Chapter 11: Pregnant

Got it, got it!

She waved her hand grandly and placed the order cheerfully! The next second, a pile of items appeared in her arms!

She immediately woke her family.

"Father, mother, wake up."

"Qinger... what's wrong with Qinger?"

They jolted awake, thinking something had happened!

"Nothing's wrong, it's just getting colder again. First, wake up the younger brothers and sisters; I have a tent, let's set it up and sleep inside."

"A tent?"

So the whole family woke up and, amid the blizzard, erected the tent.

But then, a crisp crack rang out!

"What was that?"

Shen Qingquan thought of something and her complexion changed abruptly!

"Don't move!"

She saw the roof beneath their feet, and it was cracking little by little!

"Bad! This house might not hold up!"

"Leave this place quickly!"

……

Who could have thought the house would collapse suddenly in the middle of the night!

The family rushed to the side, and the crackling of fissures followed!

Suddenly, a boom!

The roof collapsed completely!

Shen Qingci at the back fell straight down!

"Younger Sister!"

Shen Yuhuan, who was closest, instinctively lunged forward and grabbed her hand! Then came Shen Qingquan, Shen's father…

They fell through the air like a bunch of grapes.

Ning Shi felt her heart about to leap out of her mouth! She was about to step forward to help, but Shen's father scolded her, telling her not to move!

This place can no longer withstand any more disturbance.

At that moment, a voice came from below—Shen Qingci's—"Sister, little brother, look down quickly!"

Shen Qingquan and the others instinctively looked down and saw, beneath the heap of collapsed stones, a swath of snow‑white ice.

"Is this... frozen?"

The water surface had frozen at some unknown time!

"Sister, I'll go down and see..."

"Wait!"

Shen Qingquan hurriedly called her back, grabbed a palm‑sized stone nearby, and hurled it forcefully downward!

"Clang!"

A muffled sound resonated.

Hearing that, her eyes lit up instantly!

The ice must be thick enough; when the house fell, it didn't shatter, so it really was frozen solid.

"Sister! I'm coming down!"

In that instant, the little girl actually leapt down! She slipped on the ice and, fearless of death, bounced a few times!

"You child, take it slow! Mom, don't worry, Qingci is fine..."

"Sister, let's go down quickly too!"

Since the water's frozen, they no longer need to stay in that broken house!

The family quickly descended from the roof, and once their feet touched the ice, feeling its hardness and thickness, their hearts finally settled.

The once‑vast sea was now covered with a layer of frost.

The snow fell heavier and heavier.

As they breathed, a puff of white vapor rose from their mouths and noses.

Ning Shi stepped forward and placed a down hat on Shen Qingquan; the thick ring of white fur made her face look even whiter and more delicate.

"Dad, we should find a safe place to spend the night as soon as possible; I have a feeling this isn't safe."

"You're right, let's leave this first."

Shen Qingquan also packed up the tent and everything else, and the family left quickly.

……

The blizzard raged.

It coated the whole land with a layer of white frost.

The family trudged forward in the dark wind and snow, the gale cutting like a knife across their faces.

A quarter of an hour later.

They emerged from the ice field, and when their feet touched solid ground, the family's anxious hearts finally settled.

During that brief quarter‑hour, they walked gingerly, fearing the ice might crack at any moment, each step taken with held breath.

Fortunately, it was a scare without danger.

"Tonight, let's rest here; tomorrow morning, we'll return to Xiangcheng and look for your grandmother."

So they set up the tent again; the family of five, after enduring a harrowing escape during the day and a terrifying night, were already exhausted in body and mind.

After lying down, they fell into a deep sleep in no time.

Shen Qingquan, however, did not fall into a deathlike sleep; in this desolate wilderness, if they truly slept dead,

should a beast or a malicious person appear, the whole family would likely be doomed.

"Qinger, aren't you asleep yet?"

"Father?"

She was surprised; it turned out her father hadn't slept either.

"Sleep obediently; you've been tired all day, and Father will watch over you, don't worry."

Father's gentle voice came, indicating he knew what she was thinking.

When she met Father's warm eyes, she suddenly felt at ease.

This time, she closed her eyes and fell asleep without any concerns.

……

The next day.

The family got up and performed a quick wash.

For breakfast they had rice porridge and Sweet Potato; though only the old two staples, they were filling.

Shen Yuhuan's wolf‑cub‑like stomach immediately devoured three large mantou, two bowls of rice porridge, and four Sweet Potatoes!

Shen Qingci rolled his eyes at the sight.

After the meal, they changed the medicine; Shen Qingquan specifically had Mother check everyone for fever, and only felt relieved after confirming none had it.

It seemed yesterday's anti‑inflammatory pills hadn't been taken in vain.

After another night of sound sleep, they finally felt more energetic, especially Brother, who had been listless yesterday but was now lively as a dragon today.

"Brother, Younger Sister, these two knives are for you."

She handed the knives she had received with the tent purchase last night to the two; although they were just ordinary Fruit Knives, they were better than having none.

"Later, I'll find a better one for our Younger Sister."

She affectionately patted the little girl's head, eliciting a radiant smile, "Thank you, Sister!"

The little dimple at the corner of her mouth was both sweet and tender.

She slightly curved her lips.

"Sister! What about me? I also want a better one!"

"Enough, always snatching everything from your sister; how could a brother be like that…"

"Father, you can't always favor Sixth sister!"

"Just say it!"

"Alright, you two…"

He pulled the father and son who were about to argue, tidied the clean sleeping bags, refilled the boiled hot water, and said, "It's about time we set off."

Shen Qingquan waved his hand, and the items vanished without a trace.

Ning Shi stood up, suddenly swayed, and collapsed…

"Mother!"

She startled, quickly supporting her!

"Mother!"

"What's wrong?"

The whole family was terrified.

Ning Shi's complexion turned pale, her head spun, eyes blurred, and her heart pounded wildly!

"Hurry, help… sit down…"

"Mother, don't scare us!"

Shen Qingci was on the verge of crying; Ning Shi grasped their hands, trying to speak but could not draw a breath.

"Mother, drink some water."

Shen Juancheng supported her, carefully feeding her a sip of water; in an instant, she finally recovered.

She soothed the family's worried gazes, "I'm fine, it just came on suddenly…"

"Mother, seeing you like this really worries me."

"I'm truly fine, it's just…"

She suddenly raised her hand, covering her abdomen.

Shen Qingquan's eyes flashed, and he immediately understood.

Shen Juancheng was stunned; when he met her water‑like smiling eyes, in a flash of lightning he suddenly opened his eyes wide!

"Mother, you, you…"

"Yes, it's been almost four months."

"Father, Mother, what are you talking about?"

Shen Yuhuan, the clueless youngster, was completely baffled.

"Idiot! Mother, there's a baby!"

"Sixth sister, did you know?"

Shen Qingquan was surprised.

Shen Qingci nodded, "Hmm, earlier I saw Mother instinctively protect her belly whether she walked or ran, so I guessed…"