As soon as Yun Tangyin reached the courtyard gate, Fu Yucheng came up to her holding a small bamboo gadget: "Look at this rattle drum, isn't it great? I covered the surface of the bamboo drum with a layer of sheepskin, so it makes a louder sound than a wooden one."

The drumsticks were wrapped with blue cloth strips, and they made a jingling sound when shaken.

"It's even more exquisite than the ones sold at the supply and marketing cooperative." She stuffed a piece of sour plum that Yu Xia had given him into his hand. "It's from your sister-in-law, have a taste."

Fu Yucheng squinted at the sour taste, but nodded repeatedly: "It's just the right amount of sour, much better than what we have in the army."

He suddenly pulled Yun Tangyin into the house, saying, "I made a small bamboo medicine box for you to put your pregnancy-preserving medicine in. It's more moisture-proof than a wooden box."

The medicine box was lined with red velvet, with compartments containing goji berries, donkey-hide gelatin, and a bag of hawthorn cake hidden at the bottom.

"Aunt Zhou said pregnant women should eat less sweets, so I secretly hid these for you."

Fu Yucheng lowered his voice, like a child who had secretly eaten candy.

Just as Yun Tangyin was about to laugh, Jiang Jianhua came in carrying a bamboo sieve: "Yinyin, come quickly, I've dried some more pumpkin seeds and added some salt."

She sifted through the sieve a couple of times, saying, "Look how plump these kernels are, you can eat them for fun."

"Second sister-in-law is pregnant too, she needs to rest more." Yun Tangyin stuffed a small bamboo pillow into her hand. "It was woven by Fu Yucheng, it's comfortable to use."

Just as Jiang Jianhua sat down, Yu Xia came in carrying a bamboo basket filled with dried mugwort.

“I heard from an old Chinese medicine doctor that wiping your body with water boiled with mugwort can calm the nerves.” She stuffed a sachet into Yun Tangyin’s hand. “These are freshly picked by me, fresher than those sold in pharmacies.”

"How did you know I've been having trouble sleeping lately, sister-in-law?" Yun Tangyin smiled as she took the mugwort. "Yesterday, Fu Yucheng said he would weave me a bamboo pillow to help me relax."

Yu Xia's fingertips traced the edge of the bamboo basket: "I did the same thing back then. Yuanshan wove one for me and stuffed it with lavender."

She suddenly looked up and said, "I'll go collect some tomorrow and get one for you too."

Fu Yucheng poked his head out from the kitchen: "Sister-in-law, don't bother. I'll go make a pillowcase. Just teach me how to stuff it with lavender."

“I’ll help too.” Jiang Jianhua slapped his thigh. “The blue-printed fabric my family sent is perfect for making pillowcases.”

As the three of them were busy in the yard, Erzhuzi rushed in, holding a small bamboo bow and arrow: "Brother Fu, look! I've wrapped the arrowheads in cloth, so they won't hurt when you shoot!"

He slipped a bamboo arrow into Yun Tangyin's arms, saying, "Aunt Fu, take this. I'll teach you how to shoot peanuts."

"Be careful not to bump into it." Yu Xia quickly pulled the child to her side. "I'll make you a bamboo target, made of straw, it's soft to shoot at."

As soon as Erzhuzi ran out, Jiang Jianhua stuffed a pumpkin cake into Yun Tangyin's hand: "Eat some quickly, I added some chopped walnuts."

She suddenly nudged Yu Xia's arm and said, "Sister-in-law, you should eat some too. This cake is good for replenishing qi and blood; it's much better than brown sugar cake."

Yu Xia took a bite of the pancake and smiled, "My second sister-in-law is so skillful. My steamed buns never rise properly."

“I’ll teach you.” Jiang Jianhua shoved a bamboo-covered cookbook into her hand. “This was given to me by my mother. It says that you need to add baking soda to leaven the dough. I’ve marked it out for you.”

In the evening, Fu Yuanzheng carried in a small bamboo table: "Acheng, do you think this diaper changing table is suitable? I added a bamboo drawer so I can put baby powder in it."

The corners of the table were rounded off, so as not to hurt the child.

Yu Xia quickly stuffed a piece of cake into his hand: "Try your sister-in-law's, it's even more delicious than the one you bought from town last time."

