Chapter 33:

When Yu Xiang’an returned with these items, her gait was somewhat stiff as she walked alongside Ye Qijia.

Ye Qijia couldn’t help but say, “Xiao An, don’t be so nervous. I’m fine, really. It’s still early in the pregnancy—no need to overreact.”

Seeing her like this, Yu Xiang’an couldn’t stay tense either.

She took a deep breath, her posture visibly relaxing. “Sister-in-law, you’re carrying twins. I don’t know if they’ll be nephews or nieces, but either way, it’s wonderful. When Mingjie was born, I was still young. Now that they’re coming, I’m already earning a salary as their aunt—I can make them new clothes…”

As she rambled on, Yu Xiang’an’s thoughts wandered. Twins would need more nutrients, so they’d have to eat better from now on. As for concerns about overeating, given their current circumstances, it wasn’t likely to be a problem. It wasn’t like they were feasting on meat every meal. Besides, Ye Qijia was still working and moving around, so the risk of the babies growing too large was minimal.

When they got back and shared the news, Yu Qingshan froze, showing no joy.

His late wife had died because of complications from carrying twins. For most people, twins might be a blessing, but for him, it wasn’t.

If she hadn’t been pregnant with twins, she wouldn’t have struggled so much during childbirth, lying in the hospital for a month before passing away. Back then, his eldest son wasn’t even married yet. Now, in the blink of an eye, his daughter-in-law was also pregnant with twins. It was impossible for him not to recall the past.

He remained silent for a long time, listening as Yu Xiang’an relayed the doctor’s instructions. He thought, *If only we’d had this awareness back then, if only we’d taken it more seriously—maybe things wouldn’t have turned out this way.*

Yu Xianghai was equally concerned. He was very pleased with the pamphlet they’d brought back, flipping through it page by page with great attention. He asked when the next check-up would be—he absolutely had to be there.

He even pulled Yu Mingjie aside for a serious father-son talk, explaining the situation at home: Mom was carrying two siblings in her belly, and it was hard on her. As the eldest brother, he needed to be more responsible, help out more, and make sure not to upset her—keeping her in good spirits was important.

Yu Mingjie was already excited about having younger siblings, and now that he heard there’d be two, he puffed out his little chest proudly. “I’m the big brother! I’ll take good care of them! I’ll be obedient and not make Mom angry!”

Yu Xianghai smiled and nodded. “And you have to study hard, just like your Aunt Xiao An, understand?”

His sister had landed her job thanks to her education, and she was already on the verge of a promotion—all in such a short time. Part of it was due to her articles being published in the newspaper.

If he followed in his aunt’s footsteps, his future would be brighter.

So when Yu Xiang’an found creative ways to assign them tasks, they were more than happy to comply.

At the mention of studying, Yu Mingjie’s little brows furrowed.

Not many kids loved studying.

Especially little ones.

Yu Mingjie didn’t immediately agree, instead putting on a thoughtful face. Yu Xianghai didn’t rush him, letting him think it over. Finally, Yu Mingjie nodded solemnly. “Dad, I’ll study hard. If my little siblings come to me for help and I don’t know the answers, that wouldn’t be right. I’m the big brother.”

Yu Xianghai suppressed a laugh and patted his small shoulder approvingly. “That’s the spirit of a big brother. Keep it up!”

When they returned to the house, both were all smiles. By then, Yu Qingshan had also come around. “Go for regular check-ups. Don’t worry about the cost.”

Zhao Qiaoniang’s emotions were complicated. She couldn’t help but touch her own belly. If only she could have another child—boy or girl, it didn’t matter.

But her body had been damaged. She would never have another child.

Now, Ye Qijia was carrying two at once. The contrast made her heart ache.

If Yu Xianghai were her own son, at her age, she wouldn’t even be thinking about having more children—she’d just be waiting for grandchildren.

She treated Yu Xiangju well, and he was close to her, but he was still young. Even if he knew she was his stepmother, he wouldn’t dwell on it. But once he grew up and married, how much standing would she, as a stepmother, really have?

Blood ties mattered.

This was her fate—destined for a life with little connection to her own children.

