The next day, Gu Xingdong reported to the company, while Chen Lishu and Chen Liyuan began tidying up the house.
By the time the replaced bedsheets, quilt covers, and clothes were mostly washed, Lin Xiaoyue arrived with Wu Yan for a visit.
Having not seen each other for over a month, little Wu Yan had grown considerably. His big, round eyes looked at everything with great curiosity. The weather was warm, exposing his lotus-root-like arms. He was currently sucking on his fingers, looking at Chen Lishu with a bewildered expression.
"Our little Wu Yan has grown so much. Come, let me hold him," Chen Lishu dotingly took him into her arms.
Wu Yan didn't cry or fuss when he was in her embrace. Instead, he turned his body and continued to observe the unfamiliar surroundings.
Lin Xiaoyue entered the house and, upon seeing Chen Liyuan, said with a smile, "This must be your sister? She's as pretty as you are."
Chen Lishu nodded, "She just got accepted into the vocational school this year and will be coming here to study when it starts. I brought her over in advance."
Saying this, she turned to Chen Liyuan and said, "Call her sister-in-law."
Chen Liyuan obediently called out, "Hello, sister-in-law."
Lin Xiaoyue, upon hearing that Chen Liyuan was coming to study, became extremely envious. "Sister-in-law, how do you raise your children? They're all so good at their studies."
"Children from poor families mature early. Besides studying, there's no other path for them to take," Chen Lishu said, holding little Wu Yan as she sat down with Lin Xiaoyue.
Seeing his mother, Wu Yan finally reacted. He twisted his body, flapped his little hands, and kept calling out "Ah, ah" to Lin Xiaoyue.
After calling out a couple of times and seeing that Lin Xiaoyue didn't move, he began to pout with a wronged expression, looking at her with teary eyes.
"You truly are my son. I finally get a moment of peace, and you won't let me have it for even a second," Lin Xiaoyue said helplessly, getting up to take him.
Chen Lishu smiled, "Soon, when he can walk in the first year, it'll be easier."
"Oh, by the way, do you know they opened a military service store here?"
Chen Lishu shook her head, "When did it open?"
"About half a month ago. They don't have much, just daily necessities like needles and thread. They were also recruiting not long ago, but unfortunately, I have to take care of the child, so I couldn't go."
"Do they sell vegetables?" Chen Lishu asked. "We're out of vegetables at home, otherwise I'd have to go to the city to buy them."
"No, they don't," Lin Xiaoyue said. "But I do know where to buy them. It's in the nearby villages. They grow vegetables in their private plots, and they're very cheap. I heard this from other military wives. Otherwise, it's too much trouble to go back and forth to the city just for some vegetables."
Chen Lishu's eyes lit up, "Then I really should go take a look later."
"The weather is cooler now, and I don't have much to do. I'll take you there."
Soon, the three of them took their shopping bags and went out.
"Sister-in-law, where are you going?" Just as they exited the building, they ran into Wang Yufen, who was returning with her child not far away, accompanied by Wei Xiaoya.
Having not seen her for a long time, Wang Yufen had changed significantly. While she used to have a timid look in her eyes, she now gave off an air of gloominess.
Lin Xiaoyue replied, "We're going to buy some vegetables."
Wang Yufen's gaze fell on Wu Yan in her arms, her eyes reddened. She didn't say anything and went upstairs with her child and Wei Xiaoya.
"Her second child was born prematurely and has been in poor health since birth. She doesn't have enough milk and gets sick every few days. They've already spent a lot of money."
Chen Lishu couldn't help but sigh upon hearing her words.
As if remembering something, Lin Xiaoyue leaned closer and lowered her voice, saying, "You don't know, but I heard they've been inquiring about sending this child away."
Chen Lishu was shocked, "Sending her away? They don't want her anymore?"
Lin Xiaoyue sighed, "She gets sick and costs money all the time, and she's a girl. Because of this, Granny Wei scolds her every day, and it even affects our household. Now that you're back, I can finally get out and hide."
Otherwise, just breastfeeding was enough to give her a headache. Wu Yan was getting bigger and ate more, and the Wei family constantly asked her to help feed the child. Looking at the crying baby, she didn't know how to refuse.
Lin Xiaoyue led the two of them to the place where she often bought vegetables. After Chen Lishu bought her vegetables, she saw that they also raised chickens, so she bought some eggs.
In the evening, Gu Xingdong returned and saw two dishes and a soup on the table. He smiled and asked, "Did you go to the city?"
"No, we bought them from a nearby village today. They were very cheap, several cents cheaper per jin than in the city."
Gu Xingdong quickly washed his hands, and soon the three of them sat down to eat.
Meanwhile, at the Wei family's home, Wei Gang returned to the room after dinner. Wang Yufen glanced at Old Mrs. Wei, then at the child in her arms who was like a kitten, and casually said, "Mom, when I took Er Ya to see the doctor today, I ran into the Gu family from across the hall."
Old Mrs. Wei still harbored resentment from Chen Lishu embarrassing her that time. She finished her last mouthful of congee with drooping eyelids, then spat and cursed, "She looks like a fox spirit, with a pointed mouth, monkey cheeks, and not an ounce of flesh on her body. She doesn't look like a good person at all. Why mention her? If you have the energy, take better care of your child. You're not capable of bearing children yourself, and you've given our old Wei family a debt collector who cries incessantly, draining away all our good fortune!"
Seeing that she was bringing this up again, a flash of resentment flickered in Wang Yufen's eyes, and she quickly forced a smile. "Mom, I just think what you said before was quite right. I heard that she's been married for two or three years and still hasn't had children."
Old Mrs. Wei was somewhat smug upon hearing this, and she sneered, "Can a celestial being's prediction be wrong? You used to say I believed in feudal superstition, look at how capable you are. Let me tell you, offending a celestial being means you'll be punished. She'll never have children in this lifetime."
Wang Yufen sighed, "At least her husband is a battalion commander, and their family conditions aren't bad. Unlike our family, Er Ya is still... alas."
"Who's to blame for this? Isn't it you, who's ungrateful? How could I have married such a jinx? Your family is so poor they're practically bleeding. If you hadn't secretly taken grain stamps to sell, could the child have been born prematurely? How much has our family spent on her? Hurry up and find someone to send her away early..."
Old Mrs. Wei suddenly stopped cursing.
Right. The Gu family has no children, and that Battalion Commander Gu is a colleague of Gang Zi. Wouldn't it be perfect to give the child to their family? Wang Yufen looked at Old Mrs. Wei, who had fallen into thought, and a smile couldn't help but appear on her lips.
If this matter truly worked out, with the two families living so close, it would be as if Chen Lishu raised the child for her for free. If it didn't work out, this matter was brought up by Old Mrs. Wei herself, and she would have nothing to do with it. If a conflict arose, Wei Gang would definitely send Old Mrs. Wei home out of consideration for appearances.
Without that old woman scolding her every day, life would surely return to how it was before.
...