Reborn In the Eighties as a Housewife With a Space

Chapter 2

Li Lan entered the room carrying acupuncture equipment. "Have you eaten yet, young lady? Should we do the acupuncture now, or would you rather wait?"

"I haven't eaten yet," Qin Xue replied.

"Let's go ahead with the acupuncture. Yu Xiu hasn't come back yet anyway."

"Alright, let's get started. Hand me your arm." Li Lan expertly disinfected the skin with alcohol, found the vein, and inserted the needle. Once the IV was secured with tape, she packed up her supplies. "Be careful not to move too much. I'll be back later to check on the medicine."

"Thank you," Qin Xue said, watching the fluid slowly drip into her arm.

Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion. She felt completely lost, unsure of who she was supposed to be in this world beyond the name "Qin Xue." What was her future supposed to look like here?

As the medicine bottle was nearly empty, Yu Xiu returned. She was carrying a lunchbox and two boiled eggs. "Oh, you're mid-treatment. Do you want me to feed you the porridge now, or will you eat when you’re finished?"

"Let's wait," Qin Xue sighed, feeling a wave of nausea. "I really don't have much of an appetite right now."

"That’s to be expected," Yu Xiu said gently. "Between the injuries, the blood loss, and the pregnancy, it's no wonder you feel unwell."

Qin Xue froze. Pregnancy?

Yu Xiu continued, oblivious to Qin Xue’s shock. "You really have to be more careful. If you hadn't been found in time that day... well, with that much blood loss, you might not have made it, let alone the baby. It’s a miracle you're both okay. I don't know what we would have told Chu Molin when he returned."

Qin Xue suddenly choked on her own saliva, coughing violently.

"Oh! Are you alright?" Yu Xiu rushed over, patting Qin Xue’s back until the coughing fit subsided. She quickly poured a glass of water and handed it to her.

"Yu Xiu," Qin Xue gasped, her voice trembling. "What did you just say? I’m... I’m pregnant? Does that mean I’m married?"

Yu Xiu looked at her with a mix of confusion and pity. "Well, yes. Didn't you know? And of course you're married—how else would you be pregnant?"

She paused, taking a seat by the bed. "Listen, Qin Xue, I’m not trying to lecture you, but once you're better, you should really try to make things work with Chu Molin. Stop the constant arguing. He might be a man of few words and have a bit of a cold exterior, but he’s a good man. He gave up everything he had just to marry you. Fighting like this only hurts your relationship and it isn't good for the baby, either."

Qin Xue realized this was her chance to get some answers. "Sister-in-law... the doctor told me I have a blood clot in my head. It’s pressing on a nerve, and I’ve lost a lot of my memory. I honestly don't remember any of this. Can you tell me more?"

Yu Xiu softened. She wasn't usually one for gossip, but her husband, Xu Fangzhou, had urged her to help Qin Xue for the sake of Chu Molin's reputation and career.

"I don't know every detail," Yu Xiu admitted. "But I can tell you what I know."

"Please," Qin Xue pleaded, her eyes welling with genuine emotion. "I'm waking up to a life I don't recognize. Finding out I'm pregnant on top of everything... I just don't know what to do."

"There's only one thing to do," Yu Xiu said firmly but kindly. "Focus on getting healthy and protecting that baby. When Chu Molin gets back, start fresh. Just try to live a good life together."

________

Yu Xiu noticed the IV bag was nearly empty, so she called the nurse to change the bottle. Once things settled down, she finally began to fill Qin Xue in on her past—or at least, the version the rest of the world knew.

"To be honest," Yu Xiu started tentatively, "I don't know you or Chu Molin that well. Most of what I know is just talk from the other families in the military housing complex."

She glanced at Qin Xue, worried about her reaction. "Please don't be angry, okay? The rumor is that Chu Molin didn't really want to marry you. People say you tricked him into it, though I don't know the exact details of how."

Qin Xue listened intently, her heart sinking as the picture of her "past self" became clearer.

"The word around the research institute was that the prettiest girl there was dating Chu Molin, and everyone expected them to get married," Yu Xiu continued. "But then, you supposedly intercepted him while he was out on a research mission.

You caused a massive scene and demanded he take responsibility for... something. He felt he had no choice but to marry you to save his reputation."

Yu Xiu sighed. "Shortly after that, your family pressured him to bring you here to live with him. But since you arrived, there’s been nothing but trouble. Your constant arguments even got Chu Molin in trouble with his superiors. Then, while he was away on his latest mission, you got injured and ended up here. That’s really all I know."

Yu Xiu looked embarrassed. It felt awkward to recite such unflattering gossip directly to the person involved.

Qin Xue, however, wasn't angry at Yu Xiu. She realized that while Yu Xiu seemed distant, she was actually quite observant and honest. She’s someone worth having as a friend, Qin Xue thought. Even if we don't become best friends, she’s been incredibly kind to me while I’m at my lowest.

