The B-ultrasound machine screen at this moment was quite small, and it was grayscale ultrasound—a model from the early 1970s. To determine the baby's gender, not only did one need exceptional technical skill, but also constant adjustment of the probe's angle.
However, the one on the left... was quite visible.
Mainly because the baby was cooperative.
With this thought, Doctor Jiang's gaze shifted to the other baby.
A few minutes later, a faint smile appeared on Doctor Jiang's face.
Though she already knew the answer in her heart, out of professional ethics, she didn't utter a single word.
She simply smiled and said, "Congratulations, you're expecting twins."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Si and Huo Tingzhou exchanged glances.
Elder Li had already mentioned earlier that this pregnancy was most likely twins.
But exceptions always existed.
Now, hearing Doctor Jiang confirm it firsthand, the couple felt a sense of finality.
Seeing Huo Tingzhou staring intently at the screen, Doctor Jiang adjusted the probe's direction.
A moment later, she pointed at two bright rings, each the size of a ping-pong ball.
"These are the babies' heads, and the two rows of bead-like dots behind them are their spines."
Jiang Si couldn't see anything and could only grow anxious.
Huo Tingzhou described it for her, "They look a bit like little seahorses."
"That's somewhat accurate. The limbs aren't very clear yet, but by next month's checkup, you'll be able to see their outlines more clearly."
Doctor Jiang smiled and added, "See this flickering dot? That's the fetal heartbeat. Here, let me play it for you."
As soon as she finished speaking, a rhythmic "thump-thump" sound, resembling horse hooves, filled the room.
"That's the heartbeat?" Jiang Si exclaimed in amazement.
Though she vaguely remembered Teacher Hu mentioning that hers had sounded like a "chugging" little train.
"That's normal," Doctor Jiang explained. "Her pregnancy was more anterior—placenta front wall—so the heartbeat sounds like a train."
Jiang Si didn't understand these details, but she trusted the doctor's words.
As long as everything was normal, that was all that mattered.
Huo Tingzhou suddenly spoke up, "Doctor Jiang, my wife's appetite has been good these past two months, but her weight hasn't changed much. In fact, she's lost a couple of pounds recently."
"That's normal. The weather's hot, and pregnant women tend to have higher internal heat. Losing a pound or two is nothing to worry about."
Huo Tingzhou pressed further, "Could it be that the babies are absorbing too much?"
Lately, he had been feeling unusually anxious.
On one hand, he worried the babies might develop poorly and grow up frail.
On the other, he feared they might grow too well, making the delivery harder for Jiang Si.
Fortunately, Doctor Jiang quickly reassured him, "The babies' sizes are perfectly normal. All the measurements are within healthy ranges, so there's no need to worry."
Next, Doctor Jiang checked the amniotic fluid index and other conditions.
"Alright, the examination is done. Don't move yet—let me clean you up."
As she spoke, she pulled out a tissue.
"Doctor Jiang, I'll do it."
Huo Tingzhou immediately stepped forward, pocketing the tissue before retrieving a cotton cloth from Jiang Si's bag.
After carefully wiping off the sticky ultrasound gel and smoothing her dress, he gently helped her up.
Doctor Jiang couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
The standard for a good man had always existed—it was just rare to see someone who truly lived up to it.
"Both of you, have a seat."
Once they were settled, Doctor Jiang handed them the ultrasound report.
"Both babies are developing well, but you’ll need to be extra cautious as the pregnancy progresses."
"Starting next month, you should come in for a checkup every month."
"Understood. Thank you, Doctor Jiang."
Jiang Si took the report and examined it.
Ultrasound reports from this era were quite simple.
Aside from confirming twins, it only listed the gestational age, placental position, amniotic fluid volume, and the absence of severe deformities.
"Would you like to print the images?"
Doctor Jiang briefly explained, "This is a separate charge—two yuan per print. The images are blurry, just rough outlines."
Huo Tingzhou nodded. "Can we print a few?"
"You can, but it's unnecessary."
Doctor Jiang elaborated, "These are printed on thermal paper. The image will fade with just a little friction."
