I bring bad luck to my husband, you bring bad luck to your wife.

Yang Tongchuan actually found two kinds of spicy pork jerky in the jerky shop.

The owner's husband is from out of town, and he said this flavor is a specialty of his husband's hometown.

One is sweet and spicy, and the other is numbing and spicy.

They don't sell much normally; they mainly make it when his husband wants to eat it.

Yang Tongchuan also bought half a jin and took it back for Xiangxi to try.

Worried that eating too much of this stuff might cause indigestion, I also bought some dried fruit for Xiangxi from the dried fruit shop next door.

When there's nothing to do during the day, you can play around inside the house.

Of course, he didn't forget his mother and eldest brother either, and brought them along as well.

When they got home, they first put the dried meat in Xiangxi's room, and then sent some dried fruit to Yang's mother.

Yang's mother kept him with her and told him about finding a wet nurse.

"Although Xiangxi told me not to look anymore, I still went to meet a few people. I found a good one, she's had two children, and her pregnancy is a little later than Xiangxi's, and the timing is right. It's just that she's related to your ex-husband's family. She has a relative who's a bodyguard at that escort agency. I'm afraid Xiangxi will mind." Mother Yang was also in a dilemma. Xiangxi was going to give birth in the first month of the lunar calendar, and at that time, ordinary people didn't want to go out to work.

"Mother, Xiangxi is thoughtful and prone to overthinking. Try to avoid getting involved with that family. Please look for other families. If there aren't any suitable ones, I'll discuss this with Xiangxi."

"Okay, I'll go look again." Yang's mother listened to her son.

Back in the west wing, I saw Xiangxi reclining by the bed, munching on dried meat while looking at a picture book.

"You're back, have a taste." Xiangxi held the dried meat to Yang Tongchuan's lips.

It's so spicy.

"Don't you think it's spicy?"

"It's a little spicy, but it's delicious."

"Eat as much as you like, but don't eat too much, or you'll upset your stomach." Yang Tongchuan coaxed Xiangxi affectionately, his hand unconsciously stroking his belly.

Suddenly, Xiangxi's belly stirred, and Yang Tongchuan's palm was kicked forcefully.

"You felt it?" Xiangxi looked at Yang Tongchuan's silly expression and wanted to laugh.

Yang Tongchuan looked at his hands; the feeling was incredible.

But then Yang Tongchuan suddenly took the snacks and jerky from Xiangxi's hands.

"You should eat less chili peppers, or the baby will be rolling around in your belly from all the spiciness." Yang Tongchuan put the rest away.

Xiangxi ate quite a bit tonight, and if she eats so much meat jerky that's hard to digest, she might get a stomachache.

But it really satisfied my craving, so I guess I'll just take it.

In the days that followed, Yang Tongchuan took Xiangxi to the doctor for a routine check-up and pulse diagnosis, and the two of them were scolded by the old doctor.

During this period, Xiangxi did nothing but eat and sleep, and her face became round and chubby.

"Aren't you two being ridiculous? If you keep getting this fat, the baby will be too big, and your husband will suffer terribly."

Xiangxi blushed with embarrassment; it was so shameful.

"I don't think he's fat. He used to be too thin, but now he's just right," Yang Tongchuan said, still trying to defend Xiangxi.

"Am I the doctor or are you the doctor? If you don't listen, you'll regret it." The doctor gave them both a scare.

Xiangxi used to stroll around the streets for a while after leaving the clinic, but now she doesn't. She just takes Yang Tongchuan home.

Yang's mother waited at home for the two to return.

When they saw Yang Tongchuan's long face, they thought something had happened to Xiangxi and the child.

Later, I learned that the doctor was upset because Xiangxi was gaining weight too quickly, and I was relieved.

"It's alright. Once the weather cools down, let Xiangxi move around more in the yard. I've told Yanzi to make dinner a little lighter, and her weight will gradually come under control." Yang's mother had no idea that Xiangxi ate dried meat in the house every night and cracked nuts in the house during the day.

