Chapter 103 Pregnancy
Li's mother was helpless against Li San Niang's little flaw of "being fond of men". When she was young, Li San Niang liked Li Da Xiong the most, but she didn't like Li Er Xiong as much. It was only because Li Da Xiong was tall and had long legs, sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes. He looked like a strong and powerful man.
Because Li Erxiong was two years younger than Li Daxiong, he developed later. While Li Daxiong was a handsome young man, Li Erxiong was still a green boy.
Later, Li Daxiong joined the army camp on the outskirts of the city, married and had children. Li Sanniang gradually became closer to Li Erxiong. Later, Li Sanniang was practically raised by Li Dasao. Because Li Dasao was also beautiful and had a dashing appearance, Li Sanniang got along best with Li Dasao and was gradually influenced to not care so much about appearance.
Otherwise, Li San Niang, who was only ten years old at the time, was the most disobedient. However, because she was intelligent from a young age and was a rare daughter born late in life, her father inevitably spoiled her a bit. Therefore, when her parents were choosing a husband for her, they found Wang Ziheng, who was handsome.
After Jiu Niang sat down, Li San Niang placed three fingers on her wrist. Since they were in the backyard of Shi Hua Lou, the music was not loud, but it could still be faintly heard. Li San Niang closed her eyes and carefully examined her pulse.
Li San Niang's expression was initially quite relaxed, but as the pulse diagnosis time went on, her facial expression gradually became serious.
Everyone present understood that something was wrong. Li's mother sat solemnly to the side, while Dilibaier and Hongniang looked very nervous. They couldn't understand what illness Jiu Niang, who usually seemed weak but never complained of pain, had that could make Li San Niang change her expression.
Qi Zhidie's expression also darkened. She wondered what was wrong with Jiu Niang that made Li San Niang ask to switch hands again to continue taking the pulse.
Having examined both hands, Li San Niang had a good understanding of the situation, but there were still some questions she should ask Jiu Niang herself.
Therefore, Li San Niang said to Qi Zhi Die, "Qi Niangzi, I have some questions to ask Jiu Niang alone. Please take Di Li and Hong Niang out first. Wait a moment, after I've finished asking and checking, I'll talk to the little maid waiting at the door, and then you can call the next lady in."
Dilibaier and Hongniang looked worried. They stood up and hesitated whether they should leave, but they had both been treated by Li Sanniang before and knew that she cared most about the privacy of the women. She always asked for their consent before leaving anyone present for questioning or examination.
After Li San Niang said this, Qi Zhi Die was still worried and wanted to stay and listen, but she still got up to go out. "I'll trouble you, San Niang. I'll lead you to the empty room next door. Just tell the little maid at the door."
Li Dalang understood that there were some private questions to ask, so he got up from the shadows in the corner, walked to the door, and was about to leave.
"Zhi Die, stay."
No one expected Jiu Niang to say such a thing, but Qi Zhidie reacted quickly. She only paused for a moment before stopping and instructing Dilibaier and Hongniang to go out first and lead Li Dalang to the empty room next door.
Actually, Li's mother should have gone with them, but both Li San Niang and Jiu Niang could see that Li's mother would not leave Li San Niang to face Jiu Niang and Qi Zhi Die alone.
So no one asked Li's mother, and she remained seated calmly in her chair.
When Jiu Niang decided to be the first person to have her pulse taken by Li San Niang, she was mentally prepared. She knew that Li San Niang would definitely notice something was wrong with her, but she really couldn't hide it any longer and had no choice but to confess.
Qi Zhidie thought it was some embarrassing and difficult-to-treat illness, so she moved a stool and sat down next to Jiu Niang, reaching out to hold Jiu Niang's hand to comfort her.
Seeing this, Li San Niang knew that Jiu Niang herself knew, but she was keeping it from the others in the brothel.
"How long has it been since Ninth Sister changed her clothes?"
