CHAPTER 362: CHAPTER 362: ANGRY

Erxi said to Yang Peimin, "You’re inexperienced with this, so if there are any inconveniences, just say the word. We who have been through it can lend you a hand."

Yang Peimin quickly thanked her, finding Erxi a warm-hearted big sister and quite likable. "Sure, if there’s anything, I won’t stand on ceremony with you."

"Speaking of which, you and Sanni are three months apart, but how come your bellies almost look the same?" Tan Yan rolled her eyes, seemingly asking casually.

Ge Sanni smiled lightly, "When I was pregnant with my son, my belly was also too big. Giving birth nearly took my life then. A big baby isn’t easy to deliver."

Yang Peimin just glanced at her, suspecting her own issue might be inadequate nutrition.

Erxi laughed, "You never know, Peimin’s doesn’t look that big either. If she ends up having a chubby little boy, the family would be overjoyed. You should walk around more often, I’ve heard that climbing stairs and such can help with childbirth."

Yang Peimin nodded, "I’ll go to the hospital for a prenatal check-up in a few days and listen to the doctor’s advice."

Ge Sanni was surprised, "You’re not suffering any pains, why go to the hospital? The smell over there isn’t great either. Don’t scare the baby with that trip."

Although prenatal check-ups weren’t common now, and there were no devices like ultrasound, they could still use a stethoscope to listen to the fetal heart rate and rely on the doctor’s experience to assess if the baby’s development was normal. A visit could provide some peace of mind. It wasn’t that she was being overly fussy, it was because of that near miscarriage incident before; she desperately needed a sense of security. Also, as Ge Sanni had mentioned, a large fetus could complicate delivery and she was genuinely worried about it. At this time, most deliveries were natural, and she needed to go check things out, "I’m just going to listen to the fetal heart rate."

Erxi tried to persuade her, "Oh my, Peimin, I think Sanni is right. We’re eating and sleeping well, why fuss about with those things? It’s a waste of money too."

Yang Peimin just smiled.

Knowing she hadn’t heeded her advice, Erxi sighed deeply.

Guo Caixia laughed, "Peimin is too anxious. Remember, she had to be hospitalized previously? Being cautious about this also brings some peace of mind."

The weather had recently warmed up with no rain, and everything was coming back to life with the zest of spring. The talented boys and girls of the Chinese Department felt a surge of poetic inspiration and proposed a spring outing and picnic in the class.

They were discussing this in the dormitory, financing the activity themselves by organizing a trip to scenic spots, covering transportation, accommodations, and meal costs. Although some thought it was expensive and were reluctant, most found it acceptable and were willing to tighten their belts for the trip. It was a collective matter, and excluding oneself too much could look unsociable—some were even working on connections for future job opportunities.

"I think it’ll cost at least three yuan. I can still save on this month’s food expenses, so it’s feasible," Cheng Aihua was calculating her budget for the month.

"You’ve calculated well. It’s rare for everyone to gather, so it’d be fun to go and enjoy," someone chimed in.

As they talked about this rare relaxation, everyone was enthusiastically joining in the discussion.

Yang Peimin looked on enviously; her classmates were all bookworms with none of these ideas. Even if she went, it would just be her and Li Yue, the only two girls, which might not be fun. Joining other departments would be better, but even if it were possible, she still couldn’t go with her big belly.

Ge San Ni also breathed a sigh of relief, glad that she was pregnant and didn’t have to pay that unjust money.

Zhu Qing slowly reminded everyone of the things they needed to bring: scarves, handkerchiefs, towels, cups, mirrors, combs, etc., looking like someone who had been through it all.

Liu Yilan turned her face and curled her lips, as if only she knew it.

Seeing that a storm was about to erupt in the dormitory again, Yang PeiMin timely lay down, ready for her afternoon nap.

Thinking of her pregnancy, Feng Exi swapped beds with her to save her from climbing up and down, which could be dangerous.

Feng Erxi’s bed was inside, next to Liu Yilan’s, and though they were foes, she still used a curtain to create a small space for herself.

But once she lay down, she felt a smell that was lingering.

She sat up again, shook out her bedding, even her pillow, the pink pillowcase showed a few strands of hair that were dry and split, definitely not her own—someone had been sleeping in her bed!

She immediately felt suffocated. Even on rainy days, she only let her sister come over to deliver meals at noon; she would always return home at night.

Thus, her bed at night was dressed with two quilts—one underneath and one on top, both the damask-faced and cotton ones being soft and thick, warm and comfortable. Although the weather had turned warmer, the night temperature was still quite low, so she didn’t take a quilt home, never expecting that someone would take advantage by doing this. Her mild obsession with cleanliness could not tolerate this quilt that someone had slept in and left smelling.

When someone in the dorm saw her shaking the quilt, they asked, "What’s wrong, PeiMin?"

Yang PeiMin, not one to keep things to herself, directly asked, "Who’s been sleeping in my bed?"

Immediately, several pairs of eyes turned toward Ge San Ni.

Tan Yan even asked in surprise, "She didn’t tell you?"

Yang PeiMin looked at Ge San Ni, who sat up straight and hastily said, "I’m sorry PeiMin, I forgot to tell you. I had back pain last night, it was cold and painful, and the hard wooden board below was too cold and hard... I thought of padding half the quilt and covering with the other half, but alas, the quilt was not big enough, and mine is an old cotton one, quite firm... Thinking about your cotton padded bed, I just lay down there for a while. I really should have asked you first, it was just a moment of desperation, we both know what it’s like when the back pain hits... it’s really unbearable..." She even looked a bit pitiful while speaking.

Yang PeiMin sneered, "Comrade Ge San Ni, taking without asking is theft, you must have heard this saying, right? Who doesn’t prepare their own quilts for winter? Are you a refugee or something?"

Ge San Ni’s face turned beet red, "PeiMin, that’s too harsh. I was just borrowing it, how does that make me a thief?"

"Borrowing? Did you ask me? Did I agree? Stop making excuses, are you just trying to take advantage of being pregnant? I really didn’t know that being pregnant could make one so shameless!" Yang PeiMin glared at her as if she was entitled, almost as if pregnancy was a get-out-of-jail-free card.

Ge San Ni’s face turned red and then pale, in front of everyone’s astonished eyes, and her face flushed painfully as if someone had slapped her.