Fu Yucheng was applying varnish to the crib when Yun Tangyin brought over a bowl of pigeon soup: "Take a break before you finish, drink it while it's hot."
He put down the brush, took it, and frowned after only two sips: "How much astragalus did you put in? This tastes like military medicine soup."
"The old Chinese medicine doctor said that the more you put in, the more effective it will be." Yun Tangyin put a piece of sesame candy in his mouth. "If you don't like the bitterness, just suck on a piece of candy."
She suddenly pointed to the bed railing, "We need to carve some patterns here."
Fu Yucheng traced lines on the bamboo with his finger: "Carve a peony? It matches the pattern you embroidered."
"Let's carve bamboo instead," she said, pressing his hand. "Bamboo symbolizes peace and good fortune."
Just then, Erzhuzi rushed into the yard carrying a bamboo rattle drum: "Look! This one I made is even louder than my second brother's!"
The drumhead was covered with a layer of red silk cloth, which was leftover material given to him by Yun Tangyin.
"You look so energetic." Yun Tangyin stuffed a handful of dried hawthorns into his pocket. "Go see if your brother Fu can make a smaller one for his future little brother to play with."
Just as Erzhuzi ran out, Fu Yuanshan came in carrying a bundle of thin bamboo strips: "Acheng, let's weave a crib bumper for the baby, to keep out the wind in winter."
He spread a bamboo mat on the ground. "I'll teach you how to weave a swastika pattern, it's auspicious."
Just as Fu Yucheng picked up the bamboo strips, Yun Tangyin stopped him: "Eat first. I steamed some red date cake, which is good for replenishing qi and blood."
At the dinner table, Yu Xia suddenly scooped a spoonful of sesame paste into Yun Tangyin's bowl: "This has walnuts in it, you should eat more."
She nudged Fu Yucheng's arm. "You should eat more too. Don't always think about putting food on her plate."
Fu Yucheng scooped a spoonful into his bowl: "I'm just worried she won't have enough to eat."
He suddenly remembered something, "Oh right, Commander Zhang said there's an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor at the military hospital, and all the women trying to conceive go to him. I'll take you to see him next week."
Yun Tangyin was about to shake her head when Yu Xia pressed her hand down: "You should go, you should go. It's the right thing to find an old Chinese medicine doctor to regulate your body."
The next morning, Fu Yucheng took Yun Tangyin to the military hospital on his bicycle.
While the traditional Chinese medicine doctor was taking her pulse, Fu Yucheng stared nervously at the pulse pillow: "Doctor, is there anything wrong with her health?"
The old Chinese medicine doctor stroked his beard and smiled: "The young lady is quite robust, but she is a little short of qi and blood."
He wrote out a prescription: "Get the medicine according to this prescription, decoct it once in the morning and once in the evening, and take two pieces of donkey-hide gelatin every day."
Just as Fu Yucheng was about to write down the recipe, Yun Tangyin had already taken out paper and pen: "I've written it down."
On the way back, Fu Yucheng suddenly stuffed a package of oil paper into her hand: "These are jujubes with donkey-hide gelatin that I bought for you. Have some for now."
Yun Tangyin had just taken a bite when she saw a small stall selling bamboo toys by the roadside.
The stall owner held up a bamboo dragonfly and shouted, "For kids, two cents each!"
Fu Yucheng suddenly stopped the car: "Buy two."
He handed the bamboo dragonfly to Yun Tangyin, "Why don't you try it? You didn't play with one when you were little, did you?"
Yun Tangyin twirled the bamboo dragonfly and laughed, "I've never played with one before."
She comes from a wealthy family; she's never played this game before.
Sunlight shone on her face, making the silver hairpin gleam.
When he got home, Fu Yucheng went to the kitchen and said, "I'm going to brew the medicine."
"Let me do it," Yun Tangyin stopped him. "You don't know how to decoct medicine. Don't boil up all the dregs."
Fu Yucheng scratched his head and laughed, "Then I'll start a fire for you."
As the smell of medicine filled the courtyard, Erzhuzi ran in, looked around, and suddenly lowered his voice: "Aunt Fu, do you have a little brother? My mother said you've been taking a lot of medicine lately."
Yun Tangyin smiled and pinched his cheek: "I'll tell you first when I get pregnant."
As Fu Yucheng carved patterns on the crib in the evening, Yun Tangyin sat beside him embroidering baby socks.
The soles of the socks are embroidered with a pair of little tigers, the stitches are fine and dense.
"Do you think the tiger's tail looks realistic?" she asked, holding it up.
Fu Yucheng leaned closer to look: "It looks just like it! It looks even more like the tiger that Erzhuzi made up."
He suddenly bent down and kissed her on the cheek, saying, "My wife is so capable."
Just as Yun Tangyin was about to speak, Jiang Jianhua came in carrying a bamboo medicine pot: "I heard from Yuanshan that you two are decocting medicine. This is a medicine pot that came with my dowry from my family. It's the best for decocting medicine."
"Thank you, Second Sister-in-law." Yun Tangyin slipped a piece of red date cake into her hand. "It's freshly steamed, have a taste."
Jiang Jianhua took a bite and smiled: "It's sweeter than the one I steamed. By the way, I found you a folk remedy: stew mutton with black beans. It's said to warm the body."
Fu Yucheng suddenly stood up: "I'll buy a sheep tomorrow and stew it for you."
"No need, no need." Yun Tangyin stopped him. "There's still an old hen at home. Let's make chicken soup first."
Lying on the kang at night, Yun Tangyin touched the amulet on Fu Yucheng's chest and asked, "When do you think we'll be able to have a child?"
"It'll be soon." He snuggled closer to her. "Didn't the old Chinese medicine doctor say that you're healthy, but you're lacking in nutrients?"
He suddenly sat up. "I'll go to the mountains tomorrow to pick some ginseng to nourish you."
"Don't go into the mountains," Yun Tangyin grabbed him. "What if we encounter wild animals?"
“I’m carrying a gun.” He patted the holster. “Back in the army, I’ve seen all sorts of wild animals.”
Yun Tangyin suddenly snuggled into his arms: "I don't want ginseng, I just want you to be safe and sound."
Fu Yucheng hugged her tightly: "Okay, we won't go. Let's just follow the old Chinese medicine doctor's advice and take it slow. We'll be able to have a child eventually."
The moonlight from outside the window fell on their clasped hands, and the silver bracelets jingled.
Yun Tangyin suddenly felt that even without children for the time being, this kind of life was quite good.
With him by my side, I have hope, and every day is like medicine simmering in a pot, bittersweet.
The next day, Fu Yucheng was sanding the bamboo edges of the crib with fine sandpaper when Yun Tangyin came over with a plate of red date cakes: "Stop sanding, your hands are all red."
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