Grandfather nearly lost his breath, but the moment he heard his former granddaughter-in-law had arrived, he finally managed to recover.
He stopped shouting at last, his voice gentle: “Is that Xiao Chen?”
Chen Mianmian wanted to take the phone, but Zhao Lingcheng wouldn’t let her.
She had no choice but to lean over and speak loudly: “It’s me. Both the baby and I are doing well.”
Grandfather finally took a smooth breath, his voice filled with joy: “You’re really pregnant?”
There was no sound from the other end of the line, so he barked, “Lingcheng, why aren’t you saying anything?”
Unlike Zhao Hui, who was displeased from the start when she heard her eldest nephew had married an illiterate woman.
Zhao Jun Laoyezi’s hometown was in the Northwest, and later, all the soldiers he led were Northwest men.
He had deep feelings for the Northwest, so when he heard his grandson had found a local girl at his post, he was so delighted he couldn’t stop praising her.
Though he was already retired, these past few years had been marked by the Counterattack Wave and the Soviet Split, with Air and Space Defense tasks being especially arduous.
He had retired in name only, still rushing about the front lines.
He had never met Chen Mianmian, and had only ever seen one dull, gray wedding photo.
He had never lived with her, nor suffered under her hand, so he knew nothing of the real situation.
When he heard his grandson was getting divorced, he was very displeased, but since it was the woman who initiated it, he refrained from commenting too much.
But when he heard his granddaughter-in-law had been abandoned while heavily pregnant and left to wander the streets, how could he not be furious?
Zhao Lingcheng only asked one thing: “Who told you Xiao Chen was pregnant?”
But Grandfather didn’t care about that, and only asked: “She’s really pregnant, and you’ve brought her back to the Base?”
Zhao Lingcheng insisted: “Who exactly told you about this?”
He added, “It’s complicated, not something I can explain in a sentence or two, but the person who told you this, disregarding your health and deliberately distorting the facts, has impure motives and intentions. You must tell me who it was.”
Grandfather replied, “Lingcheng, I know your true nature, but if you dare to show it, I’ll personally shoot you!”
Zhao Lingcheng’s voice was numb: “If you get this worked up, I’m afraid you’ll die of anger before you get the chance to shoot me.”
The Gate Guard outside didn’t hear any of this, but Chen Mianmian did, and her heart was pounding with fear.
She had read in the original novel that although the Zhao family was dwindling, they were not harmonious among themselves.
The root cause was the many historical issues between them.
Since it wasn’t appropriate for her to listen in, Chen Mianmian left the Gate Guard room.
But in truth, from a moral standpoint, Zhao Lingcheng was absolutely a noble person.
Because, in order not to let others find out she was pregnant, the female supporting character had always been binding her belly, so it really didn’t look like she was seven months along.
If Zhao Lingcheng wanted to use her belly as an excuse, he could have immediately had her kicked out of the Base, but he didn’t.
Chen Mianmian listened attentively, and heard him say again: “I’ve only just seen my ex-wife, and she’s definitely pregnant.”
He added, “Calm down, I’ll report to you as soon as there’s any news.”
Zhao Jun Laoyezi had once raised children until he was sick with worry, and now he was left with no one at his knee.
Not knowing the full story, his voice was tinged with anxiety: “Talk it over, but you must keep the child.”
He pleaded, “At least let me see my grandchild before I die, can’t you?”
Zhao Lingcheng hung up the phone, then came out to look at the Gate Guard: “If the commander calls again, just say I’m working overtime.”
His work was too important; as long as he claimed to be working overtime, Grandfather, no matter how anxious, wouldn’t dare to bother him lightly.
The Gate Guard stood at attention and saluted: “Yes, sir.”
Zhao Lingcheng couldn’t figure it out.
If it wasn’t Zhao Hui, then who had been so talkative, deliberately reporting to Grandfather behind his back?
What kind of motive did that person have—did they want to kill Grandfather?
Who on earth was it?
Speaking of which, Chen Mianmian thought of someone—the unidentified Lao Gong’an.
The more she thought about it, the more certain she was.
It must have been Lao Gong’an who had specifically told Grandfather about her pregnancy.
But, of course, since Zhao Lingcheng hadn’t asked her, she wisely chose to keep her mouth shut for now.
Otherwise, she was afraid he’d kick her out of the Base and she’d really end up wandering the streets.
This was the sixties, when people had almost no entertainment.
After dinner, the families would all gather by the Jiashu Gate beside the Jiashan, knitting sweaters, mending clothes, and gossiping.
When Zhao Lingcheng passed by, Jiang Xia smiled and said, “Afraid you were busy working overtime, Uncle Zhao could only stew in his worry. It’s good that you’re finally done for the day.”
Her father was Zhao Lingcheng’s maternal grand-uncle, and she, her mother, and her sister Jiang Yao lived together with Grandfather.
Her younger brother Jiang De was also at the Base, working in logistics because of his low education.
Her husband, Li Huai Cai, was one of Zhao Lingcheng’s subordinates, but disappeared in a sandstorm during a mission last year.
Zhao Lingcheng had always been polite to her, and stopped especially for her: “Yes, Auntie.”
