Chapter 32: Almost Due

Song Yue directly refused, “Thanks, but no need, I have some.”

Lin He wasn’t embarrassed by the rejection. He simply responded casually and put the milk candy back into his pocket. “Alright.”

The two were just about to take the small path to ask the kids some questions when Chen Xue appeared from around the corner.

“Comrade Song, Comrade Lin, where are you two headed?”

They both paused.

Lin He spoke up, “Comrade Chen, you’re back just in time. I wanted to ask—does anyone in the village make cabinets?”

Chen Xue’s gaze shifted between Song Yue and Lin He, noting that they still maintained a certain distance from each other.

He nodded thoughtfully. “Oh, you’re looking for a cabinet to store things?”

“Yes.”

Chen Xue pointed behind them. “Uncle Chen’s house—just go straight down this road, turn right at the end, and it’s the third house on the left. There’s a tree in front of the door; you can’t miss it.”

“As for the price, you’ll have to ask him yourself.”

Song Yue thanked him. “Alright, thanks.”

Chen Xue smiled. “No need to be polite.”

…

Following Chen Xue’s directions, the two arrived at Uncle Chen’s house.

But—

The courtyard gate was tightly shut.

Lin He knocked for a long time, but there was no response.

Song Yue spoke up, “Stop knocking, no one’s home.”

Lin He withdrew his hand and turned to Song Yue. “They’re probably still out working and haven’t come back yet.”

Just then, a voice came from the side.

“Who are you?”

“Do you need something?”

They turned toward the voice.

A middle-aged woman with a noticeably large belly was approaching, carrying a basket in her hand.

Song Yue’s gaze instinctively fell on the woman’s stomach.

Hmm.

She was almost due.

Lin He greeted her, “Hello, big sister. Is this Uncle Chen’s house?”

The woman nodded and frowned slightly as she looked at them. “Yes, Uncle Chen is my father. What do you need him for?”

Lin He reached into his pocket and placed a handful of candy into her basket. “Sis, have some candy.”

“It’s like this—we’re newly arrived educated youths and want to get a couple of cabinets made. We heard that Uncle Chen makes cabinets, so we came to ask about it.”

Song Yue: “…”

Lin He had done all the necessary things and said everything that needed to be said.

What was she supposed to do?

So they were newly arrived educated youths.

No wonder they were so good-looking.

Yang Chunhua’s frown relaxed, and she smiled. “You need cabinets? He can make them. Come in and have a seat first.”

She took out a key and unlocked the door.

Lin He raised an eyebrow at Song Yue, signaling for her to follow.

Song Yue followed.

Yang Chunhua led them into the courtyard.

There were stools in the yard, along with a round stone table.

She gestured for them to sit wherever they liked before going inside and bringing out two cups of water, placing them on the stone table. “They’ll be back soon.”

“Here, have some water.”

Song Yue and Lin He both expressed their thanks. “Thank you, sis.”

“Thanks, sis.”

Yang Chunhua pulled up a stool and sat down as well.

The three of them sat in silence, which was a little awkward.

Song Yue took the initiative to start a conversation. “Sis, you’re almost due, right?”

Yang Chunhua looked down at her belly, her expression full of happiness, and smiled. “Yes, soon.”

Lin He asked curiously, “How can you tell she’s almost due?”

Song Yue replied coolly, “The shape of the belly. The baby has dropped.”

Lin He followed up with another question. “Then can you tell when exactly she’ll give birth?”

“Well…” Song Yue paused as she took a sip of water, her voice hesitant. “I’d have to check her pulse.”

Yang Chunhua looked at her in surprise. “Comrade, you know medicine?”

Song Yue smiled modestly. “A little.”

Lin He cut in, “Sis, don’t listen to her saying she only knows a little—she’s amazing.

On the train here, she even saved someone. Just a few acupuncture needles, and the person was fine.”

Song Yue: “…”

Thanks a lot, Mr. Hype-Man.

Yang Chunhua looked shocked. “That impressive?”

Lin He raised an eyebrow smugly. “Of course.”

Yang Chunhua beamed at Song Yue. “Then, Comrade, you have to check for me. I want to see if your pulse-reading method is accurate.”

Song Yue: “…”

Lin He also grinned at her. “Come on, Doctor Song.”

Song Yue pursed her lips. “Alright, since Uncle Chen isn’t back yet, I might as well take a look while we wait.”

She took out a neatly folded handkerchief from the bag she carried.

She placed it on the stone table.

“Sis, put your left hand on this.”

Yang Chunhua placed her hand on the cloth.

Song Yue closed her eyes and took her pulse.

Lin He watched her intently.

Why did Comrade Song look more and more attractive the longer he stared at her?

Time passed.

Song Yue frowned slightly.

A few minutes later—

She withdrew her hand and looked at the woman’s belly.

Yang Chunhua asked eagerly, “So?”

“Unless something unexpected happens, you’ll give birth within seven days,” Song Yue answered before adding, “By the way, sis, have you had a check-up at the hospital?”

Yang Chunhua laughed. “Comrade, what’s there to check? Giving birth is simple—you just lie down, and a midwife helps deliver the baby.”

Song Yue had wanted to say something, but after hearing this, she could only nod. “Mm, okay.”

Yang Chunhua then asked, “It’s different in the city, right? People go to the hospital to give birth there?”

Song Yue nodded. “Mm, more or less.”

A sharp voice rang out from outside. “Yang Chunhua, what are you doing sitting there? It’s already so late, and you haven’t cooked yet? Who are you talking to?”

The voice fell.

A figure stormed inside.

It was Yang Chunhua’s mother-in-law, Uncle Chen’s wife—Aunt Chen.

Being scolded in front of two outsiders, Yang Chunhua looked a bit embarrassed.

She stood up. “Mom, the new educated youths wanted to get cabinets made, so we were just chatting. Since you’re back now, you can discuss it with them.”

With that, she turned and went into the kitchen.

Aunt Chen stared at Song Yue and Lin He.

New educated youths again?

Good-looking, sure.

But those thin bodies… definitely not capable of giving birth to sons.

Aunt Chen thought to herself before speaking. “You two want to get cabinets made?”

“Mm.” Song Yue took out some candy and placed it in Aunt Chen’s hands. “Auntie, have some candy.”

At the sight of the candy—

Aunt Chen’s displeased expression vanished instantly, and her face broke into a wide grin. “Oh my, you shouldn’t have!”

Lin He seized the moment. “Auntie, if you really feel bad about it, maybe give us a discount?”

Aunt Chen agreed heartily. “Sure, I’ll give you a discount.”

City sweets were a rare treat—even if you had money, you couldn’t always buy them.

A small discount was nothing.

“What kind of cabinets do you want?”

Lin He looked at Song Yue, signaling for her to go first.

Song Yue spoke. “I want a wardrobe, two large trunks, a washbasin stand, a stool, and a folding stool.”

Lin He listened carefully to what she ordered.

Aunt Chen turned to him. “And you, young man?”

Lin He answered without hesitation. “Same as her.”

Aunt Chen’s smile deepened as she started calculating. “A wardrobe is five yuan, a trunk is three yuan, a washbasin stand is one and a half, a stool is one yuan, and a folding stool…”

Halfway through, she waved her hand. “Forget it, ten yuan for everything.”