Moreover, the trauma from her mother’s difficult labor and death was so profound that no matter how much she liked someone, she was afraid to take that step.

Wait!

Lin Shu suddenly opened her eyes. Lu Shaotang had come back.

He must be going home, right?

They were married, weren’t they?

So, they…

Given the original body’s fertility, wouldn’t she be very likely to get pregnant?

What if she ended up dying in childbirth like her mother did…

Oh no, she definitely won’t die.

But still, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

She should get a sterilization procedure!

After the procedure, even if Lu Shaotang comes back, she wouldn’t have anything to fear.

She traced her fingers over her body and suddenly felt a sharp pain, which made her scared.

These days, female sterilization requires abdominal surgery, which is a major operation.

No way, why should she suffer?

An IUD is also not a good option.

It’s said that the quality of IUDs in this era is poor, causing many women suffering. Later, some even had to undergo abdominal surgery to remove it, or even had organs removed.

Terrifying!

Maybe she should just deal with it if it happens.

That night, Lin Shu started having nightmares again.

Someone was forcing her to get an IUD or sterilization, and others were pressuring her to have an abortion, accusing her of having too many children, and it frightened her awake.

She woke up with a heavy head, the first time since crossing over that she hadn’t slept well!

Ah, men really are a hindrance, disrupting her carefree life.

She hoped her leader would assign him some task or send him on a business trip or something.

Early the next morning, Fang Dihua and Lin Mu noticed the dark circles under Lin Shu’s eyes and felt sorry for her lack of sleep.

Fang Dihua took a list and went to line up at the nearby state-run market to buy pig liver.

She originally planned to buy some buns from the state-run restaurant, but it was closed for inspection.

Lin Shu went to handle her discharge procedures and then bought a bag of steamed buns from the hospital cafeteria.

These buns were white, big, soft, and sweet, and she planned to bring them home for her child.

Lin Mother packed the bedding and put the basin and other items into a mesh bag.

Fang Dihua helped Lin Mother carry the bedding, then carried Lin Shu’s books, while Lin Mother held the baby, and Lin Shu carried the remaining luggage.

The bus to Qing County departed from the city bus station and would pass by the hospital, making it convenient for them to catch a ride.

As they were waiting for the bus, a Dongfeng truck pulled up next to them.

Lin Shu’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Lu Shaotang had come to find her?

The passenger door opened, but it was Wei Ling who jumped out of the truck.

She smiled and said, “Lin Shu, just in time, I was looking for you, I’m on the way to Qing County to handle some business, I’ll give you a ride back.”

Fang Dihua and Lin’s mother didn’t think much of it.

They thought it was nice that he was offering a ride, so they thanked him and climbed into the truck bed.

Military trucks like these were fitted with rain tarps.

Lin Shu thanked Wei Ling.

She guessed that it was Wei Lan who had arranged this.

She felt a bit awkward.

It was clear that she had requested Wei Lan’s help because of Wei Ling, and now it seemed like there was more to their relationship than there really was.

Lin Shu wasn’t one to hide things.

She thanked Wei Ling openly and told her about Lin’s mother and Fang Dihua’s anemia and how Wei Lan was helping with the milk powder.

Wei Ling smiled, “He mentioned it to us.”

He had even told his parents that a rural colleague’s family was in difficulty, and his elderly mother was ill due to malnutrition, so he gave up his milk powder quota to help them.

His parents didn’t doubt it because Wei Lan was usually honest and never lied.

They also allowed him to help impoverished colleagues.

Today was also quite coincidental.

Someone called the army to see if there was a vehicle going to Qing County.

Coincidentally, she needed to go for an interview, so her supervisor asked her to bring the driver and pick up a few people from the hospital.

It turned out to be Lin Shu and the others.

Knowing she was going to Qing County, Wei Lan had asked her to give Lin Shu and the others a ride.

Wei Ling couldn’t help but think Wei Lan was quite the troublemaker.

After all, her relationship with Lin Shu was closer than his. He’d only delivered some books to Lin Shu and was acting like he was doing a big favor.

After some questioning, Wei Lan confessed and asked her to keep it a secret from his parents and Lin Shu, as Lin Shu had clearly rejected him.

Wei Ling couldn’t help but hold Lin Shu in higher regard. No wonder she admired her; she was clear-headed and not easily swayed.

Lin Shu, Fang Dihua, Lin’s mother, and Bao’er sat in the back. The big truck was much more stable and faster than the tractor.

