Go back to the prosperous days and become a layman

Chapter 830, 829: Adding a Child to the Country
The following day, Saturday, the 26th day of the fourth lunar month, is Xiaoman (Grain Buds).

Grain Full, the eighth solar term among the twenty-four solar terms, is also the second solar term in summer.

At this time, summer-ripening crops such as wheat in the north are growing vigorously, and the grains are gradually filling out, but they are not yet fully mature, hence the name "Xiaoman" (Grain Buds).

Logically speaking, it's not the right time to harvest wheat in Beijing right now, but most of the surrounding rural areas haven't had heavy rains for a long time, and the wheat is mostly suffering from drought.

As the drought continued, the wheat turned yellow.

If the wheat is not harvested in time, collisions or strong winds can cause the already meager wheat ears to fall into the field.

It's easier to harvest in advance than to pick them one ear at a time.

Early in the morning, Tang Zhitong arrived at the escort office and saw Yu Ying wiping the windows. She had already cleaned most of the windows in the escort office until they were sparkling clean from the outside.

Tang Zhitong smiled and shook his head, not stopping him.

Yu Ying's actions perfectly demonstrate her sincerity, and Tang Zhitong even wanted to help her in other ways.

As soon as he arrived at work, Fang Yuan gathered the leaders of each department together again to communicate the specific arrangements for the trip to the farm.

The work of harvesting wheat was mostly done by the commune members. The staff of the escort office were responsible for transporting and crushing the wheat bundles. The duties of the security department remained unchanged, mainly responsible for supervision. They guarded the wheat fields during the day and the threshing ground at night to prevent losses caused by theft.

In addition to his guard duties, Tang Zhitong, as an escort, was also assigned by Fang Yuan to cook for everyone.
"Xiao Tang, Master Gao is staying at the office to cook for the comrades who are staying behind."

At the farm, the grain and cooking utensils are provided by the municipal bureau, and there are also master chefs from the municipal bureau accompanying the farm. However, due to limited manpower, there are always areas that cannot be taken care of.

"You're a good cook, I recommended you to Lao Su. Keep a close eye on things over there and make sure our comrades are well taken care of."

"Alright, I guarantee I'll complete the mission!" Tang Zhitong solemnly wrote it down in his notebook.

"Take a bag of salt from Master Gao's place. It's so hot, make sure the comrades eat something a little salty," Fang Yuan instructed.

"Alright! Director Fang, should we prepare some seasonings too? Comrades have worked hard all day, so should the dishes be delicious?" Although Tang Zhitong has a Level 2 chef skill certificate, he has never actually worked as a chef.

Even if you haven't eaten pork, you've seen pigs run. If a chef wants to make delicious food, the seasonings must be in place. It's the most basic requirement to have your own seasonings. Many chefs will even bring their own kitchen utensils wherever they go to help out in the kitchen, a whole bunch of them clattering around.

Tang Zhitong knew that his skills in preparing pastries couldn't compare to those of a master chef, but he was still confident in his stir-frying skills.

One's own cooking utensils cannot be taken out of the space, but at least the seasonings need to be prepared, but these need to be purchased with money, and it is necessary to report to Fang Yuan.

"Okay, after the meeting, tell Master Gao to coordinate it as soon as possible. The union should prepare some emergency medicines for the comrades, and you should report it to them later." This was official business, and it was also the first time the escort department had gone to the countryside for collective labor, so Fang Yuan took it very seriously and agreed readily.

"Okay!" Tang Zhitong nodded in agreement. Although he hadn't been in charge of the security department's finances for very long, he could still handle accounts of a hundred or so yuan without leaving a trace. However, since Fang Yuan had spoken, and this matter was to be discussed openly, there was no reason not to agree.

Fang Yuan then explained the transportation options to the farm: those with bicycles could ride them, and those without would have three trucks borrowed from the transfer station to transport everyone together.

After the meeting, each department went back to relay the message, and soon the staff from each department gathered together and started chattering about it.

They discussed what the farm meals would be like, the accommodations, and what items to bring.

