Chapter 64

“I…” Lu Nong’s voice was strained as she wanted to ask Pei Ji’an if she truly deserved such sacrifices from him.

Pei Ji’an thought she might be reluctant to give up her refined life in the capital. After all, her life was filled with delicacies, and he was asking her to move to a place where such things were impossible to find. It was normal for her to struggle with this idea.

So, Pei Ji’an explained seriously, “I know you’re very smart. You can sense the changes in the environment. Otherwise, you wouldn’t work so hard to complete your studies and find a decent job, avoiding interpersonal conflicts. But the capital is like a whirlpool, and if you stay here, one day you will be sucked in…”

“Okay, I agree.”

Pei Ji’an paused. He hadn’t expected to convince Lu Nong on the first try. He had brought it up today because he was too excited about her pregnancy, but she had agreed.

They exchanged silent glances, one looking down and the other looking up.

Lu Nong stared at Pei Ji’an’s eyes. His gaze was like a thick fog, with emotions always hidden within it. At this moment, the fog began to dissipate, revealing some hidden sincerity.

Just then, Aunt Wu hurried down the stairs, carrying a heavy cotton coat to wrap around Lu Nong. “My little ancestor, hurry and put on this new cotton coat. What will you do if you catch a cold?”

Lu Nong helplessly changed out of her wool coat and into Aunt Wu’s handmade coat dress. Fortunately, the cotton coat was made of plain fabric, which made it appear bulky but not dowdy.

Soon, Pei Zheng returned with a borrowed car. Aunt Wu stayed behind to care for Xiao Huai, while Pei Ji’an and Pei Zheng accompanied Lu Nong to the hospital.

On the way, Pei Ji’an drove while Lu Nong, now feeling better, was no longer dizzy or in pain.

She gently placed her hand on her belly, lost in thought.

Pei Zheng sat in the passenger seat, frequently glancing back at Lu Nong’s belly, his expression complex. He had never seen Lu Nong as a stepmother or elder. He always regarded her as a playmate and friend, thinking of her as a capable sister.

Now that his sister was pregnant with his father’s child, he finally realized that she was going to be a mother, a woman who would spend her life with his father.

Pei Zheng silently thought that he could no longer bully Lu Nong, she was pregnant after all. 

(Lu Nong: ?? Are you getting a bit too confident?)

If Lu Nong could have another adorable little brother like Xiao Huai, he wouldn’t mind that either.

In just ten minutes, Pei Zheng completed his mental adjustment, shifting from resistance to anticipation regarding the new family member, firmly believing it would be a brother.

“How long will it take for my little brother to come out?” Pei Zheng asked, staring at Lu Nong’s belly, which showed no visible curve.

Lu Nong estimated it to be about two months based on her menstrual cycle, but she wasn’t certain. She replied, “We can only be sure after the results of the hospital examination come out, but… why not a sister? Don’t you like little sister?”

Pei Zheng rolled his eyes. “Don’t joke around. Xiao Huai and I are both big guys. How could we take care of a little girl?”

His intention was to say that boys can’t play with girls, but Lu Nong focused on the term “little girl.”

“Hey, I’m also a girl. Do you want to know what happens when you upset one?”

Pei Zheng: “…” To be honest, I don’t want to know.

Pei Ji’an shot a glance at Pei Zheng, who immediately knelt and apologized, “I was wrong. She’s not just a girl, she’s a young lady, a princess, alright?”

Lu Nong huffed. She was dissatisfied with the lingering disrespect for girls in their society. Even the male lead, Pei Zheng, showed traces of that outdated mindset. What could she expect from others?

If the baby in her belly was a girl, Lu Nong would probably have to worry about her all her life. She would have to teach her from a young age not to trust strangers, and not to trust any men other than her father and brother, even if they were acquaintances.

It would be best to teach her self-defense, so she could protect herself.

As she thought about it, Lu Nong sighed. It was 1965, and in twenty years, it would be 1985. The social atmosphere was closed and conservative, and her daughter would miss out on the modern world’s acceptance. She wouldn’t be able to wear pretty dresses that showed off her arms and legs during summer. What a pity!

While driving, Pei Ji’an comforted Lu Nong. “Whether it’s a son or a daughter, both are great. If it’s a girl, even better.”

Pei Ji’an meant it. He wanted a daughter more than a son. Just the thought of having a little girl who looked like Lu Nong filled him with joy. He envisioned being there for her birth, watching her grow up, and it felt like he would be part of Lu Nong’s growth journey. His heart softened, and all his previous worries faded away.

When they arrived at the hospital, Pei Zheng went to pay, while Pei Ji’an accompanied Lu Nong for a blood test. The results wouldn’t be ready until the next day, so they visited a traditional Chinese doctor. After taking her pulse and contemplating for a while, the doctor told the anxious couple, “It’s like beads rolling on a plate, flowing back and forth, it’s a slippery pulse.”

He then asked Lu Nong if she had been feeling fatigued or nauseous. After receiving her affirmative response, the doctor finally confirmed, “Congratulations! Madam, you are likely pregnant.”

Pei Ji’an half-hugged Lu Nong and whispered, “Thank you.”

Lu Nong gently touched her belly, and it was incredible to feel a connection with the new life inside her, especially after the doctor’s confirmation.

The doctor, who had worked in the hospital for many years, had never seen such an attractive couple. They appeared deeply in love, and he couldn’t help but smile at them. He then asked Lu Nong a few questions about her last menstrual period.

“Based on the information, it seems you are over eight weeks pregnant.”

“Doctor, I had severe stomach pains before coming here. Is there something wrong?” Lu Nong asked.

The doctor replied, “Did you engage in any strenuous activity today?”

