Miao He was stunned by the news.
…Pregnant!?
The next moment, he was tightly embraced by Yang Dalang, the man’s strong arms holding him so tightly and excitedly that Miao He almost lost his breath. His soul, nearly scared out of his body, was pulled back.
“Pregnant!?”
The obvious choke in Yang Dalang’s voice immediately grabbed Miao He’s attention, making him quickly pull his head out of the embrace.
Uncle Lin, who was also pleased by the news, laughed and patted his chest. “The pulse is very clear! There’s no mistake. Although it’s rare for a Ger to get pregnant, it’s not impossible. Dalang, you don’t have to be so agitated, but you do need to take good care of him from now on.”
Yang Dalang, usually calm and composed, refused to let go of Miao He, even lowering his head to nuzzle him, seemingly unable to control his emotions. Miao He blushed instantly. Uncle Lin was still there, and he didn’t know what to be more nervous about.
Uncle Lin continued, “But I see you have peaches and plums on the table. Pregnant men shouldn’t eat too much of those.”
Yang Dalang’s expression changed. “He’s been eating peaches for every meal!”
Whoa, even his sentences are getting longer! Miao He blinked.
“Let me check again. Hmm, no signs of heatiness, and the stomach is fine. He hasn’t shown any symptoms, so there’s no major issue yet. But remember, don’t let him eat like this anymore. Small plums, no more than five a day, and one peach a day at most. Don’t overindulge, Brother He.”
Looking at the little Ger in his husband’s arms, who seemed more rounded and rosy than before, even his hair was shiny and dark, not dried out by the summer sun. He must have been well-fed and cared for by Yang Dalang. It wasn’t surprising he got pregnant. Uncle Lin thought, smiling.
“What else should we be careful about?” Yang Dalang asked, fully attentive.
Uncle Lin patiently explained everything. During their conversation, Miao He tried to free himself from Yang Dalang’s grip but failed. When they finished, and Yang Dalang escorted Uncle Lin out, he sternly instructed, “Don’t run around.”
Miao He was stunned. Then he watched as Yang Dalang gave Uncle Lin all the peaches and plums he had been enjoying for the past three days.
“…”
What does being pregnant even mean!?
Miao He had a foreboding sense that life was going to get difficult.
***
When Miao He first came to this world, he didn’t have a problem with the special ability of Gers. In the original memories, Gers naturally had a low chance of getting pregnant. To prepare for pregnancy, most Gers had to take supplements and nurse their bodies back to health first.
Families with means preferred not to marry a Ger. When Miao Yuan and the original body were in love, they didn’t settle down immediately because the man’s family was hesitant. Understanding this setting, combined with the delicate appearance of Gers who seemed physically weak, Miao He quickly forgot about it.
Until today, when the news hit him like a bomb.
After the initial shock came disbelief, doubt, and then a strange sense of reality.
…He was finally going to have a family again?
In his previous life, after his grandparents passed away, Miao He lived alone. He didn’t feel particularly lonely, spending his time on the internet and playing mobile games. Only during the New Year did he feel a bit melancholic, seeing news reports about people struggling to return home and reuniting with their families from far away. He would just sit on his couch, eating snacks and fruit.
Miao He, who was gay, had thought about finding a partner. But he worked in a small-town government office with a very conservative environment. His position wasn’t very important, but the workplace culture was rigid and old-fashioned.
Plus, he had the secret of magic Soil, so he never dared to take that step.
Or maybe he just hadn’t met someone who made him want to take that step.
Until he came here. Until he naturally accepted Yang Dalang.
He realized how different life was with and without someone special.
He found Yang Dalang’s silence and stubborn determination endearing.
He found the man’s domineering ways and clumsy methods of making sure he wouldn’t leave sweet.
It turned out that he wasn’t just grateful or looking for a stable life. That’s how he had come to feel this way.
In this moment, Miao He suddenly understood his feelings for Yang Dalang more clearly.
He was going to have a new family member, someone strangely staying inside him.
As for Yang Dalang, he wasn’t just family.
He was that person.
***
After a while, that person returned and wrapped his arms tightly around Miao He again.
“…We’re going to have a child.”
“…Yes.”
“So you won’t leave?”
Miao He softened, nestling against him. “I never planned to leave.”
He was held even tighter.
Even at this moment, this stubborn man was only worried about this.
***
Unquestionably, Miao He’s household status plummeted after this. He couldn’t do anything he used to. While he internally complained about this, Yang Dalang was in the kitchen cooking porridge for him. Miao He wasn’t sick; he had just eaten a few extra peaches and plums. Yet he was treated like a patient, suspected of being overheated or having a weak stomach.
What Miao He didn’t know was that Yang Dalang, reflecting on the past three months, realized how much hard work Miao He had done: carrying cakes to town alone, helping move house twice, and digging trees with him in the mountains! The more he thought about it, the more anxious and guilty he felt, despite Uncle Lin’s assurances. Yang Dalang secretly decided to invite Doctor Ji from town for a second opinion.
For the next few days, Miao He mostly rolled around on the wooden floor of the main hall wrapped in a quilt. The weather was still hot, so why would he need a quilt? But remember, he was now considered a patient.
Dabai was almost kicked out of the house, but since it was raised indoors and never ate anything raw or cold, Uncle Lin said it was fine. Still, Yang Dalang tried to keep Miao He away from the cat. Whenever Dabai got close, he would scoop the cat up and stuff it into his collar.
