Chapter 20.2

At Li Qiuyan’s House.

Her mother-in-law, Chen Sanmei, frowned upon seeing that she had brought the boards back again. “What’s going on? Didn’t you say you’d have Xiao Gu help us make a cart?”

Li Qiuyan sighed, still feeling unsettled, both angry and frustrated.

She tossed the boards onto the ground and, wanting to vent her frustration, aimed a kick at the floor. To her surprise, she stubbed her toe, causing pain to shoot through her, and a cold sweat broke out on her forehead. “What a pain! That wife of his won’t allow it!”

Chen Sanmei furrowed her brow and clicked her tongue. “Does it really matter what she says?”

Li Qiuyan sneered lightly and replied coldly, “How can her wife not have a say? Whatever, I’ll just drag the boards back to the supply office tomorrow. It’s just two heavy boards that have worn me out!”

Chen Sanmei asked, “Did Xiao Gu say anything? He wasn’t like this before.”

Li Qiuyan recalled Gu Qinghan’s expression at the time. Not only did he seem speechless, but he probably didn’t even remember his own last name.

It was strange. Back when they were in G Province, her husband had said that they had no feelings for each other, claiming that Wen Nuan had insisted on marrying Gu Qinghan. Now, how had they become so intimate?

Her sons, He Dazhuang and He Xiaofei sidled up to her, saying, “Mom, I saw Uncle Gu’s wife today; she bought a lot of eggs.”

Li Qiuyan slapped He Dazhuang on the shoulder. “Listen here, don’t sneak off and take their things again!”

He Dazhuang pouted and protested, “I didn’t! You’re being ridiculous!”

“You better not have! I can’t even hold my head high in the family compound anymore!” Li Qiuyan glared fiercely at him. “If you dare to take their things again, I’ll chop off your hand!”

He Dazhuang saw Li Qiuyan’s hand coming down and quickly ducked behind Chen Sanmei. “Grandma, save me!”

Chen Sanmei huffed and stood in front of her beloved grandson. “What are you yelling about? Dazhuang was just a few years old before; he didn’t know better, so you can’t blame him. He wouldn’t do it now.”

He Dazhuang nodded vigorously. “Right! I won’t do it again!”

Li Qiuyan, furious, pointed at He Dazhuang and asked, “Then tell me, who took the money from my cabinet? Are you saying it wasn’t you?”

Li Qiuyan was nearly driven to the edge by this son of hers. He had already caused her to be looked down upon by Zhang Guihua, and now his grandmother was taking his side without understanding the situation. If it weren’t for Chen Sanmei holding her back, she would have given him a beating.

Chen Sanmei glanced at Li Qiuyan and said, “It was me; I took it. Don’t blame it on the child. It was just two dimes! I bought them candy.”

Li Qiuyan couldn’t take it anymore and slammed the door shut with a “bang,” scaring her daughter, who was still sitting on the ground, into crying loudly.

Chen Sanmei took a look at her granddaughter on the floor and, feeling too lazy to deal with it, went to the kitchen to cook.

—o—o—o—

In the following days, news of Wen Nuan’s cooking skills spread throughout the family compound, and many families stepped up to defend her against the rumors.

Wen Nuan had also found those spreading rumors to be inexplicable, but now that someone was clarifying things for her, she was relieved to avoid running around trying to defend herself.

Gu Qinghan took note of this incident and specifically brought Wen Nuan along to visit Zheng Wei.

Upon hearing about the situation, Zheng Wei sighed, “Indeed, casually discussing others affects the unity of the troops. However, it’s also challenging to hold anyone accountable for this. Here’s what we’ll do: this incident has indeed brought negative repercussions to Comrade Wen Nuan. This afternoon, I will have the announcer issue a notice. If such occurrences happen again, strict measures will be taken as a warning to others.”

Gu Qinghan nodded. “Thank you.”

Wen Nuan stood there holding the child, unsure whether to sit or remain standing. Following Gu Qinghan, she thanked Zheng Wei as well.

Zheng Wei looked at the two of them with approval and said, “I should be the one thanking you for bravely stepping forward. Many might think it was just a joke, but the harm it caused to the individuals involved is something these people will never be able to understand. To prevent disruption within the unit, if anyone in this family compound spreads such rumors again, I will hold them accountable.”

“By the way, to compensate for the damage to Comrade Wen Nuan’s reputation, we have decided to provide her with some compensation. Think about it, and if there’s anything you need, you can bring it up with me.”

Wen Nuan was about to say that her family didn’t lack anything at the moment and didn’t need any compensation, especially since she hadn’t suffered any substantial loss. The organization had already taken very good care of the new families.

