Chapter 126

Although they couldn’t tell if it was twins or not, just confirming the pregnancy was already exciting news. Old Madam Li rolled up her sleeves and was about to head out. “I’m going to kill a chicken and make soup to nourish Zhenzhen.”

The last thing Zhenzhen wanted to hear these days was anything about “nourishing.” She quickly grabbed Old Madam Li and, looking distraught, turned to Mr. Zhang Renzhe for help. “Sir, please talk to my grandma, we really can’t go overboard with the supplements.”

Seeing Zhenzhen clinging to her arm, Old Madam Li didn’t dare move, afraid she might fall. She broke out in a sweat. “Child, why are you still so naughty? You’ve got dragon-phoenix twins in your belly, you know that? You need to be steady! Hurry, get up!”

Mr. Zhang Renzhe looked speechless. “I didn’t detect any dragon-phoenix twins. It’s still early—can’t even tell if there’s one or two yet.”

“I know,” Old Madam Li waved him off. “But I made a deal with Zhenzhen that she’d be pregnant with dragon-phoenix twins.”

Wang Sufen couldn’t take it anymore and gently advised, “Mom, maybe we shouldn’t say things we aren’t sure about. What if it’s not true? If saying it made it so, then all those years you kept saying you wanted a daughter or a granddaughter—you’d have gotten one ages ago.”

Old Madam Li glared at her. “Even if I wasn’t right, Zhenzhen’s definitely right. Isn’t that right, Zhenzhen?”

“Yes, yes, yes! You’re absolutely right! Dragon-phoenix twins it is!” Zhenzhen wiped the sweat off her brow and quickly turned back to Mr. Zhang for help. “Sir, please, forget the twin stuff, just tell her what pregnant women shouldn’t eat.”

Zhang Renzhe, honestly worried that Old Madam Li would over-supplement Zhenzhen, quickly instructed, “What matters for a pregnant woman is balanced nutrition. Just eat normally, more fruits and vegetables. Fish and shrimp are good for the baby. Nuts like pine nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts can be eaten, but stay away from things like almonds and ginkgo—they’re slightly toxic. As for fatty chickens and ducks, once or twice a month is fine, but overdoing it will make labor harder.”

Old Madam Li muttered this twice to memorize it. “Okay, then I’ll make shrimp, fish stew, and stir-fried greens.” Seeing Zhenzhen visibly relieved, she couldn’t help but sigh. “Now that life is good, people don’t even like eating chicken and duck anymore. Back when your mom was pregnant with you kids, I wanted to supplement her too—but with what? Being full was already a form of nourishment.”

Thinking of the old days made all the elders look a little wistful. Zhenzhen, worried the mood might turn somber, couldn’t help but laugh. “If you’re all that nostalgic for the past, we can have a hardship meal for lunch—steamed cornbread and wild veggie soup.”

Old Madam Li laughed right away. “You probably just want to eat it! I’ll get it for you. Cornmeal these days is so much finer than it used to be—not any worse than millet flour. Back then, eating pure cornmeal cornbread was a treat. Usually, we mixed it with sweet potato flour. It was filling, but dry as sawdust.”

Zhang Renzhe sighed. “At least in the northeast you had wild vegetables and sweet potato flour. I heard from Zhenzhen the hills were covered in mushrooms. We city folks had it worse—nowhere to even pick wild veggies.”

Zhenzhen groaned and covered her forehead. “I thought we agreed not to bring that up. Anyway, sir, let’s just play chess. It’s boring sitting around.”

“You two play chess, I’ll head to the kitchen to prepare lunch,” said Old Madam Li as she walked out. Mr. Zhang lived nearby and was on his own, so he came to the Li household for meals ten days out of every half-month. It kept everyone from feeling lonely. Because of history, some of Zhenzhen’s teachers had been disheartened by the past and still couldn’t forgive their children. Some lost their wives and children due to political persecution, leaving them alone now. Others were lucky to have children and families around. For those who lived alone, Zhenzhen had long expressed her willingness to care for them in old age and often invited them to move in. The courtyard house was large, and the three elderly folks at home always complained of boredom. The more, the merrier. But these men, still in decent health, didn’t want to trouble her too soon. Aside from regular visits for tea and chats, they preferred staying in their own small homes.

