Yu Yu had intended to rush over and hug An Jing’s legs, but once she saw Xiao Changyi suddenly stand in front of An Jing, she immediately stopped in her tracks, tilting her little head upward, biting her finger in confusion as she looked at Xiao Changyi, "Uncle..."
Seeing Xiao Changyi blocking in front of An Jing made Shi Xiaolan, who had not previously noticed An Jing’s protruding belly, finally take heed, and she exclaimed in extreme surprise, "An Jing, your stomach?!"
An Jing smiled and said, "Xiao Lan, I’m pregnant."
Shi Xiaolan’s eyes widened in disbelief, her speech almost incoherent, "This... this... how is this possible? You, you... weren’t you unable to have children?"
Finding Shi Xiaolan’s exaggerated reaction amusing, An Jing couldn’t help but laugh, "My period returned last year, so now I can have children."
Upon hearing this, Shi Xiaolan understood and joyfully repeated, "That’s wonderful, that’s great! Good people receive good karma, An Jing you’re a good person, heaven will certainly treat you well! You’re pregnant! That’s fantastic!"
Seeing Shi Xiaolan even happier than herself, An Jing felt even more amused but didn’t say anything. Instead, she took a packet of candied fruit and a packet of date cake from Xiao Changyi’s hands, bent slightly, and handed them to Yu Yu.
"Yu Yu, here, these are gifts from your aunt and uncle. Your sister is still too young to eat these, so your aunt and uncle bought them just for you."
Shi Xiaolan was reluctant to accept them, finding them too precious, especially as both packets were of substantial size, but An Jing cut her off, "This is for the children, Xiao Lan, don’t stand on ceremony. One must not refuse a gift from an elder; you know that as well as I do."
With that said by An Jing, Shi Xiaolan had no choice but to let Yu Yu take them.
Yu Yu, at just three years old, didn’t quite understand the adults’ customs. Upon receiving the two packets of treats, she was very pleased and sweetly thanked An Jing and Xiao Changyi, "Thank you, Auntie, Uncle."
An Jing smiled as she patted Yu Yu’s head, then turned her attention to Niuniu on Shi Xiaolan’s back. Niuniu was staring at her with wide eyes, looking very adorable.
Seeing that Niuniu seemed to be well-cared for made An Jing take a closer look at Shi Xiaolan. After more than three months without seeing her, Shi Xiaolan appeared paler, probably because she had been staying at home caring for the children instead of working the fields. She seemed spirited, albeit a bit thin, but her frame gave An Jing the impression that she could shoulder the world for Yu Yu and Niuniu.
An Jing felt deeply relieved.
Glancing at the corn in the courtyard, An Jing casually inquired, "Did you buy this from someone?"
After being divorced, Shi Xiaolan had no farmland of her own, and had to buy food with money.
Following An Jing’s gaze to the corn, Shi Xiaolan smiled and said, "I didn’t buy it; people from the village gave it to me. Seeing that I was struggling alone with two children, those who had more to spare brought some corn and sorghum to me. I refused, but they insisted on giving it to me."
An Jing was somewhat surprised, "You mean the people from Jiuping Village?"
"They’ve become so kind?" An Jing found it hard to believe.
Shi Xiaolan then sighed deeply and said, "They really have changed. Ever since Liu Sizi poisoned the wells and killed most of the villagers, everyone changed. Now if a family is in trouble, others who can help will pitch in. Life might be harder than before, but relations in the village are much more harmonious. They probably fear retribution like Liu Sizi’s, I guess. Everyone is trying to accumulate as much virtue as they can."
An Jing nodded in understanding. The poisoning by Liu Sizi was indeed terrifying enough to shock anyone. It was an absolute tragedy.