Yan Runzhi noticed Xiao Bao was fidgeting around Jiang Lin and reminded him, “Xiao Bao, don’t keep getting so close to Mom. Be careful with her belly.”

Xiao Bao asked, “What’s wrong with Mom? Does her belly hurt?”

Yan Runzhi took them aside and spoke in a hushed tone, “Bao Sheng’s train is different from the one we’re taking. Bao Sheng’s train is connected to Mommy’s belly, and as Mommy’s belly gets bigger, it means Bao Sheng is growing inside. So Mommy is working hard.”

She explained that the “Grandma Who Sends Babies” helped put the baby on the train, which was connected to Mommy’s belly.

After nine months, when the baby arrives, Mommy would go to the hospital to bring the baby out.

Wen Sheng and the four children listened very attentively, especially Da Bao and Xiao Bao, who were eager to learn and kept asking questions.

Xiao Bao asked, “What does the train look like? Can we see it?”

Yan Runzhi answered, “You can’t see it. The ‘Grandma Who Sends Babies’ is like a fairy, and we can’t see her.”

Da Bao questioned, “Aren’t fairies just superstitions?”

Yan Runzhi was momentarily at a loss for words.

Wen Sheng chimed in, “In plays and stories, there are the Jade Emperor, Queen Mother of the West, and City God…” He listed several, “So, the ‘Grandma Who Sends Babies’ must be one of them.”

Xiao Bao said, “I get it. Just like Nezha.”

Earlier in the year, they had watched movies like “Nezha Conquers the Dragon King” and “Ginseng Baby,” which left a deep impression on them regarding magical beings and deities.

They imagined Bao Sheng as being like Nezha, and Xiao Bao laughed, “Is Bao Sheng a little fairy?”

Yan Runzhi explained, “Every child starts as a little fairy, but as they grow and understand more, they become human. Even fairies like to come to the human world and be like us.”

Jiang Lin listened in but couldn’t join the conversation.

She wanted to explain things scientifically, but the children weren’t interested.

She let them indulge in their imagination.

It’s fun to see how children’s rich imaginations work, and later they might look back and think, “Wow, we were so naive then!”

It’s all part of growing up.

That night, Jiang Lin and Jiang Min slept in the east room with the four kids on the kang (a traditional Chinese heated bed).

The kids were all close to their mothers.

However, the next morning, Jiang Lin woke up feeling extremely nauseous, with a queasy stomach and dizziness, making her feel very unwell.

The kids were alarmed. Dabao and Xiaobao rushed to get a doctor. “We need to call a doctor!”

Jiang Min quickly stopped them and helped Jiang Lin with some water to rinse her mouth.

She explained, “No need for a doctor. This is a normal reaction when you’re pregnant. It will get better in a few days.”

She briefly explained to Dabao and Xiaobao that since a new baby was coming, Jiang Lin’s body was struggling a bit and would be uncomfortable for a while.

Dabao wondered, “So, will Mom feel even worse when Xiaobao and I were born?”

Jiang Lin quickly reassured them, “No, I was fine when I gave birth to both of you.”

Yan Runzhi came over to check and said, “When Bao’er was pregnant with Dabao and Xiaobao, she only had morning sickness for a few days, so it should be similar this time. Once the exams are over, you’ll be able to rest at home.”

Being at home with someone to take care of her was definitely more comfortable.

Jiang Lin smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I’m okay.”

After throwing up, she lay down for a while and felt a bit better.

Yan Runzhi made a very light egg noodle soup for her and also boiled extra eggs for Jiang Lin and Jiang Min to have in case they were hungry before mealtime.

“We’ll take Xiaomeng to Huichuntang today and let Dr. Lan check on you to see if there’s anything that can help with the nausea.”

Jiang Lin asked, “Where is Wensheng?”

She hadn’t seen him since he usually informs her when he goes out for vocal practice.

As they were talking, Wen Sheng came back from outside, holding several large oranges wrapped in his jacket. “Mom, I got these oranges for you. If you’re feeling unwell, you can have one.”

At that time, the oranges were actually mandarins.

They could become dehydrated if not stored properly, but they still tasted refreshing.

Seeing Wen Sheng sweating on his forehead despite the cold winter, Jiang Lin felt a warm feeling inside and didn’t feel as uncomfortable anymore. “Where did you find such big mandarins? They look so sweet.”

Wen Sheng pointed to the east. “I went to ask some elderly ladies how to avoid feeling so nauseous during pregnancy. One of them asked me to sing a song for her, and in return, she gave me these mandarins.”

Jiang Lin looked in the direction he pointed and saw it was an area with separate villas for high-ranking officials, all guarded by security.

He had managed to get inside there?

He was indeed quite popular at the military district now.

She held Wen Sheng’s hand and said, “Wen Sheng, you’re so kind. Your mother feels really blessed.”

