Zhan Aiping had never expected that she would get pregnant several times in a row. When she thought about it carefully, although it was a coincidence, it was not too coincidental. After all, she was a doctor. She and Qin Lanfang and Shen Liqing got married in the same year. It was extremely normal for them to get pregnant one after another after getting married in the same year.
As luck would have it, they ran into Li Yuxia again, and Li Yuxia got pregnant unexpectedly. Zhan Aiping guessed that it was because Director Li was old, and the couple felt that they could not get pregnant anymore, so they did not take any safety measures, and this time she got pregnant unexpectedly.
As for He Lingling, she has irregular menstruation and it is not easy for her to get pregnant, but she and Xie Shu have been married for several years and their pregnancies are normal. When Zhan Aiping and his wife moved, the frequency of quarrels in the neighboring family decreased a lot compared to before...
Maybe she was relaxed and the baby came naturally.
Zhan Aiping said to He Lingling, "You didn't dare to go to the hospital before, and you tried several folk remedies for pregnancy, but none of them helped you get pregnant?"
He Lingling's face tensed up. She hesitated, but finally nodded: "Yes, it's better after trying it."
So she refused to believe that she was pregnant.
In order to get pregnant, she had tried many folk remedies in secret, but she didn't dare tell anyone, but she still couldn't conceive.
Now she has clearly given up, but Zhan Aiping says she is pregnant.
"How did you know? I, I'm really pregnant?" He Lingling couldn't calm down at all. This was such unexpected news for her.
"The birth of a child is fate. Take good care of yourself and give birth to the child with peace of mind."
He Lingling asked anxiously, "I ate a lot of cold food before, will it be bad for the baby?"
Zhan Aiping smiled and comforted her: "Be more careful next time."
"I really have a child?" He Lingling was so emotional that she began to accept this fact. Tears flowed down her face unconsciously. Her eyes were red and she raised her hands to wipe them over and over again, but they couldn't be wiped clean. More and more tears appeared on her face.
"I, I always thought that I couldn't get pregnant." He Lingling has a proud and stubborn personality, but she is extremely insecure inside. She has irregular menstruation and poor health. She didn't get pregnant for several years after getting married. Although she appears to be free and easy on the surface, she has always been concerned about this matter.
A big part of the reason she quarreled with Xie Shu was because she was worried that men would not want a woman who could not have children.
If they can’t have children, how long can their marriage based on “love” last
"I'm afraid Xie Shu will divorce me because of this, so I don't want to go to the hospital for a checkup. What if the checkup really shows that it's my problem? Will he divorce me because of this? Then I would rather have a fight with him and divorce him."
"But every time we quarrel, we still can't live without each other." He Lingling was very anxious. She kept this matter in her mind, as if there was a bomb hanging in her heart, and she was afraid that this matter would explode one day.
They are still young and are not in a hurry to have children, but Xie Shu's family is pressing her more and more. If she can't get pregnant, they may force Xie Shu to divorce her.
He Lingling's pride would not allow her to be abandoned just because she couldn't have a child.
"I quarrel with him every day, but I just can't leave him—" He Lingling spoke incoherently. She was so emotional that her voice was choked with sobs, and tears and snot flowed down unconsciously.
Zhan Aiping handed her a tissue and He Lingling thanked her in a low voice.
"If you still don't believe it, go to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow. Ask your husband, Mr. Xie, to accompany you. Remember to remind him that for the sake of your pregnancy, you two should stop arguing."
"I don't want to argue with him yet." He Lingling cried and then laughed, "Doctor Zhan, why don't you accompany me to the hospital? If the doctor says I'm not pregnant, you can tell him off, confront him, and say he's a quack."
Zhan Aiping laughed: "Don't worry, it's okay, you're just worrying too much. It's hard to get pregnant because you've been weighing it on your mind. Try to relax in the future."
He Lingling nodded and thanked him, "Doctor Zhan, you are truly the goddess of fertility."
Zhan Aiping was speechless and choked: "Don't talk nonsense, I didn't give birth to a child."
They were the first to get pregnant, so she was the one who discovered that they were pregnant. It was not her, Zhan Aiping, who made them pregnant, but their own men.
"I don't have the ability to make you pregnant."
"You have it, you have it." He Lingling wiped her tears, her eyes red, "Thank you, Doctor Zhan."
Zhan Aiping comforted her with a few words. He Lingling now had a special liking for her. "Doctor Zhan, it would be great if you could be the director of women's affairs."
