“This little thing is so small, calling him ‘baby’ might make him think we don’t care about him and don’t listen to us… What’s the name you’ve come up with?” Gu Fengyan asked.
Most people in the village give their children humble names so they can be raised easily, but Huo Duan wanted to give him the best blessing, but after thinking about it for a long time, he couldn't come up with a suitable one... He wished he could use all the best words in the world on him.
Huo Duan shook his head.
The two picked a full basket of cucumbers and walked through a chili pepper field toward the kitchen.
Gu Fengyan was thinking about what to name the child when he glanced at the abundant chili peppers growing on the trees and suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
"How about calling it 'Two Gold Bars'? It's understated yet luxurious, and down-to-earth and easy to keep." He turned around, his eyes shining.
Two gold bars?
Huo Duan looked at the vast expanse of lush, windswept Erjintiao chili peppers around him... and his lips twitched.
“Ah Yan…” He was both amused and exasperated. “If it’s a boy, it’s fine, but if it’s a boy or a girl, and you call him Second Gold Bar, he’ll definitely be laughed at by other children when he grows up.”
"How about..." Huo Duan pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled, "...'Jianjian'?"
Simple and happy.
He hoped the child would grow up like this.
Gu Fengyan was slightly disappointed, "Two gold bars would have been so much better..."
However, Huo Duan is right. If it were a little girl, naming her "Second Gold Bar" would definitely be laughed at by other children, and they might even hate him, the little father who named her.
Having figured it out, he smiled and said, "Then let's call her Jianjian... Jianjian," he lowered his eyes and touched his belly, "Jianjian has a name."
Huo Duan pulled his cloak tighter around him, placed a kiss on the top of his head, and said with a sly smile, "Jianjian and Ayan, let's go back, be careful not to catch a cold..."
Neither Huo A'die nor Huo Duan had the habit of eating dinner. This meal was specially prepared for Gu Fengyan, as he didn't eat much at noon.
After picking cucumbers, I cooked porridge. By then, it had thickened and was very fragrant. When Huo Duan pickled the cucumber shreds, he deliberately didn't add sesame oil, making it refreshing.
Gu Fengyan finally made some progress.
After dinner, Huo Duan washed some apples for him, cleaned up the kitchen, washed his hands with soap, and changed his clothes before daring to approach Gu Fengyan, afraid that the smell of cooking oil on his body would bother him.
“I’ll go back to the village tomorrow and plant some medicinal herbs with Brother Dashan and the others on those empty plots of land. It just so happens that it rained… You and Dad stay home, and I’ll try to get back tonight.”
These past few days, village affairs had been put on hold, and it was only when Huo Duan brought it up that Gu Fengyan remembered.
“I’m going back tomorrow too. I’m so bored staying in this house all day with no one to talk to. I’ll have to trouble Father to take care of me…” Gu Fengyan said.
Huo Duan didn't want to ask him to go back, fearing he would get tired on the way, but seeing Gu Fengyan staring at him with such a pitiful look, how could he bear to refuse?
It's just that he'll be more careful on the road.
“Okay, I’ve prepared the hot water. You can go to sleep after you shower. I’ll go pack my things…” He nodded.
This was strange. Given how careful Huo Duan was with him, it was odd that he would leave Mu Yu alone.
Without saying anything, he took his nightgown and went behind the screen...
If Gu Fengyan also returns to the village, they estimate they will stay there for a few more days. Huo Duan packed a few pieces of his and Gu Fengyan's clothes, along with cloaks and thick outer garments... and snacks.
After tidying up, he started making the bed. It was a bit chilly at night, so he replaced the thin summer blanket with a thicker one, turned on the bedside lamp, and lowered the mosquito net.
The lamplight cast flickering shadows. Gu Fengyan remained silent for a long time. Huo Duan called out several times but received no response, so he went behind the screen.
Gu Fengyan nestled in the water, his face blurred by the mist. He didn't wash his hair; his silent strands were held up on top of his head by a wooden hairpin, hanging down along the edge of the tub like flowing ink.
"Ayan?" Huo Duan approached.
But Gu Fengyan had his eyes closed and was asleep.
