Chapter 117

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

"Xue Hongmei, what beautiful dream are you having? Even if Cheng Bing were given to our Zhao family for free, I wouldn't want her, yet you open your mouth and still want three hundred yuan in bride price?

Hmph, I see you and Cheng Suo have gone crazy from poverty. Back then you sold Cheng Yu and got addicted to it; now it's Cheng Bing's turn.

Nowadays, besides your family's precious little daughter Cheng Xue who's treated like a treasure, Cheng Shuang probably can't be kept at home either even though she's a high school graduate.

Ptooey!"

Zhao Meizhi's words were sharp and vicious, directly infuriating Xue Hongmei until her face turned red.

The two didn't continue their war of words; instead they closed in and started grappling with each other.

Xie Ci'an and Shen Yao:...

As bystanders, there wasn't much they could do; they could only crane their necks and shout for people to separate the two.

As for letting Shen Yao intervene? She's pregnant, Xie Ci'an? It's not appropriate for a man to meddle.

In the end, it was still several aunties in the courtyard who stepped in and pulled the two apart.

Among them, Zhou Dama and Miao Dama were accidentally scratched a couple of times and got injured; Tian Na was much calmer — she just stood at the edge observing and didn't join the fray.

"Alright, alright, we're all neighbors; making a scene makes a laughingstock of us."

"Exactly, exactly. Today the Street Office people came over; Cheng Bing feels awful inside. Hongmei, you can't keep harping on the child either; she's still young."

"She's young? When I was her age I'd already given birth to Cheng Xue. She's the only special one, acting like a young mistress from the old society, refusing to do this and refusing to do that — tell her to scram and go to the countryside!"

"..."

Clamoring noisily, several women gathered together could out-talk ducks.

Xie Ci'an and Shen Yao went inside the house but still couldn't block out the noise hissing into their ears.

Rubbing her buzzing ears, Shen Yao looked at Xie Ci'an with a face full of grievance.

The big courtyard is nice, but there's too much melon-eating — it obviously harms the body; it's just too rowdy.

"Don't worry; in a bit they'll disperse. At this hour, who doesn't eat dinner?"

Xie Ci'an's words were like a switch button; the moment he finished speaking here, the noise stopped there.

Tian Na came over and knocked on the door. "Go to the main room to eat; if you're late there won't be any oil and water."

Shen Yao let out a loud sigh. Her stomach, which had claimed not to be hungry when she returned earlier, was now growling non-stop.

Sure enough, pregnancy is hard labor; lately Shen Yao can eat and sleep well and her body is in great shape.

"Mom, has everyone dispersed?"

Shen Yao and Xie Ci'an had just entered when Tian Na shoved two rice bowls into their hands.

"Dispersed, dispersed. Even if they hadn't there'd be nothing left to say." Tian Na picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks; the glossy, oil-slick braised pork sat in the center of the table, extremely eye-catching.

Wu Zhaodi ate a piece and hurriedly told her family the melon she'd just eaten this afternoon.

As long as she wasn't on the night shift, Wu Zhaodi could return after finishing her share of work at the canteen.

Today she happened to return early, right in time for the Street Office people coming to register.

"This year there are three in the courtyard who've come of age. The Zhao family's two sons graduated and entered the factory, making Cheng Bing look all alone."

Wang Yanyan chimed in, "I've seen that kid outside several times; it's obvious she doesn't want to go to the countryside. Now her name's been recorded by the Street Office." She shook her head; some things we neighbors really shouldn't say.

Shen Yao put down the chopsticks at her lips. "A name recorded can also be withdrawn.

As long as in the end there's a unit willing to accept her, or" marriage, establishing a family and having a child — that also can't let someone be sent down.

At this time, marriage has room for maneuver. The marriageable age is set there; loopholes can be exploited.

At least I've never heard that the Street Office on Fengshou Hutong's side is especially strict about it.

You should know some places forbid people without jobs from registering marriage during this period, afraid they'll play tricks.

