After crossing the Yangtze River, the start of autumn was only a few days away. The weather was as hot as ever. After several rains, the sky was clear and blue. Walking along the road, the mountains blocked the view, but all that met the eye was a stretch of lush green. He Ping'an's earlier nausea had completely dissipated. She touched her belly, but didn't see any change in her waistline, suspecting it was just seasickness. Gu Lanyin was worried and said he would take her to see a doctor.
The two entered the city. The mule, having eaten well along the way, had grown tall and strong. All the goods had been sold, leaving the mule free of burden. On the road, people sometimes looked over; in the mountains, many raised oxen but few raised mules. Some had never even seen a mule in their lives. The woman on the mule wore a hooded veil to shade herself from the sun. Seeing curious glances all around, she seemed a bit nervous, afraid of running into acquaintances. Not knowing what had happened in the five years since she left, He Ping'an looked at the changes around her and worried about the condition of her old home. What if it had collapsed?
At the medical clinic. The old physician took He Ping'an's pulse. After a long while, he said to the man beside her: "Madam is with child. Congratulations!" He Ping'an's heart surged with shock—it was actually true! She lifted the veil covering her face and was momentarily at a loss.
That night on the boat, she had bitten Gu Lanyin, and afterward he had indeed restrained himself a bit. Knowing that he was going back home, He Ping'an turned her head and whispered: "Don't trouble yourself."
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