The doctor put down the medical record and patiently explained, "If you're past the first trimester and have no stomach discomfort, it's okay to eat a little mild spice occasionally. Just avoid anything too stimulating."
These words made Gu Mingyue's eyes light up. After coming out, she took Lu Lin's hand and smiled, "The doctor said I can eat spicy food now!"
Lu Lin smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair: "Okay, I'll make you a bowl of light oil-splashed noodles when we get back, with just a little bit of spice."
The two walked side by side on their way home, Gu Mingyue thinking about the taste of the oil-splashed noodles with a hint of anticipation.
As soon as Gu Mingyue followed Lu Lin into the house, she couldn't wait to urge Lu Lin to cook noodles.
Lu Lin helped her to a chair and walked towards the kitchen with a smile: "Take a rest for a while, the noodles will be ready soon."
I kneaded the dough and let it rest before leaving home this morning. I quickly tore the noodles and put them in the pot.
While the noodles were cooking, I took out the meat sauce that I had prepared in advance from the cupboard.
The minced meat, with its alternating layers of fat and lean meat, is mixed with soybean paste and sprinkled with chopped shiitake mushrooms. It's kept warm on the stove, and the aroma wafts straight into your nose.
After the noodles were cooked until soft, he scooped them into a bowl, poured hot meat sauce over them, added a spoonful of chili oil, and finally sprinkled chopped green onions and minced garlic on top.
With a sizzle, the aroma of the hot oil instantly filled the entire room.
"Try it quickly, the meat sauce was specially stewed this morning." Lu Lin handed the bowl to Gu Mingyue and thoughtfully stirred it for her.
Gu Mingyue picked up a mouthful of noodles with her chopsticks. The noodles were coated in meat sauce, savory and flavorful. The moment she took a bite, she felt completely satisfied.
She looked up at Lu Lin and saw him smiling at her. She couldn't help but say, "It tastes even better than what the state-run restaurants make."
Lu Lin ruffled her hair: "You like it, I'll make it for you often from now on."
After finishing her noodles, Gu Mingyue leaned back in her chair, rubbing her round belly. Her fingertips gently touched her lower abdomen, and she spoke softly, "Baby, did that bowl of noodles smell good? Your dad's meat sauce is delicious. I'll make it for you next time."
Lu Lin carried over a cup of warm water, sat down at her feet, pulled her legs up and placed them on his knees, and gently massaged her calves.
"Don't keep rubbing your stomach, be careful not to put pressure on it."
As he spoke, his eyes followed her lower abdomen, his tone full of tenderness, "Let's give the baby a nickname? It'll sound more affectionate."
Gu Mingyue's eyes lit up as she pondered, "If it's a girl, I'll name her Lele, hoping she'll be happy every day. If it's a boy, I'll name him Yangyang, hoping he'll be as happy as a little sun every day."
Lu Lin nodded, his fingers unconsciously stroking her ankle. "Okay, whatever you say."
The two were discussing things back and forth when Gu Mingyue suddenly smiled and patted his hand.
"Whatever you call me, it has to be based on my height."
Lu Lin's long legs are definitely a genetic trait.
Lu Lin looked up at her, his eyes full of smiles: "Whatever you want, you're gentle and thoughtful."
Gu Mingyue and Lu Lin were pondering a nickname for their child when Qin Hongmei's cheerful voice came from outside the courtyard gate: "Mingyue, Lu Lin, are you home?"
Lu Lin got up to open the door, and Gu Mingyue also stood up, holding onto the chair.
As soon as the door opened, you could see Qin Hongmei carrying a bamboo basket containing several freshly steamed corn cobs, still steaming hot.
"I just steamed some corn in the yard. I thought you guys haven't tried this before, so I brought you some."
Qin Hongmei walked in with a smile, her gaze falling on Gu Mingyue's lower abdomen. "Your belly looks a bit bigger than last time. Are you still feeling well?"
