Chapter 196 1/3

Seeing Li Qingzhi silent, first Mrs. Qian grew a bit worried. “Mr. Li, what’s wrong with me?”

Could she have some serious illness? Now that she thought about it, she hadn’t been sleeping well lately, and her appetite was off.

After Li Qingzhi confirmed first Mrs. Qian’s pregnancy, he roughly guessed the reason for her discomfort. “Auntie, the smoke here is heavy. Let’s talk outside.”

During this era, people mainly used pork fat for cooking, but they also used vegetable oil. The vegetable oil commonly used in Chongcheng County was made from rapeseed.

Chang Zhan mostly used pork fat for cooking, but some dishes were more flavorful with rapeseed oil.

The dishes he was making now used rapeseed oil.

However, the oil extraction technology at that time was not very advanced, resulting in impure rapeseed oil that produced dense smoke when used for cooking.

Most people would find the smell unpleasant, and for a pregnant woman, it would be normal to feel nauseous and want to vomit.

Hearing Li Qingzhi’s explanation, first Mrs. Qian felt even more uneasy.

Li Qingzhi suggested going outside… This surely meant her illness was severe, to the point where it couldn’t be discussed in public!

Following Li Qingzhi, first Mrs. Qian walked outside the courtyard.

Second Mrs. Qian, who had been busy eating, finally realized something was amiss and quickly got up to follow, along with Qian Changsheng.

Once outside, Qian Changsheng immediately asked, “Brother Li, what’s wrong with my aunt?”

Second Mrs. Qian also asked, “What’s wrong with my sister-in-law?”

Second Mrs. Qian looked even more worried.

Li Qingzhi said, “Auntie, you’re pregnant.”

Outside the Li household’s courtyard was a chicken coop, where eight well-fed chickens were leisurely pecking at the grains in their dishes.

People nowadays were reluctant to feed chickens grains, so many chickens had to make do with eating leaves. But these eight chickens were different!

They had access to top-quality rice, millet, and sorghum, all mixed together for them to eat as they pleased.

At this moment, while the chickens wandered leisurely, first Mrs. Qian, second Mrs. Qian, and Qian Changsheng stood frozen in place, unsure of how to react.

After a long pause, first Mrs. Qian spoke first, “Zhi, are you sure you’re not mistaken?”

How could she be pregnant? She had tried for years to conceive without success. Now, how could she suddenly be pregnant at her age?

She was already so old!

“You’re not mistaken, Aunt,” since no one else was around, Li Qingzhi called her “Aunt.”

First Mrs. Qian said, “This can’t be possible. I’m too old, and my menstrual cycle has stopped…”

Li Qingzhi replied, “Aunt, you’re pregnant, so your menstrual cycle has stopped.”

First Mrs. Qian still found it hard to believe.

Wasn’t her husband infertile?

It was impossible for her husband to have children, right? He couldn’t have children when he was young, but now that he was older?

Back then, when she couldn’t conceive, the Qian family had arranged two concubines for her husband. One looked very fertile, while the other was even more capable, having given birth before.

Despite spending years in the Qian household, neither of them had children. But once they left and remarried… they both had children now.

It was clear that her husband couldn’t have children.

So how could she be pregnant?

“Aunt, you’re getting old, so it might be a bit hard to have a child at this time. But the child is fine. As long as you take good care of yourself, you will be able to have a safe delivery,” Li Qingzhi added.

He had just examined her and found that the embryo she was carrying was healthy.

“But… your uncle…” First Mrs. Qian hesitated.

Li Qingzhi cleared his throat. “Your uncle has a minor issue, which is why he hasn’t been able to have children. I helped him with it. Now it seems he should be fine.”

First Mrs. Qian looked at Li Qingzhi in shock.

So… Li Qingzhi cured her husband’s infertility?

Every time he met her husband, he insisted on applying medicine to him to treat this problem?

Recalling everything, First Mrs. Qian remembered another detail.

After her husband got older, he started to focus on self-cultivation and wasn’t as enthusiastic about marital matters. But in the past few months, he had been quite eager every time he returned.

Out of curiosity, she had asked him once. According to her husband, every time Li Qingzhi applied medicine, he felt a warm surge of energy in his body that seemed inexhaustible.

So Li Qingzhi’s medicine could aid conception?

Her nephew was truly amazing!

First Mrs. Qian looked at Li Qingzhi with gratitude.

But after the gratitude subsided, she felt conflicted again.

She was already quite old and a grandmother. Now suddenly being pregnant…

She wouldn’t be able to face anyone!

At this moment, First Mrs. Qian suddenly said, “Zhi, I didn’t expect you to be able to cure this. Can you take a look at Changsheng? Can he have children?”

First Mrs. Qian was worried that her son might have the same problem as his father and uncle.

Li Qingzhi assured, “Auntie, Changsheng is fine.”

“Okay, that’s good.” First Mrs. Qian breathed a sigh of relief.

Qian Changsheng: “…” What kind of questions were these that his mom was asking?!

But his cousin really was a miracle worker. Not only did he cure him, but he also cured his uncle!

Looking at the still-dazed First Mrs. Qian, Li Qingzhi said, “Auntie, since you’re pregnant and can’t stand the smell of smoke, you should go back and rest early. You can also find another doctor to check on you. But don’t take any medicine. Medicine is often toxic and not good for your health.”

The child first Mrs. Qian was carrying was healthy; there was no need for medication.

Many Chinese herbal medicines were effective, but some were toxic, so it was best to avoid them.

“Oh… alright…” First Mrs. Qian nodded.

The Qian family’s servants had been waiting nearby, and first Mrs. Qian, along with second Mrs. Qian and Qian Changsheng, headed back to the Qian residence.

Li Qingzhi, on the other hand, returned to the birthday banquet.

Jin Xiaoye asked Li Qingzhi worriedly, “Is first Mrs. Qian okay?”

Li Qingzhi replied, “She’s fine.”

“What happened exactly?” Jin Xiaoye inquired.

Li Qingzhi explained, “She’s pregnant.”

Jin Xiaoye was stunned.

After a while, Jin Xiaoye whispered, “If Mrs. Qian is pregnant, why am I not?”

Was there something wrong with Li Qingzhi’s body?

Li Qingzhi didn’t know Jin Xiaoye’s thoughts and said, “We’re busy right now. Why would we want a child?”