In the following days, Zhou Qingfang did not approach Li Xianglu anymore, but quietly began to work, changing her usual sowhat lazy deanor to beco diligent. She used to hate collecting money at night the most, but now she seed like a transford person. Sister He was getting older, so she helped her out, and she also helped Li Xianglu whenever she felt lazy.
However, Su Yan had long told Li Xianglu that a person’s nature from childhood would not change easily, unless there was a compelling reason to do so, like needing to get a promotion or earning more by doing more work. But Zhou Qingfang had no pressing reason to change her current state, so even if Li Xianglu felt sleepy every afternoon, she would persist in finishing the tasks assigned to her so others would not have to do them for her.
By mid-August, when Li Xianglu’s three-month pregnancy gradually began to show, Pu Jianxin split the staff who were on duty all the ti into pairs, assigning them to check and sign for afternoon deliveries.
Li Xianglu was paired with Sister He, avoiding any awkwardness with Zhou Qingfang.
Li Jianqing and Qin Zhen, being third-year students, were asked by their school to arrive early to train new students, so both of them left by mid-August.
As for Li Xianglu, she collected so items that all seed fine without scrutinizing them closely, as she was increasingly feeling tired. Qin Xi was very worried and sought several specialist doctors to see her, all of whom said she was fine. Although Su Yan hadn’t been pregnant herself, she had seen many pregnant won and had never seen anyone like Li Xianglu, who was always in a state of hunger and sleep deprivation.
Finally, during a check-up at three months, an advanced ultrasound revealed that Li Xianglu was expecting twins, and they were developing well.
This delighted the whole family. Qin Xi and Li Xianglu had already ntioned that if there were a boy, he would take Mr. Li’s surna, but no one took it seriously at first due to the increasing pressure of the family planning policy in 1979, especially by 1981, which had beco stricter. Any public employees who had a second child without a valid reason could be dismissed once discovered.
Su Yan was already planning to send Li Xianglu and Qin Xi to Hong Kong for the birth of their second child if necessary, and now that it was twins, it seed even better.
It also fulfilled Mr. Li’s long-held wish, no matter the gender of the babies.
As a result, Li Xianglu beca even more precious. Qin Xi almost always dropped her off and picked her up from work, and if he had to work overti, he would call ho to have either Su Yan’s driver, Hu Zi, or Old Geng pick her up.
By September, Li Xianglu suddenly felt less tired, as if she had caught up on sleep from the previous months. She could eat well and her spirits were much better, staying alert till ten in the evening and waking up at after seven in the morning without feeling tired, although she needed a nap at noon to avoid fatigue in the afternoon.
At the bank, Zhou Qingfang completely changed in everyone’s eyes, earning high praise not only from her colleagues but also from custors who visited the bank, and even received a banner from a grateful elderly custor whose wallet she returned, making her a highly praised individual in the bank.
Yet Li Xianglu did not feel convinced; Zhou Qingfang had changed too quickly, which felt unreal to her.
By mid-September, the weather was getting cooler, and Li Xianglu, now four months pregnant, discussed with her family and decided to start maternity leave at six months, since carrying twins made her stomach much bigger than normal, and it was safer to rest at ho earlier.
This week was Friday, and by four o’clock in the afternoon, aside from personal savings, there were hardly any people in the public dealings area. Li Xianglu had to leave for lunch late due to so issues and did not dare to sleep after eating, choosing instead to wash her face and return to the bank.
So she felt unbearably sleepy, and Pu Jianxin, coming out of his office with a stack of docunts and placing them on the counter, looked at the clock on the wall and said to the yawning Li Xianglu, "Xiao Li, you should head ho early today, especially since you are carrying twins."
Li Xianglu wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, glanced at the clock on the wall, and sighed, "Uncle Pu, the armored truck is coming today, and I’m responsible for checking."
Even though the bank had its own storage, once it exceeded the storage limit, headquarters would send a truck to haul away the excess, and the personnel for checking were arranged by the bank manager to prevent the sa person from handling tasks repeatedly.
Pu Jianxin glanced at the schedule, nodded in realization, and sighed, "I had forgotten about that, but look at your belly, I’m really worried."
Sister He also added, "Yes, look at your belly; it looks like you’re about to give birth. Normally people at this size are around seven or eight months, but you are only four months in."
Li Xianglu’s pregnancy showed earlier due to her physique; from the back, she still looked slender, but turning around revealed a belly as exaggeratedly large as like a huge sack was hanging there.
Just after finishing a savings transaction, Zhou Qingfang also spoke up, "Why don’t you go back? I have inventory duties this afternoon and will be leaving late anyway, I can help you with the checking."
Li Xianglu slightly lifted her eyelids, feeling tired and hesitant. She was indeed tired and wanted to go back, but since she was responsible for the armored truck, and they also had a notebook acknowledging the bank’s transfer personnel, leaving seed inappropriate.
Pu Jianxin seed to notice Li Xianglu’s concerns and smiled, "Don’t worry, I’ll explain it to the folks from the armored transport."
Since everyone insisted, Li Xianglu gratefully nodded, about to get up, when the door was suddenly flung open. Two people rushed in, heading straight to Li Xianglu’s desk.
Li Xianglu was startled and shifted back slightly as the newcors stood directly across her at the counter and shouted, "Are you Li Xianglu?"
Li Xianglu frowned, coldly observing the two opposite her, recognizing one of them as Zhou Qingfang’s sister, Zhou Qingxue.
At this mont, Zhou Qingfang also spotted her mother and sister, crying out in alarm, "Mom, what are you doing here!"
Li Xianglu’s desk was against the west wall, separated from the other desks, allowing unrestricted access if soone insisted on coming in.
Thus, Li Xianglu nonchalantly moved her chair to the front.
At that, Zhou Qingfang’s shout made the newcors turn around, and then they shouted at Li Xianglu again: "Why doesn’t Li Huai Ren acknowledge us? He is clearly our uncle; why doesn’t he recognize us?"
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