A one-month-old baby's nose and eyes haven't even fully developed yet, so naturally there's no way it could react...
Gu Fengyan was both amused and exasperated. "What nonsense are you talking about? He's not even fully grown yet. How can you expect him to respond to you?"
"Education should start from a young age. You have to tell him this every day so he won't cause you trouble later." Huo Duan smiled and kissed his lower abdomen through his clothes.
Gu Fengyan's ears turned bright red, and she pushed his head away. "What are you doing...mind your manners!"
"Ayan..." Huo Duan chuckled softly, a glint of light flashing in his eyes as he looked up, "Shall we learn to be parents together? Okay?"
Only then did Gu Fengyan understand... It turned out that Huo Duan was just as uneasy as he was, afraid that he wouldn't be able to take good care of this unborn little thing.
After a pause, Gu Fengyan nodded vigorously, "Okay."
A note from the author:
Thank you, little angel Lulalalu, for the nutrient solution! (tilts head and rubs against her face)
Chapter Sixty-One
After receiving the medicine at Xinglin Hospital, it was already completely dark. Outside, it was drizzling and misty. Huo Duan was worried that Gu Fengyan wouldn't sleep well at night, so he hired a carriage to take Gu Fengyan back to his residence in the county.
Lin Ru prescribed some medicine to Gu Fengyan to help with pregnancy and replenish her energy. He then escorted the two of them to the alleyway, gave them some advice on things to be careful about in daily life, and then went back home.
Huo Duan wrapped Gu Fengyan in his cloak, helped him into the carriage, and then steadily drove him home...
When Ye Shan brought back the news from Heqing Village, the Ye family and Uncle Huo were so happy that they could hardly sleep. Uncle Huo had a son named Huo Duan in his middle age, and his only hope was that he could live a good life, get married and have children.
This has finally come true.
But he was more worried about Yan Ge'er than the child... Yan Ge'er was already thin, and with a child in his belly, he didn't know if he could withstand it.
"Didn't the people at Xinglin Academy say why Yan Ge'er fainted?" He wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve and grabbed Ye Shan with great concern.
Ye Shan was soaked to the bone, and Liu Jingyu was patting him down with a towel. He took the towel, wiped his face haphazardly, and laughed:
"Uncle, don't worry. The doctor, Mr. Lin Ru, said that Yan Ge'er is just deficient in qi and blood. He has already been prescribed medicine, so it's not a big problem."
Upon hearing this, Huo Xiuling frowned and said, "How could it be a deficiency of qi and blood... Here's what we'll do, Dashan, you quickly go to the chicken coop and catch a big rooster. Tomorrow I'll go to the county to take a look myself. This deficiency of qi and blood is something we absolutely cannot take lightly."
Ye Shan draped the towel over himself and responded.
“Don’t go to Dashan,” Uncle Huo waved his hands repeatedly. “Yan’er bought a brood of chicks in the spring. They’re fat right now and are ruining my vegetables all over the yard. I’ll just catch one and kill it another day… We’ll keep the ones at home to nourish Jing’er.”
The two families have always been close and neither of them are particular about formalities. Upon hearing this, Huo Xiuling had no choice but to give up, but for a moment she didn't know what to bring for Yan Ge'er.
“I’m feeling better now, so I don’t need any special nourishment. It would be best to take that rooster to Yan Ge’er… I’m just worried that he might not like eating these greasy and meaty foods now that he’s pregnant.” Liu Jingyu thought for a moment and smiled gently. “Mother, we still have the dried apricots we dried last time… They’re sweet and sour and appetizing, Yan Ge’er probably likes them now. And the pickled vegetables we made last time, I saw him only pickling those last time he ate.”
Huo Xiuling thought about it and also felt that Gu Fengyan's appetite was not good during his pregnancy, and he probably couldn't eat those oily foods. Last time, she also saw that he liked to eat dried apricots and pickled vegetables... so why not send him something that he would like?
He nodded and smiled, "Jing-ge'er is so thoughtful. He's pregnant... nothing is as reassuring as homemade food."
"Okay, I'll go pack it. Dashan, take your uncle back. We'll head to the county first thing tomorrow morning!" After she finished speaking, she busied herself heading to the kitchen.
They picked the best dried apricots, wrapped them in a large paper bag, and also packed a ceramic jar of pickled vegetables, a dozen or so farm eggs they had saved up, and some fresh vegetables picked from the field... The whole family worked until late into the night before finally going to sleep.
Gu Fengyan tossed and turned all night, and Huo Duan was afraid of accidentally crushing him, so he had to be careful at all times. He was half asleep and half awake when he heard the first chirping of a bird at dawn, so he quietly got out of bed.
