Chapter 63: Pregnancy

After eating four wontons, Su Yue was already full. She quietly pushed the remaining dumplings in her bowl toward Han Aiguo and said sweetly, “Brother Han Aiguo, I can’t eat anymore. You can finish these.”

Han Aiguo looked at her bowl; half of it was still untouched. Normally, she didn’t eat much to begin with, but now the amount left behind was unusual. He immediately frowned.

“What’s wrong with you lately? Why has your appetite become so small?”

Su Yue blinked in surprise. “Really? My appetite has never been that big.”

Han Aiguo set down his chopsticks and tapped her forehead lightly with the tips, his eyes full of worry. “You used to be able to eat seven or eight dumplings without a problem. But now, even with such small portions, you can’t finish them. Yesterday, you barely touched the hotpot too. Yue’er, are you feeling unwell?”

Su Yue thought back over her recent meals and realized he was right. Lately, nothing tasted good. She would feel full after just a few bites, and foods she thought she craved often lost their appeal once she actually ate them. That had never happened before.

And it wasn’t just that. Sometimes she suddenly lost her temper, just like last night when she snapped at Han Aiguo for no reason. Worse, when she smelled the odor of fertilizer in the day, she had vomited uncontrollably. She wasn’t usually this delicate.

Her heart gave a sudden jolt. Something really wasn’t normal. Before, she had assumed it was just her body not adapting to the new environment after moving here. But now… another, unbelievable thought came to her mind.

Could it be… pregnancy?

She quickly thought back. This month, her period was already more than ten days late. But her cycle had never been regular, and after moving, she thought it was just due to stress or adjusting to the new place. She hadn’t paid much attention.

Her heart pounded faster and faster. Could it really be because of pregnancy?

Han Aiguo noticed her strange expression and immediately lifted her into his arms. Carrying her into the room, he laid her gently on the bed, his palm pressed to her cheek. “What’s wrong?”

Su Yue grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach. After hesitating a moment, she whispered,
“Aiguo… I think… I might be pregnant.”

“What?” Han Aiguo froze, almost doubting his ears.

Su Yue bit her lip and continued nervously, “Recently I can’t eat, I feel nauseous and irritable. Today, when I smelled the fertilizer, I vomited… It really feels like pregnancy. But I’m not sure.”

Han Aiguo didn’t answer right away. He was silently calculating her cycle, and when he realized her period had been delayed for more than ten days, his heart skipped wildly.

“Yue’er… compared to last month, your period is already more than ten days late.”

Su Yue blinked and asked softly, “If it’s that late… does it really mean I could be pregnant?”

Han Aiguo’s pulse raced. He didn’t hesitate; he scooped her up again. “Let’s go to the hospital right now!”

Su Yue was startled by his urgency. She pressed against his chest and scolded, “Hey! Look at the time. How can we go this late?”

“But I need to know right away,” Han Aiguo insisted stubbornly.

Su Yue pinched his cheek playfully. “Even if I really am pregnant, the baby isn’t going to grow up and run away overnight. We can go for a checkup tomorrow. Besides, the gynaecology department isn’t open this late, so we wouldn’t find a doctor now anyway.”

Only then did Han Aiguo’s excitement settle slightly. He carefully put her back down on the bed, tucked the quilt over her, and even propped a pillow behind her, as if she were a fragile porcelain doll that might break at any moment.

Su Yue couldn’t help but laugh at how cautious he was. Her heart softened. She held his large hand and said, “Tomorrow, I’ll ask Sister Xu Can from the regiment leader’s house to check. She’s a gynaecologist, so she’ll know for sure.”

At the mention of Xu Can, Han Aiguo’s eyes brightened. “Then let’s go find her now!” He was already moving to lift Su Yue again.

“Han Aiguo, enough!” Su Yue quickly grabbed him and pinched his cheek. “It’s already late. Everyone is resting. Why go disturb them now? It’s not an emergency. Didn’t I tell you? The child won’t run away.”

Han Aiguo slowly pulled back his hands, but the look in his eyes was full of grievance, like a child who had been denied a toy.

Su Yue almost burst out laughing. Normally, this man was so steady and calm, yet right now he was more flustered than her. But thinking about it, he was nearly thirty, and his younger brothers’ children were already growing up, while he still had none. Of course he longed for a child of his own. Now that there was finally a possibility, he couldn’t contain his excitement.

Her heart softened further. She caressed his face gently. “Alright, don’t be so anxious. We don’t even know for sure yet. If it really is true, the child won’t run away. You need to calm down. Now go eat dinner before it gets cold.”

But Han Aiguo couldn’t care less about food. He only wanted to hold her tight. Still, under Su Yue’s persistent gaze, he reluctantly went to the kitchen and finished his meal.

After dinner, he wouldn’t let Su Yue move from the bed. He cleaned the kitchen, tidied the house, boiled hot water, and even brought it in for her to wash. When it came time to wash her feet, he didn’t allow her to bend at all; he squatted by the bed and gently held her feet to wash them himself.

