Back to 1984: Earning Money, Raising Kids, and Keeping the Household Busy

Chapter 89 Birth
Ping An grinned, "Mom went to work and won't be back until after 12."

"Hey! Brother Wenjun, your wife still has work?" Chen Wenhai was quite surprised.

Even Zhou Shuifang and the others were quite surprised.

Chen Wenjun nodded and explained, "Aqin cooks for the workers at the construction site. This cement road was built by Aqin asking her boss to have someone come and repair it."

These days, everyone envies a job, no matter what it is.

Upon hearing that Lin Qin had a job, Chen Yongding immediately praised her, and Zhou Shuifang echoed him, completely forgetting how she had previously gossiped about her behind her back.

The group picked the vegetables and handed them to Lin Yi.

Lin Yi was busy in the kitchen.

Chen Wenhai and his brother played with their two children on the cement ground, while Chen Wenjun accompanied their grandfather and others to sunbathe and make tea in the yard.

The years are quiet.

Grandpa Chen glanced at the four playing around from time to time, then suddenly looked at Chen Wenjun and said, "You've made a good choice in marrying this woman."

Chen Wenjun was stunned for a moment, and Grandpa Chen pondered for a moment and said, "I used to feel sorry for Ping An because he was timid and weak. I never thought he would be so cheerful. It's all thanks to your wife."

He used to think that having a stepmother meant having a stepfather, and he always held a wait-and-see attitude towards Lin Qin. But now, seeing Ping An's attitude, he had to admit that he was narrow-minded.

Chen Wenjun grinned and said, "Grandpa doesn't know, but Qin really cares about Ping An. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she treats Ping An like her own son. Before, when Ping An was with me, he was just fed and clothed. After Qin came, she would take him to get a haircut, buy him clothes, pants and shoes, and she was also very concerned about his schooling."

Previously, when the two children were bullied at Anshan Primary School, Aqin took them to confront the bullies and even got into a fight with their teacher. The situation escalated to the point that the Education Bureau and the police station had to intervene, and only then did the Education Bureau arrange for the two children to attend the Municipal Experimental Primary School.

Zhou Shuifang suddenly realized, "So that's how it is. I asked Ping An that day, but he didn't say anything. I was wondering why your child went to the Municipal Experimental Primary School."

Chen Yongding and Grandpa Chen thought about it more deeply. Lin Qin was willing to make such a fuss for the child, so she must really cherish him. With such a stepmother, Ping An's future days would definitely not be difficult.

Thinking of this, Grandpa Chen said earnestly, "You two don't have children yet, but the house is already built. You can consider having another child. Anyway, the house is big, so you won't have to worry about not having a place to live."

Lin Yi, who was carrying the dishes, seemed to have found a kindred spirit and excitedly echoed, "That's what I was thinking too, but I haven't had a chance to tell them yet. You know, the family planning policy is so strict now, people who want to have children can't. You have the means, so why don't you hurry up and have them? Anyway, we have Ping An and Ya Ya in our family. Whether it's a boy or a girl, they are our treasures."

The two old men found common ground and, as they talked, the conversation drifted to Chen Wenhai and Chen Wenjiang's marriage.

“I originally wanted to build a boat for my eldest grandson. He said that the Tanka people in Nangang are all going to come ashore. I don’t know if our area will be arranged the same way. If so, there’s no point in building a boat.” Grandpa Chen said with a worried expression.

Chen Wenjun quickly replied, "We will also have a unified plan here. I heard someone mention it when I went to the Land and Resources Bureau, but it won't be that quick. I estimate it will take another ten years or so."

"What? Ten years or so? Then we have no choice but to build this ship!" Zhou Shuifang frowned, pondering the best way to handle the situation.

Chen Wenjun dared not offer unsolicited advice; he only touched on the points and stopped there.

The family ate in Nanyu and then left.

Once on the boat, Zhou Shuifang exclaimed, "I never expected Wenjun to build such a beautiful house. I'm even tempted to buy it."

Chen Yongding shook his head. "It's no use being tempted. Both of our sons need to get married, so we can't do it this way. Now we have to consider whether to build a ship or just buy a piece of land and build a house."

Grandpa Chen pondered for a moment and said, "Let's build a ship. There are still ten years or so to go. Who knows what the future holds!" Zhou Shuifang hesitated, "Dad, look at how well Wenjun's life has improved since he married a land-dwelling woman. I was thinking, if our family also buys land and builds a house on land, and Wenhai marries a land-dwelling woman, wouldn't our future be just as prosperous as Wenjun's?"

Grandpa Chen paused, then shook his head. “How could people from the mainland possibly look down on us Tanka people! Wenjun’s wife is a special case; their marriage was a happy one, achieved by sheer chance. You can’t expect Wenhai to have the same good fortune.”

What if I marry a woman with high standards who keeps finding fault with everything? How will we live together then?

Zhou Shuifang was speechless.

Chen Wenhai remained calm.

"Mom and Dad, I think you should stop worrying. We still have to go to Nangang to work after the New Year. Who knows what will happen next? Besides, that place is becoming more and more prosperous, with a lot of goods coming and going. We're even thinking of partnering with them to run a ship. Even if we get married, we'll just leave our wives alone. Why bother?"

Zhou Shuifang didn't like hearing this, so she scolded her two sons and didn't mention marriage again.

Lin Qin only found out when she returned home at noon that her family had already entertained guests.

Lin Yi left her some food and secretly told her, "You and Wenjun should hurry up and have a child."

Lin Qin was stunned. "Dad! Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?"

Lin Yi glared at her irritably. "Your mother passed away early, so I had to be both a father and a mother! Since you two don't care, I can only remind you to have a child while you're still young. Only when you have a child of your own will this family feel like a real family. Otherwise, it's just a partnership, and people will gossip."

Lin Qin was at a loss and simply grabbed the couple and left.

Whether in her past life or this one, she and Chen Wenjun were husband and wife in name only. In her previous life, she just made do with life because she felt it was meaningless, and living on a boat meant she didn't have the means or the inclination.

Having been reborn, with Lin Yi and Ya Ya on the fishing boat, there was even less opportunity for him to think about such things.

Now that she has a house, a brand-new big bed, and a private space, she dares not think any further.

At the same time, Chen Wenjun was also distracted by Lin Yi and Grandpa Chen's urging to have a child, and he also had some expectations.

Seeing Lin Qin blush and hide in her room, Chen Wenjun immediately stood up and stared intently at her.

Lin Qin was startled and clutched her chest. "You scare people to death! What are you doing hiding in your room with the bamboo curtain drawn in broad daylight?"

"Afternoon nap," Chen Wenjun said succinctly.

The room was dimly lit, and Lin Qin didn't think much of it. She took out her money and locked it in a drawer. Then she went to the bathroom to wash her face. As soon as she returned to the room, Chen Wenjun hugged her tightly.

"Honey, Grandpa and Dad talked about having a baby today. Shouldn't we get things done too?"

Lin Qin's face instantly turned bright red, and under Chen Wenjun's extremely aggressive gaze, she half-heartedly gave in to him.

Afterwards, the two, who rarely took afternoon naps, actually got a good, solid nap.

I woke up again at 3 p.m.

Chen Wenjun, feeling refreshed, took Lin Qin out fishing.

(End of this chapter)