Tang Zhitong had heard a little about the living conditions on the farm; there were only seven or eight houses serving as temporary accommodations for people who came to the countryside on weekdays.

With so many people going to the countryside at the same time, there will definitely not be enough places to stay. We will inevitably have to rest in the yard or even in the wild, with the sky as our blanket and the ground as our bed.

Tang Zhitong was mentally prepared for this. In the two years he had been here, he had camped in the wild many times. The worst time was when he went to the hometown of Confucius and Mencius. He found a pile of firewood and spent the night in such cold weather. Could this time be any more difficult than that?
After buying the medicine, Sister Chen followed Tang Zhitong directly into the finance department after the meeting.

Tang Zhitong immediately made the entry, counted the money, and gave it to Sister Chen.

After seeing Sister Chen off, Tang Zhitong took a closer look at the receipt Sister Chen had given him. The number of medicines was not large. In addition to mercurochrome, gentian violet, gauze, there were some antibiotics, medicated oil, and Huoxiang Zhengqi Water.

Huoxiang Zhengqi Water? Tang Zhitong was taken aback when he saw the name. He had been trying to find out if it existed a while ago. It turned out that it had already been produced. He wondered if it had been used to generate foreign exchange.

Tang Zhitong scratched his head. He had just written a letter to Miao Xiaoqin yesterday, so he decided to put this matter aside for now.

After locking the drawer, Tang Zhitong went to the cafeteria and asked Chef Gao for seasonings.

"What a coincidence! I just got some back yesterday. You can use these first, and I'll go get more later." Chef Gao wasn't stingy. After hearing Tang Zhitong's needs, he took out several paper packages from the kitchen and stuffed them into Tang Zhitong's hands.

"Okay! Thank you, Master Gao. Are the seasonings easy to get now? If possible, Master Gao, please take more next time. I reckon these won't be enough." The aroma of star anise, Sichuan peppercorns, cinnamon, and other spices wafted out through the paper package. Tang Zhitong weighed the package in his hand and, considering the hundred or so people from the escort department who were participating in the labor this time, realized that these few packages were not enough.

"Sigh, there's a shortage everywhere. I'll try my best." Master Gao shook his head slightly. Now, he can still buy some spices in the name of his work unit in addition to the food rations. It's very difficult for individuals to buy them unless they go to some traditional Chinese medicine clinics, but the price of spices is different in traditional Chinese medicine clinics.

"Alright, then I'll trouble you, Master Gao." Tang Zhitong said, not wanting to make things difficult for Master Gao. It seemed that this little bit of seasoning would have to be wrapped in gauze before use, so that at least it could be picked out and reused after it was finished...

Spices were hard to buy, but salt was plentiful. Tang Zhitong made an appointment with Gao Lide to come and pick it up the next day, and then returned to the finance department.

Yesterday, Ma Wei was here, so Tang Zhitong was too embarrassed to write to Wu Aijun. Today, he must write to him to complete the request from last time.

When she got home that evening, Zhang Guifang had a long talk with her son and Fengzhen after dinner, telling them not to be lazy, but also not to rush ahead; to drink more water; and not to take off their arm sleeves no matter how hot it was, otherwise the wheat awns would prick them, etc.

A mother worries when her son travels a thousand miles. Although the brother and sister only traveled thirty or forty kilometers to the countryside this time, Zhang Guifang felt as if they had been stationed in another place for a long time.

These days, encouraging education isn't popular. It seems like almost every mother in the world is a nag, even if she's holding a kitchen knife, broom, or rolling pin, she'll still be nagging at her children. If anyone dares to disobey, the rolling pin will be swung at them...

When you're young, you might get annoyed or even argue back, but once your mother is gone, you'll miss her with tears in your eyes.

Tang Zhitong cherished the present moment, knowing that behind her mother's nagging lay deep love, so she listened happily, nodding in response from time to time.

Once Zhang Guifang had finished speaking, the family meeting ended.

Back in the side room, when Xiao Wang heard that her husband might not have a place to stay after going to the countryside, she started to worry about adding more bedding for him to sleep on.

