The Joy of Pregnancy

By the time Jiang Fu'an returned home, he was already exhausted to the point of weakness, his legs feeling as though they had been filled with lead.

He shoved the basket deep into the woodpile, carelessly covered it with dry straw, then turned and collapsed onto the bed.

The moment his head touched the pillow, he fell asleep, his breathing soon growing deep and steady.

As for whether Xu the Elder would become suspicious, he was not particularly worried.

Even he himself did not recognize the things taken from the cave abode in the basket. What could Xu the Elder possibly make out in the pitch-black night?

Besides, he trusted both men's character.

They would not harbor evil intentions over a little suspicion.

He slept so deeply that when he opened his eyes again, the sun was already shining brightly into the room.

Soft, scattered sounds came from outside the window. Su Wanqing was busy in the courtyard.

Seeing that he was awake, Su Wanqing hurriedly asked with concern:

"Hubby, why were you so exhausted last night? Did something happen at the worksite?"

The things in the basket could not be kept from his family forever, and Jiang Fu'an had never intended to hide them.

He rubbed his stiff neck and lowered his voice.

"It wasn't anything at the worksite. A few days ago, when I went hunting near the Mizhang Mountains, I came across a cave.

"There were quite a few wild beasts near the entrance then, so I didn't dare get close. Last night, after dark, when they had scattered, I went in to take a look."

Su Wanqing was stunned. She had never imagined that her husband's courage would be this great.

A place like the Mizhang Mountains was somewhere the villagers did not even dare approach in ordinary times, yet he had dared explore it alone at night...

She opened her mouth, about to scold him a little, when a bloody smell suddenly rushed into her nostrils.

For some reason, the instant that smell hit her, her stomach violently churned, and sour fluid surged up her throat.

She hurriedly covered her mouth, turned, and rushed to the wall. Supporting herself against the earthen wall, she began to retch.

Jiang Fu'an had just carried the basket out of the woodshed when he looked up and saw his wife bent over, vomiting badly.

He quickly set down the basket and crossed to her side in a few strides. One hand gently patted her back while the other supported her arm, concern in his voice.

"What's wrong? Did you catch a chill, or eat something bad?"

After retching a few times, Su Wanqing finally caught her breath. She wiped the corner of her mouth with her sleeve and shook her head.

"I'm not sick... I just smelled that bloody scent from inside the basket and suddenly felt nauseous.

"What did you put in there?"

Jiang Fu'an froze, then his eyes lit up.

He grinned and said in a low voice:

"Wanqing... all our hardships these days have finally paid off. You're going to be a mother!"

Hearing this, joy also rose in Su Wanqing's heart. But before she could respond, her whole body suddenly went light.

Jiang Fu'an had actually swept her up in his arms.

She let out a soft cry. Seeing Stone and Yue'er staring at them with two pairs of round, unblinking eyes, her face instantly flushed red. She hurriedly pounded his shoulder.

"Put me down! The children are watching..."

But Jiang Fu'an laughed heartily and carried her steadily toward the inner room.

"So what if they're watching? I'm carrying my own wife. It's only right and proper."

He carefully set Su Wanqing down on a wooden chair in the main hall, his tone brooking no argument.

"From today on, don't touch any of the household chores. Rest properly. Taking care of your health comes first."

Su Wanqing stared at him blankly.

"If I don't do them, who will? Are you going to do them?"

"We'll hire people!"

Jiang Fu'an said it as though it were only natural.

"We now have a thousand mu of fertile land exempt from taxes. We count as small landlords now. Hiring two maids would be easy, wouldn't it?"

After saying that, he turned and went back into the courtyard, dragging three wolf carcasses from the basket and placing them by the wall.

Only then did he carry the basket back into the main hall and set it beside Su Wanqing's feet.

"There, these are the things I found in that cave.

"Wanqing, see if there's anything you recognize."

He had not taken out the storage ring.

This thing was far too precious. The fewer people who knew about it, the better. Besides, the ring was small and easy to hide, so he was not worried about anyone discovering it.