The little black cat had never been so valued by the master and immediately forgot what it was doing, happily purring.
Naturally, Yang Dalang took over the vegetable delivery and cake-making tasks. He even managed to bring Doctor Ji over, who confirmed Miao He’s health and stable pregnancy, with minimal symptoms and no cause for concern.
Miao He felt perfectly fine, and yet Yang Dalang had gone through all this trouble, even inviting Doctor Ji over. So, while they were still talking, Miao He secretly picked a basket of peaches to give away.
Doctor Ji, after tasting one, praised them and eagerly shared a recipe for peach wine with Miao He, simpler than plum wine, just needing properly peeled and prepared peaches soaked in alcohol.
“This wine has to be good quality, white wine, not just any kind!” Doctor Ji muttered to himself, hesitating before asking, “Brother He, do you have any more of the pickled plums you gave me earlier? Could you spare some more? I need to trade them for some good wine. If it works out, the peach wine will taste fantastic. Peach wine also has many benefits; it can replenish qi, nourish blood, moisturize the lungs, and relieve coughs. While you shouldn’t drink much, Dalang can have a cup from time to time.”
Watching the serious doctor turn into a wine enthusiast, Miao He found it amusing and agreed readily, sending Doctor Ji off happily.
After Doctor Ji’s visit, Yang Dalang’s protectiveness became less extreme, allowing Miao He to water the vegetable garden. After all, Doctor Ji had advised that maintaining activity was important to avoid a weak body and bones.
With the backyard mung beans growing well under magic Soil’s care, they picked a day for Yang Dalang to carry a large bag of mung beans, along with molds from the teahouse, and head to Aunt Yang’s house with Miao He, who insisted on going out for a walk. They planned to hand over the task to Aunt Yang.
Aunt Yang, understanding that Dalang wanted to share the profitable work with her, was initially hesitant. “No, no, this is an opportunity you earned yourselves. How can I take it from you? If I do, what will I say to your mother? Absolutely not! I won’t take it!”
Yang Dalang’s gaze softened. “Miao He is pregnant and can’t do it.”
The sudden announcement left Aunt Yang stunned, then overjoyed, nearly jumping out of her seat!
“Brother He is pregnant!? Really!? How many months? Are you sure? Is the baby stable? Have you seen a doctor?”
A flurry of questions followed as she fussed over Miao He.
Feeling awkward, Miao He wondered why he insisted on coming along…
With a look of joy, Yang Dalang answered Aunt Yang’s questions.
Aunt Yang nodded along, grateful and even praying. “Good, good! This is such great news! Your mother would be so happy if she knew! She was worried about you before she passed. Now, don’t listen to any nonsense. Just take good care of Brother He and the baby! Didn’t I always tell you that?”
Nonsense? Miao He blinked, sensing something strange. He saw Yang Dalang nodding to Aunt Yang.
Aunt Yang, still overjoyed, added, “You should tell Aunt Qing too. She’s been worried about you and will be thrilled to hear this. She’s been upset with Qiang lately, always coming to vent. Before the betrothal, Qiang ignored her, but now he’s even saying he won’t marry, using your situation as an excuse. If you have time, talk to him.”
After a brief pause, Yang Dalang agreed.
As for the mung bean cake task, with Miao He’s pregnancy and the need to manage the vegetable garden and fruit trees, Aunt Yang readily agreed to take it on. Yang Dalang would regularly bring the raw materials, including sugar, oil, and mung beans, which he emphasized were of a specific high-quality variety from the teahouse and couldn’t be replaced. Aunt Yang would make the cakes, and Yang Dalang would come to pick them up.
Aunt Yang’s skills, learned from Miao He during his stay, were reliable. She insisted on taking only a 20% share, as they provided almost all the raw materials.
Even so, a month’s diligent work could yield over a tael of silver, a significant and stable income compared to the fluctuating earnings from Yang Datong’s carpentry. It brought much joy to Datong’s wife, Yu Xin, who was listening while holding their infant son.
With the task successfully handed over, Miao He felt much lighter. Now, all the burden was on Yang Dalang, who refused any help from him. Seeing how genuinely happy Aunt Yang and her family were also made him happy.
On the way back, Miao He, in a good mood, swung Yang Dalang’s hand as they walked. Suddenly remembering, he asked, “What did Aunt Yang mean by nonsense earlier? What was that about?”
“Nothing.”
Miao He suspiciously glanced at him. “Aunt Yang wouldn’t make things up.”
“Not worth mentioning.”
Surprised, Miao He realized it might not be anything good and let it go.
“Then we won’t talk about it. I wouldn’t believe it anyway!”
Yang Dalang tightly held his hand. “Yes.”
He didn’t believe it either.
“Jìq?wúz? (????)” meant having a wife but no children. The latter might not be true, but the former, if he were to hurt Miao He, it would only mean he had made a mistake.
And he would never do that. If he could hurt anyone, he would never want to hurt him…
Just then, Miao He said, “Hey, the scar on your face seems to have faded a bit.”
Yang Dalang was taken aback, looking down at Miao He’s sparkling eyes.
“Maybe one day you’ll be as fair as me, haha.”
Though said in jest, Yang Dalang felt a chill.
The fortune teller had said his marital prospects were hindered by his scars.
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