"Just bring a sheet. What do I, a grown man, need bedding for? We can harvest a huge amount of wheat in one day. There are many of us, so we can work quickly. After harvesting, we'll thresh the wheat the same day, and then we'll have straw to use. We can just use the straw as a mat and sleep on it. It's not only soft but also keeps out the damp and warm." Tang Zhitong didn't have high requirements for accommodation and tried to keep things simple. This was an opportunity to show off that he would normally be eager to have.

After the wheat harvest was over and we returned to the unit, when we thought about this incident, everyone said that Section Chief Tang not only had to be on duty, but also cooked for everyone, and even slept on the floor at night, which was more tiring than the ordinary employees.

See, a good reputation is established, and a solid foundation of public support is built.
"You make it sound so real, just like you've done it yourself." Although her husband spoke with conviction, Xiao Wang didn't believe him. While her husband had previously said his childhood was unremarkable, he had still grown up in Beijing; how could he be so familiar with the wheat harvest? "Oh, I heard Grandma talk about it when I was little. Everyone at work was discussing it today. Everyone else sleeps on straw, what would it look like if I brought my own bedding? I have to be mindful of the impact, I have to share the hardships with my comrades." Zhang Guifang had never mentioned the wheat harvest at home before, and Grandma Tang hadn't specifically told her grandson about it either. Tang Zhitong's knowledge all came from a childhood in another time.

Every year during the wheat harvest, we not only get filthy and itchy all over, but we also get so tired that we look like mud monkeys.

“Then…then I’ll fill the oil drum with water every day from now on, so you can take a shower when you come back.” Hearing her husband mention the impact, Xiao Wang hesitated.

"Okay, it's settled then. Wait for me at home, I'll come back every two or three days." Tang Zhitong cupped Xiao Wang's face and rubbed it against him, promising.

This seemingly insignificant act revealed Xiao Wang's hopes for his child. He transformed into a car mechanic, diligently performing several rounds of axle maintenance on the driver.

If geoduck clams and abalone keep fighting every day, their shells won't be able to take it, and they'll have to stop and rest eventually.

After finishing his treatment and lying in bed, Tang Zhitong recalled a sentence:

With such a wife, even Hua Tuo would find it difficult to cure, Bian Que would shake his head, and Zhongjing would sigh.

Traditional Chinese medicine is ineffective in treating this condition, and Western medicine has given up. How many days a patient can live depends entirely on fate.

This trip to the countryside doesn't seem like a bad thing after all; at least it allows me to rest for a few days.

…………

In the middle of the night, Tang Gang, who was far away in the Andong Forest Farm, was woken up by his wife Jin Yumei: "Gangzi, my stomach hurts."

"Huh?" Tang Gang was wide awake after hearing his wife's words. He turned on the light and looked closely. Jin Yumei was covered in sweat and her expression was somewhat distorted.

"Why are you holding back? Why didn't you wake me up sooner?" Tang Gang complained as he grabbed a pillowcase to wipe his wife's sweat. He got up in a panic, not even bothering to put on his shoes, and went straight to the window of the main room to knock on the door.

"Mother, Yumei is about to give birth!" Tang Gang's first thought was of his mother, and his rough hands pounded against the window frame.

"I'll get up right now, you go find Old Lady Niu quickly." Tang Tianshi woke up with a start when she heard her son's cry for help. Since ancient times, there has been a saying that childbirth is like passing through the gates of hell, especially for the first child, the probability of problems is even greater.

Tang Gang listened to his mother's instructions, put on his shoes, opened the door in the dim moonlight, and ran straight to Old Lady Niu's house.

"Lao Niu Po" is a Northeastern dialect term that actually refers to a midwife or a midwife.

Because being a midwife requires a calm and composed personality, remaining calm and collected in the face of adversity, much like a cow pulling a cart, there is a nickname for her in Northeast China: "Old Cow Woman".

