She was unsure if she was pregnant, after all, the days before Zehao left, the two of them had been passionately entwined.
In the afternoon, she asked her elder brother to go to town and invite Doctor Qi Xuan to come and treat her.
As soon as he took her pulse, Qi Xuan discovered it was a pregnancy pulse, and he smiled broadly, "You child, you don't even know you're pregnant and about to become a mother, you really have a big heart!"
Her face flushed with embarrassment. She touched her belly and smiled, "It's not too late. If my husband knew I was pregnant, he'd be overjoyed!"
Qi Xuan knew that the couple had a good relationship. Now that she said it in front of him, a lonely man, he couldn't help but feel a little sour.
"Your body is weak, and you haven't fully recovered. You got pregnant so quickly. You must take good care of yourself. Eat some nourishing foods every day, but not too much. And don't neglect fruits and vegetables!"
After giving instructions, Qi Xuan also prescribed some medicine to prevent miscarriage. Feeling it wasn't quite right, he decided to stay. "From now on, I will personally take care of your health. Prepare a room for me, and this old man will stay here. That will also save that foolish boy from worrying about you!"
She couldn't be happier. In ancient times, doctors were hard to find.
A hen that didn't lay eggs getting pregnant was like a thousand-year-old iron tree blooming!
The mention of a hen was something only those who disliked Zhao Jiaqi would say. Nowadays, everyone in the village spoke highly of Zhao Jiaqi.
The men in the family worked in her fields, and the women worked in her workshop, earning wages and receiving bonuses. Where else could they find such a good family?
"Bai Damei, if you say anything bad about Jiaqi, don't blame me for ignoring you. Look at how much money we've earned from making salted duck eggs, salted eggs, and preserved eggs in the past few months. Not only are we well-fed, but we've also saved quite a bit of money. Are you still not satisfied? What more do you want?"
Gu Qing had also learned her lesson now. She didn't pry into unnecessary things, only focusing on earning money to live a better life.
Daydreaming was less effective than working diligently.
She had been severely criticized by Wang Zhaodi and had finally come to her senses, otherwise, she would still be lost in her dreams.
Now, she started scolding Bai Damei again. She couldn't stand gossips. "If you have this much time, hurry up and raise more chickens and ducks. When they grow up, their eggs can be sold, and the chickens and ducks themselves can be sold. You just sit here at the root of the locust tree all day long, gossiping. Can you earn money by gossiping? You're useless!"
In the entire village, only Fan Zhang's family and Bai Damei's family didn't work for Zhao Jiaqi. The rest of them, under her leadership, had started earning money.
As soon as Gu Qing left, Bai Damei spat fiercely at her back.
When the villagers heard that she was pregnant, her doorstep was constantly crowded.
"Sister-in-law, these eggs aren't bought, they're from my own chickens. They're not worth much, please take them. Eat a few every day to nourish yourself."
"These are pickled cucumbers I made myself. Whether stir-fried or eaten raw, they go well with meals. They're not worth much, don't dislike them!"
A crowd of people surrounded the main entrance, each with baskets slung over their arms, filled with similar items: food, clothing, and daily necessities.
Gu Qing pushed through the crowd and also offered her own token of appreciation.
She was gratified by the villagers' warmth and enthusiasm.
This showed that her small efforts had been recognized by everyone. It had to be said that true sincerity exchanged for true sincerity, and false affection for fake feelings.
"I appreciate everyone's intentions. Please take these things back and give them to your children and elders at home. It's not easy for you to earn money, so let's save where we can. After all, the times are chaotic, and having money in hand gives us peace of mind!"
"These don't cost any money, so please accept them. Take good care of yourself. We won't disturb your rest. If you need anything, just let us know."
One by one, they retreated from the yard, and the yard became much quieter.
Seeing this scene, Wang Zhaodi gave her a thumbs-up. "Sister-in-law, you really know how to handle people. To get the approval of those difficult people in our village, you're the one!"
Amazing!
"To be frank, it's all about money. If everyone has a livelihood every day and money coming into their pockets, where would they have the leisure to talk about other things? I'm just using what I know to make everyone's lives a little better. Actually, they're not inherently bad."
It made so much sense. Wang Zhaodi couldn't argue with her and left after scratching her head. "I'd better go back to work."
Meanwhile, Qi Xuan, who was outside the door, heard these words and was deeply moved.
Her broad-mindedness was even stronger than that of ordinary men. She was as capable as any man. No wonder she had managed to train that simpleton so well in less than a year.
At this moment, on the battlefield.
Fan Zehao, with his eyes burning with the fire of battle, charged forward bravely, riding a white horse, with a saber in his left hand and a long spear in his right. As he moved, enemies fell in swathes.
His white armor was already stained red with blood. His adjutant, Cheng Feng, was also spurred on, and the two fought side by side.
Seeing that the enemy was already in disarray, Fan Zehao took out the blue flag from his waist and waved it into the air. The soldiers who received the signal immediately began to beat their drums rhythmically, and soon, a new formation appeared on the battlefield.
A battle where the few defeated the many, and the weak overcame the strong, turning the tide and winning.
In the command tent, the Emperor Huangfu Jintao greatly praised Fan Zehao and, bypassing normal procedures and despite all opposition, promoted him to the rank of Grand General of Cavalry.
Not a single person present objected; instead, they admired him greatly.
Four months had passed, and two perilous victories had been achieved, both with minimal losses. Not only that, but the camp had advanced two hundred li, and the enemy's city gates were now in sight. With a few days of rest, they could break through the city ahead.
While the camp buzzed with laughter and talk, Fan Zehao remained silent, his longing growing stronger.
He only wished for this war to end immediately.
Xiao Ce, holding a wine cup, approached him and, with a smile, took out a letter from his embrace. "The Emperor is concerned about you and specifically sent someone back to see your wife. This is a letter from your wife to relieve your longing!"
Upon hearing that it was a letter from his wife, he immediately snatched it.
"For Zehao's eyes only." The handwriting was indeed his wife's.
She was not skilled with a brush, so she had used a burnt firewood stick, blackened, to write it.
He scanned it with a glance and was stunned.
His wife was pregnant, and he was going to be a father. Joyfully, he held the letter high and shouted in the command tent, "I'm going to be a father! I'm going to be a father!"
Everyone was startled by his frenzied state. They all laughed at him. Isn't it normal for him to be a father when he has a wife?
Why would he be so happy!
Summer passed, and autumn arrived. It was time to harvest corn. This year, the villagers made a decision.
That was to stop planting grain and switch to growing cabbage and radishes, following Zhao Jiaqi to pickle vegetables. Last year, these were transported out of the village by the cartload.
On this day, Wang Zhaodi and Fan Guangping came to her house to discuss how to make pickled vegetables.
"Sister-in-law, I think the method of making pickled vegetables shouldn't be told to the villagers. If it spreads from one to ten, and then to a hundred, and the whole town knows how to make it, then who will we sell it to?" Fan Guangping said.