Chapter 69

After school, Han Shuo stood at the school gate as usual, waiting for Meng Yuxiu to pick him up.

Meng Yuxiu arrived quickly; Han Shuo had only been standing there for two minutes when he saw Meng Yuxiu riding his bicycle over.

A cardboard box was tied to the back of the bicycle. Meng Yuxiu stopped the bike, untied the rope, and then let Han Shuo hold it in his arms before taking Han Shuo back.

Han Shuo noticed the smile in his eyes and raised an eyebrow, asking, "What's wrong? Did you find money on the road? Are you that happy?"

"Open the box and take a look," Meng Yuxiu said mysteriously.

Han Shuo handed the box he was carrying to Meng Yuxiu, and then he opened the cardboard box that Meng Yuxiu had brought to school that morning.

When I left, the box was full of scattered beads; now it's full of finished bracelets.

"Wow!" Han Shuo asked him in surprise, "Are you an octopus? You finished stringing them all in one day?"

Then he asked suspiciously, "Don't tell me you've been stringing beads all day at school? Hey, that won't do. Even though we'll have to go back eventually, since you're here all day, you have to study hard and not disappoint your parents."

"I didn't," Meng Yuxiu told Han Shuo with a smile. "I outsourced the bead making to other people. I told them that they would get six cents for each string of beads and we would get four cents. Although we would get less money, we could get more handmade orders in the future. In the end, my classmate would make money, and we would also make a lot, and we would save a lot of effort."

Han Shuo couldn't help but look at Meng Yuxiu with new respect. He gave him a thumbs up and praised him repeatedly, "You're quite something, Meng Xiaoxiu! I didn't expect you to be such a dork when it comes to love, but you're actually quite clever in this area!"

Meng Yuxiu was so flattered that even with his lips pursed, he couldn't hide the smile that was spreading across his face.

He told Han Shuo, "Go settle the bill with Sister Zhang tonight, and I'll settle the money with my classmate tomorrow too."

"Okay! I'll go settle the bill when I get back. I'm taking two boxes of beads this time."

The young couple made their money and happily rode their bicycles back to Changle Lane.

Han Shuo handed the bracelet to Sister Zhang, who then counted it and gave Han Shuo the money and two boxes of beads.

These past few days, Meng Yuxiu has been rushing through dinner before going to tutoring, not returning to his rented room until around nine o'clock at night. Although he's been busy every day, his life with Han Shuo in Hecheng is finally on track.

As the weather got colder, Han Shuo's belly grew bigger and bigger. It wasn't so noticeable when he wore a shirt before, but now when he wore his old close-fitting sweater, his belly was very tight.

Sister Zhang and the group of older women in the workshop, being experienced women themselves, immediately noticed that Han Shuo's every move exuded a hint of pregnancy.

"Xiao Han," Sister Zhang couldn't help but ask Han Shuo one day, "your belly is so big, are you pregnant?"

When Han Shuo first entered university, he felt a little awkward walking around campus, but others would only look at him curiously, and that was it. Now, after so long, Han Shuo can confidently walk around in public.

So when Sister Zhang asked him, he could laugh and answer frankly, "Haha, you were right, I'm pregnant, almost six months along."

When Sister Zhang and the people in the workshop heard this, they were both shocked and delighted, and they all congratulated Han Shuo.

When Meng Yuxiu returned from grocery shopping, he was called into the workshop again, and teased for a while before the workshop would let him off the hook.

Back in his rented room, Meng Yuxiu went to the balcony to cook. It was already dark, and the balcony light appeared hazy in the darkness, suggesting that a cold front was approaching.

While cooking, Meng Yuxiu remembered something and said to the people in the room, "Han Shuo, a letter came from home today, but I didn't have time to read it."

Where is it?

"In my schoolbag."

Han Shuo put down the beads in his hand, got out of bed, and went to rummage through Meng Yuxiu's schoolbag.

After taking out the envelope, he tore off the seal, took out the neatly folded letter, and unfolded the letter.