This profession is one of the "three aunts and six grandmothers". The three aunts refer to nuns, Taoist nuns, and fortune tellers; the six grandmothers refer to matchmakers, sorceresses, witches, prostitutes, herbalists, and midwives.

Most of the professions among the "aunts and gossips" are not well-regarded, except for midwives.

In the quiet forest, Tang Gang knocked loudly on the door of Old Niu's house.

The forest farm has a medic, a man, who is the go-to person for minor ailments like headaches or fevers. However, when it comes to childbirth or gynecological issues, most women still prefer to see the old woman.

Old Lady Niu had been relatively free lately. With the reduction in food rations, there were fewer and fewer pregnant women. She had been eyeing the Tang family's order for a long time, so she wasn't surprised at all when she heard Tang Gang knocking on the door.

"It's only just started hurting? No need to rush, it's still early." After opening the door for Tang Gang, the old woman first inquired about the situation and remained calm after listening.

Tang Gang, however, couldn't hold back and kept urging them on.

The old woman listened without any hurry, slowly tidying up her things, especially the coarse paper, before following Tang Gang off.

After arriving at the Tang family's house, Jin Yumei stopped crying out in pain. Old Niu Po ​​smiled and said to Tang Gang, "See, I told you it was still early. It comes in waves. Boil some water first, then burn some wood ash."

Tang Tianshi was already preparing water and wood ash.

Seeing the old woman enter the side room, Tang Tianshi stopped what she was doing and followed her in to see if there was anything she could help with. Tang Gang also wanted to go in, but his mother stopped him: "What are you going in for? Wait outside, so you don't bump into anything."

"Just wait here patiently." Tang Wenbang squatted by the door, puffing on his pipe, and pointed to the side, telling his son to be calm.

Seeing his son's anxious state, Tang Wenbang recalled how he had looked just like Tang Gang when he was born, and couldn't help but say impatiently, "Don't rush, rushing won't help. It'll take a while."

"Hmm, hmm." Seeing that his parents were calm, Tang Gang, who had been squatting down, also felt relieved. But then Jin Yumei's cries of pain came from the inner room again. He jumped up and ran to the window of the side room, anxiously asking, "Yumei, what's wrong? What's wrong? Is it hurting again?"

"Go away! Don't cause trouble here! It'll be in pain until dawn before you give birth!" Even though the old woman had a good temper, she still got angry after hearing Tang Gang's commotion.

She had seen this situation many times. The new mother was already following her own rhythm, but as soon as her husband spoke, her breathing became disordered.

After the old woman finished speaking, Tang Tian came out of the side room, pulled her son to her husband's side, pressed him down to sit on the ground, and instructed him: "Stay here, don't go anywhere, don't say anything, and don't cause any trouble."

After saying that, Tang Tian hurriedly went into the house to find a cloth and a basin.

“Everyone goes through this. Your mother had a whole day of labor when she gave birth to you. Just wait patiently,” Tang Wenbang said, seeing that his son was getting impatient.

Tang Gang gave a perfunctory reply, not daring to utter another sound, but his body was restless as he paced anxiously back and forth in the yard.

Seeing that his son was no longer speaking, Tang Wenbang also remained silent. Wasn't he the same way back then? Apart from old bachelors, probably everyone has to go through this.

Tang Gang was gone for the entire night.

The busiest person in the family was Tang Tianshi, who went in and out of the side room, bringing hot water, cloths, and corn porridge. Some of these needed to be changed, while others were meant to replenish the new mother's strength.

Jin Yumei's cries of pain became shorter and shorter, and her strength seemed to be waning, while the old woman's cries grew louder and louder: "Push! Push! It's coming out!"

Finally, after daybreak, a cry came from the side room.

Then came the old woman's joyful announcement: "Congratulations, congratulations, it's a 'multiple-headed' baby with a boy!"

"Multiple heads" is a professional term used in the midwifery industry, meaning boys, while girls are called "adding heads," a term that strongly favors boys over girls.

Tang Gang doesn't care about whether there are multiple or multiple heads; right now, he just wants to see how his wife is doing!

(End of this chapter)