Having experienced much, Li's mother naturally saw through the situation and wasn't surprised by Li San Niang's question. However, Qi Zhi Die, who spent all her time in the same building as Jiu Niang, was stunned.
Looking at Jiu Niang, who seemed so delicate that she could be knocked away with the slightest effort, Jiu Niang lowered her head, smiled with the corners of her mouth turned up, and then shook Qi Zhidie's hand before looking up at Li San Niang and saying, "San Niangzi, it's been two months since I changed my clothes."
Before Li San Niang could ask another question, Jiu Niang interrupted her, saying, "Although Jiu Niang has never given birth, she knows that a woman's period stops when she is pregnant. I wasn't sure at first, but it's been two months since I last had my period, so I'm certain that I'm pregnant."
Li San Niang was unaware that Jiu Niang was one of the three women in Shi Hua Lou who no longer entertained customers. Ever since the Bad People confiscated Shi Hua Lou and turned it into a stronghold for them in Chang'an, Qi Zhi Die and Mr. Bu Ke had managed to persuade the women over thirty to stop entertaining customers, but they still had to accompany customers, play music, accept missions, and gather intelligence.
Therefore, in the past six months, the three maids, including Jiu Niang, Qi Zhi Die, and the three or four young maids and maids in the brothel have all refused to sell themselves.
Unlike before, when even eleven or twelve-year-old girls in the building would be bullied.
Qi Zhidie never expected that Jiu Niang would become pregnant right under her nose.
At first, Qi Zhidie was furious. She wondered if some scoundrel had taken liberties with Jiu Niang.
There are plenty of spoiled brats who use their power and money to force women to stay in the brothel. Qi Zhidie thought that Jiu Niang was being forced and didn't tell her because she was afraid of offending powerful people.
Qi Zhidie was about to stand up and start cursing when she realized that Jiu Niang was not the kind of cowardly person. Although Jiu Niang looked as weak as if she could be blown away by a gust of wind, she was really a woman with a strong temper.
If someone were truly coercing her, she would fight to the death rather than submit.
There's only one possibility: Jiu Niang did it voluntarily.
Qi Zhidie was even more shocked when she realized this possibility.
Shihualou was a stronghold of the Bad Guys in Pingkangfang half a year ago. The only people in the place were a young man who drove a cart and an old woman who collected chamber pots in the backyard. These two were people that Mr. Bu Ke had pointed out to the Bad Guys. Their work in the building was both for surveillance and protection.
Qi Zhidie, who was secretly watching, was unaware of the situation. So, how did Jiu Niang's man manage to avoid being watched by so many people?
Then Li San Niang asked Jiu Niang about the date of her last menstrual period, whether there had been any changes in her diet recently, and whether she had any physical discomfort.
Finally, Li Sanniang stopped writing and looked at Jiu Niang's fair face, asking softly, "You must have had an abortion before, I guess it was when you were a teenager or young?"
Jiu Niang and Qi Zhidie both looked up at Li San Niang in surprise. Jiu Niang really didn't expect that Li San Niang could even diagnose this!
After her initial surprise, Jiu Niang nodded in agreement.
"Do you know that your miscarriage damaged your uterus?"
"I was young then and pregnant. My mother gave me a bowl of abortifacient medicine to drink. I only remember that I was in terrible pain and bleeding for more than half a month before it stopped."
Upon hearing that her uterus was damaged, Jiu Niang nervously rubbed her fingers together and answered anxiously.
Qi Zhidie pried apart Jiu Niang's fingers, which were red from rubbing them. She had never known that she had experienced such pain in her childhood.
At this point, Li San Niang understood everything. It was just that her mother had gotten abortion pills and sterilization pills to save trouble back then. But the human body is so amazing. Who could have imagined that more than ten years later, Jiu Niang would be able to get pregnant again?
Li San Niang finally asked a question that no one would have expected: "Then, Jiu Niang, do you still want this child?"
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