Chapter 62: Yi Zhonghai

"I am pregnant."

Qin Pandi's announcement that she was pregnant was like a thunderclap on flat ground; Tan Cuicui felt her eardrums buzzing and the world spinning, and had someone not been supporting her, she would have collapsed to the ground.

"Xiaocui, are you alright?"

"No, I'm fine." The pitying gazes of the crowd made Tan Cuicui feel as if she had needles pricking her back, and she stumbled her way home.

"Why is my life so bitter?" She had finally found someone who could help share the burden, and yet, in just half a year, the woman was pregnant.

Tan Cuicui suddenly froze, then came to her senses; since Qin Pandi could get pregnant, that meant the problem wasn't with her, so was it possible that she herself...

Once the crowd from the He family dispersed, Tan Cuicui rushed into the He house as if grabbing onto a final straw of hope.

"Pandi, does your, does your ex-husband have children now?"

"He does."

The light of hope in Tan Cuicui's eyes extinguished; seeing Tan Cuicui's state, Qin Pandi truly could not bear it, as she could empathize too well with Tan Cuicui's current state of mind, so she added:

"There are rumors in their village that the child isn't his, though I don't know the specifics."

Tan Cuicui's eyes reignited with hope, and after asking for the address of Qin Pandi's ex-husband, she went home.

Because of Qin Pandi's pregnancy, everyone's scrutinizing gazes fell upon Yi Zhonghai; when Yi Zhonghai returned, he felt that everyone was looking at him strangely, but he didn't pay it much mind.

The next morning, Tan Cuicui transferred through several routes and finally arrived at Zheng Family Village; under the assault of her money, the simple villagers told Tan Cuicui all the gossip they knew.

The light of hope in Tan Cuicui's eyes grew even brighter, but her heart was dying; she truly could not imagine that the problem was Yi Zhonghai's, and even less could she imagine that Yi Zhonghai would spread rumors to make her bear all of this.

Heart turned to ash, Tan Cuicui returned to the Siheyuan in a daze, and that very night she fell deathly ill; fortunately, someone discovered her in time and sent her to the Hospital, otherwise the consequences would have been unthinkable.

During the few days Tan Cuicui was hospitalized, she remained in a high fever, and Yi Zhonghai took leave to care for her day and night; looking at the haggard Yi Zhonghai, Tan Cuicui still considered their many years of marriage and did not ask the question that would hurt Yi Zhonghai's self-esteem, but instead said:

"Lao Yi, let's adopt a child."

Yi Zhonghai was stunned upon hearing this; he had learned in the courtyard these past few days that Qin Pandi was pregnant, and it was no wonder everyone looked at him with such subtle expressions—Tan Cuicui had likely realized it too, yet even so, she was still considering his self-esteem.

"Alright," Yi Zhonghai agreed, feeling a weight lift from his heart, though he felt even more guilty inside.

But the Deaf Old Lady had it miserable; these past few days Yi Zhonghai had barely returned, and she had grown accustomed to having someone deliver her three meals a day; having to cook for herself all of a sudden was truly uncomfortable, and every day she basically just had water and Steamed Bun.

In just a few short days, the Deaf Old Lady went from a graceful and elegant old lady to an old woman with a sour smell.

The Deaf Old Lady did not know the specific situation, only that Tan Cuicui had fallen ill and Yi Zhonghai was accompanying her in the Hospital.

As Tan Cuicui's high fever subsided, under Yi Zhonghai's care, her body gradually improved, and she was discharged in three days, though she was still a bit weak.

In the evening, the two of them nearly died of fright upon returning home; as soon as Yi Zhonghai opened the door, he saw the Deaf Old Lady's disheveled hair and gloomy face.

"Godmother, why have you come over?"

"I came to see Xiaocui, and the things in my place have run out, so I came to find something to eat while I was at it."

"Godmother, I'm fine, just a bit weak in the body."

Yi Zhonghai was speechless; he first helped Tan Cuicui to the bed to rest before coming back out.

"Godmother, please sit for a moment, I will go get you something to eat."

Just as Yi Zhonghai placed the white flour Steamed Bun and braised meat on the table, the Deaf Old Lady started in; her mouth had been so bland these past few days that she could barely taste anything, and her eyes lit up when she saw the meat.

Yi Zhonghai frowned, feeling for the first time that recognizing this godmother had been a rash decision, especially since the Deaf Old Lady now had a sour smell on her.

