Chapter 99.1

Wen Nuan hadn’t seen General Lu for quite some time.

The last time had been in September of the previous year when she had gone to the northeast. He had come to have a meal with her, but he stayed for only three hours before he had to leave for work.

During the New Year, General Lu had said he would visit in mid-February, but the heavy snow had closed the mountain roads, so his visit had been delayed until now.

Before they had even reached the gate, General Lu’s tall figure had appeared, and when he saw Wen Nuan, he smiled and called out, “Xiao Nuan, come in quickly.”

“Grandpa, you’re here!” Wen Nuan instinctively quickened her pace, but the next moment, she was stopped by Gu Qinghan, who gently grabbed her arm.

He frowned and reminded her, “Slow down.”

General Lu laughed warmly as he walked up to them and added, “Yes, yes, slow down. Grandpa’s here.”

Then, he looked at Wen Nuan with some disbelief and asked, “Xiao Nuan, are you really carrying twins?”

It wasn’t that he had never seen twins before, but hearing it about his own family made General Lu particularly excited. However, he also felt a bit of concern for his granddaughter, thinking that carrying two babies might not be easy.

“Yes, Grandpa.” Wen Nuan instinctively touched her belly, smiling. “Doctor Li and Doctor Zhao just checked, and they both confirmed it’s twins.”p

Upon hearing this, General Lu’s eyes lit up with joy. “It really is two? Oh my, this must be your Grandma’s blessing!”

“Grandpa!” Wen Nuan quickly glanced outside, reminding him, “Don’t get too excited.”

Although things had become clearer in the past couple of years, she still had to be cautious about what was said.

“Oops, Grandpa got too excited,” General Lu laughed heartily. “When I get back to Beijing, I’ll tell your parents and your Grandma. They’ll be over the moon!”

Seeing how happy her Grandpa was for her, Wen Nuan smiled and asked, “Grandpa, when did you arrive in the North? Why didn’t you call us beforehand?”

The family hadn’t prepared any dishes yet. If they had known earlier, they could have gone to the Kitchen Unit to buy some meat.

General Lu pursed his lips and cleared his throat. “I just arrived. I happened to be passing through, so I stopped by.”

At that moment, Xiao Zhang, who was moving some things nearby, overheard and smiled, greeting Wen Nuan, “Comrade Wen Nuan, Captain Gu.”

“Our General planned to give you a surprise, so he asked me not to call ahead.”

In fact, General Lu had planned this visit half a month ago, deliberately setting aside three days to spend in the North.

It wasn’t just a passing stop.-

General Lu shot a glance at the talkative Xiao Zhang but didn’t deny it. Instead, he turned to Wen Nuan and said, “Let’s go inside and talk.”

Hearing Xiao Zhang’s words, Wen Nuan was overjoyed. She walked over to General Lu’s side and smiled brightly, “Then tonight, I’ll cook a nice meal for you, Grandpa.”

“No, no, no,” General Lu instinctively glanced at Wen Nuan’s pregnant belly and said, “You just sit and rest.”

Xiao Zhang followed behind the two of them, smiling as he said, “Comrade Wen Nuan, let me show off my cooking skills tonight. I hope you won’t mind.” 

Wen Nuan chuckled softly and replied, “How could I mind? Thank you for your hard work.” 

Everyone entered the house together. Lele had already finished two popsicles and climbed onto a chair. She grabbed an enamel cup and poured herself a glass of water. 

Holding the full glass of water with both hands, Lele walked over to General Lu and said cheerfully, “Great-Grandpa, have some tea.” 

The little one had hurried over, and the glass was quite full, so a bit of water spilled along the way. 

“Ah, thank you, Lele.” General Lu looked at the little one, noting how much she had grown. The fact that she could now pour water made him beam with joy. 

Xiao Zhang noticed the slight curve of General Lu’s lips and felt that the old general had smiled more in this one year than in all the previous years combined. 

“You’re welcome!” Lele tilted her little head proudly and then toddled back to the table. She poured another glass of water and handed it to Xiao Zhang, saying, “Uncle, have some tea.” 

Xiao Zhang wiped his hands on his pants before taking the enamel cup from Lele. He smiled and said, “Ah, I get one too? Perfect timing, Uncle is thirsty. Thank you.” 

Lele grinned and said, “Drink slowly, Uncle. If you need more, there’s still some on the table.” 

Xiao Zhang looked at Lele’s innocent and adorable face, marveling at how much the child had matured and become so articulate in just one year. 

After General Lu finished his tea, he picked up the child and headed outside, saying, “Come on, Great-Grandpa brought you something. Let’s go take a look.” 

Lele hugged her Great-Grandpa’s shoulders excitedly and asked with a smile, “What is it? Something fun? Or something yummy?” 

As they walked, General Lu laughed and replied, “Why don’t we go and see for ourselves?” 

Wen Nuan watched General Lu carry the child out the door. Looking at the few bags stacked inside the house, she couldn’t help but say to Gu Qinghan, “Grandpa brought so many things again.” 

