It was a call from Cheng Yang's mother, Qiao Anxia's mother-in-law.
When the phone started ringing, she was kneeling by the trash bin peeling onions, so she lifted her head slightly to peer at the screen on the chair by the side. When she saw the name, her heart sank. After a long while, she stood up to pick up the call. "Mom."
"Xia Xia, are you busy? Why did you take such a long time to pick up?" Cheng Yang mother's warm voice came through.
"No..." Qiao Anxia lowered her eyes before adding simply. "I'm cooking..."
"Where's Cheng Yang? He isn't helping you?"
"He drank a bit so he's sleeping."
"This child… drinking again? Why is he always like this..." his mother chastised.
"He didn't drink a lot..." Qiao Anxia explained hurriedly before diverting the topic. "Mom, why did you call?"
"It's nothing much, just that..." Cheng Yang mother paused for a while before continuing, "Xia Xia, you've been married to Cheng Yang for eight years, are you planning to have kids?"
"Mom..." Qiao Anxia didn't know how to continue.
Mother Cheng knew that the topic was abrupt, chuckling, she added, "Xia Xia, this phone call isn't to force you to have children now, I just wanted to ask when are you planning to have a child? You and Cheng Yang aren't young anymore, you're already considered among high risk pregnancy women. In a few years, you won't be able to have kids anymore...
"Xia Xia, I've called Cheng Yang as well. I know that you guys don't have plans to have children and the problem lies with Cheng Yang, he said that he didn't want kids and wanted to enjoy life with you. But this mentality is wrong, in a few years, you'll understand the importance of children in a family...
"Cheng Yang is confused, but you shouldn't be like him, besides, he is the only son in the Cheng family. His grandfather has been hoping for a grandson for a really long time, that's his only wish...
"Xia Xia… If you're really busy, I can help bring the child up… Xia Xia, you've been married to Cheng Yang for such a long time. I don't ask much from you, just could you talk to him about this issue..."
Qiao Anxia leaned against the dining table as she listened to Mother Cheng's warm, coaxing voice. Her face was paling to the color of a paper sheet, and she clenched onto the onion, her lips trembling. After a long while, she forced out, "Mom, I understand, I'll talk to him about it."
Mother Cheng instructed her to definitely talk to Cheng Yang about it before expressing her concerns and hanging up.
The kitchen was silent. Qiao Anxia stared into space blankly for about ten minutes before kneeling back in front of the bin, continuing to peel the onion as though the phone call hadn't happened. Just then, a big droplet fell, together with the onion skin, another one followed into the bin...
A day after she received the call from Cheng Yang's mother, Qiao Anxia waited till he left for work before she drove to the hospital. She was going to seek out the specialist that's been treating her all these years.