Unknowingly, Zheng Ai Min had been in this world for a few months now.
It was winter when she first arrived, and now it was autumn.
She had also experienced a New Year.
She was adopted by “Old Lady One,” but she couldn’t stay in courtyard number 95 and instead moved to courtyard number 91.
However, it was good that she didn’t live in courtyard number 95, as it would allow her to stay away from the troubles in that courtyard.
But courtyard number 91 was actually not much better.
It’s not like everyone in courtyard number 95 was a scoundrel, and that everyone else in the other courtyards was good.
In fact, courtyard number 95 was merely a microcosm of this era.
There were even more ridiculous courtyards out there.
The weather was getting hotter and hotter, and summer was not far off.
Because Zheng Ai Min slept most of the day, time seemed to pass by very quickly.
Surprisingly, it had been a few months since Yi Zhong Hai divorced, and he still hadn’t remarried.
Old Lady Lou had introduced a widow to Yi Zhong Hai, but Jia Zhang Shi ruined things.
Old Lady Lou hadn’t introduced anyone to Yi Zhong Hai anymore.
As for taking care of Old Lady Lou, Qin Huairu was currently the one doing it.
Since Second Lady and Third Lady, as well as others, wanted to take care of Old Lady Lou, Qin Huairu was afraid that Old Lady Lou would suggest changing caregivers, so she put in extra effort when taking care of Old Lady Lou.
However, only Old Lady Lou herself knew if she was satisfied or not.
Yi Zhong Hai and Jia Dong Xu’s relationship had returned to normal.
Recently, with Yi Zhong Hai’s help, Jia Dong Xu was working hard to become a level two fitter.
Next month, there would be work level assessments at the factory, including assessments for fitters, blacksmiths, and a few other trades.
Jia Dong Xu was very confident that he would pass the level two fitter assessment.
Evening.
Ma Cheng Gong bought some food outside, because today was Zheng Da Ma’s birthday.
There was no birthday cake or anything, but they could still eat noodles and eggs.
Looking at the food that Ma Cheng Gong bought, there was a roast duck and braised meat.
Zheng Da Ma had also cooked two dishes at home.
Zheng Ai Min’s meals also changed, and in addition to rice porridge and malt milk, she was now able to eat some mushy noodles, egg custard, millet porridge, and so on.
Tonight, Zheng Ai Min’s small bowl had a few fish balls added to it.
While they were eating, Zheng Da Ma suddenly stood up and ran away, covering her mouth and dry-heaving.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” Ma Cheng Gong asked with concern.
“It’s nothing.” Zheng Da Ma said, and then she dry-heaved again.
Zheng Ai Min couldn’t eat anymore either. Was his adoptive mother sick?
It looked a bit like morning sickness, but everyone knew that Zheng Da Ma couldn’t have children.
Before divorcing Yi Zhong Hai, Zheng Da Ma had been taking a lot of medicine, but her health hadn’t improved.
Therefore, excluding pregnancy, it meant she was sick.
It was only after adopting Zheng Ai Min that Zheng Da Ma’s health had been getting better. Before that, her body had not been very good.
If he hadn’t been adopted by Zheng Da Ma, Fang Sheng Li wouldn’t have died of starvation or frozen to death.
Therefore, Fang Sheng Li also didn’t want anything to happen to Zheng Da Ma.
Ma Cheng Gong couldn’t eat either, and wanted to take Zheng Da Ma to the hospital for a checkup.
Zheng Da Ma thought it was unnecessary. She just felt a bit uncomfortable, and suddenly lost her appetite. She thought she would be fine after resting.
“It’s still better to go to the hospital for a checkup. That way you’ll feel more at ease,” Ma Cheng Gong said.
Under Ma Cheng Gong’s insistence, Zheng Da Ma was also helpless.
They both didn’t feel comfortable leaving Zheng Ai Min alone at home, but they didn’t want to bring him to the hospital either.
Therefore, they asked the neighbors next door to help watch over Zheng Ai Min.
Thus, Fang Sheng Li was sent next door, Ma Cheng Gong pushed his bicycle out of the courtyard, and Zheng Da Ma followed behind.
After leaving the courtyard, Zheng Da Ma got on the back of the bicycle.
Ma Cheng Gong then rode the bike.
…
The hospital wasn’t off work yet, but it was almost time.