However, Gu Qinghan spoke up first, saying, “If possible, I would like Doctor Li, the old traditional Chinese medicine doctor from the Air Force, to take a look at my wife. Since coming to Northern Military District, her health has been somewhat weak.”

Pilots had their dedicated on-board doctors because the situations they encountered during flights varied greatly, and the doctors needed to be ready at all times.

These were all experienced doctors, covering specialties from internal medicine to surgery, orthopedics to psychiatry, but generally, they served the military personnel, not their families.

Gu Qinghan thought of how Wen Nuan’s hands and feet had never truly felt warm, so he wanted to find a more experienced doctor to examine her.

Wen Nuan exclaimed, “???”

What was wrong with her health? She felt perfectly fine!

Zheng Wei looked at Gu Qinghan and Wen Nuan with a puzzled expression and waved his hand, asking, “What kind of compensation is this? Find a time to take your wife to see Doctor Li.”

—o—o—o—

That afternoon, the loudspeaker in the family compound continuously broadcast announcements about unit unity. Many people, upon hearing it, realized it was regarding the earlier gossip about the new military wife, Wen Nuan, being lazy and unproductive. Everyone quickly covered their mouths.

This kind of gossip should be shared, but rumors shouldn’t be spread recklessly.

—o—o—o—

Early the next morning, Gu Qinghan indeed took her to the flight team’s medical room.

This place was different from the family compound, where women and children were everywhere.

As soon as they entered, they saw almost all male soldiers, each around six feet tall, their long legs creating a striking scene when standing together.

However, Wen Nuan later spotted a few female pilots, and she felt even more excited. Their heroic figures made it hard not to steal a few glances.

Many were curious about Gu Qinghan carrying a chubby little cutie and bringing along a female comrade. They couldn’t help but glance over, but when their eyes met Gu Qinghan’s icy gaze, they quickly turned away.

Gu Qinghan noticed the spark in Wen Nuan’s eyes as she looked at those pilots and felt a bit uncomfortable. He then pulled her into the medical room.

Inside the medical room sat a female doctor wearing glasses, her hair partially gray. She slightly lowered her eyes, peering at Wen Nuan and Gu Qinghan through her glasses.

In Gu Qinghan’s arms was a plump little one, whose curious, dark eyes were examining the surroundings. Dressed in a soft, pink cotton jacket and with a small bun on her head, she looked incredibly adorable.

“Xiao Gu, is this your family member?”

“Doctor Li, this is my wife, Wen Nuan,” Gu Qinghan immediately introduced. Then he turned to Wen Nuan and said, “Wen Nuan, this is Doctor Li.”

“Hello, Doctor Li,” Wen Nuan politely greeted, noticing the name tag that read Li Yunhua.

Although Wen Nuan didn’t feel anything was wrong with her health, since she was already there, she wanted to get checked out.

“Have a seat. Do you feel any discomfort?” Doctor Li asked, looking at Wen Nuan with concern.

Gu Qinghan watched as Wen Nuan sat down and patiently awaited Doctor Li’s instructions. He then spoke to the doctor, “My wife usually has cold hands and feet. When she gets hungry, she tends to shiver, and after squatting for a long time, she feels dizzy when she stands up, needing a while to recover. At night, when she lies down to sleep, her lower back hurts. She often sleeps restlessly, has many dreams, and wakes up easily.”

Wen Nuan was taken aback, looking at Gu Qinghan in shock. Why hadn’t she realized she had so many issues? Were they really that serious?

Doctor Li didn’t respond immediately but turned to Wen Nuan and said, “Let me see your hand.”

Wen Nuan extended her hand, placing it obediently on the pulse pillow. After carefully taking her pulse, Doctor Li listened to her lungs, then frowned and asked Wen Nuan, “Did you not rest properly after giving birth?”

Wen Nuan didn’t know how to answer. Sitting down was equivalent to not resting at all; she didn’t eat enough and couldn’t sleep well, so she chose to remain silent as if to agree.

Doctor Li sighed and slowly said, “You have moderate anemia, and since you didn’t rest well after childbirth, you’ll need to take traditional Chinese medicine to gradually regulate your condition.”

Gu Qinghan furrowed his brows and anxiously asked, “What kind of traditional medicine?”

“Why are you so anxious?” Doctor Li glanced at Gu Qinghan and continued, “Her body is currently very weak, and she probably hasn’t adapted to the cold climate of the Northern Military District yet. It wouldn’t be wise to use strong medicines right away; otherwise, she might not benefit from the supplementation. We need to start with mild traditional Chinese medicine to condition her body for a while; it may take some time.”

She then proceeded to write out a prescription, her brush strokes elegant and fluid, filling two whole pages.

Doctor Li glanced at Gu Qinghan and added, “If you can find wild ginseng, that would be ideal. We don’t have any in our pharmacy. You’d need to boil it in small amounts, twice a week, and just a little bit each time—no need for too much; it will have better effects.”

