Chapter 53: Large, Medium, or Small?
Chapter 53: Large, Medium, or Small?
"Let me go check," Zhou Chenglei said, turning to leave.
Jiang Xia quickly grabbed his arm. "It's okay, I don't need you to."
Even though she had never used one before, she could guess how it worked.
"Are you sure?" Zhou Chenglei looked at her, concerned.
Under the soft light, her face was pale, and her fingertips were ice cold.
Jiang Xia nodded and released him. "You can go out now."
Zhou Chenglei left, heading to the kitchen to make her some red sugar water.
After changing, Jiang Xia went out to prepare to wash her pants.
Zhou Chenglei emerged from the kitchen with a bowl of red sugar water. "Drink this first, but be careful, it's hot."
Jiang Xia took the bowl.
Zhou Chenglei fetched some soap and squatted down to wash her pants.
Jiang Xia blew on the water, took a sip, and almost spit it out. "No, I can wash them myself."
Zhou Chenglei scrubbed vigorously. "Isn't your stomach hurting? Go back to the room, drink the red sugar water, and go to sleep. I'll take care of the laundry from now on, you don't have to do it."
Jiang Xia knew he was serious; he had been doing the laundry every day. The hot red sugar water warmed her heart, despite its scalding temperature.
Her stomach did hurt, so she returned to the room and slowly drank the steaming bowl of red sugar water. After rinsing her mouth, she noticed that Zhou Chenglei had already washed her pants and was now in the shower. She had a thought and went back to the room.
Jiang Xia lay on the bed, waiting for Zhou Chenglei to return. The night was deep, and she fell asleep quickly, without any trouble.
After washing the pants and taking a cold shower, Zhou Chenglei returned to the room.
Jiang Xia was already asleep, her breathing shallow and her hand pressed against her abdomen, her face pale.
Zhou Chenglei turned off the light and carefully climbed into bed. He rubbed his hands together to warm them and placed them over her stomach.
Her abdomen was ice cold, no wonder her face was so pale.
In the darkness, he listened to her shallow breaths and could faintly smell the delicate, elegant fragrance of her body.
Zhou Chenglei's minor annoyance was soothed by the scent. Only when her stomach warmed up did he feel at ease enough to fall asleep.
The next morning, Jiang Xia woke up to the sun shining through the window. Her stomach no longer hurt.
On the table by the windowsill, a note was left, written in a beautiful, flowing script: "Mom and Dad went out to sea. I'm going to town. There's breakfast in the iron pot. I'll be back to make lunch."
Jiang Xia folded the note and put it away; the handwriting was too beautiful to discard.
She walked out and found the house empty.
After brushing her teeth, Jiang Xia went to the kitchen to find something to eat.
In the iron pot, there was a bowl of red sugar eggs with two eggs, a large bowl of sweet potato porridge, and some steam still rising from it.
Zhou Chenglei's mother always made sweet potato porridge for breakfast, so the red sugar eggs must have been prepared by Zhou Chenglei.
Jiang Xia took the bowl and found that the temperature was just right, so she ate it immediately.
After eating, with nothing to do, Jiang Xia went to the bathroom, made sure the yard gate was closed, and returned to her room. She took out the high school textbooks from the previous owner and started reading.
Zhou Chenglei had gone to town early in the morning, visiting all the department stores and supply cooperatives but couldn't find any sanitary pads. Some people even said they had never heard of them.
He then rode his bicycle to the city.
Even in the city, he couldn't find any. A salesperson at the mall told him, "Those things are only available in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai. We rarely have them in stock here because they are too expensive, and not many people can afford them. The few we do have are usually pre-ordered, and those who can afford them buy them through connections."
Worried he might not be able to find sanitary pads, Zhou Chenglei bought a few packs of sanitary belts and then went to the military hospital.
He went directly to the obstetrics and gynecology department and found a female doctor.
This doctor had previously served as a military physician and was highly regarded by the female soldiers. She was skilled in both Western and traditional Chinese medicine, and her teacher was a renowned national medical master. She was known for her expertise in regulating menstrual cycles and overall health.
Later, her husband was transferred here, and she followed him to work at the military hospital as the head of the obstetrics and gynecology department.
"Doctor Gao."
Gao Min was taken aback when she saw Zhou Chenglei and smiled, "Little Lei, what brings you here? You just got married, right? Do you have some good news already? Where's your wife? Let me check her pulse!"
She leaned forward to look behind him but saw no one.
Gao Min was a decade or so older than Zhou Chenglei. Since her husband knew him and she admired him, she called him by a more familiar name.
Zhou Chenglei's wife, Gao Min knew, was a pretty young lady, though she seemed a bit pampered.
Zhou Chenglei said, "She didn't come. She's on her period, and her stomach hurts. Her hands and abdomen are very cold. I came to ask if you have any medicine for her."
"Her period needs to end before I can examine her. Bring her over after her period is over. Is it very severe? Many women experience menstrual cramps, and some find it improves after giving birth. But we still need to find out the cause. Remember to bring her in. I'll help her with her condition; severe cold in the uterus can affect fertility. I'll make sure to adjust her, and I guarantee you'll hear good news soon."
Zhou Chenglei hadn't thought much about having children, but Gao Min's words made him consider not getting a divorce. He and Jiang Xia would eventually have children.
However, she was still young, only twenty, and wanted to go to college, so it wasn't urgent. Her health was more important.
Zhou Chenglei said, "We're not in a rush for children. She's still young, and it's more important to take care of her health."
Gao Min's eyes lit up with admiration, "Your father-in-law didn't make a mistake with you."
He was almost thirty and wasn't in a hurry for children, which showed he cared for his wife.
No wonder so many girls in the military wanted to marry him.
Zhou Chenglei said, "Isn't it always recommended to marry and have children later, and to have fewer but healthier children?"
Gao Min gave him a thumbs up, "Your awareness is commendable."
Zhou Chenglei smiled, "Doctor Gao, do you know where I can buy sanitary pads?"
Gao Min laughed, "So you came here to buy sanitary pads for your wife!"
Zhou Chenglei blushed a bit, "I couldn't find them anywhere."
"They are hard to come by. I usually have someone buy a year's supply for me. I have a few packs left, not many, but I can give you two for your wife. I'm planning to buy more soon. Do you want to buy a year's supply too? I won't have any extra next time."
"Yes, please. I'll buy a year's supply. Thanks, Doctor Gao."
"Alright, wait a moment. I'll get two packs for you. The rest you can pick up when you bring your wife over in a few days. Just so you know, these are imported, and buying so many at once can be expensive."
"That's fine."
Gao Min stood up and went to the back room, taking two packs of sanitary pads from her office cabinet and putting them in a cloth bag. Then she came out and grabbed two more packs of family planning supplies from the cabinet. She raised an eyebrow at Zhou Chenglei, her gaze lingering on a certain spot, "If you're not planning to have children, you should use these. Large, medium, or small?"
Family planning was being promoted, and the hospital provided these supplies.
Zhou Chenglei was embarrassed but said, "Large."
Gao Min smiled and took two large packs, putting them in the bag and handing it to Zhou Chenglei, "Do you know how to use them? There are instructions on the package. If you're unsure, read them carefully. Now, get out of here! Bring your wife in a few days."
Zhou Chenglei left the hospital with a red face.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
