Chapter 122

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

Zhao Yueyue's words directly opened everyone's thinking, sparking a brainstorm.

As they say, three cobblers with their wits combined equal a Zhuge Liang.

Eight people in the room, some sitting, some standing, all actively responded, voicing all sorts of ideas.

Never mind how absurd these ideas might sound at the moment, but everyone's hearts were in the right place, and the goal was also for the villagers to live prosperous lives.

By the time this short meeting adjourned, the Captain's notebook was already filled with several thick pages of writing.

"Thanks for the hard work, everyone. We still have to go out and run connections tomorrow, so get some sleep early."

The Captain stood up, laughing heartily as he saw everyone out. After closing the door behind him, he continued to hold the notebook and ponder; these were crystals of wisdom and must be put to good use.

The events on Zhao Yueyue's side have not yet affected the pregnant Shen Yao for the time being.

After handling the communication with Zhao Yueyue, Shen Yao devoted herself entirely to nurturing the fetus.

Xie Ci'an worked overtime for several months and finally finished the work on his hands.

Then Xie Ci'an requested a period of leave, counting his unused leave from his workaholic years earlier, and directly stayed home to accompany Shen Yao.

"You're not going to work, but instead stay home all day drawing clothing styles and designing room layouts for me. Comrade Xie, isn't that a bit of a waste of talent?"

Another morning, after Shen Yao woke up from bed, she didn't get up, just hugged the thick quilt and rolled back and forth.

It was cold. Shen Yao exercised her pregnant woman's privileges; even washing up and breakfast were handled inside the room. She didn't lightly step through that door leading outside.

Teasing Xie Ci'an with winks and grimaces while he was busy serving her tea and pouring water, Shen Yao didn't have half a bit of embarrassment.

Hearing the sound of Shen Yao speaking, Grandmother-in-law Zhou, who had already gotten up and finished breakfast, lifted the thick door curtain and poked her head in.

"Still not up? Day after day, a pregnant woman can't be this lazy.

An Zi, you'll have to accompany Grandma out for a trip in a bit. Let's buy some things in advance to have on hand.

This child Yao Yao's due date is in the twelfth lunar month. Right around the New Year, who isn't busy? But she picked a good day."

Grandmother-in-law Zhou looked at Shen Yao's ever-growing belly, truly feeling mixed joy and worry.

After all, people of this era all rather like the idea of many children, many blessings.

But with many children conceived, wanting to deliver them smoothly is a very major hurdle.

Grandmother-in-law Zhou had personally cared for Yuan Li during childbirth; now it's Shen Yao's turn. Grandmother-in-law Zhou never worried about technical issues; she worried about Shen Yao's body.

Shen Yao smiled, cradling her round belly. Jing Shi in November had already turned cold.

She wore a set of fleece-lined pajamas, her face pale with a flush of red; one look and you knew she was nourished well.

"Grandma, rest assured. These two kids are well-behaved, obedient, and don't make a fuss. My pregnancy has been quite worry-free."

At least there's no earth-shattering fetal movement; occasionally just a wave of two fists, a kick of two feet. Compared to other pregnant women's pregnancy conditions, these two Shen Yao is carrying are simply little angels.

"Aiyo, take it slow. A seven-month belly must be careful."

Grandmother-in-law Zhou saw Shen Yao sit up from the bed and hurriedly supported her in fright.

Eyes circling the protruding belly, Grandmother-in-law Zhou nodded in satisfaction. "The pregnancy look is good. In two more months when she gives birth, she probably won't suffer too much."

At least Shen Yao's probability of natural childbirth is very high. At that time, put in a bit more effort in advance, and giving birth — simple and easy.

After muttering a few words quietly with Shen Yao, Xie Ci'an had already prepared the food and washing items.

Shen Yao leaned on Grandmother-in-law Zhou and Xie Ci'an, taking a full half hour to get herself ready.

Waving her hand to tell Xie Ci'an to take Grandmother-in-law Zhou and hurry to the city to buy needed things, Shen Yao burped, turned on her side, and continued lying in bed to rest and relax.

Pregnant women are like this. When it's cold they don't want to move; naturally, however comfortable is how they do it.

In a daze, Shen Yao tilted her head and fell asleep again.

It's also because the system gave her too big a cheat; daily nutritional supplements can still rely on all sorts of pills.

Right now Shen Yao hasn't appeared with as many conditions as other pregnant women. She sleeps incredibly well and eats with great relish.

Smacking her lips, Shen Yao, who dreamed of eating and drinking heartily in her dream, successfully drooled herself awake.

Eyes opening, hand placed by her mouth, she let out a delicate yawn.

Shen Yao saw Xie Ci'an, who had already returned, sitting at the desk writing and drawing.