Su Wanqing lowered her head and carefully examined the items in the basket.

Several rolls of yellowed beast hide, some oddly shaped metal rods, and a huge grayish-white beast egg...

She reached out and turned them over, hesitating as she spoke.

"These don't look like ordinary objects. They seem more like things used by immortals?"

Jiang Fu'an nodded.

"That's what I thought too. Unfortunately, no one in our family cultivates immortality. Apart from the martial arts formulas recorded on these beast hides, none of the other things are of use to us for now. We can only put them away first."

"Martial arts formulas?"

Su Wanqing raised her eyes.

"Mm. I took a rough look. They shouldn't be ordinary fist-and-kick techniques."

As Jiang Fu'an spoke, he beckoned Stone and Yue'er over from the doorway, where they had been peeking in. Pointing at the two children, he smiled.

"They're growing up too. It's just the right time for them to learn some martial arts to protect themselves."

The moment Stone heard that, his eyes lit up. He jumped up and shouted:

"Great! I want to learn martial arts!"

He had previously seen classmates at the school practicing the forms taught by martial arts halls, and he had been terribly envious.

He had long since wanted to learn martial arts.

Yue'er, however, did not answer. She was squatting beside the basket, laboriously holding that large egg in both hands and gently stroking its shell with her little fingers.

After a moment, she raised her face.

"Dad, there seems to be a little thing inside. It's trapped in there and can't come out."

Jiang Fu'an's heart stirred, and he hurriedly asked:

"Can you sense what it is? Do you know how to let it out?"

Yue'er closed her eyes and touched it for quite a while longer before shaking her head.

"It seems to be sleeping. I don't know how to help it."

Jiang Fu'an guessed that the egg had probably not yet reached the time to hatch.

Unfortunately, he knew nothing about raising wild beasts, so he could only leave it alone for now.

The egg had not gone bad even after who knew how many years in the cave abode. It should be fine if left for a while longer.

He also vaguely felt that what hatched from the egg would most likely be a spirit beast. No one in the household could keep it under control right now, so perhaps it would be better if it hatched later.

Just as he was thinking this, Xu the Elder's booming voice called out from beyond the courtyard gate:

"Boss, we're here!"

Jiang Fu'an knew they had come to eat wolf meat, so he quietly instructed Su Wanqing:

"Wanqing, put these things under the bed in the inner room first."

With that, he slowly walked out of the main hall.

Xu the Elder and Xu Lao'er stood at the courtyard gate, staring at the wolf carcasses on the ground.

But Jiang Fu'an did not mention the wolf meat. Instead, he asked a question that left them both stunned.

"Elder, Lao'er, have either of you set your eyes on any girls in the nearby villages?"

Xu the Elder was first taken aback, then a hint of embarrassment appeared on his dark face.

"Boss, the house hasn't even been finished yet. Isn't it a little early to talk about marriage?"

Jiang Fu'an could not help laughing.

"Who said I'm arranging marriages for you now? Your sister-in-law is pregnant, and I plan to hire two maids to help take care of her.

"If either of you has someone in mind, you can recommend them.

"They can help with the household, and you two can have more chances to spend time with them."

The moment he heard they could spend time together, Xu Lao'er's eyes instantly lit up, and he rushed to answer:

"Boss, I think several of them are pretty good!

"Second Dog's older sister at the village entrance is capable and hardworking. Fu Gui's eldest daughter is pretty and well-proportioned.

"And Cuihua from Qian Village speaks all soft and gentle..."

The more he spoke, the more animated he became, failing to notice that Xu the Elder's face had already darkened beside him.

Xu the Elder raised a hand and smacked the back of his head.

"You little rascal, Lao'er! Since when have you secretly been eyeing so many girls? What are you trying to do?"

Xu Lao'er clutched his head, looking utterly wronged.

"Didn't I hear the boss say that he'd let us start families next year... So I, I just happened to pay a little more attention..."