During this period, both Yang Manman and Gu Yunting had been waiting with anticipation.
However, both of them also knew that having a child, even if both were healthy with no issues, wasn’t an easy thing—it still depended on fate.
So, although anxious and expectant, she still told herself and her husband to be patient.
And now...
"Mom, is it true what you’re saying?"
"Eldest daughter-in-law, were you feeling nauseous after eating roast duck just now because it was too greasy? Have you been feeling sleepy a lot lately, wanting to sleep?"
Yang Manman nodded blankly, "Yes."
"Then that’s it, you must be pregnant. Come on, let’s go find Old Zhang to check your pulse and confirm it."
Not caring about anything else, Yao Chunhua took Yang Manman straight to Old Zhang’s clinic. As her husband, Gu Yunting naturally came too, hopeful in his heart.
"Old Zhang, can you check my eldest daughter-in-law to see if she’s pregnant?" Yao Chunhua asked anxiously as soon as she entered.
She even forgot there were others in the clinic.
And that other person was Wu Meili, who had come to see Old Zhang because of a stomachache from eating leftovers last night.
Wu Meili burst into laughter after hearing this and said sarcastically, "Sister Yao, your eldest daughter-in-law has been married for years and hasn’t gotten pregnant. How could she be now?"
Had it not been for her fear of Old Man Gu, the village chief, Wu Meili would have directly called Yang Manman a barren hen, as she often did.
Yao Chunhua glared at Wu Meili with narrowed eyes, "Wu Meili, if you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all, or I’ll tear your mouth apart."
"You..." Wu Meili wanted to retort but held back.
Fine, she wouldn’t argue back. She would just wait and see if Yang Manman was really pregnant.
If Yang Manman wasn’t, she would immediately spread the word that Yao Chunhua was hysterical, desperate for a grandchild.
Meanwhile, Old Zhang placed his hand on Yang Manman’s wrist, asking about her recent condition.
He was somewhat familiar with Yang Manman’s physical condition as Yao Chunhua had asked him to check before, but his skills were average, unable to find any cause or cure.
However, he could still feel the pulse and diagnose pregnancy.
As Old Zhang took her pulse, the clinic fell silent. Both Yao Chunhua and Yang Manman’s husband and wife were anxiously waiting.
Soon, Old Zhang looked up and said with a smile, "Congratulations, it’s a happy pulse; she is indeed pregnant, and it’s been over a month already."
"She’s pregnant, that’s wonderful!" Yao Chunhua was overjoyed.
Yang Manman looked at her husband, her eyes red, "Yunting, did you hear? I, I’m pregnant, we have a child."
Gu Yunting held her hand, equally moved, his eyes turning red too, "Yes, I heard, Manman, we finally have a child."
At last, their perseverance paid off.
"How could this be, wasn’t Yang Manman supposedly barren?" Wu Meili mumbled, eyes wide with disbelief.
The three of them basked in their joy and ignored Wu Meili, although before leaving, Yao Chunhua gave her a sharp glare, which made Wu Meili shrink back unconsciously.
After asking Old Zhang for some precautions, they hurried home to share the joy with the rest of the family.
"We need to write to Ningning—or better yet, call her and tell Ningning this great news." After all, it was Ningning who helped heal Yang Manman.
-
Snow capped the mountains in the Northwest, covering all with a silver blanket.
The temperature had dropped even further.
These days, Sheng Zexi only needed to go for half-day training and returned, and this routine had been going on for half a month.
During this half month, the military area, originally somewhat lively, had quieted down completely, and families wouldn’t step out unless necessary.
The food provided at the canteen was also less.
Gu Jia Ning didn’t let Sheng Zexi go to the canteen to get food anymore, as she had stored plenty of food and supplies at home, enough to last the winter.
"I wonder if the letter and package I sent last time were received by my parents." Sitting on the warm bed, Gu Jia Ning leaned on Sheng Zexi’s shoulder, looking at the snow outside and murmuring.
"Judging by the time, it should have arrived," Sheng Zexi replied.
The parcel sent to the grandparents, being closer, had arrived first.
A couple of days ago, Sheng Zexi received a call from the grandparents, and their words were full of fondness for Ningning.
Just then, the door suddenly knocked.
"Who could it be at this time?"
Sheng Zexi got up to open the door, and soon came back, telling Gu Jia Ning, "There’s a call from your parents, do you want to take it?"
If she didn’t, he would go, given the cold weather.
"Is it from them? Yes, I want to take it." Calls from her parents were rare due to the high cost, so no matter how cold, Gu Jia Ning wanted to take it.
How long had it been since she heard her parents and family’s voices? She missed them so much.
"Alright, let’s go together." Sheng Zexi immediately brought a military coat, scarf, hat, and boots, bundling her up tightly, and took an umbrella to shield the snow.
Wrapped up securely, Sheng Zexi, holding the umbrella, shielded the bundled but still petite Gu Jia Ning close to him as they headed for the communications room together.
Not long after they arrived, the phone rang again.
Gu Jia Ning quickly answered it.
"Hello, is that Ningning?" Hearing the familiar voice of her mother Yao Chunhua, Gu Jia Ning almost burst into tears.
Perhaps only after leaving her parents and being distant does one understand how deep the longing for them really is.
Though Gu Jia Ning missed her parents, she had been suppressing it, and now upon hearing her mother’s familiar voice, she couldn’t hold back any longer.
"Mom~" Gu Jia Ning called out in a choked voice, "It’s Ningning."
"Ah, daughter, are you crying? Did Ze Xi make you suffer?" Even through the phone, Yao Chunhua could sense the slightest change in her daughter’s tone.
Thinking that her daughter might have been bullied by Sheng Zexi, she immediately became furious.
"No, no, Brother Xi didn’t bully me, he’s very good to me. I just miss you all." Fearing her parents might misunderstand, Gu Jia Ning quickly explained.
Upon hearing this, Yao Chunhua breathed a sigh of relief. As long as she wasn’t bullied, it’s good. Besides, she trusted Ze Xi’s character.
But hearing her daughter say she missed them, Yao Chunhua felt her heart soften, with tears welling up in her eyes.
She missed her daughter too, her only daughter.
However, Yao Chunhua still managed to hold her tears back.