He didn't trust the food bought outside, so after washing his face, he wanted to make breakfast for Gu Fengyan himself. Huo's father and the Ye family also arrived very early. Huo Duan had just ladled out the cooked rice porridge to cool when Huo's father brought Huo Xiuling in.
The two men, carrying large bags and small packages, were beaming with joy, presumably already aware of Gu Fengyan's pregnancy.
Huo Duan wiped his hands, hurried over to take the things, and then helped Huo's father up, calling out with a smile, "Father..."
As Father Huo grew older, tears welled up in his eyes. He wiped them away with his sleeve before saying:
"Okay, all good! You must take good care of Yan Ge'er. Father will take care of the rest. Although I am old, I can still do my part."
"Yes, I will take good care of him." Huo Duan nodded, gestured for Huo Xiuling to sit down, and poured her some freshly brewed hot tea. "Aunt, you're up early. Have you eaten yet?"
Huo Xiuling smiled, "I've already eaten. I heard from Ye Shan yesterday that I came over early this morning..." She looked around, her expression becoming more serious, "Yan Ge'er isn't up yet? Is he feeling alright?"
Huo Duan put the things on the table... they were all for Gu Fengyan, he would take a look at them when he woke up and then put them away.
She nodded. "He's been drowsy lately, but it's nothing serious. I prescribed some medicine to help with the pregnancy and nourish his blood and qi. He'll be fine after finishing one dose... I'll go wake him up for dinner. Aunt, please have a seat."
Huo Xiuling quickly waved her hand, "Let him sleep. We'll just sit for a while. We'll be taking your brother Xue's car back later... It just rained here, so it's good for planting medicinal herbs."
"It's alright, Aunt. I'll wake him up and have some food before he goes back to sleep. He didn't eat much yesterday..." Huo Duandao said, then remembered that there were still a few acres of medicinal herbs in the village that hadn't been planted yet, so he asked, "Aunt, do you know which family in the village hasn't planted them yet?"
Herb seeds are difficult to germinate, so they must be sown during this rainy season... after being soaked in the rain, they can be harvested the following spring.
He was supposed to teach the villagers this himself, but a happy occasion came to his home, and he couldn't leave for the time being.
Huo Xiuling knew he was worried about this, so she took a sip of tea and smiled, "You just need to take good care of Yan Ge'er. Your brother Da Shan is helping out in the village... Except for the back mountain you contracted and the few acres the Shen family has, everything can be planted today."
Hayama really helped a lot.
Huo Duan said, "Thanks to Brother Ye Shan, I'll go back to the village and plant those few acres of land before winter when Brother Yan is feeling better, so we can have a good New Year."
Huo Xiuling smiled and said, "Okay, just call out to Dashan for help when the time comes."
Huo Duan responded and went to the bedroom...
Inside the gauze curtains, Gu Fengyan had most of his face buried in the quilt, wrapped in the blanket and hunched over. Only his hair was spread out on the pillow, a large, dark, smooth, and silky mass, like the finest satin.
"Ayan, are you hungry?" Huo Duan opened the window a crack... and some damp wind blew in after the rain.
He picked out a slightly thicker robe from the large wooden chest, lifted the gauze curtain, sat on the edge of the bed, and stroked Gu Fengyan's full head of raven-black hair. "Shall I dress you?"
Gu Fengyan had actually woken up when Huo Duan entered the room, but he refused to open his eyes because he was occupying the side where Huo Duan had been sleeping.
His eyelashes trembled. He pulled half of the blanket down and simply rested his head on Huo Duan's lap, wrapping his arms around Huo's waist. The sleeves of his nightgown were bunched up at his elbows, his wrists as white as snow. "I don't want to eat. Who's outside?"
Gu Fengyan has been acting a bit more spoiled and clingy these days.
Her nightgown was loose and baggy, revealing half of her chest.
"Aunt is here...and Father is back too." Huo Duan reached out and pulled his nightgown collar tighter to prevent him from seeing any more of that alluring scenery.
Gu Fengyan rolled over, lying on his back, his eyes still misty from sleep, his voice hoarse, "You made this?"
"Yes." Huo Duan leaned down and kissed him. "Are you getting up or not?"
Gu Fengyan hooked his arm around the back of his neck, licking it with lingering pleasure, "I've never seen you this attentive before this little thing was in my belly..."
"Ayan has wronged me." Huo Duan stroked down his neck. "Will you eat it or not?"
"Don't do anything rash..." Gu Fengyan bent over and exclaimed in surprise, grabbing him and blushing strangely. "Be careful... be careful of the baby."
