First Night with the Army: The Stoic Big Shot Is Done Pretending

The man’s hot breath tickled her ear. Wen Ci pushed Huo Jingyuan’s face away and shot him a playful glare, her voice a hushed whisper. "What are you doing?! The children are right here!"

After speaking, Wen Ci glanced out of the corner of her eye at the children, who were engrossed on the sofa. She gave the man’s thigh a hard smack. "Have you got a death wish?"

Huo Jingyuan just smiled without saying a word.

But Wen Ci found herself pondering Huo Jingyuan’s words.

’If we’re really going to have a baby, twins would be best—a boy and a girl to make a perfect pair.’

The 1980s promoted better-quality births and healthier upbringings. Except for twins, having two children would get you fined. And it wasn’t just a monetary penalty; your job could be on the line, too.

"Wouldn’t having twins be good?" Wen Ci asked.

"No." The smile in Huo Jingyuan’s eyes vanished. He looked at Wen Ci, his gaze deep and profound, and said with grave seriousness, "I would rather we never have children than have twins."

Giving birth was already a walk through the gates of hell.

"Why?" Wen Ci asked.

She didn’t quite understand why the mere mention of ’twins’ elicited such a strong reaction from Huo Jingyuan. Seeing his brow furrow slightly, she took the initiative to grasp his large, calloused hand and asked gently, "Why the intense reaction?"

"It’s not an intense reaction. Having twins is extremely dangerous. It’s a brush with King Yan himself."

A belly carrying twins is much larger than in a normal pregnancy, and complications like the umbilical cord wrapping around the neck are extremely common during delivery. It’s grueling for both the mother and the children.

Wen Ci lowered her gaze.

Huo Jingyuan had a point. The medical standards of the 1980s couldn’t compare to those of later generations, especially in a less-developed place like the Northwest.

However.

’With my physical constitution, having twins wouldn’t be a huge problem. Besides, I really want that perfect pair—to give my daughter an older brother.’

She had often thought that when she was a child.

’If only I had an older brother.’

Wen Ci smiled and said, "When it comes to pregnancy, who can say for sure?"

Suddenly, an idea seemed to strike her. The corners of her lips curled up slightly as she lowered her voice and said, "I heard at the hospital that whether or not you have twins usually depends on how strong the man’s ’little tadpoles’ are."

"’Little tadpoles?’"

Huo Jingyuan repeated her words, his expression calm, as if he didn’t quite understand.

"You don’t get it?"

The man shook his head. "I don’t."

At his words, Wen Ci let go of his large hand. The food on the table was still steaming, but if they kept talking, they would have to heat it up all over again.

"What does it mean?" Huo Jingyuan pressed.

Wen Ci ate her meal in a slow, deliberate manner, ignoring Huo Jingyuan’s question. Seeing the man’s expression grow anxious, she murmured, "I’ll tell you tonight."

After saying that, Wen Ci quickened her pace of eating.

A moment later, she finished her meal, set down her bowl and chopsticks, wiped her mouth with a piece of paper, and calmly walked over to the sofa to sit down.

She joined the children in watching *Seven-colored Deer*.

-

「Meanwhile.」

The last vestiges of sunset faded over the Gobi Desert, and lights flickered on in the family compound. Zhu Jing’s apartment building was now officially full, and after getting off work, she lent a hand helping the new residents move their things.

When they were finished, Zhu Jing dusted off her clothes and said with a broad smile, "Well, we’re all neighbors now! If you need anything, just ask."

"My husband mentioned there’s a ’Living Yama’ in the Northwest Military Region?"

Zhu Jing nodded. "Oh yes, there is."

The nickname "Living Yama" was known to everyone in the Northwest, but many of the newly arrived families were skeptical. Zhu Jing explained, "The Living Yama is the youngest and most outstanding officer we have in the Northwest."

"So, is this Living Yama married? I have a cousin back home who just turned twenty. She’s young and pretty. Do you think you could introduce them?"