TPW – Chapter 103

May wasn’t too hot yet, but summer styles were already being rushed into production.

By late May, the new styles had launched. Checkered skirts were trending in the market, so they stocked sixty pieces at the factory—and they sold out in just one week!

Business was booming. Aside from breakfast and lunch, Qiao Lu only got to see her man after five in the afternoon.

Although she had her son by her side, perhaps due to pregnancy hormones, her usually carefree self started to feel lonely at times. Sometimes, she’d lean on the windowsill gazing at the distant scenery and think—it would actually be quite nice if they were still in the courtyard housing, where she could chat with Wu Guifang and the others.

Although she’d become familiar with the neighbors here, most people her age worked during the day. There was no one to keep her company.

Sigh.

Life had been like this since after the Spring Festival, continuing into June—now seven and a half months pregnant, Qiao Lu began to feel a bit resentful.

That afternoon, when she got home, Xu Haizhou was cooking in the kitchen. Qiao Lu stood at the doorway, gesturing to her round belly and asked gloomily, “Haizhou, tell me honestly, have I gotten a lot fatter lately?”

He glanced at her amid the busyness, smiled, and said, “Yeah, definitely fatter compared to before pregnancy.”

“Then I must not be as pretty as before,” Qiao Lu tilted her head and asked.

Xu Haizhou chuckled, expertly sprinkling salt, and in a few swift motions scooped out the sweet and sour pork ribs: “What are you saying? You’re still beautiful. You used to be a beautiful skinny girl, and now you’re a beautiful chubby one.”

Just as he said that, little Qiao An ran in eagerly, raising his hand: “Dad, let me carry it!”

Xu Haizhou handed over the dish, then heard his little wife grumble, “I don’t want to be a beautiful chubby girl.”

He washed his hands, dried them, cupped her face, and kissed her pouty, unhappy lips: “You can be anything you want, I’ll still love you no matter what.”

“Then… those young girls who come to our shop every day to buy clothes—they’re all so pretty. Don’t you ever think about anything else when you see them?”

Aha—so this was the real question.

Qiao Lu had already gained weight for at least two months now. Her figure was unrecognizable, no makeup, no dressing up, and she could only wear loose casual clothes.

Even Xu Haizhou aside—sometimes she’d look in the mirror and couldn’t help overthinking.

But what she didn’t know was: this was still the hormones messing with her emotions.

Even with the added ten-plus pounds, she was still beautiful. The weight was all in the right places. Her face only showed a hint of “pregnancy glow,” and her chest had grown the most—honestly, it was growing out of control. If it accidentally brushed against him, Xu Haizhou wouldn’t be surprised if he “suffocated” in it.

“You’re overthinking again.” He turned around, tossed the last cucumber salad with seasoning, and brought it to the table. Then he scooped her up in a bridal carry.

“Fat? Then how come I can still lift you so easily?” He gently placed her on the sofa and expertly massaged her feet.

“I’m busy out of my mind all day, and you think I still have time to look at other girls?” He pressed harder in frustration, making Qiao Lu moan in comfort.

She gave him a sidelong glance, lazily reclining against the sofa cushion: “So what if you look? It doesn’t cost anything.”

“Well fine, let’s say I do see them—what am I supposed to do, close my eyes while running the store?”

It’s not like he could not look. Sometimes, not only did he have to look, he had to look carefully—offering styling advice, helping customers pair outfits… How could he not look? He was one measuring tape away from custom fittings!

She pinched his face in annoyance—it was so firm and tight, she was jealous.

“Then you should at least tell me more stuff. I’m home all day—I feel completely cut off from the world.” Her tone was aggrieved, and Xu Haizhou instantly understood.

“It’s been three months since I went to Baiyun Street. I don’t even know what it looks like anymore. How’s Li Hongjun and his girlfriend? Did Yu Fan go find Fang Youwei? And what’s going on with Li Xiuxiu’s family of five? I’m so curious, but I don’t know a thing!”

Xu Haizhou had an epiphany.

It wasn’t that he was careless—but he hadn’t considered this angle.

Then again, he was truly busy every day, always thinking about what to cook for her after work. Naturally, he overlooked her emotional needs.

This wasn’t her being unreasonable—it really was pregnancy stress.

So Xu Haizhou held Qiao Lu and told her everything she wanted to know, in great detail.

After that day, he made it a habit: no matter how busy he was, he’d be home before five every day. Then he’d give her a rundown of his day, share amusing business stories.

Sometimes, if business ran late, they’d eat out. He’d bring along Li Hongjun and the others to make things lively—so Qiao Lu wouldn’t feel lonely.

He’d once suggested inviting her mother to the city to take care of her, but Qiao Lu had refused. She didn’t want to hear her sister-in-law’s nagging.

Even if something happened at home, she had An’an. If she fell or needed help, An’an could get the neighbors. Most same-age folks were out during the day, but there were plenty of older residents always strolling downstairs.

Sure enough, for the rest of her pregnancy, Qiao Lu never again “acted out.” In fact, she felt her days were quite fulfilling.

