Chapter 117 Is she pregnant?
Chen Jiahui greatly admires Qiao Xingyue.
I admire her powerful maternal love, her perseverance in the face of adversity, her exceptional wisdom, her composure in the face of adversity, and her insight that transcends her time.
In short, Chen Jiahui saw only admirable qualities in Qiao Xingyue, and everything she could learn from her.
The key point is that Qiao Xingyue clearly knew that she had a crush on Commander Xie, but she didn't have the slightest bit of hostility towards her. On the contrary, she was willing to tell her the truth and treat her as a friend.
Under the sun, the light in Chen Jiahui's eyes was as radiant as the sun itself.
Just hearing Qiao Xingyue's description of the future made Chen Jiahui feel as if she had foreseen a bright future, and she was filled with confidence in everything she saw.
"Commander Xie, I hope you and Xingyue are doing well."
"No matter how bitter or sweet life is, you two must stay together and work together to make life better and better."
"Commander Xie, I believe in you, and I believe in Xingyue. You two will definitely be alright."
A few meters away, under the shade of a tree, Xiao Songhua watched Chen Jiahui and Xie Zhongming talking, but couldn't hear what they were saying.
He saw a bright smile in Chen Jiahui's eyes that he had never seen before.
Only in front of Xie Zhongming could Comrade Jia Hui smile so brightly.
Xiao Songhua felt a pang of jealousy.
However, Xiao Songhua was never jealous of his good comrade-in-arms and good friend. He secretly made up his mind to cherish this hard-won opportunity and try to get Jia Hui to accept him.
In fact, Xiao Songhua would rather not have had the opportunity to register his marriage with Chen Jiahui.
He was afraid that Chen Jiahui would suffer hardships after going to the countryside with Commander Chen and Aunt Wang. After all, she had been pampered by Commander Chen and Aunt Wang since she was a child and was the apple of the Chen family's eye. She had never experienced the hardships of the countryside.
But what's done is done, and he couldn't keep Jia Hui. Jia Hui insisted on going to the countryside, so he did his best to provide her with more help and convenience.
While Chen Jiahui and Xie Zhongming were talking, Xiao Songhua felt a pang of jealousy and resentment.
However, since Jia Hui was willing to do this, Xiao Songhua would not stop or oppose her. Instead, he would help her and would not urge or complain.
He understood; his good friend Xie Zhongming was the person Chen Jiahui had secretly loved since childhood. Ever since they were playing in the mud in the compound, whenever Jiahui had something delicious or fun, Xie Zhongming was always the first person she thought of.
How could he be jealous?
For the past twenty-seven years, Xiao Songhua has been unable to win Chen Jiahui's heart, which is regrettable, but there is no need to fight or compete for it. He only hopes that he can win her heart in the future.
Xiao Songhua stood quietly and willingly under the shade of the tree, waiting.
Chen Jiahui spoke to Xie Zhongming for a few more minutes, and then added, "Alright, Commander Xie, Songhua and I went to the political department of the division headquarters to get the stamp, and we need to rush to the street office to pick up the certificate. I'll be going now."
Xie Zhongming listened attentively to every word Chen Jiahui said today.
Chen Jiahui always gave him the impression of being a well-behaved, sensible, kind, and quiet girl next door, making people feel very comfortable.
However, Xie Zhongming never had romantic feelings for Chen Jiahui, so after learning that Chen Jiahui had such feelings for him, he deliberately kept his distance from her.
She is not a vicious and scheming comrade like Deng Yingying.
Being around them is very comfortable.
As he nodded, Xie Zhongming's eyes were full of gratitude. "Okay, go ahead. Songhua is still waiting for you."
Xie Zhongming looked towards the shade of a jujube tree a few meters away. Xiao Songhua was standing there, kicking pebbles in the mud. He looked a little bored, but he waited patiently.
His brother was the same; he never harbored resentment or hatred towards Jia Hui because of her crush on him. On the contrary, he always thought of him and was a good brother worth cherishing with his life. He only wished that after the two of them got their marriage certificate, their hearts would come together as soon as possible.
After saying goodbye to him, Chen Jiahui walked to the jujube tree.
The sun was scorching hot in late summer.
The jujube tree outside the regimental headquarters' bungalow spread out a dense shade, filtering out dappled sunlight that fell on the soil and on Xiao Songhua's figure.
His military green uniform was faded from washing, yet without a single wrinkle. The top button was fastened tightly, making Xiao Songhua's shoulders and back appear even more upright and sturdy. He stood there straight, his feet shoulder-width apart, his hands hanging naturally at his sides, his jawline taut. It was a soldier's posture ingrained in his bones, even his fingertips exuding a sharp and decisive air.
His sword-like eyebrows slanted upwards towards his temples, his brow bones were high and straight, and his eyes looked like cold stars, so sharp that people dared not look directly at them. The contours of his entire face were extremely tough, without a trace of softness.
