Fu Yu was so sharp that the moment Madam Fang finished speaking, he understood what was going on.
"My dear, is it true?" They already had a son and a daughter. Fu Yu, like his own father, hoped they could have more children, as if this could affirm their family's blessing of many descendants.
"I can't be entirely sure yet." Regarding offspring, without a doctor examining her pulse, Madam Fang couldn't make definitive statements.
Fu Yu understood this and followed Madam Fang's lead. "Then, tomorrow morning, I'll go to the garrison and ask Military Doctor Han to come and examine you."
"Mmm."
The night passed without incident. Dawn broke, and after a hurried breakfast, Fu Yu rushed to the garrison with the donkey cart.
Grandpa Meng watched his son's receding back and asked his granddaughter, "What's your father rushing off for?"
"I don't know either. But judging by Dad's expression at breakfast, it seems like good news."
"Mmm." Grandpa Meng agreed with his granddaughter's assessment. Earlier at breakfast, his son's eyes had been smiling. He had even stopped his daughter-in-law from working, saying things like "don't get too tired."
"…?" A thought flashed through Grandpa Meng's mind, too quickly for him to grasp.
Fu Yu was efficient. Before long, he had brought Military Doctor Han over.
Grandpa Meng was a wise man. Recalling his son's actions that morning and coupled with Military Doctor Han's arrival, he immediately understood that there would be a new addition to the family.
Indeed, within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Fu Yu, beaming like a fool, saw Military Doctor Han to the door.
Outside the gate, Meng Qicheng stood by the donkey cart, whip in hand. Two sacks of grain were loaded onto the cart.
Military Doctor Han got into the donkey cart. After it had traveled half a li, he slowly relaxed his grip, looking at the two tael silver ingot clutched in his palm.
He glanced at the two sacks beside him. He had quietly felt them; one sack contained rice, and the other contained white flour.
Judging by their weight, each was likely ten catties. Twenty catties of fine grains for two taels of silver. Military Doctor Han sighed again at the Meng family's generosity.
It wasn't that he was ungrateful. Ever since the second master Meng and his family had settled here, he had enjoyed making house calls to the Meng family, not for any other reason than their generous medical fees.
He was only human and had a family to support. With these provisions, his family could have a good year.
The Meng family courtyard was filled with jubilation. From the moment it was confirmed that Madam Fang was pregnant, Fu Yu's smile had not left his face. He kept gazing at Madam Fang's belly, until Madam Fang playfully chided, "Husband, you're making me dizzy."
Only then did Fu Yu awkwardly stop.
Fu Xin Ci, afraid her father would be embarrassed, quickly found a flimsy excuse and took Yu'er outside.
Standing in the courtyard, gazing up at the vast sky, Fu Xin Ci indulged in a rare moment of sentimentality.
"Wow, what a beautiful day."
A rare clear and sunny day in winter. Coupled with the upcoming arrival of a new family member, this was truly a joyous occasion.
Fu Xin Ci's heart swelled with happiness. Spontaneously, she stretched out her small arms and legs, her small fists dancing with vigor.
Qi He and Meng Yu Luo, who had been chatting nearby, saw Fu Xin Ci's movements and approached them with sparkling eyes.
Finally finding an opportunity to return and see his son, Qi Yuanshan rode his horse to the gate of the Meng family.
After dismounting his date-red horse and entering the Meng family gate, he rounded the screen wall and saw the little girl skillfully practicing her punches, each move and stance remarkably fierce.
His silly son, showing off his row of white teeth, was following the little girl, mimicking her movements.
Little Yu'er was not to be outdone. With a boy he didn't know well, the two children's movements were perhaps a beat slower, but their short legs carried a very serious air.
Seeing Qi Yuanshan return, the children quickly stopped. Qi He, with a cry, leaped towards his father, clinging to him and begging for a hug.
Qi Yuanshan did not disappoint his son. Grasping his son's waist and back, he lifted him onto his shoulders and gave him a little jostle.
"Xiao He, you seem to have gotten heavier again."
"Dad, I eat well every day, how could I not be heavy?"
"That's true. Perhaps you should eat a little less from now on, or I'll speak to Grandpa Meng and ask him not to give you meat."
"Dad, that won't do."
Seeing his son's objection, Qi Yuanshan merely smiled and, without further comment, carried his son into the courtyard.
Fu Xin Ci, seeing Uncle Qi return, took the lead in bowing to him. "Greetings, Uncle Qi."
"Hello." He looked at the demure little girl, who was a stark contrast to her earlier fierce punching.
If Qi Yuanshan hadn't seen it with his own eyes, no one would believe that this tiny girl was a martial arts expert.
Fu Xin Ci was very observant. After greeting Uncle Qi, she intended to take Yu'er away, but Qi Yuanshan stopped her in time.
"Xin Ci, could you teach me that set of punches you were practicing just now? I've been pondering it, and it seems very suitable for our soldiers in close combat."
"Of course." Fu Xin Ci readily agreed, inwardly admiring Uncle Qi's keen eye. Military boxing was indeed the most suitable practice for soldiers.
Qi Yuanshan had only spoken out of curiosity. He hadn't expected the little girl to agree so readily. He quickly put his son down from his shoulders.
Seeing Uncle Qi's eagerness to learn right away, Fu Xin Ci was a little surprised.
However, she greatly admired diligent and eager learners.
Grandpa Meng had been sitting in his room, able to easily see everything in the courtyard through the glass window.
Seeing Qi Yuanshan return and, without even entering the house, begin learning the boxing techniques from his granddaughter, he got up, put on his shoes, and walked out to watch.
Qi He and Meng Yu Luo and the others were very considerate, standing behind Qi Yuanshan and carefully listening to Fu Xin Ci explain each move and stance.
By the time Fu Xin Ci had explained all the techniques, it was already noon.
Qi Yuanshan, however, was still immersed in the moves, carefully pondering them, completely forgetting his surroundings.
As for lunch, he had long since put it out of his mind.
Eventually, Grandpa Meng, unable to bear it any longer, personally called him twice to rouse him from his absorption.
Qi Yuanshan, already possessing exceptional comprehension, ate his lunch at the fastest possible speed and then returned to the courtyard to tirelessly practice the moves until nightfall.
The next day, after washing up and going to the front courtyard for breakfast, Fu Xin Ci found Uncle Qi practicing boxing in the yard, his back already drenched in sweat.
She was also astonished to find that Uncle Qi had already mastered the techniques. His powerful, dragon-like movements instantly reminded her of her captain.