Even though they hadn’t opened the bags, Wen Nuan could already guess they were filled with snacks suitable for children, some daily necessities, and most likely clothes for Lele. 

Gu Qinghan wrapped an arm around his wife’s shoulders, poured her a glass of water, and said with a smile, “Grandpa only sees you once a year; it’s understandable.” 

General Lu was much busier than them, and his visits couldn’t be made on a whim. Since he only saw them once a year, bringing a bit more was perfectly normal. 

Wen Nuan sipped her tea and sat down on the sofa to rest. Looking at her husband, she said, “Go and prepare lunch. Xiao Zhang has been driving all day; he’s probably tired.” 

“Alright, since we’ve been on the road for so long, you take a break. Don’t overwork yourself,” Gu Qinghan said as he topped off her tea and gently caressed her slightly flushed cheek with his thumb. 

Wen Nuan smiled at him and said, “Don’t worry, I’m fine.” 

The long course of Chinese medicine she’d taken before had been effective. Over the past two years, she felt her physical condition had improved greatly. Now four months pregnant, her belly wasn’t particularly large yet, so she still moved around with ease. 

As Gu Qinghan stepped into the kitchen, Lele ran inside holding a book. “Mom, look! Great-Grandpa bought me a school bag and a book!” 

Wen Nuan caught the little one who ran into her arms and laughed. “Wow, Great-Grandpa got you a little school bag?” 

The little one had already strapped the school bag onto her back. Although it wasn’t pink, it was in a color palette Lele adored. She carried it as if it were a treasure, her face lit up with an uncontainable grin. 

Lele spun around in front of Wen Nuan, showing off. “Mom, look at my school bag! Is it pretty?” 

During this era, shoulder bags were the trend, especially among older kids and adults who all yearned for army-green satchels. But Lele’s light blue bag with white floral patterns was perfectly suited for a child. 

Wen Nuan nodded approvingly. “It’s very pretty, absolutely lovely.” 

She then asked, “Did you thank your Great-Grandpa?” 

Lele nodded earnestly. “I did! Great-Grandpa also gave me a book, Mom, look at it!” 

Wen Nuan took the book Lele handed over—a thick, substantial volume. She flipped through it while asking, “Oh? What kind of book is this? Let Mom take a look.” 

“Oh, it’s *One Hundred Thousand Whys*! That’s perfect for you, Lele.” 

Lele was full of questions, so this book would be ideal for her to explore slowly. Although she couldn’t read yet, it would make an excellent bedtime storybook for her. 

Lele looked up at Wen Nuan with bright eyes. “Then Mom, at bedtime, read this to me. I don’t want to hear about Sun Wukong anymore.” 

Wen Nuan: “…” 

“No problem, of course,” she said with a chuckle. 

Even though Lele couldn’t read, she eagerly flipped through the book, her curiosity piqued by the illustrations inside. 

General Lu walked in behind Lele, carrying a bag in his hand. He handed it to Wen Nuan, saying, “This is fabric I bought for you. I thought you could make a few larger summer dresses.” 

Gu Qinghan had mentioned that Wen Nuan’s due date was in September, coinciding with the summer-autumn season in the North, when the weather would be warm enough to wear light clothing. He had consulted some experienced female comrades who suggested that dresses were convenient and breathable for late pregnancy. 

Wen Nuan accepted the fabric from General Lu’s hands. “So much? Two sets will be more than enough. Let’s save the rest for making something for the baby.” 

After all, maternity clothes wouldn’t fit later, and making too many would be wasteful. They’d only end up being taken apart and repurposed. But this was a thick stack of fabric—certainly more than enough for just two dresses. 

Uncle Zhao had once told her that in all his years with General Lu, the man had never purchased fabric for making clothes. The down jacket she had made was the first new garment General Lu had worn in years. 

“No need. Just make some for yourself,” General Lu said, already mentally planning to prepare a second set just in case. 

Wen Nuan ran her fingers over the soft fabric, smiling as she replied, “That’s alright, Grandpa. We still have fabric ration tickets that haven’t been used yet.” 

The two of them sat down and began to chat about daily life. 

As luck would have it, while Gu Qinghan was cooking, Sister Ju Xiang came by and delivered a generous amount of fresh mushrooms. 

Life was springing back to the world, and it was the perfect season for enjoying mushrooms. These mushrooms had been foraged by the comrades from the kitchen unit who went into the mountains themselves. Knowing that Wen Nuan was pregnant and couldn’t join in the foraging, they had thoughtfully brought some for her. 

After Sister Ju Xiang dropped off the mushrooms, the neighbor, Sister Guihua, heard that General Lu was visiting and came over with some ribs. 

With lunch sorted, Xiao Zhang joined in to help with meal preparation. 

General Lu cheerfully brought out a bottle of Maotai, intending to have a drink or two with Gu Qinghan. However, knowing that Gu Qinghan had training in the afternoon, he set the idea aside. 

After a simple lunch, drowsiness caught up with Wen Nuan. 

