Chapter 40

“Find me a job?”

Hu Xiu was used to waking up early. As she bent down to replace the honeycomb coal in the stove, she was surprised by her son’s words.

Huo Xiao took the tongs from her, removed the burning coal, and cleared out the ash. “Tingting thinks you’re still young and worries you’ll be bored at home. You don’t need to worry about the kids—we’ll take turns caring for them.” He placed fresh coal into the stove, aligned it with the holes, then set the kettle on top.

Hearing that her daughter-in-law suggested it, Hu Xiu felt warm inside. “This isn’t tiring. In the past, I worked in the fields to earn work points ^[1]a system used in collectivized farming to measure labor and allocate resources.. That was real work.”

Besides, her children and their spouses were thoughtful, taking care of housework and the kids. She wasn’t burdened.

She waved her hand. “I don’t want a job. I’m fine at home—I’ve been learning to make clothes.”

Huo Xiao adjusted his military cap. “Really?”

Annoyed by his doubt, Hu Xiu rolled her eyes. “Enough. Don’t you have drills? Hurry up and go. I’ll talk to Tingting myself.”

Huo Xiao nodded. “Alright, I’m heading out.”

“Go, go.”

Just then, Lin Wei, neatly dressed, stepped out of his room. “Brother-in-law, I’ll go with you.”

Like many men, he had always dreamed of being a soldier. After learning he could join the drills, he had been excited. He even wore a military-style uniform, though it was just an ordinary one, different from the official ones.

Huo Xiao glanced at his brother-in-law, thinking he looked more like an arts soldier ^[2]a performer or musician in the military entertainment division.. But he kept the thought to himself, said goodbye to his mother, and left with Lin Wei.

By the time Lin Ting woke up, she was about to figure out how to help her second brother when her mother-in-law informed her he had gone to train.

She laughed. “Well, he must be having fun.”

Hu Xiu, eating breakfast with her daughter-in-law and the twins, smiled. “He’s a boy, after all. By the way, Tingting, does your second brother have a girlfriend?”

Lin Ting blinked. “Probably not. I haven’t heard anything.”

Hu Xiu scooped steamed egg for the children, then for her daughter-in-law, and finally for herself. “Xiao Lin is 25 now, right? It’s time to settle down.”

Lin Ting swallowed her food. “That’s up to him. Has anyone approached you about matchmaking?”

Hu Xiu chuckled. “You’re sharp. Some people are interested, but I don’t think they’re reliable.”

“It’s not that I’m smart,” Lin Ting said. “My brother has always been popular. I’m used to it.”

In her previous life, her brother resembled Lin Wei. She had been flooded with love letters and requests to pass them along. Lin Wei was no different. Despite the conservative times, some girls still openly expressed their feelings. Only in the past couple of years had people become more restrained due to stricter societal norms.

Thinking about her own son, Hu Xiu smirked. Huo Xiao had always been dull and unapproachable, despite his good looks. No girl dared to get close to him.

But in hindsight, that had worked out well—otherwise, how would he have waited for his wife?

Feeling pleased, she changed the topic. “By the way, Xiao told me not to find a job. I’m so free now. I’ve even been learning sewing from Wen Lan.”

With the weather warming up, she often went for walks in the hills after sending the kids to school, gathering wildflowers for vases. Other times, she relaxed under the magnolia tree in front of the house, drinking tea and reading newspapers. Life was peaceful—why would she want a job?

Hearing this, Lin Ting felt envious. “As long as you’re happy! When you get better, make me some nice clothes.”

Hu Xiu beamed. “Of course!”

_

It was now April, and midterm exams were approaching. Students were cramming, and teachers were just as busy.

After lunch, Lin Ting rushed back to the office. She placed wax paper over a steel plate and began carving the exam questions with a stylus.

Gu Fang, who had finished her own, was setting up the mimeograph ^[3]a duplicating machine that prints from wax stencils.. She comforted Lin Ting. “Don’t rush. I’ll help you print when you’re done. I’m pretty skilled now—hardly ever get ink smudges.”

Carving on wax paper required effort. Lin Ting, still a novice, worked slowly and carefully. Without looking up, she said, “Thanks! Just one more question to go, and I’ll print it with you.”

Becoming a teacher reminded her of the old days when teachers had to print exams themselves. She had been practicing, but she still felt more confident with Fangfang’s help.

Gu Fang smiled. “No problem. It took me a while to get the hang of it. I’ll start printing.”

“Okay!”

Lin Ting sped up. Ten minutes later, she set the stylus down, checked her watch, and sighed in relief—she had finished in time for the afternoon class.

She joined Gu Fang at the mimeograph machine.

Gu Fang saw her approach and said, “You turn the handle, and I’ll collect the printed test papers.”

