LW chapter 80

 

The two of them dropped what they were doing and ran into the house. Their movements were a bit too loud, and Chen Qing woke up. He sat up and rubbed his eyes as he looked at them. “Mother, Zhou Yuan, what’s wrong?”

Without saying a word, Zhou Yuan picked him up and started to walk out. Chen Qing held on tightly to his neck. “What are you doing?”

“Going to the doctor.”

Aunt Sun immediately stopped Zhou Yuan. “Put Aqing’s shoes on first.”

Zhou Yuan carried Chen Qing back and gently set him on the bed. He crouched down to put on Chen Qing’s shoes.

Chen Qing looked at Aunt Sun for help. “Mother, what’s going on?”

“Aqing, you might be pregnant.” Aunt Sun looked at the confused Chen Qing, gently touched his hair, and blamed herself.

Seeing Chen Qing’s condition, she knew he was pregnant, but she didn’t say anything. Not only had she not noticed, she had even let Aqing follow them to work for so long. They hadn’t noticed when Li Xin was pregnant, and now with Chen Qing, she still hadn’t noticed.

She had truly been negligent in her duty as a mother.

Chen Qing was a little unconvinced. “Impossible? I can’t eat much.”

“Silly child, everyone’s early pregnancy symptoms are different. Li Xin likes to eat and often forgets things. You might feel like your appetite has changed, or you might vomit as soon as you eat. They’re all different,” said Aunt Sun.

Chen Qing lowered his head and looked at his belly, which hadn’t changed at all. He still thought they must be overthinking it. “It shouldn’t be. I haven’t changed much.”

He just didn’t like sweet things lately.

Zhou Yuan interrupted. “Regardless, let’s go to the clinic and take a look.”

Aunt Sun nodded. “Go and see for peace of mind.”

Chen Qing nodded and straightened his clothes and hair. Zhou Yuan led the horse. Chen Qing waited for Zhou Yuan to help him onto the horse. However, when Zhou Yuan picked him up, he stopped in his tracks. Then, he set Chen Qing down again. Under Chen Qing’s puzzled gaze, Zhou Yuan hitched up the ox cart instead.

“Riding a horse is too bumpy. Better to take the ox cart.”

Zhou Yuan busied himself again, propping Chen Qing up with pillows. Then, he carried Chen Qing inside.

Of course, Aunt Sun followed them. They escorted Chen Qing the same way they had escorted Li Xin to see the doctor last time.

When they arrived in town, they went to the same clinic, where the same doctor was just about to close up and go home. The doctor had a good memory and glanced at Chen Qing and Aunt Sun. “You again? What’s wrong today?”

Zhou Yuan immediately brought Chen Qing forward. “Please check. Is my husband pregnant?”

The doctor blew out his beard and stared at Aunt Sun. “I remember that there was a husband with twins before, who also belonged to your family?”

Aunt Sun smiled. “No, he’s from the same hometown.”

“It’s almost time for his baby to be born, isn’t it?” The doctor felt Chen Qing’s pulse as he spoke.

“He has it, too. Judging from his pulse, it’s been two months. Congratulations! But his pulse shows that he’s been tired lately and needs to rest properly. I’ll write a prescription, you can take the medicine home. If you notice any bleeding or stomach pain, brew the medicine and drink it. If there are no other problems after resting, then don’t take the medicine.”

Chen Qing nodded and looked at Aunt Sun and Zhou Yuan. They both had guilt written all over their faces.

“This is all my fault. If I had noticed earlier, I wouldn’t have let him get so tired.”

“It’s still my fault. I’m so old and didn’t even see this…”

“Shouldn’t I be blamed more?” Chen Qing took both of their hands in his. “I didn’t even take care of my own body.”

The old doctor rolled his eyes and looked to the sky. “What are you doing? Just pay more attention in the future. You aren’t doctors. Pregnancy isn’t always obvious. Of course you didn’t think of it right away.”

He prepared the medicine for them. “Don’t worry. Even though his condition isn’t as good as his twin’s, it’s not much worse.”