She tried to curb her temper. Before Xu Haizhou got home, she’d be at the door waiting. Qiao An would happily fetch his dad’s slippers, and Qiao Lu would sweetly link arms with him. A warm little family of four would snuggle and chat about the day before dinner.

Honestly, sometimes there wasn’t much to say—business was routine—but faced with his wife’s expectant eyes, Xu Haizhou would rack his brain to make it all sound interesting.

“Remember that translator from last year? The one who brought two foreign women shopping?”

Without much thought, Qiao Lu replied, “Yeah, I remember. Why?”

Massaging her shoulders, Xu Haizhou smiled. “She came again. This time, no foreign ladies—just her alone.”

Qiao Lu: “Oh. What’s she here for?”

That translator was pretty, actually. Elegant, cultured, confident—definitely had charm.

Xu Haizhou looked down at her: “To buy clothes, what else?”

Qiao Lu frowned, pointing at his face: “Are you yelling at me?”

Xu Haizhou: “???”

He sighed, amused, and flicked her ear: “No yelling. I just meant, what else would she come for besides shopping?”

“Hmph… how would I know,” Qiao Lu pouted.

“She immediately liked three sets. Two you designed, one was factory stock—a checkered skirt. She even asked if she could get a discount with foreign exchange coupons.”

He smiled, then tapped her round nose: “Of course I said yes. Guess how many coupons I got from her this time?”

“How many?” Qiao Lu was intrigued. She began chattering, “I really want a fridge, you know? It’d be perfect for summer—stash some ice cream in there! Remember how hot it got a few days ago? I was dying for ice cream, but no one’s selling it this season. Ugh, so annoying.”

“You’re pregnant—can you eat cold stuff?” He laughed. “A fridge, huh? That thing’s expensive. No way we can afford it with just a few coupons.”

“Then what can we buy?” A lightbulb went off—Qiao Lu got excited: “Air conditioner? Lian’s summers are so hot!”

“Air conditioner?” Xu Haizhou laughed. “Even less possible. You know how much those cost?”

“How much?” Qiao Lu asked.

“About half the price of a house.”

“Hsssss—”

“Forget it. Better to buy another house. It’ll appreciate in value.”

Xu Haizhou had looked into the housing market in the developed port cities. He wasn’t sure if mainland houses would appreciate, but if they had the money, buying more couldn’t hurt.

Now they had two kids. One house for each, and one for themselves—three minimum.

Xu Haizhou: “Alright.”

Qiao Lu: “So how many coupons did you get, exactly?”

“Hmm… enough for an oven, I think.”

“Oven?!” Qiao Lu gasped and thumped his chest. “You even know what that is?”

Xu Haizhou chuckled and shook his head: “Why wouldn’t I? You think I wouldn’t know?”

He was a businessman, after all. Of course he knew what an oven was.

He’d noticed she liked making Chinese pastries. He’d bought her cakes from a bakery a few times, saw the ovens in the back, and thought it’d be nice to get her one—give her something to do at home.

“Ovens can make more stuff. When you’ve got time, buy a book and study it.”

“Study what? I’m not training to be a pastry chef. And look at my belly—I haven’t made anything in ages! I’m just resting all day, can’t do anything.” She didn’t even have the strength.

Even standing for a few minutes exhausted her—how could she be expected to bake?

“Alright, up to you. What do you want?”

After thinking for a while, Qiao Lu lit up: “Right! A washing machine! That’s super practical—let’s buy that!”

Well… to be honest… washing machines cost about the same as fridges.

Still, seeing his wife’s excited face, Xu Haizhou smiled:

“Okay. I’ll see what I can do.”

By early August, the air outside was scorching. The ground felt like it was coated in hot oil, and people walking on the streets looked like wilted scallions.

Qiao Lu’s body had stabilized—no longer gaining or losing weight, no more nausea—but new problems emerged.

For example, she had to get up every night to pee. And once she did, she couldn’t fall back asleep—sometimes she stayed awake until dawn.

Turning over made her pant. Lying down too long made her bones ache. Walking hurt her belly. Sitting was uncomfortable, lying down wasn’t better.

In these tough conditions, Xu Haizhou decided to stop working one month before the due date to take care of her full-time.

One night after dinner, just twenty minutes later, Qiao Lu said she was hungry again and wanted noodles.

After he cooked them, she held the bowl and started crying.

“I want burgers, fried chicken, fries, ice cream, cola… sob sob… Haizhou, when will this baby come out? I can’t take it anymore…”

*Sigh—*he wanted to know that too.

He took out a handkerchief, wiped her tears, and held her close, comforting her: “It’s okay, it’s okay. Soon. This month, remember? We’ll go to the hospital in a couple days. Maybe…”

“Ah—”

Before he could finish, Qiao Lu clutched her belly in pain and curled up in his arms.

“What is it? Another cramp?” He thought it was a leg cramp.

“It hurts—hsssss—it hurts so bad—” But her reaction didn’t look like any regular cramp.

Little Qiao An, who’d been watching TV, was alarmed and rushed over like the wind, grabbing her hand: “Mama! Mama! Are you in pain again? I’ll massage you!”

He eagerly started rubbing her arms and legs, but this time, something felt different.

“Haizhou… I think—I think it’s time…”