The Xie family's minds were half on the food and half on the courtyard gossip; Shen Yao's unspoken words naturally went unnoticed.

After polishing off a whole basin of braised pork, Tian Na waved her hand, telling several people to go back to their rooms and behave.

The courtyard just had a fight; some are upset, some are happy — don't get on anyone's bad side.

"Otherwise they'll trip you up later and you'll have nowhere to reason."

Tian Na is old; the roads she's walked and the salt she's eaten are who knows how much.

Don't look at how most in the courtyard just engage in petty squabbles; in reality, if anyone truly dares sprinkle salt on someone's wound, the ending definitely won't be good.

For this, Tian Na specially cited an example of someone who was hated and eventually got their comeuppance.

Shen Yao listened with wide-open eyes; if it weren't for a pregnant woman getting tired standing too long, she could've kept pulling Tian Na along.

Xie Ci'an:...

Xie Ci'an, helpless yet amused, coaxed Shen Yao's little temper in a low voice, and the two walked hand in hand back to their room.

A warm yellow bulb lit above; Shen Yao sat on the bed herself, rubbing her belly while gossiping with Xie Ci'an about the Cheng and Zhao families' affairs.

As a frontline melon-eating spectator, Shen Yao felt Cheng Bing might not necessarily go to the countryside.

"Then it depends on her own ability. Nowadays every factory's recruitment has long ended.

She didn't pass before; afterward she can only wait for someone to give up their spot for her."

But giving up a job — besides family, who would do such a foolish thing?

"Other methods work too, as long as the Street Office side can be flexible."

Shen Yao has exploited loopholes so much she can find a shortcut for anything.

Xie Ci'an rubbed Shen Yao's little head. "It's not that simple. Besides, Uncle Cheng and Aunt Cheng fundamentally don't have that intention."

Even their biological parents don't want to care for her, and no matter how many ideas others have, they can't make it happen.

Shen Yao lowered her head in thought, and it really was the case: Cheng Bing, born into the Cheng family, could only bow her head and endure.

But the problem now was that Cheng Bing didn't want to endure; she wanted to stay in the city and was unwilling to go to the countryside to suffer hardship.

Cheng Bing, who had already left the courtyard house, did not linger outside.

She decided on a direction, tidied her clothes, and left in quick strides.

Her parents were unreliable, so she would rely on herself.

Cheng Bing cheered herself on as she walked; even though it was dark outside and it was dangerous for a young woman to be alone, she was not afraid at all.

Soon, a dilapidated small courtyard appeared before Cheng Bing.

She pinched her palm and quickly entered the doorway.

Boom boom boom—boom boom boom——

Shen Yao lay in bed, half-asleep, and suddenly heard someone knocking at the door, instantly waking up.

"What's wrong?"

Tilting her head to look at Xie Ci'an, who had already stood up from the table, Shen Yao mumbled a sentence.

Xie Ci'an waved his hand to signal Shen Yao to keep resting; he would go check the doorway.

As a result of that look, Xie Ci'an came back to change clothes and go out.

"Cheng Bing hasn't returned yet; Uncle Cheng and Aunt Cheng are anxious to find someone and are asking people in the courtyard for help."

Cheng Suo and Xue Hongmei alone definitely weren't enough.

"Who are you going out with?"

Shen Yao sat up but made no further move; after all, she was a pregnant woman.

"Mom and Dad, Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master, and I are going; other families have also gone out."

"She's such a big girl; if something really happens, it would be such a pity."

The juniors in the courtyard had grown up watching them; Tian Na spoke without saving face to the aunties, but she had some warmth for the children.

Shen Yao nodded and at the same time told Xie Ci'an to put on more clothes to keep warm.

"It's cold outside; ride your bicycle watching the road, try to look around the surroundings; Fengshou Hutong isn't small, and there aren't many places Cheng Bing can go on her own."

After marrying in for a few months, Shen Yao learned that Cheng Bing wasn't the type to love playing around.