Not long after leaving the hospital, the driver glanced at the rearview mirror and said to Wei Ling, “Reporter Wei, there’s a jeep following us.”

Wei Ling looked back and saw a jeep indeed following at a distance.

She couldn’t make out who it was, so she waved to greet them.

However, the jeep took a turn and went down another road.

Wei Ling said, “Oh, it might not be someone I know.”

The jeep sped down the city streets.

Chen Yanming glanced at Lu Shaotang beside him, thinking, My goodness, that incredibly beautiful young woman from yesterday is actually Brother Lu’s wife!

She… she was matchmaking with someone else!

Poor Brother Lu.

Originally, Lu Shaotang had intended to make a discreet visit to the hospital last night, but he was delayed by the interrogation of Chen Chaofa’s accomplice.

He learned about another line of work and reported to his superior.

After receiving new orders, he began to investigate.

He didn’t have time to go to the hospital.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t go; it was just that there wasn’t enough time for a proper farewell, and it wasn’t convenient to meet in a public place.

As long as his family knew he was safe and he knew his family was well, that was enough.

Anyway, his wife had already seen him, so she would surely tell her parents.

What was frustrating was that his wife pretended not to recognize him and turned away.

At first, he thought she might not have recognized him after years apart.

But then he realized that her expressions had changed several times in a short span.

From initial astonishment to immediate shock, then a forced calm, and finally pretending not to know him, she left as if nothing had happened.

He never expected his mother to have married him off to such an… interesting wife, who seemed to have chameleon-like attributes.

He had written letters home, so she should know he was alive.

Thus, he never thought she would be frightened by seeing him alive.

If it weren’t for his immense trust in his superior, he would have suspected that his wife was an impostor sent by spies who looked like him.

Perhaps… she knew he was on a mission and was deliberately pretending not to recognize him?

If she had given him a look, he would have understood, but unfortunately, she gave him an indifferent, unrecognizing look.

Or maybe… she was angry with him?

It made sense, really.

He had been away for years after their marriage, and anyone would be upset.

Lu Shaotang had never felt it was wrong to stay away from home.

After all, his wife had seemed quite indifferent to him at their wedding.

Now, seeing her with a different attitude and professing her love, he felt somewhat…

Chen Yanming noticed that Lu Shaotang’s expression was normal, but his thick eyelashes were lowered, which was unusual.

Normally, Lu Shaotang’s gaze was sharp and calm, and he rarely kept his eyes lowered for long.

Chen Yanming asked a few probing questions, and Lu Shaotang answered them very clearly.

This man’s ability to multitask was enough to make anyone envious.

Last night, Beother Lu was supposed to go out after changing his clothes, but he received a task at the last minute.

Instead of going out, he confessed that the beautiful woman was his wife, which nearly scared Chen Yanming to death.

Oh, at that moment, he really, really felt sorry for Brother Lu.

Lu Shaotang asked him to call the local military district to see if there were any vehicles heading to Qing County, so he could give his wife and mother a ride tomorrow.

Chen Yanming felt that Brother Lu’s, He’s observation skills are really sharp. How could he know that the young wife was going home so early?

Anyway, he guessed right.

Once the task was completed, they could visit Brother Lu’s family.

Chen Yanming was more excited than Lu Shaotang.

On the way, Fang Dihua discussed with Lin’s mother, “Let’s stay with us for a few days. We can go home once the in-laws and Lin Yue return.”

Lin’s mother was worried about causing trouble for the Lu family.

Lin Shu said, “We’ll stay just a few days. I’ll have my elder brother go home and fetch the supplies from my aunt.”

Lin’s mother agreed, as she didn’t want to go home and risk being frightened by the Sun family again in the evening.

The big truck arrived outside Lu’s family village. Lin Shu invited Wei Ling to stay for dinner.

Wei Ling declined, saying she was busy with work and would visit Lu’s family another time.

After the truck left, Lin Shu and her mother-in-law went back to Lu’s home.

It was just noon, and it was time for cooking.

To their surprise, Old Lu was cooking at home, with Youyou, Tiantian, and Panpan helping out with various tasks like lighting the fire and picking vegetables.

They were very busy.

When they heard Fang Dihua’s loud voice outside, Panpan and Tiantian cheered and rushed out, “Mom, Grandma—”

Seeing Lin’s mother and Bao’er,