In a few days, this world's Uncle Qiu... would be born from that belly.
Seeing it for real, and thinking of the old man in the hospital bed, she still found it hard to believe...
The woman turned and saw strangers at the courtyard gate. Her foot slipped, and she nearly fell.
Qiu Youshi tossed aside his hoe and hurried over to steady her.
"Careful! I told you not to work when you're this far along! You're due any day now. Don't go hurting yourself in a fall!"
With Qiu Youshi supporting her, the woman carefully sat down in a chair.
"I figured it was just a couple of pieces of clothing. It's not heavy work... Youshi! These two are..."
"They're passing through! Asked us for some water!"
Qiu Youshi glanced back at the two of them and pointed to the stools in the courtyard.
"You two... have a seat! I'll get some water!"
"Thank you! Sorry for the trouble!"
Song Ning thanked him, then she and Gu Zheng sat down on the little stools, one on either side.
Uncle Qiu's mother was surnamed Chu. Her name was Chu Yufen.
With two city folk who looked refined and expensively dressed suddenly appearing in her courtyard, Chu Yufen fidgeted with her fingers, at a loss for what to do.
Song Ning moved her little stool closer to her and struck up a casual conversation.
"Ma'am! From the look of your belly, you're about to give birth, aren't you?"
"Yes!" Chu Yufen nodded. "Should be any day now! The baby's been moving something fierce!"
"Are you planning to have the baby at home?"
"Huh? Oh! Yes, at home!"
"If you can, it'd be safer to have the baby at a hospital!"
Chu Yufen smiled helplessly. "How many of us country folk have