“Huh? There’s quite a bit here,” Shen Yan said, her sharp eyes spotting a clump of wheat grains in the cracks of the threshing ground. She kicked aside a clod of dirt and crouched down to pick them up one by one. Lu Gu joined her to help.
Hearing her, Granny Wu craned her neck to look, her aged face showing clear regret. She had thought that area had already been picked over and hadn’t searched carefully enough.
“Granny Wu, here you go,” Shen Yan said, walking over and pouring the wheat grains she had collected into Granny Wu’s handkerchief.
“This… this is too kind of you,” Granny Wu said, her dry, cracked lips trembling slightly.
Shen Yan waved it off, brushing the dirt from her hands. “It’s nothing. Just take it.”
Their family had also been poor before, and Shen Yan knew what it was like to go hungry. Every grain of wheat or rice was precious. Now that their family was doing better and had plenty of food to eat, giving away a few grains they had found was no big deal.
“Qiuyue!” Shen Yaoqing called from a distance, having returned from the fields. It was time to go home for dinner. He didn’t want his wife to go hungry.
Lu Gu turned around and saw Shen Xuanqing, thinking to himself that he would have to wash his pants later, as they were covered in mud. The weather had been hot recently, so they would dry after hanging them overnight.
---
The next morning, after getting up, Lu Gu roughly packed the clothes he would take up the mountain the following day. The morning was cool, and he overheard Shen Yaoqing and Ji Qiuyue outside discussing going for a prenatal checkup.
Nearby villages relied on Doctor Wang for medical treatment. Since recovering from his head injury last year, because Doctor Wang was from Anjia Village, and there had been no illnesses or emergencies. Lu Gu hadn’t been back to the Lu family home even once.
It wasn’t that he was cold-hearted or unfeeling. Sometimes, when he was alone on the mountain, he would think of home, his childhood home. But then he would remember how Lu Daxiang had ignored him that day, allowing Du Hehua to slander and frame him, and his heart would grow cold. He didn’t dare let his thoughts wander anymore.
"Are you done packing?" Shen Xuanqing came in from outside.
"I've just folded a few clothes. I can finish the rest tonight," Lu Gu said, placing the bundle on the chest. He added, "We've been staying at home for a while now. I wonder how the vegetables at the house in the mountain are doing."
Shen Xuanqing replied, "It's cooler up there, so they may not have dried up. We can water them and see if they survive. Tomorrow, we'll bring some vegetables from home. They'll last us a few days."
He glanced at Lu Gu, hesitating for a moment before speaking up. "Let's go with Sister-in-law and Big Brother for a walk."
Lu Gu was puzzled. Why would they tag along when Sister-in-law was going for a checkup?
"Today, Meng Dayue is slaughtering a pig. We can buy some pork on the way and bring it when we go up the mountain. We can render some lard for cooking," Shen Xuanqing explained with a smile.
Realizing that he originally wanted to go out for a walk and buy some meat, Lu Gu nodded happily. Besides, he could listen in on Ji Qiuyue's checkup. After all, someday it might be his turn.
The thought made him slightly embarrassed. There was no guarantee of that yet, so why was he even thinking about checkups? Just then, Shen Yan called from outside, saying she was going to the new house to feed the dogs and asking if he wanted to join. This interrupted his thoughts.
Shen Yaoqing slept at the new house at night. When he came over for dinner, he locked the gate, leaving the four dogs at home. Since Lu Gu was going to Anjia Village with them, Shen Yan went alone with a basket.
On the way, Ji Qiuyue walked slowly, and Lu Gu stayed by her side. Shen Xuanqing and Shen Yaoqing followed a few steps behind, chatting and laughing as they made their way to Doctor Wang's house.
Entering the village without seeing any of the Lu family members made Lu Gu breathe a sigh of relief. Some people were better off not seen, as they only brought discomfort.
"The pregnancy is stable. No need for medicine, just make sure her diet is nutritious. But remember, don't overeat," Doctor Wang said after examining Ji Qiuyue, who looked healthy and well-nourished.
Shen Yaoqing was overjoyed to hear that everything was stable. Stability was good.
After checking Ji Qiuyue's pulse, Doctor Wang glanced at Lu Gu. Being from the same village, he was pleased to see Lu Gu looking well. Life was truly unpredictable.
Shen Xuanqing pushed Lu Gu to the table and made him sit down without hesitation. "Doctor Wang, could you check Lu Gu too? See if his weak constitution has improved."
"Of course," Doctor Wang nodded, gesturing for Lu Gu to place his hand on the pulse pillow.
"At eleven or twelve years old, the body is still growing. Missing those crucial years makes it hard to recover," Doctor Wang sighed after finishing the examination, stroking his beard.
Noticing Shen Xuanqing's furrowed brows, as if displeased, Doctor Wang suddenly remembered that last year, to ensure the Shen family treated Lu Gu well, he had said that even with a weak constitution, Lu Gu could still have children after proper rest and care.
Now, glancing at the pregnant Ji Qiuyue and then at Lu Gu, who showed no signs of pregnancy, Doctor Wang felt a bit uneasy.
Having practiced medicine for decades, Doctor Wang could easily discern Shen Xuanqing's true intention in having Lu Gu examined. He gave an awkward smile and observed Lu Gu's complexion.
The red mark on Lu Gu's forehead was neither too light nor too dark, no different from that of ordinary shuang'er. He should be capable of bearing children, but his internal weakness made it difficult to conceive.
After a moment of thought, Doctor Wang asked Lu Gu, "Are you eighteen this year?"
"Yes," Lu Gu replied. He was younger than Shen Xuanqing and could be considered eighteen this year.
Doctor Wang stroked his beard thoughtfully and said to Shen Xuanqing, "His weak foundation has improved somewhat. His complexion is noticeably better. The red mark between Shuang'er's eyebrows is the most accurate indicator. Judging by its color, he is definitely capable of bearing children. It's just that his internal weakness requires further recuperation. You two are still young. Even in a couple of years, you'll still be in your prime."
Lu Gu, who hadn't given much thought to the matter before, was taken aback but quickly realized that it wasn't easy for him to get pregnant.
In truth, Doctor Wang said this with trepidation. Shen Xuanqing and Lu Gu were almost twenty years old. If it were anyone else in the village, they would already have children running around.
"Thank you, Doctor Wang. I understand," Shen Xuanqing nodded. After a moment of thought, he asked, "Should we get some medicine?"
"No need for medicine. He has no other issues. Just keep nourishing him. If you have eggs at home, have him eat one every day, and include some meat in his diet," Doctor Wang waved his hand.
Since no medicine was prescribed, the consultation was cheap. Shen Yaoqing paid for it, only four copper coins.
After leaving Anjia Village, Shen Xuanqing and Lu Gu walked behind the others. Shen Xuanqing said in a low voice, "It's alright. It's good to recuperate a bit more. We haven't been earning much lately. Once we sell more game and have more money, we can take better care of you."
Lu Gu felt a squeeze on his hand, and his confused heart was comforted. He understood that Doctor Wang had implied he might have difficulty conceiving. No one wanted to marry a shuang'er who couldn't bear children, especially since he wasn't even officially married into the Shen family.
Originally, he felt a wave of fear, along with an indescribable sense of loss and sadness.
But when he looked up and saw Shen Xuanqing's smiling face, his hand gripping Lu Gu's tightly without a trace of disdain, Lu Gu's heart ached, and his eyes grew moist.
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