Gu Mingyue pulled her inside to sit down: "It's all good. The doctor said the baby is developing steadily. Come sit down, I just ate some noodles, let me pour you a cup of hot water."
Qin Hongmei waved her hand and stuffed the corn into her hand: "No need to rush, I just came to deliver something."
They ran into each other on their way to the hospital that morning. Qin Hongmei had remembered them and brought over some boiled corn. They chatted for a while.
Qin Hongmei sat down on the bench, stroking the enamel cup that Gu Mingyue handed her. After hesitating for a moment, she spoke: "Mingyue, have you been in contact with Lin Hui lately? I haven't seen Lin Hui go out at all."
Gu Mingyue was taken aback, then shook her head: "Ever since I got pregnant, I've rarely gone out. I only saw her once during the Mid-Autumn Festival gathering in the courtyard, and we haven't seen each other since. What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Qin Hongmei sighed heavily, lowering her voice: "What else could it be? I heard that the family had a fight. Lin Hui wanted to send her child to a daycare center, but her mother-in-law was unhappy, saying that she could take care of the child herself and that the daycare center was too expensive."
The two argued about this several times, and Lin Hui was so upset that she didn't eat properly for several days, putting Jianlin in a difficult position.
When Lin Hui and Fan Guizhong first moved to the family compound, they were busy with work and taking care of their child, so they often found themselves unable to manage either task.
Later, Fan Guizhong mentioned it to his adoptive mother, Old Lady Li, back in his hometown. Unexpectedly, not long after, Old Lady Li came from the countryside with her bag, saying that she came specifically to help them take care of the child and ease the burden on the young couple.
At first, Lin Hui was quite grateful, thinking that with the help of the elderly, she could finally relax.
But not long after they settled in, conflicts began to surface.
Grandma Li always followed the old customs of her hometown and complained that Lin Hui dressed the children too fancy.
She complained that the milk powder she bought was not as nourishing as rice water, and she kept nagging Fan Guizhong to let her have another son so that the Fan family could continue its lineage.
Lin Hui was gentle by nature and initially endured it all, but after it happened so many times, she began to feel resentful.
It wasn't until this time, when they had a major falling out over sending their child to the aftercare class, that the argument in the corner of the yard happened.
No one expected that Grandma Li's help from afar would become an unbreakable bond in the small family.
Gu Mingyue frowned upon hearing this, recalling how Lin Hui had smiled and said during the Mid-Autumn Festival that her child had recently taken to singing the songs taught in the preschool class, but she never expected that this would happen so soon.
"How is Lin Hui now? Is she in a good mood?" she pressed, her fingers unconsciously clenching the hem of her clothes.
Qin Hongmei shook her head: "I passed by her house yesterday and heard something was wrong inside, but I didn't go in to persuade her. I thought you and she got along quite well, so if it's convenient, you could help persuade her."
Lu Lin, who was standing nearby, brought over a freshly cut apple and added, "If you need any help, I'll find a chance to talk to Fan Guizhong. Men can communicate better."
Gu Mingyue nodded, her mind preoccupied with Lin Hui's situation.
As the group was having a heart-wrenching conversation around the table, a sharp commotion suddenly erupted outside the courtyard gate, accompanied by the sobs of a child.
Gu Mingyue's heart tightened, and she, Qin Hongmei, and Lu Lin quickly ran outside.
As soon as I arrived at the gate of Lin Hui's house, I saw a chaotic scene.
Lin Hui's mother-in-law was pulling her hair and shoving her against the courtyard wall. Lin Hui cried out in pain, while tightly protecting the child hiding behind her.
"Stop!" Lu Lin strode forward, grabbed the old man's wrist, and forcefully separated the two.
Gu Mingyue quickly supported Lin Hui, who was trembling all over. Seeing the red marks on her forehead and her hair being pulled and messy, she helped her tidy it up with heartache: "Lin Hui, are you alright?"
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