Su Yue’s heart felt sweet and warm. Compared with women in the countryside, who still worked in the fields even when close to giving birth, she truly felt blessed. Yet a tiny worry lingered; what if she wasn’t pregnant after all? Wouldn’t he be very disappointed? She had never had strong expectations about having children, always leaving it up to fate. But now, seeing how excited and nervous he was, even she began to look forward to it. If she really was pregnant, he would be overjoyed.

After washing her, Han Aiguo quickly washed himself. Unlike usual, he didn’t read afterward. Instead, he lay in bed with her nestled in his arms, his big hand resting protectively on her stomach, rubbing it gently.

Normally, except during her special days, this man always wanted her at night. But tonight, he was perfectly restrained. His hand never wandered, staying only on her abdomen, as though guarding a fragile treasure inside.

Su Yue couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. It was as if an invisible “amulet” in her belly had scared off her usually shameless husband.

Feeling mischievous, she raised her head, kissed him lightly, and even licked his lips. With moist eyes, she whispered sweetly, “Brother Han…”

Immediately, she felt his body tense, his breathing hitch.

Su Yue normally wouldn’t dare tease him like this. She knew all too well how he tortured her every time she provoked him. But now, with the “amulet” in her belly, she wasn’t afraid. Instead, she grew bold, deliberately trying to seduce him because she knew he wouldn’t dare move.

Han Aiguo, of course, saw through her little scheme. He truly wanted to punish this daring girl, but if she really was pregnant, how could he risk hurting the baby? So despite his desire, he forced himself to stay still. He simply caught her wandering hands and pressed them down, his voice deep and restrained. “Be good. Sleep.”

Looking at his expression as he held himself back despite being clearly depressed, Su Yue laughed happily, feeling proud of herself for troubling him. Usually, he was hateful, always relying on his strength to torment her until she was like a helpless little chick. No matter how she begged, it never worked. But now, he had no choice but to endure.

That night, Su Yue fell asleep with a smile on her lips, her heart brimming with happiness.

—

When Su Yue woke up the next morning, she felt refreshed. Because she had gone to bed early the night before, she rose early as well. Glancing at the clock, she realized she could still catch the bus to the commune.

So she got up, tidied herself, forced down two spoonfuls of porridge despite her nausea, and then went to the door to wait for the shuttle bus.

When she arrived, Xu Can came over with Nini. Seeing Su Yue, she greeted her happily, “Su Yue, are you going to the commune today too?”

Su Yue smiled, touched Nini’s head, and replied, “I’m actually going to the commune to look for you today.”

Xu Can blinked, confused. “Looking for me? I’m right here, so just tell me whatever it is.”

Su Yue chuckled, feeling delighted, then leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I’m looking for you the way a patient looks for a doctor.” As she said this, she gently touched her belly.

Xu Can froze for a moment before realizing what Su Yue meant. With a smile, she lowered her voice and asked, “Is it…?”

Before Su Yue could answer, a voice suddenly cut in, “What are you two whispering about so mysteriously?”

Turning around, Su Yue saw it was Fang Xiaoli from next door. Strangely enough, this was the first time Fang Xiaoli had taken the initiative to talk to her today.

Su Yue had no intention of sharing her personal affairs, and Xu Can naturally wouldn’t reveal them either. Su Yue only smiled lightly and said, “Nothing, we were just chatting.”

Although Fang Xiaoli didn’t believe her, she couldn’t press further, so she kept a smile on her face and turned to Xu Can. “Sister-in-law, the supply and marketing cooperative just received a batch of cloth. The material is good, the colors are bright, and the styles are fashionable, it’s perfect for making children’s clothes. It’s in hot demand right now. If you don’t buy soon, it’ll be gone. Do you want me to set some aside for you?”

As she spoke, Fang Xiaoli didn’t glance at Su Yue, acting as if she weren’t there. She didn’t bother asking Su Yue if she wanted any cloth.

If it had been someone else, they might have felt uncomfortable. But Su Yue didn’t care in the slightest. She had no intention of pleasing Fang Xiaoli anyway, so whether she was ignored or not made no difference.

Xu Can simply shook her head with a smile. “No, I just bought some cloth a few days ago. Thank you for your kindness.”

Fang Xiaoli had thought Xu Can would happily accept, giving her a chance to establish a connection while also putting Su Yue in her place. But being rejected outright left her embarrassed. Just as she was about to find a graceful way out, a military wife nearby overheard and spoke up, “Can you bring me some? I just saved up a few cloth tickets and was planning to make clothes for my children.”

Normally, Fang Xiaoli wouldn’t give these rural military wives the time of day. But since it gave her an excuse to retreat, she immediately agreed with a smile. “Alright, I’ll bring it back today. You can come to my house later to collect it.”

The military wife thanked her gratefully.

At that moment, the bus arrived. Unlike usual, Fang Xiaoli didn’t wait until last and instead rushed to board first, securing the best seat.

Su Yue and Xu Can sat together as before, with Nini perched on Xu Can’s lap.

After about five minutes, Xu Can discreetly placed her fingers on Su Yue’s wrist, then smiled, nodded, and even winked playfully.

Su Yue’s heart leapt. She leaned closer and whispered, “Am I pregnant?”

