Free Web NovelChapter 407: Chapter 405: Pregnant
"Jia Ming is being so overprotective. Gu’er isn’t a child, yet he’s always helping her along. You wouldn’t even need to dote on a pampered young lady like that. Watch out, or you’ll spoil her."
Wei Hong muttered sourly from the side. ’We’re both women, so why does Jia Ming treat Gu’er like a treasure while I’m just a weed?’
Gu’er ignored her, but Cao Qiu frowned as she watched Gu’er and Jia Ming. Although Jia Ming had always been good to Gu’er—her younger son was especially doting on his wife—he had never been like this in front of everyone before. ’Could Gu’er be unwell? No, that doesn’t seem right. If she were really sick, my mother-in-law would have said something. But neither she nor Jia Ming has mentioned anything. It was only after I asked Gu’er that Jia Ming started acting this way.’ Suddenly, a possibility occurred to Cao Qiu.
"Gu’er, are you... expecting?"
Cao Qiu asked anxiously.
"Expecting what?"
Wei Hong didn’t get it at first.
"Ah, no."
Gu’er hadn’t expected Cao Qiu to guess so quickly. Since she wasn’t even sure herself, she denied it instinctively. But despite her denial, her face turned a little red.
"Really? Then why have I been seeing you cradle your stomach?"
Cao Qiu frowned, feeling a little disappointed.
Grandma Sun and Grandma Dingzi also glanced at Gu’er.
"What does ’expecting’ mean? What does Gu’er have?"
Marina asked from the side, her eyes wide. She didn’t understand what everyone was talking about.
Dingzi gently pulled her hand and shook his head, signaling for her to stop asking.
Gu’er’s face turned bright red.
"Alright now, let’s eat. These sweet dumplings today are the five-nut kind. Jia Ming had them specially made. Come on, try them."
Grandma Sun came to Gu’er’s rescue. ’She probably is pregnant,’ she thought. ’Otherwise, she wouldn’t be blushing. Gu’er never had this expression when Cao Qiu asked before.’
"Mom, tell me the truth. Is Gu’er really pregnant?"
Cao Qiu, however, couldn’t bring herself to eat. She wanted a grandson so badly it was becoming an obsession. Her eldest son’s wife hadn’t shown any signs of pregnancy for years, so she had pinned all her hopes on Gu’er.
"Didn’t Gu’er say no? Why are you in such a hurry? Besides, even if she is, you’re not supposed to say anything for the first three months. Don’t you know that? The baby is skittish; if you announce it, it’ll run away. What’s with all the questions? We’ll find out in due time whether she is or not."
Grandma Sun chided Cao Qiu. She knew Gu’er probably wasn’t certain yet and couldn’t say for sure.
"I’m just anxious, that’s all. If she is pregnant, I’m the baby’s grandmother, not some outsider. What’s the harm in telling me? I’m just worried that Gu’er is young and doesn’t know any better. If she really is, I can tell her what she needs to be careful about."
Cao Qiu whispered to her mother-in-law.
"You make it sound like none of us have ever been pregnant before. Don’t worry. If Gu’er is really pregnant, I’ll tell her what she needs to know. Besides, if there’s anything she doesn’t understand, the doctor will tell her."
Grandma Sun knew her daughter-in-law was just anxious.
"I’m just trying to look out for her. Fine, I won’t ask anymore. But if you get a definite answer, you have to tell me. Don’t keep me on edge. I bet I won’t be able to sleep tonight when I get home."
As Cao Qiu spoke, she kept staring at Gu’er’s stomach, making Gu’er extremely uncomfortable.
"So protective, and you don’t even know for sure. Let’s see how you save face if you’re wrong. And even if you are pregnant, I bet it’ll be a girl."
Wei Hong was sick with jealousy. Back when she gave birth to a daughter, her mother-in-law had given her the cold shoulder. ’If I can have a daughter, I can have a son,’ she had thought. But for some reason, she was never able to get pregnant again after that. It wasn’t for lack of trying with Sun Jiasheng, but no matter what she did, she just couldn’t conceive.
