Chapter 95.2

Gu Qinghan led his team, bringing the wild boars and rabbits they had hunted over to the kitchen unit, where it would be distributed to everyone later.

Quartermaster Luo noticed that, once again, Gu Qinghan had brought back the most game this year. Thinking it over, he stuffed a rabbit and a pheasant into Gu Qinghan’s hands and said, “Captain Gu, take these back with you. You didn’t get any pork last year, and you’ve hunted the most again this time, so it’s only right you get a personal reward.”

“Alright, I’ll take it,” Gu Qinghan replied. His thoughts were already on Wen Nuan, so he didn’t bother with any formalities and simply took the rabbit and pheasant, preparing to head home.

Lele loved to eat meat, so having a little extra wouldn’t hurt.

Behind him, Liang Guoan, exhausted, followed. He hadn’t expected Gu Qinghan to still be moving so fast and called out to him, “Hey, Gu, what’s the rush?”

“Don’t tell me you’re planning to head to Beijing for New Year’s again this year?”

The previous year, Gu Qinghan and Wen Nuan had indeed gone to Beijing for the New Year, though just a day before they left, Gu Qinghan had helped the team hunt a few wild boars. The next day, he’d set out for Beijing.

“No,” Gu Qinghan responded, glancing at him before adding, “Why are you following me?”

“Seeing you in such a rush, I thought maybe you had something urgent,” Liang Guoan laughed, unable to resist teasing him. “If you and Comrade Wen Nuan weren’t already an old married couple, I’d think you were in a hurry to get back and be all lovey-dovey with your wife.”

“Who are you calling an old married couple?” Gu Qinghan objected, displeased. Then he added, “My wife and I are still young, alright? Not like you.”

Liang Guoan chuckled, reminding him, “I’m only five years older than you. I’m still young, okay?!”

Then, he said with a wide grin, “And my wife’s pregnant again. So tell me, am I not still strong and vigorous?”

Despite looking a bit older than Gu Qinghan, he was only just past thirty himself!

“Still… quite young, huh?”

“Your wife is pregnant?” Gu Qinghan looked over at him. “How many months along?”

Since winter had started in the north, Gu Qinghan hadn’t been on any field missions, so the two of them had been seeing each other almost daily, yet he hadn’t heard a thing about it.

Scratching the back of his head, Liang Guoan laughed with a bit of awkwardness. “Just about three months. We didn’t say anything before because it wasn’t quite three months yet.”

Gu Qinghan thought for a moment, then asked, “How many months in can you tell if someone’s pregnant?”

Liang Guoan reflexively tried to remember and then replied, “I’m not sure. Usually, when my wife starts showing symptoms, she goes to get tested and then just tells me. However many months she says it is, that’s what it is.”

Gu Qinghan gave him a rather scornful look. “You don’t even know that? Haven’t you had three kids already?”

Liang Guoan looked a bit guilty. “Hey, you can’t blame me. You know how it is for us soldiers—we can’t always be by their side. My wife gave birth to the first two kids back in our hometown. The third one, well, she did give birth at the base, but remember when we had to go to Factory 112? I missed that one, too.”

Gu Qinghan had very little knowledge of pregnancy, and he’d thought he might be able to learn something from Liang Guoan. But it turned out he was just as clueless.

Forget it; he figured he might as well ask that girl, Gu Qinglan.

She might not be entirely reliable, but at least she was a nurse.

“Wait, hang on,” Liang Guoan suddenly caught on, looking over at Gu Qinghan with curiosity. “Could it be that your wife is pregnant too?”

Gu Qinghan glanced at him but didn’t respond and simply walked off.

He knew better than to say anything before three months had passed, so he certainly wasn’t going to confirm it now.

—o—o—o—

When he got home, he found Wen Nuan and the child asleep.

He’d thought nobody was home—there was no sound of the child playing or laughing, nor any sign of Wen Nuan. Turns out they had fallen asleep.

But then he checked the time. It was almost five in the afternoon.

They’d been sleeping that long?

Just as he put down the rabbit and pheasant, Wen Nuan came out.

“You’re back?” Wen Nuan had woken up when Gu Qinghan stepped into the yard, but seeing that Lele was still asleep, she hadn’t gotten up.