Xu Can nodded. “I studied a little Chinese medicine with my grandfather. From your pulse, it seems like a happy pulse. You’re most likely pregnant. But to be sure, let’s go to the hospital for a blood test.”

Su Yue nodded her heartbeat quickening as she instinctively touched her belly.

At the hospital, Xu Can accompanied Su Yue for the check-up. When the results came back, Xu Can smiled and said warmly, “Congratulations, sister.”

“It really is a baby?” Su Yue asked, her voice trembling with excitement. Despite her calmness the night before, she could no longer contain herself. The thought that she was actually carrying a child belonging to her and Han Aiguo filled her with overwhelming joy.

“Sister Xu Can, thank you so much!” Su Yue said, brimming with happiness.

The thought was almost magical as she was going to be a mother. A little life would stay in her belly for ten months and then come into the world to see her.

After learning the basic precautions for pregnancy, Su Yue left the hospital.

She wasn’t in a hurry to return home. Instead, she went to the supply and marketing cooperative’s slaughterhouse group and bought some ribs, planning to stew them for nourishment. Ribs soup was rich in calcium and very nutritious. Even if she herself couldn’t eat much these days, she had to ensure the child inside her was fed well.

After buying the ribs, she also purchased a basket of eggs from a vendor and some other daily necessities. Passing the cloth counter, she noticed several bolts of soft cotton cloth which were perfect for making baby clothes, so she bought some as well.

Cotton cloth wasn’t popular at the time, so there was no competition for it. As long as one had money and cloth tickets, it was easy to buy. Su Yue bought quite a lot in one go.

The child was only about a month along, but she thought it would be better to prepare early. She didn’t yet know how to make clothes, but she could study at home. By the time she figured it out, the baby would likely be born. Perhaps this was what people meant by “the early bird flies first.”

Still, a sewing machine would be even better. Making clothes by hand was too time-consuming, while a machine would be far easier, especially for someone like her who had no prior experience. She decided she needed to find a way to buy one.

—

That evening, Su Yue carefully stewed the ribs until the broth was rich and fragrant. She also prepared Han Aiguo’s favorite braised pork and stewed vermicelli with Chinese cabbage. Soon, the whole house was filled with mouthwatering aromas.

Han Aiguo came home five minutes earlier than usual. His forehead was dripping with sweat, and he was panting slightly it was clear that he had run back.

Su Yue wiped his sweat with a handkerchief. “Why did you run back like this?”

Han Aiguo didn’t answer. Instead, he immediately placed his large hands on her belly and asked anxiously, “How is it?”

Su Yue nodded, wrapped her arms around his neck, and whispered, “Comrade Han Aiguo, congratulations on becoming a father.”

Han Aiguo froze for a few seconds before joy exploded across his face. He lifted her carefully by the waist and kissed her lips over and over. “Am I really going to be a father? Really?”

Su Yue playfully pinched his nose. “How could this be fake?”

Han Aiguo giggled like a fool.

“What a silly man,” Su Yue said with a laugh.

They laughed together for a while until Su Yue noticed the soup nearly boiling over. She patted his shoulder. “Put me down. I cooked several dishes today. Let’s celebrate properly.”

“Don’t move, I’ll do it.” Han Aiguo hurriedly carried Su Yue to the table and sat her down, then rushed into the kitchen to bring out the dishes. He ladled a bowl of soup and placed it in front of her. “Drink this first. You need to eat more today. You’ve lost weight recently as you clearly haven’t been eating enough.”

Su Yue had been planning to nourish herself anyway. She picked up the spoon, but before the soup even reached her lips, she suddenly felt a wave of nausea. Quickly putting the bowl down, she ran to the bathroom and vomited out everything in her stomach.

Han Aiguo followed immediately, holding her steady with worried hands. “Why are you vomiting so badly? Are you uncomfortable?”

Su Yue couldn’t even speak; she only vomited again and again.

After a long while, the nausea subsided. Han Aiguo carefully helped her out, but Su Yue refused to return to the dining table as just the sight of food made her feel sick.

He carried her to the sofa and gave her some water, which helped a little. Still, his face was full of worry. “How could it be this serious?”

As the eldest son, he had seen his mother pregnant with her second and third children. When she carried the third, she had suffered from nausea and poor appetite, but nothing this extreme. Compared to Su Yue, his mother had still been able to eat. But Su Yue couldn’t keep anything down at all. How could she endure this, let alone sustain the little one in her belly?

Su Yue waved her hand, joking weakly, “Everyone reacts differently. Maybe my temper is too strong, so my reaction is worse than others. When this child comes out, I’ll beat him for it. Isn’t it strange? Before I knew, I just felt nauseous and couldn’t eat much. But now that I know, the vomiting started. Could it really be psychological? Are all pregnant women this magical?”

Han Aiguo rubbed her belly, his brows furrowed. “This won’t do. You need to eat something. Tell me what you want and I’ll make it for you.”

Su Yue shook her head. “I really can’t eat right now. I’ll tell you when I feel like eating, alright? You go eat first, or the food will get cold.”