"How has your wife been doing lately?"
Li Qiao: "........"
It had been so long since the two brothers were able to go hiking together, he never expected that the first thing Gu Jinchen would ask about was this.
"Has she been vomiting terribly? How's her appetite? Any cravings or aversions? Is the baby keeping her up?"
"......"
Seeing his brother's earnest curiosity, Li Qiao fell silent again, suspecting that if he had pen and paper right now, Gu Jinchen would undoubtedly jot down all these questions.
"What are you spacing out for? I'm asking you. I need to prepare ahead of time." Seeing Li Qiao unresponsive, Gu Jinchen prodded him curiously with his belongings.
They were both first-time fathers, and they were equally clueless.
Thankfully, Li Qiao's wife was about two months ahead of Luo Ge in her pregnancy, so he could gain some experience from Li Qiao to help care for his own wife.
In fact, Li Qiao didn't need to doubt - if he had pen and paper, Gu Jinchen would definitely write down all the questions meticulously.
"....It's alright, she doesn't vomit, but now nearly six months in, the baby has grown quite a bit and is very active, sometimes waking her up in the middle of the night."
After a momentary silence, Li Qiao answered each question, relieved to share about his wife's current condition.
As he spoke, Li Qiao's expression turned concerned.
His child seems to be a true rambunctious child, far too restless.
Recalling how his wife sometimes gasped in pain from the baby's kicks, he felt heartbroken.
"And she keeps telling me she's gotten fat and feeling gloomy about it, which really pains me to see." Yet to him, she doesn't look fat at all.
Hearing this, Gu Jinchen furrowed his brow, pondering if his own wife had shown such signs lately.
With a sigh, Li Qiao continued.
"She doesn't have any particular cravings, just can't stomach greasy foods, and prefers sour things. She gets hungry easily, but that's about it."
Gu Jinchen nodded: "That's quite similar to my wife."
"Oh right, she also gets moody sometimes for no apparent reason. At those times, you absolutely cannot provoke them or they may cry easily. You have to coax them gently."
Gu Jinchen nodded seriously: "Understood."
The two men, who previously only discussed hunting strategies on their hikes, now shared a harmonious conversation on an entirely different topic.
"By the way, Jinchen, you'll need to make some time soon. I want you to make a small crib for the baby."
In a few more months, the baby would arrive, and his wife had already started making clothes and shoes. After much thought, he felt Gu Jinchen's craftsmanship would be ideal for a small crib.
"Oh, I don't have time at the moment. If you can wait, I'll arrange it for you late next month. If it's urgent, you can ask Ma Feng Auntie first."
The first small crib he made would undoubtedly be for his own child.
Come to think of it, this did remind him.
Li Qiao: "......No hurry, I can wait."
"Alright then."
No sooner had he spoken when Li Qiao's sharp eyes spotted a rabbit scampering away. Without hesitation, he drew his bow and released an arrow.
"Got it." Li Qiao went to retrieve the downed rabbit and soon returned with a plump one.
"Were you planning to sell it in town?" Gu Jinchen asked, puzzled by the rabbit.
"No, to take it home to eat. Don't you want some? You said your wife enjoys eating them, right? Want me to shoot a couple more for you to take back?"
Gu Jinchen shook his head repeatedly: "No need, my wife can't eat them now. People say if a pregnant woman eats rabbit, the baby's mouth will end up looking like a rabbit's."
Stunned, Li Qiao instinctively glanced at the rabbit's mouth.
"Really?"
"Yes, my wife said so, we haven't had any in a long time."
Startled, Li Qiao immediately tossed the rabbit aside.
"That was a close call, thank goodness I didn't bring a rabbit back for my wife."
"......Yeah, better sell it in town."
"Yeah."
After that, whenever they saw rabbits along the way, the two men pointedly ignored them.
Each ended up with two wild chickens before heading home, as they both had loved ones awaiting their care and couldn't be away too long.
..................
"Wife, should we make one into chicken soup and the other into spicy chicken?"
Having deftly prepared the two wild chickens, Gu Jinchen asked.
"Sure."
Luo Ge agreed and followed him into the kitchen: "Earlier when I had a chance, I went to separate the hens and chicks. We can send some to the farm later."
"Got it, I'll stop by the farm tomorrow to check on the enclosures, and get some more chicken coops set up. I know someone who sells ready-made ones."
"Okay."
"Grandpa."
"Grandpa Wang, Grandpa Wang."
As the couple conversed, three little ones called out from outside.
"Hey there, Older Baby, Second Baby, Tie Dan, you're back from school."
"Yes, Grandpa, you picked some veggies?"
Tie Dan spoke as he led Older Baby and Second Baby over to greet their grandfather.
"Mm-hmm."
Seeing the three little ones, Old Master Wang smiled and nodded, taking out a bundle of wild berries wrapped in leaves to share with them.
"Grandpa picked some wild berries. Here, try them, they're very sweet. Grandpa tasted them. Older Baby, Second Baby, come get some."
"Thank you, Grandpa Wang."
"Thanks, Grandpa."
"Mm."
Watching these well-behaved little ones, Old Master Wang smiled happily, his eyes full of affection.
The old master had watched Older Baby and Second Baby grow up, and because of Tie Dan, they often played at his feet.
To him, these two were no different from his own grandchildren.
Nowadays, Old Master Wang's health had improved significantly. Previously, he could only move around within his courtyard, unable to withstand cold or wind, his constitution extremely frail.
But now, he could even go out to pick vegetables and help with chores.
His body had become much sturdier, and the medicinal scent that used to linger on him had long since dissipated.
Indeed, while the family members attended school, worked, or tended to other matters, he was able to take care of various odd jobs around the home in his leisure.
He was no longer a burden on the family.
For this, he was most grateful to Luo Ge and her family.
And the entire Wang family was delighted by the old master's transformation, silently thanking Luo Ge in their hearts as well.
They did not know why, but they somehow felt that Old Master Wang's recent improvement in health was due to Luo Ge.
It was because of Luo Ge that Old Master Wang's health was able to recover so quickly.
It seemed that every time Old Master Wang was exposed to the things sent by Luo Ge, his health would improve considerably.
They could not discern that the food sent by Luo Ge was infused with spatial water; they simply believed that it must have been blessed with Luo Ge's good fortune.
Seeing the Gu family's increasing prosperity, this reasoning seemed quite convincing.
Thus, they were all grateful to Luo Ge and his companions.
And as the person directly involved, Old Master Wang was the most deeply touched.
He had once loathed being a burden to his family, but now, everything felt like a new lease on life.
He silently resolved that if Luo Ge and his companions ever needed anything in the future, he would do his utmost to repay them.
