"I'll take him to the town clinic," she said while grabbing a cloth bag and filling it with a little money.
Father Han looked worried. "Should someone go with you?"
"No need," Bo Xi replied calmly. "It won't take long."
Then she turned to Han Fei.
"Come. Let's go now before it gets darker."
Han Fei stood up slowly and followed her out of the house, though a faint uneasiness lingered in his heart.
Soon, they reached the clinic, a modest wooden building with a small sign swaying in the warm summer breeze. Inside, the cool air and faint scent of herbs provided a relief from the heat outside.
An old woman, the village doctor, sat behind a low table, consulting with a young assistant who carefully scribbled notes. Both looked up as Bo Xi and Han Fei entered.
"Doctor, my husband hasn't been feeling well," Bo Xi began, her voice steady but worried. "He hasn't had an appetite for a few days, and sometimes he feels dizzy."
"Let him sit down. I will check his pulse. It could be due to the weather," the doctor said gently, rising from her seat. She picked up a thin cloth and gestured to Han Fei.
Han Fei lowered himself onto a wooden chair, and Bo Xi stood close by, her hand lightly brushing his arm in reassurance. The doctor carefully wrapped the cloth around his wrist, her fingers pressing and moving expertly to feel the rhythm of his pulse. Bo Xi's eyes followed every movement, worry etched across her face.
After a few moments, the doctor's face brightened. "Congratulations to the young couple! I feel a happy pulse—it's just over one month," she announced with a warm smile.
Bo Xi and Han Fei froze. Bo Xi's eyes widened as she instinctively looked at Han Fei's stomach. "A family?" she thought, disbelief and surprise mingling in her mind.
Han Fei blinked, a flicker of confusion passing over his features before a smile tugged at his lips.
But seeing Bo Xi's serious face, his smile fell. Han Fei reached out to Bo Xi. "Wife?" he called softly, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
Seeing his expression, Bo Xi immediately understood. Han Fei had misunderstood the doctor's words. She took his hands firmly in hers, her serious expression softening into warmth. "I am so happy, Fei. We're going to welcome a new member into our family," she said gently, her eyes shining.
Relief and happiness washed over Han Fei's face. He finally relaxed and held her hands tightly, a soft laugh escaping him.
The doctor cleared her throat, turning their attention back to the practical matters. "Although it is hot, don't let him eat too many cold dishes. The dizziness is likely due to the heat and imbalance. Stay in the shade when possible, and avoid long exposure to high temperatures." She paused, her tone serious but kind. "I am not prescribing medicine for him, as it could be harmful."
Bo Xi nodded thoughtfully, absorbing every word. Then she added, "Doctor, could you give some heat-reduction medicine for the elderly as well?"
The doctor nodded, signaling to the young assistant. Swiftly, the assistant measured the herbs and carefully packed them into small bundles. Bo Xi and Han Fei waited patiently, watching the process and occasionally exchanging glances.
After paying the assistant and ensuring they had everything needed, they stepped back outside. The summer sun was bright, but Bo Xi felt lighter—relieved that Han Fei's condition was not serious, and happy about the unexpected news of their growing family.
They shopped for a while, buying the things they needed from the market. After some time, they began walking back home.
Hand in hand, they walked slowly along the familiar road. The warm breeze brushed past them, carrying with it a renewed sense of hope and quiet joy.
Smiling, they stepped into the house.
However, the atmosphere inside felt strange.
They were surprised to see Brother Han Wei sitting in the main room. His eyes were red, as if he had been crying for a long time.
Mother Han and Father Han both looked angry.
Bo Xi and Han Fei exchanged a quick glance, their smiles fading.
"Ah, you're back. What did the doctor say?" Father Han asked, his eyes immediately falling on the bundle of medicine in Bo Xi's hands.
"Father, Han Fei is pregnant," Bo Xi said with a bright smile, happiness clearly radiating from her face.
Father Han's expression softened at once.
"Finally, some good news," he said with a relieved smile. But then his gaze moved to the medicines again. "But why are there so many medicines?"
"It's for you," Bo Xi replied gently as she placed the bundle of medicine on the nearby chair along with the other things they had bought. "The doctor said it will help reduce the heat in your body."
Mother Han's angry expression also eased a little after hearing the news.
"Father, what's wrong?" Han Fei asked, his eyes moving toward his older brother. Han Wei was holding his young son in his arms, but his face looked tense and troubled.
Father Han's expression darkened again.
"Sit down first," he said in a heavy voice, his face turning stern.
Bo Xi and Han Fei quietly sat down.
A moment later, Han Bei came over carrying two glasses of water.
Both of them accepted the glasses and took a sip.
Han Fei glanced at Han Bei, his expression complicated.
Han Fei wanted to let go of everything from his past life.
But no matter how much he tried, he simply couldn't.
Every time he looked at Han Bei, memories from that life surfaced uncontrollably.
He could still remember the moment clearly—the moment Han Bei pushed him forward to block the refugees' attack.
In Han Fei's past life, when the well in their village finally dried up, everyone had no choice but to leave their homes and relocate.
The journey was harsh.
With little food and even less water, people slowly became nothing more than skin and bones. Hunger hollowed their eyes, and desperation filled their hearts.
Mother Han and Father Han cared more about Han Li. Because of that, the food given to Han Fei and Han Bei was always just scraps.
Sometimes, Han Fei saw desperate parents selling their sons to others in exchange for a little food.
Thankfully… his parents never went that far.
Still, life was cruel.
Whenever Han Fei managed to find a little food or gather something edible along the way, he would secretly share it with Han Bei.
He treated Han Bei as the younger brother he needed to protect.
When danger appeared, Han Fei always stood in front.
Even when their parents were busy protecting Han Li and barely paid attention to them, Han Fei still protected Han Bei.
He remembered that day clearly.
Holding nothing but a rough wooden stick, he stood in front of Han Bei, facing the approaching refugees.
Those people were starving.
Their eyes were red with hunger.
But just as Han Fei prepared himself to fight…
Han Bei panicked.
In that moment of fear, he pushed Han Fei forward.
Everything happened too quickly.
Han Fei stumbled straight into the refugees.
The hungry crowd swarmed him like wild beasts.
Fists, kicks, and blows rained down on him. Someone stabbed him. Someone else dragged him across the ground.
The pain was unbearable.
He could feel his life slowly slipping away.
In the end, his fate was simple.
He became food.
The last thing Han Fei saw before losing consciousness was his parents' guilty faces.
But even with guilt in their eyes, they never stepped away from the cart carrying their food and Han Li.
Beside them stood Han Bei.
His face was filled with guilt…
Yet there was also relief.
Because the refugees had stopped attacking.
They had taken Han Fei away instead.