Chapter 121: Sexual Knowledge

Yu Xiangnian was prepared for Cheng Jingmo’s doubts.

She remained calm and said, “It depends on how you define medical knowledge. If knowing what medicine to take for an illness and how to bandage a wound counts as knowing medicine, then I suppose I have some knowledge, given that I’ve learned a bit from my mother over the years.”

“But if it involves things like setting broken bones, performing surgery, or giving injections, then I don’t know how to do those.”

Cheng Jingmo lowered his gaze, his mind filled with the image of her eyes he saw when he was half-conscious.

Could it have been just an illusion?

While Cheng Jingmo was pondering, Yu Xiangnian quickly changed the subject, “Xiao Jie, stop being so suspicious of me checking people’s private parts. Have I ever looked at yours?”

Xiao Jie thought for a moment and replied, “No!”

Then he asked, “Uncle, has Auntie ever looked at you?”

Cheng Jingmo: “···”

Yu Xiangnian: “···”

Xiao Jie’s reminder made Yu Xiangnian realize she should indeed check carefully to avoid any issues.

Cheng Jingmo awkwardly stood up and headed to the kitchen, “There aren’t many vegetables at home, so we’ll have fried rice for dinner.”

In the evening, after turning off the lights and lying down together, Yu Xiangnian was about to reach out to hug Cheng Jingmo.

She found that sleeping while hugging Cheng Jingmo made her feel particularly secure, and she slept soundly through the night.

Suddenly, Cheng Jingmo said, “Yu Xiangnian, don’t teach Xiao Jie those things.”

Yu Xiangnian felt the need to correct Cheng Jingmo’s attitude towards discussing sensitive topics.

“If I don’t teach him, who will? The school teachers won’t, and you won’t either,” Yu Xiangnian said. “He’s eight years old and should understand the differences between boys and girls, what parts of the body are private, and that he shouldn’t show them to others or look at others’. I’m just giving him some basic knowledge about gender and teaching him to protect himself.”

Cheng Jingmo thought Yu Xiangnian had a point, but he believed such knowledge would be learned eventually.

“He’ll figure it out as he grows up,” he said.

Yu Xiangnian wrapped her arms around his chest, “How old were you when you learned these things?”

Cheng Jingmo: “···”

Before, he had only a vague understanding, and every time Yu Xiangnian appeared in his dreams, he felt a deep sense of shame upon waking.

In the dreams, he felt like he was sinking into a swamp, damp and stifling, unable to extricate himself, and then like falling into clouds, floating weightlessly.

He had only learned about it in detail when he received a book on his wedding day.

Yu Xiangnian smirked, “See! You had no one to teach you, so you’re clueless about gender knowledge!”

Cheng Jingmo didn’t want to be looked down upon by Yu Xiangnian, “I’m not completely clueless. I’ve read some books.”

Yu Xiangnian laughed, “You read those kinds of books? Let me see them!”

She was curious about what level those books from this era could reach.

Cheng Jingmo corrected her, “Not those kinds of books, it was the book given out at the wedding.”

Yu Xiangnian pretended to understand, “Oh! The secrets of the bridal chamber! Did you learn everything?”

Cheng Jingmo said, “I read it all.” He had probably learned everything!

Yu Xiangnian laughed even more, hugging him sideways, with Cheng Jingmo feeling her laughing chest rise and fall against his arm.

He felt that discussing this topic further with Yu Xiangnian would only make him more embarrassed!

He shifted his arm and changed the topic, “Yu Xiangnian, I want to learn cultural knowledge from you.”

“Hmm?” Yu Xiangnian’s voice still carried a hint of laughter, “About gender topics?”

“Be serious, I’m serious,” Cheng Jingmo said. “I’m willing to learn any kind of knowledge, but at my age, I don’t know where to start.”

Seeing Cheng Jingmo’s seriousness, Yu Xiangnian also became more serious, “You’re only twenty-six. As long as you want to learn, it’s never too late.”

“Here’s the plan: every night, you study textbook knowledge, from elementary to high school. If you don’t understand something, I’ll teach you. In your spare time, read newspapers and books. Any books are fine. We can also get some from the black market.”

Cheng Jingmo: “Okay.”

Yu Xiangnian continued, “I have textbooks at home, so we can pick them up on the weekend.”

Zhao Ruozhu valued education highly, and all four of her children graduated from high school, so they had several sets of textbooks.

“We’ll buy a chicken on the weekend and make some chicken soup. I really want to drink chicken soup!”

Cheng Jingmo replied, “Okay.”

But how did the discussion about studying turn into eating chicken?

Yu Xiangnian moved a bit closer to him, “Let’s keep two chickens at home; we can have eggs and meat!”

Cheng Jingmo said, “Sure.”

“Then I’ll ask Sister Liu Zhen to pick up two chicks from the black market for me when she goes.”

The two chatted for a long time that night, talking about everything that came to mind.

Yu Xiangnian didn’t even realize when she fell asleep, as she was talking just a moment ago.

On the weekend, following their plan, they took Xiao Jie to the market, bought a chicken and some vegetables, and went to Yu Xiangnian’s family home.

Seeing Yu Xiangnian packing a large bag of books, Zhao Ruozhu asked what she was doing.

Yu Xiangnian replied, “Cheng Jingmo wants to study, so these are for him.”

Zhao Ruozhu smiled, “It seems like you two are getting along better and better?”

Yu Xiangnian countered, “Isn’t that what you wanted?”

Zhao Ruozhu asked again, “Honestly, have you shared a room yet?”

Yu Xiangnian’s eyes darted, “Shared a room, not shared a room.”

“You’re evading me!”

Zhao Ruozhu was secretly delighted.

Not only was her daughter and son-in-law’s relationship improving, but this also confirmed that they hadn’t made a wrong choice!

Having received a good education and having a higher level of understanding compared to others, she always thought that learning was important. However, the current societal climate did not promote learning.

Among her four children, none were eager to learn on their own initiative!

Cheng Jingmo’s ambition was impressive, and what was even rarer was his advanced understanding and vision.

After the meal, they were about to head home.

Zhao Ruozhu called Yu Xiangnian into her room and took out some cash and tickets from the drawer, handing them to her.

She had given Yu Xiangnian a hundred yuan and some tickets when she first came here, but it had been several months since she last gave her any money.

“What’s the occasion today?”

Yu Xiangnian pushed the money back, “Didn’t you say I should rely on my husband to support me? Why are you giving me this now?”

Zhao Ruozhu said, “Do you think I want to give it to you? It’s your dad who asked me to give it to you!”

“What did my dad do wrong to me?”

Of course, Zhao Ruozhu couldn’t tell her that Yu Jiaoshun felt guilty for forcing Yu Xiangnian to come back.

“Your dad said you brought honor to the army recently, so he’s rewarding you!”

Zhao Ruozhu added, “I also checked, and you’ve been behaving well these past few months, not being as extravagant and wasteful as before. That’s why I agreed to let him reward you!”

No wonder she hadn’t received money these past few months; it turned out they knew she didn’t need it!

Yu Xiangnian said, “In that case, since I don’t feel I deserve it, thank you to my dear parents!”

She took the money and put it in her bag.

Though she didn’t need the money, she had to accept it to avoid making her parents feel uncomfortable.