When Yao Cuifen heard the news, she brought over some food and pulled Yu Xianghai aside for a serious talk.

Carrying twins was dangerous for a woman.

She herself had never had twins, but her sister had, and their family had a history of twins. The risks were much higher than usual.

They couldn’t afford to be careless.

Now that their family’s circumstances were better, they had the means to take it seriously.

They couldn’t wait for disaster to strike before regretting it.

Yu Xianghai nodded repeatedly. “It’s all thanks to Grandma’s reminder. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have thought of it.”

Normally, pregnant women didn’t go for check-ups unless there were problems. Some families couldn’t even afford hospital deliveries.

If they hadn’t found out early, things could have been dire by the time of birth.

They also needed to inform their relatives back home. Choosing a day, the whole family returned to Hongxing Brigade.

Seeing everyone return together, Zhang Chahua was overjoyed, declaring it a special occasion and insisting on adding extra dishes to the meal.

When Yu Xianghai shared the news, Zhang Chahua immediately said, “Then you must take extra care. Xianghai’s wife, are you tired? Go lie down in the room. I’ll make you a bowl of hot brown sugar water.”

Yu Changyou pondered—when his granddaughter-in-law was further along, who should take care of her?

Should someone stay by her side as much as possible?

Have Zhao Qiaoniang look after her?

That wasn’t ideal. She had her own job, and when she wasn’t working, Yu Xianghai was usually home.

Her own mother? Also not an option. From what he knew, her mother wasn’t in good health and likely couldn’t manage it.

In that case, Mancang’s wife, Xiaojuan, might be the best choice. She didn’t have a job, and when the time came, she could stay with her for a while without losing too many work points. If the couple spent more time together in the county, it might even help them conceive.

He made a mental note to discuss it with Yu Qingshan later—see if it was appropriate. It was still early, though. Xianghai’s wife wasn’t that far along yet. No need to rush.

Yang Huili couldn’t help but glance repeatedly at Xu Xiaojuan. She already had grandchildren from her daughter, but none from her son yet. Her brother-in-law’s eldest grandson was already five, and now two more were on the way—soon there’d be three. Her daughter-in-law had been married for a while, but with them living apart so much, there was still no good news. When would she finally hold a grandchild of her own?

Yu Mancang noticed her gaze and also looked at his wife.

He wanted a child as lively and well-behaved as Mingjie, but they hadn’t been married long, and he was often away in the county. Even if they wanted one now, it wasn’t up to them—it depended on fate.

Zhang Chahua brought out the sugar water and handed it to Ye Qijia. “Here, drink this. When you’re pregnant, eat more fish—it makes the baby smart. It just so happens that Mansheng and his brother caught a few decent-sized fish the other day. Today, we’ll have fish soup.”

Ye Qijia smiled and accepted it. “Thank you, Grandma.”

Yu Qingshan was talking to Yu Changyou. “Dad, how’s your health? Any discomfort? If there is, you must say so—don’t hide it.”

Yu Changyou: “I’m not hiding anything. I feel fine. These days, I don’t do heavy work—just light tasks like watching the threshing ground or shooing away sparrows. If the sun’s too strong, I stay inside.”

If he got sick again, the work points he earned wouldn’t even cover a fraction of the medical bills. Most of the time, he rested at home.

Zhang Chahua chimed in, “Don’t worry, I keep an eye on him.”

Her husband’s last illness had terrified her.

She didn’t want to be left alone.

Yu Changyou coughed twice and changed the subject. “Mancang, how’s your apprenticeship going?”

Yu Mancang, sensing his grandfather’s reluctance to hear more nagging, obliged. “Almost done. By the time I leave, I should have mastered it completely. Then I’ll come back and make bricks myself. We can expand our house—make it more spacious.”

Their current home wasn’t big enough. There wasn’t even space yet for his younger brothers’ future marriages.

If he mastered brick-making, they wouldn’t have to buy bricks—they could make their own. Then, after securing some wood and tiles, they could build a proper brick house—respectable and cost-effective.

