1940s: I supported my wife and sister-in-law by hunting.

When an aunt from the Chen family who had married out of the village returned to her parents' home with her entire family to stay for an extended period, it was a novelty for the eldest son in the tiny village of Nangou.

Living in a village, nothing can be kept secret. Under the old locust tree in the village, a lot of old women gathered, carrying sewing baskets and holding children. They huddled together in twos and threes, whispering and gossiping.

Just as they were getting into the conversation, Chen Liu, who was out fetching firewood, bumped right into them.

Chen Liushi was a fiery and straightforward woman who couldn't tolerate any injustice. Hearing those barbed words, she immediately put down the firewood she was carrying, put her hands on her hips, and shouted back.

Her words were all reasonable, without any tantrums or nonsense. She left the group red-faced and stammering, unable to utter a single word in response, and they had no choice but to disperse.

After this incident, no one dared to gossip or speak ill of Chen Guilan and her two children in front of the Chen family anymore.

But behind her back, many married women in the village secretly gave Chen Liu a thumbs up, admiring her from the bottom of their hearts.

They still wouldn't let it go, muttering that a married daughter is like water spilled from a cup, and there's no reason for her to stay at her parents' home forever. They said she probably couldn't stay at her husband's house and was sent back, but in their hearts, they were full of envy.

They were envious that Chen Guilan had such a good sister-in-law who protected her, and even more envious that when she returned to her parents' home, she could have a safe haven and her brother and sister-in-law would sincerely support her.

You know, which woman in the village isn't like that? If she wants to go back to her parents' home, how dare she go empty-handed?

Everyone had to bring some dry food and half a basket of mountain produce. Those who were better off would catch a chick they raised themselves and send it over.

Even if her parents didn't say anything, her older brothers and sisters-in-law would still be very hostile, always looking down on her, afraid that their married daughter would come back and take advantage of the family.

It's no wonder that Chen Liu treated her sister-in-law Chen Guilan so well. After Chen Guilan moved into the west room of the main house with her two children, she never acted like she was eating and living there for free.

She's observant and helpful, and her two children are well-behaved and easy to manage, thanks to her sister-in-law's guidance.

The mother and daughter took over all the work at home and in the fields.

Chen Guilan's competence is well-known in the surrounding villages. No wonder the two sisters-in-law of the Zhang family secretly call her "the one with knives, guns, and cannons." Whether it's washing clothes and cooking, sewing and mending at home, or weeding and watering the fields, she can handle everything with ease.

During the day, she worked hard in the fields with her brother and sister-in-law until she was so tired that she could barely straighten her back. But when she got home in the evening, she didn't even have time to rest. She would drag Xiaxia and Kexin to the open space next to Old Chen's house to make mud bricks and plan how to build her own house.

Chen Guilan was digging in the mud with a shovel in her hand.

She hastily wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve, looking at her two children bustling around her.

"Your uncle and aunt are genuinely good to us. We can't take advantage of that kindness and become lazy or take advantage of them. If the three of us want to establish ourselves in Nangou Village, we have to reclaim wasteland, build our own houses, and make a living with our own hands."

Kexin, Xiaxia, you won't blame your mother for making you suffer, will you?

Zhang Xiaoxia shook her head understandingly. "It's not my fault. Wherever Mother goes, I'll go. It's fine to be wherever Mother is."

Zhang Kexin held a shovel in her hand and dug the mud with all her might.

"Mom, I know you're doing this for my sister and me, so don't worry. I'm all grown up now and can work. My second brother and the others have come to help too. I think clearing land and planting crops is nothing; we can clear a plot of land in less than two months."

"Mom, Sister, don't worry, when I grow up a bit more, I'll definitely make sure you live a good life! My second brother also said that in winter, he'll take me hunting in the mountains behind the village!"

Chen Guilan does not regret marrying Zhang Baofu, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to have such wonderful children.

"Okay, Mother will wait. Mother will wait for my promising future."

Chen Gaoshan, Chen Laonian, and Xiao Kouzi would come over to help whenever they had free time, and everyone pitched in.

Chen Guilan's three mud-brick houses are progressing rapidly, and the day of completion is fast approaching.

