Chapter 172: Accepting the Fact

The next morning, Zhang Fan did not get up before dawn as usual; instead, he stayed snug in his comfortable blanket, unwilling to get up.

Even breakfast was brought and fed to him by Ba Ke Er before he would eat a bit. After eating, he did not, as before, clamor to go out and see the school being built in the tribe.

Instead, he just lay quietly in the blanket, and no matter how Ba Ke Er persuaded him, he refused to get up. After Ba Ke Er had urged him all morning, he stopped trying, because he knew Zhang Fan had made up his mind and would not accept the fact.

He let out a soft sigh, and Ba Ke Er, carrying lunch, walked into the room and stopped at the bedside.

"Fan Fan, get up quickly—you've slept all morning. Hurry up and eat your lunch. After you finish, let's go see how the building is coming along—the place you said would be used to teach the children to read and write."

Saying that, Ba Ke Er placed the food on the table and helped Zhang Fan up from the bed.

After being helped up by Ba Ke Er, Zhang Fan gave him a wan smile and said, "Ba Ke Er, are you sure I'm fit to go outside and move around in my current state?"

When Ba Ke Er heard Zhang Fan's words, he suddenly froze, because this was the first time Zhang Fan had spoken to him since the previous night. After his surprise, Ba Ke Er also smiled.

"Fan Fan, don't worry—the temperature isn't that low yet. As long as you wear a bit more clothing, you'll be fine. Come, hurry up and eat; after we finish, we'll head out."

By this time, Zhang Fan was actually already hungry, and with food readily available, he naturally dug in.

After lunch, Ba Ke Er kept his promise, having Zhang Fan dressed and bundled up tightly before taking him out of the house to walk outside.

At this moment, it was the warmest part of the day, and the snow that had fallen earlier was gradually melting under the sunlight. Zhang Fan watched the children running to and fro in the tribe and smiled.

In his heart, he also began to imagine whether his own child would, in the future, like the children playing by the roadside now, enjoy playing and love to run around everywhere even in cold weather.

Thinking this, Zhang Fan's hands, which had naturally hung at his sides, gradually moved to rest on his belly. He turned his head, smiled at Ba Ke Er, and asked:

"Ba Ke Er, how big is our child? I suddenly realized that, as a father, I actually don't know how long our child has been in my belly. Ba Ke Er, do you think I'm a failure?"

As he spoke, his tone changed; he slowly hunched his shoulders and twitched the corner of his mouth, as if he were about to cry at any moment.

Ba Ke Er sighed in his heart, but kept a charming smile on his face. After gently patting Zhang Fan's head, he lightly opened his lips and began to speak.

"Fan Fan, I'm glad you're willing to accept our child, but I don't think you're a failed father, because right now our child is still safely residing in your belly."

"Also, remember that our child has already been in your belly for a full three months, and soon they will be born."

As Ba Ke Er spoke, his eyes filled with anticipation for the new life; seeing this, Zhang Fan felt a bit better inside.

They hadn't walked far before arriving at the school that was half-built. Zhang Fan walked around it several times before he was satisfied and followed Ba Ke Er back.

"Ba Ke Er, I estimate that the school will be finished in just a few days. When should I start teaching the children?"

Leaving the school, Zhang Fan's mouth never stopped, constantly urging Ba Ke Er about going to the school to teach the children.

Moreover, while he was speaking, one couldn't interrupt him, or he would repeat the whole thing several times over! To spare Zhang Fan breath and saliva, Ba Ke Er smiled throughout, listening patiently to every word he said.

After listening, he would also voice his own thoughts.

"Fan Fan, I think having the children study outdoors in the cold season might be too chilly! Look, although it's early winter, it's already started snowing, and this snow will only get heavier as time goes on."

Each year, by mid-winter the whole tribe is blanketed in white, the snow so deep that a single step can sink you in. If the snow harms the children, what can we do?

Moreover, we're now short on medicine and supplies; if the children were to freeze, it would be hard to explain to their parents. You agree, right?

Having said all that, Ba Ke Er pretended to casually toss the question back to Zhang Fan.

After hearing Ba Ke Er's words, Zhang Fan lowered his head, pondered a moment, then nodded slightly to show agreement. He didn't bring up the topic again, but instead directly pulled Ba Ke Er along to the tribe square.

Seeing the female members still braving the cold wind while training on the open square, Zhang Fan's heart warmed; he smiled, climbed onto the platform, and blew his short flute.