After taking the medicine and leaving the clinic, the three of them still felt it was a bit surreal. Since it was already dark, they decided to stay in town. Zhou Yuan took Aunt Sun out to dinner, while Chen Qing rested in the inn. When Zhou Yuan returned, he brought Chen Qing fresh bamboo shoots, his favorite meat buns, and a bowl of sugar water.

The sugar water had been soaked in well water, so it wasn’t too cold. Chen Qing liked meat buns and ate three.

After eating, he bathed and lay down to rest. After Zhou Yuan cleaned up, he tiptoed onto the bed. He wanted to touch Chen Qing’s belly, but he didn’t dare.

Chen Qing looked down and said, “It’s not showing yet.”

They had been married for more than a year and had finally had a child. This time, when he returned to Xiaxi, Chen Qing spoke privately with Aunt Du. She said that she didn’t know if it was a curse from God. She said that people in Linhuang Village had difficulty having children. Chen Qing had been worried for a long time, but Zhou Yuan didn’t know.

They had been married for over a year and had sex frequently, yet he hadn’t gotten pregnant. Although Zhou Yuan told him to let nature take its course, he couldn’t help but feel anxious.

Now that he was finally pregnant, the child was at risk because of his carelessness.

Zhou Yuan’s thoughts had been chaotic since the afternoon. Now, lying in bed, his heart seemed calmer. He didn’t know what to do about Chen Qing. He was afraid that Chen Qing would touch him and feel uncomfortable. He didn’t even dare to sleep beside him, afraid that he might press on him unconsciously at night.

Chen Qing grabbed his hand and placed it on his chest. “Are you a little panicked?”

Zhou Yuan nodded. “I’m a little scared.” He confessed his worry: “Do you think I’ll crush you if I roll over at night?”

Chen Qing thought he was overthinking. “Would I still be alive if you crushed me?”

Zhou Yuan was speechless and grateful that he had been too tired from working in the fields lately to have much energy at night, otherwise, it would be even more dangerous given his strength.

As he spoke, Chen Qing grew sleepy again. He yawned and hugged Zhou Yuan’s waist from the side. “I want to sleep.”

Zhou Yuan froze, as if it were the first time he had ever slept with someone. He behaved properly, afraid of bumping Chen Qing beside him.

Chen Qing was a sound sleeper. When he fell asleep, he rolled out of Zhou Yuan’s reach. Zhou Yuan rarely followed him, but he tossed and turned in bed.

Previously, he had said that the birth of a child should be left to nature. In fact, he and Chen Qing weren’t ready. He had lectured Qi Shuning for a long time when Li Xin got pregnant, but how could he still be calm when it came to himself? Now, he didn’t even know what to do.

He tiptoed over to Chen Qing and gently touched his belly. Chen Qing’s belly felt the same as usual — very soft — but Zhou Yuan only dared to touch it lightly, afraid that his hand would be too heavy and press on the baby.

Zhou Yuan barely slept at all that night. The next morning, dark circles appeared under his eyes. Chen Qing, on the other hand, had slept soundly and looked much better.

Since they were in town, they decided to do some shopping before heading back. The lard jar at home was empty, so they needed to buy pork fat to render lard and bones to make bone soup for Chen Qing.

While they were there, they might as well stock up on what was lacking at home. After a while, they had bought a lot.

Sitting in the ox cart, Chen Qing heard Zhou Yuan say, “Aren’t you going to buy cloth now? Should we buy ready-made clothes for the children instead?”

Chen Qing glanced at Aunt Sun and said, “Isn’t this too urgent? I was thinking of doing it in the winter. Besides, there isn’t much work in the winter, and sewing is faster then.”

“Alright.” Zhou Yuan nodded. “Then just buy them later.”

“Rest well after going home. Let Zhou Yuan do everything. You just have to get through this dangerous time.” Aunt Sun told Chen Qing, “Don’t take the medicine unless you have to.”

Clearly, Aunt Sun also remembered what the doctor said: medicine is three parts poison.

Chen Qing nodded obediently. “I know, Mother.”

The oxcart hit a protruding stone on the road and jolted. Zhou Yuan immediately looked nervously at Chen Qing. “Why don’t we buy another horse and get a carriage? The ox cart is still too bumpy.”