"Godmother, this is my fault; I've been preoccupied with taking care of Xiaocui at the Hospital these past few days and neglected you."

"Mm, it's fine." Having eaten her fill, the Deaf Old Lady gave a greeting and leaned on her cane, preparing to return to the Back Courtyard.

"Godmother, walk slowly on your way."

The Deaf Old Lady waved her hand and left after a few words, but Yi Zhonghai looked at the messy table of cups and plates and his brow furrowed even deeper; the two-person portion of braised meat he had bought had all been devoured by the Deaf Old Lady.

It was hot now, and there was no extra food at home, so Yi Zhonghai had no choice but to go to the Jia Family.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Who is it?"

"Brother, it's me, Lao Yi."

Lao Jia and Zhang Xiaohua had just been in the inner room coaxing the child and did not know that Yi Zhonghai's family had returned.

"Lao Yi, you're back? How is Xiaocui?"

The people in the courtyard had all been to see Tan Cuicui before, but she had been in a high fever and unconscious at the time.

"Mm, Xiaocui is mostly better, but there's no food at home, and the things I just brought back were eaten by my godmother, so I was wondering if you had any..."

"Yes, yes, yes, Lao Yi, wait a moment." Lao Jia took out a large bowl, poured out most of the porridge from the pot, and took four large meat buns.

"Brother, that's enough, that's enough."

"That's fine, you guys eat first; if it's not enough, come back and get more, and if you need anything, just speak up."

"Alright."

Yi Zhonghai was filled with emotion; Lao Jia truly had nothing bad to say to him—that porridge was clearly meant for his own family, yet he had given most of it to him, along with these meat buns; at the same time, Yi Zhonghai felt even more guilty—fortunately, his original scheme hadn't succeeded, otherwise he truly would have no face to see Lao Jia again.

"Sigh!"

"Xiaocui, get up and drink some porridge." Back home, Yi Zhonghai helped Tan Cuicui up and leaned her against the bed.

Tan Cuicui drank some porridge and only ate the skin of the bun before falling into a deep sleep again; Yi Zhonghai devoured the rest.

"Lao Jia, that old woman in the Back Courtyard is too unreasonable, even snatching the food of a sick person."

"Sigh, maybe she was just starving; for the past year, Xiaocui has been delivering her food and cleaning for her, so the old lady might have gotten used to it and didn't prepare any food of her own."

"She really thinks she's some wealthy old lady; she lived just fine before when no one was waiting on her, I think she's just making trouble."

"Shh, Xiaohua, keep your voice down; we can't afford to provoke that old lady."

"Hmph." Zhang Xiaohua stopped, and though she spoke fiercely, she was also afraid in her heart.

Fortunately, they had made plenty of porridge and there were still four buns left, enough for their evening meal.

After two days of recuperation, Tan Cuicui finally recovered, and Yi Zhonghai went back to work, working overtime every day to make up for the work delayed while he was on leave; it was fortunate that Lao Jia helped him share a lot of it, otherwise he would have worked himself into a state of collapse.

"Brother, thank you; before, I..." Yi Zhonghai opened his mouth but ultimately did not speak of the scheme.

"Lao Yi, it's all in the past, don't dwell on what used to be anymore, we have to look forward."

"Hmm." Yi Zhonghai remained silent for a long while before nodding.

His own family was happy and complete, with children and grandchildren filling the house, but what about Yi Zhonghai? Even now, it was still just the couple; how could Lao Jia not understand the imbalance in Yi Zhonghai's heart?

Now, the fact that they couldn't conceive had been exposed, and although no one said anything to their faces, there was no shortage of gossip behind their backs.

Before, Lao Jia had indeed sensed a change in Yi Zhonghai, but now he seemed to have turned back into the old Yi Zhonghai.

"Brother, Xiaocui and I have discussed it, and we are planning to adopt a child."

Lao Jia was taken aback, then suddenly realized; he understood that Yi Zhonghai had given up hope, but this was for the best—at least he would have something to pin his hopes on in his old age.

"Lao Yi, this is a good thing. Xiaocui will have something to do at home and won't feel so empty inside, and as for you, you'll have something to strive for."

Of course, Lao Jia hoped his old friend could have a descendant, but unfortunately, his health didn't allow it; still, adopting one wasn't bad, and if they raised the child from a young age, the bond wouldn't be any worse.