The wood used for building the roof beams was dried wood that had been stored in the family's storeroom for several years. There were many trees on the mountain behind the village, so we could just go up the mountain to cut them whenever we needed them, and we didn't have to worry about not having any in the future.

The roof tiles were made by the best bricklayer in the village, and neighbors also lent a hand.

That's how the people of Nangou Village are. On ordinary days, when those old women get together, they can chat endlessly about family matters and even argue over trivial things. But when someone has a serious matter or encounters difficulties, they all step up and lend a helping hand.

Every household in the village has lived like this: you help me, I'll help you along the way. Relying on this bond of kinship, we take care of each other and get by in the countryside.

The bricks and tiles are fired until they are red-hot, then water is poured on them to turn them into blue bricks and white tiles. It takes at least five or six days to fire them. The houses in the village are all built with tiles fired in this kiln.

Before we knew it, it was July. The crops in the fields were growing wildly, each one tall and strong, a lush green that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Not long after, the old aunt, with her two children, moved smoothly into the newly built mud-brick house next door, finally no longer having to squeeze into her brother and sister-in-law's house. Meanwhile, Lianhua and Xinghua's bellies grew bigger day by day, like they were carrying two big balls.

After having breakfast, Chen Gaoshan sat idly in the house, reaching out to touch Xinghua's swollen belly.

Feeling the little one kicking his hand under his belly, Chen Gaoshan, a first-time father, was indeed a little excited. He hadn't had any special feelings about the baby in his belly before.

"Ouch, that little brat kicked me, and he's so strong."

Xinghua's needle and thread never stopped as she sewed a small garment.

"These past two days, the movements have become even stronger at night, like you're doing somersaults in my belly. Mother said that when she was pregnant with you, you were also incredibly active."

Chen Gaoshan pressed his ear directly against Xinghua's belly.

"Little brat, don't bother your mother. Stay put and come out when you're full-term, or you'll get a beating."

Afraid of accidentally pricking him with the needle, Xinghua put down her needle and thread and stroked the head buried in front of her.

She had been experiencing chest tightness and discomfort for some time now, and when she asked Lianhua, Lianhua didn't have this problem.

"If you really don't move at all, your mother will panic and become completely flustered. My child, don't listen to your second uncle. Just move around however you want. The more you move, the more at ease your mother will feel."

Another kick landed in my stomach, as if it truly understood human speech.

Chen Gaoshan burst out laughing.

"Goodness, it can even understand speech? Try again."

Chen Gaoshan was having a great time interacting with the baby in his belly, and Xinghua, for some reason, unconsciously stroked his head.

Her little face was flushed, perhaps because of the heat, and she was breathing softly.

Chen Gaoshan naturally felt his head being rubbed.

Since Xinghua and Lianhua became pregnant, they have become much more clingy and dependent on me.

He had no idea that pregnancy could have such a significant impact on women, especially on their libido, which had more than doubled.

He held the apricot blossom in his hand, which was resting on his head.

"Feeling unwell again? Something's not right. Are you having another one? I need to go see Dr. Zhou tomorrow and ask him if working day and night like this will harm the baby."

Upon hearing this, Xinghua quickly reached out and covered his mouth to stop him from talking nonsense, her face turning even redder.

"I know my own body best, nothing's wrong with me. If you really have the nerve to go around asking around, then don't come into my room to sleep anymore. I'd rather just let my imagination run wild and dream about it."

Chen Gaoshan kissed her palm.

"I love the smell of your milk, it smells so good. With you and Lotus as a food source, the baby will never go hungry. This little one even came with food rations. It's only six months old, Xinghua, you're really good at giving birth."

"Talking nonsense in broad daylight, are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? I'm talking about serious matters. Anyway, it's just sitting there doing nothing, so I'll help you make yourself feel better."

Xinghua closed her eyes and held his head in her arms.

"How can the children not get to eat? The adults help them first. Have you no shame?"

Putting everything else aside, Xinghua is naturally gifted at carrying babies; she's a natural wet nurse. If she were to be given a professional title, she would definitely be a top-notch wet nurse.

Apricot blossoms and lotus flowers are either dying of drought or drowning from floods.

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