Pregnant Husband

Chen Jue was a thirty-year-old cardiothoracic surgeon and the youngest director in his hospital's history, known for his exceptional medical skills but criticized for his cold, emotionless demeanor. His life ended abruptly when he was pushed down a flight of stairs by the grieving brother of a patient, Jiang Xinhe, a pregnant woman with severe heart disease whom Chen Jue had been unable to save. Despite his efforts, both Jiang Xinhe and her newborn child died during surgery. The incident triggered a public scandal and relentless rumors accusing Chen Jue of incompetence and lacking compassion, which haunted him until his death. In his final moments, he regretted his distant relationship with his adoptive parents, Dean Chen and Director Zhou, and his failure to honor their teachings about respecting life.

Chen Jue awoke in an ancient, pre-modern world, having transmigrated into the body of a nineteen-year-old man named Chen Jue who shared his name and appearance. This new body was pregnant with a child over two months old, a biological impossibility that defied his scientific understanding. The original owner, a herb gatherer named Huo Lin’s husband, had fallen into a river after suffering from malnutrition and a head injury. Chen Jue initially struggled to accept his situation, trapped in a nightmare of his past failures, but eventually resolved to survive and raise the child as a form of atonement for the life he had lost. He named the unborn child in memory of Jiang Xinhe, the mother who had sacrificed herself, and vowed to give the child a good life despite his own lack of parenting experience.

Adapting to his new reality, Chen Jue discovered that men in this world, referred to as "Gers," could bear children, a phenomenon he approached with clinical curiosity. He learned that his husband, Huo Lin, had been conscripted for corvée labor and likely died in battle against the Northwestern Tatars. His neighbor, Uncle Liu, and Uncle Liu’s family, including Zhou Qingshan—a soldier who had survived the war but lost his leg and suffered from severe post-traumatic stress—provided support. Chen Jue used his medical knowledge to treat Zhou Qingshan’s psychological trauma, preparing herbal remedies to help him sleep and process his grief. He also realized the dire poverty of his situation, with empty grain stores and no immediate source of income, forcing him to venture into the mountains to gather and sell medicinal herbs.

As Chen Jue navigated his new life, he faced the practical challenges of pregnancy in an ancient setting with limited medical resources. He planned to travel to the county town to sell herbs, recognizing that his only viable skill was medicine, though the strict regulations on practicing physicians posed a significant obstacle. He also grappled with the emotional complexity of his situation, feeling guilt over Huo Lin’s death and a detached sense of obligation toward the child he carried. The narrative follows his determination to survive, his efforts to integrate into the village community, and his ongoing struggle to reconcile his modern medical identity with the harsh realities of his new existence.

The story explores themes of redemption, survival, and the redefinition of life and death. Chen Jue’s journey is marked by his internal conflict between his cold, rational nature and the emotional demands of his new role as a father. He seeks to understand the biological and social rules of this world while preparing for the challenges of childbirth and raising a child in a time and place vastly different from his own. His interactions with the villagers, particularly the Zhou family, highlight the bonds formed in adversity and the universal nature of grief and healing. Chen Jue’s ultimate goal is to live a meaningful life, honoring the sacrifices of those he lost while building a future for the child he carries.