"As soon as I heard you talking, I felt relieved, and I didn't want to argue with Xie Shu anymore."
Zhan Aiping shook her head: "I don't have that ability. Director Li has to be the Women's Director. She is the one who mixes the mud, and I am the one who holds the hammer."
He Lingling burst out laughing.
"You, now that you're pregnant, you need to be careful, especially with your diet..." Zhan Aiping told her some precautions during pregnancy.
He Lingling nodded seriously, "Doctor Zhan, do you have a pen? I'll write it down."
Zhan Aiping thought for a moment and said, "How about asking your old Xie to copy our old Gu's notes. He wrote them in great detail when I was pregnant."
"Okay, I will make him copy it carefully. If he doesn't, I will scold him. I will scold him together with the child." The pregnant woman's mood changes very quickly, and He Lingling is in a good mood now.
She wanted to tell Xie Shu about this right away.
"Doctor Zhan, I envy you so much. When you were pregnant, Chief of Staff Gu was so nice to you. Old Xie in my family must learn more from him. It's a pity that you have moved now. Otherwise, I would let him come to your house every day to learn."
Zhan Aiping said: "Your husband, Mr. Xie, should stay at home to take care of you and the children."
"Yes, I want to exploit him. I want to turn the tables and become the master. I want him to be able to neither fight back nor retaliate."
Zhan Aiping smiled: "I'm just afraid you won't be able to let go."
He Lingling said stubbornly: "Who said I can't bear to part with it?"
"I've been your neighbor for more than half a year. I've heard so many quarrels between you two that my ears are callused. Let me recall how many times you've given in—"
"You, you, you!" He Lingling blushed: "He must have given in more times than me."
"He always says that I am unreasonable, but he is the one who is unreasonable."
Zhan Aiping said, "You two young couples, go back and talk about yourselves slowly."
The more He Lingling looked at her, the more she felt she was trustworthy: "Doctor Zhan, you are very understanding. If we have any relationship problems in the future, I will come to you."
Zhan Aiping refused: "Don't come, please don't come. I'm a doctor who treats illnesses, not someone who analyzes or mediates emotional problems."
"If you have any minor illness or pain, you can come to me."
He Lingling said seriously: "Doctor Zhan, you are too modest."
Zhan Aiping: "I just want to do my job well and be a doctor."
He Lingling chatted with her for a few minutes and then went back.
Zhan Aiping breathed a sigh of relief and went to look at Sweet and Sour Pork and Little Tangyuan, two little guys who only knew how to eat and sleep. She had lost weight, but the two little guys had gained a lot of weight, and their arms were as soft and sturdy as lotus roots.
"I call you pot-fried pork, but you are really chubby."
Zhan Aiping smiled gently and looked at her daughter again, "Our little glutinous rice balls are the same, white and soft, mom can swallow you in one bite."
She bent down and kissed her daughter on the face. The little one grinned and looked at her mother, moving around, eager to find food.
"Two little gluttons."
*
Gu Sheng was processing paperwork in the office. He sorted out a stack of telegrams, picked up his pen and quickly wrote line after line. Then he stopped writing, locked the thing, and prepared to leave.
Before getting up, he picked up a photo on the table. It was taken when the two children were one month old. In the photo, he and his wife were holding the two children. Zhan Aiping's body was a little crooked, and she was leaning beside him with a happy smile.
Gu Sheng looked at the photos with a gentle smile in his eyes. He looked up and caught a glimpse of Captain Jiang.
Captain Jiang knocked on his desk, expressionless: "Some people, if they want to leave, leave quickly. Are you looking at the photos here, or are you looking at them for me?"
Gu Sheng said: "I have finished writing what needs to be written, you can take your time to write the rest."
"I'll write it later." Captain Jiang rubbed his head. He really hated the end of the year and the beginning of the year because there were so many things to deal with.
"Let me see that picture of yours that you are looking at with such interest."
Gu Sheng put it away and said, "What do you like about the photo of my wife and two children?"
Captain Jiang: "Are you going too far?"
Gu Sheng: "You have secretly seen my photos before, and you still think you haven't seen enough?"
Captain Jiang snorted, "I'll have it too sooner or later."
"Then do your best." Gu Sheng continued, "If you want to catch up with my two children, you have to wait a few more years."
"Who wants to have so many children? I just want one."