"It’s alright, Sister-in-law," Qin Xue said gently. "I asked you to tell me. I have no memory of any of this, so I was completely in the dark. If anything, I should thank you. Without this information, I’d probably keep offending people without even knowing why—though it sounds like I’ve already offended everyone in town."

It was clear to Qin Xue that the original owner of this body had left behind a total disaster. Since I'm in this body now, I have to fix this reputation, she decided. For the sake of my future and this baby, I need people to see that I’ve changed.

Yu Xiu looked at the girl in the hospital bed. Qin Xue seemed so calm and reasonable—nothing like the "troublemaker" the neighbors described. She began to wonder if the rumors had been exaggerated.

Once the IV drip was finally finished, it was time to eat. Yu Xiu had been thoughtful enough to keep the porridge and eggs warm by placing the lunchbox in a basin of hot water.

The porridge was thick and flavorful, topped with some savory pickled cabbage that sparked Qin Xue's appetite. To her own surprise, she polished off the entire lunchbox and both eggs.

Feeling a bit embarrassed by her huge appetite, Qin Xue handed the empty container back. "Um, Sister-in-law... I'm all finished."

Yu Xiu saw the blush on Qin Xue's face and laughed softly. "Hey, don't worry about it! It's just a box of porridge. You're eating for two now—you need the strength!"

_______

After a week of careful nursing by Fang Hong and Yu Xiu, Qin Xue was finally cleared to leave the hospital.

The research institute sent a car to pick them up and bring them back to the residential compound.

As the car pulled up to the entrance, Qin Xue saw a large, imposing sign: [Name] Research Institute.

Two soldiers stood at the gate, their posture as straight as pens. When they recognized the vehicle, they snapped into a sharp salute. The disciplined, solemn atmosphere of the place stirred something in Qin Xue. In her previous life, she had always admired researchers. She had dreamed of pursuing a master’s degree and diving into scientific projects herself, but her father had intervened, forcing her into general surgery instead.

I only worked as a surgeon for two years before that accident brought me here, she mused. Now, I haven’t just skipped the dating phase; I’ve jumped straight into marriage and motherhood.

The driver, a young soldier named Xiao Zhao, signed the entry papers and drove them to the family quarters. "Sisters, wait here with the bags," he said kindly as they climbed out. "I’ll return the car and come back to help you move your things upstairs."

"No need, Xiao Zhao," Fang Hong chirped, grabbing a bag. "We don't have much. We can handle it ourselves. Go on and get back to your duties."

Qin Xue, still feeling like a stranger in her own life, simply nodded and followed their lead. As Xiao Zhao drove away, the three women headed toward the apartment building.

Under the shade of the large trees near the entrance, a group of women from the compound were huddled together gossiping. When they saw the group approaching, their eyes locked onto Qin Xue.

"Isn't that Chu Molin's wife?" one whispered loudly. "She’s actually out of the hospital already?"

Qin Xue didn't know these women, but she didn't want to cause a scene. She simply offered a polite smile and a small nod before following Fang Hong and Yu Xiu up the stairs.

As soon as they were out of earshot, the gossiping intensified. "What's she acting so proud for?" one woman sneered. "She's shameless. If she hadn't trapped Chu Molin with those schemes of hers, he never would have looked at her."

"Hey," a woman named Su Xiaoyan interrupted, her tone sharp. "If she had the skill to 'scheme' her way into marrying Deputy Section Chief Chu, maybe you’re just jealous you didn't think of it first?"

Su Xiaoyan didn't particularly like Qin Xue, but she hated the petty gossips even more. Besides, her husband served under Chu Molin, so she felt a duty to defend the Chief’s wife.

"Su Xiaoyan! How can you say that?" Zhang Cuihua snapped, looking like she wanted to slap her. "Everyone knows how she ruined his life. Are you trying to defend a woman like that?"

"I’m just saying what I’m saying," Su Xiaoyan replied coolly, completely unfazed.

Nearby, hidden behind a large tree, another woman named Bai Jing watched the scene unfold. Her face was pale, and she dug her nails into her palms to hide the ache in her heart. She, too, had feelings for the outstanding Chu Molin.

However, Bai Jing lived in constant fear of another woman: Su Yun. To the rest of the world, Su Yun—the granddaughter of the former director—was a gentle, kind beauty. But Bai Jing knew the truth. She had once secretly witnessed Su Yun push a rival dancer off a high stage, breaking the girl's leg and ending her career, all while coldly declaring that no one stole a role from her.

Terrified of Su Yun’s ruthless nature, Bai Jing kept her love for Chu Molin a deep, painful secret, praying she would never end up in Su Yun’s crosshairs.