Lin Ting steadied herself, then reached for the crank.

It was natural for Lin Ting and Gu Fang to work together quickly.

Lin Ting turned the crank at a steady pace while Gu Fang, wearing rubber gloves, carefully took the freshly printed test papers and laid them flat to dry.

As they became more in sync, their speed increased. But suddenly, Lin Ting frowned. The once-pleasant ink smell now felt overwhelming. A wave of nausea hit her, and she instinctively covered her mouth before rushing outside.

Gu Fang, confused for a moment, quickly followed her. She found Lin Ting squatting near the well, retching uncontrollably.

Gu Fang hurried over, gently rubbing Lin Ting’s back. “Are you okay? Do you have a stomachache?” Then a thought struck her. “Tingting, are you pregnant?”

Lin Ting, too nauseous to think clearly, froze at the question and turned to look at Gu Fang, who was equally wide-eyed.

“Is it… true?” Gu Fang asked hesitantly.

Lin Ting was still dazed. Her marriage to Huo Xiao had not followed the usual path, and they had agreed to delay having children, using contraception. But lately, she had been feeling unusually sleepy and tired…

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Lin Ting considered the possibility.

Gu Fang, now smiling with excitement, said, “Let’s go to the health station to check later.”

They needed confirmation to be sure, but there was no rush. Once Lin Ting’s nausea subsided, she insisted, “Let’s finish printing the test papers first.”

Gu Fang objected. “I’ll handle it. You take a break.”

Lin Ting smiled. “No rush. I still have a class in the afternoon.”

Seeing her determination, Gu Fang let it go but made sure Lin Ting didn’t touch the mimeograph machine again.

_

She really was pregnant!

When the doctor confirmed that she was five weeks along, Lin Ting, despite having mentally prepared herself, felt her mind go blank.

But she was mature enough to regain composure quickly, asking the doctor about precautions.

Standing outside the health station with the confirmation in hand, she felt the warmth of the sun on her skin. A mix of emotions stirred within her—happiness, but also a bit of helplessness.

This feeling lingered until she returned home from school. When she saw the twins running toward her with bright smiles, all uncertainty faded into pure anticipation.

Lin Ting imagined how adorable the child she and Huo Xiao would have.

She crouched down, hugged each twin, kissed them, and asked with a smile, “Were you good today?”

Guoguo, covered in dirt from playing at school, still replied confidently, “Good! Guoguo is the best!”

Miaomiao, standing beside him, quietly rolled her eyes.

Lin Ting laughed, took their hands, and walked inside.

Her mother-in-law was in the room. “Mom, hasn’t my brother come back yet?” she asked.

Hu Xiu chuckled, recalling how Lin Wei had been surrounded by family earlier. “He did, helped me for a bit, then went back to the army.”

“No one’s seriously matchmaking for him, right?” Lin Ting joked. Just as she finished speaking, she felt a tug on her braid.

“Lin Wei! Let go!” she cried out.

Lin Wei nearly released her hair but, hearing his full name, pulled harder.

A hand reached out from the side to block him.

Lin Wei clicked his tongue but secretly approved of his brother-in-law protecting his sister. Just as he was about to joke, a sharp pain shot up his leg—Lin Ting had kicked him.

She turned to Huo Xiao with a teasing smile. “I’m back. I have good news.”

Huo Xiao smirked, bent down to place her slippers at her feet, untied her shoelaces, then began taking off his own. “What good news?” he asked.

Lin Ting steadied herself on his back as she changed shoes. “I’m pregnant. Five weeks.”

“Bang!” Lin Wei, who was about to leave after being teased, crashed into a stool.

Ignoring the pain, he turned back excitedly. “Really?”

Hu Xiu, who was serving rice, rushed over. “Tingting, are you really pregnant?!”

Seeing her mother-in-law and brother’s excitement, Lin Ting felt a little shy. “Yes, I went to the health station this afternoon. More than a month along.”

She then turned to her husband.

As expected, his expression froze in shock.

Lin Ting knew he wasn’t unhappy—he was just as stunned as she had been earlier.

Smiling, she bent down and gently rubbed his cheek. “Hey, snap out of it.”

Huo Xiao finally reacted, gripping her hand tightly. His gaze stayed fixed on her. So many questions filled his mind, but he didn’t know where to start.

His Adam’s apple moved as he struggled to find his voice. “Are you okay? Did you find out because you felt sick?”

Hearing his concern, Lin Ting’s last bit of helplessness vanished. Holding his hand, she pulled him up. “I felt nauseous from the ink smell while printing test papers this afternoon. I’m fine now.”

Huo Xiao frowned. “Still nauseous? What did the doctor say?”