She called out, then pointed at the hot water cooling on the tabletop. "Thirsty."

Xie Ci'an stood up and came over, supporting Shen Yao up with one hand while carefully feeding the warm water into her mouth with the other.

"Is Grandma busy?"

"Mm. The things bought back need processing. Want to get up and sit a bit?"

Shen Yao nodded, feeling that lying in bed all the time wasn't very comfortable either.

Feet slipping into thick cotton slippers, Shen Yao was supported by Xie Ci'an to walk back and forth on the floor.

Thump-thump — thump-thump-thump —

The door was knocked. A female voice came from outside.

Shen Yao raised her head to look at Xie Ci'an. The two hadn't moved yet when they saw Grandmother-in-law Zhou, busy in the next room, come out, asking as she walked who it was.

"... Wondering if you have any malted milk. The Supply and Marketing Cooperative doesn't sell it easily these days."

"We have some at home. You wait, I'll get you some. But you'll still have to buy it.

If that doesn't work, eating eggs can also nourish the body. Eggs are nutritious, good for the child and the pregnant woman."

Grandmother-in-law Zhou turned back into the room. When she came out again, her hand held an extra porcelain bowl.

Inside the porcelain bowl was more than half a bowl of light yellow granules, giving off a faint milky fragrance.

Malted milk is made from ingredients such as milk, cream, and malt extract.

The colors vary widely, but the most common are light yellow, white, and brown.

What the Xie family bought for Shen Yao was generally better quality, and they considered a pregnant woman's taste, focusing on light yellow.

"Here, it's not much; what's left at home needs to go to Yao Yao to nourish her body."

"Hmph, enough, enough. In a few days I'll have Jian Gang ask around elsewhere and secretly buy two canisters back."

"……"

The two talked for a good while at the doorway until the room door closed again, and Grandmother-in-law Zhou came to the room where Shen Yao and Xie Ci'an slept.

"Grandma, is it Miao Dama?"

Shen Yao recognized Miao Cuilan's voice, which was sharp, thin, and brisk.

Grandmother-in-law Zhou nodded, "The Qian family's eldest son's new daughter-in-law is pregnant."

Cuilan came to borrow malted milk, saying she wanted to properly nourish someone."

Shen Yao scratched her head, "Miao Dama's daughter-in-law is the one named Pan Laidi?"

Didn't this person recently take things from the Qian family to subsidize her maiden home? Now that she's pregnant, what Miao Dama gives her won't end up cheapening her maiden home, will it?"

It's no wonder Shen Yao suspected; that Pan Laidi is just a brainwashed Voldemort.

Compared to her own eldest sister-in-law Wu Zhaodi, the two are as different as heaven and earth.

It had been more than half a year since she married in before Shen Yao learned of Wu Zhaodi's abilities.

Good grief, because she was subjected to preference for sons over daughters since childhood, Wu Zhaodi now wishes she could move everything from her maiden home to her own small family.

Every holiday, when the Xie family prepared gifts for the daughters-in-law to take back to their maiden homes, Wu Zhaodi always managed to bring back however much she took, and even managed to achieve doubling it.

Every time the Wu family couldn't help but come over to make a scene, Wu Zhaodi would loudly proclaim the origin of her name and the various grievances she suffered as a child.

The fierce fear the reckless, and the reckless fear those who don't care about their lives.

Wu Zhaodi didn't care how the Wu family was; she only recognized one thing: she had to live well herself.

When she was young, she herself lived poorly, which led to a tragic childhood.

Now that she had finally married, Wu Zhaodi naturally couldn't repeat the same mistakes.

The Wu family? The Wu family now doesn't dare provoke Wu Zhai Di at all. After all, Wu Zhaodi is the kind of person who, even if she disregards her own face, will make the Wu family turn upside down.

"In my opinion, Pan Laidi still needs to learn from Eldest Sister-in-law's temperament."

"Being good to her maiden home is useless at all," a group of blood-sucking insects, not a bit of help.

Grandmother-in-law Zhou sighed, "Who says otherwise?" Clear-eyed people can see that the Pan family isn't much, but Pan Laidi has been brainwashed and PUA'd; no matter who advises, it's useless.

"Cuilan took the things back and directly brewed them, watching her drink them down."

"Once it's in the mouth, can it be spat out again? Rest assured, your Miao Dama may shortchange anyone, but she can't shortchange the child in Pan Laidi's belly."

Shen Yao: ……

Shen Yao couldn't deny this, because Miao Dama indeed had some methods.

In other words, the several aunties of the entire courtyard, more or less, all had some skills.

Shen Yao spent the whole morning in her room wearing pajamas.

Only when the afternoon weather turned warm and the sunlight was sufficient did Xie Ci'an consent to help Shen Yao go out.