One could even say Cheng Bing was somewhat quiet and had no presence in the Cheng family or even in the courtyard.

If it weren't for Cheng Bing's unclear relationship with Zhao Yinbao, Shen Yao wouldn't have noticed her at all.

Perhaps the Cheng couple paid too much attention to Cheng Xue, making the remaining few daughters seem dispensable.

Xie Ci'an nodded in response, picked up his clothes, turned around, and went out.

Of course, before leaving, Xie Ci'an didn't forget to ask the two sisters-in-law to take extra care of Shen Yao.

"Rest assured, rest assured; I'm at home, I won't let thieves sneak in."

"Exactly, if anyone dares to come, I'll break his legs."

Wang Yanyan and Wu Zhaodi played off each other, and finally saw off Xie Shangjin and the others as they left.

"Sigh, Laibao, where's your Eldest Young Master?" Zhao Meizhi and Zhao Yinbao had just gone out, but Zhao Jinbao wasn't seen.

Zhao Laibao pointed to the house: "Second Young Master said Eldest Young Master is sleeping; he told us not to disturb him."

"Laibao, come in quickly and close the door; Mom said we can't go out at night."

Yinbao, Zhao Laibao's twin brother, hurriedly shouted.

Laibao sighed, turned around and closed the room door, also blocking Wang Yanyan and Wu Zhaodi's line of sight.

Wu Zhaodi scratched her head, "Why do I feel that Jinbao isn't the kind of child who would go back to sleep so early?"

Wang Yanyan didn't care, "Maybe he drank outside? With Zhao Meizhi watching him, he shouldn't cause trouble."

"Eldest Sister-in-law, I plan to make a pair of shoe insoles for Second Young Master; help me take a look."

"Fine, I'll take needles and thread over there, and call Fourth Young Master's wife; the three of us together will have company."

After speaking, Wu Zhaodi turned around and called Shen Yao, who was still lying in the room, out.

Shen Yao, a pregnant woman, didn't have much she wanted to do, but Wu Zhaodi and Wang Yanyan knew a lot of gossip.

The three of them gathered together; Shen Yao listened to the two of them talk, and it was quite interesting.

After about two hours, the several members of the Xie family returned noisily.

Shen Yao yawned and greeted Xie Ci'an to return to the room, and by the way prepared hot water for him to wash up.

"How is it? Was the person found?"

Leaning against the headboard, Shen Yao asked while slipping herself into the quilt.

Shen Yao, already changed into a set of cotton pajamas, had a slightly protruding belly, which became even more obvious under the lamplight.

Xie Ci'an washed his face, then used a towel to wipe the water droplets off his face.

"Found her; she's at the Small Park, just sat there all night, her face is terribly pale."

After explaining Cheng Bing's matter in a few words, Xie Ci'an changed into the same style of pajamas as Shen Yao, turned off the lamp, and got into bed.

Shen Yao used the moonlight coming in to roll into Xie Ci'an's arms and lie down.

In a daze, Shen Yao seemed to hear someone shouting outside; were they scolding someone? Cheng Bing?

After waking up from a sleep, Shen Yao felt refreshed; holding her pregnant belly, she finished the meat buns she bought yesterday and happily took the company car to work.

Work at the Canning Factory was busy at this time, but who was Shen Yao? Having a system as a cheat, she definitely wasn't afraid of trouble.

She did whatever needed to be done; even because Shen Yao worked too excellently, Zhou Shujuan specially cared for her, telling her not to work too hard.

"Earlier, a female worker at the factory got pregnant and worked, causing her body to fail and have a premature birth."

"Little Shen, there's no end to the work; you must take care of your own body first."

Nothing matters more than health; Zhou Shujuan was afraid the young ones would act recklessly, and even more afraid that if something truly went wrong later, she, as their direct Leader, would bear the responsibility.

Shen Yao smiled, soothing Zhou Shujuan; she had a plan, and would never work herself to exhaustion just to stay alive.

