Siheyuan: The Era of Struggle

Chapter 367 Popular Science on Eugenics
Sha Zhu was not stupid before, he just liked to pretend to be stupid. After He Yuanchao returned to his hometown and taught him a lesson several times, he has become a completely different person now.

"Director Li, we haven't gone yet. We feel that the one we should thank the most is you, Second Uncle. Without you, Director Li wouldn't be able to help Yu Li."

"That's what I said."

He Yuanchao nodded and gently instructed his nephew, "You have to be reciprocal when dealing with people. No matter why Li Weimin helped you, you have to remember this favor and repay him when you have the chance..."

While the uncle and nephew were smoking and talking, Zhang Min and Yu Li came into the house chatting and laughing after finishing dinner in the kitchen.

Seeing two pregnant women coming in, He Yuanchao subconsciously put out the half-smoked cigarette in his hand in the ashtray on the table.

In this era, there was no concept of eugenics. Many families, whether they were preparing to have children or the wife was pregnant, would smoke and drink as they pleased, without any delay.

Although Shazhu has changed many bad habits in the past six months, he still can't get rid of his bad habit of talking too much, especially in front of his family.

Seeing He Yuanchao's actions, he couldn't help but say, "Second Uncle, it's still a while before dinner, why did you put out your cigarette? It will be difficult to smoke it if you light up the remaining half."

After saying this, Sha Zhu looked at Zhang Min, as if he remembered something, and walked up to He Yuanchao and said with a smile:
"Uncle, it's not true as the rumors in the factory say, my aunt doesn't allow you to smoke, right?"

Although the voice was not loud, everyone in the room heard it clearly.

Yu Li looked at He Yuanchao and then at Zhang Min. Although she tried hard not to laugh, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up.

In front of her family, Zhang Min had no scruples. She glanced at He Yuanchao who was staring at Silly Zhu and said with a smile, "Zhuzi, don't listen to what outsiders say. Your second uncle is the head of our family. He has the final say on everything."

It would have been fine if he hadn't explained it, but once he had, Sha Zhu became even more excited.

"I believed what you said before, but when you came into the room just now, my uncle was so anxious that he put out his cigarette, which made me believe the rumors in the factory."

"You know shit."

As soon as Sha Zhu finished speaking, before Zhang Min could speak, He Yuanchao spoke up to explain to everyone the benefits of eugenics and good parenting, and emphasized the impact of secondhand smoke on pregnant women and fetuses.

……

As He Yuanchao continued his story, Zhang Min, who was originally smiling, gradually lost her smile.

At first she thought He Yuanchao was teasing her, but when she remembered that her man had not smoked in front of her since she became pregnant, she couldn't help but look solemn.

When Yu Li saw Zhang Min's expression, she knew that He Yuanchao was not joking, and her face suddenly turned pale.

Sha Zhu glanced at his wife who was pregnant and about to give birth, then glanced at his second aunt who was just pregnant, and quickly put out his half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray.

"Uncle, Zhuzi didn't quit smoking or drinking before and after I got pregnant. Will this have an impact on the baby in my belly? I can't give birth to another deformed baby like you said, right?"

As soon as He Yuanchao finished speaking, Yu Li couldn't wait to ask.

Seeing that Yu Li was so frightened that her voice was trembling, He Yuanchao blamed himself for speaking without thinking, and hurriedly smiled and said:
"Don't worry! The probability of tobacco and alcohol causing a deformed baby is extremely small. At most, it will affect the intellectual development a little."

After hearing what He Yuanchao said, Yu Li felt much more relieved, but she still turned her head and glared at Sha Zhu fiercely.

"It's okay. It doesn't matter if you're a little clumsy. At worst, you can take over my job and continue to do the old craft passed down from my ancestors."

When Sha Zhu saw the look in his wife's eyes, his heart tightened and he quickly put on a smile and spoke.

Seeing this, Zhang Min was afraid that the couple would get upset because of this, so she quickly said that the meal was almost ready, and pulled Yu Li out of the house.

After the two pregnant women left the house, Sha Zhu hurriedly came up to He Yuanchao and whispered, "Uncle, are what you said true? Can smoking and drinking really lead to the birth of deformed babies?" He Yuanchao felt a little embarrassed for having unintentionally tricked his nephew. After thinking for a while, he taught Sha Zhu some words to coax his wife when he went home that night.

The uncle and nephew whispered for a long time until Yu Li and Zhang Min brought dinner into the room.

After dinner, the four of them talked for a long time. It was almost eight o'clock in the evening when Sha Zhu took Yu Li home.

After seeing off Sha Zhu and his wife, He Yuanchao and Zhang Min returned to the house and did not sit idle either. They began to pack up the things they would take with them for the next day.

"My wife doesn't need to carry so many things. She will be back in two days."

Looking at the full bag on the bed, which Zhang Min was still stuffing more things into, He Yuanchao couldn't help but laugh.

"Dad said it would take seven or eight days. If we can't finish it, we'll have to stay two more days. It's better to take more just in case."

After saying this, Zhang Min turned around, walked to the closet, opened the door, bent down and took out a wooden box.

He Yuanchao had seen this wooden box before and knew it contained his family's belongings. He asked curiously, "What are you doing with it?"

"My mom once said that a poor family means a rich journey. Besides, I'm going out to do some business this time, so I have to bring more money with me!"

As Zhang Min spoke, she took out a bundle of big black coins and a stack of food coupons from a wooden box and handed them to He Yuanchao.

Looking at the money and bills in Zhang Min's hand, He Yuanchao wanted to say that he had enough money on him, but then he thought that if the money from his father-in-law was not enough, it could be used in an emergency, so he did not refuse and took the things and put them directly into his bag.

Zhang Min had never lacked money since she was a child, and she didn't care much about money, but when she saw He Yuanchao's actions, she couldn't help but say:

"You'd better keep the money for aiding North Korea. I heard from my colleagues that there are many thieves on the train."

"Oh my silly wife, my dad and I are sitting in a soft sleeper, and petty thieves can't get in at all."

……

After tidying up everything, the couple lay on the bed and talked for a long time until Zhang Min was too sleepy to open her eyes, and then they shut up and went to sleep.

At five o'clock the next morning, He Yuanchao opened his eyes on time, put on his clothes and washed up quietly. Just as he was about to go to the kitchen to make breakfast for Zhang Min, he heard a knock on the door.

He Yuanchao raised his hand and looked at the time. It was only five fifteen in the morning and there were still about two hours before the bus time. His father-in-law wouldn't come so early!
Although he thought so in his mind, he still opened the door, walked out of the house and headed towards the courtyard gate.

At this time, most of the neighbors in the yard had already gotten up. When they saw He Yuanchao running towards the gate of the yard, they stayed in their houses and went about their own business.

He Yuanchao arrived at the gate of the courtyard and opened the door. He saw that not only Zhang Lide had come, but also his mother-in-law Ma Xiufang was standing outside the door holding a cloth bag.

After letting the old couple in, He Yuanchao couldn't help but ask Ma Xiufang, "Mom, are you going this time too?"

"I'm not going. I'll take you to the station and bring you some breakfast."

As she spoke, Ma Xiufang took out three aluminum lunch boxes from her cloth bag and placed them on the table.

The noise in the outer room was not loud, but it still disturbed Zhang Min who was sleeping.

She put on her clothes and went to the outer room, where she saw her parents were there. She had the same idea as He Yuanchao, thinking that Ma Xiufang would also go to Xishan with them.

The mother and daughter exchanged a few words, and Ma Xiufang said, "Stop talking, and eat your meal quickly, or it will get cold soon."

(End of this chapter)