Chapter 18: Pregnant

In the scorching summer, the Chen family had eaten their fill. Big Brother Chen rode his bike through the village, with Sister-in-law Chen sitting behind.

“Hey! The team leader’s family bought a bicycle!”

“Looks like a woman’s bike! Shiny and nice-looking!”

“Our team leader is still rich!”

“Of course! If Chen Guangming hadn’t insisted on marrying Yao Chunzhi from the neighboring village back then, maybe my daughter would have had a chance! Look at that brand-new bike — riding it out gives you face!”

“Come on! Your daughter’s as fat as a ball. The team leader’s wife would never look at her!”

“What do you know! My daughter is blessed with good fortune!”

“Hmph!”

After lunch, many people in Chen village gathered under the big trees by the roadside to cool off and chat.

Yao Chunzhi sat on the back seat of the bike, gently tugging at Chen Guangming’s shirt corner. “Guangming, do you regret marrying me?”

“Wife, what are you saying! Don’t think like that!”

“I’ve been married into your family for over half a year, but my belly still shows no sign… I…” Yao Chunzhi looked embarrassed. Her family hadn’t said much, but she often heard gossip from some village women.

Chen Guangming comforted her softly, “Wife! Don’t overthink it. The child will come! Let’s take good care of your body!”

Yao Chunzhi lowered her head and said nothing. Soon, they arrived at the village clinic.

After feeling her pulse, Doctor Liu gave the answer: “Don’t worry. Your wife is pregnant. Take care of her these few months, eat nutritious food, and come to see me if anything happens.”

After leaving the clinic, Chen Guangming hadn’t quite processed it yet — he was going to be a father!

He was going to be a father!

Chen Guangming was excited, “Wife! I’m going to be a dad!”

Yao Chunzhi was overjoyed, “Mm! You’re going to be a dad!” She wiped away tears.

“Wife, why are you still crying? You should be happy! Come, let’s go home and tell our parents!”

On the way there, Chen Guangming had ridden fast, but going home he was cautious. Yao Chunzhi noticed and gently stroked her belly with a happy face.

“Mom! You’re going to be a grandma!” Chen Guangming shouted loudly as they got home.

Chen’s mother was overjoyed, “Oh! I’m going to be a grandma. Chunzhi, you should stay home and rest these days.” She smiled kindly and gently patted Yao Chunzhi’s hand.

“Mom, thank you!” Yao Chunzhi was grateful that as soon as she got pregnant, her mother-in-law told her to rest at home — unlike her sister-in-law who still worked in the fields until the day before giving birth.

Hearing the noise, Chen Manman came out of the room, “Congratulations, big brother and sister-in-law.”

In the afternoon, after a nap, the whole family went to the fields to earn work points. Chen Manman applied sunscreen, put on a big straw hat, tied a sack of Schisandra (five-flavor berry) behind the bike seat, and set off for the county town.

Before leaving, she greeted her grandmother.

On the way, Chen Manman stored the Schisandra into her spatial pocket, only taking it out near the county, re-tied it, and headed to the only Chinese medicine clinic in town.

At the clinic, a young man dressed in Zhongshan suit approached. “Comrade, do you sell Schisandra here?” Chen Manman asked.

Fan Yi, seeing the visitor — a young woman wearing overalls and a straw hat, fair-skinned and pretty — replied, “Miss, is it for decoction? How much do you want?”

Chen Manman: “What’s the price?”

“50 cents per tael.” (A tael is about 50 grams)

Chen Manman calculated silently — 50g per tael, 5 yuan per jin (half a kilo). The price was still quite high!

“Then I’ll take one and a half taels of Schisandra!” Chen Manman said, handing over the money.

Fan Yi was a bit curious about the woman, packaged the Schisandra, and asked, “Miss, may I ask what illness you are treating with Schisandra?”

Fan Yi’s grandfather was an old Chinese medicine doctor who had turned to literature during the war and opened this clinic after the liberation.

Chen Manman was there to check prices, “Schisandra and dried ginger decoction can treat chronic bronchitis, emphysema, bronchiectasis in elderly; Schisandra with Yinchen and jujube made into honey pills can treat chronic hepatitis; Schisandra with sour jujube seed decoction can treat ear vertigo…” Chen Manman recited the traditional uses of Schisandra, speaking for about ten minutes.

Fan Yi’s eyes lit up, “Miss, you know Chinese medicine? That’s impressive!” She looked much younger than him but was so knowledgeable.

“I’ve just read a few medical books. By the way, where do you get your Schisandra from?” Chen Manman took the opportunity to inquire.

“From the neighboring province’s city Y,” Fan Yi answered without hesitation.

“What price do you pay for buying them?” Chen Manman asked again.

Fan Yi became more interested, “What? You want to sell Schisandra?”

“I’m thinking about it. Just want to know your buying price,” Chen Manman was straightforward.

“Miss, just call me Fan Yi. My grandpa owns this clinic, but I’m in charge of Schisandra here. For processed, good-quality Schisandra, I pay 2.3 yuan per jin.”

“Do you buy fresh-picked ones?” Chen Manman suddenly remembered that pharmacies usually don’t buy fresh herbs.

Fan Yi looked a little troubled. His grandfather usually processed expensive herbs himself, and they usually buy processed herbs.

Because the processing methods vary, harvesters cherish their secret techniques, and many are family secrets.

Fan Yi could process Schisandra, “Miss, we do buy fresh ones too, but the price is much lower. I can give you a friendly price — 0.2 yuan per jin. But if you bring processed, high-quality ones, I pay 2.5 yuan per jin.”

“Alright! I’ll come back another day!” Chen Manman got the information she wanted — fresh Schisandra is not cost-effective.

“Hey! Miss, I don’t even know your name yet.”

“Comrade Fan, my name is Chen Manman. I’ll bring processed Schisandra next time. By the way, what other herbs do you buy?” Chen Manman asked, as she knew how to process Schisandra. Her grandfather had picked and processed many herbs back in her previous life.

“Okay! Miss, I’ll make you a list. We buy various raw Chinese herbs, as long as the quality is top-notch,” Fan Yi quickly wrote a note.

Chen Manman glanced at it, “Thank you so much! I guarantee top quality.”

After thanking him, Chen Manman stood up and took her leave.

On the way back, she passed a state-run restaurant, bought 15 big steamed buns to-go, entered a small alley, slipped into her spatial pocket, selected a few jin of big bones, pork belly, an old duck, and some snacks, loaded them into her bike’s front basket, and took out a Shanghai-brand ladies’ watch from her warehouse and put it on. She never knew what time it was otherwise and had to sneak into her spatial pocket to check.

Chen Manman tidied up and rode home. The silver watchband glistened in the sunlight, making her wrist look even slimmer and whiter.

She was quite happy. She hadn’t expected it to look so nice and thought maybe she’d get one for her mom too.

Humming a tune, pedaling, enjoying the fresh dry air.

“Oh! Isn’t that Manman!” A woman with an eleven or twelve-year-old boy stopped in front of Chen Manman’s bike.