Chapter 87 Going to the County Town
The next morning, Lu Mingyue was squatting in the yard inflating the tires of her bicycle, the wooden back panel of which was wiped clean.
Leilei and Yaoyao were already carrying their little cloth bags, eagerly waiting to set off.
Just as I straightened up, I saw Zhu Xiaofang leading Mingming over, carrying a net bag full of eggs in her hand.
"Mingyue, don't bother pumping it up." Zhu Xiaofang waved the cloth coupons in her hand. "I just heard from Aunt Zhang at the entrance of the family compound that the army's procurement truck is going to the county town to pick up supplies today, and it's waiting right now. We have three kids with us, and we still need to buy things. Riding a bike is not as convenient as taking a bus. Going with the procurement truck will save us trouble and effort."
Lu Mingyue's eyes lit up, and she immediately put down the air pump.
That's right. Although Leilei and Yaoyao are used to sitting on the back of the car, it's dozens of miles to and from the county town. The children will inevitably get tired after sitting for a long time, and it also takes a lot of effort for them to ride their bikes.
She quickly called to the children, "Quick, let's not ride our bikes anymore. Let's follow the army vehicles to the county town and see what's going on."
The mother and her two children followed Zhu Xiaofang toward the entrance of the family compound. From afar, they saw the green purchasing vehicle parked under the big locust tree, and the driver, Master Wang, was talking to several military wives.
Upon asking, she discovered that the person was indeed a family member being taken to the county town, so Lu Mingyue quickly led the child into the car.
Before the procurement vehicle started moving, the military spouses in the carriage sat idly to pass the time, chatting about everyday matters.
I don't know who first mentioned, "The kids in the family need more clothes again."
The conversation veered off course from the child and gradually turned to Luo Shuixian.
"Speaking of which, Narcissus has been married for five years now, hasn't she?" An older military wife glanced in the direction of Luo Narcissus's house, her voice lowered.
"She has never had a child. I heard that her mother-in-law was very anxious and tried many folk remedies from her hometown, but nothing worked."
Another military wife nodded in agreement: "That's right. I saw her mother-in-law ask someone to bring her a basket of herbs from the countryside a while ago, saying that they could help regulate her body. I guess it's for that reason."
Before the military wife could finish speaking, a commotion suddenly came from the carriage door.
When everyone looked up, they saw Luo Shuixian slowly walking up from the direction of her home, her face full of undisguised smugness. She deliberately stuck out her still flat stomach and her steps were a few paces slower than usual.
Without looking at the military wives in the carriage, she went straight to the driver's seat and said softly to Mr. Wang, who was checking the vehicle, "Mr. Wang, could you please help me with something? I just found out I'm pregnant, only three months along, and I always feel nauseous when I ride in a car. Could I sit in the front passenger seat? It would be more comfortable for me."
The moment those words were spoken, the carriage fell silent.
The military wives looked at each other, realizing that she was deliberately revealing her identity.
Mr. Wang paused for a moment, then readily nodded: "Okay, the passenger seat is empty, so please sit down."
Luo Shuixian responded, her eyes gleaming with a hint of smugness, and then she walked toward the passenger seat with a slight smile.
Lu Mingyue ignored her deliberate actions and simply lowered her head to pat Yao Yao's little head.
As soon as the car drove onto the country dirt road, Luo Shuixian's voice came from the passenger seat. She deliberately played it at a moderate volume, just loud enough for everyone in the car to hear: "Master Wang, you need to drive a little slower. I'm newly pregnant, and I threw up twice yesterday. My stomach is churning."
Mr. Wang casually replied, "Don't worry, I know this road well, I guarantee it will be safe."
Luo Shuixian didn't stop, continuing to chatter on: "My mother-in-law knew I was pregnant, so she specially came from her hometown to take care of me. This morning she even cooked millet porridge, saying it's better for the fetus than rice porridge."
As she spoke, she raised her hand and gently rubbed her lower abdomen, as if afraid that others wouldn't see it.
The military wives in the carriage listened, some secretly rolled their eyes, and some didn't respond, making the atmosphere somewhat awkward.
Lu Mingyue had no time to pay attention to any of this. Leilei was attracted by the herd of cattle outside the window and leaned out a bit. She quickly reached out and pulled the child back to her side: "Sit still, don't fall."
She turned and touched Yao Yao's forehead again, asking softly, "Are you thirsty? Mommy will get you some water."
She handed the child a water bottle while helping Mingming, who was carsick, catch his breath, without glancing at the passenger seat the entire time.
Luo Shuixian said she was tired and turned to see how the people in the carriage were reacting, but no one was looking at her.
Lu Mingyue was wiping the water stains from Yao Yao's mouth when she bent down. The children were chattering around her, and no one paid any attention to what she was saying.
The smugness on her face faded slightly, and she turned away dejectedly without saying another word. The only sound in the carriage was the rustling of the wheels rolling over the dirt road.
Luo Shuixian clutched the hem of her clothes, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards Lu Mingyue and the children, and the knot in her heart resurfaced.
She kept this to herself for five years and never mentioned it to anyone.
Back then, her aunt worked as a cook in the military family compound. Seeing that Huo Zheng was a handsome and talented man, she specially asked someone to inquire about him, hoping to introduce her to him.
At that time, Huo Zheng had not yet brought Leilei and Yaoyao to his side. He was alone in the army, and many people thought it was a good match.
Before her aunt could even speak, she heard that Huo Zheng had taken on the two children of his comrade-in-arms and was planning to find a wife who could take good care of them.
Luo Shuixian's expectations were dashed, and not long after, she remarried.
Later, I heard that Lu Mingyue married into the family and took good care of the two children, living a harmonious and happy life. I felt inexplicably resentful.
She always felt that if Huo Zheng hadn't picked up the child first, and if Lu Mingyue hadn't taken the lead, she would be the one by Huo Zheng's side now, the one envied by everyone.
So when she saw Lu Mingyue, she couldn't help but want to compete and show off in front of her, even though she knew it was a childish thought.
As soon as the car stopped at the street corner of the county town, Luo Shuixian didn't get out of the car. She spoke first and said softly to Master Wang, "Master Wang, could you please take me to the hospital first? I'm pregnant and I'd like the doctor to check the fetal heartbeat again so I can feel at ease."
As soon as she finished speaking, the military wives in the carriage erupted in a commotion.
A military wife carrying a cloth bag hurriedly got off the bus: "No way, Shuixian, the supply and marketing cooperative's scarce white sugar only arrives this morning. If we go late, we definitely won't be able to get any!"
Another person chimed in, "That's right, I'm still waiting to buy new cloth to make clothes for my child. I heard there are only a dozen or so feet of floral fabric left!"
Zhu Xiaofang also pulled Lu Mingyue out of the car and said to Luo Shuixian with a smile, "The hospital will also be open this afternoon. Let's go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy things first, and then I'll accompany you to the health center later. That way, we won't waste time."
Master Wang nodded in agreement: "I still need to pick up supplies. The supply and marketing cooperative is on the way, but the health center is a detour. Why don't you take care of your urgent business first?"
Luo Shuixian's smile froze. Looking at the military wives who were rushing to the supply and marketing cooperative around the car, and then at Master Wang who didn't take her request seriously at all, she could only reluctantly take back her words.
She bit her lip and didn't insist anymore. "It's okay, the hospital isn't far from here anyway, I can go by myself."
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