CHAPTER 1745: CHAPTER 1745 CHILDISH QI

After Ao Qi left, Yingtong often came to find Bai Ruozhu for company. She didn’t have many familiar people around, and since Chu Hai had other errands, it wasn’t appropriate for them to be always together.

Yingtong curiously asked about Ao Qi’s beloved, but her tone no longer carried anger and jealousy; instead, it was filled with curiosity and concern.

"I also hope cousin can find his true love. It’s always nice when two people in love end up together," Yingtong murmured, then turned her gaze to Bai Ruozhu’s belly and curiously asked, "Do you know if you’re having a boy or a girl?"

"At this stage, it’s still too early to tell. Besides, I don’t plan on finding out. I’d rather keep it a surprise until the baby is born," Bai Ruozhu said with a smile, gently caressing her belly. Having a child had made her demeanor much softer, radiating maternal brilliance.

"Could it be twins? Your belly is noticeably bigger than my father’s concubine’s," Yingtong tilted her head to scrutinize Bai Ruozhu’s belly.

Bai Ruozhu laughed, "How many days since you left home? If you go back now and see her, I’m sure you’ll think her belly is bigger than mine."

"I don’t want to go back yet, I still haven’t had enough fun," Yingtong said seriously.

After she left, Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but ponder her words and carefully checked her own pulse.

She checked for a long time, withdrew her hand with a frown, and placed it back on her pulse again. After some time, she took her hand back again.

Her face was a mixture of surprise and worry, with an odd expression.

"Jianqi, send someone to Fushou Hall in the city to invite a doctor good at checking happy pulses," she instructed Jianqi outside the door.

"Yes." Jianqi immediately sent someone to invite a doctor, but muttered to himself, wondering why the mistress needed another doctor. Could something be wrong?

The news of Bai Ruozhu seeking a doctor quickly reached the ears of the two elders in the residence, who hurried to Bai Ruozhu’s room with concern, asking, "Ruozhu, is something the matter?"

"Dad, Mom, don’t overthink it. I’m suspecting it’s twins, but I’m not quite sure, so I want to get another doctor’s opinion." In her previous life, she didn’t specialize much in obstetrics, having practiced with common illnesses but rarely taking the pulse of pregnant women.

Bai Yihong and his wife were overjoyed at the thought of twins, as it meant doubling the blessing in one go.

When the old doctor arrived and took Bai Ruozhu’s pulse carefully, he finally confirmed it.

"It is indeed twins, congratulations!" the old doctor said cheerfully. After all, twins were rare, and diagnosing one was like sharing in the joy.

"It’s not easy to tell the gender of twins right now. In about a month, I might be able to help you check," the doctor added.

Bai Ruozhu quickly waved her hand, "No, there’s no need. Whether it’s a boy or a girl, it doesn’t matter. We’ll find out when they’re born."

The old doctor smiled and nodded, accepted the red envelope from Lin Ping’er, and left cheerfully.

"We must thank Hong Xiu later; her luck with twins seems to have passed on to you!" Lin Ping’er said with a wide smile, her mouth practically reaching her ears.

Bai Ruozhu found it amusing and asked, "Having twins depends on genetics, you know, like if relatives on Dad’s or Mom’s side had twins."

Bai Yihong’s expression froze for a moment as he thought of his biological father Bai Guanghe. He had been in Beiyu City for a few days but hadn’t met Bai Guanghe yet.

Of course, he hadn’t decided whether he wanted to meet Bai Guanghe or not.

Lin Ping’er was too excited to notice Bai Yihong’s reaction and said with a look of sudden realization, "Your grandma had twins, two boys actually, but..."

At this point, Lin Ping’er regretted her words, wishing she could bite her own tongue off. Would bringing this up cause her daughter to overthink?

Bai Ruozhu thought for a moment and remembered the story her mother told about her grandma’s twins.

Because twins were hard to raise, and her twin boys were born prematurely. One didn’t make it past a year due to illness, and the other, being weak, contracted malaria when it swept through the village at nine years old.

Her grandma had ruined her health by giving birth to twins and had no more children afterwards.

"Ruozhu, you’re healthy and skilled in medicine; you’ll surely have a smooth delivery," Lin Ping’er said, trying to change the tone, even nudging Bai Yihong with her elbow, indicating he should say some comforting words too.

Bai Yihong, lost in thought, was jolted back to reality and immediately became nervous, raising his voice, "What’s wrong? What’s wrong?"

Lin Ping’er wished she could slap him; he was just pouring fuel on the fire.

"Mom, don’t worry too much. Though twins can be more challenging to deliver, I’ll be fine," Bai Ruozhu reassured her mother.

"Yes, yes, mom won’t think about it too much," Lin Ping’er quickly agreed.

At this moment, Nanny Zhang came in with Little Dengdeng, who hurried over with his small legs, staring with big dark eyes, saying, "Mom, I heard the maid say you have two babies in your belly, is it true?"

Bai Ruozhu smiled and patted his head, "Yes, it’s confirmed that there are two babies."

Little Dengdeng clapped his hands excitedly, "That’s great! I have two little brothers! I can teach them martial arts, and I’ll protect them!"

Lin Ping’er and Bai Yihong were delighted to hear this and laughed along, but Bai Ruozhu twitched her mouth, somewhat indignant, saying, "Who said there’re two little brothers? Mom wants two little sisters."

She could let it slide before, but now saying they’re two stinky boys was something she couldn’t accept!

"It’s definitely two little brothers!" Little Dengdeng puffed out his small chest, "I’ve already seen it!"

Bai Ruozhu glared at her son, "Don’t talk nonsense, Mom doesn’t want two stinky boys!"

"Two little brothers!"

"Two little sisters!"

"Brothers!"

"Sisters!"

Lin Ping’er and Bai Yihong watched the childish quarrel between the big one and the little one, feeling like a flock of crows flew over their heads...

After a while, Lin Ping’er snapped back, hastily saying, "Alright, alright, no more arguing. Maybe it’s one brother and one sister, like boy and girl twins!"

Bai Ruozhu pouted, well, she could reluctantly accept that.

Little Dengdeng also huffed and turned his head, saying, "Fine."

Lin Ping’er and Bai Yihong exchanged glances and couldn’t help but laugh. Both the grown-up and the young one were acting like kids; they let Little Dengdeng be, but why was Ruozhu behaving so willfully?

After leaving Bai Ruozhu’s yard, Lin Ping’er couldn’t help but grumble, but Bai Yihong glared at her and said, "Don’t blame the daughter. Remember when you had Dalang and Erlang, you were anxious to have a girl? When Jin Pozi from the village told you to have many sons early, you practically scolded her to tears. Later, I had to go apologize to her. Jin Pozi couldn’t understand why someone would be offended by her well-intentioned wishes for many sons."

Bai Yihong laughed after speaking, "Then every time someone said your belly looked like it carried a boy, you’d cry your eyes out. And now you’re teasing your daughter?"