"That's fine." Gu Sheng thought to himself that the two children started crying and it was a headache. "When will you return my notebook to me?"
"Why are you in such a hurry? I'll copy it slowly." Actually, Captain Jiang had no intention of copying it at all. He wanted to shamelessly take it for himself.
"Xiao Gu, we have been comrades for many years, why don't you give it to me?"
"It really won't work." Gu Sheng said seriously, "I wrote this with all my heart and soul when my wife was pregnant."
"Captain Jiang, your wife is pregnant with your child, and you are unwilling to do even this little thing yourself. That's a bit too much."
Captain Jiang's scalp tingled. He said stubbornly, "Who said I don't want to do it anymore? I've already copied most of it."
In fact, Captain Jiang only copied the beginning. Captain Jiang really didn't expect that Gu Sheng's "little notebook" which was said to be a little thick was actually so thick. The words were so densely packed that it gave him a headache.
"If you're not in a hurry to copy it, I'll lend it to Lao Wang first. His Xiao Shen is also pregnant."
"No, no, no, I'll copy it first. I'll finish it overnight."
Gu Sheng nodded: "Okay, I have something to do and I'll leave first."
"Wait a minute, don't leave yet." In front of Gu Sheng, Captain Jiang unbuttoned his clothes and took off his military jacket.
Gu Sheng's heroic eyebrows twitched: "What do you want to do?"
"Let me show you my new clothes. They are the newly issued military uniforms. Look, they were embroidered for me by your sister-in-law."
Captain Jiang spread out his military uniform in front of Gu Sheng and let him see the pattern on the hem of his uniform. There was a piece of green cloth sewn on it, and Captain Jiang's name was embroidered on the cloth with needle and thread.
Because everyone's uniforms are similar, in order to prevent accidental confusion, many people will mark the clothes in subtle places, such as drawing marks, numbers, or sewing their own names.
"Your sister-in-law embroidered it herself. She was pregnant. I told her not to work on it, but she insisted on doing it, and I couldn't stop her..." Captain Jiang was beaming with joy when he said this, and his desire to show off was beyond words.
If he didn't want to show off, why would he take off his clothes in front of him.
"Besides this one, there are others. The pants are sewn here."
Gu Sheng had a blank expression on his face: "Don't take it off, I'm not interested in seeing it, I'm in a hurry to go home to see my child." Chief of Staff Gu thought to himself that your clothes are not even as good-looking as my child's diapers.
"No, don't leave in a hurry, let's talk for a while."
"Okay, I'll talk to you." Gu Sheng turned around and sat down on the chair, raised his eyebrows and said, "Let's talk about photos. I have photos of my wife from childhood to adulthood. Do you have any?"
"On the day my wife and I got our marriage certificate, we went to the movies. Have you ever been to the movies with your wife?"
"Besides this photo, I have other photos. Do you want to see them?"
Captain Jiang: "You—"
Captain Jiang thought to himself, I'm not interested in looking at your photos, "Let's talk about clothes."
"Let's talk about photos first, and then we'll talk about clothes next time."
Captain Jiang: “…”
If you don't agree, there's no need to talk too much.
Gu Sheng got rid of Captain Jiang. He returned to the family compound, whistled twice into the wind, and was thinking about something. Chief of Staff Gu brought back a green bag containing the newly issued military uniforms. There were too many uniforms at home, so he left them there and was not in a hurry to take them back.
Before he even reached his door, he was stopped by someone. Turning around, he saw it was Xie Shu.
As neighbors, they didn't say much to each other before.
Xie Shu adjusted his hat and said bluntly, "Chief of Staff Gu, can you lend me your notebook to copy?"
Gu Sheng: “…”
Xie Shu also had an expression of unspeakable boasting on his face: "My wife is pregnant."
"Congratulations."
"I'm happy for you." Xie Shu smiled and said, "I have to thank Dr. Zhan. Your wife diagnosed my wife with this... Lingling said Dr. Zhan is a fertility goddess, even better than the fertility Guanyin in the temple."
Gu Sheng: "Really? What a coincidence."
"Thank you. Let's communicate more in the future. I want to learn from you."
Gu Sheng nodded: "The notebook is with Captain Jiang. His wife is pregnant, you can also go and talk to him."
Xie Shu hesitated and said, "I'm afraid he won't want to talk to me."
"If you talk to him about clothes, he will definitely be willing to talk to you. I'm going back first."