She had read some psychological magazines and combined that knowledge with her experiences with Wen Sheng.

Providing positive feedback after his actions was beneficial for his mental satisfaction and stability.

Wen Sheng cared the most about Jiang Lin. If she felt happy and enjoyed the blessings he provided, he would be even happier and his spirit would be more stable and content.

Indeed, Wen Sheng looked even more satisfied and said, “Mom, I’ve earned some money. I want to support you. I’ll invite a theater troupe to perform for you, buy you the nicest clothes, and the snacks you love.”

Jiang Lin shared the mandarins with the children.

They were considerate and didn’t want any, leaving the whole fruit for Jiang Lin.

Da Bao, thinking Jiang Lin was ill, said with a slightly worried tone, “Mom, if you’re feeling unwell, don’t go to school. We won’t make fun of you.”

Xiaobao exclaimed, “You’re sick, so you can skip class with a clear conscience!” He didn’t understand why anyone would want to be sick, as he was in perfect health and never caught colds.

Xiaomeng and Xiaojun eagerly agreed, nodding their heads vigorously.

With so much family care, Jiang Lin felt her discomfort was nothing, “Alright, we’re going to school. Don’t worry, Mom’s not that delicate.”

When they arrived at school, Jiang Min accompanied Jiang Lin inside, “Linlin, I won’t come over tonight. We’ll talk after the exams.”

Jiang Lin replied, “Okay, take care of yourself. It’s alright even if you fail a couple of subjects.”

Jiang Min smiled, “I know, you hurry inside. It’s cold outside.”

Jiang Lin first went to find Zeng Hongjie in her dorm.

Seeing Jiang Lin, Zeng Hongjie asked with concern, “How are you today?”

Jiang Lin handed her an orange, “I’m feeling great today, not a problem at all. Eat up…” She quickly covered her mouth with a handkerchief.

Zeng Hongjie said, “Stop pretending. You turn into a little kitten when you see Cheng Rushan.”

Jiang Lin laughed, “How’s the letter coming along?”

Zeng Hongjie replied, “It will be delivered later.” She pulled Jiang Lin to sit on a bench and whispered, “I found out that Zhu Caiping and Yao Zhenxia from your class both went to the family planning office.”

Jiang Lin frowned slightly, “They reported me? It’s unlikely. Even if someone did report, it would probably be just one person, not both together.”

She told Zeng Hongjie about the recent conflicts between Zhu Cai-ping and Yao Zhen-xia.

This was a bit of gossip she couldn’t hold back, and she had to share it with Jiang Lin.

Zhu Cai-ping, who was older and had a strong desire to get married, wasn’t particularly attractive, so she couldn’t find a young boyfriend.

She was aiming for men around thirty who were still single.

However, men in that age group who were still single were either very ambitious and exceptional or quite ordinary in appearance and other qualities.

Zhu Cai-ping had finally found a mechanical engineering student she liked, feeling he was quite good.

They seemed to have a chance for further development.

But unexpectedly, Yao Zhenxia, who had joined them in a few study sessions, ended up getting closer to the same student.

The student’s relationship with Zhu Caiping didn’t advance any further.

Zhu Caiping was furious and picked fights with Yao Zhenxia, leading to conflicts between them, but they didn’t openly confront the issue.

After all, the student had not clearly expressed his feelings to Zhu Caiping, and currently, they were just friends. So, Zhu Caiping and Yao Zhenxia still appeared as a pair in public.

Yang Lu wondered why they still appeared as a pair despite their apparent discord. Jiang Lin speculated that it might be to avoid the other person secretly meeting with the “pendulum” guy.

Zeng Hongjie said, “I asked Officer Zhang for information. It turns out it was an anonymous letter, and it was clearly written with the left hand. The letter was received by Officer Sun, and Officer Zhang glanced at it, but Officer Sun took it away, saying it was to protect the courageous informant and would be destroyed.”

This made it impossible to analyze the handwriting, but Officer Zhang could still be asked for help.

Jiang Lin said, “The person who reported me wasn’t doing it for the child; it was actually to prevent me from joining the party. So, does this mean they know I might be able to join the party?”

Zeng Hongjie replied, “Zhu Caiping? She was insisting yesterday that you would definitely be able to join the party.”

Jiang Lin said, “Zhu Caiping doesn’t seem to care much about joining the party.” Even though Zhu Caiping spoke loudly and seemed more concerned, she had never mentioned this matter to Jiang Lin on her own.

On the other hand, Yao Zhenxia brought up the topic herself. Although she tried hard to hide her feelings, Jiang Lin could still sense that she was very nervous about joining the party.

Usually, if someone can’t join, those who have vested interests are the ones to be suspected.

Earlier, Liu Jianwu had mentioned that there were only four girls in the class, and one of the spots was reserved for a girl.

If Jiang Lin doesn’t join, the most likely candidate is Yao Zhenxia.