equally about not wanting to be apart from her…
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