"What did you write?" Meng Yuxiu asked, peeking out from the balcony door.

Han Shuo simply took the letter and walked over, leaning against the door frame to read it to him.

"Xiao Xiu, it's Mom."

When Xiao Shuo left home, his mother only prepared a few thin sweaters for him. Now that the weather is cold, you should buy him a few thick sweaters, two thick cotton-padded coats, and long johns. If you can find corduroy trousers, you should buy him a few pairs of corduroy trousers. Corduroy trousers are warm, you know?

Also, for the place you two are renting, buy a thick quilt. I wonder what the climate is like there? When the weather is sunny, you should air out the quilt and mattress more often, and wash your clothes frequently. Winter is coming, so make more hot soup. Next, your dad will tell you something.

Xiaoxiu, this is Dad. I've wired you the living expenses for the next two months and the money for Xiaoshuo's clothes. Remember to collect it. Study hard, take good care of Xiaoshuo, and keep both of you healthy..."

In such damp and cold weather, reading the letters sent by their families warmed both Han Shuo and Meng Yuxiu's hearts.

"Is that all?" Meng Yuxiu asked.

"What else? What's the rush?" Han Shuo flicked the letter and continued reading, "Xiao Xiu, remember what Dad told you before I left last time. Dad will say it again: Xiao Shuo is more pregnant now, so don't do anything reckless! Your mother is worried that you won't learn your lesson and can't sleep well every night because of her worries. Don't disappoint your parents! If anything happens to Xiao Shuo, I'll rush to Hecheng and beat you to death!"

"..." Meng Yuxiu had been smiling as he cooked, thanks to his family's concern, but when Han Shuo read this sentence, his smile immediately fell.

"Hahahaha!" Han Shuo had often heard Meng Yuxiu say that his father was strict, and he was quite intimidated by it.

But after marrying into the family, he found that Meng's father was cold on the outside but warm on the inside, which he actually found quite nice. In any case, when he and Meng Yuxiu lived at home after their marriage, he never heard Meng's father say a harsh word to him.

Unexpectedly, Meng's father had secretly spoken his harsh words to Meng Yuxiu.

"Your dad said he'd beat you to death! Hahaha!" Han Shuo couldn't help but tease.

Meng Yuxiu felt a little depressed.

Han Shuo stopped teasing him and continued reading. He exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my, there's even one for my brother!"

"Your brother?" Meng Yuxiu asked in confusion, "Why would your brother be in the same letter as my parents?"

"Sigh, it must be because my brother went to Xiqiao Village." Han Shuo stopped reading the letter and carefully read the following words under the light.

Xiao Shuo, this is your older brother.

Take good care of yourself in Hecheng, and also look after Xiaomeng; the two of you should get along well. I'm doing well at home, and Tingting is doing well too, so don't worry. If anything happens over there, write to me.

Han Hong only said a few words, but Han Shuo read them over and over again.

He folded the letter back up and put it back in the envelope. He went outside and said to Meng Yuxiu, "Should we not know about the money sent from home?"

Meng Yuxiu: "I know, I will send it back."

"Hmm." Han Shuo nodded and said, "You should also write a letter home, otherwise your family will definitely find it strange if you send the money back, and they might even come to Hecheng."

Meng Yuxiu put the stir-fried dishes into a bowl, and after a moment of hesitation, he said, "Then I'll say in the letter that I'm working part-time in Hecheng and have earned money now, and that they shouldn't send me any more living expenses."

"OK."

Meng Yuxiu had been tutoring for a month and a half. On weekdays, he would leave early in the morning and not return until evening. However, this Sunday he set aside a morning because he had to take Han Shuo shopping for clothes and then send the letter and money he had written home.

Since they had already arrived at the post office, Han Shuo suggested that he open a savings account so that all the money they earned could be deposited into it.

After finishing all that, Meng Yuxiu rode his bicycle and took Han Shuo to a street in Hecheng. Before leaving, Han Shuo asked Sister Zhang where to buy the clothes.

Sister Zhang told them about a street, saying that there were many street vendors selling food and clothing at reasonable prices.