She had actually been quite happy that Gu’er hadn’t conceived. Now that she knew Gu’er might be pregnant, she was consumed by jealousy. ’Gu’er already earns money, so her status in the Sun Family is higher than mine. Sun Jiaming dotes on her, Grandma protects her, and now even Cao Qiu is on her side. There’s no place left for me. If Gu’er has a baby, I’ll probably have no say at all in this family. I hate this.’ Even if Gu’er was pregnant, she prayed it would be a girl.
"Shut your cursed mouth! Don’t think that just because you had a daughter, Gu’er will too. Gu’er will definitely give me a big, healthy grandson. Who’s useless like you?"
Cao Qiu glared at Wei Hong. At this point, she was completely dissatisfied with her.
"I may be useless, but I still gave birth to Tingting, and Tingting is part of the Sun Family too!"
Wei Hong retorted defiantly.
"A granddaughter will get married and leave sooner or later. Can she continue the Old Sun Family’s line? Can she care for you in your old age and see to your burial? Without a son, who’s going to take care of you when you’re old?"
Cao Qiu said, displeased.
Wei Hong’s eyes reddened. She knew that without a son, her position was precarious.
"That’s enough, Mom. A daughter or a son, it’s all the same. I’ll be happy with whatever Gu’er has."
Sun Jiaming interjected.
This made Wei Hong feel even worse. She glared at Sun Jiasheng. That husband of hers hadn’t said a damn thing. ’Look at Sun Jiaming,’ she thought, ’he won’t let his wife suffer the slightest grievance.’
After Wei Hong’s outburst, the sweet dumplings lost their appeal. Gu’er only ate a few; she found them too sticky and was worried about getting heartburn since they were hard to digest.
That evening, Sun Jiaming asked Gu’er about it. Gu’er said she didn’t have a definite answer either and was planning to go for a check-up in about half a month.
"I think you must be. Your period has never been this late before."
Sun Jiaming placed his hand on Gu’er’s belly, stroking it gently.
"I think so, too."
Gu’er nodded lightly.
The two of them talked for a long time before Sun Jiaming gently held Gu’er and fell asleep. Even though they weren’t sure yet, he didn’t dare to make any moves, afraid that one careless moment might harm the baby.
A week passed like this, and Gu’er’s period still hadn’t come. Meanwhile, Cao Qiu was calling every single day to press her for an answer. Gu’er couldn’t take it anymore. Wanting a definite answer herself, she and Sun Jiaming went to the hospital for a check-up.
After a series of tests, the doctor confirmed to Gu’er that she was indeed pregnant and had been for over a month. Tears immediately streamed down Gu’er’s face.
She didn’t know why she was crying. She remembered how, right after she was reborn, she had genuinely planned on never having children. If it hadn’t been for that one time she was so exhausted, if it hadn’t been for that heart-to-heart talk with Sun Jiaming, she probably still wouldn’t have wanted one.
’I’m really having a baby. I’m really going to be a mother again.’ A mix of countless emotions washed over Gu’er.
An immense joy also surged through Sun Jiaming. ’Gu’er is really pregnant! I’m going to be a father! Gu’er didn’t lie to me. She really didn’t decide against having children.’
"Gu’er, Gu’er. You’re amazing. I’m going to be a dad!"
Sun Jiaming hugged Gu’er excitedly and showered her with kisses.
Seeing Sun Jiaming so emotional, Gu’er felt a wave of relief. ’Thank goodness I came around. If I had really insisted on not having children, even if Sun Jiaming never said anything, he would have been heartbroken and filled with regret, wouldn’t he?’
"You two need to be careful. The pregnancy is still in its very early stages, so it’s fragile. You must be extra cautious for the first three months. No fooling around."
The doctor looked at the embracing couple, smiled, and shook his head as he gave his instructions.
"Yes, yes, we’ll definitely be careful. Doctor, could you tell us again what we need to pay attention to? I’ll make a note of it."
Sun Jiaming nodded repeatedly.
As the doctor spoke, he listened intently, committing every single word to memory.
——————
I didn’t even buy groceries, but I finally got this written by seven. Off to boil some noodles, but I guess my husband won’t be happy. He doesn’t like noodles.
