Ger, So Proud

Chapter 104:

“Is it possible?” Lin Yu’s face flushed as he saw He Ze’s excitement. “I heard from my dad that usually, it takes about two to three months before any symptoms appear, so…”

“No matter what, I’ll have Uncle Xu check you when we get home,” He Ze calmed down a bit, instructed the waiter to take away the greasy dishes, and ordered some lighter ones.

He was clearly distracted after this incident, barely eating a few bites and focusing entirely on Lin Yu. Even though the chances of pregnancy were slim, he held onto a glimmer of hope.

Just in case!

They quickly finished their meal. He An stayed behind at the shop while He Ze eagerly drove the carriage to take Lin Yu back to the village. Unfortunately, Xu Qingsheng hadn’t returned from the pharmacy yet, so they had to wait.

“He Ze, don’t be so tense. It’s probably nothing…”

“Phooey! Don’t say such things. What if the baby hears and thinks we’re not welcoming him?” He Ze wanted to stay excited for now. If it turned out to be a misunderstanding, he wouldn’t be too disappointed.

“Do you like children that much?” Lin Yu asked, a bit worried.

“Not particularly,” He Ze pondered carefully before adding, “but having a child would make me very happy because it’s a new experience of being a father. I would want to create the best environment for him. If not, I might be a little disappointed, but having you is already more than enough for me.”

“I love you, baby.” Seizing the moment, He Ze kissed Lin Yu’s cheek before he could react, smiling brightly.

After more than a month of marriage, Lin Yu had gradually become accustomed to He Ze’s occasional passionate ambushes. Though seemingly frivolous, they were incredibly sweet.

The atmosphere was tender and warm between them.

These days were the season for harvesting Baizhi. Since only Dad Li was at home, He Ze hired a few villagers to help, as he did today. When Dad Li returned and saw them home early, he thought something was wrong.

They didn’t mention Lin Yu’s possible pregnancy, not wanting Dad Li to get excited prematurely.

After dinner, He Ze specifically went to invite Xu Qingsheng over. Lin Yu obediently sat on a chair, and the room was silent.

When Xu Qingsheng removed his hand from Lin Yu’s wrist, He Ze, nervously clenching his hands, waited. Dad Li, thinking Lin Yu’s health was in question, anxiously asked, “What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

Xu Qingsheng couldn’t maintain his serious expression any longer, and a smile appeared on his face. “Congratulations, it’s a pregnancy pulse.”

“A pregnancy pulse?”

“That’s right! You’re going to have a grandchild, Brother Li!”

“This…” He Ze and Lin Yu exchanged glances, their faces brimming with undisguised joy. They had thought that being only a little over a month in, the chances of pregnancy were slim, but it turned out to be true.

He was really going to have a child!

He Ze was completely immersed in the joy of becoming a father, and Dad Li was equally overjoyed, holding Lin Yu’s hand and looking at his belly as if he could already see his future grandchild.

“Wait a minute, isn’t morning sickness usually supposed to start two to three months into the pregnancy? How come today…” He Ze recounted Lin Yu’s nausea from earlier, a bit worried.

“No worries, I just checked his pulse, and Yu-ge is in good health. As for the early morning sickness, it’s likely due to his individual constitution. While it’s not common, I’ve seen a few cases like this over the years. It’s nothing to be concerned about. I’ll bring two doses of medicine to stabilize the pregnancy tomorrow. Just make sure he takes them.”

“Also, don’t restrict him too much. Keeping him in good spirits is the most important thing.”

Considering Yu-ge’s lively nature and worried that He Ze might be overly cautious, Xu Qingsheng added this extra piece of advice. He Ze smiled and replied, “Yes, I understand, Uncle Xu.”

On the way back after seeing Xu Qingsheng off, He Ze specifically asked about things to watch out for during Yu-ge’s pregnancy, grinning the entire way. When he returned, Dad Li was excitedly discussing with Lin Yu what he wanted to eat the next day to ensure his grandchild was well-nourished.

Seeing Lin Yu’s plea for help, He Ze came to the rescue. “Dad, calm down. Uncle Xu said not to stress Xiao Yu too much. If you’re so tense, you’ll make him nervous too.”

“Right, right. Look at me. It’s okay, Yu-ge. Just tell me what you want to eat, and I’ll take care of it. I have experience; when I was pregnant with this rascal, he caused me so much trouble…”

“Dad—”

“Alright, alright. I won’t say any more. You two rest well. Yu-ge, don’t worry, relax. This is a wonderful thing! We’ll tell your father and An-ge tomorrow, and also inform your family. Tonight, take good care of Yu-ge.” Halfway through his speech, Dad Li seemed to remember something and glared at He Ze, saying, “You better not do anything foolish, got it?”

Understanding Dad Li’s implication, He Ze quickly assured, “Don’t worry, Dad. I asked Uncle Xu earlier; I won’t do anything reckless.”

Dad Li returned to his room, leaving only He Ze and Lin Yu in the room.

There was a brief moment of silence.

Suddenly, He Ze approached Lin Yu, hugged him tightly, and spun him around, much like an excited child.

The long-suppressed joy finally burst out now that they were alone.

“We’re going to have a child, did you hear that, Xiao Yu? We’re going to have a child! Hahaha—”

“Are you silly or what!”

Lin Yu couldn’t escape He Ze’s embrace, nor did he want to. He simply let him be, a smile spreading across his own face.

Laughter echoed in the room, gradually subsiding.