When Han Shuo and Meng Yuxiu arrived, they discovered that the street was similar to the annual market day in a rural town. It was a pedestrian street with stalls on both sides and shouts from all directions.

They sell everything: dried goods, snacks, toys, popcorn, and clothes are simply hung on a long pole, filling an entire row.

The sun was shining brightly in the morning, so everyone went out for a stroll. Although there were no cars on the street, Meng Yuxiu's bicycle was unusable, so he had to drag it along the way.

Han Shuo picked out clothes in larger sizes. He didn't care much about clothes, especially those from this era. He just asked about the price and if he thought it was reasonable, that was enough.

But Meng Yuxiu was very meticulous.

He lowered the bicycle kickstand and then reached out to touch the cotton-padded jacket that Han Shuo had chosen.

"Be careful, don't let someone steal your bicycle." Han Shuo quickly grabbed the bicycle.

"No, I'll be careful."

Han Shuo watched with amusement as Meng Yuxiu focused on inspecting the quality of the clothes, using both hands to feel the front, back, and inside of the garment.

"Young man, the quality of these clothes is fine. I've been setting up my stall here for many years," the proprietress said, trying to sell them.

However, Meng Yuxiu simply nodded and said "uh-huh" twice, then gathered around the stall with a group of older women, picking up items one by one from one end of the pole to the other.

Fortunately, Han Shuo was holding onto his bicycle. Given how engrossed Meng Yuxiu was in picking out clothes, if he had followed along, the two of them would likely have been dumbfounded when they looked back after they finished.

"That's enough." Han Shuo could no longer see Meng Yuxiu's back, only his head standing out in the crowd.

"Men's clothes just need to be wearable, don't be so fussy!"

Han Shuo waited for ten minutes before finally seeing Meng Yuxiu come out carrying two cotton-padded coats.

"All done? Bought it? Can we go now?" Just when Han Shuo thought he was free, Meng Yuxiu grabbed a cotton-padded coat and put it on him.

"……what?"

"Give it a try," Meng Yuxiu said. "Give it a try."

"..." Han Shuo was truly speechless. He finally understood why some men didn't like going shopping with their wives—who could stand that? However, since he doted on Meng Yuxiu, he obediently stretched out his arms to put on his clothes.

"How about it?"

Meng Yuxiu nodded. "That's good."

"Then hurry up and buy it," Han Shuo urged him.

Meng Yuxiu hurriedly took money out of his bag.

However, after buying the cotton-padded coat, he still had to buy a sweater, cotton-padded trousers, and a mattress. Han Shuo glanced at the endless street and said somewhat desperately, "I can't take it anymore. I'll just buy two things at random. I really can't take it anymore."

Meng Yuxiu glanced at Han Shuo's protruding belly under his clothes, looked around, and then pointed in a direction to Han Shuo, "Why don't you sit by the roadside? I'll come back to you after I've finished shopping."

Han Shuo nodded twice.

After placing the bicycle and the cotton-padded coat he had bought aside for Han Shuo to watch over, Meng Yuxiu rejoined the crowd.

Han Shuo sat by the roadside for a full hour, and saw Meng Yuxiu walking towards him with a bundle of blankets under his right arm and a bag of pants under his left arm.

Now that the shopping was finally done, Han Shuo couldn't ride his bicycle back because the things they bought had to be tied to the back seat. Meng Yuxiu found a rope somewhere and tied the mattress and clothes securely.

In the afternoon, Meng Yuxiu had to go tutor. It was almost noon, and he wouldn't have time to cook dinner when he got back. So Han Shuo asked Meng Yuxiu to go to the small restaurant over there and buy two boxed lunches.

Since they were carrying bicycles and a bunch of stuff and didn't plan to go into a restaurant, Meng Yuxiu bought boxed lunches and the two of them sat down by the roadside to eat. Anyway, there were quite a few people eating by the roadside or eating while strolling around, just like them.

Although the sun was out, it was still chilly outdoors as winter approached.

