Chapter 20 Pregnancy
The group split into two. Gu Yiye went to the brigade's distribution point and bought firewood, rice, oil, salt, vinegar, and some seasonings, along with tofu, to cook at home.
Lin Shanshan followed Zhou Zhaodi to the clinic.
It was called a clinic, but in reality it was just a room that the brigade secretary, Zhu Shengli, had built in his own yard.
Zhu Shengli's wife, Xiang Hong, had studied at a health school for several years and could treat some basic illnesses, so she became the only doctor in Anfeng Brigade.
Zhou Zhaodi had a clear goal: she asked them to accompany her to the clinic. If it was just a cold, she could have come by herself, but she insisted on having three educated youths accompany her.
It seems that the other main character in this drama is either Zhu Shengli or one of his family members.
Zhou Zhaodi went home first to change into a clean set of clothes.
When she got back, her parents and younger brother were there. They saw that she was soaking wet, but they didn't ask her anything and acted as if they didn't see her.
Zhou Zhaodi quickly changed her clothes, and when she saw Zeng Huihuang, she seemed to realize that he was also soaked.
She said apologetically, "Zeng Zhiqing, I was so flustered that I made a mistake. Why don't you go back to the educated youth settlement and change your clothes first?"
Zeng Huihuang said, "I'm a grown man, not so delicate. No rush, we'll take you to the clinic and then you can go back to change your clothes."
“But…” Zhou Zhaodi looked like she had done something wrong. Zeng Huihuang didn’t wait for her to finish and said, “I’ve always been healthy. I won’t get sick anytime soon. I’ll take you to the clinic first.”
Zhou Zhaodi: "Okay, Zeng Zhiqing, you're such a good person."
After saying that, she looked at Chen Meili and Lin Shanshan, and added, "Chen and Lin, the educated youth, were also good people."
Lin Shanshan, who had received the "good guy" card, smiled awkwardly and urged, "Let's go."
If we don't leave now, we'll miss the chance to go back and eat the fish that Gu Yiye made.
The four of them walked to the clinic in a grand procession. There were no patients at the time, and Xiang Hong was taking advantage of the bright sunshine to air out her quilts in the yard.
Seeing the four people enter, he asked, "Zeng Zhiqing, are you here for medical treatment?"
Zhou Zhaodi said awkwardly, "Dr. Xiang, I'm feeling a little unwell. These three educated youths came with me."
Xiang Hong said in surprise, "You look fine, but Zeng Zhiqing is soaking wet and his face looks a bit pale. How can you, young comrade, not take care of your health? Go back and take a shower and change into clean clothes."
"Don't be fooled by the bright sunshine today or your youth. You must take care of your health, young comrade."
Chen Meili also said, "Zeng Huihuang, go quickly, we'll take care of things here. Change your clothes before you come back."
He hadn't felt it while walking, but now that he had stopped, Zeng Huihuang suddenly felt very uncomfortable with his clothes sticking to his body, so he didn't insist on staying there and said, "Okay, I'll go change my clothes, you guys wait for me here."
Xiang Hong led the remaining three people into the house, muttering as she walked, "I'm telling you, Zhou Zhaodi, you can walk and jump, even if you have some minor ailment, you can come by yourself, why did you drag that educated youth comrade along?"
“Zeng Zhiqing looks more like a patient than you do. She’s from the city, and she’s not as delicate as you, a country girl.”
Zhou Zhaodi was embarrassed by what was said, and her face turned red with embarrassment.
Chen Meili quickly tried to smooth things over: "Dr. Xiang, we came with her of our own volition. She just fell into the water. Could you please check if she has a fever or a cold?"
Xiang Hong took out a thermometer and had Zhou Zhaodi hold it in her mouth. After 5 minutes, she took it out and said, "36.8 degrees Celsius, which is normal."
Zhou Zhaodi said, "Dr. Xiang, I've been feeling nauseous after eating lately, and I'm also feeling lazy and weak in my legs. Do I have an incurable disease?"
Chen Meili blurted out, "Zhou Zhaodi, you didn't jump into the river because of this, did you?"
Lin Shanshan glanced at Chen Meili and thought to herself: This girl is so adorably silly.
She must be pregnant, and the baby's father doesn't acknowledge it. Zhou Zhaodi went to great lengths to bring them over, probably hoping to escalate the situation and force the baby's father to admit it.
Xiang Hong took Zhou Zhaodi's pulse, frowned, and said, "You don't have a terminal illness, you're probably pregnant. Go to the commune clinic for a blood test, just in case I'm mistaken."
Xiang Hong was being considerate of Zhou Zhaodi by saying this. In this day and age, an unmarried girl who gets pregnant might not be punished by being drowned in a pig cage, but her reputation would be ruined, and her life would be over.
Sending her to the health center was just an excuse; her pulse indicated she was at least three months pregnant.
"Secretary Zhu, are you home?"
Huang Daren's voice came from outside the door.
Xiang Hong got up and went out, saying, "My husband went to deliver grain to the elderly living alone. Is there something wrong with Huang Zhiqing?"
After asking, Xiang Hong noticed Yang Wenqing following behind and said, "Oh, Yang Wenqing is here too."
The fact that the two of them were dating was spread by the Yang couple so much that almost the entire brigade knew about it.
Huang Daren said, "Dr. Xiang, Wenqing and I came here hoping to ask Secretary Zhu for a letter of introduction. We'd like to go to the county town to buy some things."
Xiang Hong assumed they were going to the county to prepare for their wedding and said, "Alright, please come in and sit down. He should be back soon."
Xiang Hong led the people to this room in the clinic. When they came in, they saw Zhou Zhaodi hugging Chen Meili and crying. Chen Meili was trying to comfort her, while Lin Shanshan looked at Zhou Zhaodi as if it were none of her business.
Xiang Hong, who prided herself on being a city dweller, couldn't stand the way country women made a scene with their crying, tantrums, and threats of suicide. She said impatiently, "Go home and cry if you want to. Don't make a scene here."
Zhou Zhaodi stopped crying, her eyes red, and as if she had mustered up her courage, she said, "Dr. Xiang, please save your grandson! I'm carrying your son Zhu Xiaoyu's child!"
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