Jiang Xia gave Chen Mianmian a meaningful glance: “You and Xiao Chen, the two of you… hmm, you seem to be getting along well.”
In perfect sync, all the family members stopped talking and looked at the two of them.
But under everyone’s gaze, Zhao Lingcheng said, “We still haven’t found Shuai Shuai’s dad. I’m sorry.”
Shuai Shuai’s dad was Jiang Xia’s husband, who had been swept away by a sandstorm and was now considered a martyr.
Speaking of her missing husband, Jiang Xia immediately lost the mood for gossip: “Sigh!”
The other family members also felt awkward about gossiping, and all bowed their heads.
Jiang Xia’s son, little Shuai Shuai, suddenly piped up: “My cousin is like a Songshu, but Xiaxia is like a hidden horse bear , haha.”
Zhao Lingcheng was older but of a younger generation, while little Shuai Shuai was a child, but by seniority, he was Zhao Lingcheng’s younger brother.
At little Shuai Shuai’s words, all the children burst out laughing: “Haha, Xiaxia has become a big bear!”
Zhao Lingcheng was tall and straight, like a pine or cypress, while Chen Mianmian, wrapped in a big coat, did indeed look like a bear.
With so many people around, Chen Mianmian was too embarrassed to scold the little brats.
But she glared fiercely at little Shuai Shuai and bared her teeth in a smile: “Dare to mock me, kid, you’re dead.”
The Northwest weather could be freezing cold, but when it turned hot, it was scorching.
Today was very hot, and all the wives in the Family Compound had changed into thin clothes, some even wearing dresses.
Only Chen Mianmian was still wrapped in a heavy, ill-fitting wool coat.
Zhao Lingcheng sped up his pace and only when they were somewhere deserted did he ask again: “Your clothes, were they all stolen?”
Chen Mianmian explained, “They’re all too tight. I’m afraid they’ll squeeze Niuniu, so I wear loose ones.”
Zhao Lingcheng was puzzled: “Niuniu, who’s that?”
It was strange—everyone wore the same military uniform, but others’ were always wrinkled and baggy.
But Zhao Lingcheng’s uniform was always neat and crisp, and the color looked even brighter than the rest.
Under the moonlight, his jade-like looks were even more striking, his fair skin set off by the green uniform.
Chen Mianmian lied with a straight face: “I dreamed that the baby was a girl, so I named her Niuniu.”
She added, “I also dreamed she was especially cute, and looked just like you!”
Unlike mothers, who develop deep feelings for the fetus due to daily kicks and hormonal changes, fathers only plant the seed; before the child is born, they feel nothing.
Not to mention, Zhao Lingcheng still couldn’t be sure if the child was his, so of course he had no feelings for it.
But right at that moment, Niuniu very cooperatively squirmed in her belly, and Chen Mianmian quickly arched her abdomen: “Look, she’s moving!”
Seeing someone approach, Zhao Lingcheng quickened his pace: “Let’s talk inside.”
He planned to explain to her what a due date was, as well as the scientific rigor of blood type testing.
As far as he knew, although this woman was quite silly, she still respected science.
As long as she understood that he had scientific means to verify the child’s parentage, she wouldn’t dare lie or play tricks anymore.
He had requested a room ticket from the Reception Guesthouse; if the negotiation went smoothly, he could send his ex-wife away tonight.
But things were not going smoothly at all, and could only be described as one twist after another.
Just as Zhao Lingcheng opened the door to the room, someone called out behind him: “Comrade Zhao, please wait a moment.”
Thinking it was the Gate Guard again, Zhao Lingcheng said, “If there’s a call, just say I’m working overtime.”
But the person wasn’t the Gate Guard; it was a Military Doctor, who smiled and said, “There’s an Archive, and it’s rather urgent.”
Giving Chen Mianmian a glance, the Military Doctor squinted a bit: “It’s about a pregnant woman who might have a difficult labor.”
Zhao Lingcheng said, “If it’s a difficult labor, go find a doctor.”
But he still reached for the file: “It’s an outsider, but someone I know. She wants to come to the Base for treatment.”
Aside from the nuclear Base, both the Aerospace City and the Military Industrial Base had medical facilities open to the public.
Especially in the sixties, when childbirth was encouraged, special considerations were always made for pregnant women.
The Military Doctor opened the Medical Record and explained, “According to the Archive, this comrade doesn’t qualify, but the Hexi Special Task Force from the Ministry of Public Security called and specifically said you must personally handle her case.”
If it had alarmed the Ministry of Public Security’s special team, how serious could it be?
Zhao Lingcheng was reading, and so was Chen Mianmian, who tiptoed to peek and saw her own name on the Archive.
The Military Doctor felt it was odd, because it was her, and yet the Ministry of Public Security had sent an official letter.
Chen Mianmian hadn’t forgotten—she’d just prepared several options, just in case things didn’t work out with Zhao Lingcheng, she could look for another way.
But she was still surprised at how meticulous people were these days.
That was the application form she filled out at Quancheng Hospital on her doctor’s advice.
There was a doctor’s note: “Suspected placenta previa, request A-Ultrasound re-examination.”