Gu Qinghan’s mind raced with ideas, and he nodded. “Alright, thank you, Doctor Li.”

Upon hearing this, Wen Nuan felt it might be unlikely to find wild ginseng.

After all, it was indeed very precious, and if even the military pharmacy was out, it would be even harder to find outside.

However, Doctor Li had already written down many herbal ingredients, so even without wild ginseng, gradually regulating her condition should still improve her health.

Adjusting her glasses, Doctor Li looked at Gu Qinghan and Wen Nuan, finally reminding them, “For now, don’t rush to have children. It’s best to wait until your wife’s health improves. In terms of intimacy, you should also avoid being too frequent or intense, prioritizing your wife’s health.”

Gu Qinghan replied calmly, “Alright.”

Wen Nuan glanced at Gu Qinghan and then lowered her gaze, a flush creeping onto her face.

How did he manage to remain so composed?

No wonder he could get into the flight team; she really couldn’t compare to his mental fortitude.

After thanking Doctor Li, the two went to the pharmacy to pick up the herbal ingredients. While picking up the medicine, Gu Qinghan spoke to the pharmacy staff for a few minutes, leaving Wen Nuan to wait by the side.

Since she would need to take the medicine for a long time, they first got enough for two weeks, planning for Gu Qinghan to return for more afterward.

However, even for two weeks’ worth of medicine, it was quite a lot.

Moreover, since she wasn’t part of the military structure, she didn’t get any discounts. The two weeks’ worth of traditional Chinese medicine cost twelve yuan, meaning it would be twenty-four yuan for a month.

Indeed, regardless of the era, medical expenses were always the highest.

—o—o—o—

On the way back, they passed by the supply and marketing cooperative, and Gu Qinghan mentioned wanting to go in to buy something.

Wen Nuan thought for a moment, realizing there wasn’t much they needed at home, and asked, “What do you want to buy?”

Gu Qinghan had been carrying the child effortlessly, his breathing steady, as if it required no effort at all, which made Lele especially fond of being held by him.

Seeing the familiar cooperative, the little one raised a hand and pointed, seemingly wanting to go inside.

Lele loved lively places and was particularly clever, knowing that there were sweets for sale there. Every time they came to the cooperative, she would point at the candy section, insisting they go over; otherwise, she would throw a tantrum.

Gu Qinghan glanced at her and said, “We need to buy a pot for boiling the traditional medicine. I just asked the pharmacy staff, and they said some of the herbs can be especially bitter.”

After saying this, he walked towards the candy counter in the cooperative.

When Lele saw the familiar candy section, she jumped excitedly and burst into laughter.

In no time, Gu Qinghan bought three taels of White Rabbit milk candy, a paper bag of preserved plums, and a small medicinal pot.

Then he asked her, “Do you want to give Lele one?”

Wen Nuan glanced at the child, who had started sucking her fingers again, likely craving the candy. She replied, “Maybe not. We don’t want her to get cavities. Besides, the candy is quite big; she wouldn’t be able to eat it anyway.”

Upon hearing this, the little one immediately knew that Wen Nuan wouldn’t let her have any candy and began crying, hugging Gu Qinghan’s neck.

Wen Nuan felt her heart soften again. “Maybe just give her a little bit. I could bite off a piece for her.”

Gu Qinghan slipped a piece into her mouth, but while holding the child, who had a face as red as an apple from crying, he headed in the direction of home, saying, “You eat it, don’t let her see.”

Wen Nuan looked at the familiar packaging of the candy, which had remained unchanged for decades, and suddenly felt sweet even before tasting it.

That evening, after dinner, Gu Qinghan boiled the traditional medicine. The small living room quickly filled with a rich aroma of herbal medicine. It wasn’t particularly unpleasant, but the moment she smelled it, Wen Nuan felt it was quite bitter.

As expected, after the medicine had cooled slightly and she took a sip, she immediately frowned. Meanwhile, Gu Qinghan stood nearby, holding the child and watching her drink.

Gu Qinghan silently observed her without saying a word. Wen Nuan had no choice but to brace herself and gulped it all down in one go.

As soon as she finished the herbal medicine, a piece of White Rabbit candy was offered to her lips. Gu Qinghan said, “Open your mouth.”

Wen Nuan subconsciously opened her mouth, and the tip of her tongue tasted the sweet flavor. It quickly washed away the bitter taste of the herbal medicine.

The little one in her arms saw that Wen Nuan had put the entire candy in her mouth and began to cry loudly.

Wen Nuan smiled and teased her, “What kind of candy should a little child like you eat at night? You haven’t even brushed your teeth! By the time you realize it, you’ll have a row of black cavities, and you’ll regret it!”