They were too embarrassed to say it.

Fortunately, there is still room for maneuver.

Xiangxi gave up the snacks in the house and started eating more vegetables and less rice in the evening.

Whenever it wasn't hot, he would help Yanzi with small chores in the yard, such as feeding Zhen Laifu and adding water for him.

Yang's mother wouldn't let him do other chores either, like washing clothes or cooking.

As autumn arrives and temperatures gradually drop, Xiangxi's weight has finally been kept within a reasonable range.

That day, Mr. and Mrs. Yang were going to the countryside with Yang Tongshan to check on the harvest of the land they had rented to their tenants.

The Yang family signed a share-rent agreement with the tenants, which meant splitting the produce in half based on actual output.

After taxes were deducted, the remaining grain was split equally between the Yang family and the tenant farmers.

A few days ago, the tenants made a special trip to the Yang family's house during the market day to deliver this year's autumn vegetables. They also told Mr. and Mrs. Yang that this year's rice had been delivered to the drying ground and that they could go to inspect the grain in a few days.

In previous years, the Yang family would first go and select the "good grains" that were plump and free of impurities.

Then, according to the "half-and-half" principle, half of it is taken away directly, and the remaining half goes to the tenants.

This year, Yang Tongshan wanted to take Mingle to the countryside to relax. If Mingle liked it there, they would stay for two days and go up the mountain for a visit.

Yang's mother thought it was a good idea and agreed.

The only problem is that Xiangxi is late in his pregnancy and it's not suitable for him to travel long distances. Yang's mother is worried about leaving him at home alone.

They discussed having Yang Tongchuan take a few days off to stay home with Xiangxi.

"I'll leave Yanzi at home for you to take care of. You just need to take good care of Xiangxi." Yang's mother was a little worried that Yang Tongchuan might not know how to take care of people.

"No need, Mother. You should take Yanzi with you. There are bound to be places in the countryside that you're not used to, so it'll be more convenient to have someone who can take care of you. Xiangxi and I can manage on our own at home." Yang Tongchuan wished there was no one else in the house, and even better, he wanted to take Zhen Laifu with him.

It's just him and Xiangxi at home now, how comfortable is that?

Yang's mother thought that her son was feeling sorry for her, and she was extremely touched.

After seeing off Yang's mother and her entourage that day, the courtyard fell silent.

Xiangxi has nothing to do now, so she plans to sort through the autumn vegetables that the tenants brought, and dry the ones that need to be dried so they won't be difficult to store.

When Yang Tongchuan came out of the house, he saw Xiangxi cutting radish strips in the yard with a knife.

This is to be dried and kept for making dried radish pickles.

"Are you tired? Does your back hurt?"

"It's a bit sour, so you cut it, I'll take a break." Xiangxi gave her seat to Yang Tongchuan.

He is no longer afraid of Yang Tongchuan at all, and he finds it particularly easy to order him around.

The two divided the work: Yang Tongchuan cut, and Xiang happy sun-dried.

Before long, the distinctive scent of green radish filled the courtyard.

Xiangxi really likes this flavor.

"If the weather's good, they'll be dry in three days. Tomorrow, let's take the cabbage and scallions out to cool and dry as well, so they won't rot easily when we store them."

"Okay, whatever you say, I'll do it. There's no rush, we can take our time."

At noon, only the two of them were left at home for lunch.

Xiangxi didn't want to make things too complicated.

I took two potatoes, peeled and shredded them, and made a few potato pancakes. I also cooked a pot of corn porridge with freshly ground cornmeal.

Xiangxi specially cooked a little extra, including one portion from Zhen Laifu.

Worried that Zhen Laifu wouldn't have enough to eat, Yang Tongchuan threw two more sweet potatoes into the stove pit, planning to give them to Zhen Laifu as a treat once they were cooked.