But when he saw Chen Jiahui and Xie Zhongming say goodbye and walk towards him, his sharp gaze suddenly changed.
The moment Chen Jiahui stopped in front of Xiao Songhua, Xiao Songhua seemed to have been struck by a pressure point. His previously relaxed body suddenly straightened up, his shoulders tensed up, and a trace of panic flashed across his eyes.
He instinctively tried to lift his hand, but then suddenly stopped, his fingers curling up as if he didn't know where to put them.
The lips that could normally speak eloquently at a conference were now pursed even more tightly.
Seeing the person I love makes me genuinely nervous and embarrassed.
He cleared his throat, his heart pounding like a swarm of rabbits, and asked her calmly, "Jiahui, are you done talking with Zhongming?"
Seeing Chen Jiahui nod, the panic in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by an irresistible tenderness.
His taut jawline relaxed, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly, the curve very faint, the soles of his feet melting away all the ruggedness on his face.
He nodded. "Okay, let's go to the political department of the division headquarters to get the stamp and signature, and then hurry to the street office to get the marriage certificate."
At this moment, his eyes were like they had been soaked in warm water, sparkling and filled with tiny glimmers of light. He looked at Chen Jiahui with a careful and cherishing gaze, as if afraid of disturbing the person in front of him.
He raised his hand, which was hanging by his trouser seam, and quickly hooked it onto a jujube branch, picking the reddest jujube from it.
He quickly wiped himself off and handed it to Chen Jiahui, saying, "The sun is blazing, you must be thirsty. Have a date."
Chen Jiahui took the bright red jujube.
Take a bite and cut it in half.
Sweet.
Seeing her biting into a jujube and a smile appear on her lips, Xiao Songhua quickly picked a large handful more so she could eat them as she walked.
The two quickly went to the division headquarters, completed all the procedures, and then hurried to the street office.
Both were military personnel, and they presented their officer's certificates, household registration books, marriage application forms, and filled out forms.
The clerk, Zhang, pushed up his reading glasses, flipped through the registration book without looking up, but his voice was incredibly kind: "Revolutionary couples in the new society must recite Chairman Duan's quotations before getting their marriage certificate to show their revolutionary determination."
After he finished speaking, the bungalow fell silent for a moment.
Xiao Songhua glanced at Chen Jiahui beside him, his gaze lingering on her. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and a tender, appreciative look appeared in his eyes. It was a tenderness hidden beneath the tough exterior of a soldier, as if he were afraid of breaking some precious treasure.
Chen Jiahui noticed his gaze and suddenly looked up.
The moment their eyes met, she saw the warmth in his gaze, and her nose suddenly stung with tears. She knew how risky his move had been, and that he was willing to shoulder the future risks to help her out of her predicament. Gratitude flowed like warm water through every corner of her heart. She looked at him, her eyes shining like stars, and gently blinked, suppressing the tears of gratitude.
Xiao Songhua opened his mouth and said, "Jiahui, let's recite it together."
“Okay!” Chen Jiahui nodded.
"We come from all corners of the country, united by a common revolutionary goal..."
Their voices were in perfect unison, echoing in the small, single-story office.
Sunlight streamed in obliquely through the window, falling on the figures of Xiao Songhua and Chen Jiahui standing side by side, their military uniform epaulets shimmering with tiny sparkles.
As he recited the second half, Xiao Songhua couldn't help but turn his head again and glance quickly at Chen Jiahui. Chen Jiahui happened to be looking over as well, and their eyes met. She smiled at him with gratitude, and Xiao Songhua's heart felt as if it had been gently struck by something.
After they finished reciting, Officer Zhang clapped his hands, picked up a pen, and quickly wrote in the register, "From now on, we are revolutionary comrades. We must support each other and serve the people together!"
As he spoke, Officer Zhang wrote down the names of Chen Jiahui and Xiao Songhua on a piece of paper that looked like an award certificate.
That piece of paper wasn't a real award certificate, but rather Xiao Songhua and Chen Jiahui's marriage certificate.
The two names are placed side by side, with two bright red handprints pressed on them, the ink spreading out like tiny red stars.
Xiao Songhua took the thin marriage certificate, her fingertips stroking the rough paper, a smile slowly spreading across her eyes.
This thin sheet of paper is his promise to her, and even more so, his commitment to weather any storms together in the future. No matter what difficulties Chen Jiahui encounters after going to the countryside, he will be her strongest support.
He handed the marriage certificate to Chen Jia Hui, saying, "Jia Hui, take a look."
Chen Jiahui took the marriage certificate, looked at it, and her heart trembled.
It was a very strange feeling.
She thought that if she couldn't marry Xie Zhongming, she would never marry anyone else in her life.
Unexpectedly, she married Xiao Songhua by chance.