Gu Sheng said goodbye to him and returned home. Seeing the milk powder and White Rabbit candy in the corner, he asked, "Wife, who came?"
"He Lingling, my former neighbor, asked me to see a doctor, and I found out she was pregnant... I rushed to the hospital to confirm it, and she sent me a lot of stuff, but she forced it on me even though I didn't want it. Comrade Gu, we have too much milk powder in our house."
Many people sent milk powder to me. My house was piled high with milk powder. It was also because there were really no nutritional products to send in this era. All I sent were sugar, canned sugar water, canned meat, milk powder, malted milk, White Rabbit milk candy...
Zhan Aiping peeled a White Rabbit candy and put it in her mouth. She also peeled one for Gu Sheng: "Eat it. Your whole family will feel the milky aroma after eating it."
Gu Sheng took a bite and chewed it directly. After chewing it twice, Gu Sheng pecked Zhan Aiping on the face and said, "It's not just the flood of milk powder. Who would have thought that after not seeing her for three days, my Pingping would become a fertility Pingping."
Zhan Aiping covered her head and said, "Don't mention this. Ugh—who knew they were queuing up to get pregnant? In this family compound, apart from the soldiers, there are only female family members who don't have any other serious illnesses, and the only thing left is pregnancy."
"Obviously, being pregnant isn't a big deal."
Gu Sheng laughed: "Since you found out that I'm pregnant, it's become a big deal. Our fertility expert Pingping said so and so is pregnant."
"If you say 'Songzi Pingping' again, I'll step on you. Don't tease me." Zhan Aiping jumped and hugged his neck, swinging on him. After taking off the two burdens on her body, she, Zhan Da Pingping, became as light as a swallow again.
Zhan Aiping swung on him, her body soft and powerful, and she climbed onto his back, riding on Gu Sheng's shoulders. She used her legs to strangle Gu Sheng's neck and threatened, "If you say anything else, I'll snap you."
Gu Sheng held her legs and said, "The child didn't ride on my head, but you rode smoothly...
Chief of Staff Gu sighed: "I'm afraid the children will follow my example."
"Tell the child that this is my exclusive mount. Chief of Staff Gu said before that he was not afraid of the two little tyrants. Is he afraid now?"
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. What do I have to be afraid of? I'm just afraid that the mother of the child will be like a monkey and take two little monkeys out of the house."
Zhan Aiping smiled and patted his face. Her body relaxed and leaned forward. Gu Sheng took her into his arms: "The gymnastics team is missing you, Zhan Dapingping."
Zhan Aiping said: "The circus is missing two of us."
"I'll go cook. By the way, I have a task for you, Comrade Zhan." Gu Sheng took out the newly issued military uniform and showed it to her. Zhan Aiping asked in confusion, "What's wrong? New uniform? Are you in a hurry to wear it?"
"Yes, I'm in a hurry to put it on." Gu Sheng spread out the clothes: "I heard that you female soldiers are meticulous in your work. You've been retired for many years. See if your skills have improved. Sew my name on it as a mark. I'm busy now. I'll cook for you later."
Zhan Aiping pointed at herself and said, "You want me to sew your name on you?"
"Why did you deliberately bring back such a big bag?"
Gu Sheng said casually: "Sew them all up."
Zhan Aiping held her chin with her hand: "Who are you going to show it to after I sew it up?"
As soon as Zhan Dapingping saw this scene, he knew that there must be something fishy going on. He was definitely going to show off to others. What a competitive man this man is.
"To Jiang Tuan. He lets me see his clothes every day. Today he even took off his clothes for me to see."
Zhan Aiping: "... You don't want to take off your clothes for him, do you? You can only take off your clothes for me."
Gu Sheng smiled: "Well, I won't take off my clothes to show him, I'll show it to my wife. Come, feel the chest muscles to see if they are firm or not."
Zhan Aiping was speechless: "You are too narcissistic."
"I trained all this for you." Gu Sheng gave her a look: "Haven't you noticed that my body has become stronger after marriage? I trained especially for you. Do you like it?"
Although she wanted to refute him, Zhan Aiping still said honestly: "I like it, I like it. Keep it up."
"I knew you, Zhan Dapingping, were lustful."
Zhan Aiping: "Okay, okay, I'm lustful."
She admitted that she just liked Gu Sheng's figure. Was it a crime to touch him more? He was her husband after all.
"Then hurry up and get the needle and sew some clothes for me."
