Since Gu Jianing treated Qi Yuancheng instead of Qin Rou, did that mean the infertility issue lay with Qi Yuancheng? Some bold individuals even went straight to ask.
At the time, both Qin Rou and Qi Yuancheng were present. Qin Rou hadn’t had a chance to respond yet, but Qi Yuancheng answered first, openly admitting that the problem was his. He also stated outright that he had sought Gu Jianing’s treatment.
Qin Rou was stunned. The person who asked had only posed the question casually and never expected Qi Yuancheng to admit it so readily.
Later, Qin Rou questioned him about it, but Qi Yuancheng didn’t seem bothered. In fact, he seemed somewhat relieved.
“Do you realize that by admitting this, that auntie will spread the word?”
“I hope she does. I want everyone to know that not having children isn’t your fault.”
Qi Yuancheng’s words left Qin Rou momentarily frozen. Then, her eyes reddened, and she hugged him tightly.
“You must focus on your treatment. I believe we’ll have a child someday.”
“Mm.”
True to Qi Yuancheng’s expectations, the auntie didn’t let him down. Before long, everyone in the residential compound knew that the reason Qin Rou and Qi Yuancheng had no children was indeed due to the battalion commander’s condition.
After the initial wave of gossip, curiosity took over.
“Do you think Dr. Gu can really cure Battalion Commander Qi’s condition and help them have a child?”
“Whether she can or not, we’ll know once we see if Qin Rou gets pregnant.”
“True. But I’ve heard before that Bai He from the Chai family and Zhang Shuwan both got pregnant thanks to Dr. Gu. Zhang Shuwan even had twins!”
“Seems to me this Dr. Gu has some real skill.”
“If it’s true, I’ll hurry and bring my niece to see her.”
“I’ll have my second daughter-in-law come for treatment too.”
And so, Gu Jianing welcomed another wave of patients seeking help for infertility. After the rumor incident, the previously quiet Traditional Chinese Medicine department became lively. Of course, most patients came specifically for her, but the other doctors also saw an increase in visitors.
If Qin Rou were to get pregnant, even more people would likely come to Gu Jianing seeking fertility treatments in the future.
But that was just a hypothetical scenario—a matter for another time.
Now, after Bai Lanhua left with Shuanzi, the Qi household returned to peace, and Qi Yuancheng resumed his treatment.
Once he was cured, it wouldn’t be long before Qin Rou got pregnant.
Gu Jianing stayed busy at the hospital but still kept up with news from her hometown.
She soon learned the fates of Wen Zhuqing, Bao Shanyan, and the others.
Since the banned books were found in Wen Zhuqing and Bao Shanyan’s home, they bore the primary responsibility.
The two immediately turned on each other.
Wen Zhuqing claimed the books belonged to Bao Shanyan and that he knew nothing about them.
Bao Shanyan, in turn, insisted the books were Wen Zhuqing’s and not hers. She even demanded a divorce to avoid being implicated.
But neither could provide evidence.
Since no proof was offered, both were held equally accountable.
And with Liu Ruzhi and Du Juan’s interference, what should have been a minor offense was made into an irreversible conviction.
“…Wen Zhuqing and Bao Shanyan were publicly paraded yesterday…” Gu Yunzhou said over the phone.
Aside from the pregnant Yang Manman, the entire Gu family had gone to watch.
After all, they knew that if not for Ningning’s warning, it would have been the Gu family suffering this misfortune.
Now, Wen Zhuqing had reaped what he sowed.
Of course, they wanted to witness his downfall firsthand.
“Wen Zhuqing was also sentenced to ten years in prison.”
Ten years…
Gu Jianing breathed a sigh of relief. At least for the next decade, she wouldn’t have to worry about Wen Zhuqing causing trouble.
She didn’t dare underestimate him.
She knew this man was cunning, ruthless, and willing to go to extremes.
So she could never afford to let her guard down.
“As for Bao Shanyan and her mother, they were sent to a labor farm. They won’t be allowed back for ten years either…”
Normally, Wen Zhuqing and Bao Shanyan should have received the same punishment.
But Liu Ruzhi and Du Juan’s anger was mainly directed at Wen Zhuqing. Plus, Bao Shanyan was pregnant.
So she avoided prison.
Bao Yingzi wasn’t originally supposed to go.
Logically, this matter had nothing to do with her.
But Bao Yingzi only had Bao Shanyan as her daughter, and with her being pregnant, how could she possibly leave her side?
So, she chose to go with Bao Shanyan.
After hanging up the phone, Gu Jianing finally felt completely at ease.
From then on, her life settled into a peaceful rhythm. When she had work, she went to the hospital with her growing baby bump. On her days off, she stayed home, reading medical books and resting.
In the past, Gu Jianing had never been fond of reading.
But now, perhaps because she had read so much, she found herself enjoying it more and more—whether it was medical texts or other books.
Many questions she didn’t understand could always be answered within the pages.
Reading also calmed her once-restless heart and temperament, allowing her to settle into a more grounded state of mind.
With her improved memory, she could retain everything she read.
That feeling of her mind being full, brimming with knowledge—Gu Jianing loved it. She reveled in it.
When Sheng Zexi gently pushed the door open, he saw the young woman leaning slightly against the kang, absorbed in a book, a thin blanket draped over her slightly rounded belly.
Hearing the sound, she looked up from the pages. Like a nimble little deer in the forest, her eyes brightened at the sight of him, and she smiled. “You’re back.”
“Yeah, I’m home.”
Sheng Zexi cooked noodles, and as they ate, they talked about the upcoming Qingming Festival in a month.
“The day after my mother passed was Qingming…” Sheng Zexi said softly.
With his head lowered, Gu Jianing couldn’t see the emotion in his eyes, but she knew he missed his mother deeply.
“When she was here, I had parents. I had a home. But after she left, this family was gone too.” His voice carried a quiet sorrow.
It was rare to see Sheng Zexi like this.
He had always been steadfast, courageous—seemingly unshakable, always ready to shelter Gu Jianing from any storm.
But now she understood that this man, too, had moments of grief and fragility.
She set down her chopsticks, walked over, and wrapped her arms around him.
Seated, Sheng Zexi encircled her waist with his arms and buried his face against her.
He remembered. He remembered how, when his mother was alive, his parents had loved each other deeply, and their family had been warm and harmonious.
But after her death, the home fell apart, and everything changed.
“Will you be able to take leave for Qingming? If so, let’s go back to Beijing together. We should pay our respects.”
“Your wife should finally meet her mother-in-law. And we should tell her the good news—that we’re going to have a child.”
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