After arranging lunch in the kitchen, Old Madam Li clapped her hands as she remembered something big. “I haven’t told everyone that Zhenzhen is pregnant!”

Wang Sufen saw her grabbing the phonebook and walking to the phone. She quickly followed. “Mom, didn’t we always wait until three months in before spreading the news?”

Old Madam Li rolled her eyes at her. “That’s because your health was weak—we didn’t know if the pregnancy would hold. But Zhenzhen? No worries there. She’s definitely going to carry to term.”

Thinking of how her daughter was basically heaven-sent, Wang Sufen figured she wasn’t like ordinary people either and sat down across from Old Madam Li with peace of mind. Half-literate, both women put on reading glasses and started studying the big-letter phonebook. Wang Sufen pointed at an entry labeled “In-Laws” and said, “This is Zhenzhen’s mother-in-law’s number. Let’s call her first.”

Old Madam Li squinted at the characters. “Alright, you read, I’ll dial.”

After three rings, Ling Xiulan, who was in her office looking over financial reports, picked up. “Hello, this is Ling Xiulan.”

“In-law!” Old Madam Li shouted joyfully. “I’ve got great news for you—Zhenzhen is pregnant! Just one month in—and it’s dragon-phoenix twins!”

Ling Xiulan was stunned. One month pregnant she could believe—but dragon-phoenix twins? Even a hospital ultrasound at this stage might barely detect two embryos, if that. Calling it dragon-phoenix twins was a stretch. But she could understand Old Madam Li’s excitement. With the one-child policy, having twins was hitting the jackpot. One boy and one girl? Even better.

Still, hearing that Zhenzhen was pregnant made Ling Xiulan very happy. The two elder members of the Ling family had asked many times about it, but she had always brushed them off, saying Zhenzhen was overseas with no one to help with a baby. Now that she was expecting, it would ease their worries. Ling Xiulan herself got emotional thinking she was going to be a grandma. She quickly replied, “Auntie, I got it. I’ll head home now. Ask Zhenzhen what she’s craving—I’ll buy it on the way.”

“There’s everything at home, and we’re here too. Just take care of your business, no need to rush back and forth,” said Old Madam Li. “From now on, you all eat dinner here. Mr. Zhang said we should make more dishes so Zhenzhen has a better appetite.”

“Okay,” Ling Xiulan said with a smile. “I’ll let Junjie’s dad know. Oh, Auntie—don’t tell Junjie yet. Let the young couple share the news themselves.”

Old Madam Li agreed. After hanging up, she dialed Junjie’s grandmother next. “Granny-in-law! Zhenzhen’s pregnant—with dragon-phoenix twins! What? Who said it’s dragon-phoenix twins? Zhenzhen did—guaranteed. You want to come see her? Sure! I’ll tell the kitchen to make more dishes. Let’s have a proper celebration!”

“Mu Wen! Zhenzhen’s pregnant!”

“Is Li Mulin there? I’m his mom. He’s out checking the lines? Then pass him a message—his niece is pregnant!”

“Is this the neighborhood office? I’m Li Musen’s mom. Call his wife Liu Xiulan for me, will you? What’s up? Zhenzhen’s pregnant!”

The worker at the neighborhood office hung up the phone excitedly. Instead of finding Li Musen or Liu Xiulan, he grabbed a loudspeaker: “Breaking news! Huge congratulations! Beicha’s own celebrity and patriot Li Mingzhen is pregnant! Hey, Liu Xiulan, come to the office and call your mother-in-law!”

Liu Xiulan was washing clothes in the courtyard when she heard the broadcast and was dumbfounded. “That old Liu, blabbering everything. His mouth never stops.”

She wiped her hands on her apron, took it off and hung it on a post, then shouted into the house, “Xiaowei, I’m going to the neighborhood office to call your grandma. Keep an eye on the porridge on the stove.”

Li Xiaowei came out holding her son. “I heard the loudspeaker say Zhenzhen is pregnant? Then go call grandma quick—don’t keep her waiting.”

Liu Xiulan rushed to the office and slapped the worker to the floor. “Why do you have to announce everything? Why are you broadcasting Zhenzhen’s pregnancy like that? You’re so annoying!”