"Do it yourself and you will have enough food and clothing." Zhan Aiping laughed at him, "You won't take it off in front of Captain Jiang anyway. Does it make any difference whether I sew it or you sew it? You can sew it yourself and then say it was me who sewed it."
"Fifth brother, please give me some face. I think your sewing is very beautiful."
Gu Sheng: "You have to sew it yourself, Pingping, you can't be so conscienceless."
Gu Sheng pinched her face and turned to cook.
Zhan Aiping picked up the needle and thread to sew his name. She hadn't done this for a long time and was a little unfamiliar with it. Zhan Aiping first cut a piece of green cloth, sealed the edges, and then embroidered the name on it.
She was skilled in sewing. By the time Gu Sheng finished cooking, she had already finished sewing one piece. Gu Sheng was not in a hurry to eat, so he leaned over to take a look. Zhan Aiping held him back and said, "Promise me first that you won't show the name on the label to Captain Jiang."
"What's wrong?" Gu Sheng raised his eyebrows: "Wife, what did you embroider on it?"
Zhan Aiping blushed. She was being very creative just now and even embroidered a "heart" on it. Looking back now, it seemed a bit silly.
Gu Sheng opened her hands and saw his name, and even more so, the filled heart with a small word "Zhan" on the side. His eyes lit up and he praised her, "Wife, you have really skillful hands. You are worthy of being a doctor. You are good at sewing."
“Sew each piece this way.”
"Do you still have any shame? If someone uncovers it and sees it, you will be so embarrassed that you will die."
Although it is embroidered inside and will not be seen by others on a normal day, there is no guarantee that it will not be discovered when the clothes are mixed up, which would be too embarrassing.
"That's all. Be serious about the rest. Comrade Gu, you should be serious too. You are a father now."
Gu Sheng was disappointed: "Okay."
"I'll find a chance to show this to Captain Jiang."
"Don't, please don't, you may be shameless but I still have some." Zhan Aiping was frightened and her heart was beating fast, "Do you think you two are childish? You are both grown men, can you please compete with something serious?"
"I am an adult man, and Captain Jiang is the old man."
"—Eh?"
“Ahhh!”
The couple was noisy over their meal, and the two children started to make noises too. They each picked up one and coaxed him, "Are you hungry again now?"
"Just poop, I'm going to eat. Comrade Gu, go do your work and don't nag me. I want to eat in peace."
Zhan Aiping held her rice bowl and ate calmly. She was very confident in her husband.
"It stinks! How could you eat it?" Gu Sheng covered his nose. He washed his hands before changing the child's diaper.
Zhan Aiping handed him a small medical mask and said, "Put it on quickly."
"Please help me put it on."
Zhan Aiping put it on him and also brought one for herself.
"You are such a good mother. You have prepared everything, medical masks, um, medical gauze as diapers, um... Do you also need to wear sterile gloves?"
"Yeah, you reminded me. I'll prepare gloves for you next time."
Gu Sheng: "You're spoiled. I've already disinfected my hands."
Zhan Aiping nodded: "Our baby is very healthy."
Gu Sheng changed the baby's diaper and looked at the baby. Zhan Aiping ate first. Gu Sheng looked at the baby's face and said, "Wife, you need to eat faster. Your daughter must be hungry."
"Dad, please coax him first." Zhan Aiping looked at her watch and said, "I'm counting the time. It's not time yet."
Gu Sheng: “…”
"Children are like birds, they are straightforward, they eat and poop."
After Zhan Aiping finished eating, it was Gu Sheng's turn to eat. The two children ate happily, and he also picked up the rice on the side. Zhan Aiping looked at him and smiled: "I always feel like I am feeding three pigs at home."
Gu Sheng smiled and shook his head.
"This kid of ours is so beautiful. Even Mr. Xie from next door came to me for advice and asked me to copy notes."
Zhan Aiping: "Just lend it to him to copy."
"Captain Jiang hasn't even finished copying, and he doesn't even want to return it. He wants to take mine."
"That's too much. Don't let him succeed." Zhan Aiping felt a little uncomfortable: "The notes you wrote for me, if they are copied by others, will they be damaged? You can keep them as a souvenir in the future."
"Don't worry." Gu Sheng put his arm around her shoulders and said, "I still have the original copy. I copied one and lent it to others."
Zhan Aiping: "You are the best. You don't even feel tired from copying."
