The warmth of his breath brushed against her ear. Wen Ci reached out to push Huo Jingyuan’s face away, glaring at him playfully. She lowered her voice and scolded, “What are you doing?! The kids are still here!”
After speaking, Wen Ci glanced at the children sitting on the sofa, completely engrossed in the TV. She raised her hand and punched Huo Jingyuan’s thigh, whispering fiercely, “Do you have a death wish?”
Huo Jingyuan simply smiled without saying a word.
But Wen Ci couldn’t help but think about what he had said.
If they were to have children, twins would be ideal—a perfect “good” (好) character.
In the 1980s, there was a strong push for better birth policies, promoting quality over quantity. Aside from twins, having more than one child would result in fines—not just monetary penalties but also professional consequences.
“Wouldn’t having twins be great?” Wen Ci asked.
“No,” Huo Jingyuan’s smile faded, and his deep eyes locked onto hers. He spoke with solemn seriousness, “I’d rather not have children at all than risk having twins.”
Childbirth was already a brush with death.
“Why?” Wen Ci asked, puzzled by his strong reaction to the word twins.
Seeing his brows slightly furrowed, she reached out and gently held his calloused hand, speaking in a soft, patient tone, “Why are you so intense about this?”
“It’s not intensity. Having twins is extremely dangerous—it’s a trip to the gates of hell.”
A twin pregnancy meant a much larger belly compared to a normal pregnancy, and the risk of umbilical cord entanglement during labor was significantly higher. It was not only hard on the mother but also dangerous for the babies.
Wen Ci lowered her gaze slightly.
What Huo Jingyuan said wasn’t wrong. The medical conditions of the 1980s were nowhere near as advanced as in later years, especially in a remote region like the Northwest, where resources were even scarcer.
But—
With her physical condition, carrying twins wouldn’t be a problem. She just really wanted to form the “good” character—having a daughter with an older brother.
As a child, she had always wished for an older brother to protect her.
Smiling, Wen Ci said, “Pregnancy isn’t something you can just predict like that.”
Suddenly, as if recalling something, the corners of her lips curled slightly, and she leaned in, lowering her voice. “I heard at the hospital that whether or not a couple has twins depends on how strong the man’s tadpoles are.”
“Tadpoles?”
Huo Jingyuan repeated the word expressionlessly, as if he didn’t quite understand.
“You don’t know?”
The man shook his head. “No.”
Hearing this, Wen Ci withdrew her hand from his.
The dishes on the table were still steaming slightly. If they kept talking, they’d have to reheat the food again.
“What does it mean?” Huo Jingyuan pressed on.
Wen Ci calmly continued eating, completely ignoring his question.
When she noticed his growing impatience, she finally smirked and whispered, “I’ll tell you tonight.”
With that, Wen Ci picked up the pace and quickly finished her meal.
Not long after, she set down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and casually strolled over to the sofa.
She sat down with the kids, watching Seven-Colored Deer with them.
At that moment—
The last rays of sunset were fading over the Gobi Desert, and the lights in the family housing compound flickered on.
Zhu Jing’s building had officially been filled with new residents. After work, she returned home and helped out with the move-in process.
Once everything was settled, Zhu Jing patted the dust off her clothes and smiled warmly. “From now on, we’re all neighbors. If you need anything, just ask.”
“I heard from my husband that the Northwest Military District has a Living King of Hell?”
Zhu Jing nodded. “That’s right.”
The nickname Living King of Hell was well-known across the Northwest, though many of the newcomers didn’t quite believe it.
Zhu Jing explained, “The Living King of Hell is the youngest and most outstanding officer in our district.”
“So, is he married? I have a cousin who just turned twenty—young and beautiful. Should I introduce her to him?”
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