She understood Xiao Songhua's feelings for her.
She understood how Xiao Songhua had secretly watched over Xie Zhongming, just as she had secretly watched over Xie Zhongming.
At this moment, besides feeling grateful, I also feel heartache.
This seemingly tough and rugged man, who was the most rugged among his brothers, turned out to be the most thoughtful.
"Songhua, thank you." Chen Jiahui's eyes were brimming with tears.
That was touching.
Chen Jiahui wiped away her tears, carefully folded the marriage certificate in half, and handed it to Xiao Songhua.
Xiao Songhua carefully placed it back into the canvas bag.
The two walked out of the street office building together.
Standing on the main road, Chen Jiahui talked as she walked.
“Our family is about to suffer a great calamity. If others knew, they would avoid us like the plague and wish they could sever all ties with the Chen family to avoid being harmed. But you, on the contrary, are still willing to marry me.”
Xiao Songhua stopped. "Jiahui, I'll say it again. No matter how long you stay in the countryside, I'll wait for you. I'll visit you, Uncle Chen, and Aunt Wang whenever I have time. If you encounter any difficulties, just send me a telegram. Don't write letters; it takes too much time. And don't be afraid to bother me. It would be my honor if I could help you."
“Songhua…” Chen Jiahui choked up a little, not because she was sad, but because she was moved.
How come she didn't know Xiao Songhua had these feelings for her before?
She believed that what Xingyue said was true, and that her parents would be able to return to the city smoothly in a few years.
She would then return to the city and properly repay Xiao Songhua.
He didn't tell Xiao Songhua about these thoughts, because she didn't want to make any promises, and only secretly made up her mind in her heart.
With deep gratitude, she said sincerely, "Thank you!"
"Jia Hui, actually I should be thanking you for giving me this opportunity. Thank you for believing in me."
Xiao Songhua was somewhat excited at this moment, wanting to make many promises to Chen Jiahui, but all the words he wanted to say ended up weighing on his chest, turning only into a tender look in his eyes, "Jiahui, let's go back and show the marriage certificate to Uncle Chen and Aunt Wang. Oh, no..."
Xiao Songhua scratched his head and smiled sheepishly, then changed his words, "It's for our parents to see."
...
In the Xie family courtyard.
As usual, Huang Guilan stood in the vegetable garden planted by Xingyue. She had originally planned to pick a few cucumbers to make a cold cucumber salad with porridge for dinner, but now she was standing in a daze in front of a row of cucumber trellises because of the news that she was going to be sent down for reform.
Only she, Qiao Xingyue, the old lady Chen Suying, her four grandsons Zhiyuan, Mingyuan, Boyuan, and Chengyuan, and An'an and Ningning remained at home.
The eldest and second eldest sons, along with their wives, went back to their respective units after breakfast.
The third and fifth brothers also went back.
Qiao Xingyue was cooking corn porridge in front of the stove. The corn was picked from the field, and the porridge grains in the pot were bubbling.
In the past, I could always smell the fragrance of corn and rice porridge.
Today, Qiao Xingyue looked at a pot of thick porridge. Although her stomach was growling with hunger, she had no appetite at all.
Huang Guilan said she was going to pick cucumbers, but she's been gone for half a day and should have been back by now, yet there's no sign of her.
Qiao Xingyue walked to the stove, turned off the fire, and prepared to go to the yard to see what was going on.
She put down the fire tongs and was getting up when she suddenly felt a churning in her stomach.
That feeling was all too familiar.
When she first became pregnant with An An and Ning Ning, she also experienced this churning sensation in her stomach, followed by dry heaving and vomiting up the acidic fluid.
She lay down in front of the ash trough in the stove and vomited for a long time.
She hadn't eaten much at noon, and now it was getting dark. Her stomach was empty, and all she felt was acid reflux, which made her choke and bring tears to her eyes.
Inside the stove, orange flames licked the bottom of the pot, making her cheeks feel hot.
The smoke from the firewood and the sweet aroma of the corn porridge in the pot swirled around my nose, making my stomach churn.
Suddenly, a thought popped into her mind: these past few days, she couldn't stand the smell of cooking oil, her appetite wasn't as good as before, she couldn't eat anything, and she was extremely sleepy, always wanting to lie down on the bed and take a nap.
She was a doctor and knew she definitely didn't have any illness.
No matter what illness or condition, these symptoms shouldn't be present. Could it be...?
After a while, she managed to suppress the nausea and acid reflux, sat down on the small stool behind her to calm herself, and subconsciously raised her right hand, placing her index, middle, and ring fingers together on the cun, guan, and chi pulse points of her left wrist.
A clear pulse could be felt at my fingertips.
She focused intently on the pulse; it was smooth and flowing, like pearls rolling on a jade plate, with a steady rhythm and ample strength. This was…
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