"A good memory is not as good as a bad pen. You can recall while copying."
"What a top student! No wonder he was admitted to university." Zhan Aiping praised him.
Gu Sheng frowned: "What does 'a top student' mean?" It doesn't sound like a good word.
"You are the king of study. I am praising you."
"You, Zhan Daping, are the same. Our future children will all be top students."
Zhan Aiping sighed: "That's not necessarily true."
These parents who graduated from Peking University and Tsinghua University can also give birth to a poor student.
"Don't get mad at Dad Gu when he helps the kids with their homework in the future."
"What's there to be angry about? I've never seen anyone angry." This is a special period and no one cares too much about children's studies. It doesn't matter whether their grades are good or not.
Zhan Aiping: "Who made your child suffer such bad times?"
When the college entrance examination is resumed in the future, children will study more and more diligently.
Zhan Aiping stared at the two little ones who could only drink milk, thinking that there was no need to rush them. She pinched the children's chubby faces, which were chubby and elastic: "Just don't be too naughty in the future."
"You only allow the governor to set fires but not the people to light lamps?" Gu Sheng laughed at her: "You were naughty when you were a child, but you don't allow your own children to be naughty."
Zhan Aiping said unhappily, "When your son makes you so angry that you jump up and down, you will regret it."
*
After Director Li was found out to be pregnant by Zhan Aiping, she was too embarrassed to see anyone for a while. Later, she gave up and shamelessly came out to do things again. She even asked her husband Zhang to deliver some things to the Gu family.
"You should also copy Xiao Gu's notes." Director Li had also heard about the rumored little notes. She was very curious. She also envied Zhan Aiping's life. She thought that since she was pregnant with three children, this time she should be well served by her own man.
It's time to enjoy yourself.
"Me? I'm going too?" Political Commissar Zhang pointed at himself.
"You just want to walk away from what you did, isn't your daughter what you want?"
"Okay." Political Commissar Zhang agreed immediately: "Isn't it just a small note? I'll copy it."
When Political Commissar Zhang actually saw the "little notebook" later, he was so sad that he could not even cry.
Political Commissar Zhang caught Gu Sheng and gave him two bags of things: "Director Li said that these are for your doctor Zhan. She thanked her last time. If Xiao Zhan doesn't accept them, she will feel embarrassed."
Gu Sheng nodded: "I'll go back and tell my wife."
Gu Sheng carried the things back home. Political Commissar Zhang brought him two bags of things, including canned food in syrup, kudzu root powder, dried sweet potato vermicelli, and a piece of ham.
"Wife, this is yours. The doctor's fee owed to you has been paid." Gu Sheng put the things down. "Keep it and eat slowly. It's all food."
"When we first moved here, Director Li came to see me every day. Now he is too embarrassed to come to me, so I asked Political Commissar Zhang to bring something to you." Zhan Aiping went to see what he brought back.
Gu Sheng said, "Didn't you find out Director Li was pregnant? Why is she still embarrassed to see you?"
Zhan Aiping paused and said, "You don't understand what's going on between women."
"Okay, I don't understand."
"Do you have kudzu root powder? I really like it. I told Director Li about it last time, and she still remembered it and brought me some."
Zhan Aiping used to like eating kudzu root powder. The powder can be made into a paste or made into pancakes. Just add a little sugar and the pancakes will be crystal clear, gelatinous and delicious.
It can also be used to make frozen desserts.
"It's cold in nature, so eat less." Gu Sheng appeared from behind her and reminded her.
Zhan Aiping smiled and said, "You are now considered a half-Chinese medicine practitioner, but you are a little mediocre."
"I'll make it for you and my younger sister. My younger sister is coming over tomorrow. She won't go back home to celebrate the New Year this year. Let her come to our house and celebrate with us." Now it is January and February of 1972, and the New Year is coming. Gu Xiangyi said she would not go home, but she is still here. Zhan Aiping thought of inviting her over to have the New Year's Eve dinner.
Gu Sheng said disdainfully: "It depends on her luck. What if she gets picked to be on duty on the first day of the new year?"
In the hospital, there must be people on duty during the New Year. Most of them draw lots and decide which day to be on duty based on luck.
"You can also let her switch with someone else." Zhan Aiping nudged him with her elbow: "Don't laugh at her now. When I, your wife, get lucky in the future, and get to work on New Year's Eve every day, you'll be in trouble. Be careful, I'll have a New Year's Eve night shift on my left hand and a New Year's Day morning shift on my right hand."
