Song Zhi felt a little embarrassed when he heard his mother's words, but he still said confidently: "Isn't the baby in your belly his? I've suffered so much, isn't it his responsibility to suffer a little?"

Song Zhi didn't know what was wrong with her. She became very pretentious after getting pregnant.

Song's mother rolled her eyes at her and said, "Just keep talking tough!"

After purchasing everything that needed to be bought, Song's mother took Song Zhi home. While there was still time in the afternoon, she cut the cloth she bought into the appropriate size.

"This is too small." Song Zhi read a book for a while, stood up to relax, walked to Song's mother, picked up the child's clothes and looked at them again and again.

"A newborn baby is only this big, and this one is still a little too big!" Mother Song said unhappily as she looked at Song Zhi who was a little curious about the clothes he picked up.

"Go out and get some sun while the sun is shining brightly. Don't stay in the house reading books all day. You'll lose your energy." Song's mother saw that she read books whenever she had free time and had no time to relax. She couldn't say anything when she was studying, so now she took advantage of her free time to nag her.

"I get it. Don't sit here sewing all the time. Stand up and move around." Song Zhi said to his mother seriously.

Song's mother was amused by her preaching look and shook her head helplessly. She was really just a child.

"Your professor is leaving tomorrow. How will you arrange your work in the future?" Song's mother heard a few days ago that Professor Yan was going back to Shanghai. Professor Yan finally decided to take someone with him. As expected, the person he chose was Ma Weicheng.

"I still need to study and research as before, but I'm planning to quit my job. I can't learn anything new by staying in the same circle. I just want to finish studying the textbooks first."

"I haven't asked you yet? Why are you looking at these textbooks?" Song's mother had actually been wondering about this for a long time. Now that there are no college entrance exams anymore, it's actually useless to learn this knowledge, and there's no need to study it anymore.

Song Zhi hesitated for a moment, then leaned over to whisper in Song's mother's ear, "I heard from others that the college entrance examination results might be announced next year. It's very likely. You must never tell anyone about this. Although this news spreads every year, I heard that this time it's almost certain, and the announcement may be made soon."

"Really? Why are you saying it now?" Song's mother looked very anxious and cautious. She had always hoped that her daughter could study hard, know right from wrong, and know etiquette.

But now there is this opportunity. If she can get into university, let alone eat government food, she will be more than qualified to be a leader. Although she often says that girls should just study and gain knowledge, and work is secondary, but if she can really study hard, find a good job, or even become a leader, wouldn't that be better.

She was 100% supportive of her daughter's decision to study for the college entrance exam, but she hesitated as she spoke: "But you're about to give birth. Even if the notice is true, you still have to take good care of yourself and study in moderation. You can't just stay indoors all day studying."

"I know, Mom. I know this. You see, I'm just studying now and will come out for a walk in a while." Song Zhi listened to his mother's nagging words of concern in his ears with a smile on his face, without showing any impatience.

Not long after, Gu Huaijin got off work. Song's mother was cooking in the kitchen. Gu Huaijin bought some vegetables and brought them back when he got off work.

Ever since Song's mother came over, the family has almost always used firewood to cook meals, because Song's mother said that the meals cooked this way would taste better. In fact, Song Zhi didn't feel any difference. She thought there was something wrong with her sense of smell, and asked Gu Huaijin privately.

"Mom said that rice cooked with matches tastes better. Have you tasted it?" Song Zhi asked curiously while lying on the bed.

Gu Huaijin glanced at her at first, not understanding what she meant by asking that. Finally, he answered seriously, "Of course there will be different flavors. Different heat levels will produce different flavors. Perhaps our sense of taste isn't particularly sensitive, so we can't smell it."

Song Zhi couldn't possibly agree with this. "How could it not be sensitive? I cook all the time, so how could I not be able to taste the difference?"

Gu Huaijin understood what she said. She was worried about not being able to smell anything. After thinking for a moment, he said, "It might be a psychological effect."

"I also feel that it's my mother's psychological effect." Song Zhi heard that Gu Huaijin agreed with him and nodded in agreement.

When Song Zhi thought about this now, she felt that Gu Huaijin was just perfunctorily answering her, and it didn't seem like a serious answer at all.

"While it's still daylight, I'll go chop some firewood. You guys eat first and don't wait for me." Gu Huaijin instructed Song Zhi.

Song Zhi responded with a "yes" and then said, "Don't come back too late, and be careful on the road."

Gu Huaijin nodded, walked to the wall, took the tools and walked out of the yard.

"Where is Xiaojin?" Song's mother came out after finishing her meal. She looked around but couldn't see Gu Huaijin, so she asked Song Zhi who was beside her.

"He's gone to chop wood. Let's eat first."

"Hey kid, there's still plenty of firewood in the kitchen. Go out when it's time to eat."

Song Zhi turned his head and looked into the kitchen. The firewood, which was originally full and had been chopped and piled up by Gu Huaihuaijin, now only had a few scattered pieces left. It might be difficult to even cook a meal.

Song Zhi's expression was indescribable. He didn't refute his mother, picked up the bowl in front of him and started eating.

In the evening, when Gu Huaijin came back, Song Zhi heard the noise and came out of the bedroom wearing a coat.

"I'll go heat up some food for you."

"Stop busying yourself. Go and have a rest. I'll go heat up the food." Gu Huaijin quickly stopped her when he saw her going to heat up the food.

Song Zhi didn't listen to him, but just asked him to hurry up and wash up and go eat.

Song Zhi was woken up by pain in the middle of the night. She felt her calf suddenly cramp and the pain made her break out in a cold sweat.

Gu Huaijin was a light sleeper to begin with, and when he heard Song Zhi's painful voice, he quickly turned on the light and sat up.

"Zhizhi."

Song Zhi opened his eyes dazedly, waiting for a few seconds to adjust to the light in the room. He slowly woke up and said to Gu Huaijin: "My legs hurt, it seems like a cramp."

Gu Huaijin paused, pulled back the quilt, and asked Song Zhi where it hurt. After determining the location, he used his rough fingertips to massage Song Zhi's calves. His movements were careful and gentle, and there was no impatience on his face.