"How can that be? Mom, you were just discharged from the hospital not long ago!" Qian Luoshui said to Chu Wanfang with concern. "Mom, don't worry too much about me. Your health is still very important. Since you came back, you haven't eaten more than half a bowl of rice!"

"Mom stopped eating because she was full. When she was at the base, she ate millet rice and steamed buns, but rarely white rice and white flour, let alone meat! Eating meat and rice every day is too much for her body to handle!"

Chu Wanfang hurriedly explained that she wasn't unable to eat, but rather that she was full.

"Mom..." Shen Qiaoyue looked at her mother and said, "Xiaoyue, don't let Lu Chen send any meat or rice to the house. You'll have to prepare even more things after you have a baby! I have a fixed amount of supplies every month, and the relevant departments will come to visit regularly. The health care doctor will also come to check on us regularly, so don't worry."

Shen Qiaoyue wanted to speak, but was interrupted by her mother. Seeing this, she could only lower her head and remain silent.

"Shall I take a look at your aunt?" Liu Xinlan stood up, walked over to Chu Wanfang, and checked her pulse. "Hmm, your aunt's health is slowly recovering. She just needs to rest more and eat more protein-rich foods. There's nothing wrong with her!"

Chu Wanfang looked at her daughter-in-law and daughter and said, "Xinlan is a doctor, so you should believe what she says."

Shen Qiaoyue and Qian Luoshui had nothing to say to each other.

After lunch, Shen Qiaoyue went to mail a letter to her sister.

Liu Xinlan and Xu Qianli went shopping nearby.

After sending the items, Shen Qiaoyue bought some necessities and met up at the designated place.

On the way back by car, Shen Qiaoyue asked, "Xinlan, how is Xiaoli's condition?"

“I really didn’t expect Xiaoli’s leg to become so infected after two surgeries in one week. Fortunately, she didn’t completely miss the treatment window and is now stable, but she still needs to stay in the hospital for observation for a while.” Liu Xinlan sat in the back row, supporting Shen Qiaoyue, and added, “I’m thinking of getting her a wheelchair after she’s discharged, but the hospital doesn’t have many!”

"Can't I use a cane?" Shen Qiaoyue asked curiously.

Liu Xinlan said, "A cane isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it would be better for Xia Xiaoli to use a wheelchair in the early stages after being discharged from the hospital."

“Besides, the roads in the family compound are much smoother, so it’s definitely more comfortable to sit in a wheelchair!” Liu Xinlan added.

Xu Qianli was driving when he heard what Liu Xinlan said. He said, "Let's see if we can replace one of the soldiers in the unit."

“No, their injuries are not suitable for crutches; they can only use wheelchairs.” Liu Xinlan refused without even thinking.

She had already considered it once before.

“Zhang Dali had already considered this and asked the master craftsman in the village in front of the army to make a wheelchair, so you don’t have to worry about it!” Lu Chen quickly explained when he heard the couple almost arguing.

"Hey!" Xu Qianli became anxious again and asked Lu Chen, "So you already knew all along, but you didn't say anything."

"Isn't this something you guys are talking about, and I can't get a word in edgewise?" Lu Chen was exhausted. The recent high-intensity training had left him with no proper rest day or night, training both during the day and at night.

Shen Qiaoyue could hear the weariness in Lu Chen's voice.

"Lu Chen, you should take a rest." Shen Qiaoyue knew that if she hadn't been going back to her parents' home today, she probably wouldn't have rested.

Lu Chen nodded, leaned back in his seat, and closed his eyes to rest.

The days seemed to pass by slowly.

Three months have passed in the blink of an eye.

Shen Qiaoyue's belly was so big that she could no longer go to work. She was almost nine months pregnant, so she had to apply for leave to protect her pregnancy.

The work was left to Jiang Jinyao and the other three people to handle.

Every evening, Jiang Jinyao would come over to talk to her about the problems she encountered at work.

Director Lü Zhengshan and the factory leaders would also come to visit her.

Seeing that Shen Qiaoyue was about to give birth, Qian Luoshui and Chu Wanfang moved back to their family compound ahead of time.

Xia Xiaoli's leg has also healed, and she is slowly regaining her normal walking posture these days, although she still needs crutches for assistance.

Now that her leg has healed, Xia Xiaoli spends her days at home reading and helping with cooking.

Xu Miaoya's family used to study traditional Chinese medicine, and she even passed the medical licensing exam.

Xia Xiaoli usually studies acupuncture and takes notes with Xu Miaoya.

She has a high aptitude for learning, and with Xu Miaoya's help, she decided to apply for a license at the village clinic in the next village after her leg healed.

Because she had not received any professional training, she could only get promoted by passing exams at the village level.

During summer vacation, Xu Xiaosi spent her days playing with several other children in the compound.

Zhang Juanjuan was taken away by her family, and Wang Sandan didn't go home all day.

Wang Sandan's mother was also very arrogant and domineering in the family compound.

Xia Xiaoli walked very carefully, leading Xu Xiaosi to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy vegetables.

When Xu Xiaosi ran into Xia Xiaoli, she said to her unhappily, "Sister Xia, this old lady is annoying. Let's ignore her."

Xia Xiaoli didn't speak, but walked with her head down, leaning on her cane.

“My child!” Li Laidi came up and grabbed Xia Xiaoli with a smile, saying, “Xiaoli, your leg is almost healed, right? My husband San Dan is getting a divorce soon. Come home with me and be my daughter-in-law. I think you are a fertile child.”

"Auntie, I'm not thinking about marriage, let go of me!" Xia Xiaoli panicked and tried to break free from Li Laidi's hand, but Li Laidi held on tightly.

"Grandma, you're so annoying!" Xu Xiaosi stepped forward angrily, helped Li Laidi break free from her grasp, and spoke her mind.

"How can you talk like that?" Li Laidi angrily pushed Xu Xiaosi away.

This caused Xu Xiaosi to be pushed away, slip on the pebbles, and fall directly to the ground.

"Ah..." Xu Xiaosi felt the pain and burst into tears.

Li Laidi still didn't stop, and directly pulled Xia Xiaoli along.

“You’re so beautiful. Even though you have a limp and don’t have a job, you’ll definitely be able to give my son a son. My son has already gone back and divorced that woman. When he comes back, you can marry my son.”

Xia Xiaoli struggled free and looked at Xu Xiaosi with concern.

“Auntie, let go of me. Battalion Commander Wang won’t get a divorce. He loves Sister Juanjuan very much. He’s going back this time to bring her back. Everyone in the family compound knows that.” Xia Xiaoli tried to reason with Li Laidi, but Li Laidi seemed to have gone crazy, “Impossible! Impossible.”

After finishing dinner, Shen Qiaoyue went out to digest her food and was supported by Lu Chen when she witnessed this scene.

Lu Chen looked up and made eye contact with him.

"Brother Shen, go and take a look." Shen Qiaoyue saw that Xu Xiaosi was lying on the ground crying, and it must have been Li Laidi who did it.

Lu Chen worriedly helped Shen Qiaoyue to the side under a big tree.

"Be careful, I'll be back soon," Lu Chen instructed.