The boxed lunches of this era were made of a foam-like material, without compartments, with the rice topped with vegetables. Meng Yuxiu had prepared some mung bean sprouts and a chicken leg. Han Shuo was already hungry, and holding such a steaming hot boxed lunch, he felt warm and satisfied as he ate.

"Can you come back early tonight?" Han Shuo asked Meng Yuxiu while eating. "I'll go buy some tofu and a fish head this evening. Come back early, and we'll stew fish head with tofu."

Meng Yuxiu said, "I will try to get back as soon as possible."

Han Shuo finished his meal in a few bites, put the lunchbox aside, rubbed his stomach, and stretched.

Looking at Han Shuo's increasingly round belly, Meng Yuxiu was filled with joy. He couldn't help but reach out and touch it while still holding his chopsticks.

Han Shuo urged him, "Hurry up and eat. Why are you acting like a child? You want to play while you're eating."

Meng Yuxiu grabbed his chopsticks and shoveled two mouthfuls into his mouth.

"Han Shuo," he suddenly said to Han Shuo, "Should we wait until we go home for the New Year to choose a name for the child together with the family?"

Han Shuo immediately agreed, "Sure! I'll call my brother to come too."

"Mm." Meng Yuxiu smiled and continued eating.

Han Shuo asked him, "Then let's choose a nickname together?"

Meng Yuxiu nudged Han Shuo lightly with his elbow, "You take it, I'll listen to you."

Then, as if remembering something, he added, "No Ultraman, no idiots."

"Hehehe." Han Shuo leaned closer and chuckled, "What? Afraid he'll end up like you, a complete idiot?"

Meng Yuxiu chuckled and hummed twice.

"Well then," Han Shuo pondered for a moment, "your parents want you to study hard, and my brother wants me to study hard too. Since our whole family are obsessed with studying, let's just have you go to school, let's call it 'going to school.' Studying is fine... or maybe becoming a top student! How about we fulfill the high hopes of the whole family?"

"...Isn't that a bad idea..." Meng Yuxiu couldn't help but twitch his eye.

"Look at you," Han Shuo said speechlessly, "Just let me take it, but you're not satisfied with it anyway."

Meng Yuxiu: "Other people's kids all have such innocent nicknames, can ours be a little more innocent too? To sound a little cuter?"

Han Shuo rubbed his chin with his fingers and muttered to himself, "A little more childlike? Well... study hard and make progress every day, little Erlang..."

Han Shuo's eyes suddenly lit up, and he clapped his hands: "I've got it! Let's call it schoolbag! Isn't that what the song goes? 'Carrying a schoolbag to school'."

He turned to Meng Yuxiu, his eyes gleaming, and asked, "What do you think?"

“Backpack,” Meng Yuxiu murmured, then nodded. “A small backpack.”

Meng Yuxiu immediately smiled.

"Okay, let's call it Little Backpack." He couldn't help but reach out and touch it again, saying softly, "Backpack."

The child's nickname was chosen, and the boxed lunch was finished. Meng Yuxiu was going to ride his bicycle back alone, while he accompanied Han Shuo to the bus stop to wait for the bus.

Ever since they decided on the child's nickname, Han Shuo noticed that Meng Yuxiu had become unusually excited. Even under the bus stop, surrounded by so many people waiting for the bus, he couldn't help but smile.

The bus slowly pulled up to the stop. Meng Yuxiu noticed the people under the bus stop sign were getting restless, and then glanced at the bus not far away.

Through the car window, the car was probably packed with people.

He said with trepidation, "How about we wait for the next trip?"

Han Shuo also noticed the crowded bus, but this bus stop was closest to the pedestrian street, and judging from the bustling scene on the pedestrian street today, the next one would probably be just as crowded.

"Let's just go this way. It'll save us from standing here in the wind."

Meng Yuxiu frowned and reminded him, "Then be careful and don't get pushed in the stomach. If you really can't take it, get off the bus."

"It's alright." Han Shuo patted his arm to reassure him. "Go back now, and be careful while riding your bike."

"good."