Old Liu got up, dusted himself off, and grumbled, “How is this the same? This is Li Mingzhen we’re talking about—the only celebrity in Beicha in decades. Her pregnancy is major news. Honestly, it should be on the national news!”

“Quit your nonsense! Wait till I tell my mother-in-law what you did. She’ll come back and beat you up.” Liu Xiulan sat on a stool and skillfully dialed. “Hello, Mom…”

Xi Junjie had been busy all day and came home to find the main house dark and Zhenzhen nowhere inside. So he turned down the corridor and went straight to the neighboring house. As he rounded the corner, he saw Auntie Yang carrying dishes. She looked at him with a cheerful expression, as if wanting to say something but holding it in, and quickly urged him forward. “Everyone’s in the front hall today. There are a lot of people, so we’re eating there.”

Xi Junjie reached out to take the plate from Auntie Yang. “I’ll take it over. You go on with what you’re doing.” There were still a few dishes left to prepare in the kitchen, and Auntie Yang didn’t stand on ceremony. She handed the plate to him and hurried back.

Carrying Zhenzhen’s favorite braised prawns into the front hall, Xi Junjie was stunned by the lively scene before him. Not only were Xi Changbo and Ling Xiulan there, but even his own grandparents had come.

Ling Xiulan took the dish and placed it on the table, then pushed Xi Junjie to sit next to Zhenzhen. “Go on, you two—have your little chat.”

Looking at Zhenzhen’s rosy cheeks, Xi Junjie was puzzled. “What’s the occasion? It’s not even our anniversary.”

Zhenzhen smiled and held his hand, her big eyes sparkling with joy. A satisfied smile lit up her face. “Junjie, I’m pregnant.”

“Pregnant?” Xi Junjie froze for a moment, then his gaze slid down to her belly in shock. “When did you find out? Do you feel okay?”

“Mr. Zhang came today and took my pulse,” Zhenzhen said, her face glowing with a blush. “I feel great. No discomfort at all.”

“That’s wonderful.” Xi Junjie grinned like a fool.

Watching the young couple holding hands and smiling at each other, everyone else couldn’t help but laugh. Ling Xiulan quickly ushered them to their seats. “Come eat! Zhenzhen shouldn’t go hungry.”

Zhenzhen laughed. “My grandma kept feeding me all day—I’m not even hungry now.”

“Eat a little more, have some of this wild mushroom soup.” Ling Xiulan ladled some soup for her, then told Xi Junjie, “Zhenzhen loves these prawns—peel a few extra for her.”

Surrounded by two families and her doting husband, Zhenzhen barely needed to lift a finger—just open her mouth. Xi Junjie was happily busy peeling shrimp and serving food. But since she’d been snacking all day, she only ate a few prawns and had a bowl of soup before feeling full. Everyone knew Zhenzhen wasn’t the kind of girl to skip meals for vanity, so no one pressured her to eat more. Still, Ling Xiulan worried she might get hungry in the middle of the night and reminded Xi Junjie, “If she wakes up hungry, you’d better get up and make her something.”

Turns out Ling Xiulan needn’t have worried. That night, when they returned to their room, Xi Junjie was still hoping to whisper sweet nothings, but after Zhenzhen finished her shower and came out, she was already fast asleep.
—

Zhenzhen’s pregnancy days began. In the mornings, she would take two laps around the lake. Later, she’d open the windows, sit by her desk to write or paint a few pictures. Sometimes she went to the room where antiques were stored to catalogue the items she’d brought out from her space. Afternoons usually included a nap, then some fruit and reading. Her days were leisurely but never dull.

Meanwhile, Granny Li and Wang Sufen finally had something to keep them busy. Energized, they buzzed around Zhenzhen. Aside from occasionally consulting Mr. Zhang about pregnancy-friendly diets, they spent their free time shopping—buying new fabrics and freshly harvested cotton to make clothes and bedding for the unborn child. Although they weren’t sure how many babies Zhenzhen was carrying, Granny Li insisted it was twins—a boy and a girl. Everything they made came in two sets, one pink and one blue. The household wasn’t short on money for cloth or cotton, so Wang Sufen joined Granny Li in her enthusiastic preparations.

