As afternoon quietly arrived, Qian Duoduo and her group finally reached Harbin. The car sped along and finally came to a smooth stop in front of her courtyard near Northeast Agricultural University. As the car entered the alley, it attracted the attention of the people nearby.
After skillfully parking the car at the gate, Qian Duoduo got out of the driver's seat first. She walked briskly to the back seat, opened the car door deftly, and then took the luggage from Qian Mao's hands, gently placing it at the gate. She then turned around and carefully helped Zhang Muyao out of the car, afraid that the long drive might make her uncomfortable.
Seeing the smile on Zhang Muyao's face, Qian Duoduo turned to Qian Mao and said, "Third Brother, help your wife a bit, I'll go open the door." With that, Qian Duoduo quickly took out the key and opened the gate. Then, she helped Zhang Muyao slowly walk into the courtyard. Because the courtyard had been uninhabited for several months, and there had been two heavy snowfalls during the first month of the lunar calendar, the snow accumulation in the courtyard was quite thick.
Qian Mao glanced at the thick snow and said, "Wait a moment, I'll clear the road first." With that, he went into the warehouse, took out a large iron shovel, and began clearing the snow to make way for the two sisters-in-law standing at the door.
After Qian Duoduo and Zhang Muyao entered the house through the path Qian Mao had cleared with a shovel, Qian Duoduo gently helped Zhang Muyao sit on the sofa and said with concern, "Sister-in-law, please sit and rest for a while." Then, she turned to Qian Mao and said, "Third Brother, you sit here with your sister-in-law for a while. I'll go boil some hot water for her to drink so she can warm up." After saying that, Qian Duoduo hurriedly went to the kitchen.
Qian Mao smiled at Zhang Muyao, his eyes full of tenderness and care: "It's been quite a long journey. How are you feeling now?" Seeing Zhang Muyao shake her head slightly, he took a book from the table beside him and placed it in her hands, saying softly, "Yaoyao, if you're bored, you can read this to pass the time." Then, Qian Mao stood up and walked towards the kitchen. As soon as he entered, he saw Qian Duoduo tending the fire. He took the matches and newspaper from her and said, "Leave the boiling water to me. You can do other things." Hearing this, Qian Duoduo turned and nodded to Qian Mao, then went to the trunk of the car to take out the things Jin Jinxiu had packed for her.
So the brother and sister split up and got to work. Qian Mao stayed calmly in the kitchen, skillfully picking up a match and striking it lightly; a flame instantly ignited, illuminating the entire stove. He calmly placed the burning newspaper under the birch bark that Qian Duoduo had already stuffed in; the flame in the stove gradually grew larger and stronger, burning fiercely. At the same time, he methodically carried out other tasks—first pouring water into the pot, then vigorously scrubbing the pots and pans that didn't appear to be dusty. Seeing Qian Duoduo place the ingredients on the cutting board, he said, "My cooking isn't as good as yours; you'll have to do dinner tonight. I'll go tidy up the bedroom."
Qian Mao walked briskly into the second bedroom carrying a basin full of warm water. He took a clean rag from the basin, bent down, and carefully wiped every corner of the kang (a heated brick bed). His movements were quick and focused; he knew his wife had been on the road for so long and needed to rest, as rest was especially important for a pregnant woman. After all the dust was removed, he quickly took out a brand-new mattress and sheet from the kang's bedding and gently spread them on the bed. The mattress and sheet were carefully selected by Qian Duoduo; they were soft, comfortable, and had a faint fragrance.
Qian Duoduo saw from the kitchen window that Qian Mao had almost finished tidying up the second bedroom, so she poked her head out of the kitchen and shouted loudly in the direction of the second bedroom: "Sister-in-law, you must be exhausted from your long journey! Why don't you come in and lie down and rest for a while? I'll call you out to drink some water when it boils."
Hearing Qian Duoduo's concerned call, Zhang Muyao felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. She nodded slightly and replied, "Okay, sister, thank you for your hard work. By the way, is the kang (heated brick bed) warm yet?"
Qian Duoduo quickly replied with a smile, "Sister-in-law, don't worry, it's already warm. Third Brother just lit the pot we use in the second bedroom, it'll be even warmer in a little while." After saying that, she turned around and went back to the kitchen to continue her work.
When Zhang Muyao woke up, she found her stomach rumbling. She went outside and saw five of her favorite dishes laid out on the table. She felt extremely warm inside; this was the feeling of being cherished by her family.
After finishing her meal, Zhang Muyao, feeling a bit sore, slowly made her way to the bedroom to take a short nap. Qian Mao and Qian Duoduo, working in perfect harmony, began tidying up the house. With clear division of labor and quick movements, they soon transformed the entire room into a clean and orderly space.
The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room through the gaps in the curtains. Qian Duoduo got up early, washed up, ate breakfast, and then started the car, taking her brother and sister-in-law to the hospital. Along the way, everyone felt both nervous and expectant.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the doctor carefully conducted a series of comprehensive examinations on Zhang Mumengyao, including assessing the fetus's development and her own physical indicators. After a long wait, the final results came in—Zhang Mumengyao was carrying twins! This news struck like lightning, leaving Qian Mao and Qian Duoduo utterly shocked.
Upon hearing the joyous news, tears instantly welled up in Zhang Muyao's eyes—tears of joy and excitement. She gently stroked her slightly protruding belly, as if she could feel two tiny lives throbbing happily within. Seeing this, Qian Duoduo, standing beside her, smiled and reached out to hold Zhang Muyao's hand, softly comforting her, "Third Sister-in-law, don't cry! This is such a wonderful thing! Look at Fourth Sister-in-law, Eldest Sister-in-law, and Second Sister-in-law, they all endured the pain of two births before having twins, but you're getting two little ones at once! And if they're twins, you'll have both a son and a daughter!"
Hearing Qian Duoduo's heartwarming words, Zhang Muyao's initial excitement gradually subsided. She thought about it carefully and realized that, as Qian Duoduo said, although the process of nurturing a new life was full of hardships, the thought of welcoming two adorable babies made all the hardship seem worthwhile. So, she smiled through her tears, her eyes sparkling with happiness.
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