At this, Yu Changyou brightened. “Yes, then we’ll build. You must study hard—otherwise, the house won’t be sturdy…”

As they discussed serious matters, Yu Xiang’an, Yu Mingjie, and Yu Xiangju grew restless and went outside, straw hats on their heads.

Yang Huili couldn’t stay long either. If she lingered too much, she wouldn’t earn full work points for the day.

Unlike her mother-in-law, her tasks weren’t light.

Yu Xiang’an asked where Yu Mansheng and his brother were working and went to find them, asking these local experts where the best spots in the mountains were.

This season, a trip up the mountain might yield some pleasant surprises.

When they arrived at the field, Yu Manwu and Yu Mansheng were assigned to plow a dry plot.

They were reclaiming wasteland.

Reclaiming land was hard work—clearing trees and thick weeds, picking out stones, then burning the vegetation for ash. Only then could the land be considered ready. For such land, the first crop was usually beans—soybeans or mung beans—to nourish the soil for a year or two before planting other crops.

Yu Shunwen planned to use this newly reclaimed land for fruit trees, specifically oranges. During the New Year, families with means would display oranges—they made for auspicious gifts. *Juzi* (oranges) sounded like *jili* (good fortune), symbolizing prosperity.

This fruit also kept relatively well, and their area was suitable for growing it.

A neighboring commune specialized in orange cultivation, though most locals only grew a few for personal use. Yu Shunwen wanted to scale it up. If the harvest was good, they could sell to procurement stations or factories. If not, the brigade members could divide them—adding a plate or two of fruit for the New Year.

Even if that failed, they wouldn’t lose much—just some labor.

For now, they could still grow crops. There was time before the orchard took shape.

Buying saplings was expensive, and small-scale planting wouldn’t yield much. So he decided to grow seedlings from seeds, saving a lot of money.

Hearing Yu Manwu explain their uncle’s plan, Yu Xiang’an thought it sounded feasible.

If nothing else, they could eat the oranges themselves. Since locals already grew them, the outcome couldn’t be too bad.

Among the reclaimers, most were young. Two girls in hats were cutting grass, while a few boys chopped trees with machetes.

This was the advance team.

Among them, two girls stood out—their fair skin, delicate fingers, and clothes with fewer patches marking them as different.

Given the urban educated youth sent to the countryside, their identities were obvious.

Seeing Yu Manwu and his brother excitedly chatting with the newcomers, the girls glanced over curiously.

One asked a nearby villager, “Do you know them? They look unfamiliar—not from the brigade, right?”

“The girl is their cousin from the county. She moved her household registration out long ago and doesn’t visit often, so you haven’t met her. The two kids are her brothers or nephews.”

“Is she a worker?”

Noticing Yu Xiang’an’s factory uniform, the girl asked enviously.

“Yeah, she’s at the food factory—the one that produces all those canned goods and biscuits. So many delicious things.” He once tasted a bite of canned fruit shared by Yu Manwu—so sweet it left a lasting impression on him.

Another female educated youth stepped forward. “Hello, we’ve met before. Do you remember me?”

Yu Xiang’an searched her memory but shook her head hesitantly. “We have? Sorry, I don’t recall.”

The girl, around sixteen or seventeen, smiled sheepishly. “We didn’t speak last time, so it’s understandable. I was weeding with your grandma when you came to find her. We just passed each other.”

Now Yu Xiang’an had a vague impression and extended her hand warmly. “Hello, I’m Yu Xiang’an.”

“Hello, I’m Ruan Chenxi. I came here last year as an educated youth.” She shook her hand, relieved she’d discreetly wiped off the dirt earlier.

“I heard you work at the food factory. Are you on leave today?”

Unsure why Ruan Chenxi was striking up a conversation, Yu Xiang’an replied, “Yes, it’s my day off. The family came back to visit Grandpa.”

“When are you heading back?”

“This afternoon. Work tomorrow.”

“Would you like to go crab hunting? I found a spot with lots of crabs a few days ago—though they’re small, only about the size of a baby’s fist.”

At the mention of crabs, Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie’s eyes lit up. Even if the crabs were too small to eat, they’d be fun to catch.

Yu Manwu nodded. “Crab hunting sounds fun. Want to go?” They might also find clams, small fish, or shrimp.