Before they knew it, Zhenzhen was three months pregnant. Xi Junjie had already booked the hospital appointment. Ling Xiulan wanted to go, Granny Li insisted on coming, and Wang Sufen was also keen. Faced with two mothers and one grandmother, Xi Junjie couldn’t say no and took the whole family to the hospital.

At three months, a baby bump usually wasn’t obvious, but Zhenzhen’s belly was already slightly rounded. The doctor gave her an ultrasound order. The cool probe moved across her abdomen while Granny Li put on her reading glasses, but the glowing screen full of dots made her dizzy.

Granny Li nudged Ling Xiulan and whispered, “Which part is the baby?”

Ling Xiulan whispered back, “I don’t understand it either.”

Granny Li looked stunned. “Aren’t you a college graduate?”

Ling Xiulan smiled wryly. “But not in medicine—we didn’t learn this in college.”

Granny Li sighed in disappointment. The doctor, who had maintained a serious expression, cracked a smile and turned with a kind face. “The ultrasound shows two embryos.”

Ling Xiulan, seeing Granny Li’s blank face, quickly explained, “That means two babies.”

Granny Li’s eyes lit up, and she rushed over to the screen. “Doctor, can you tell if they’re a boy and a girl?”

The doctor smiled. “Ma’am, their sex organs haven’t developed yet. And even if I could tell, I’m not allowed to say—it’s against the rules.”

Lying on the bed, Zhenzhen smiled at Granny Li. “Grandma, don’t make it hard for the doctor. You’ll know when I give birth.”

Granny Li calculated the days and sighed, “But that’s still months away.” Her disappointment vanished once they returned to the exam room and heard the strong fetal heartbeats. Tears streamed down her face as she dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief and choked up, “I’ve had so many kids and grandkids, but this is the first time I’ve ever heard a baby’s heartbeat from inside the womb.”

Xi Junjie had been so moved by the sound of his children’s heartbeats that his hands were trembling, but Granny Li’s emotional outburst overtook his own. He ended up comforting her instead, worried she might cry too hard. After confirming both heartbeats were strong and everything looked normal, the doctor stood up. “Everything’s good—come back next month for a follow-up.”

Granny Li wiped her tears and started beaming again, turning to Wang Sufen proudly. “I told you it’s boy-girl twins, but you didn’t believe me.”

What had started as a joke now sounded more plausible. Ling Xiulan and Wang Sufen began to take it seriously. Since it was definitely twins, maybe it really was a boy and a girl.

Days passed, and Zhenzhen’s belly grew like a balloon. Soon it was April of the following year. The weather was warming, flowers blooming all over the garden, and chickens happily pecking in the grass—unaware they’d soon end up in a pot of delicious soup.

They say twin pregnancies often lead to early labor. The family kept a close watch on Zhenzhen’s belly and only relaxed when she reached full term. Half a month before her due date, Ling Xiulan began urging her to move into the hospital. Even though the hospital was nearby and they had a car, the thought of a last-minute scramble made her uneasy. Better to go early and wait it out.

Granny Li and Wang Sufen wholeheartedly agreed. But Zhenzhen felt comfortable at home, sleeping well and confident in her body. She thought she still had a few more days.

Though anxious, the elders never opposed her decision. Another seven days passed peacefully at home. Then, one morning after breakfast, Zhenzhen suddenly said, “Let’s go to the hospital today.”

The whole family broke into a sweat. Granny Li’s first reaction was, “Did your water break?”

“No,” Zhenzhen shook her head, placing a hand on her belly. “I just feel like they want to come today.”

Can you really feel that? But the timing did seem right. Ling Xiulan and Wang Sufen quickly loaded the prepared bags into the car. Xi Junjie helped Zhenzhen in, and they all rushed to the hospital.

Ling Xiulan had already reserved a VIP room. Though most women by now gave birth in hospitals, few opted for private suites—it cost as much for one day as a week in a shared room. But Ling Xiulan believed her daughter-in-law, who’d never suffered much, shouldn’t be made to skimp now that she was having twins. So she booked the best room well in advance.

After completing the hospital admission procedures, the doctor felt her belly and indeed noticed some tightening. Just as they were about to suggest returning to the room for observation, Zhenzhen clutched Xi Junjie and said shakily, “My water just broke.”