The news of Lin Yu’s pregnancy quickly became a hot topic in the village, and the He household was filled with joy. Dad Li walked with a spring in his step.

After the baizhi was dried and prepared, He Ze delivered it to the Luo family’s Tongchun Hall. The initial batch received excellent feedback due to the high-quality seeds and He Ze’s meticulous care.

With a good start, He Ze felt relieved.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Personnel’s inspection team arrived in Hushan County. An inspector’s carriage slowly entered Qiongchuan County.

This inspector was none other than Wang Fucheng’s uncle, Li Deming.

Since the county magistrate was a seventh-rank official and he was a sixth-rank official, Li Deming didn’t plan to visit Zhou Wen upon entering Qiongchuan. Instead, he headed straight to the Wang family residence.

Li Deming’s brother was Wang Fucheng’s dad. Not only were the two brothers deeply bonded, but the Wang family also funded the expenses and bribes for Li’s official position. The Li family borrowed money while the Wang family borrowed influence, making their relationship exceptionally close. As soon as the Wang family heard of Li Deming’s imminent arrival, they grew bolder, thinking that whether the recent troubles were caused by humans or ghosts, having a court official present would solve everything.

Returning to the county and setting up a new mansion, they hosted a grand banquet to welcome Li Deming. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and joy, dispelling much of the recent gloom in the Wang family. There was a strong sense of camaraderie with Li Deming, showing no signs of estrangement.

Of all the people happy about Li Deming’s return, Wang Fucheng was the happiest. With the Wang family as his backing, he had always been pampered by his parents and flattered by others. However, he had suffered losses at He Ze’s hands several times, and not only did he fail to vent his anger, but he was also whipped daily, ending up as a cripple! Although his physical wounds had healed, his mind had grown darker, and his temper had become erratic. Even if he didn’t believe that the recent hauntings had anything to do with He Ze, it didn’t stop him from blaming He Ze and harboring deep hatred.

Wang Fucheng had always been favored by Li Deming since childhood. Previously, he was cautious of Zhou Wen, the county magistrate, and didn’t dare to act too brazenly. But now, with his uncle back, he suddenly felt emboldened.

After the banquet, Wang Fucheng staggered while supporting Li Deming back to his room, affectionately calling him “Uncle” repeatedly, which greatly endeared him to Li Deming. However, when Li Deming inquired about Wang Fucheng’s limp, the Wang family couldn’t provide any concrete evidence, so he let it go. As they reached the door, Wang Fucheng hinted, “Uncle, you must be weary from your journey. I’ve prepared hot water and some fine wine along with two servants for your pleasure tonight.”

His face bore a knowing smile that all men would understand.

“Haha, you really know how to please your uncle!” Li Deming heavily patted Wang Fucheng’s hand and eagerly strode into the room.

Li Deming’s in-laws in the capital were not a significant family, but his father-in-law was a scholar and their family had been in the capital for generations, giving them considerable connections. Even Li Deming didn’t dare to show disrespect, especially since his wife was a strict disciplinarian. Normally, he couldn’t even steal a kiss outside, so his nephew’s thoughtful arrangement was a delightful surprise, making him very happy.

Watching the door close, Wang Fucheng’s face turned grim as he limped to the courtyard and summoned a servant, asking, “Have you found out anything about what I asked you to investigate?”

“Master, since winning the lawsuit, that He family’s flower shop business has actually improved. As for the Luo family, I didn’t dare to inquire too openly, but I found out that the Tongchun Hall’s baizhi is supplied by the He family.”

“Baizhi… So the Luo family is quite close to the He family?” No wonder his previous plans had failed; he had thought County Magistrate Zhou was upright, but it seemed he had taken sides early on!

“Not exactly the Luo family. The Luo family is the magistrate’s in-laws and very wealthy. The He family doesn’t have such connections. It’s just that the young master of the Luo family is close to that He kid because He Ze saved him once.”

“Such luck… Go, find a beggar or refugee in the east of the city. Remember, it’s best if they have family ties. You know what to do, right? Be careful, don’t leave any evidence.”

“Master, should we use the same method as last time? Won’t it be risky…”

“Any method that works is fine. Even if they have evidence, what can they do? Last time was different… now my uncle is here. Does Zhou Wen dare disrespect my uncle?” His uncle was a Ministry of Personnel inspector; a minor inconvenience could spell trouble for Zhou Wen!

He had nothing to fear.

“But if it involves the Luo family…”

“Just pin the blame on He Ze. I have no grudge against the Luo family. They’ll know what to do. Even if He Ze doesn’t die, I’ll make sure he rots in jail to satisfy my anger!” Wang Fucheng said harshly, suddenly kicking the servant: “Do as I say without asking so many questions! Isn’t Tongchun Hall distributing free medicine around this time of year?”

“Yes, in a few days.” The servant dared not look up.

“Perfect timing. Do this right, and I’ll talk to my father about letting you manage the textile workshop in the east of the city. I’ll make sure you get a wife too. Good days are ahead.” Wang Fucheng’s smile was cold.

The servant, blinded by thoughts of the potential profit from managing a textile workshop, gratefully replied, “Yes, thank you, Master, thank you!”

Wang Fucheng watched the bowing servant with a sneer. But after a few steps, looking at his own limp left leg, his face turned ashen.

This time, the servant acted swiftly. On July 10th, when the constables came to arrest someone in the village, it was noon, and Dad Li, He Ze, and Lin Yu were sitting at the table eating together.