The Stunningly Beautiful and Delicate Darling in the 1980s Military Compound - Chapter 73

In Song Mingyue’s life plan, having children had never been a consideration. This was precisely why, when she first met Chen Che, she had proposed a marriage of convenience. In this era, a woman who didn’t want to marry or have children was looked upon with suspicion and social disapproval. It had been a stroke of luck that Chen Che initially seemed to share her sentiments. Now that she was in love with him, it didn’t mean her feelings about children had changed. Furthermore, her career was just starting—she hadn’t even sold her first batch of inventory yet—and she had no intention of letting a pregnancy disrupt her goals.

However, standing at the entrance of the hospital, a grim premonition washed over her. Her stomach churned with nausea; she felt dizzy and faint, yet she forced herself to follow Wang Yufen inside.

Wang Yufen had been a nurse at this hospital for years and had plenty of connections. Without needing to wait in line, she led Mingyue straight to the Obstetrics and Gynecology department, radiating happiness. “Wait here a moment. I’ll go talk to Dr. Wang. He’s a renowned expert; one pulse check and he’ll know for sure.”

As they sat on the bench, Chen Che saw how pale Song Mingyue was. He gripped her hand, his voice thick with concern. “Yueyue, are you feeling unwell again?”

Song Mingyue looked up at him. “If I really am pregnant, what do you want to do?”

She had mentally replayed the events of the last few weeks, and it was most likely from that night of recklessness before he left for duty. She shook her head—there was no use dwelling on it now—but she wanted to know where Chen Che stood. She was certain she didn’t want this child; the timing was wrong, and she wasn’t ready to be a mother. She stared at him with intense, earnest focus, her stance clear.

Chen Che stayed silent, deep in thought. During those agonizing seconds of waiting, Zhang Jingjing brought over a cup of water. “Mingyue, have some hot water.”

“Thanks.” Song Mingyue broke her gaze, took the cup, and forced herself to chat with Jingjing as if she were fine.

Less than ten minutes later, Wang Yufen returned to call them in. An elderly female doctor sat inside, her experienced demeanor clear from the start. Wang Yufen introduced them: “This is my daughter. She’s had no appetite and has been vomiting for days. Please take a look.”

The old doctor looked kind and smiled at Wang Yufen. “Your daughter is lovely, she looks just like you. Young lady, don’t be nervous. Sit down and let me see.”

Song Mingyue extended her hand. The doctor focused intently on her pulse, a smile slowly forming on her face. “Congratulations, you are pregnant. It’s been just over a month. It’s still unstable, so you must rest well at home for the next two months.”

Wang Yufen’s face lit up with pure joy; she clasped her hands together in gratitude to the heavens. But the joy was cut short when Song Mingyue asked, “Doctor, I don’t want this child. Can I have it aborted?”

Wang Yufen stepped forward, shocked. “Mingyue! What are you saying? This is a life!”

Song Mingyue turned to Chen Che. “What do you think? I need you to take a stand.”

Being a father was a dream Chen Che had never dared to imagine. He still felt like he was in a dream—was Mingyue really pregnant? Could he really become a father? But the child wasn’t in his body; he wasn’t the one who would have to endure the suffering and the ten months of labor. Despite his own desire, he looked at her and said, “Yueyue, I’ll listen to you. If you don’t want it, we won’t have it.”

Both of them were talking nonsense in Wang Yufen’s eyes. She pulled a stern face. “Little Chen! Mingyue doesn’t know any better, but are you going to indulge her? What decent married couple aborts their child? I absolutely disagree!”

Song Mingyue felt a wave of frustration. Why did this have to happen now? If she had discovered this in Mo City, she could have taken care of it quietly without anyone knowing. But that didn’t change her mind. She had decided she didn’t want the child, and that was that.

The Song family erupted into chaos. Song Aiguo, Wang Yufen, and even her brother Mingnian insisted she give birth to the child. “This is a life! When he grows up, he’ll look just like you. No mother would have the heart to destroy her own child.”

Song Mingyue didn’t agree. At just over a month, it was merely an embryo, not a “life” in her eyes. She remained silent, not bothering to argue; the generation gap was too wide to bridge. As long as Chen Che stood by her, she didn’t care what the others said.

That night, lying in the room with Zhang Jingjing, she couldn’t help but ask, “Do you think I’m cruel for wanting to abort this child?”

After a day of turmoil, Zhang Jingjing, as an outsider, hadn’t said a word. Now, with just the two of them, Song Mingyue wanted an honest opinion. Zhang Jingjing sat up, conflicted. “I don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know?”

