The aspirations and dreams of those in between

Having a second child has greatly changed the lives of Xu Jihang and his family. [Photo provided to China Daily]

As China's two-child policy, which took effect on Jan 1, exerts its influence, families with two children will become more common.

In 2013, the one-child policy was changed to allow a second child if one of the parents was from a one-child family. The family of Xu Jihang, 41, met that requirement and, already with a son aged 9, his wife gave birth to a girl in December.

Traditionally in China, having a son and a daughter augurs well for family happiness. In fact, the Chinese character meaning good, hao, is a hybrid of the characters for daughter and son.

Xu is a university architecture lecturer in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. The couple used to take their son on outings such as picnics, cycling and hiking at the weekend. Now that they have to take care of the infant, the boy attends English classes and plays basketball at weekends.

He is credited with points depending on how well he does in his English lessons, and recently he cashed them in exchange for a stuffed toy that, after he took it home, he put next to his sister, excitedly proclaiming that it was his first gift for her.

"It's his way of showing his brotherly love," Xu says.

The couple are paying off a mortgage on their home, and other big expenses include education fees, insurance premiums and travel.

"My wife and I are not particularly outgoing," Xu says. "Many of our social activities involve our son, and we spend a lot of time with other families. Thanks to that we have got to know our acquaintances better."

The couple are keen to teach their son to become independent, and they arranged a gap year for him before he went to primary school to broaden his horizons and increase his exposure to nature. In the course of that year they spent three months in Australia, Yunnan and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Xu says his son is more interested in nature than culture, preferring to have fun at the beach in a place where there are not too many tourists.

The couple say they put a premium on health and the quality of life. Su often jogs with his son and walks with his wife. The couple take a stroll twice a day, walking a total of about 40 kilometers a week.

In their spare time they take afternoon tea and read books in their small garden in which his wife takes pleasure in growing flowers.

"It's important to live each day to the fullest," Xu says. "I'm not after wealth or honors. I just want my family to be healthy and happy."