Chen Qing looked at him helplessly. “There are stones on the road, any carriage would still be bumpy. Zhou Yuan, act normal.”

Zhou Yuan muttered, slightly annoyed.

When they arrived home, Zhou Yuan didn’t let Chen Qing walk a single step. He carried Chen Qing straight back to the room before going out to do other things. Aunt Sun went home to cook, saying that she wouldn’t let Chen Qing cook anymore and that she would deliver food once she was finished.

Zhou Yuan went to unload the goods. Suddenly, the room grew quiet. He lowered his head, touched his belly, and smiled.

Li Xin arrived soon after. He walked into the room and sat down beside the bed. “What did you do yesterday? Niu Niu came looking for you and said no one was home. He saw that you hadn’t collected the grain you had dried, so Dad and Mother came to help you bring it in.”

“Thank you so much. I had something to do, so I went to town.” Chen Qing looked at Li Xin and said, “Um, I…”

He was embarrassed to tell him that he was pregnant, but Li Xin knew him too well. Seeing him hesitate and remembering Zhou Yuan, whom he had just seen at the door, Li Xin became suspicious as well.

He said firmly, “You too!”

Chen Qing:!!!

“How did you know?” Chen Qing was shocked. He hadn’t expected Li Xin to see right through him.

“I know you too well.” Li Xin chuckled. “I knew what you were going to say before you even opened your mouth.”

Then, Li Xin became happy again. “That’s great! Our children won’t be too far apart in age. They can play together in the future.”

After that, he leaned closer and gently touched Chen Qing’s belly. He was a little worried. “You’re lying in bed now. Is the baby unwell?”

Chen Qing nodded. “I’ve been a little tired these last few days. The doctor said it would have an impact, so he told me to rest in bed for a few days.”

“Did you get medicine?” Seeing that Chen Qing’s complexion was good, Li Xin felt relieved.

“I brought some back. It’s for later use. If I experience spotting or feel very uncomfortable, I can take it. If I’m fine, don’t take it.”

Zhou Yuan pushed the door open and told Chen Qing, “I’m going out for a while. I’ll be back at mealtime.” Then he told Li Xin, “Don’t rush home. I’ll take you back when I return.”

“Alright,” said Li Xin. He turned to Chen Qing and said, “They’re treating me like a treasure now.”

At home, his parents didn’t want him to do anything, he just ate and slept every day. If the doctor hadn’t told him to get more exercise, his parents probably wouldn’t have even let him out.

Chen Qing smiled and said, “I treat you like a treasure too, but I can’t walk you home today.”

“That’s okay,” said Li Xin. “Take care of yourself first.”

“Chen Qing, are you home?” A voice called from outside the door. Li Xin instantly recognized it.

He stood and walked to the door and saw Qin Xia entering the room. “You’re here.”

Qin Xia smiled and said, “I came to talk with you.”

Li Xin brought him into the room. Qin Xia was stunned when he saw Chen Qing sitting on the bed. “Chen Qing, what’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing. I’ve been working too hard the last couple of days, so I need to rest.” Chen Qing didn’t tell Qin Xia about the pregnancy, still feeling a little embarrassed.

“Well, we planted our fields late, and I didn’t have to work today, so I came to talk to you.” Qin Xia sat on the stool calmly.

Chen Qing took out some pastries from the cabinet at the foot of the bed. Qin Xia quickly waved his hand. “I don’t want to eat.”

“They’re not sour this time.” Chen Qing was a little embarrassed and said, “Just try one.”

Li Xin took a piece. “It’s a snack from town.” He had eaten it often when he was little and naturally remembered the taste.

Chen Qing nodded. “I bought some yesterday.”

After eating the snack, Li Xin told Qin Xia a few interesting stories. Suddenly, his face turned pale, and he clutched his stomach, crying out in pain. “It hurts.”

Qin Xia was shocked. “Is the pastry poisoned?! Chen Qing, don’t eat it yet!”

The piece of pastry that Chen Qing had just raised to his mouth fell, and he panicked. “I—I didn’t poison it…”

 

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