Lu Nong was about to shake her head when she remembered dodging Lu Wenqiang when he nearly bumped into her. At that moment, she had indeed felt some discomfort in her stomach but hadn’t thought much of it.

Looking back, she felt a wave of fear realizing how close Lu Wenqiang had come to colliding with her. If she hadn’t dodged him in time, the consequences could have been dire.

She thought of the confrontation between Lu Wenqiang and Song Dalan, in which she said that she would take revenge on them if she got pregnant and was hit. It turned out to be true, and she really was pregnant.

Carefully, Lu Nong asked, “Someone nearly bumped into me, and I moved quite suddenly. Does that matter?”

She mentioned it casually, but Pei Ji’an broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing her. Frowning, he asked, “What happened?”

Lu Nong squeezed Pei Ji’an’s hand to comfort him and looked at the doctor.

The doctor nodded. “That’s a possibility. You’re fine this time, but please be careful as your pregnancy progresses.”

He then advised the couple, “During early pregnancy, mothers may experience fatigue, loss of appetite, chills, and dizziness. Family members should ensure that the mother eats nutritious food, keeps warm, avoids cold water, and stays away from foods that promote blood flow. Try to limit consumption of cold foods, like hawthorn…”

Since it was Lu Nong’s first pregnancy, she asked the doctor numerous questions while Pei Ji’an quietly took notes, occasionally asking a few questions of his own.

Due to the times, the hospital mainly advised pregnant women and their families to eat well. Given the lack of resources, saying they had nothing at home wouldn’t help.

However, this time, the doctor provided a lot of advice. Families that came to the hospital for pregnancy check-ups usually had some means. Plus, the couple appeared genuinely loving, and Pei Ji’an clearly prioritized his wife’s well-being, leading the doctor to speak a bit more than usual.

Once they left the consultation room, Pei Zheng, who had been waiting anxiously on a bench, rushed over to ask Lu Nong and her father, “So, is there really going to be a little brother or sister?”

Lu Nong nodded, smiling as she shared her joy. Pei Zheng immediately became overly cautious, treating Lu Nong as if she were fragile glass, speaking in a softer voice.

When they got home, Aunt Wu and Xiao Huai greeted them. “How did it go?”

“The test results won’t be ready until tomorrow, but we saw a traditional doctor who said I’m pregnant,” Lu Nong explained.

Aunt Wu was overjoyed, repeating “Amitabha” several times.

Meanwhile, Xiao Huai ran over to Lu Nong, wanting her to pick him up. Aunt Wu intervened, saying, “Not right now! Your mom is carrying a little baby. Let Grandma hold you instead, okay?”

Xiao Huai was clever but also introverted. He dodged Aunt Wu and picked up the little white dog, staring at Lu Nong without saying a word. Aunt Wu was surprised.

“It’s alright, Godmother. A hug isn’t a big deal.”

Children can also be sad. Xiao Huai is more sensitive and intelligent. Lu Nong doesn’t want him to think that his parents love his younger siblings more, so she opens her arms and says, “Baby, come and hug Mama, okay? Mama needs Xiao Huai’s hug.”

Xiao Huai tilted his head, set down Xiao Bai, walked over to Lu Nong, and hugged her. He awkwardly patted her shoulder, trying to comfort her.

Lu Nong picked him up. “Thank you for the hug, baby. Mama is much better now.”

Pei Ji’an waited until the mother and son finished their affectionate moment before taking Xiao Huai into his arms, using his other hand to support Lu Nong’s waist.

That night, Xiao Haui slept between Lu Nong and Pei Ji’an. After soothing Xiao Huai to sleep, Pei Ji’an pulled Lu Nong onto his lap, gently rubbing her stomach. He quietly asked the question he had posed earlier that day, “Who bumped into you? Was it Lu Moxing or your sister-in-law?”

Lu Nong could only respond helplessly, “It wasn’t them. It was Lu Wenqiang who tried to snatch the mackerel from my hands and crashed into me. I dodged in time, and he ended up colliding with the snow pile.”

Pei Ji’an snorted, “What’s wrong with the child? My child almost got hurt. If I can’t hold the child accountable, I’ll make sure to settle the score with the child’s parents!”

Lu Nong: “…” It seems I’ve jinxed myself again. 

She could tell that Pei Ji’an was quite fond of the child growing in her belly. Even such childish comments were coming from him, which was unusual for the typically calm and composed man.

“By the way, if we go south, what will happen to Pei Zheng?”

Lu Nong felt guilty about leaving Pei Zheng alone in the capital.

“Don’t worry. Shen Yiming and I are different. He has to go. I took the initiative to ask for the transfer. I have a few months to prepare for the handover. Didn’t you prepare a study plan for him so that he can graduate within two years?”

“Let’s shorten that time frame a bit.”

Lu Nong: “…” Poor Pei Xiaozheng, who was being swept along by his father’s orders.

“…Do you think your son doesn’t need rest?”

That made sense. Pei Ji’an nodded, “In that case, there’s nothing we can do. Pei Zheng is seventeen. It’s time for him to leave his parents and work hard on his own.”

By the age of seventeen, Pei Ji’an had already been on the battlefield fighting for his life. Compared to him, Pei Zheng had lived too pampered a life. A little hardship wouldn’t hurt him; in fact, Pei Ji’an even considered sending Pei Zheng to the countryside for labor reform for a few years. He thought experiencing some difficulties and integrating with the masses would benefit his son in the future.

When Pei Ji’an voiced this thought, Lu Nong was left stunned. She recalled how, in the novel, Pei Zheng had become an educated youth before joining the army, initially reluctant. He was very reluctant at first. Was he betrayed by his own father?

That must be the truth behind it all.

Once again, she felt a pang of sympathy for Pei Zheng.

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