Marriage in the 1970s: The Political Commissar's Contract Wife

The doctor hesitated for a moment, then cautiously shook his head: "My personal suggestion is to wait a little longer. Although the pregnancy is stable now, long-distance travel, the bumpy ride, and the noisy environment still pose certain risks for pregnant women who need absolute rest. It would be best to wait until four or five months, when the fetus is larger and more 'secure' in the uterus, before traveling."

This suggestion was like a pebble thrown into the still waters of Fang Chu's heart, creating new ripples. His plans were disrupted, but he dared not take any risks.

"Okay, thank you, doctor, we understand." He made the decision immediately without any hesitation.

After seeing the doctor off, Fang Chu returned to the ward. Looking at Zhi Xia, whose face was still somewhat pale, he walked over, gently took her hand, and his voice regained its steady tone:

"The doctor said you need to rest for a while longer. We're not in a rush to go to Kyoto yet; we'll talk about it when you and the baby are ready."

Right now, nothing is more important than her and her child's safety. All plans must give way to this ultimate goal.

Seeing that he seemed to be in even more pain than she was, Zhixia forced a pale smile and tried to comfort him, "Fang Chu, I'm fine... just a little tired. Didn't the doctor say I'd be fine after a few days of rest? Don't be like this..."

The more understanding she was, the more overwhelming Fang Chu's guilt became. He lowered his head, his forehead gently resting on their clasped hands, his voice hoarse and heavy with unbearable weight:

"It's all my fault... I'm such a bastard, I'm the one who got you pregnant... I'm the one who made you suffer like this..."

If it weren't for his loss of control that night, she would be ready to go to college and have a bright future, instead of lying here pale and powerless, struggling to save a child that could endanger her life.

As Zhixia looked at his slightly trembling shoulders and listened to his painful self-blame, those thoughts about "agreement" and "divorce" seemed to become very distant at this moment.

She felt the unusually cold temperature of his hand, chilled by lingering fear, and for the first time, she didn't pull her hand away. Instead, she gently squeezed his hand back with her fingertips.

This subtle, almost imperceptible response was like a glimmer of light, instantly illuminating Fang Chu's heart, which was overwhelmed by self-reproach. He abruptly raised his head, and in his red eyes, besides regret, a near-obsessive determination ignited.

He will do everything in his power to protect her and their child.

As dawn broke, the ward remained quiet. Zhang Meili looked at Fang Chu, whose eyes were bloodshot from staying up all night, and said softly, "Go back and rest for a while, and make something for Xiaxia to eat. I'll stay here and watch over her."

Fang Chu did indeed need to go back to prepare nourishing soup. He nodded, then glanced at Zhi Xia, who seemed to be asleep on the bed, before leaving the ward with heavy steps.

Hearing the door close, Zhixia slowly opened her eyes. Zhang Meili sat down on the edge of the bed, her tone cautiously inquiring:

"Xiaxia, given the current situation... what are your plans for the future, you and Fang Chu?"

Zhixia stared blankly at the white ceiling, her eyes somewhat vacant. After a long silence, she finally spoke softly, with a weary resignation in her voice:

"I don't know... Sister-in-law, what's the point of saying all this now? With this child, there's definitely no way we can get a divorce now. Let's talk about everything after the baby is born."

Her words contained no longing for the future, only a sense of powerlessness bound by reality. This unexpected child, like the strongest rope, tightly tied her and him together; at least until the child was born, she had no other choice.

Zhang Meili sighed inwardly, feeling both heartache and helplessness. She couldn't help but mutter in a low voice, "Sigh... how come you get pregnant so easily?"

These words carried a hint of pity from an elder for a younger person, but also a touch of bewilderment.

Upon hearing this, Zhi Xia's lips curled into an extremely bitter smile. Her voice was as light as a feather, yet carried a startling force:

"Yeah... I don't know either. How come he's so tough? You can't get rid of it no matter how hard you try..."

This sentence contains so much unspeakable humiliation, helplessness, and the sense of defeat after struggling against fate. The life she tried to stop with medication but stubbornly survived is now facing the danger of miscarriage, as if it were all preordained.

Zhang Meili felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this and grasped her hand: "Don't think about those things anymore! The most important thing now is for you to take good care of yourself, get well, and have a safe delivery. We'll deal with the rest later; things will work themselves out."

Zhixia closed her eyes, nodded, and forcibly suppressed all her chaotic thoughts. Right now, there was truly nothing more important than saving this child and saving her own life.

Zhixia stayed in the hospital for two days, and the pregnancy stabilized again. Only after the doctor gave her repeated instructions did Fang Chu dare to take her home.

After this experience, Fang Chu became completely terrified. Even the slightest frown from Zhi Xia because the baby was pushing against her stomach, or a soft "ouch" from trying to turn over after lying down for a while, would make Fang Chu, who was reading beside her, instantly jump up, rush to the bedside, and ask anxiously, "What's wrong? Where does it hurt? Does your stomach hurt?"

He began meticulously recording Zhixia's diet, sleep, and any subtle physical reactions. The thick notebook he used for writing work notes is now filled with trivial entries such as "Good appetite today, drank a bowl of fish soup," "Two-hour nap, breathing steady," and "Slight leg cramps in the evening, massage relieved."

Looking at the dark circles under his eyes and the lingering fatigue between his brows, and seeing how his nerves tensed up at the slightest thing she did, Zhixia felt a genuine pang of heartache for him for the first time, not because of the child, but simply because of him as a person.

That evening, Fang Chu insisted on making her some calming jujube tea because she yawned several times.

Zhi Xia tugged at his sleeve, her voice soft: "Fang Chu, don't be like this... I'm fine. If you keep pushing yourself like this, I'm afraid your body won't be able to take it. If you collapse, who will take care of me?"

This was the first time she had explicitly expressed her dependence on and care for him. Fang Chu was stunned for a moment, then a huge warm current surged in his heart, almost washing away all the anxiety and exhaustion of the past few days.

He turned around, squatted down beside the bed, looked up at Zhixia, took her hand, his eyes were firm, but his tone was unusually gentle:

"I can handle it. As long as you and the baby are okay, I'll be fine no matter what."