Hearing Gu Qinghan’s footsteps at the door, Wen Nuan quickly put on her clothes and went out to greet him.

As soon as she stepped out, she saw Gu Qinghan holding a rabbit in one hand and a pheasant in the other. It looked like he’d managed to hunt quite a bit in the mountains this year.

Wen Nuan smiled, stepping forward to help him with the load. But Gu Qinghan shifted to the side, avoiding her assistance. “They have a bloody smell; I’ll handle it,” he said.

Gu Qinghan had been thinking about his wife all day, with Lele’s little words also echoing in his mind. So he’d made a point to get home as early as possible.

Seeing her still looking a bit drowsy from her nap, he asked, “Did you sleep long today? Are you feeling alright?”

Wen Nuan paused for a couple of seconds, then smiled. “Huh? I’m fine. It was just our daughter; she only started fussing about a nap around three o’clock, so that’s why we’re still sleepy.”

Gu Qinghan looked at Wen Nuan closely, noticing her face looked refreshed and rested, with no signs of discomfort.

“Alright then, I’ll take care of these two first.”

Seeing the rabbit and pheasant he’d brought back, Wen Nuan chuckled. “You even got a rabbit and pheasant this time? Is this another bountiful year? Did you manage to get any wild boar?”

“We got five wild boars. These two were a little extra from Quartermaster Luo, since we didn’t get any pork last year.” Gu Qinghan tossed the rabbit and pheasant into a large bucket, planning to clean and freeze them for later.

Watching him from behind, Wen Nuan smiled. “That’s great! Our little Lele loves meat so much—this’ll last us quite a few meals.”

Just as Gu Qinghan finished putting things away, Lele stumbled out of the room, rubbing her eyes in a sleepy daze. “Dad, Mom,” she murmured.

“I need to go potty.”

Seeing Lele still half-asleep, with her coat barely on and shoes left behind, Wen Nuan said, “Hold on, let me help you with your coat first so you don’t wet your pants.”

Lele clutched her stomach urgently. “Mom, hurry up!”

Not daring to delay, Wen Nuan grabbed her coat and hastily helped her put it on.

Meanwhile, Gu Qinghan had washed his hands and quickly slipped Lele’s shoes onto her feet.

Once Lele returned to the living room, she was much more awake. She noticed Gu Qinghan heading to the kitchen and followed him eagerly.

Then, excitedly, she began showing off all the things she had bought in town that day—some toys, some snacks. It looked like she’d had a very happy day out.

As Gu Qinghan and Lele chatted, Wen Nuan went to prepare the dumplings she’d folded that afternoon. She planned to fry them up after dinner for a special treat.

However, Gu Qinghan didn’t let her do anything. Whenever he saw her trying to start a task, he’d step right in and take over, handling it himself.

Later that evening, when Wen Nuan finished soaking her feet, Gu Qinghan took the towel and dried them for her, then emptied the washbasin before coming back.

Wen Nuan looked at him, puzzled. “What’s gotten into you tonight?”

While Gu Qinghan often helped her with things, there was something different tonight, as if he were afraid she might get tired or hurt herself somehow.

Hearing her question, Gu Qinghan glanced over at her. Perhaps because she’d just finished soaking her feet, her cheeks had a soft, rosy glow, and her long hair was draped over her left shoulder, giving her an unspoken grace and warmth.

“Didn’t Lele say you might be expecting?” Gu Qinghan thought for a moment and then suggested, “Why don’t we go to the hospital tomorrow and check?”

Wen Nuan let out a soft “ah,” then replied with a smile, “You’re taking Lele’s words seriously? There’s no rush; let’s wait a few more days. I’ll know when my period comes or doesn’t come. Besides, with the New Year coming up, who knows if we can even get a urine test done. Let’s go after the holiday.”

According to what Qinglan had mentioned, most of the female comrades who went to the hospital for a urine test had already shown symptoms and were at least two or three months along.

If she wasn’t pregnant, wouldn’t it be a little embarrassing?

And with New Year’s Eve the day after tomorrow, she still had plenty to take care of tomorrow, including picking up the pork they’d been allotted. She didn’t want to go to the hospital.