Fu Yuan was munching on a pancake and laughing, "My wife still loves me the most." He suddenly stuffed an oil paper package into Yu Xia's pocket, "I bought you some face cream, from Li's shop, it smells better than the one from the supply and marketing cooperative."

Yu Xia's face flushed red, and she stuffed it into Yun Tangyin's hand: "You're pregnant, you can use it."

"Sister-in-law, keep it." Yun Tangyin pushed it back. "I still have some that Fu Yucheng bought, the osmanthus flavor."

Lying on the kang at night, Yun Tangyin touched the calming pillow woven by Fu Yucheng and smiled: "Don't you think my sister-in-law is especially happy today? She was even humming a song while she was talking."

“That’s right.” Fu Yucheng placed a small bamboo pillow behind her back. “Yuanzheng bought her face cream, which is more effective than anything else.”

He suddenly leaned closer and said, "I'll buy you two boxes tomorrow, rose-scented ones, they smell better than osmanthus ones."

"No need." Yun Tangyin grabbed his hand. "You are more precious than anything else."

She suddenly yawned. "The old Chinese medicine doctor said pregnant women should go to bed early. Let's rest."

Just as Fu Yucheng blew out the oil lamp, he heard the sound of bamboo sieves clattering outside the courtyard.

He put on his coat and went out to look. He saw Yu Xia squatting in the yard turning over the mugwort to dry. The moonlight fell on her back, like a layer of silver powder.

"Why isn't sister-in-law asleep yet?" Fu Yucheng handed her a small bamboo lantern. "Use it for light, don't tire yourself out."

Yu Xia took the lantern and smiled, "This mugwort needs to be turned over three times. I was thinking of making water for Yinyin tomorrow."

She suddenly looked up and asked, "Ah Cheng, do you think I'm being too hasty?"

"How could that be?" Fu Yucheng shoved a hot egg into her hand. "My mother said that when she was pregnant with me, she waited three years before she finally conceived."

He squatted down to help turn over the mugwort, saying, "Don't worry, sister-in-law, what's meant to come will come."

Yu Xia's tears suddenly fell onto the mugwort, glistening in the moonlight: "I'm just afraid that Yuanzheng is unhappy. He always says he wants a boy like Erzhuzi."

"That's not what you meant, brother." Fu Yucheng didn't know how to comfort him for a moment.

Yu Xia's tears fell even harder, but she smiled and said, "That rascal, he knows everything in his heart, but he just won't say it."

She wiped her face. "A few days ago I saw him secretly putting money into the temple's donation box. When he came back, he told me he hadn't gone. He must have been praying to the Bodhisattva to bless us with a child."

"That settles it then." Fu Yucheng smiled as he turned over the mugwort. "Your brother has you in his heart. If we really have a child, he'll definitely spoil the child rotten."

Yu Xia suddenly stuffed a handful of dried lavender into his hand: "It's for Yinyin's pillowcase. I picked it today, and it smells better than last year's."

She stood up and patted her apron. "Let's go back. Don't keep Yinyin waiting. Pregnant women need a lot of sleep."

As soon as Fu Yucheng entered the house, he saw Yun Tangyin sitting up, wearing a coat: "Sister-in-law is gone?"

"Yes, I saved some lavender for you." He put the leaves into the bamboo basket, "It means you'll come first thing tomorrow morning to teach me how to sew pillowcases."

Yun Tangyin snuggled closer to him: "Sister-in-law, you've put your mind at ease."

The next morning, Yu Xia indeed came carrying blue-printed fabric. Jiang Jianhua also came over with a sewing basket: "My family says that the bamboo pattern on this fabric is an auspicious sign, and it will surely help the child sleep soundly if we make pillowcases for them."

The three of them busied themselves around a small bamboo square table, with Yu Xia's needlework being even more skillful than Jiang Jianhua's.

Yun Tangyin slipped a piece of candy into her hand: "Sister-in-law, your stitches are even neater than an embroiderer's. After the baby is born, I'll ask you to make a patchwork garment for the baby."

Yu Xia's face lit up: "Really? I'll go back and rummage through my trunk right now, and find all the floral fabrics that came with my dowry."