The little one didn’t care and continued crying as she looked at Wen Nuan, who wasn’t giving her any candy. The cries nearly brought the roof down. In the end, Wen Nuan couldn’t hold back and secretly slipped the child a little candy while Gu Qinghan was busy washing the medicine pot.

After turning off the lights, as the two lay in bed preparing to sleep, Wen Nuan inexplicably thought of Doctor Li’s words again.

Wen Nuan looked at the sleeping little one, reached out, and adjusted the blanket for her, pressing it down against her body.

After a while, neither of them spoke. Wen Nuan couldn’t help but ask, “Do you want to have another child?”

Gu Qinghan lay on the outer edge of the bed. Upon hearing Wen Nuan’s question, he instinctively denied it, “No.”

Then he felt that Wen Nuan seemed to have misunderstood him. He hadn’t intended to explain, but a sour sensation rose in his heart. “Your feet have always been cold. By the end of December, there will soon be heavy snow in North City. The weather will get even colder then…”

For the first time, Gu Qinghan felt a bit at a loss, but he didn’t want Wen Nuan to misunderstand him.

After waiting for a long time without a response from Wen Nuan, Gu Qinghan asked uncertainly, “You don’t believe me?”

Wen Nuan hugged the child and exclaimed, “Ah!” Then she quickly analyzed calmly, “No, of course I believe you. It’s just that during this time, we’ve been sleeping together every night, and you haven’t made a move on me. I thought maybe you wanted to wait until I got my body back in shape before having another child.”

Logically speaking, Gu Qinghan, being such a passionate young man, wouldn’t lie beside her every day and not want to have a child.

If it weren’t for physical reasons, he must be waiting for her to recover her health before wanting another child; otherwise, why would he take her to see a doctor?

It certainly couldn’t be that he couldn’t. He didn’t seem like he couldn’t…

But it seemed like one couldn’t really tell.

Just as Wen Nuan was lost in her thoughts, Gu Qinghan suddenly spoke coldly, “Your body is still very weak. Are you sure you want to now?”

As soon as he finished speaking, a rush of heat surged from Wen Nuan’s neck to the top of her head, making her face feel like it was about to burst into flames.

—o—o—o—

In the following days, Wen Nuan stayed at home making her cotton-padded jacket. The two pieces of fabric she had bought in the capital were just enough for her to use now.

The little one had also learned to crawl. Now, whenever she wasn’t careful, the child would crawl out from the little pushcart, moving from the living room to the bedroom with her hands and feet moving very nimbly!

With the heavy snow yet to fall and not much to do, Wen Nuan decided to make her winter cotton-padded jacket.

After taking a nap, she heard a knock on her door.

Then, she heard Guo Huai’s sister-in-law’s loud voice outside, “Xiao Nuan, the weather is nice today! Do you want to come with us to the mountain to collect some wild goods and dig for wild vegetables?”

Since there was no snow accumulation yet and the grass on the mountain had mostly withered, if luck was on their side, they could find some winter vegetables like shepherd’s purse or double mushroom hidden in the dry grass. A delicious soup could be made from them.

Earlier, Guo Huai’s sister-in-law and Deng Juxiang had invited her to go up the mountain, but at that time, she had just arrived in North City and was afraid the child wouldn’t adapt to the climate here. She didn’t dare take her to the back mountain, and Gu Qinghan wouldn’t allow her to carry the child up the mountain.

In fact, the children in the family compound and the villagers outside enjoyed going up the mountain to collect wild goods. Guo Huai’s sister-in-law would often share the wild vegetables she picked with her, and over time, Wen Nuan felt embarrassed to keep accepting their offerings without giving anything in return.

Wen Nuan observed that the mountains here weren’t particularly high and the weather wasn’t too cold yet, but snakes, insects, and rodents were generally in hibernation during winter. So she wanted to take a stroll; at most, she would avoid the higher areas and just wander around the foot of the mountain.

Wen Nuan shared her thoughts with Guo Huai’s sister-in-law and Deng Juxiang, and they both agreed, saying, “We often go up the mountain but rarely explore the foot, so let’s accompany Xiao Nuan around the foot of the mountain today.”

So, Wen Nuan carried the child on her back and followed them up the mountain.

—o—o—o—

On the way, they encountered many family members also planning to go up the mountain for wild goods. However, everyone preferred to go up higher, while Wen Nuan and her companions made a big detour, planning to walk farther afield.

Liu Meili, Huang Yueying, and Li Qiuyan, who were following behind Wen Nuan, saw them heading in another direction and laughed, “Are they going up the mountain or just for an autumn outing?”

“The foot of the mountain is already trampled down; what else can we find? Let’s hurry up the mountain, or we won’t be able to gather any wild vegetables.”