Besides, she genuinely didn’t feel any signs of pregnancy!

Gu Qinghan moved closer, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. “I think Lele is probably right. New Year’s Eve is the day after tomorrow, so let’s go to the hospital tomorrow.”

After the holiday, he wasn’t sure how busy he’d be, and he was too eager to wait, wanting to know the result right away.

He also wanted Wen Nuan to be a bit more careful with herself. It seemed to him that she wasn’t taking it seriously at all. Just this evening, she’d run over to Sister Guihua’s place, making his heart race with worry.

Hearing him out, Wen Nuan smiled at him. “Alright then, whatever you say.”

Then she patted the spot next to her on the kang and said with a grin, “Come here, let’s get the red envelopes ready together.”

Last year, spending New Year’s in Beijing hadn’t required much preparation for red envelopes since they hadn’t known many people there.

But this year, they were back at the family compound, and they’d need to prepare some red envelopes for the children around to bring them some joy.

Besides, Wen Nuan had earned quite a bit this year, and she wanted to share that happiness with others.

Aside from her bonus, Wen Nuan also had several hundred yuan sent by Major General Shen, plus her salary from the past year, averaging nearly a hundred yuan a month.

Since she spent most of the year working at the Kitchen Unit and factory, Wen Nuan’s expenses had been minimal. Her biggest expense was formula for Lele, which wasn’t particularly expensive, though the ration tickets could be hard to come by.

After receiving her factory bonus last night, she calculated her total savings. She now had nearly two thousand yuan. This included her bonuses, salary, a sum from General Lu last year, and the pension from her biological father’s estate.

She hadn’t touched any of that money and had kept it safely stored in the bank.

On Gu Qinghan’s side, ever since Gu Qinghan joined the test flight team last year, he’d also been receiving an additional salary, adding up to nearly two hundred yuan each month.

Earlier this month, Wen Nuan had sent money to Zhao Wuzhu. Checking Gu Qinghan’s bankbook, she saw it had about one thousand five hundred saved up as well.

The total was a bit surprising—they could now consider themselves relatively well-off! So, preparing some small red envelopes for the holiday felt worthwhile.

Gu Qinghan had already noticed the large stack of pre-cut red paper on the table by the bed. Sitting down next to Wen Nuan, he said, “You just finished soaking your feet; I’ll handle the envelopes.”

Taking a piece of red paper, Gu Qinghan got to work. Wen Nuan, seeing him begin, handed him the loose change she’d prepared earlier, mostly ten-cent coins.

Watching him carefully fold each envelope with perfectly sharp corners, Wen Nuan couldn’t resist joining in.

After a while, Wen Nuan finally spoke up, “Your mother found out Qinglan is here at our unit, and she’s asked her for money.”

Gu Qinghan didn’t seem surprised. If Gu Qingsong had been in contact with Qinglan, it was inevitable they’d find out. But he furrowed his brow and asked, “What does she need money for?”

Ever since the incident with Lin Meizhi, Gu Qingsong seemed to have matured a bit, and there hadn’t been any sudden expenses at home, so there shouldn’t be a need for much money.

Wen Nuan explained, “She wants Qinglan to send her a portion of her salary every month. But Qinglan didn’t agree and told them she’s still in debt from her previous time in the countryside.”

“If they ask about it, just stick to the same story,” she added.

Gu Qinghan nodded slowly, “Yes, I know. Let Qinglan keep her salary for herself; there’s no need to send it back anymore.”

In the past, when she was assigned to the countryside, her earnings had just barely been enough for food and basic necessities. Now, having finally joined the army and become a nurse at the military hospital, it was important that she start planning for her own future.

Once, he had overheard Wen Nuan advising Gu Qinglan to make sure she had her own money, so she wouldn’t have to rely on anyone else for everything. This way, when she married someday, she’d be able to speak her mind confidently without worry.

Gu Qinghan fully supported the idea of her saving up a little for herself.

Wen Nuan, hugging his arm, smiled, “Alright, I understand.”

Not hearing the sound of Lele nearby, Wen Nuan, after wrapping up a red envelope, looked at the man beside her and asked, “Where’s our daughter?”

