Yang Yufen asked the doctor, but the results wouldn’t be ready anytime soon. However, the hospital had a traditional Chinese medicine physician, so Yang Yufen pulled the distracted Qin Nian along to see him.
The elderly doctor took Qin Nian’s pulse, asking her to switch wrists a couple of times.
“You’re most likely pregnant. Your health is good—just keep taking care of yourself as you have been. Eat well and don’t overexert yourself.”
Without prescribing any medicine, the old doctor simply said this before ushering in the next patient.
Yang Yufen led Qin Nian out.
Qin Nian couldn’t believe she was really pregnant.
“Let’s go. While we have time, we’ll stop by the military base to collect the allowance,” Yang Yufen said.
Qin Nian nodded. This time, as she sat in the sidecar of the three-wheeled motorcycle, she suddenly smiled. The feeling wasn’t so bad after all.
But after a while, Qin Nian thought about her work. Now that she was pregnant, would her mother-in-law ask her to take a break? The first phase of her project had gone so smoothly, and the second was about to begin—she didn’t want to give it up.
Military Base
“Commander, what should we do now? How do we break the news to Shen Xianjun’s family? He’s their only son, with just his mother left. If she hears this and something happens to her, how can we face our comrade’s family?”
“Political Commissar Zhao, how do you suggest we handle this?”
Political Commissar Zhao, addressed by his superior, frowned deeply.
“Shen Xianjun is married. We should inform his wife. She’s a good comrade.”
A heavy silence fell over the room after his words. Finally, the commander struck the table in agreement.
“Report! Political Commissar, Shen Xianjun’s mother and wife have come to the base. They already know.”
The group, who had just settled on a plan, froze. How had Shen Xianjun’s mother found out? And at such a coincidental time—this was bad!
Everyone in the office immediately stood up.
“Where are they?”
The company commander, battalion commander, regimental commander, and Political Commissar Zhao hurried toward the office where Yang Yufen and Qin Nian were waiting.
Qin Nian hadn’t expected this—Shen Xianjun was missing. He had disappeared during a mission, which was why there had been no news from him.
She was holding up alright, having not spent much time with Shen Xianjun yet. But what about her mother-in-law? How heartbroken she must be.
Qin Nian looked at Yang Yufen with concern.
Yang Yufen was indeed grieving. With her son missing, what would happen to his allowance? It couldn’t be counted as a sacrifice since he was still alive—she knew the truth, but she couldn’t say anything.
Without the allowance, her daughter-in-law would have to support both the baby and her. That would be too much.
The group of officers arrived swiftly, before Yang Yufen could think further.
“Comrade Yang Yufen, Comrade Qin Nian, we sincerely apologize.”
They began with a deep bow.
“You entrusted your son to us, Comrade Yang Yufen, and we failed to protect him. Shen Xianjun was an outstanding soldier. This mission was critical, and we never expected such an outcome. We are deeply sorry.”
As they spoke, the officers bowed again.
“No, no—this is his honor. I sent him to the army knowing this day might come. Missing doesn’t mean gone. As long as there’s no confirmation, he’s still alive. I just worry about my daughter-in-law. If she weren’t pregnant, the army could help arrange a divorce so they could both move on.”
Yang Yufen’s words struck the officers like a hammer. This… this made things even worse.
Exchanging glances, Political Commissar Zhao stepped forward.
“Auntie Yang, your understanding is commendable, and Comrade Qin Nian is a fine revolutionary. We will spare no effort in searching for Shen Xianjun—we never abandon our comrades.
“Rest assured, until he is found, Shen Xianjun’s allowance will continue. You and Qin Nian must take care of your health. That’s what matters most.”
Yang Yufen had assumed the allowance would stop once her son went missing. She hadn’t expected it to continue, but if he remained missing for two years, surely it wouldn’t last forever. She’d have to find work.
“Thank you, thank you. We appreciate the army and our country’s support. My daughter-in-law is pregnant—she shouldn’t be under stress. I’ll take her home and stay to care for her until the child is born and ready for school.”
The officers felt even more ashamed of the people’s trust in them, but this arrangement seemed best. If any difficulties arose, they could assist more easily. They’d also inform the research institute’s leadership to look after Qin Nian.
“We’ll have a military vehicle take you and Comrade Qin back to the institute.”
“No need, we came by three-wheeler. We can manage.”
Still uneasy, the officers assigned someone to escort them back and report afterward.
“No wonder Shen Xianjun accomplished so much. With a mother like this raising him, how could he not excel? So understanding! I heard she even served in the militia—a true iron lady of the commune.”
The officers sighed in admiration.
On the way back, Qin Nian didn’t dare speak. They had meant to buy clothes for Yang Yufen today, but instead, they’d received devastating news. She didn’t know how to comfort her mother-in-law.
Once home, before Qin Nian could think of words, Yang Yufen embraced her, gently patting her back like soothing feathers.
“Don’t worry, Nian. Even if Xianjun is gone, I’ll take care of you. Focus on your pregnancy. Work if you want to—just stay happy. That’s what’s best for you and the baby.”
Tears spilled from Qin Nian’s eyes.
“Mom, I know. You don’t worry either. I have my salary. As long as I keep working at the institute, we can stay in this house as long as we need. You’ll live here with me from now on.”
The two women comforted each other.
When Dean Hu and Professor Wen heard the news, they were deeply troubled.
They had arranged this marriage, and now, barely after the wedding, the husband had vanished. The army couldn’t even find him—his chances of survival were slim. What were they to do?
Worse still, Qin Nian had just discovered she was pregnant. Her husband had been raised by a widowed mother—he was her only son. She would never allow Qin Nian to divorce or abandon the child.
So Qin Nian was bound to the Shen family forever.
Having lived through turbulent times, Dean Hu and Professor Wen feared the worst. What if Yang Yufen blamed Qin Nian for her son’s death? No matter how kind she seemed now, people changed.
Dean Hu didn’t even rest. He and his wife rushed to Qin Nian’s home.
At the door, they hesitated, listening for any signs of distress. The silence only made them more anxious.
Had something already happened?
“Nian! Nian!” Professor Wen called out twice.
Hearing the voices, Yang Yufen answered first, telling Qin Nian to wait inside while she went to open the door.
