Chapter 17: A Visit

Actually, prenatal education has existed since ancient times. It’s just that nowadays, most people are barely able to get enough to eat, let alone have the leisure to worry about these things.

Lu Jinyuan didn’t have much formal education, unlike his wife, who was highly educated. “How do we do it?” he asked.

“Just talk to the baby a lot, sing songs,” Ran Jinnian said, touching her belly with excitement as she looked at Lu Jinyuan. “You sing to the baby.”

“Sing?”

Lu Jinyuan swallowed nervously. This was a little difficult for him.

But seeing the expectant look in his wife’s eyes, he couldn’t refuse. “Then I’ll sing a song from the Volunteer Army.”

Ran Jinnian clapped her hands. “Good.”

“Marching bravely, spirits high, crossing the Yalu River. Protecting peace, defending our homeland, guarding our hometown…”

Lu Jinyuan wasn’t very musical, but his voice was strong, and the military song was grand and stirring. His performance carried great momentum.

Ran Jinnian stroked her belly. “Baby, Daddy is singing for you.”

The baby, sensing the love from both parents, playfully kicked Ran Jinnian.

“Ah!” Ran Jinnian exclaimed.

Lu Jinyuan immediately tensed. “What’s wrong?”

Her voice was full of joy. “The baby kicked me.”

“You little rascal, don’t bully Mom,” Lu Jinyuan said, wanting to pat her belly. But realizing it was her stomach, not the baby, he quickly withdrew his hand.

Ran Jinnian grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly. “Feel—he’s moving again.”

Lu Jinyuan’s fingers stiffened. Though his wife had grown more affectionate lately, this was his first time touching her belly since she became pregnant.

His hand froze awkwardly on her stomach.

Ran Jinnian seemed oblivious. “Honey, the baby is moving again, he’s moving.”

“Mm, I feel it,” Lu Jinyuan said, sensing the tiny jumps under his hand.

That night, he slept deeply and peacefully.

He dreamt that his wife had given birth to a chubby, mischievous little boy who caused him headaches every day with his antics.

The next morning, Lu Jinyuan woke up and couldn’t help laughing at his dream from the night before.

How could such a gentle wife give birth to such a mischievous child?

He didn’t disturb his wife’s sleep and went to the cafeteria to make porridge, steamed buns, dumplings, and preserved eggs.

By the time Lu Jinyuan returned, Ran Jinnian had already tidied up the bed.

“Honey, I have to report back to the unit. If anything comes up while you’re alone at home, just ask Sister Zhou and the others for help,” Lu Jinyuan said, peeling an egg for her.

“Don’t worry about me. You’d better eat quickly and get to work, or you’ll be punished for being late,” Ran Jinnian urged.

Lu Jinyuan didn’t delay further and finished breakfast in a few quick bites.

Once he left, Ran Jinnian was left alone at home.

Although she couldn’t work because of her pregnancy, she had a long list of tasks: making tiny shoes, socks, clothes, and hats for the baby.

Even though some items were already prepared, it was far from enough.

That’s why she had taken out the sewing machine.

After taking her iron supplement and drinking a cup of water steeped with red dates, Ran Jinnian sat at the table and began stitching little shoes.

Her baby was due in spring, when the damp cold made it difficult for clothes to dry. She needed to prepare extra.

Ran Jinnian’s fingers flew as she knitted the shoes.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

Thinking it was Zhou Hongying, she opened the door, only to find a stranger standing there—a middle-aged man.

“Who are you?”

Ran Jinnian looked at him in confusion.

“Are you Lu Jinyuan’s wife?” the man asked, confirming her identity first.

“Yes, I’m Lu Jinyuan’s wife. My name is Ran Jinnian.”

She didn’t fear any ill intentions; after all, this was a military district.

“Hello, I’m Chen Chunrong, the principal of the military district elementary school,” Chen Chunrong said, his gaze briefly falling on Ran Jinnian’s belly, pupils narrowing slightly.

Ran Jinnian grew even more confused. “Principal Chen, hello… may I ask the purpose of your visit?”

“Ran Jinnian, I heard you have a high school education,” Chen Chunrong said with a mix of happiness and relief in his voice.

“Yes,” she replied.

She hadn’t expected that a casual remark yesterday would spread so quickly—she would have to watch her words in the future.

Chen Chunrong smiled warmly. “Ran Jinnian, here’s the situation: the military district elementary school urgently needs teachers. You have a high school education, which just meets the requirement.”

Finally, a highly educated family member had arrived in the military compound—it wasn’t easy.

Ran Jinnian couldn’t believe it: she hadn’t even sought a job, and one had fallen into her lap.

Noticing that they were still standing at the door, she said, “Principal Chen, please come in.”

She made tea for Chen Chunrong, who was surprised. In the past, when visiting the military families, other officers’ wives only served plain water or sweetened water.

“Principal Chen, this tea is from the mountains. I hope you’ll like it,” she said.

Lu Jinyuan liked tea, and this batch had been carefully prepared by an elderly person.

Chen Chunrong tasted it. Though not a rare tea, its flavor was uniquely pleasant.

“Very good,” he said, but he didn’t rush to drink. He was here for business. “Ran Jinnian, what do you think about what I mentioned earlier?”

“Principal Chen, I didn’t graduate from a normal school,” she replied, knowing that being a teacher had certain requirements.

“That’s fine,” Chen Chunrong said. For now, he only cared about her education. The military district was remote, and few people were willing to come.

Ran Jinnian said helplessly, “Principal Chen, I’m heavily pregnant and not very mobile. I’m afraid I can’t handle being a teacher.”

She only wanted to rest and take care of her pregnancy.

Chen Chunrong saw her large belly. Finally, a well-educated family member had arrived, only to discover she was pregnant.

Knowing how badly the school needed staff, he devised a solution. “Here’s an idea: you can just teach first-grade Chinese—help the kids recognize characters and read a little.”

“Principal Chen, how many classes in first grade?” Ran Jinnian asked, surprised at his persistence.

“Four classes,” he replied.

Her head spun. “Then I’d have to teach four Chinese lessons a day?”

Chen Chunrong shook his head. “No, no. You’ll only teach two lessons a day.”

Ran Jinnian was puzzled.

“You don’t need to teach Chinese every day; each class meets every other day,” Chen Chunrong explained.

Ran Jinnian recalled that the curriculum was quite simple now—not as heavy as in later times.

“Even though you’re pregnant, teaching just two lessons a day with weekends off is very manageable,” he added, seeing she wasn’t immediately convinced.

“If you teach here, your monthly salary will be twenty-five yuan,” he continued.

“Normally, it’s thirty-five yuan. Since your class hours are few, it’s only twenty-five,” he explained.

Ran Jinnian thought for a moment. “Principal Chen, even if I take the job now, I’ll give birth in two or three months. After the baby is born, I’ll need to care for the child, and I won’t be able to continue teaching for at least two to three years.”

Her priority was her child.

Chen Chunrong sighed slightly, realizing she was politely refusing.

“Ran Jinnian, I’ve troubled you,” he said, rising.

Ran Jinnian called after him. “Principal Chen, I have a friend, also with a high school education. Would you be willing to consider her?”