Gu Sheng smiled and covered her mouth: "Can you please say less?"
"Say something auspicious."
"Okay, okay, I will celebrate the New Year with you and the children every year from now on." Zhan Aiping smiled and fell into his arms.
The next day, Gu Xiangyi came to their house. Zhan Aiping made her milk jelly in advance, using milk powder, tea leaves and kudzu root powder. It was considered a dessert. "Try it. If the sugar is not enough, add more."
The milky white juice was soaked with crystal clear jelly, which was full of milk flavor. When it was scooped into the mouth, it also had the fragrance of tea. Gu Xiangyi liked it very much after eating it: "It's delicious. Sister-in-law, you have the right ideas and can think of all kinds of delicious things."
Zhan Aiping said: "It will taste better if we use fresh buffalo milk in the future."
"I've been eating so much with you guys, brother and sister-in-law, that I'm almost getting fat."
Gu Sheng said: "You gained weight in the hospital. Your sister-in-law and I didn't gain weight."
"Your sister-in-law has lost weight."
Gu Xiangyi: “…”
Gu Sheng said disdainfully: "How can you eat the food in your hospital cafeteria?"
"There's a new doctor in our hospital. He cooks delicious dishes. I and two nurses are cooking for him."
Gu Sheng: “No wonder.”
Gu Xiangyi said carelessly: "It's not as delicious as your cooking. If you want to eat your cooking, go and cook. It's rare for someone in our family to cook well."
Gu Sheng raised his eyebrows: "Don't come to my house to assign me orders. I'll kick you out with a broom."
"My sister-in-law is here, do you dare?" Gu Xiangyi ran to hide behind her sister-in-law. She sat beside the cradle and looked at her two cute nephews and nieces with a smile.
"Pingping, you see, she just likes to bully others. When you are not around, she is like a grandson in front of me. When you are around, her butt is lifted up to the sky. My sister is a two-faced person."
Zhan Aiping shook her head: "Can you two siblings show some brotherly love and respect in front of the children?"
Gu Xiangyi agreed: "That's right, little brother, if you want to spoil me, spoil me to death! My mother gave birth to five of you brats just to have me as her sister."
Gu Sheng didn't look at her: "You're dreaming."
Zhan Aiping: "No, your brother must spoil me, spoil me to death!"
Gu Sheng: "I love my wife, little sister, go wherever you feel comfortable."
Gu Xiangyi hugged the little tangyuan and said, "My little niece, cry with your aunt in your arms in the future. If your brother bullies you, your aunt will support you."
Zhan Aiping said: "How could my daughter be bullied by her brother?"
Gu Sheng said, "She can only bully her brother."
Gu Xiangyi was silent.
Gu Sheng said: "Little sister, this depends on your personal ability and skills. Don't think that you can get something for nothing just by being a sister."
"Have you ever heard of Kong Rong giving up his pears? You should be filial to your brother."
"Brother, have some shame."
Gu Sheng went to cook, and Gu Xiangyi came over. He still cooked a few dishes that his sister liked to treat her. Gu Xiangyi ate very satisfied. Zhan Aiping said to her: "If you don't go home for the New Year, spend New Year's Eve at your brother and sister-in-law's house."
"Okay." Gu Xiangyi nodded: "Our parents will just live alone."
Gu Sheng said: "Let's make a phone call together."
"Let's call in advance. There will be many people calling that day, so you may not be able to get a number." Zhan Aiping thought about it and said, "Choose a time when there are fewer people."
Gu Xiangyi felt sad at the thought of not being able to spend the holiday with her parents. Being a stranger in a foreign land, she missed her family all the more during every festive occasion. She still felt sad when the holidays came, but she was only sad for a while.
Gu Xiangyi said excitedly: "I want to celebrate the New Year with my sister-in-law Pingping."
"And my two lovely nephews and nieces."
Gu Sheng said: "Don't forget me, your brother."
"Brother, you have to stand guard. How pitiful! Let me help you keep your sister-in-law company." During the Chinese New Year, it is a fine tradition for officers to take over guard duty from the soldiers.
"Your sister-in-law doesn't need you to accompany her."
Zhan Aiping supported her chin with her hand: "What if I am also selected to be on duty on New Year's Eve." Zhan Aiping would have to go back to work for a few days at the end of January. The hospital was open all year round and there had to be someone there to guard it.