There was a parking lot around the hospital, and it cost three cents to park for an hour.
However, parking in a parking lot was safer, as you didn’t have to worry about your bike being stolen.
After locking their bike in the parking lot, Ma Cheng Gong and Zheng Da Ma went into the hospital.
The hospital had both Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.
There was an old TCM doctor seeing patients.
Being able to see patients in a large hospital, this old TCM doctor must have some skills.
Generally speaking, there wouldn’t be any misdiagnoses, as it would ruin their reputation, both theirs and the hospital’s.
Western medicine required waiting in line, while traditional Chinese medicine also required waiting in line, but there were fewer patients.
Therefore, Ma Cheng Gong and Zheng Da Ma chose traditional Chinese medicine.
They waited in line.
It took about ten minutes before it was Zheng Da Ma’s turn.
Sitting across from the old TCM doctor, Zheng Da Ma extended her hand, and the old TCM doctor began to take her pulse.
“The pulse presents as smooth and flowing, like beads rolling across a plate…” The old TCM doctor said to the apprentice behind him while taking Zheng Da Ma’s pulse.
“Master, is it slippery pulse?” The apprentice said.
The old TCM doctor nodded, and then looked at Zheng Da Ma and Ma Cheng Gong.
“Your wife is pregnant, but she’s a bit older, considered a high-risk pregnancy, so you need to pay extra attention, especially…” The old TCM doctor said to Ma Cheng Gong.
However, the couple was completely stunned.
At that moment, their minds went blank.
Pregnant?
“I’m pregnant?” Zheng Da Ma couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t have children!
She hadn’t gotten pregnant after years with Yi Zhong Hai. How was it possible she got pregnant just a few months after marrying Ma Cheng Gong?
So, it wasn’t actually her who couldn’t have children?
Could it be…
That it was Yi Zhong Hai who had a problem?
It wasn’t that she had held Yi Zhong Hai back, but Yi Zhong Hai who had held her back.
If she hadn’t married Yi Zhong Hai, and had married someone who was physically healthy, she would probably have kids who could already run errands!
“Yes, you’re pregnant.” The old TCM doctor said to Zheng Da Ma.
Zheng Da Ma and Ma Cheng Gong looked at each other.
Next, the old TCM doctor talked about things that high-risk mothers should pay attention to. This time, Zheng Da Ma listened carefully.
However, Zheng Da Ma still couldn’t believe she was pregnant.
Therefore, she went to wait in line for Western medicine.
What if the old TCM doctor misdiagnosed her? She’d be getting her hopes up for nothing.
So, it would be better to get a checkup from a Western doctor as well.
However, there were many patients seeing Western doctors, and they would have to wait for about half an hour.
But Ma Cheng Gong and Zheng Da Ma were willing to wait.
Ma Cheng Gong felt envious. Although he had an adopted son, if he could have a biological son or daughter, that would be a good thing too.
An adopted son would take his wife’s surname, but if he had a biological child, it would take his surname, Ma.
Time flew by while the couple waited.
After waiting for about half an hour, it was finally Zheng Da Ma’s turn.
The Western doctor’s diagnosis would take some time.
Outside the hospital, it was completely dark.
When the Western doctor’s diagnosis came out, Ma Cheng Gong and Zheng Da Ma quickly looked at it.
It clearly stated that Zheng Da Ma was pregnant.
Surely a TCM doctor and a Western doctor wouldn’t both misdiagnose her!
So, she was really pregnant.
At that moment, Zheng Da Ma cried tears of joy.
She had been unable to lift her head because she couldn’t have children.
She really hadn’t expected she could get pregnant.
It seemed that the baby she picked up was truly a lucky star.
Ever since adopting Zheng Ai Min, she had felt a sense of good fortune accompanying her.
Her luck seemed to have changed for the better.
If she hadn’t picked up a child, she wouldn’t have divorced Yi Zhong Hai. Then she would have lived her whole life without children, and she would have to bear the reputation of having made Yi Zhong Hai childless.
But now, she was pregnant. Whether it was her who couldn’t have children or Yi Zhong Hai who couldn’t, was clear as day.
Yi Zhong Hai’s mind would probably collapse when he found out!
However, she wasn’t thinking about Yi Zhong Hai right now.
At this moment, she just wanted to cry a good cry.
She had suffered a lot of grievances because she couldn’t have children.
Ma Cheng Gong could understand.