Chapter 143: Good News and a Warning

“It’s nothing, I just saw that someone is planning to harm my family. I thought I’d call later to give them a heads-up.” Gu Jianing explained simply.

“Alright.” Since it involved Gu Jianing’s secret, Sheng Zexi didn’t ask further.

After breakfast, the couple headed to the communications office and quickly dialed the Huaihua Village committee’s phone number.

—

In Huaihua Village, Yang Manman, who was heavily pregnant, was seeing her husband Gu Yunting off to work.

Yang Manman was now five months along.

“Go on inside, I’m heading to work,” Gu Yunting waved, then rode his bicycle toward the county seat.

Only after her husband’s figure disappeared from sight did Yang Manman turn to head back inside. Unexpectedly, at that moment, her father-in-law, Old Gu, came rushing over.

“Manman, tell your mother-in-law and the rest of the family—Ningning is calling! Hurry to the village committee to answer the phone.”

Her sister-in-law was calling?!

Yang Manman’s face lit up with joy. “Okay, I’ll go tell them right now.”

Not long after, the Gu family—except for Gu Yunting, who had already gone to work, Yao Chunhua who was busy with housework, Su Miao who was looking after the kids, and Gu Yunnan who had already left for work—had all gathered at the village committee office.

There was only one phone in Huaihua Village, and every time Gu Jianing called, everyone in the Gu family who was home would come to listen.

The first to answer, of course, was the matriarch, Yao Chunhua.

The moment Yao Chunhua picked up her daughter’s call, her eyes turned red. Her daughter had been away at the Northwest Military District for nearly half a year—she missed her dearly.

As soon as she got on the phone, she immediately started asking if Gu Jianing was eating and dressing well, how things were at the military district, if anyone was bullying her, and if Sheng Zexi was treating her well…

Every word was filled with a mother’s concern for her married daughter far away.

“Mom, don’t worry, I’m doing great. Zexi treats me very well.”

“I’m fine, really. I have enough to eat and wear. You, Dad, and my brothers and sisters-in-law should take care of yourselves too.”

“We will, we will. We’re all doing well.”

“Mom, I’m calling this time because I have some good news to share.”

“What good news?”

“Mom, I’m pregnant. Three months along already—and it’s twins! You and Dad are going to be grandparents, and my brothers and sisters-in-law are going to be uncles and aunts.”

“What! You’re pregnant—and with twins?!” Yao Chunhua was so shocked she couldn’t keep her voice down. Everyone else in the Gu family heard her.

After exchanging glances, everyone broke into joyous smiles.

Ningning—their little sister—was pregnant, and with twins! That was wonderful!

Yao Chunhua was so happy she cried. “That’s wonderful, just wonderful.”

Her voice was choked with emotion. Back when she agreed to let Gu Jianing marry Sheng Zexi, Yao Chunhua had been ninety percent satisfied. The only thing she wasn’t happy about was Sheng Zexi’s infertility.

He had been upfront about it when he proposed.

Later, Ningning said she could cure Sheng Zexi, and since Sheng Zexi was a good man, Yao Chunhua finally agreed to the marriage.

After they married, Yao Chunhua’s biggest hope was that Ningning could cure Sheng Zexi and have a child.

No matter how open-minded she was, in those days, she knew that for her daughter to have a better life with Sheng Zexi, having a child—boy or girl—would give her more security. Of course, if it was a boy, or if she could have two, even better.

She had always hoped for this, but never dared ask.

She never expected that Ningning would suddenly bring such good news, and the babies were already three months along.

Yao Chunhua didn’t blame Gu Jianing for waiting until three months to tell her. She knew that the first three months of pregnancy are unstable, and it’s best to wait until things are more certain before telling others.

Twins were even better—two children at once! But…

“Ningning, having twins must be hard on you.” As a mother herself, she knew how tough pregnancy was—let alone carrying two. Ningning had always been delicate.

“Ningning, how about I come to the Northwest Military District to take care of you?” Yao Chunhua asked.

The more she thought about it, the more it made sense.

After all, Ningning’s mother-in-law had passed away. They couldn’t expect Sheng Zexi’s grandmother to come—she was getting on in years.

It was most appropriate for her, the mother, to go.

“Mom, there’s no need for now. I’m doing fine and don’t need special care. If you want to come, wait until I’m about to give birth. By then, you’ll probably be done helping my sister-in-law with her confinement.”

Hearing this, Yao Chunhua realized she was right.

Her eldest daughter-in-law was pregnant too, and when she gave birth, as the mother-in-law, she’d need to help with her recovery.

Yao Chunhua did the math. Her eldest daughter-in-law was five months along, so she’d give birth in about five months. Ningning was three months along now, so in five months she’d be over eight months. By the time she finished helping Manman, Ningning would be nine months—twins usually come early, so Ningning would be about to give birth too. She could go then and help with Ningning’s recovery, though the timing would be tight.

But that was how it had to be.

Though Yao Chunhua wanted to go take care of her daughter right away, she couldn’t neglect her daughter-in-law—after all, Manman was also carrying on the Gu family line.

“Alright, it’s settled then.”

“By the way, have you called Zexi’s grandparents to share the good news?” Yao Chunhua asked.

“I’ll call them in a bit.”

“Good.”

After that, Old Gu and the rest of the family took turns chatting with Gu Jianing. She also told them she’d become a doctor at the military district hospital, which made everyone proud. Then, Gu Jianing didn’t forget the other important matter.

Finally, it was Gu Yunzhou’s turn on the phone. She asked, “Third Brother, do you know what’s going on with Wen Zhuqing and Bao Shanyan?”

As soon as Gu Yunzhou heard this, his expression turned odd.

“Little Sis, why are you asking about them? You’re already married to your brother-in-law and pregnant. Don’t tell me you’re still thinking about that pretty boy Wen Zhuqing? Is your husband not with you right now?”

Even though it was his beloved little sister on the line, Gu Yunzhou felt that some things just weren’t right.

Gu Jianing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She glanced at Sheng Zexi beside her. The moment he heard the name Wen Zhuqing, it was like a warning bell—he immediately looked up at her, his eyes full of grievance.

Of course, Sheng Zexi trusted Gu Jianing. He could feel her growing love for him.

But Wen Zhuqing… he was technically Ningning’s first love. Sheng Zexi had heard that most people have special feelings for their first love. Was that true? Was first love really that special?

So why was Ningning bringing up Wen Zhuqing now?

Gu Jianing understood the look in Sheng Zexi’s eyes—if it weren’t for the fact that she was on the phone, she’d have grabbed his shoulders and shaken him. Why is it that whenever I mention Wen Zhuqing and Bao Shanyan, you all only care about Wen Zhuqing and forget about Bao Shanyan?"