Chapter 196 Drinking Medicine
His movements were gentle yet firm, as if by doing so he could shield her from all the storms of the world.
As he walked, he muttered, "Qingqing, from today onwards, I will pick you up and drop you off at get off work every day without fail. Don't refuse; it's a husband's responsibility. Oh, and I need to hurry up and buy some walnuts. I've heard they're good for the brain and make children smarter. Also, red dates, longan, and goji berries—these are all good for replenishing qi and blood. I'll ask someone to bring some of the best ones back from the city later."
Watching him chatter on and on, his eyes full of concern, Qiao Wanyin's lips unconsciously curved into a slight smile, and her heart felt as if a warm current was slowly flowing through it, rippling with soft waves.
That feeling of being cherished and cared for made her feel that no matter how difficult the road ahead was, it was worth persevering.
But just as this warmth began to seep into her heart, the image of her stubborn and difficult-to-get-along-with mother-in-law, Song Yazhi, resurfaced in her mind.
That perpetually cold face, those barbed words, and the deep-seated disdain she held for her city-born daughter-in-law all made Qiao Wanyin involuntarily frown.
The days ahead are unlikely to be easy.
As soon as they pushed open the door, the light and shadow under the door frame were blocked by a figure. Song Yazhi stood in the doorway, arms crossed, staring sharply at them, her voice cold: "What are the test results? Are you pregnant or not? Don't waste time, just give me a straight answer."
Fu Lian'an's face immediately lit up with a bright smile, his eyes sparkling as he eagerly replied, "Mom, it's true! Qingqing went for a checkup, and the doctor confirmed it himself—she's pregnant! Everything's fine; you're going to be a grandma!"
Song Yazhi's expression changed slightly at first, and her eyelids twitched slightly, as if she was stunned for a moment, but she quickly suppressed that slight fluctuation.
Her face turned cold, and her tone became stern: "Now that you're pregnant, don't go to that mutual aid center anymore. Hanging out with a bunch of people all day, with so many people gossiping, who knows what kind of trouble might happen? If something goes wrong, can you handle the consequences?"
Qiao Wanyin stood to the side, her expression calm, looking at her mother-in-law with a frank gaze, and replied in a measured tone, "Mom, I'm only newly pregnant, less than a month along, and the pregnancy isn't stable yet, but the doctor said that moderate activity can actually help with a healthy pregnancy. The work at the mutual aid center isn't heavy; it's mainly about organizing data and registering names, all easy tasks. Besides, some women in the village still work in the fields even when they're pregnant, working until the day they give birth. I'm not a delicate person; I can handle it."
"You—" Upon hearing this, Song Yazhi's face turned pale with anger, her fingers trembled slightly, and she was about to lash out when Fu Li'an swiftly blocked her way.
"mom."
He stepped forward gently, put his arm around his mother's shoulder, and said in a gentle yet comforting voice, "Don't worry. Qingqing is right. She's still early in her pregnancy and her health is good. Moving around a bit is definitely good for the baby. Don't you want your grandson to be healthy too? Besides, the mutual aid center is right in our village courtyard, just a few steps away. I personally pick her up and drop her off every day, always on time, and I never let her walk an extra step on the way. There's absolutely nothing going to happen."
Song Yazhi abruptly shook off his hand, snorted coldly, and said with a tone full of sarcasm, "You just keep spoiling her, doing everything she wants, treating her like a precious treasure. If something really goes wrong one day, like miscarriage or fetal distress, you'll be crying your eyes out!"
“Mom…” Fu Li’an looked at his mother’s ashen face, his heart sank, and he sighed helplessly, his voice filled with exhaustion and powerlessness.
He wanted to explain, but he knew his mother was stubborn and difficult to persuade.
Song Yazhi stopped looking at him and turned to glare fiercely at Qiao Wanyin. Her gaze was as sharp as a knife, making people's hearts tremble.
She suppressed her anger and forced out a few words through gritted teeth: "Fine, you're right, what else can I say? You young people have strong opinions, I can't control you."
After saying that, she turned and walked towards the kitchen, her steps slightly heavy.
As she walked, she muttered to herself, "I'm going to make some soup. I need to nourish my grandson. I can't let him be deprived of nutrition before he's even born."
Qiao Wanyin watched her receding figure silently, her brows furrowing involuntarily.
That figure, though seemingly busy, actually exuded a sense of indifference and alienation.
She knew that this soup might not have been made for her, but more likely for her unborn "grandson"—and that in her mother-in-law's eyes, she was perhaps just a tool to carry on the family line.
Fu Li'an noticed her unusual behavior and gently took her hand. The warmth from his palm reassured Qiao Wanyin a little.
He lowered his head, whispered in her ear, his voice so soft it was almost a murmur: "Don't worry, Mom is just too nervous and can't accept it all at once. She's afraid something might happen. She's doing it for the child's sake, even if her methods are a bit harsh. Once she gradually accepts it and knows that you're really taking good care of yourself and that you're thinking of the child, she'll change her mind, and everything will be alright."
Three days later, an urgent notice was delivered to Fu Li'an—his superiors had ordered him to immediately depart for a seven-day intensive training camp in another city; the mission was urgent and he could not refuse.
Just before I left, it was still dark, and a thin layer of mist was still floating in the courtyard.
He carried his bag in one hand and held his mother's hand tightly in the other, repeatedly instructing her, "Mom, I'll be gone for seven days, so I'm leaving the house in your care. Qingqing is pregnant now, so please take good care of her. Make sure her meals are light and she gets plenty of rest. If she wants to go out for a walk, don't stop her, but make sure she doesn't overexert herself. I'll call you as soon as I get back, and please let me know immediately if anything happens."
"Mom, I'm leaving now. I'm entrusting Wanyin to you."
He spoke earnestly, his gaze steady as he looked into his mother's eyes, his expression a mixture of solemnity and unease. "She's pregnant now, and her emotions and health aren't very stable. Please take good care of her. Call me immediately if anything happens. Don't let her get too tired or suffer any mistreatment."
Song Yazhi smiled gently, a kind smile on her lips, and patted her son's hand lightly, as if comforting a child: "Don't worry, Adong, Mom isn't unreasonable. I'll definitely take good care of your wife. You can go to work with peace of mind. I'll take care of things at home; nothing will go wrong."
But as soon as Fu Li'an left, the door clicked shut, and the smile on Song Yazhi's face vanished like a receding tide, leaving only indifference and a hint of barely perceptible contempt.
She turned and walked into the kitchen, her steps steady and powerful. She took out a bowl of dark, medicinal soup from the stove, with tiny bubbles floating on the surface and a strong, pungent smell of Chinese medicine.
She carried the bowl out into the living room, raised her arm, and with a "thud," slammed the medicine bowl down on the coffee table in front of Qiao Wanyin, causing the teacups on the table to tremble slightly.
"Drink it."
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