He only woke up when he heard the sound. He half-opened his eyelids, yawned, and said, "I was soaking in the bath and accidentally fell asleep."
"Why are you so sleepy?" Huo Duan took a cotton cloth for wiping his body from the clothes rack. "Want to soak again? Or do you want to come out and sleep?"
Gu Fengyan rubbed his eyes, nodded, and slowly stood up, holding onto the edge of the bucket. Water droplets slid down his body... drip, drip, drip.
"Dry yourself out, I'll get you some clothes." Huo Duan glanced at it, then looked away and handed a piece of cotton cloth to Gu Fengyan. He turned and slowly went to the clothes rack to get his nightgown.
It's only been a few days, why do you look at him like he's a worthless cabbage in a vendor's hand?
Gu Fengyan was furious at his behavior.
He simply sat back down and didn't move, throwing the handkerchief on the ground.
"Oops, I dropped it." He said deliberately.
Huo Duan turned around and saw that he had sat back down, the handkerchief on the ground... How could he not know? But there was nothing he could do. He sighed and picked up the handkerchief. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing much, go to sleep after you're done cleaning up." Gu Fengyan got up in front of him, stepped out of the tub, and spread his hands, his meaning clear.
Huo Duan smiled and could only wipe him dry with a handkerchief... He was no stranger to this kind of thing, but he had been dressed plainly for so many days, and Gu Fengyan was standing in front of him like this.
That's like hanging a huge piece of fat meat in front of a wolf that's been starving for ten days.
Did he not react at all?
Huo Duan recited the Heart Sutra a hundred and eighty times in his heart before remaining as still as a mountain and solemnly helping Gu Fengyan put on his nightgown with a devout expression... The collar tie was tied all the way up, covering him completely.
"Okay, go to sleep. I'll come over as soon as I'm done tidying up," he said.
Gu Fengyan stared at him, then suddenly chuckled, slipped on his shoes, walked around the screen, got into bed, and wrapped himself in the blanket...
After Huo Duan finished bathing, he turned off the light, lifted the gauze curtain, and went to bed.
The room was so quiet that you could hear Gu Fengyan breathing. He was facing the wall, his body bent over. Huo Duan approached, wanting to hug him and comfort him, but he moved away again.
"Ayan..." Huo Duan called to him, propping himself up on his arm to look at his expression.
Unable to see clearly, he gently kissed his temple and cheek, saying, "Ayan, look at me."
Gu Fengyan felt hot all over from his kisses, breathing softly, his eyes glazed over as he hooked his arm around Huo Duan's neck... Huo Duan, afraid of pressing on his stomach, leaned over to comfort him.
“Ayan…”
Gu Fengyan's long legs were like two supple bamboo shoots, or vines...entwined and tightly intertwined.
"Ayan, no, that won't do." Huo Duan immediately came to his senses. "It will hurt Jianjian."
The distance between them was like a bucket of cold water being poured over his head, and Gu Fengyan sobered up.
"I'm sorry." He quickly covered his stomach, buried his head in Huo Duan's arms, and didn't say another word.
Huo Duan covered him with the blanket, hugged him, and both of them were awake for a while in the darkness.
"It's my fault." He lowered his eyes and rested his chin on Gu Fengyan's forehead, his hand gently stroking his lower back. "Ayan is too beautiful."
During her pregnancy, Gu Fengyan became a bit pampered and gained some weight. Every move she made exuded an alluring languor. Her complexion was like a peach blossom, her lips were bright red and luscious, and her eyes were often misty with affection and charm. In addition, she was fair-skinned and loved to act coquettishly.
Huo Duanzhen wanted to pounce on him and tear him to pieces, to get him dirty.
Gu Fengyan didn't speak, but looked up and asked for a kiss. After rubbing against each other for a while, the two finally extinguished their desire.
Sleepiness overwhelmed them, and they fell asleep with their necks intertwined.
...
Huo Duan was the one who got up early as usual. After washing his face, he went to the kitchen where his father was picking fresh vegetables for breakfast.
Chicken soup with millet, a few appetizers, light yet nutritious, Huo Duan became adept at cooking after getting familiar with the process.