Gu Qinghan glanced over at the bed behind him, “She was just here a moment ago.”

As he spoke, a small figure rose up from the other side of the bed. Lele held a little mirror that Qinglan had bought her that day, and, grinning, called out, “Mom, Lele’s here!”

Both of them looked over, only to see Lele with a piece of red paper in each hand. Her face was smeared with patches of red and white, and her chubby, rosy little lips had turned into a big, bright red mouth, as if she had tried to paint her lips with the red paper herself…

Quietly mischievous as ever, Lele had once again proven the saying!

Then, with her chin lifted proudly, Lele looked at her mother and asked, “Mom, don’t I look pretty?”

“I put on lipstick!”

Wen Nuan was speechless, “….”

“You… you look… very pretty.”

Like a little monkey’s bottom.

Gu Qinghan chuckled, “Come here, let me help you clean it off.”

“No!” Lele immediately protested, ducking away, “Dad, you can’t catch me! I want to be beautiful!”

Gu Qinghan sighed, “…”

“Dad thinks you’re already very beautiful.”

Lele grinned, “I want to be even more beautiful!”

“I’m a pretty big sister,” Lele announced.

Gu Qinghan, worried she might end up eating the red paper, decided to gently pull her out and, after wetting a towel, carefully wiped her face clean.

—o—o—o—

The next morning, Gu Qinghan woke up early, planning to accompany Wen Nuan to the hospital. He wondered if she had perhaps napped a bit too much during the day yesterday, as she hadn’t managed to fall asleep until quite late last night.

Now it was already seven o’clock, and Wen Nuan, still cuddling Lele, showed no signs of waking up. Not wanting to disturb her, Gu Qinghan got up and started cooking some porridge, thinking she could have a warm bowl before they headed to the hospital.

However, by the time Wen Nuan finally woke up, it was already nine-thirty. Lele had woken up even earlier but was simply lying in bed, playing with her little toes and not wanting to get out of bed.

Wen Nuan, smiling, leaned over and gave her a kiss, saying, “You lazy little pig.”

Lele, tickled by the kiss, giggled and wriggled away, “Mom is the lazy little pig; I woke up before you!”

Wen Nuan hugged her and peppered her with a few more kisses before asking, “Where’s your dad?”

“He wouldn’t have gone out already, would he?”

Today was the day for pork distribution—could Gu Qinghan have gone by himself?

Wen Nuan checked the time, surprised by how late it had gotten. She began to wonder if Gu Qinghan had indeed gone to get the pork, which would mean they’d have to get up early to avoid long lines.

Without lingering in bed any longer, Wen Nuan quickly got up and freshened up with Lele. Just as she was about to check the courtyard to see if Gu Qinghan was outside, a visitor arrived at their home—

It was Doctor Zhao.

With a cheerful smile, Wen Nuan greeted him, “Doctor Zhao, what brings you here?”

Doctor Zhao looked noticeably more energetic these days. He had swapped out his old, tattered clothing for a neat, navy-blue Zhongshan suit. Although it wasn’t new, it was clean and tidy.

Looking slightly awkward at first, he soon regained his composure and smiled, “Comrade Wen Nuan, I came to bring you something.”

Over the past couple of years, Wen Nuan had occasionally sent him some food and supplies. Last winter, she had even left a padded jacket by his window.

At first, he hadn’t known who had given it to him. Later, when someone mentioned that Wen Nuan had visited the village, he guessed it was likely her.

Thinking back, Doctor Zhao realized that during those tough days in the cowshed, aside from Wen Nuan and Li Yunhua, there had been no one else bringing him anything.

Seeing Doctor Zhao holding a cloth bag, Wen Nuan smiled and said, “Doctor Zhao, please come in and have a seat. I’ll pour you some tea.”

Then she instructed Lele, “Lele, greet Grandpa.”

Recognizing Doctor Zhao as the elderly doctor who had helped Aunt Guihua with her pregnancy, Lele politely called out, “Hello, Grandpa.”

Doctor Zhao stepped into Wen Nuan’s home, his face lighting up as he looked at Lele’s lively expression, “Hello there.”

After pouring him a cup of tea and inviting him to sit, Wen Nuan asked, “Doctor Zhao, what is it you brought for me?”

