The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 123 - 122: Gu Yuwei is Also Pregnant

In early October, Xue Yue gave birth to another son in the hospital.

Mrs. He happily murmured, "First the flower, then the fruit." Xue Yue was now a mother of two.

Mr. He named their son He Ziqian.

Because he was born on October 1st, they nicknamed him Shiyi, which Xue Yue found quite catchy.

Compared to Ruanruan, Shiyi was an absolute crybaby. He cried when he was hungry, cried when he needed a diaper change, cried when he woke up, and even cried when he was sleepy.

Ever since this little rascal was born, Xue Yue hadn’t had a single full night’s sleep. He would inevitably cry once or twice every night, waking everyone else up. He Lang couldn’t sleep well, either. He had to work during the day, yet still had to get up in the middle of the night to change diapers.

Ruanruan was also sleeping in the same room with them. Xue Yue decided this couldn’t go on, so she had He Lang take Ruanruan to sleep in the room next door.

For his daughter’s sake, He Lang agreed.

Ruanruan, however, just called him a "little crybaby." "Mom, my little brother is so annoying! Why does he love crying so much? All that crying is making his mouth huge! I don’t like to cry."

Xue Yue chuckled. "You’re right, Shiyi is no match for his big sister. Our Ruanruan was so well-behaved when she was a baby. But your brother is still tiny. He’ll be better when he’s a little older."

Ruanruan glanced at Shiyi. "Fine. I’ll forgive him, then."

Fortunately, after the first month was over, the little guy wasn’t as much of a crybaby.

The dark circles under Xue Yue’s eyes from that first month slowly began to fade. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Just as Xue Yue was finishing her postpartum recovery, Zhang Qian arrived, laden with bags of all sizes.

"Let me see! Oh my, he’s adorable! He looks just like your husband... Hmm, but his mouth is a bit like yours."

Zhang Qian leaned in close to Shiyi, studying him carefully and giving his tiny hand a gentle squeeze.

A smile touched Xue Yue’s lips. "Sister Zhang Qian, you seem to really like kids."

Zhang Qian shook her head. "No, I only like other people’s kids. As for having my own? Forget it. I couldn’t handle it. I’m a bit traumatized when it comes to children."

Then, Zhang Qian started telling Xue Yue about her nephew. "You have no idea. Back when I was in high school, my nephew was little. He was the only kid in the family, so everyone spoiled him rotten. He was an absolute little terror. When he was just four or five, he’d turn the house upside down. He’d secretly tear my books and stuff bugs in my schoolbag. One time, he ran straight into my room and peed in my bed, then refused to admit it! I didn’t hold back on spanking him, but because of that, my sister-in-law and I were always fighting. Our relationship is still strained to this day. That’s why I’m so traumatized when it comes to kids. But I love a little girl like your Ruanruan—pretty, sensible, and doesn’t cry or cause trouble."

Xue Yue looked at her. "So, you don’t plan on having one of your own in the future?"

Zhang Qian thought for a moment. "Hmm... if your brother wants one, I guess I’ll have one. If we do, I just hope we have a sweet and gentle little girl like Ruanruan."

Xue Yue thought, ’That’s not exactly up to you. I just hope you won’t be disappointed if things don’t go your way.’ As it turned out, Xue Yue’s thought was prophetic. Much later, Zhang Qian would nearly fall into depression during her own postpartum month—but that, of course, is a story for another time.

Zhang Qian started pulling things out of her bag one after another. "I went to the provincial capital for a meeting with my boss and just got back yesterday. I heard from your brother that you were having trouble with your milk supply, and that you had to supplement with formula for your last baby. So I made a special trip to the department store to buy some formula. They said this brand is better than the old one—it comes from Shanghai. And here’s a bottle, the nipple is super soft. The salesclerk said to sterilize it with hot water before using it. Oh, and some baby clothes. I wasn’t sure about the size, so I just bought everything in newborn..."

Xue Yue looked at the large pile of gifts and pressed her lips together in a smile. "Sister Zhang Qian, you’ve spent way too much."

Zhang Qian grinned and raised her eyebrows. "Come on, what’s with the formality between us? Besides, I’m going to be your sister-in-law, so we’ll be family soon enough."

Xue Yue laughed out loud. "So what’s the deal with you and my brother? When are you two planning to get married?"

At the mention of this, Zhang Qian pouted. "I’ve already brought it up with your brother," she said, a little frustrated. "But he just told me to wait two more years. He said that if I’m still willing in two years, we’ll get married."

Xue Yue was confused. "Why wait two years?"

Zhang Qian shook her head. "Who knows? But anyway, I’m willing to marry him, whether it’s now or in two years."

Xue Yue smiled. "Alright, then. I guess I’ll have to wait two years to call you my sister-in-law."

Zhang Qian pouted. "Mm-hm."

A few days after Xue Yue’s postpartum month ended, good news came from Gu Yuwei’s side—she was pregnant.

He Ze was overjoyed and even ran to the old family home to share the happy news.

But when he finished speaking, no one even gave him a glance.

He asked Mrs. He timidly, "Mom, why isn’t anyone saying anything? I’m going to have a baby. Aren’t you happy?"

Mrs. He snorted. "This will be your third child. What’s so special about it? All women have children. Are we supposed to beat gongs and drums to celebrate for you or something?"

He Ze shook his head sheepishly. "Mom, that’s not what I meant. I’m... I’m going to be a father again, so I just came to let you all know."

"Yes, we know now. You can go," Mrs. He said, dismissing him outright.

He Ze glanced at his father, who wouldn’t even spare him a look, and left with his head hung low.

As he stepped out the door, he came face to face with Gao Cuiyun standing in the courtyard. She stared at him, her face devoid of expression. His own expression stiffened, his eyes darting away. He was suddenly overcome with a powerful sense of guilt. Without saying a word to her, he quickened his pace and hurried out the main gate.

After He Ze left, Gao Cuiyun could no longer stand. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground.

Tears streamed down her face as she dug her fingers tightly into her thighs.

’That bitch is pregnant. He’s going to be a father again.’ She had heard the joy in his voice, a sound she hadn’t heard in so long.

Gao Cuiyun had been living in a daze lately. Sometimes, she would go out and hear people gossiping about He Ze and that woman, and it would take her ages to recover. Memories kept bubbling up unbidden.

They had been happy once, too. She just didn’t know when it had all gone sour. He had already abandoned her and their sons.

Little Chen came in through the doorway with a bundle of firewood on his back. Seeing Gao Cuiyun on the ground, he immediately dropped the wood and ran over.

"Mom, why are you sitting on the ground?"

Gao Cuiyun wiped away her tears and slowly got to her feet, waving a dismissive hand. "It’s nothing, I just slipped and fell. You’re back. Where are Xiao Yang and the others?"

Little Chen didn’t notice anything was wrong with his mother. He just said, "They’re still up on the mountain. We chopped a lot, too much to carry back in one trip. Xiao Yang and Sanzai are watching the rest. I have to go back for another load after dropping this off."

Gao Cuiyun nodded. "Be careful, then."

"I know, Mom."

Little Chen and Xiao Yang had stopped their schooling after finishing elementary school in the village. Now, the two brothers were practically carrying the family on their backs. Sometimes, when Gao Cuiyun looked at her sons, she felt that she had to pull herself together, that she couldn’t let her children shoulder such a heavy burden.

But their maturity only made her heart ache more.