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I had long known that my mother-in-law would take me to see the Village Doctor, and that was the plan. Even if she didn't actively bring the doctor over, I had to find a way to make her take me there; otherwise, my plan would be a failure.
But little did I know that during the time she disappeared, she had already gone to fetch someone. Once we arrived here, I hardly had time to contact Miao Miao, and I had no idea how things were going—whether an agreement had been reached or to what extent. Was the person in front of me really the one Miao Miao had found?
“Zhuang Jun, Zhuang Jun, come here! Over here!” My mother-in-law's smile was unwavering as she eagerly called me over. I gritted my teeth and slowly moved toward her, trying to get a better look at the elderly person beside her.
The old man appeared to be in his sixties or seventies, with gray hair at his temples. His skin had become loose with age and was speckled with freckles. He squinted his eyes and smiled, and through the creases in his skin, a glimmer of light shone through. The way his sagging skin lifted slightly made me feel inexplicably uneasy.
The various uncertainties made me even more anxious. As I approached my mother-in-law, she grabbed my arm and pulled me closer, saying with a smile, “Dr. Li, this is my daughter-in-law, Zhuang Jun. She's pregnant and not feeling well; could you take a look?”
Wang Xu chimed in beside her, “Yes, yes, Dr. Li. Zhuang Jun ate something bad before; we’re not sure if it affected her. Could you please check?”
Upon hearing this, my mother-in-law froze for a moment, her smile fading: “What do you mean? When did Zhuang Jun eat something bad? What did she eat?”
Wang Xu looked as if he had accidentally let something slip and quickly explained, “Mom, it’s not what you think. We didn’t mean to; last time we went to a restaurant, we just ate a bit carelessly. It’s nothing serious; the doctor can just take a quick look—don’t worry.”
Seeing that my mother-in-law was unhappy, Wang Xu distanced himself from the situation while several Aunts chimed in to ease her mood: “Dr. Li, could you please help us out? We really appreciate it.”
Dr. Li nodded slightly, his voice old and hoarse: “Alright.”
My mother-in-law's smile brightened again as she patted my back and urged me to step forward toward Dr. Li. I lowered my head obediently and walked over, each step making me feel increasingly anxious and regretful.
If given another chance, I would prefer to engage in something more certain. I should have left a message for Miao Miao at night to clarify the current situation so that I wouldn’t feel so lost.
“Zhuang Jun, right?” Dr. Li tilted his head slightly and asked with a smile in a relaxed tone that felt more like casual conversation.
“Yes, that's right; I'm Zhuang Jun,” I replied hesitantly. My mother-in-law jumped in before I could finish: “This is my daughter-in-law; she's twenty-six this year and pregnant. Please take a look.”
The Aunts gathered around my mother-in-law were eagerly waiting for Dr. Li's actions; all attention had shifted from me to him. They were only concerned about Dr. Li's every word and awaited the final result without considering my current state.
“Alright, let me take a look,” Dr. Li said. “It’s not suitable here; let’s find a room where I can examine her privately.”
As soon as Dr. Li finished speaking, my mother-in-law and several aunts exchanged glances. My mother-in-law hesitated for a moment before saying anything, but Auntie spoke up with a smile, gently declining, "How about we go to the living room, Dr. Li? We are all family of Zhuang Jun, of course we are concerned about her health. If we go to the living room, we can prepare anything you need; we're all family, it won't be a bother."
The aunts were clearly unwilling to witness the entire process of what was happening with the child in my belly. Their curiosity was likely no less than that of my mother-in-law. While my mother-in-law seemed eager to hear what Dr. Li had to say, she had no choice but to hold back her words since Auntie had already spoken. She awkwardly agreed.
"Yes, yes, it's the same in the living room. Dr. Li, please come inside; it's warmer in there."
Once they left the yard and entered the living room, Wang Xu came over and took my hand carefully. "Are you nervous?"
He seemed a bit worried.
I countered, "Aren't you nervous?"
Wang Xu chuckled lightly, "Yeah, I'm pretty nervous too. But don't worry; everything will be fine. What could possibly go wrong?"
What Wang Xu didn't know was that our worries were completely opposite. He was concerned about my health affecting the baby, while I was worried that Dr. Li would expose the fact that I wasn't pregnant.
In just a few steps to the sofa, I felt anxious and didn't know what to do. All my thoughts were futile because at this moment, the most crucial thing was Dr. Li's words.
If he said I was pregnant, I would live; if he said I wasn't pregnant, I would die.
Sitting on the sofa in the living room, Auntie pushed the heated brazier closer to me. "Zhuang Jun, are you cold? Warm your hands by the fire."
Having just returned from outside, my body was still warm, but my heart felt cold and tense. I nodded and extended my hands toward the brazier, trying to absorb its warmth. I wished that this heat could penetrate into my heart. Right now, I didn't dare look over at Dr. Li; I focused on controlling my trembling so as not to expose myself.
