At that moment, I felt a sweet warmth inside. I quietly thanked Lu Jiao.
As he packed up his lunchbox, he said, "I go by reason, not by relationships. If you were in the wrong, I'd handle it by the book just the same. The thing I can't stand most is people who refuse to admit when they're wrong."
I knew he was referring to Li Qiu.
Lu Jiao closed his lunchbox and added, "Since we're in the right, we can't just back down. Otherwise, everyone will think they can bully you in the future."
I understood those words all too well. I'd learned that lesson the hard way back in the village. I said with genuine sincerity, "Still, I have to thank you."
Lu Jiao waved his hand. "There's no need for thanks. You just get some rest. I'm heading back now."
I froze. "Back where? Don't you live here?"
Lu Jiao's gaze shifted slightly. "Before you came, I didn't come back here often. There's only one blanket in the house."
I still hadn't processed what he was saying. I said, "What's wrong with one blanket? It's the middle of summer. It's not like we need two."
At that, Lu Jiao snapped his lunchbox shut. "I mean, there's only one blanket. We're going to have to sleep together."
My face instantly flushed red. I immediately covered my stomach with both hands. "I'm still pregnant."
Lu Jiao almost choked on his own spit. Honestly, he really didn't mean it like that.
What happened on their wedding night was because Lu Jiao thought that since my family had agreed for me to marry him, I must have liked him. That's why he lost control that night. But now he knew I was only with him because of the baby. I probably still had my childhood sweetheart on my mind. He absolutely had no such intentions now.
Thinking of this, he felt inexplicably irritable. But then he thought again. Anyway, I was now willing to build a good life with him. Any childhood sweethearts from back home could take a backseat.
He immediately changed his tune. "My things are still at the dormitory. I plan to go back today, and I'll bring my things with me tomorrow. You get some rest. I'll come pick you up for the hospital tomorrow."
Meanwhile, at Li Lianjun's house, a hat was slammed fiercely onto the ground. Li Qiu cowered as she picked it up. Her son hid behind her. In a small, fawning voice, she asked what he wanted to eat.
Li Lianjun slammed the table and roared. "Eat? The inspection team is making you read a self-criticism in public, and they're docking three months of my pay."
Li Qiu pouted and said, "If they want me to read it, I'll read it. So what?"
Li Lianjun trembled with anger. "It's not just about docking my pay. It's going to affect my promotion."
Hearing that money would be docked, Li Qiu finally panicked. "Three months' pay? Are we supposed to live on air?"
She started throwing a tantrum. She insisted that Li Lianjun go talk to his superiors.
Li Lianjun sneered. "So now you're worried," he said. "If you're so capable, why don't you go beg Lin Yao?"
Li Qiu gritted her teeth, hating me to the bone. She felt it was all my fault.
The next morning, after Lu Jiao and I finished breakfast, we started walking to the military district hospital.
As we walked, he said, "I was originally going to borrow a bicycle to take you, but then I thought, since you just got here, I'd walk with you so you can get familiar with the surroundings."
The autumn morning light shone on us. People in the family courtyard all poked their heads out to look. Following behind him, I said, "It's okay. A morning walk is good for you." I couldn't help but yawn.
A few young men in military uniforms came running towards us. They ran up to Lu Jiao, stopped to salute, and greeted him. I saw him staring at those young punks who were staring at me. His face instantly turned cold. He just grunted in response. He took my hand and quickened his pace.
The hospital wasn't actually far. It was only about a ten-minute walk, but for some reason, we ran into so many of his colleagues this early in the morning, and every single one of them came over to say hello.
Lu Jiao was so exasperated, he had to laugh. "I bet by the end of today, the whole compound will know I took my wife to the hospital."
A walk that should have taken about ten minutes ended up taking a full twenty.
The iron gates of the hospital were open. It was early, but people were already coming and going. Lu Jiao told me to wait at the entrance for a moment. He said he would go in to ask about the prenatal checkup procedure and would call me when he found out.
His eyes scanned the area and he walked a few steps over to a tent. He said a few words to someone, and when he came out, he was holding a stool. He put the stool down for me and said, "Sit here for a bit. I'll be right back."
I smiled back at him. "I'm not a child. You should get going."
He glanced at me and left.
My heart felt so warm and sweet. I never thought someone so cold on the outside could be this considerate in private. I could really feel it over the past few days we've spent together. I really don't know why I found him so disagreeable at first.
Sitting around was boring. I saw a banner posted on the tent next to me that read, "Turn the illiterate into scholars. Build a new countryside." There was another. "Study hard, be virtuous, improve daily."
This must be a literacy class. I had seen them in the county town before, but not in the village. The campaign probably hadn't reached the village yet.
I really enjoy reading. It's a shame I never got the chance. After finishing elementary school and learning a few characters, I fell in love with books. I would often pick up old newspapers from people's trash cans to read when I went to the county town for errands. Other times, I would secretly read my older sister Lin Man's textbooks. But then, when she found out, she would deliberately make things difficult and never let me read the books.
Thinking of this, I let out a soft sigh. I stood up, walked into the tent, and casually picked up a book from the table.
I had barely read a page when a little girl next to me with pigtails started talking to me with a grin. She had two cute little canine teeth. "If you like reading and writing, you can come join the literacy class. Everyone needs to be educated nowadays. Do you want to sign up?"
I paused for a moment and asked her, "How much does it cost? I want to learn. Although I can recognize some characters, it's too few. There are still some I don't quite recognize, and I don't understand their meanings."
The little girl looked me over in surprise. She said, "The literacy classes in the family compound are free. Didn't you know?"
I was embarrassed and explained, "I just got here, so I'm not really clear on things."
She was very chatty. Her name was Su Jiayi, and she grabbed my arm, leading me to a seat. She said, "You have to prepare your own reference books and dictionaries, but you can borrow them if you don't have any."
Then she handed me a form. I still hadn't recovered from the news that it was free. She urged me to write down my name and some simple information, saying I could just show up when classes started. She also said, "There are hardly any illiterate people left now. We family members certainly can't fall behind."
I was a bit hesitant. I hadn't gotten a clear picture of the situation yet.
Seeing my hesitation, Su Jiayi resorted to her cute tactics. "Please, I'm begging you. You're so beautiful. Your heart must be kind, too. I haven't completed a single one of my tasks all day. Please help me." She blinked her big eyes, playing pitiful.
Just as I was softening and hesitating, a man's voice came from behind us. "What are you two doing?"
Su Jiayi pouted, thinking to herself, oh no, I'm done for. It turned out Lu Jiao had returned. Looking at his cold, hard face, Su Jiayi didn't dare say another word.
I quickly explained. "This comrade suggested I join the literacy class to learn."
He worried that it might be physically difficult for me right now. He suggested I shouldn't join.
I shook my head. "I have nothing to do at home anyway. Who knows? I might want to come in the future." As I spoke, I stood up and took the registration form from the table. "I'll hold on to this for now. I'll come back when I get the chance."
Su Jiayi nodded quickly.