"Sister-in-law, I'll go and accompany you on duty. Am I more useful than my brother?"
"Don't give me that."
Gu Xiangyi sighed, "There has been no New Year atmosphere in recent years, especially here. It's not even cold, and there's no snow. It doesn't feel like winter."
The yangge, waist drum, temple fairs and various sacrificial activities were no longer held, and the New Year was cold and deserted.
Zhan Aiping said: "It will still be cold for a few days."
“But it doesn’t snow either.”
Zhan Aiping said: "Write a letter to your second brother in the Northeast and ask him to send you a snowflake."
“Hahahaha.” Gu Xiangyi laughed complacently: “He must be wrapped up like a bear now.”
"It's too cold over there. I don't want to be cold, and I don't want to heat the kang. I'm lazy."
The two children were almost two months old. Zhan Aiping packed up and prepared to go back to work at Yanxin Health Center. The old hen in the yard laid eggs, so she came out, picked up a few eggs and put them in the basket.
The vegetables in the yard were green, and under the eaves there was a bamboo stroller. The stroller at that time was very simple, and its appearance was like the shopping carts in supermarkets in the future, with four wheels underneath. Zhan Aiping put a thick quilt on it so that the child could be placed in the stroller.
The child is still too young, so I plan to use it when he is a little older.
The weather is good, and Zhan Aiping took out various quilts to dry in the sun. The sunshine is very comfortable at this moment. Unlike the hot summer, winter is actually the most comfortable season.
"Doctor Zhan, Doctor Zhan." An old lady in gray clothes in the next yard called her. Zhan Aiping knew her. She was the mother of Deputy Captain Qian, Xue Aiying. Their family had a new baby not long ago, and the child was older than hers. Xue Aiying helped her son take care of the child. This was not the first child in her family. They had two daughters before, and this time they gave birth to a grandson. Xue Aiying took the initiative to say that she wanted to take care of the child.
Xue Aiying watched her little grandson very closely, holding him in her hands for fear that he would melt. She fed him carefully, but could not help looking at the children next door, a boy and a girl, who were twins, white and plump, and very cute.
Her grandson was skinny and small, like a kitten. Xue Aiying felt proud but also anxious. In her opinion, the stronger and healthier the child was, the better. However, her grandson was not as strong as the one next door.
After thinking about it, Xue Aiying felt that it was because her daughter-in-law's milk was not good, her grandson did not eat well and did not grow strong. It was her daughter-in-law who was not doing well.
The family next door was better off, and Xue Aiying saw a lot of good things and sent them to their house. Zhan Aiping also ate well during the confinement period, which enabled her to raise a strong baby.
"Doctor Zhan, our two families are neighbors, and it's fate. My daughter-in-law lacks milk, and you can see how skinny my grandson is. If you have enough milk, give some to my grandson, and the child will recognize you as his godmother in the future."
Zhan Aiping said: "I think Mrs. Zhou is in good health."
"She is no good. Look, my grandson has become skinny because of hunger. Her milk supply is not good and the child vomits. Every time I ask her to feed more, the child just vomits and doesn't like her milk."
Zhan Aiping frowned: "The child has a small appetite, and he can't eat too much at once, so he will vomit. Feed him appropriately every time."
"Her milk supply is poor and the baby doesn't like to eat. Doctor Zhan, please feed the baby while you're at it. Our whole family will thank you in the future."
"This is not good. Unless it is a last resort, it is best for the child's biological mother to feed the baby. The child is already used to his mother's milk. If you suddenly change his milk, he will get sick if he can't adapt, and it is easy to cross-infect."
Xue Aiying frowned: "How can there be so many people who are not sick?"
"Aunt, if you let Sister Zhou eat more good food, her milk will improve. Bring two eggs from my house."
Xue Aiying took a few eggs back home. She curled her lips and thought to herself, who wants a few eggs from you? You are so stingy.
When she got home and saw her grandson who was as skinny as a monkey, she thought about the fat and white sweet and sour pork next door. The fat boy looked like a doll in a New Year picture. The more she thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt. Xue Aiying thought, "How about changing my grandson's name to Roucai?"
"Pork in Pot, pork in pot, oh my, this little pork in pot sounds thick and filling."
"What we call ours is small fat intestines? Stewed goose... big elbow?" Xue Aiying thought that just changing the name was not enough, she also had to think of some secret recipe.
(End of this chapter)