There was no need to go back to the room—straight to the delivery room. Watching Zhenzhen being wheeled in, Xi Junjie panicked like an ant on a hot pan, grabbing the doctor’s hand and trembling, “Can I go in? Husbands should be allowed to accompany their wives during childbirth, right?”

The doctor looked a bit troubled. “There’s no precedent for that here. Besides, you won’t be much help inside.”

“But if I hold her hand, she won’t be scared.” Xi Junjie’s eyes were red with anxiety. “Please, doctor, she’ll be afraid in there all alone.”

Since Zhenzhen was in the VIP ward, her delivery room was also private, so she wouldn’t disturb other patients. But there was no formal policy for partner accompaniment during childbirth, and the doctor couldn’t make that call lightly. Seeing this six-foot-something young man crying just because he felt sorry for his wife, and remembering that Zhenzhen was the same Li Mingzhen who had contributed to the repatriation of national artifacts, the doctor finally softened. “I’ll go ask the director. I can’t guarantee it’ll be approved, though.”

Xi Junjie couldn’t speak from emotion and simply nodded. Ling Xiulan quickly added, “Sorry to trouble you, doctor. In other countries, it’s standard for husbands to accompany their wives during childbirth. It eases the mother’s nerves and gives the husband a stronger sense of responsibility. Consider us a trial case—it might even help promote this practice.”

The doctor nodded. After a while, they rushed back and called over a nurse, saying, “Take this young man for disinfection and let him accompany the patient in the delivery room.”

Xi Junjie let out a breath of relief and was about to follow the nurse in when Ling Xiulan grabbed him, hurriedly pulling a few neatly wrapped chocolates and a water bottle from her bag. “If Zhenzhen runs out of strength, feed her a bit. First-time childbirth is a long haul.” Wang Sufen came to her senses and passed him the insulated container she had been holding. “Here’s some ginseng chicken soup. Don’t forget to give her some.”

Carrying the whole family’s hopes and instructions, Xi Junjie entered the delivery room. Outside, the others slumped into the waiting area chairs, nervous and unsettled.

At first, the couple whispered to each other, discussing baby names. But as time passed and the pain went from once every half hour to several times a minute, Zhenzhen could no longer speak. She furrowed her brows, enduring wave after wave of pain.

The contractions grew more intense. Zhenzhen finally realized just how excruciating childbirth could be. Just when she thought she couldn’t bear it any longer, a warm current seemed to flow from her forehead down to her abdomen. Thinking of the golden blood essence that had brought her here, she figured it must be helping to ease her pain.

The warmth flowed faster and faster, and she felt her belly begin to drop. Holding her breath, she suddenly felt the baby shift downward rapidly. With a strong contraction, the first child finally slid out. The nurse caught the newborn, lifted it upside down, and patted its feet. A loud, clear cry filled the room.

“It’s a boy!” the midwife said joyfully, carrying the baby aside for cleaning.

Just as Zhenzhen opened her mouth to speak, a familiar pressure surged from her lower abdomen. The birth canal was already open, so the second baby came even more smoothly.

“It’s a girl! Congratulations on a pair of twins—a boy and a girl!”

Zhenzhen finally exhaled in relief, only to realize she had gripped Xi Junjie’s hand so tightly she’d broken the skin. Feeling guilty, she gently touched the bloody scratch. “Sorry, did I hurt you?”

“It’s me who should apologize,” Xi Junjie said, kissing her hand softly. “You’ve suffered.”

Zhenzhen gave a tired smile. “What’s there to apologize for, silly.”

Xi Junjie brushed her forehead and kissed it. “I’ll get a vasectomy in a few days. I won’t let you go through this again.”

The nurse, seeing the couple lost in their loving exchange and seemingly having forgotten the two newborns, had no choice but to bring the babies out to the waiting family. “Who’s family of Li Mingzhen?”

Grandma Li jumped up first. “Me, me!”

The two nurses beamed and held the babies out to her. “Congratulations, ma’am. A pair of dragon-phoenix twins.”

Grandma Li slapped her thigh in triumph. “See? I told you they’d be dragon-phoenix twins!”