Huo Duan kissed the tip of his ear, his breath like a raccoon's scratch, "I didn't press him down."
Huo Duan is not only a lecher, but also utterly wicked... Gu Fengyan's face turned even redder, her eyes welled up with tears, and she bit her lip, remaining silent.
"Eat or not? Hmm?" Huo Duan broke free of his restraints, showing no mercy. "Speak up... Ayan."
Gu Fengyan, fearing he might actually do it, turned her face away and said, "It was made by President Huo himself, so of course we have to give him face."
"It's damp outside, so I got you a thicker one." Having achieved his goal, Huo Duan kissed him again.
Gu Fengyan's lips parted slightly, feeling a tingling, burning sensation in his lower back... but he remained silent, muttering as he hastily put on his clothes.
The two of them had been arguing for a while before finally arriving at the front hall. Huo Xiuling and the others had already drunk several cups of tea and even helped set out the meal. They didn't ask anything when they saw the two of them arrive late.
After the rain, it was a bit chilly in the morning. Gu Fengyan was wearing a bright red cloak, the snow-white tufts of hair swaying gently... which made his red lips and white teeth stand out, his features delicate. In addition, because he was pregnant, his face looked as if it had been rouged, making him incredibly charming.
"Father." He walked over and called out to everyone in turn, unbuttoning his cloak to reveal a white shirt underneath. "Aunt."
Huo's father was overjoyed. "Come on, your aunt has set the table... Are you feeling better?"
"I'm feeling better, but I don't have much of an appetite..." Gu Fengyan quickly replied, sitting down at the table. "Aunt and Father, have you eaten yet?"
Huo Xiuling was happier the more she looked at him. "Eat up, your father and I ate this morning... We brought some dried apricots and pickled vegetables, thinking you would like them."
There were some things on the table. Gu Fengyan opened the earthenware jar, picked up a piece with his chopsticks, and said with a smile, "I love eating this. Thank you, Aunt."
"Your brother Jing picked them all out; he thought you'd like to eat them." Huo Xiuling was even happier to see that he liked them, and she asked Huo Duan to bring some bowls and plates to pick out some vegetables so that they wouldn't get contaminated by raw water.
Gu Fengyan also served Huo Duan a bowl, "Why didn't Brother Jing come... Is he alright?"
“He’s fine,” Huo Xiuling said. “He originally wanted to come and see you, but I thought it was too early and the weather was cold, so I didn’t call him. What if he got sick again… It’s only now that you’ve recovered a bit.”
Huo Duan served food to Gu Fengyan, but Gu Fengyan just kept eating.
“Aunt is right. I was also thinking of telling him to get some rest. Huo Duan and I will go back and visit him another day.” He put down his chopsticks and smiled.
The family chatted for a while longer. When Huo Xiuling saw that it was about time, she shared some of her experience with Gu Fengyan. Not daring to keep Xue Duo waiting any longer, she returned to the village.
Huo Duan saw her to the door, and before Huo Xiuling left, she pulled Huo Duan aside, her face serious, "Your aunt has something to tell you..."
"What?" Huo Duan was completely bewildered.
Although Huo Xiuling was a little hesitant to speak, her father, Huo, didn't manage things at home, Ye Shan was a hothead, and Ye Bixian was a blabbermouth... None of the three men were of any use.
She had no choice but to force herself to explain things to the two children.
"Don't feel embarrassed," she sighed. "You need to be careful not to bully Yan-ge... especially during the first and last three months, understand?"
After a moment's thought, Huo Duan roughly understood what Huo Xiuling meant by "bullying".
He didn't feel embarrassed at all; it wasn't something to be ashamed of... He nodded, "My aunt is right. Mr. Lin also gave me some instructions."
Even without anyone giving him instructions or guidance, in this situation, all he wanted to do was take good care of Ayan... he had no other thoughts on him.
Huo Xiuling breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Okay, it's good that you understand. You don't need to see me off anymore. Go back and keep Yan Ge company."
Huo Duan only returned to the courtyard after Huo Xiuling had gone far away.
A note from the author:
Thank you 48621546 for the nutrient solution (smack);
Hehe, thinking about some pregnancy sex... (face turns yellow)
Chapter Sixty-Two
After talking with Gu Fengyan for a while, Father Huo, unable to stay idle, went to the small garden to tend to the vegetable patches, leaning on his cane.
When Huo Duan brought Huo Xiuling back, Gu Fengyan had already eaten and was eating a plate of dried apricots.
Her pregnancy symptoms haven't reached their worst yet; she just keeps wanting to eat something.