"As long as you have a plan, that's fine. I'm busy here, so I'll head over first."

She had also made time to come say this; when Zhou Shujuan waved her hand and left in a rush, it looked rather heartwarming in Shen Yao's eyes.

"Host, it's probably you thinking too much."

The System excelled at analyzing all kinds of character emotions and expressions, and did not feel Zhou Shujuan was truly thinking of Shen Yao's wellbeing.

Shen Yao smiled faintly, "Judge by deeds, not intentions."

Never mind what people think in their hearts; as long as the actions they take are truly for her good, there is no problem.

In life, if one excessively pursues truth and falsehood, good and bad, the one affected in the end is still oneself.

……

"Yao Yao, you're back."

"I'm back, Mom. Is there ice cream at home? It's too hot out."

"Yes, yes, yes, it's all ready for you. Go inside and get it yourself."

"……"

Shen Yao returned from work and the first thing she did was run to the Main House for food.

A pregnant woman runs hot, and July is a month of sudden heat.

Shen Yao had truly suffered no small amount of hardship; if not for the System as a Cheat, occasionally taking Pills to alleviate physical issues, with Shen Yao carrying twins, she simply could not have endured the bitter summer.

She returned to her room, took out ice cream from inside the quilt, opened it, put it in her mouth, bit a couple of mouthfuls, and Shen Yao exhaled comfortably; she finally felt alive again.

Ice cream is a dairy product, mostly milk inside; Shen Yao ate it and found it not only not cooling, but leaving a full mouth of fragrance.

Tian Na was outside washing clothes; the wrung-out clothes were hung on the clothes rack.

"I reserved milk for you today, need it delivered in August; your body needs nourishment, the Doctor was right, you still need to eat more meals lately."

Shen Yao's twin pregnancy was discovered at the Hospital; after all, her belly was getting bigger and bigger, not to mention Tian Na and them, even Xie Ci'an wasn't at ease.

Only the Hospital checkup made him even more uneasy; Xie Ci'an even had the intention of letting Shen Yao temporarily rest and nurture the fetus.

It wasn't that he wouldn't let Shen Yao go out to work; it was that this period was too dangerous, he worried the Canning Factory had too many people and prying eyes, and a careless moment could easily lead to an Accident.

Fortunately, this matter was ultimately stopped by Shen Yao; she also Guaranteed she would pay more attention to safety.

When her belly gets bigger later, she absolutely won't foolishly insist on pushing through.

Currently, it's just that Shen Yao is still commuting to work normally for the time being, but how long it will last depends on her physical condition.

Shen Yao nodded, thanked Tian Na, and conveniently handed over the money for the milk reservation.

For some daily household food and necessities, Shen Yao indeed didn't need to pay extra.

But if it's just for her alone to use, she definitely has to pay money as a token gesture.

Tian Na didn't refuse, and conveniently told Shen Yao that until delivery, it would be one egg every day.

"Eggs are nutritious and easy to get, you"

Tian Na spoke halfway, a roar of Anger came from the courtyard; the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law froze, forced to stop talking, and their gazes snapped in unison toward the Door.

"You surnamed Cheng, get out here! Xue Hongmei, don't play dumb with me, both of you get out!"

Zhao Meizhi had her hands on her hips, her face looking like a cooked red Shrimp.

"Everyone come out and look, the Cheng couple are Shameless, acting despicable……"

Zhao Meizhi cursed filthily; at least half of it, falling in Shen Yao's ears, was unlistenable.

Tian Na shielded Shen Yao with one hand, not only blocking her behind herself but also instructing her to pay attention to safety.

Shen Yao was Curious, "Mom, what happened to the Cheng family? Zhao Jie seems pretty Angry."

Tian Na pursed her lips, "It's definitely about Cheng Bing; I reckon Zhao Yinbao spilled the beans? Zhao Meizhi wouldn't make a scene unless it involved her several Treasure sons."

The Zhao family's four children are Zhao Meizhi's reverse scale; whoever touches them is unacceptable.