Chapter 366: Twins

Chapter 366: Chapter 366: Twins

The next day, after taking the children to kindergarten, Han Xiaorui went to the hospital with Ye Feng for a prenatal check-up.

Prenatal check-ups back then were relatively simple.

Previously, she had only gotten a positive test result, but she didn’t know anything about the condition of the baby in her womb.

This time, the prenatal check-up included an ultrasound.

The doctor, surprised, smiled at Han Xiaorui on the examination bed and said, "It’s twins! They’re in very good condition, but since you’re carrying two, you’ll need to be extra careful."

Han Xiaorui was taken aback. "Twins again?"

"What’s the matter? Do twins run in your family?" the doctor asked, curious about Han Xiaorui’s surprise.

Twins weren’t unheard of at the time, but they were still uncommon.

Han Xiaorui thought for a moment and nodded. "My biological mother and my aunt are twins, so I guess I have the gene. I already have two daughters, and they’re also twins."

The doctor froze. "Then... does this mean you’ve exceeded the birth limit?"

The others in the room also looked on with pity. The family planning policy was very strict, and exceeding the birth limit was forbidden.

Han Xiaorui smiled. "I haven’t violated the policy. My ex-husband moved abroad, and we divorced. This pregnancy is with my current husband. He doesn’t have any children yet, and we’re married, so of course we’re allowed to have a baby."

Upon hearing this, the doctor’s face cleared with understanding, and she let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, that’s good. I was truly worried you had violated the policy. Honestly, we... well, there’s nothing for it. It’s national policy."

The country only had so many resources. With a rapidly growing population, there wasn’t enough food to go around, to say nothing of national development.

Han Xiaorui smiled. "We understand it’s the national policy; we wouldn’t break it. Doctor, are they girls or boys in there?"

"They’re..." The doctor started to say, but she caught herself. "You’re only three months along; they’re too small to see clearly. Boys or girls, they are both the next generation. Besides, Chairman Mao said that women hold up half the sky. We shouldn’t be favoring boys over girls."

Han Xiaorui laughed at her words. "Then I won’t ask anymore. Boy or girl, as long as the babies are healthy, that’s what’s important. I don’t prefer boys over girls. Our revolutionary predecessors shed their blood and laid down their lives to win our liberation; we can’t let things slide backward in our generation."

The doctor laughed as well. "That’s the right attitude. We women study, learn, and become doctors—we’re not a bit inferior to men. My skills are even better than some of the male doctors’!"

Han Xiaorui laughed heartily. "Female scientists, mathematicians, and physicists—our country is full of emerging talent. Women are no less capable than men. Who says women are inferior? ’Heaven gave me talent for a reason’—that applies to women, too."

"If worth is judged solely by gender, that’s truly a step backward for society and a tragedy for humankind. Whether man or woman, we should all live and work based on our abilities."

The doctor was quite taken aback by her words. "Comrade Han, you’re very well-spoken. What is it you do for a living?"

The nurse standing nearby was also quite surprised.

Han Xiaorui answered, "I’m a ship’s captain. I have three sea vessels to my name, and I usually go out to sea with the crew."

At these words, the doctor’s eyes lit up. She glanced at the address on Han Xiaorui’s file. "Jinshan Bay? I know you! I remember there was a news report about you last year; I saw it. No wonder you’re so impressive. So you’re the woman who conquers the sea."

"Haha!" Han Xiaorui laughed. "Doctor, you give me too much credit. I haven’t conquered the sea; I just make a living from it."

"That’s impressive enough," the doctor said, finishing her examination. "Both babies are very healthy, rest assured. You’ve given birth before, so I won’t go into detail. Just remember to take all the necessary precautions."

"Thank you, Doctor!" Han Xiaorui said gratefully. In the end, the doctor just prescribed her some vitamin E.

Ye Feng was waiting outside. Even though Han Xiaorui had insisted she was perfectly healthy, he was still a little worried.

When he saw Han Xiaorui emerge, Ye Feng rushed to her side. "Xiao Rui, how did it go?"

Han Xiaorui handed him the report. "See for yourself!"

Ye Feng froze for a second, taking the ultrasound printout. It was just a black and blurry image that he couldn’t make sense of, but he knew how to read and could understand the conclusion written at the bottom.

Twins!

"Xiao Rui, there are two babies in there?" Ye Feng asked anxiously, reaching out to support Han Xiaorui as if she were a fragile doll.

Han Xiaorui nodded. "That’s right. I asked about their gender, but the doctor wouldn’t say. She did tell me that both babies are very healthy, though."

Ye Feng couldn’t stop smiling. "Wonderful. That’s just wonderful. Boys or girls, it’s all good, as long as they’re healthy."

"The check-up’s done, let’s go home. When Grandma and Grandpa hear you’re carrying twins, they’re going to be absolutely thrilled."

"Okay. After lunch, we’ll take the yacht home." Han Xiaorui was still thinking about that yacht, impatient to try it out.

Ye Feng nodded. "Okay."

Sure enough, back at the Xu residence, when Grandma Xu found out Han Xiaorui was having twins, she got so excited she nearly fainted. She had to take one of her quick-acting heart pills before she recovered.

"Xiao Rui, it’s the fishing off-season, so you need to rest well. Don’t you lift a finger. Let Ye Feng do everything, or get someone else to do it." Grandma Xu wished she could just keep Han Xiaorui by her side to watch over her personally.

However, from what she knew of Han Xiaorui, she wasn’t the type of person to simply follow others’ arrangements. Han Xiaorui always had her own plans.

Han Xiaorui smiled. "Grandma, don’t worry, my body is strong. I’m still very agile, and I’ve been pregnant before. I know how to take care of myself."

Grandma Xu grasped Han Xiaorui’s hand. "I know saying this might bring up unhappy memories, but you weren’t taken care of properly during your last pregnancy."

"You went through so much, both emotionally and physically. Now that you’re pregnant, let Ye Feng and all of us take good care of you. I know you’re a very independent person, but pregnancy is one of the most vulnerable times in a woman’s life."

"Ordinarily, you don’t need anyone’s help, but now isn’t the time to act tough. You need to be looked after. As your husband and your family, it’s our duty to help and care for you when you need it most."

Han Xiaorui was stunned. She was so used to bearing everything alone. To suddenly hear Grandma Xu say that she deserved to be looked after, to be cherished... a lump formed in her throat.

’All this time, I’ve been my daughters’ entire world, my sister’s rock, the backbone of my crew.’

’But here, I can be the one who is cherished and looked after without having to do a thing.’

"Thank you, Grandma!" Han Xiaorui said, genuinely grateful. While she knew their concern was partly for the sake of the babies she was carrying, she could also feel the genuine warmth of the Xu family.

That morning, as soon as Grandma Xu heard Han Xiaorui was having a prenatal check-up, she had instructed the kitchen to stew some fish maw for her to build up her strength.

After lunch, Ye Feng took Han Xiaorui back to their house next door to rest.

With a full stomach, Han Xiaorui felt especially drowsy and quickly fell asleep.

When she woke up, it was already three-thirty in the afternoon.

She got out of bed, walked to the window, and saw Ye Feng under a tree in the yard, holding a book.

He was wearing a neat white shirt, crisply pressed trousers, and casual leather shoes. Leaning back in a lounge chair with his legs crossed, he was completely absorbed in his book.

’My man is so handsome!’