Chapter 20: Early Pregnancy Symptoms

As this was Xie Jinyu’s first time following her husband to a military post, she didn’t quite understand what a "siren call" or emergency assembly meant. She hurriedly set down her glass and retrieved a pair of new socks from the cupboard, handing them to Ye Changzheng as he dressed.

"Be careful."

Ye Changzheng comforted her, saying, "It’s peacetime; nothing major will happen. Don’t worry, go back to sleep." With that, he strode out of the room.

Xie Jinyu stood at the courtyard gate, watching him leave. After walking a few paces, Ye Changzheng turned back and said, "Xiao Yu, go back inside quickly, don't catch a cold." Xie Jinyu didn't move; she simply waved at him. Only when he was out of sight did she turn back to the bungalow. She ate some peach blossom cakes and drank some malted milk, but her sleepiness had vanished. She decided to take out her books and organize them. Although it would be several years before the college entrance examinations were reinstated, she wanted to take advantage of this time to study.

Ye Changzheng did not return by dawn, so Xie Jinyu cooked herself a poached egg in brown sugar for breakfast. While the sun was not yet scorching, she turned over the soil in the courtyard. She organized the vegetable patch into neat ridges and planted the seeds she had brought from Yuejin Village alongside those she had purchased, carefully categorized.

She was using a shoulder pole to carry water to irrigate the plot when Ye Changzheng returned.

"Xiao Yu." He took the pole from her shoulders without a word. "Let me do it."

Xie Jinyu was not skilled at using the pole; the buckets had swayed, and by the time she finished, only half the water remained. Ye Changzheng carried the water into the courtyard and immediately noticed the results of her hard work.

"Xiao Yu, leave these chores for me from now on."

His grandmother, Yan Hongying, was a doctor, and having grown up under her influence, Ye Changzheng understood how difficult pregnancy could be. As her husband, he naturally wanted to take good care of her. In her past life, Xie Jinyu had always been on her own, doing everything by herself. Even now, with Ye Changzheng as her husband, she didn't instinctively rely on him for everything.

As Ye Changzheng watered the vegetables, Xie Jinyu went into the kitchen to light the stove and prepare lunch.

"Xiao Yu, don’t cook yourself. I’ll go to the canteen to get some food."

Since the fire was already lit, Xie Jinyu simply boiled some water for later use. While Ye Changzheng made trip after trip to carry water, she wasn't idle; she picked up a hoe and began tidying the inside and outside of the yard's picket fence. She thought that with the existing fence, it would be perfect for growing loofahs, flat beans, and similar plants.

"Little sister!" Auntie Wei brought out a packet of seeds and handed them to her. "These are chili seeds I saved myself. Do you want them?"

Commander Wei was from Hunan province, so his home was never without chili peppers year-round.

"Thank you, Auntie. I was just worrying about not having any chili seeds!" Xie Jinyu had specifically traded for various seeds with the villagers in Yuejin Village before coming to the army base. "Auntie, I have some coriander seeds here. Would you like some?"

"Coriander? Sure, I'll try growing some too."

The military families on the island came from all over the country. Those from Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan brought their hometown specialty, houttuynia; families from the Northeast brought pickled cabbage and string beans; those from the grasslands brought highland barley and milk skin. Xie Jinyu was not yet familiar with the other families, so she didn't know this yet.

Auntie Wei took the coriander seeds to plant in her own garden, while Ye Changzheng finished watering the vegetables and took his lunch box to the canteen. The canteen food had to cater to the general taste, so the flavors were standard, but compared to the simple boiled fare seasoned only with salt back in Yuejin Village, it was a top-tier feast.

During lunch, Xie Jinyu discussed things with Ye Changzheng. "Changzheng, unless we’re too busy, let’s cook our own meals from now on."

Knowing she was in her first trimester and fearing she might be overworked, Ye Changzheng asked softly, "Xiao Yu, can your body handle it?"

"I'm not some delicate young lady; it’s just cooking." Although this was her first pregnancy, she knew that many women in Yuejin Village were still earning work points in the fields on the day they gave birth. Cooking and managing the household wouldn't be too strenuous.

"Xiao Yu, just do what you can."

"Alright."

After lunch, Ye Changzheng cleared the table. Because of her pregnancy and the early start, sleepiness washed over her. Seeing her struggling to keep her eyes open, Ye Changzheng said gently, "Xiao Yu, go get some sleep."

"Okay."

When Xie Jinyu woke up, Ye Changzheng was gone. He had left a note telling her to go see Auntie Wei. She tidied up and headed to Auntie Wei’s courtyard. Looking through the fence, she saw that Auntie Wei kept her garden in perfect order, free of weeds, with only thriving vegetables.

"Auntie."

Auntie Wei opened the gate and beckoned her in. "Come in."

The interior of Auntie Wei’s home was full of life. There wasn't much furniture, but every piece was polished to a shine.

"Auntie, my Changzheng asked me to come find you..."

Auntie Wei took out a measuring tape and signaled for Xie Jinyu to stand before her. "Little sister, Changzheng asked me to make you two dresses."

A flash of surprise crossed Xie Jinyu’s eyes. Most of the young women on the island wore dresses, and she had planned to make a couple once she was settled. Who would have thought Ye Changzheng had thought of it even before her?

"Auntie, you are so clever."

As Auntie Wei took her measurements, she said, "I’ll tailor the waist to be a bit tighter; young girls like that style."

Xie Jinyu, worried that she wouldn't be able to wear them once her pregnancy started to show, discussed it with her. "Auntie, could you make the waist a bit looser?"

Auntie Wei replied, "Looser? That would look so old-fashioned."

"We could put a drawstring at the waist so I can still wear it even if I gain some weight."

Once she explained, Auntie Wei understood. "I must say, you young people have such bright minds. That’s a great idea."

At that time, there weren't many styles for dresses, and the variety of fabrics on the island was limited. Since Xie Jinyu didn't have a sewing machine, they had to work with what they had. They spent the whole afternoon making two dresses: one was a light blue shirt dress, and the other was a white dress with red polka dots. Using the leftover fabric, Xie Jinyu made herself some bows and hair ties.

When Wei Aoshuang arrived home, she saw the red polka-dot dress on the sofa. She picked it up happily and held it against herself in the mirror. "Mom, is this a new dress you made for me?"

Auntie Wei and Xie Jinyu emerged from the room, and Auntie Wei snatched the dress away. "Who said it was for you? This is for Xiao Yu."

Only then did Wei Aoshuang look at Xie Jinyu, who was wearing the shirt dress. She arched her eyebrows and asked coldly, "Who are you? Why are you in my house?"