When the female members heard the flute, they suddenly erupted. In unison they put down their training gear, returned to their original positions, and looked excitedly at the stage—at Zhang Fan's belly.

Zhang Fan felt the gaze of eight hundred people—altogether sixteen hundred eyes—fixed on his belly, and his face darkened. He coughed lightly several times, but it didn't divert anyone's attention.

So Zhang Fan had no choice but to unleash his big move! He suddenly blew his short flute, then coughed heavily a few times, and spoke loudly:

"Enough! Quickly wipe off that look of wanting to devour me alive! I'm not here to be your exhibit."

Sure enough, Zhang Fan's big move worked; the female members averted their gazes from his belly—though their looks seemed suspiciously poised to shift to his chest.

This time, Zhang Fan also couldn't help but flare up! After finally suppressing his somewhat uncontrolled emotions, he spoke with a blank expression.

"I don't know what you've all been doing while I was away, but I know each of you is worthy of admiration! For you endure the harsh cold and strive to surpass your bodily limits!"

"This is something I, as their instructor, have failed to do—I'm glad you've managed it! But I came today to tell you good news!"

At this point, Zhang Fan couldn't help but laugh, lightly placing his hands on his belly, a look of happiness on his face,

"You guessed right—I'm here to tell you that I'm pregnant! Moreover, the little ones have officially been in my belly for a full three months! Believe that after a while they'll come out and meet you!"

"At the same time, I announce that today will be the final training session for our Female Guard Team this year, because starting tomorrow everyone will be on vacation! After the cold season passes, we'll resume training."

As soon as Zhang Fan's words fell, the female members below burst into thunderous applause and ear‑splitting shouts, blessing him and the children in his belly.

Moreover, the female members cheered and leapt for joy at the prospect of a long vacation—this being the first extended break ever for their Female Guard Team since its founding.

Returning from the Tribe Center Square, Zhang Fan's face remained wreathed in smiles. Seeing this, Ba Ke Er understood that Zhang Fan had clearly accepted the fact of his pregnancy; otherwise he wouldn't have announced it openly to the female members.

Whenever Ba Ke Er thought of Fan Fan's words just spoken at the Tribe Center Square, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Hearing Ba Ke Er's laughter, Zhang Fan broke into a smile, walked to his side, leaned into his embrace, and said softly:

"Ba Ke Er, I feel truly fortunate to have met you—so fortunate! Now I not only have a lifelong intimate partner, but also a child conceived together with my beloved, even though I am the one who will give birth."

Saying that, Zhang Fan furtively planted a light kiss on Ba Ke Er's cheek, then darted away.

All that remained was Ba Ke Er, dazed, touching his face where Zhang Fan's lips had left a burning sensation. After regaining his composure, Ba Ke Er lightly opened his lips, gave a soft laugh, rose from the stool, stretched his long legs, and walked toward where Zhang Fan had fled.

When Ba Ke Er finally found Zhang Fan, he discovered that Zhang Fan had already been asleep in the room for a while. However, his sleeping spot was unusual, because Zhang Fan was not asleep on the bed.

He was asleep sitting on the dedicated chamber pot placed in the room for Zhang Fan's convenience—a sleeping position so awkward it's hard to look at! It's fortunate that Ba Ke Er hadn't gone out and found him right away; otherwise, he might have caught a chill before long.

After Ba Ke Er had tidied Zhang Fan up, he carried him back to bed, covered the sleeping Zhang Fan with a blanket, then busied himself with emptying Zhang Fan's chamber pot, finishing the chores in the room.

Ba Ke Er also gathered the household's dirty clothes, tidied them, then went to the courtyard to draw well water, and in the cold wind carefully washed each garment with the soap Zhang Fan had made earlier, until they were clean.

When Zhang Fan woke up and opened his eyes, all he saw was the ceiling of the room; seeing no sign of Ba Ke Er beside him, he wasn't anxious, because he clearly heard the sound coming from the courtyard of the house.

He guessed it must be Ba Ke Er washing clothes. Thinking so, Zhang Fan slowly rose from the bed, dressed himself and put on his shoes, then left the bedroom for the main hall.

Looking outward, Zhang Fan could clearly see Ba Ke Er by the well, beating clothes with a stick. Watching Ba Ke Er wash clothes with those smooth motions, Zhang Fan found himself staring absentmindedly.

So much so that by the time Ba Ke Er had finished washing the clothes, hung them to dry, and come back inside, he still hadn't noticed.