Ruan Chenxi smiled. “Should I take you there?”

“Is that okay for you?”

Ruan Chenxi pressed her lips together. “It’s fine. I’ll just slip away for a bit. Lunch is soon anyway—I can return afterward. I stumbled upon that place by accident and don’t even know its name.”

Yu Xiang’an understood—she wanted to befriend her?

Smiling, Yu Xiang’an said, “Then we’ll trouble you. If we get a good haul today, we’ll share.”

This drew laughter all around.

These crabs were only of interest to kids—adults wouldn’t bother.

Too little meat, too much hassle.

Yu Manwu gestured to the others. “We’ll be gone for a bit. If anyone checks, just say we went to the toilet.”

The group of teens chuckled. “No need to tell us—we know the drill.”

Ruan Chenxi led them through twists and turns to a small stream.

“This is where I found them last time. Lift the rocks—there are plenty.”

She’d been startled by them before.

Yu Mingjie was already eagerly turning over rocks by the bank.

Seeing the water wasn’t deep, Yu Xiang’an didn’t stop him.

What kid hadn’t been mischievous?

She and Ruan Chenxi chatted by the shore.

Yu Manwu and Yu Mansheng, being teenagers themselves, joined in. Whenever they caught something, they’d whoop and stash it under a straw hat, then cover it with another to keep the crabs from escaping.

Ruan Chenxi was from Shanghai and had seen the world. She spoke openly, impressed by Yu Xiang’an’s knowledge.

Though Yu Xiang’an had never been to big cities like Shanghai, she knew a lot about them.

What started as an attempt to connect soon became a genuine conversation.

They were close in age—Ruan Chenxi was less than a year younger.

By the time they parted, they’d agreed to meet again on Yu Xiang’an’s next visit.

When Ruan Chenxi returned, she was surrounded.

“What did you talk about?”

“Is she easy to get along with?”

“Did you become friends?”

Some disapproved of her initiative, sneering.

“Just a small-town clerk—what can she do? Dreaming of using her to return to the city? Ridiculous.”

“Not afraid of being laughed at. Since when are educated youth so desperate?”

Ruan Chenxi had expected this. Though the words stung, she ignored the mockery. “Sour grapes,” she muttered before walking away.

It wasn’t as if the others didn’t want to befriend Yu Xiang’an. Even if she couldn’t help them return to the city, as a local with connections—her uncle was the brigade leader, and she worked at the food factory—being friends would make life here much easier.

They lacked the courage to reach out but had no qualms criticizing her for it.

When Yu Xiang’an’s group returned, all but her had damp trousers.

Their haul was decent—nearly two pounds of small crabs and half a pound of assorted tiny fish.

Enough for a meal.

Crabs were considered too “cooling” for pregnant women, and the family wasn’t keen on eating them. Yang Huili said, “Why bring back so many crabs? Pregnant women shouldn’t eat them. If you want them, take them back with you.”

Yu Xiang’an grinned. “Will do!”

If Ye Qijia couldn’t eat them and the family didn’t want them, she’d take them home.

They returned laden with goods, but as soon as they set things down, someone knocked at the door.

Yu Xiangju went to answer and called out, “Fifth Sister, it’s for you.”

Yu Xiang’an had just put the crabs away and stepped out. “Who is it?”

Yu Xiangju shook his head. “A sister I don’t know.”

It was Gao Yimei.

Her face was animated. “Xiao An, I heard you were asking about doctors? What a coincidence—I just heard of one. He used to be a director at the city hospital, retired and returned to his hometown—right here in Baishi County. He’s quite skilled with women’s health issues.”

Yu Xiang’an hadn’t expected such a quick lead and was delighted. “Really? Do you have his name and address?”

“I asked around. Here’s the address. His surname is Lin—Dr. Lin. We’ll have to go quietly. He’s retired, so we can’t make a fuss. My periods haven’t been regular, and the county hospital didn’t help. I’ve been meaning to find someone else. When are you free? Let’s go together.”

Yu Xiang’an wanted to scout the place first and suggested, “How about after work tomorrow?”

“Deal. Tomorrow it is!”