At her question, Doctor Zhao placed the bag in front of Wen Nuan and said, “Oh, it’s nothing much—just a bit of meat and some sugar. You might want to put them in something.”

Wen Nuan hesitated for a few seconds before accepting and went over to the chest of drawers, where she grabbed two plates to hold the items.

Inside the bag was a piece of pork belly and a brick of red sugar—valuable goods indeed.

She thought to herself that she’d pack a little something for Doctor Zhao to take home later. Living all alone up north with no family around, it would surely be a lonely New Year for him.

Once she had transferred the items, Wen Nuan sat beside him, and they chatted for a while.

Eventually, Wen Nuan asked, “Are you adjusting well to the hospital, Doctor Zhao?”

“Yes, quite well,” Doctor Zhao replied, taking a sip of tea, “Thanks to you and Captain Gu.”

Just then, footsteps sounded at the doorway. Wen Nuan knew it was Gu Qinghan returning, and he wasn’t alone—Gu Qinglan was with him.

Neither seemed surprised by Doctor Zhao’s presence. After entering and closing the door behind them, they joined the group and greeted Doctor Zhao with friendly familiarity.

Gu Qinghan, standing beside Wen Nuan, said, “Doctor Zhao mentioned he’d like to take your pulse. Let him check, won’t you?”

Wen Nuan looked at him, puzzled, but Doctor Zhao spoke gently, “I was just about to tell you. This morning, that girl Qinglan asked me to come by, and Captain Gu also mentioned he had something to discuss with me. So, I thought I’d take the opportunity to check on you as well.”

Then he turned to Wen Nuan and asked, “Are you feeling any discomfort?”

Surrounded by curious faces, Wen Nuan’s cheeks flushed instantly, while Gu Qinghan, completely unbothered, said, “She’s not unwell, Doctor Zhao; we just wanted to see if she might be pregnant.”

Wen Nuan shot him a glare, “…”

You really have no shame!

Qinglan, ever impatient, chimed in, “Hurry up, Sister-in-law!”

Doctor Zhao smiled warmly, setting a cotton pad on the table and motioning to Wen Nuan. “Alright, my dear, place your wrist here.”

Feeling slightly embarrassed under everyone’s watchful eyes, Wen Nuan reluctantly extended her arm, resting her wrist on the cotton pad with her palm facing up.

Doctor Zhao skillfully placed his index and middle fingers over her wrist, pressing lightly—

Everyone held their breath, anticipation thick in the air. Gu Qinghan, nervous, felt a thin layer of cold sweat in his palms and instinctively inched closer to Wen Nuan.

At last, Doctor Zhao withdrew his hand, his smile broadening. “Congratulations, it’s a pregnancy pulse.”

Then he added with a chuckle, “Though it’s still very early.”

Gu Qinghan’s face remained composed, but a subtle, charming curve appeared at the corner of his lips as he nodded to Doctor Zhao, “Thank you, Doctor Zhao.”

Overcome with excitement, Gu Qinglan immediately scooped up Lele, who was intently mimicking Doctor Zhao’s pulse-taking technique. She gave Lele a big kiss and said joyfully, “Lele, you’re going to be a big sister!”

“Your mom has a little baby in her belly!”

Gu Qinghan couldn’t hide his smile either, but he gently reminded Gu Qinglan, clearing his throat, “Qinglan, keep your voice down. It’s best not to tell anyone in the first three months.”

Gu Qinglan gasped and immediately reined in her excitement. She held a finger to her lips and, with a playful grin, said to Lele, “Lele, you can’t tell anyone about the baby, alright?”

Lele’s joy turned to curiosity as she looked up at Gu Qinglan with her big round eyes and asked, “Why, Auntie?”

Gu Qinglan whispered, “The baby might get upset!”

Lele quickly covered her little mouth, giggling, “Then I won’t tell. I don’t want the baby to get upset.”

Wen Nuan rolled her eyes at them, exasperated, “Comrades Gu, please, no superstitions!”

“Doctor Zhao is still here!”

Amused, Doctor Zhao chuckled and replied, “In the first three months, it’s true, a little extra care is wise.”