Chapter 312: Going Home
Shen Yiguang’s movements were quick. He was originally scheduled to return to his hometown on the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month, but due to Shen Yixiang’s matter, he had specially advanced his vacation by three days, which meant he would also come back three days earlier.
Lu Haijun had been on external training all the time, and Shen Yixiang had not been able to see him at all, temporarily severing their contact. Shen Yiguang didn’t necessarily consider Lu Haijun to be a good match; his abilities were mediocre, his prospects for advancement were limited. Although he had some cleverness, in many cases, it still came down to technical strength. In addition, his family’s situation was unclear. These were not matters to be taken lightly. Letting them break off contact for a while, Shen Yixiang was soon to return home. If they were to have further interaction in the future, it would depend on fate. Additionally, he needed to ask the Shen family elders for their opinion—they might not agree to their youngest daughter marrying so far away, being unable to see her all year round, or in harder circumstances, not seeing her for several years. Not seeing her, the elderly would always worry, so he would make Shen Yixiang consider her parents’ feelings.
Yang PeiMin’s belly was already three and a half months along. After finishing her exams, she had nothing much to think about and could really rest assured in nurturing her pregnancy. She did not need to do any housework; she would visit neighbors, take walks after meals, knit sweaters, and so on. She felt that her whole spirit had calmed down, no longer tensely strung like a tightrope. Her appetite had improved as well. Following the doctor’s suggestions of eating smaller, more frequent meals, she would eat five times a day, in addition to soups, fruits, and dried nuts. She could feel the flesh on her face, which had thinned before, was starting to fill out again.
There had been a letter from home, and of course, the first and only subject of concern was about Yang PeiMin’s pregnancy, asking her how she felt at the moment, about her eating habits, rest, and reactions—everything was inquired about. Furthermore, they mentioned that there was nothing much happening at home, the elders were in good health, and if the pregnancy was not stable, she did not need to come back. They would visit after the child was born to see the grandchild.
Yang PeiMin handed the letter over to Shen Yiguang, "This letter was written ten days ago, yet it took so many days to arrive; we’re all ready now."
In fact, Shen Yiguang was also concerned for her health, inspecting her complexion daily and keeping up with her eating habits and so forth. But these could not completely reassure him that nothing was amiss with Yang PeiMin. The child they had so difficulty preserved now truly could not afford any mishaps.
Seeing him like this, Yang PeiMin was truly moved by the thought of not returning home. She hurriedly said, "You don’t need to worry about me. I’m truly fine. Besides, nowadays, trains are very stable. Aren’t Yixiang and you with me? We’ve prepared for this long ago. I’m thinking about our relatives; perhaps until the end of next year, I won’t be able to return home. But your leave for this year has already been approved, and I’m afraid that next year there might not be any, which would push things back to the year after next, when the child will have already grown up."
Shen Yiguang was worried about Chen Guizhi’s health. If he went back alone, he couldn’t come back so quickly, and he also felt uneasy leaving Yang PeiMin and Shen Yixiang behind. Besides, he did not wish to spend such a festive occasion as the New Year away from his wife and children, nor did he want Yang PeiMin to feel a sense of loss, given that she had felt so insecure since getting pregnant.
Before going back, Shen Yiguang especially took her to the military hospital for one more checkup.
The doctors there repeated what they had said before: pay attention to rest, avoid overexertion, eat nutritious food, and if traveling a long distance, be careful not to carry heavy objects or be bumped or knocked. There wasn’t any major problem.