"Even if you store them carefully, they’ll still fade over time."
But Huo Tingzhou insisted.
Reluctantly, Doctor Jiang printed two copies.
As she had warned, the images were extremely blurry.
Jiang Si squinted at them for a long time but could only barely make out two small dark circles.
"Alright, we’ve been staring at this for minutes. Shouldn’t we head back?"
"Right, let’s go."
Huo Tingzhou snapped out of his thoughts, smiling as he tightened his grip on her hand.
Turning to Doctor Jiang, he said, "We’ll be leaving now."
"Oh, one more thing." Doctor Jiang suddenly remembered.
"The hospital just got a new batch of calcium supplements. Would you like some? I can write you a prescription."
Huo Tingzhou immediately agreed. "Please do, Doctor Jiang."
It was already the end of the workday, so Doctor Jiang walked out of the ultrasound room with them.
As they chatted, they reached her office, where she waved them off.
"Alright, you two head back. If anything comes up, just come find me—"
Slap!
A sharp sound of a hand striking flesh abruptly cut through their conversation.
"Li Mei, you’ve got some nerve! This morning, I only scolded you a little, and now you’re calling me an ‘old hag’ behind my back?"
"Since when can’t a mother-in-law discipline her daughter-in-law?"
Old Lady Xiang grew angrier the more she thought about it.
"You useless thing, can’t even bear a son, and now you’re cursing your own mother-in-law!"
"Just wait till I go to your family and ask how they raised such a disgraceful daughter!"
Jiang Si looked up and saw the commotion coming from the second-floor stairwell.
Doctor Liang frowned in that direction but hadn’t even spoken when Old Lady Xiang started yelling again.
"Answer me! Have you gone mute?"
Li Mei covered her cheek, stammering, "M-Mom, I didn’t curse at you..."
"Lies! I heard it with my own ears, and now you’re lying to my face?"
Old Lady Xiang grew even more furious, pinching her several times.
Tears welled up in Li Mei’s eyes from the pain, but she couldn’t explain.
How could she admit she’d actually been cursing at Old Man Li from the military hospital?
This was all Doctor Liang’s fault—if she hadn’t acted so high-and-mighty and refused to tell her,
she wouldn’t have had to go to Old Man Li’s clinic in the first place.
And that old man was no saint either.
All she did was ask whether this baby was a boy or a girl,
and he threw her out!
Was it wrong to vent after holding in so much anger?
Who would’ve thought luck would be so rotten—her own mother-in-law overheard her.
"Mom, I really wasn’t cursing you..."
Old Lady Xiang spat at her. "Let me ask you this: you left early in the morning and still haven’t come back to cook. Are you trying to starve this old woman to death?"
Li Mei was nearly suffocating with frustration. "I..."
"'I' what? I’m asking you—did you find out or not? Is this baby a boy or a girl?"
"The doctor said the hospital has its rules..."
"Rules, my foot!"
Old Lady Xiang flew into a rage. "Useless thing! If they won’t tell you, can’t you find a way around it?"
"You’ve already given birth to three worthless girls. If this one’s another daughter, you won’t be a daughter-in-law of this family anymore. Pack your things and get back to your parents’ house!"
The moment she heard "go back to her parents’ house," Li Mei’s face turned deathly pale.
In their hometown, favoring sons over daughters was the norm. Women who couldn’t bear sons weren’t even allowed to eat at the table.
Behind their backs, people called them "incomplete."
And if she got divorced? Forget her parents’ home—she wouldn’t even have a place to be buried when she died!
No. She couldn’t go back to the countryside.
Her husband had worked so hard to rise to the rank of deputy battalion commander. She’d only been living in the military family quarters for less than a year.
The good life had just begun—she’d rather die than get divorced.
Having made up her mind, Li Mei’s eyes darkened.
"Mom, I... I hadn’t finished what I was saying earlier..."
Her next words were spoken so softly that Jiang Si and the others couldn’t make them out.
But the next second, Old Lady Xiang burst into laughter. "Really? The doctor said you’re carrying a boy this time?"
