Chapter 141 Pregnancy Care
Nan Zhiyi smiled, took Zhou Anping's hand, and gently placed it on her belly: "Feel it, he's moving around inside, sometimes punching and kicking, it's really interesting."
Zhou Anping placed his palm on her stomach, stiffly and cautiously.
"Before I got pregnant, I couldn't imagine what it would feel like,"
Nan Zhiyi said softly, "Now it's really happening. Although it's hard work, that feeling of being connected by blood is wonderful. You can feel a little life growing inside you day by day, and slowly, you start to look forward to seeing it come out."
Zhou Anping looked at her; his friend was enveloped in a maternal glow, her girlish naiveté gone, replaced by a serene gentleness, breathtakingly beautiful.
She couldn't help but sigh, "Time flies so fast. It feels like just yesterday we were running around in the yard together... In the blink of an eye, we've all grown up. You're the youngest, but you're the first to get married and the first to become a mother."
As they were talking, Zhou Anping clearly felt a hard bump rise up under her palm, slide across her hand, and then retract.
The sudden fetal movement startled her again, and she quickly withdrew her hand: "Oh! Did he...did he just kick me?"
Nan Zhiyi was amused by her reaction: "Yeah, I guess she heard you and was saying hello to you."
Zhou Anping patted his chest, then carefully put his hand back down, feeling the wondrous rhythm of life.
"He's really got some energy... You've been pregnant for almost... a few months now?"
"I'll be eight months pregnant by the end of the month," Nan Zhiyi said, calculating the days. "I'll have to go to the hospital for a prenatal checkup then."
"Eight months!" Zhou Anping calculated. "When is your prenatal checkup at the end of the month? Let me know in advance, and I'll take some time off to go with you!"
Nan Zhiyi felt a warmth in her heart, but still said, "No need to trouble you, work is important. I'll have Aunt Wu accompany me."
"That won't do!"
Zhou Anping flatly refused, "Fifth Brother isn't here this time either, so I have to go. Besides, our troupe has few performances lately, so it's quite relaxed, and it's not difficult to ask for leave. From today onwards, I'll come and keep you company whenever I have free time, until Fifth Brother comes back or you give birth!"
Nan Zhiyi felt a lump in her throat from being so touched.
She knew that Zhou Anping still had things on his mind and might not be as relaxed as he seemed, but he always placed her in a very important position.
She grasped Zhou Anping's hand: "Anping, thank you..."
Zhou Anping flashed a bright smile, grabbed her hand, and shook it vigorously: "Why are you being so polite with me! It's only right that I keep you company! We're best friends!"
The two sisters smiled at each other.
Knock, knock, knock. Aunt Wu knocked on the door and came in, carrying a tray with a bowl of bird's nest, two cups of freshly prepared milk, and a few pastries.
Aunt Wu handed the bird's nest to Zhiyi, saying, "It's cooled down a bit; it's just right to eat."
He then invited Zhou Anping to drink milk powder and eat snacks.
"You girls can eat and chat while you eat. Leave it for later, and I'll bring it up for you."
Nan Zhiyi quickly said, "Aunt Wu, you should have some snacks too."
"This old woman of mine gets toothache from sweets," Aunt Wu waved her hand and went downstairs.
Nan Zhiyi held the spoon and ate the warm bird's nest.
"Anping, don't be so polite."
Zhou Anping barely ate any food at home at noon, but this time he didn't stand on ceremony. He grabbed a snack and took a bite. "Zhiyi, you're doing well, and Aunt Wu is really good too."
After she drank a few sips of milk, she finally couldn't hold it in any longer.
"Sigh... Zhiyi, my mom came back yesterday."
Before Nan Zhiyi could speak, Zhou Anping complained again, "Lu Linlang came back with us too, what a nuisance!"
Nan Zhiyi was slightly taken aback: "Lu Linlang? What's she doing back here?"
"She said she came back to rest during her pregnancy! She's been vomiting so badly, she insists on coming back to Jian'an, saying the environment here is familiar and there are people to take care of her! How delicate! Doesn't my brother have anyone to take care of her?"
Nan Zhiyi was also surprised: "Pregnancy care? What about her job?" Lu Linlang is a formal doctor at the military hospital, a job that is enviable and secure.
"snort!"
Zhou Anping curled her lip, "She's got some nerve! She said she got a sick leave certificate and took a long leave. She probably thinks that with my family and her dad's connections, her job will be kept! And if all else fails, it won't be difficult to transfer back later. She's just taking advantage of the fact that my mom values the baby in her belly!"
Nan Zhiyi understood Zhou Anping's frustration.
With so many people in the family who harbor resentment towards each other, the atmosphere is bound to be unpleasant.
She reached out and patted Zhou Anping's hand, comforting him, "Don't be angry over her, it's not worth it. Out of sight, out of mind. Try to go home less often and come to my place for some peace and quiet. She did marry your brother, so it's only natural for your aunt to take care of her. Your own happiness is the most important thing."
Hearing Nan Zhiyi's words, Zhou Anping's tone became even more dejected: "I just feel so choked up, and... Meng Qingshan has gone back to the capital."
She abruptly changed the subject, and her voice trailed off.
Why are you suddenly talking about Comrade Meng?
“Yes, his work here is finished, so naturally he has to go back.” Zhou Anping’s eyes darted around. “Before he left… he came to see me again.”
"Oh?" Nan Zhiyi looked at her with interest. "What did he say? Judging from your expression... you don't seem so resistant to him anymore?"
Zhou Anping's cheeks flushed visibly, and she raised her hand to rub her face vigorously: "Oh... he didn't say anything... just... just told me to think it over... and wait for him to come back..."
Nan Zhiyi smiled mischievously: "What are you thinking about? Thinking about... whether or not to date him? Hmm? Is our Anping... a little bit fond of Comrade Meng?"
Zhou Anping shifted his body on the sofa, his ears turning bright red.
After a long while, she said in a barely audible voice, "Just... a little bit."
Nan Zhiyi stopped teasing her. "It's enough to like him a little bit. Meng Qingshan is a good person, and his family background is good too. It's right to think it over carefully, but don't make yourself too conflicted. Just let things take their course."
Zhou Anping gave a soft "hmm," and said, "I'll make a decision when he gets back."
She then enthusiastically told Nan Zhiyi some interesting stories and trivial gossip about the performing arts troupe, such as who fell flat on their face during practice, and who secretly altered the waist of their performance costume...
Nan Zhiyi listened with great interest, occasionally smiling from ear to ear, and sometimes laughing so hard she almost fell over when she heard something particularly outrageous.
"Ouch!" she cried out softly, clutching her stomach with a laugh.
"What's wrong?" Zhou Anping was startled and quickly went over.
"It's nothing, it's nothing. The little guy probably found it funny too, he was jumping around happily in there and kicked me."
"Looks like a lively little guy!"
Looking out the window, the sky was getting dark; it was already dusk.
Zhou Anping stood up: "I have to go back. My mom is home alone and has to deal with that... I have to go back and help her cook dinner."
She swallowed back the word "annoying ghost" in time.
Nan Zhiyi escorted her to the gate of the courtyard.
Zhou Anping walked quickly back to the Zhou family courtyard diagonally opposite.
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