He wanted Gu Fengyan to sleep a little longer, so he ladled out a bowl of porridge and left it there, while he carried all the things he needed to take onto the carriage.
When Uncle Huo heard that they were going back to the village, he caught a chicken from the garden and brought it to Liu Jingyu. His chickens and ducks had all grown up and were ruining his vegetable garden every day because of the small space. Giving it to Liu Jingyu was a small token of the old man's goodwill.
After packing, Huo Duancai told Gu Fengyan to get up and wash. After eating, the two said goodbye to Huo's father and left.
They arrived in the village at noon, but by the time they had settled their things, it was already afternoon. Huo Xiuling knew they were returning to the village and figured they wouldn't have time to cook, so she brought them some food.
A bowl of thick, simmered snow fungus soup was given exclusively to Gu Fengyan.
She laid out the dishes one by one, and several women followed her into the courtyard, including Sister Zhang.
"Yan-ge'er, congratulations!" Before Zhang's wife had even entered the room, she heard her laughter. "I heard you're pregnant, so I and a few of your wives came to see you."
A note from the author:
Thank you, Sangjiu Baby, for the nutrient solution (smacks)
Chapter Sixty-Four
Huo Duan hurriedly invited a group of people in to sit down, taking the various items in their hands. Gu Fengyan poured tea for them and handed it to each of them one by one.
“We can do it ourselves, you sit down,” said Zhang’s wife, pressing him back down and starting to pour tea for the other women.
They were all familiar faces, so Gu Fengyan didn't stand on ceremony and told them to make themselves at home.
Huo Duan brought out some fruit and snacks to entertain them, saying, "You're so kind of yourselves, bringing so many things."
"These are just some cheap trinkets, but they're a token of my appreciation..." Aunt Zhang smiled, put down her cup, and asked with concern, "I heard last time that Yan-ge fainted, is that true? Did the doctor see him and say anything?"
Last time, Ye Shan went with the two children. He met them in the fields and asked them, but the boy couldn't give a clear answer. When Zhang A-sao heard that they had returned to the village today, she brought the things she had prepared in advance and came over.
Huo Duan explained with practiced ease, and he smiled and said, "I went to the Apricot Grove Hospital to see Doctor Lin Ru, who said it was due to qi and blood deficiency... He also prescribed some medicine, which I am taking now."
"That's for the best. It's nothing serious; just take good care of it and it'll be fine." Aunt Zhang nodded, her expression serious as she instructed Gu Fengyan.
"These first few months are the hardest, so please take care of yourself. If you feel unwell, please tell me... How's your appetite lately?"
"Thank you, sister-in-law." Gu Fengyan nodded with her eyes down. "I just don't have much of an appetite... Huo Duan is worried about this."
Several of his sisters-in-law then pulled him aside and asked him many questions. Among them was a boy from another family who had given birth. The group discussed the matter at length.
“That’s true,” Aunt Zhang finally said with a smile. “I remember when I was pregnant with my son, I didn’t eat much at first. I felt nauseous no matter what I ate… In the end, his father made soup for me every day, and I was able to drink a little bit of it…”
A few people nearby chimed in, saying that they had all probably gone through the same thing.
"Sister-in-law, let me tell you, you still need to eat some food. Just pick the less greasy dishes and eat a little bit. You're going through a lot of energy while you're pregnant, so don't damage your health..." Sister-in-law Zhang said earnestly, "The baby is only a few months old, but if your health is damaged, it's a lifelong issue! You can't be careless."
Gu Fengyan nodded in agreement with everything she said. They chatted for a while longer before Zhang A's wife bid farewell to the other women and headed home…
While Huo Duan was tidying up the house, Huo Xiuling helped the two of them clean up the kitchen, heated up the food they had brought, and set it under the peach tree with Gu Fengyan.
"Thanks to my aunt for making this trip, Huo Duan and I were able to have a hot meal." Gu Fengyan served two bowls of rice... Huo Xiuling had already eaten before coming.
Huo Xiuling smiled and said, "Don't be so polite with your aunt. At this hour, you should stop what you're doing and eat your meal. I won't keep you any longer; I have things to do at home."
Gu Fengyan escorted the person to the door before turning back to pour water and wash his hands and face.