I came to my husband's military base pregnant with our child. But the first thing he did was question me.
"Whose child is in your belly?"
It was only because, after we got married, he found out I had someone else in my heart. As soon as he returned to the base, he filed for divorce. He never expected me to come looking for him, and he certainly didn't expect me to be pregnant.
Faced with his question, I froze for a moment, then answered honestly. "Yours."
Lu Jiao stared intently at my face. Seeing that I didn't seem to be lying, he grew even more irritated. He was already planning to divorce me, and now a child shows up. Doesn't this just make things more complicated? He ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
It was just that one time. How could he have gotten it on the first try?
Seeing his look of disbelief, I walked over to the stone table in the courtyard and sat down myself, giving him time to process it. But the little life inside my belly was very, very real. A part of me, seeing how conflicted he looked — even my good temper couldn't help but flare up.
What kind of man is this? Sleeps with you and then refuses to take responsibility.
Just then, Lu Jiao came over and sat down too. He stared into my eyes and asked again, "Is it really mine?"
He probably wasn't thinking straight, just blurted it out in his confusion. His words really pushed my buttons. I let out a cold scoff.
"You just wait."
Then I turned, went inside, and grabbed the pregnancy report. I slammed it down on the stone table. He picked it up and looked. The date and the results were written crystal clear.
I said furiously, "Open your eyes wide and look carefully. Do the math yourself and see if the dates add up. If you still don't believe me, then we'll get a divorce." I said it through gritted teeth. "I'll get rid of the baby. Then you won't have to worry about whose it is."
The thought of the difficult life after a divorce, not even being able to afford plain steamed buns — I immediately pictured myself homeless on the streets. My nose tingled and my eyes filled with tears.
Lu Jiao was genuinely panicking now. He grabbed my hand from the table. He kept saying that wasn't what he meant. The more anxious he got, the more jumbled his words became. But he refused to let go of my hand. I tried to pull away with all my might, but he only held on tighter, his large hand enveloping my small one. I don't know why, but I calmed down.
He tried to explain again. "I was just so surprised. I asked because I couldn't quite believe it. I didn't mean to imply the child wasn't mine."
"So, what are you thinking now?" Then he deliberately asked in a nonchalant tone, but his eyes were secretly watching my expression. "What's going on with that childhood sweetheart of yours back home?"
I sniffled, feeling a little guilty. Then, remembering that dream, I added in a small voice, "What can be done? I'm already married to you, and I'm pregnant. Naturally, I want to build a good life with you."
But then it occurred to him that maybe I had no choice. That I was only here because I was pregnant and had nowhere else to go. The thought made him miserable again. What a mess.
He asked hesitantly if I'd made up my mind. I ignored him and changed the subject.
"I already spoke with your commanding officer today. I told him I'm going to stay here and build a good life with you from now on. The commander said you can forget about a divorce without his approval."
Hearing this, Lu Jiao looked at me with a complicated expression. It made me feel really uneasy. I felt I was being too shameless. But the child is his, and he has to take responsibility. With that thought, my gaze became firm again.
He finally asked one last question. "If it weren't for this child, would you have come?"
I was stunned, unable to answer for a good while. No answer was the best answer.
Rage surged in Lu Jiao's chest, but he quickly suppressed it and changed the subject. "Tell me what just happened."
I explained everything clearly, telling him how I had just been bullied by Li Qiu.
"You don't need to worry about this. The inspection team will handle it." Lu Jiao finished speaking with a cold expression, his eyes shifting uncomfortably to my stomach. "You feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"
Although I hadn't come to him out of love, he, as a man, had to take responsibility. He would do what needed to be done.
Seeing his unhappy expression, my spirits sank too. "No," I mumbled.
"Then I'll get going. You get some rest."
I didn't want to keep him from work. I nodded silently. Lu Jiao got up and walked to the gate of the courtyard. He looked back to see me sitting quietly, my gaze calm and empty. Neither of us said a word. He pushed the door open and left.
Just like that, he had a wife and a child.
After stepping out, Lu Jiao couldn't help but turn back and ask, "What do you want for lunch? I'll bring you something."
The mention of food. My mood lifted a little. "Anything is fine. I'll eat whatever you bring."
The truth is, I had no idea what was good to eat here. Lu Jiao seemed to realize this problem too. "For the next two days, you just rest. Once you've recovered a bit, I'll take you out and show you around. We'll also buy some daily necessities."
After Lu Jiao left, the courtyard fell silent again. I rested my chin in my hands, thinking about his expression. Does he not like children, or does he not like me? Otherwise, why did he look so grim when he found out I was pregnant and staying?
The autumn sun made me feel lazy. I decided to stop thinking about it. I believe feelings can grow over time. Once we've lived together for a while, I'll just have to try a bit harder. He'll come to like me eventually.
I sighed in relief and began to look around our new home. The layout was simple. Two rooms on the left and right with a living room in the middle. Off the living room, the kitchen was on the left and a utility room was on the right. The living room directly faced the small courtyard. The courtyard wasn't big, but it was enough for the two of us.
I planned to plant a grape vine. Next year, the vines would crawl all over the courtyard walls, and I'd clear a small patch of ground to plant vegetables. I'd seen the other families do the same. In the future, I wouldn't have to wash clothes for a whole family or cook to suit everyone's tastes, let alone have to watch someone's expression when I made a mistake.
This was a life that was completely and utterly my own.
Meanwhile, the first thing Lu Jiao did when he got back to his unit was run to his superior's office and yell, "I'm not getting divorced anymore."
He was panting. He had obviously run all the way there.
Director Wang held his tea and watched him calmly, thinking he needed to cure him of this impulsive habit. Then he blurted out, "Too late. I've already approved the divorce application. It's probably on the higher-ups' desk by now."
Lu Jiao was in disbelief and extremely anxious. He strode into the office in a few steps. He expertly dialed the number.
Director Wang snapped at him. "Such insolence." But he didn't stop him.
Lu Jiao spoke into the phone. "Hello, this is Lu Jiao, commander of the 0918 district. Please help me withdraw my divorce application. What? You haven't seen it? Right, right, right. I get it."
Lu Jiao hung up the phone. He stared speechlessly at his director, who was leisurely sipping tea. "Why would you lie to me?"
Director Wang slammed his teacup down and glared at him. "What about it? I told you to think it through, but you refused to listen. Now you're feeling the pressure, huh?"
Knowing he was in the wrong, Lu Jiao meekly took the scolding. Director Wang couldn't be bothered to argue, took a sip of his tea, and said, "Find some time to bring your wife to meet your Auntie Wei. She's always talking about you."
Auntie Wei is Director Wang's wife. She works at the compound's hospital. Their family has always been very good to Lu Jiao. Auntie Wei often invites him over for dinner.
"Okay." Lu Jiao agreed immediately. Then, thinking of something, he added, "Let's wait a few days. Lin Yao is tired from the journey. Let her rest for a few days before we go."
Later, Wang tapped his desk and laughed. "All right, you know how to dote on your wife. It seems you really don't plan on getting a divorce."
Lu Jiao's expression was a little unnatural.