Zhan Jing is tidying up the medicinal herbs indoors, with one ear listening to the sounds outside.
Zhao Xuran is sitting on the kang writing calligraphy, as for Zhao Guangran, he's long lost in another game of chess with Zhou Gong.
"Mom, I hear the sound of a carriage." Zhao Xuran had just finished writing the last character and put down the brush when he heard the neighing of horses at the door.
Zhan Jing heard the noise, and was about to put on shoes to get off the kang, but Zhao Xuran stopped his mother, "Mom, I'll go."
Zhan Jing just uttered an "Oh," indicating her son should go open the door, and she tidied up the kang table.
Zhao Gang was just about to take out the key to open the door when he heard the sound of running in the yard, judging from the frequency, it should be the eldest son coming to open the door.
Hmm, just as some have Gong Ruwen, we have a sensible eldest son too, which greatly soothed Zhao Gang's heart, frustrated from his journey.
"Dad, you're back." Zhao Xuran greeted Zhao Gang, "Hi Uncle Gong, hi Aunt Cai."
Hearing his son's polite greetings without needing any adult prompting, Zhao Gang felt quite gratified.
"Hello brother." Gong Ruwen rubbed his eyes and climbed out of the bed.
"Hello brother." Gong Ruini followed Gong Ruwen and also greeted obediently.
Looking at Gong Ruini, Zhao Xuran's first impression was her body seemed so frail, "Hello brother, hello sister."
Zhao Xuran helped carry the luggage inside, "Uncle, the bath water is ready, would you like to eat first or take a bath first?"
"Let's eat first, everyone's hungry." Zhao Gang brought some dry food, but no matter how good dry food is, it can't compare to warm meals, "Your Uncle Gong and the others haven't had warm food for days."
No matter how late, one must eat warm, then soak in a warm bath, and sleep soundly on the warm kang. That's comfort.
Especially after a day out, facing the cold wind, how can one not soak in a bath?
"Mom said to take a bath first and then eat, otherwise drinking and then showering can lead to accidents." Zhao Xuran conveyed Zhan Jing's decision.
Zhao Gang initially had a somewhat smug expression, but hearing such unsupportive words from his own son, his face fell. Earlier, he boasted about how he had the demeanor of the head of the family, but such words just peeled away that facade, too much.
Gong Tao knew his friend was not someone who would stop boasting lightly, "Brother, I know your thoughts, but sometimes bragging can go too far."
Seeing his friend's smiling face, Zhao Gang couldn't help but feel all sorts of annoyance, "It's Zhan Jing being concerned about me. Alright, we'll take a bath first, then have a good drink, we have so much to talk about after not seeing each other for years."
"Also, my greatest satisfaction here is that I renovated the hygiene facilities." This was Zhao Gang's proudest achievement.
Hygiene facilities? Gong Ruini was particularly concerned about this issue; she really worried about whether the bathroom would be near the pigsty, which could be problematic. But Zhao Gang mentioned he was most satisfied with renovating hygiene facilities, so it shouldn't be near the pigsty.
Speaking of his proudest project, Zhao Gang skipped eating, crossed the room to the back, and opened one of the rooms, "This is the bathroom."
"Next door is the toilet."
Gong Ruini peered through the adults' limbs, wow, what a big pool! But this pool is a bit large! How much water would be consumed each time? Gong Ruini was about to faint; although bathing is nice, one can't spend too much time each time!
"We'll wash up here first, soak inside, and then rinse off afterward." Zhao Gang touched the already hot water, knowing his son regularly added wood, "The three of us will bathe first and soak comfortably; the ladies can eat first and then bathe."
Before, there were only a few people in the family, so Zhao Gang didn't feel the bathroom was insufficient. Now, suddenly with two more people, "there's an empty room, we'll make another bathing place later."
It's so comfortable to soak in a bath during the winter, anyway, firewood can be directly chopped from the mountain, and the house is warm enough for anything.
It's indulgent; Gong Ruini really felt like kneeling to Zhao Gang in admiration.
"Isn't this enough?" Gong Tao hesitated, after all, coming with a family was quite a burden on Zhao Gang.
"No problem, no problem, I assure you, I have arrangements." Zhao Gang whispered, "Alright, we'll soak first, then ladies can go eat."
"Xuran, take your Aunt Cai and Ni Zi to eat." Zhao Gang instructed.
"Let me tell you, this bathroom took me quite some time, next time we can drink in the hot water, those days will be delightful..." Zhao Gang finally found a soulmate, stating excitedly.
Drinking while bathing? Gong Ruini really worries whether these two would drink too much and get drunk in the bathroom.
Cai Meina followed Zhao Xuran closely, holding Gong Ruini's hand tightly. Although Zhao Gang was enthusiastic, picking them up from the station, arranging living places, it was indeed warm-hearted.
Cai Meina worried about Zhan Jing, from the time they entered the house till now, she hadn't seen Zhan Jing appear, how could she not be concerned.
No matter how enthusiastic a man is, he can't resist the influence of pillow talks, Zhan Jing's absence might indicate her attitude.
If not, perhaps they should build a house next to them after spring? Although they didn't have much money, they couldn't let their children suffer, and after making up her mind, Cai Meina was relieved.
Through Cai Meina's grip, Gong Ruini knew her mother had a mental struggle, maybe worrying about Zhao Gang's wife's attitude.
All these doubts disappeared when they saw Zhan Jing with a big belly, Cai Meina stepped forward to stop Zhan Jing from getting off the kang, "How many months?"
Why hadn't Zhao Gang mentioned anything during the journey? If known, they would have bought some things on the way; this guy definitely didn't mention it on purpose.
"Over five months." Zhan Jing had been somewhat tired these days, mainly because, "Don't be fooled by the big belly; it's actually twins."
Cai Meina looked at Zhan Jing's big belly, certainly not looking like a five-month belly. Hearing it's twins, such a big belly is understandable, but how big would it be when delivering?
Gong Ruini stared at the high belly, mouth agape; she had seen pregnant women with twins before but never with such a big belly.
After staring for a long time, Gong Ruini understood why the belly seemed large; it's because the baby's mother was too frail, having been pregnant for so long, yet not gaining weight, suggesting inadequate nutrition.
No, wasn't it said you can hunt rabbits in the mountain? Why not supplement the pregnant woman, is there too little food?
All the way fantasizing about good days ahead, Gong Ruini's notion was drenched in cold water, extinguishing her dreams.