Knowing that both she and the baby needed their afternoon rest, General Lu made an excuse about having business with General Xu and left with Xiao Zhang, driving away for a while. 

Once General Lu had left, Wen Nuan went to check on the small guest room, murmuring to herself, “If Grandpa sleeps here, it might feel too cramped for him.” 

The spring nights in the North were still quite chilly. On previous visits to the family compound, General Lu had always stayed at the cadre guesthouse arranged by General Xu, which offered far better accommodations than their current place. 

Gu Qinghan came up behind Wen Nuan, wrapping his arms around her waist, and spoke in a warm tone, “Once I get promoted, I’ll apply for a bigger house. Then, when Grandpa visits, he’ll have a proper place to stay.” 

With Wen Nuan pregnant with twins, the current space would soon become insufficient, making a move inevitable. 

Hearing this, Wen Nuan turned around, hugging his lean waist with a smile. “Alright, I’ll be cheering for you. Get that promotion so we can move into a big house soon!” 

When they first moved to the North, Wen Nuan had been quite satisfied with their two-bedroom unit, which even had a spare room for storage. 

But now, with two children on the way, there certainly wouldn’t be enough room. 

Yet, what Wen Nuan was secretly thinking about wasn’t just waiting for Gu Qinghan’s promotion. She was planning to save up enough money to buy a *siheyuan* courtyard house in Beijing! 

Not only would it have its own private yard, but it would also come with several rooms and even appreciate in value over time. 

As these thoughts filled her mind, Gu Qinghan smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll do my best.” 

Just as Wen Nuan was about to head back to rest, Lele clung tightly to her copy of *One Hundred Thousand Whys*, refusing to let it go. 

“Lele, let’s take a nap now. Otherwise, you’ll be too tired this afternoon,” Wen Nuan said. 

Without looking up from her book, Lele replied, “I’m not sleepy. I don’t want to nap.” 

Wen Nuan raised an eyebrow. This little one had been up since seven in the morning, had gone to register at kindergarten, and even made a trip to the hospital—how could she not be tired? 

Glancing at the book in Lele’s hands, Wen Nuan said, “Alright then, how about Mom reads the book to you in the room?” 

Before she even finished speaking, Lele eagerly trotted off to the bedroom, book in hand, and climbed onto the bed all by herself. 

Wen Nuan couldn’t help but laugh at her determination. She planned to read a few pages to gently coax her into sleep. 

Taking the book from Lele’s hands, Wen Nuan smiled. “Alright, but after I read, you have to sleep like a good girl. Deal?” 

Lele took off her little vest, lay down on the bed, and said with a big grin, “Okay, Mom! Start reading!” 

Seeing how cooperative she was, Wen Nuan decided not to trick her and opened the table of contents. Picking a topic she was somewhat familiar with, she began to expand on it as she read, her voice calm and soothing. 

During the first three months of Wen Nuan’s pregnancy, she was often sleepy. Gu Qinghan had arranged for her to take leave from work during this period, so she didn’t have to return to her job. Instead, she only visited the factory occasionally to check in. 

During those months, she developed the habit of going to bed early, waking up late, and taking long afternoon naps. 

As Wen Nuan flipped through the book to lull Lele to sleep, she didn’t even notice when she dozed off herself, her head resting softly on the pillow. 

Once Gu Qinghan had finished tidying up the clutter in the small room, he went to check on his wife and daughter, planning to head back to the unit early for training. 

When he carefully pushed open the door, he was greeted by the sight of Wen Nuan holding the book, fast asleep. Lele, however, was wide awake, lying on the bed. Spotting her dad, she quickly put a finger to her lips and whispered, “Shh, Dad, Mom is asleep.” 

Gu Qinghan couldn’t help but chuckle. He walked over and sat beside his daughter, asking softly, “Why aren’t you asleep yet?” 

Lele rolled over, grabbed her little foot, and scratched it. “Dad, I can’t sleep,” she mumbled. 

“Try to sleep, little baby is already resting,” Gu Qinghan said. Taking off his shoes, he climbed onto the bed, patting Lele gently on the back. “Dad will lie down with you for a bit.” 

Lele hugged her small pillow, sat up, and pointed to a corner of the room. “When the little babies come, they can sleep over there. I’ll sleep here with Mom and Dad.” 

“Alright,” Gu Qinghan said with a smile, pulling her back down onto the bed. “But now, lie down and don’t wake your Mom.” 

The heated kang bed was large enough, designed for families with many children. It could easily accommodate seven or eight people. When the babies arrived, there would still be plenty of room. 

The father and daughter chatted idly about what life would be like after the babies arrived. A few days ago, Lele had dug out a rattle from under her bed in the small room, declaring that it was for the babies. 

As she yawned, Lele blinked slowly and murmured, “When the babies come, I’ll feed them milk… powder.” 

With that, she drifted off to sleep, her long lashes curling like tiny fans. 

Gu Qinghan watched her for a moment, ensuring she was sound asleep before he carefully climbed off the bed. He gently closed the door behind him and headed back to his unit.