Li Chunlan bit her lip.
What Wang Guifen said was true—the women in the brigade spoke ill of Su Yi purely out of jealousy.
They had been jealous before: jealous that Su Yi had a captivating face, fair and delicate skin that wouldn’t darken no matter how much she was in the sun, jealous that she had married a handsome, strong man from the village. Now there was yet another reason—they were jealous that she had a good mother-in-law.
Wang Guifen’s words left Li Chunlan speechless for the entire ride.
When they reached the city, Wang Guifen got out with Su Yi.
“Auntie, the educated youth arrived around eleven. We plan to leave at two in the afternoon. If you’re taking a ride back too, make sure you meet us here before two,” Wang Jialiang reminded her.
Wang Guifen brushed the dried straw off her clothes. “Got it. If we’re not back by two, Jialiang, you go ahead—don’t keep people waiting.”
“Okay.”
Wang Guifen took Su Yi to the city hospital.
After they left, Li Chunlan complained, “Why remind her at all? You just forget how she treated me.”
“You’re at it again. Have you forgotten how that tractor came about?”
“Back when the collective was funding it, Auntie Wang contributed the most. If she takes a ride, that’s only fair,” Wang Jialiang said.
Li Chunlan fell silent.
The tractor had been bought with collective funds, but the total was short by ten yuan. Wang Guifen had covered the shortfall. By then, the tractor was already used, and the money hadn’t been repaid yet. Wang Guifen never asked, and no one in the brigade mentioned it.
It wasn’t just Wang Guifen being kind—it was a debt owed by the brigade. If it couldn’t be repaid in money, it had to be repaid in other ways. In the future, when anyone traveled to the city, others would have to pay, but Wang Guifen didn’t, and there was no limit to the number of people she could take.
The obstetrics department wasn’t crowded. Wang Guifen registered for Su Yi, and it wasn’t long before their number was called.
The doctor on duty was a woman in her late thirties or so, wearing black-rimmed glasses.
Her white coat was slightly worn but clean.
She looked at the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, smiled kindly, and gestured to a chair. “Please, sit down first.”
Wang Guifen helped Su Yi sit, while she stood beside her, full of concern.
The doctor picked up her medical record and asked Su Yi, “How far along are you? How has your appetite been lately?”
Blushing slightly, Su Yi replied softly, “Doctor, I’m just over three months pregnant. My meals are simple, but lately, I haven’t had much appetite.”
Wang Guifen quickly added, “Doctor, I try to make her something tasty in different ways, but she just can’t eat much.”
The doctor nodded, jotting notes. “It’s common in early pregnancy. Many women have little appetite and feel nauseated. Your daughter-in-law doesn’t even have morning sickness—that’s rare. Try to eat light, small meals, and more fresh vegetables and fruits like apples and spinach to get enough vitamins.”
She then looked at Su Yi kindly. “How’s your sleep lately? Do you sleep well at night?”
Su Yi glanced at Wang Guifen and whispered, “Doctor, I toss and turn. I don’t sleep well. I worry about the baby.”
Wang Guifen quickly leaned forward.
The doctor smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry too much. Staying in a good mood is good for the baby. As long as you have regular check-ups, there shouldn’t be any major problems.”
Then the doctor stood. “Lie down on the examination bed. I’ll check you.”
She took out a wooden Doppler fetal heart monitor—a relatively advanced tool at the time—and gently placed it on Su Yi’s belly, listening carefully.
After a moment, her expression showed slight surprise. She adjusted the device and listened again intently. Wang Guifen and Su Yi watched nervously, holding their breath.
After a while, the doctor sat up, smiling. “Congratulations—you’re having twins. Both babies have strong heartbeats and are developing well.”
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law exchanged glances and smiled brightly.
Su Yi held Wang Guifen’s hand, eyes glistening with tears. Her mother-in-law had spoken the truth—she really was pregnant, and with twins.
Wang Guifen’s own eyes curved in happiness. “Oh, this is wonderful—two at once!”
The doctor returned to her desk. “Twin pregnancies are tougher than singletons. Rest is very important; avoid heavy labor. Nutrition must be enough but not excessive. Come back next month for another check-up.”
Wang Guifen nodded eagerly. “Of course, doctor! Thank you so much. We’ll take care.”
The two left the examination room, overjoyed with the results.
“Yi Yi, hear that? Twin pregnancies are harder. Rest well and don’t do heavy work. From now on, you don’t have to do the chores—leave it to me. It’s still early, let’s go buy some fruit to supplement…”
“Vitamins,” Su Yi added.
“Yes, vitamins.”
Since they were in the city, Wang Guifen bought half a catty each of apples and plums for one yuan, then went to the department store to buy Lighthouse soap and Friendship brand snow cream.
Su Yi’s skin was fair. Wang Guifen remembered that she had used these before. Previously, she had thought such things were wasteful—soap isn’t food—but now, if Su Yi liked it, she would buy it. After all, it was just a small soap and a box of cream, not a bicycle or a tractor.
Su Yi looked at the items in her arms, puzzled. “Mom, what’s all this?”
Wang Guifen paid and said seriously, “For me, but you can use it too.”
Su Yi smiled faintly. “Okay.”
They spent another yuan on snacks and ate two bowls of noodles for 0.4 yuan.
Meanwhile, Wang Jialiang parked the tricycle in the collective area of the state-owned store and went shopping with Li Chunlan.
Tanghe Village was far from the city. Without a tricycle or bicycle, a round trip on foot would take six hours. They had planned the shopping list the night before. Once the vehicle was parked, they could shop efficiently and pick up the educated youth without wasting time.
By 1:50 p.m., Wang Guifen and Su Yi returned with heavy bags.
The tricycle already carried six people—four men and two women.
The men were paler and slimmer than the men from Tanghe Village.
The women were fair-skinned like Su Yi, wearing skirts and with hair down, but none as beautiful as Su Yi.
As Wang Guifen looked at the passengers, they looked back.
The two women stared intently at Su Yi, thinking that people from the mountain must be hideous—but unexpectedly, someone was even prettier than themselves.