“I think if you’re pregnant, maybe you should have it. That’s what normal women do—get married and have children.” Zhang Jingjing sighed, “But…”

“But what?”

But Song Mingyue shouldn’t lead that kind of life. If she had a child, the focus of her life would likely shift to the family. She would become like so many women Zhang Jingjing had seen—stuck at home, raising children, waiting for them to grow up, waiting for her husband to return. She didn’t think Song Mingyue was meant for that. They had plans to open shops, to explore, to build their own careers.

Zhang Jingjing didn’t dare say more. This was a massive decision, and she had no right to dictate Song Mingyue’s life. She took Mingyue’s hand. “Mingyue, whatever you decide, I’ll support you. If you choose to terminate, I’ll be there with you. If you want to have the baby, don’t worry about the shop—just leave it to us.”

Song Mingyue leaned on her shoulder, pouring out her heart. “Jingjing, I don’t like children, and I don’t know how to raise them.”

But society had a way of brainwashing people. All she heard today was that this was a “life,” a “crystallization of love,” and how could she “have the heart” to reject it? She felt overwhelmed, experiencing her first true moment of profound hesitation.

She was troubled, and Chen Che didn’t have it any easier. He was the culprit, yet he bore none of the physical burden—it was all on Mingyue. After talking to Zhang Jingjing, Mingyue’s resolve hardened. She decided to tell her parents tomorrow that she was returning to Mo City early. Once she was out of their reach, they couldn’t force her.

The next morning, while everyone else had porridge, Wang Yufen specifically brewed a herbal soup for Mingyue, claimed to be a “pregnancy-preserving” concoction. She had woken up at 4:00 AM to simmer it, sweating profusely but never showing fatigue. She brought the bowl to Mingyue, alongside a bowl of bone broth. “Drink the soup first, then the broth. I went to buy fresh meat early this morning.”

Song Mingyue looked at the dark, murky liquid and felt bile rising in her throat. She waved her hand. “Mom, I can’t. Please, just pour it out. It makes me feel sick just looking at it.”

“It’s fine! Drink it all in one go. It’s good for the baby.”

Chen Che intervened, subtly pulling the bowl away. “Mom, if she doesn’t want it, let it be.”

Wang Yufen fought for one last attempt, but seeing how wretched Song Mingyue looked, Chen Che took the bowl and downed the bitter liquid in one go.

“Oh! What are you doing? That’s for a pregnant woman!”

It was a nutritional tonic; it wouldn’t hurt him, but it was foul. Chen Che didn’t even twitch. He couldn’t afford to offend his wife or his mother-in-law, so he had to take the hit. Song Mingyue didn’t say anything, but her heart ached for him. Staying in this house had become suffocating.

“Dad, Mom, Brother,” she began. “Chen Che’s leave is ending. We’re planning to go back tomorrow.”

“Chen Che can go back, but you stay here,” Wang Yufen declared. “You’re pregnant, how will you take care of yourself?”

“I’m going back,” Mingyue insisted. “Chen Che will take care of me.”

Wang Yufen pulled at Song Aiguo. “Say something!”

“Mingyue, your mother is right,” Song Aiguo said. “We wouldn’t normally stop you, but the first few months are critical. Stay here for a few months, let your mother look after you, and I’ll send you back once you’re stable.”

Song Mingyue refused to budge. Wang Yufen grew angry. “Don’t think I don’t know why you want to leave! It’s those clothes you brought—you want to sell them. Mingyue, I don’t object to you doing business, but this is a special time. A little too much effort and you might lose the baby!”

Song Mingyue stopped pretending. “Mom, I told you—I don’t want this child.”

“How has this child wronged you? It chose your womb, it trusts you to be its mother!” Wang Yufen was close to tears. “Yueyue, you’re young, you don’t understand. When you’re older, you’ll regret these words. I’ve worked hard my whole life, but the happiest, most regret-free thing I’ve done is being a mother. I don’t want you to live with regrets.”

Song Aiguo joined in. “Yueyue, think of how much your mother has worried for you. Why must you upset her? She wants you to have the child for your own good. Chen Che works hard; who knows when you’ll be pregnant again? He loves you—don’t you care about him?”

Song Mingyue’s head was spinning. The sheer weight of their words bombarded her. Even though her heart remained cold, the environment was pushing her toward a chaotic breakdown.

But she still didn’t want the child.