This child was clearly bold and determined, paying no mind to her brother's stories or her father's threats.
At dinner, Chen Lishu threw up again, but for the sake of the child, she could only force herself to eat, eating and vomiting, vomiting and eating.
Gu Xingdong and Zhao Qiuyue were anxious seeing her like this.
Gu Xingdong, who was always composed and steady when facing battle and ambushes, was completely helpless this time, losing all his composure.
"After the hospital check-up tomorrow, we'll go back to the unit. Wu's wife and Wang's wife will definitely have experience with your situation."
If Chen Lishu had something she wanted to eat, it would be fine; he could manage to get anything that flew in the sky or ran on the ground for her. Now that he got it and she wouldn't even touch it, it was quite a headache.
Especially seeing that her energy was clearly less than before after half a day, Gu Xingdong felt even more distressed in addition to the headache.
Chen Lishu thought going to learn from others was a good idea, so she nodded listlessly.
The next day, leaving Ruirui with Zhao Qiuyue at home, Chen Lishu and Gu Xingdong went to the hospital together.
After registering, the ultrasound required her to hold her urine. She was already unable to eat, and then forcing herself to drink a belly full of water, the feeling was indescribable.
Finally, she could lie down, but saw the doctor moving around on her stomach, frowning for a long time without speaking.
Chen Lishu's heart immediately tensed.
"Doctor, is the baby inside not doing well?"
"It's fine, lie down for a moment, it'll be done soon."
After a while, the doctor finally told her to get up, then looked at her and smiled, saying, "Congratulations, everything is very normal. According to the ultrasound, you have two gestational sacs; it's twins. Given that this is your first pregnancy and you previously had a cold uterus condition, morning sickness might be very strong. Please take care to keep warm and avoid catching a cold. Pay attention to your diet as well. I recommend you come back for a follow-up after three months."
Chen Lishu was completely stunned when she heard her words. She was pregnant with twins?
She walked out of the consultation room in a daze. Gu Xingdong was waiting on a chair outside. Seeing her emerge, he quickly got up and walked towards her: "What did the doctor say?"
Chen Lishu raised her hand and handed him the ultrasound report.
Gu Xingdong took it with a confused look. When he saw the word "twins," his pupils suddenly contracted.
"Twins?"
Chen Lishu nodded: "Yes."
Gu Xingdong keenly sensed her low spirits and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? Not happy?"
"It's okay, I'm just worried my belly will suffer."
Her waist was already thin, and now she was carrying two babies inside. A friend of hers who had given birth to twins had a stomach that couldn't be looked at after the baby was born, like bark, covered in stretch marks, and this damage was irreversible.
"After all, there are two children. Wait for me here, I'll go in and ask the doctor if there are any good methods."
Gu Xingdong told her to sit down first, then turned and entered the consultation room.
"Your husband is truly dedicated," the doctor said with a smile upon hearing his question, then explained all the specific precautions to him.
"...In addition to the diet I mentioned, you also need to pay attention to exercise. Olive oil can also help prevent stretch marks, but since it's twins, completely eliminating them is impossible. All methods can only improve or reduce them."
Gu Xingdong noted everything down, thanked the doctor, and upon leaving, found Chen Lishu wasn't there. He panicked for a moment. Just as he was about to turn to ask someone for information, he suddenly saw her coming from the end of the corridor.
"Where did you go?" His voice still carried a trace of tension.
Chen Lishu smiled: "To the restroom, I'd been holding it for so long."
Considering Chen Lishu's current condition, after leaving the hospital, Gu Xingdong first called the driver, Xiao Sun, to pick them up. Then, the couple took a car back home, packed a few changes of clothes, and soon Xiao Sun arrived. The family of three got into the car and headed back to the military dependents' area.
On the other side, Gu Xingye led everyone to the original warehouse site, first having them clear the debris to prepare for digging the foundation, while he went to buy building materials.
Upon returning to the military dependents' area, Gu Xingdong's first action was to call home.
"What? Twins? Oh my heavens!" Li Xiulan's mouth could have fit an egg when she heard Gu Xingdong's words. After the shock came ecstasy. Their ancestors' graves must have been smoking with good fortune. After years without results, they had twins in one go.
"Hey, hey, what? Vomiting? Can't eat anything? Wait for me, Mom will talk to your father-in-law's family again and see if we can mail some food over. No, it's better not to mail it. I'll have Xingping go over; she can take care of your third sister-in-law along the way... Be sure not to anger her. Women are most delicate when pregnant. Okay, Mom got it, I'm hanging up now."
Gu Xingdong hung up the phone and saw Chen Lishu lying weakly on the bed. He thought for a moment, then got up and went to the Wang family's house.
"Pregnant?" Zhao Guiying, who was picking sweet potatoes, was first stunned by Gu Xingdong's words, then happily said, "That's wonderful, congratulations, congratulations."
"Lishu has been vomiting these past two days and doesn't have much energy. I came to ask sister-in-law if there are any methods."
"You've asked the right person. A pregnant woman's tastes change drastically. I was like that when I was pregnant with my eldest. It tormented me so much that I lost over ten jin in a month, and everyone thought the baby wouldn't make it."
Gu Xingdong's heart tightened upon hearing her words, surprised that pregnancy was so difficult.
"Then sister-in-law, what did you eat that helped?"
"We didn't have much good stuff in the countryside, we just craved sour things. It was only July, and the fruit was just forming, tart and astringent, but I could eat a handful at a time, and my appetite gradually improved."
Gu Xingdong frowned. It was only February, and there were no unripe fruits. However, he figured apples would be about the same.
Afterward, he also asked Lin Xiaoyue for advice and soon drove out of the camp.
Chen Lishu was in a daze when she suddenly heard knocking at the door. Ruirui, afraid of disturbing her, quickly got up and called out, "Grandma Wang, Grandma Wu," upon seeing the visitors.
Chen Lishu heard the commotion and came out from the inner room. Zhao Guiying and Lin Xiaoyue saw her come out and noticed her pale complexion. They placed the items they were holding on the table: "We heard from your old Gu that this is your first pregnancy and it's twins, so you can't be careless. See if any of these things interest you and if you'd like to eat them."
Both of them had brought things they or others had eaten without vomiting.
"I've made you some steamed buns, stewed sauerkraut with chili oil, and Xiaoyue's mother-in-law's pickled cucumbers and stir-fried cured meat. Try them all."
Seeing their expectant eyes, Chen Lishu opened the covered lunch boxes on the table. As soon as she smelled the meat, she covered her mouth and ran to the bathroom.
The meat was definitely out of the question, and Chen Lishu couldn't accept the pickled cucumbers either. She could only manage to eat half a steamed bun with sauerkraut and chili oil.