CHAPTER 329: 315 IS AVAILABLE

Yao Fangfang originally wanted to say it wasn’t necessary since recently just the sight of fish and meat made her chest feel tight, but before she could get the words out, she suddenly covered her mouth and began dry heaving.

Chen’s mother, seeing this, was first startled, then her face lit up with a wide grin.

Chen Ming was speechless. Her face was turning pale, so why were you laughing, Mom?

"Oh my, could it be that Fangfang is pregnant? I’m going to be a grandmother!" Chen’s mother excitedly began directing, "Mingzi, why are you still standing there in a daze? Go get the village doctor to take a look." Sangsang really was their family’s lucky star, truly blessed. Otherwise, how could it be that right after receiving her letter, Fangfang got pregnant? It was practically a double blessing!

Chen Ming didn’t move, his expression blank.

"Mom, I’ll go, I’ll go!" Chen Ying hurriedly stood up and ran off to find the doctor.

What followed was a definite confirmation. The doctor came and announced that Yao Fangfang was pregnant, two months along. Yao Fangfang shyly glanced at Chen Ming—it had been on their wedding night. That was the only night they had been together.

Chen’s mother, Chen’s father, and Chen Ying were so overjoyed they couldn’t stop smiling. After dinner, as usual, Yao Fangfang got up to wash the dishes, but Chen Ying stopped her, "Sister-in-law, let me do it, you go rest."

"It’s fine, I’m just pregnant. I can still do things." Yao Fangfang didn’t dare to start acting like a princess just because she was expecting. The household chores still needed to be done.

Chen’s mother said, "Just listen to Yingzi. These first three months are especially important. Go and sit down."

Yao Fangfang finally murmured a soft "okay."

"Mingzi, why are you sitting there like a fool? Go to your aunt’s house and share the good news for me!"

"Oh." Chen Ming stood up in a daze, drifting like a ghost. As he walked, he tripped over the threshold, almost falling forward. How did coming home result in him suddenly having a child? No, wait, he was about to become a father. This trip home left him feeling that Yao Fangfang had changed a lot—she wasn’t as annoying as before. Now that she was pregnant, her position in the family had become even more significant.

As he stumbled along, his mind was about to explode, occupied by the repeating thought: "Fangfang’s pregnant, Fangfang’s pregnant, Fangfang’s pregnant..."

"Chen Ming."

He stopped in his tracks. In front of him stood the delicate and lovely Tian Tian.

Seeing Tian Tian, Chen Ming felt a surge of regret. "What are you looking for me for?"

"That night..." She bit her lip hesitantly, her pale face tinged with a soft blush.

That night... THAT night! Chen Ming clutched his head in frustration and looked at her with a hint of loathing. Ever since the earthquake, he’d lost interest in Tian Tian. But the night before he married Yao Fangfang, he had been unwilling to resign himself to the marriage and, after drinking, ran into Tian Tian. She had hugged him first, and he hadn’t refused. At the time, he didn’t know what he was thinking—just that this was his first love, and he had wanted her. By the next morning, he deeply regretted it. Since then, Tian Tian had clung to him persistently.

"You wanted it too," Chen Ming said impatiently.

Tian Tian looked at him, hurt, biting her lip stubbornly, "But you still need to take responsibility. I am, after all, a respectable, innocent woman."

"How should I take responsibility?" Chen Ming faltered, guilt creeping into his voice. He couldn’t harden his stance. "I’m married now. Don’t even think about wrecking my family’s peace. If there’s anyone to blame for this, it’s me. Take it out on me."

Tian Tian lowered her head, hiding the calculating glint in her eyes. When she looked up again, her voice was soft and gentle, "I know, you’re married now. But you used to say you wouldn’t marry anyone but me."

She smiled faintly, "Just give me some money. I’m planning to work in the city. If you give me the money, I promise I won’t bother you again."

"How much do you want?"

"Eighty yuan," Tian Tian said.

Chen Ming thought for a moment. Eighty yuan wasn’t too much or too little. "Fine, I’ll give it to you tomorrow. But you’d better not come looking for me again." After saying this, he stepped past her and quickly walked away.

Tian Tian stared longingly in the direction he left, gently placing her hand on her belly. Child, when the time comes, there will be a surprise for them. Yao Fangfang doesn’t have a child and acts like a spoiled princess; surely she won’t be liked by Chen Ming or his family. As long as I have a son, I’ll make sure they divorce.

**

Chen Ming delivered the good news to his aunt. She asked him to stay for a while, but by the time he returned home, the sky was already dark.

The light was on in the room. Chen Ming stood in the courtyard for a moment, feeling colder the longer he stood. Finally, he lifted his foot and entered the house but didn’t see Yao Fangfang.

Behind him came the sound of footsteps. Yao Fangfang was carrying a wooden bucket with steaming water. Seeing him, she smiled and said, "I heated up some water for you to wash your feet. It’s so cold."

Chen Ming watched as she carried the water into the room, fetched a basin, and mixed the hot water with some cold water. One hand rested on her waist while the other ladled water.

"Who told you to do this?" Chen Ming suddenly snapped, grabbing the items from her hands and shouting, "Who needs you to do this? Go sit on the bed, I’ll do it myself!"

Yao Fangfang was startled by his outburst and shrank to the side, feeling wronged. "I just wanted to prepare some water for you to wash your feet."

Her soft, teary voice melted into the air.

Chen Ming looked at her and softened his tone, "I know. I have hands and feet; I can do it myself. If my mom found out I let you do this, she’d say I’m mistreating her grandchild."

Warmth spread through Yao Fangfang’s heart. It turned out he was worried about her.

After each of them finished washing up, Chen Ming said, "Let’s go to bed early."

The bed was already made. Yao Fangfang removed her outerwear and climbed into the covers. When he saw she was settled, Chen Ming turned off the light, lifted his side of the blanket, and laid down beside her.

Sharing a bed with someone of the opposite sex—though this was his wife—brought him an unfamiliar feeling, and his breathing grew heavier.

The darkness made everything more sensitive. Lying side by side, Yao Fangfang clutched the blanket tightly, exhaling softly. "Are you leaving again in a few days?" she asked.

"Yes. There’s still cargo to deliver."

With that, the person beside him fell silent. In the dark, Chen Ming blinked. "I’ll come back more often in the future. If there’s anything you want, I’ll bring it back for you." He said this while carefully listening for her reaction.

"Some fabric and thread. I’d like to make some clothes for the baby. Oh, and yarn to knit some sweaters." Winter was coming, and the sweaters were intended for Chen Ming, though she didn’t dare say so outright.

Chen Ming mumbled an "okay," then, after a long pause, awkwardly asked, "What kind of fabric?"

"Anything. Whatever you like, you can choose." Yao Fangfang shyly turned over.

Out of the corner of his eye, Chen Ming saw her curl up slightly, leaving only her round, dark hair exposed. The faint fragrance in the blanket made him want to reach out a hand, but he held back awkwardly.

Shutting his eyes, he drifted into a night of deep sleep.

Early the next morning, Chen Ying was already packed up with large bags of farm produce in hand. She got into Chen Ming’s car, asking him to give her a lift to the city.

Today she planned to go have a talk with Sangsang. She hadn’t told her in advance, hoping to give her a surprise. At the bus station, Chen Ming had to take another route. As Chen Ying got out, Chen Ming called from the car, "Say hello to Sangsang for me." If he didn’t have deliveries to make, he would’ve liked to visit as well.

"Will do, brother, I know!" Chen Ying waved energetically.