Liu An heard that Xiaofeng was going for a prenatal check-up and felt an inexplicable sense of tension. The feeling was so evident that even he could not grasp it.
At that time, the medical equipment was not very advanced, and a hospital visit meant only a basic check-up to confirm the pregnancy, followed by simple urine and blood tests, with no further examinations.
"The blood and urine are normal, eat more nutritious food and rest well when you go back," the female doctor kindly instructed Xiaofeng on what to be mindful of.
As Liu An walked with Xiaofeng, he glanced at her silhouette and a vague idea crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.
He was about to leave this place, and there would be no future with Su Xiaofeng, so it was better not to entertain some unrealistic thoughts.
"Being in your condition, you should avoid traveling far in the future, it’s not good for your health," Liu An was certainly referring to business trips.
A pregnant woman traveling frequently is not good for her health as it involves spending long periods seated in a vehicle.
"Of course, I know that," understanding that her health was the most important current issue: "If the promotion at Lida Department Store goes well, I won’t worry about the orders from the Provincial City, we can just deliver directly there."
Once the collaboration is set, a supply relationship is established.
"Are you confident about the promotional event?" Liu An was curious about the term ’promotion’ and wondered how Xiaofeng would handle it.
"I believe the effect will be there," Xiaofeng didn’t claim it would be 100 percent, but she was 80 percent sure.
Because she had to go on a business trip the next day, Xiaofeng rode back home in Liu An’s car in the evening.
Watching Xiaofeng get off Liu An’s car, Ma Donghua greeted him with a smiling face, "Doctor Liu, you are driving Xiaofeng home again."
Lately, Doctor Liu had often been seen driving Xiaofeng home. Could it be that Doctor Liu had taken a fancy to Xiaofeng?
What was Doctor Liu’s status, and what was Xiaofeng’s? Surely Doctor Liu wouldn’t be so blind as to fancy Xiaofeng.
Liu An just smiled, turned around, and drove back.
An auntie was washing some white radishes by the well; they looked plump and very appetizing.
Seeing Xiaofeng approaching, she waved, "Fengfeng, I just pulled some radishes from the ground, take some home to cook. Radishes clear the heat in the body, eating more will be good for you."
"Auntie, those radishes look big, where did you plant them?"
"Right on my sand hill plot, and let me tell you, those radishes turned out especially tender. Take a couple home to cook," the auntie spoke about the radishes as though she was talking about her own children, her face gleaming with joy.
Xiaofeng didn’t hesitate and headed home with two big radishes.
Watching Xiaofeng walk away, Ma Donghua remarked to the auntie: "Auntie, I think Doctor Liu has feelings for Xiaofeng. Some people have seen him frequently driving her home."
The auntie also picked two radishes for Ma Donghua, "If they truly fancy each other and both are unmarried, wouldn’t that just be perfect?"
"I don’t think it’s right, what are Doctor Liu’s standards, and what are Xiaofeng’s?" Only someone not too discerning would take a fancy to Xiaofeng.
Upon hearing Ma Donghua’s words, the auntie looked displeased, picked up her basin and headed home, "What’s wrong with Xiaofeng? She’s young, successful, beautiful, and competent; I see no reason anyone wouldn’t be worthy of her."
Ma Donghua didn’t see it that way, considering Xiaofeng had a child in her belly, with her situation, who with good prospects would consider her?
If Xiaofeng hadn’t been so picky, marrying Liu An would have been just fine.
However, Liu An and Xiaotao had already registered their marriage, so there was no chance for him to marry Xiaofeng now.
"Auntie," Xiaotao’s legs were healed enough for her to walk, she said while carrying a basin of clothes, "Did Xiaofeng come back home?"
Ma Donghua glanced at her legs and scoffed without answering.
Seeing Ma Donghua not responding, Xiaotao wasn’t in a hurry, "Speaking of which, my marriage with Liu An was thanks to you, auntie."
Ma Donghua snorted, "No need for thanks, it was fate."
"Auntie," Xiaotao glanced at Xiaofeng’s house, which used to be the most unremarkable one in the village. Within half a month, it had been transformed: "Aren’t you curious, Auntie? Xiaofeng’s family renovating their house and starting a factory, where did all that money come from? I heard from my mom that Su Dada had given some valuable treasure to Xiaofeng’s grandfather previously. Suddenly, Xiaofeng’s family is so wealthy, auntie, what do you think..."
"I wondered how their family suddenly became so wealthy, it must have been the treasure my uncle left them." Ma Donghua always suspected that the uncle had left something valuable for his brother’s family but didn’t have any proof. Now, hearing what Xiaotao said, she was even more convinced.
If not for that, where could his brother’s family get the money to renovate their house or start a factory?
As Xiaotao watched Ma Donghua leave, a smile curled at the corners of her mouth; this Ma Donghua was always trying to take advantage without being satisfied, coveting the properties of both families.
He Ximei saw Xiaofeng coming home with two radishes, and chuckled, "Did your auntie give you those?"
Auntie’s radishes always grew well, she had mentioned them several times before.
Xiaofeng smiled, "Yes, they do look very well-grown, like the ones from Tangjia Pit."
"It’s all sandy soil, so I suppose they’re quite similar." He Ximei took the radishes, "How do you want to cook them, stir-fry or make a soup?"
"Make some pickled radish for me, I’ll eat it on the road." Long car rides leave me craving something sour."
"Craving sour?" He Ximei looked at Xiaofeng’s belly, "You’re probably having a boy."
"I also crave spicy food," Xiaofeng added.
"It couldn’t be boy and girl twins, could it?"
"That’s not entirely impossible," Xiaofeng seriously nodded.
The chance of having boy and girl twins is so slim; most people wouldn’t have such an opportunity.