"Don't worry; it's just a normal check-up. It's normal for you to feel unstable emotionally since you're newly pregnant. Pay attention to your diet; keep it light and avoid raw or cold foods. Make sure to include grains and nourish your body."
Dr. Li first offered some comforting words while the aunts began chatting idly among themselves, sharing their own experiences from years ago, which made my mother-in-law's face darken.
"Alright, alright! It's not easy to have Dr. Li here; can you all keep it down? Any discussions can wait until tomorrow."
Seeing my mother-in-law was truly displeasing. A few Aunts exchanged a couple of forced smiles but said nothing, their eyes still gleaming with the anticipation of a good show, as they were primarily concerned about what was inside me.
"Alright, stick out your tongue for me to see, and then let me check your pulse. After the examination, we can talk," Dr. Li instructed.
"Okay, okay, I’ll listen to Dr. Li," my mother-in-law replied cheerfully.
Wang Xu released my hand and whispered in my ear not to be afraid. I nodded and followed Dr. Li's instructions. Dr. Li first looked at my tongue and then asked me a couple of questions about my condition. I answered some truthfully and made up others. After a while, everyone was holding their breath, waiting for Dr. Li's response.
I was the same, even more so; I was almost trembling with fear as I awaited Dr. Li's words, which could either lift me to heaven or drop me into hell.
Now lies had become something I desperately needed; I needed Dr. Li to help me conceal everything.
"Dr. Li, how is it? What’s the situation with the child in Zhuang Jun's belly? Please tell us," my mother-in-law urged anxiously, seizing any opportunity to press Dr. Li for answers.
"The fetus is very healthy and developing well. You need to continue taking care of yourself; there are no major issues. Just ensure you keep up with nutrition; you’re a bit weak, but it’s not a big deal," Dr. Li finally said after a long pause, and his words nearly brought tears to my eyes. That short sentence turned my life around once again.
Thank goodness, truly thank goodness; wherever Miao Miao is now, she has already arranged everything for me. My panic stemmed solely from my inner fears of gain and loss, but fundamentally, as long as Miao Miao is here, there are no problems.
My mother-in-law was extremely excited and asked several times if it was true, her joy evident on her face.
The Aunts nearby continuously congratulated us, and Wang Xu was also delighted, holding my hand with a smile that seemed ready to split her face open as she kept thanking Dr. Li: "Thank you, Dr. Li, thank you."
Wang Xu's eyes were red with emotion; just like me, she had been tense throughout the whole ordeal. She listened intently to Dr. Li's words and was stunned for a moment before finally coming back to reality and letting out a sigh of relief.
I felt the same way; although our purposes were different, we were both as tense as if we had been on a roller coaster ride. Now that I felt the solid ground beneath my feet again, it felt like I had come back to life. Even though I would struggle afterward and face many difficulties ahead, I still cherished this moment of beauty—unreal yet precious.
So wonderful.
"Thank you, Dr. Li." Slowly, in the end, I expressed my gratitude to the elderly man who smiled at me. Overcome with emotion, tears flowed freely from my eyes as well.
"Hey, hey, Zhuang Jun, this child is so excited that he’s crying. Don’t cry, don’t cry, this is a joyous occasion! You’ll be bringing back a big chubby boy in the future, bringing glory to the family!"
"Don’t say that, look at Wang Xu, he’s crying too. Haha, it’s true, this couple has had a tough time. This child has come at just the right moment; finding out such good news during the New Year is truly a double blessing!"
"It’s not like the child was conceived today or that we found out today. You really can stretch anything for the sake of good fortune!"
The aunts behind me were chatting away without pause, making the atmosphere even livelier than when we first arrived. Wang Xu held me tightly and expressed his gratitude, saying he would treat me well in the future and wouldn’t let me suffer any grievances.
When Dr. Li was leaving, my mother-in-law handed him a thick red envelope. She is usually quite stingy, so it was rare for her to be this generous. Dr. Li left happily, while I was surrounded by people feeling lost and unwilling to engage. I kept thinking about how to share the good news with Miao Miao; on one hand, I didn’t have time to spare, and on the other hand, I had no idea what was happening on her side.
My mother-in-law confidently held my hand in the crowd and began reminiscing about the past, praising me as an exceptionally filial daughter-in-law whom she has always liked. Wang Xu chimed in with a smile: "Yes, yes, our family has always been very happy and will continue to be happy forever."
The aunts started teasing Wang Xu about his sweet words, saying he’s a soft-hearted husband who knows how to care for others.
If I weren’t in the middle of it all, I might have easily believed everything Wang Xu said. Our little family has always been harmonious and happy; nothing major has ever happened.
But I have experienced it all firsthand; I cannot forget everything I’ve endured. It has supported me to reach this point today. Even now, I feel anxious but finally, I have succeeded in taking a step forward.
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