The two simply walked around the courtyard, occasionally greeting neighbors going out.

"Let go! Don't follow me!"

"Hey, hey, slow down, take care of your body; I'm not just caring about you."

"I don't need your care; I'll tell Mom. You go back to work first."

"……"

At the front alley, Cheng Xue forcefully shook off Zhang Wang's hand pulling her sleeve, and with a sullen face wanted to go home, but as soon as she turned around she bumped into Xie Ci'an and Shen Yao, the young couple, out for a stroll.

Shen Yao turned her head to look at Cheng Xue, who walked with wind and didn't even say hello, unable to figure out what was wrong with this person again.

Tsk

Could there be princess syndrome in this era? Shouldn't be.

In the distance was Zhang Wang, who had already walked far away; being short, he was noticeable at a glance.

Shen Yao had previously suspected that the Cheng couple might have been deceived by someone, but after seeing Zhang Wang himself, she understood her previous speculation was purely thinking too much.

But just now those two seemed to be quarreling, right? Shen Yao blinked and looked up at Xie Ci'an.

Xie Ci'an shrugged his shoulders, stretched out his hand to hold Shen Yao, whose belly was even more prominent, "You'll know when we get back; Uncle Cheng and Aunt Cheng aren't people who can keep things secret."

Or rather, in their courtyard, besides his mother Tian Na who was normal, everyone else had some bad habits.

Whether good or bad, as long as something happened in their own family, they made sure everyone knew.

Xie Ci'an still remembered the black history of the people in the courtyard; no other reason, having too good a memory is also a mistake.

Shen Yao nodded, changed the topic, and spoke about her own big belly.

"The child's name needs to be thought of as soon as possible; the nickname can be something festive, but the formal name must sound good."

Things like era characteristics, she felt she couldn't accept.

Xie Ci'an raised his eyebrows and quietly complained to Shen Yao about the formal names of the two brothers, Stone and Wood.

"Eldest Young Master originally hoped they would be honest and down-to-earth."

"It's just that the names Xie Cheng and Xie Shi," Xie Ci'an felt they were a bit too simple and honest.

Shen Yao's mouth corner twitched, "The meaning isn't bad, but two-character names really test the adults' cultural literacy."

"Comrade Xie, you won't let Comrade Shen down, right?"

Xie Ci'an: ……

Xie Ci'an smiled helplessly, "I guarantee I won't let Comrade Shen down."

Naming the child — it was time to dig out the Book of Songs and the Songs of Chu she had hidden away earlier and give them a look.

A name is a person's first business card; Xie Ci'an couldn't let her own child lose at the starting line.

Wandering around outside for a few circles, Shen Yao complained her feet hurt, and Xie Ci'an half-embraced, half-dragged her back to the small courtyard.

Tian Na hadn't gotten off work today; at the Xie family doorway, Grandmother-in-law Zhou had finished her own work and stood in the courtyard chatting with several other aunties.

As a natural at drawing a crowd, Grandmother-in-law Zhou was best at keeping a conversation going.

No matter who spoke, or whether the content was interesting or dull, Grandmother-in-law Zhou could always get along with the other person.

At this moment, seeing Shen Yao and the other return, Grandmother-in-law Zhou gave an "aiyo," hurriedly apologized to the several people, then turned and rushed to Shen Yao's side in a flurry, reaching out to usher her into the house.

"Grandma, with Xie Ci'an here, I'm fine," — she didn't need to hold back if she wanted to chat.

Grandmother-in-law Zhou made a "hai" sound. "Chat about what? Everyone in the courtyard who should be pregnant already is; keeping them around is just to listen to them blow their own trumpets at one another."

Grandmother-in-law Zhou did like a lively scene, that was true, but she wasn't one to prop up just anyone's jokes.

Like Xue Hongmei of the Cheng family, the old woman of the Zhou family — Grandmother-in-law Zhou just didn't like them.

Shen Yao made an "o" sound. "Cheng Xue is pregnant?" That was fast too.

Counting those pregnant in the courtyard, apart from Cheng Bing, they all had good news.

And Cheng Bing not being pregnant was within Shen Yao's expectations; after all, Cheng Binghe and Zhao Jinbao's relationship was visibly drifting apart.

That bit of gossip Auntie Zhou had heard about pregnancy from who knows where hadn't come to pass.

"She is pregnant, but she doesn't look too happy about it, wearing a sour face, don't know who provoked her," Grandmother-in-law Zhou sighed, speaking with her head lowered in a vivid and colorful way.

Shen Yao listened while adding, thinking to herself that naturally everyone was in the wrong toward her.

Cheng Xue was too self-centered; she'd throw a tantrum when unhappy, and sooner or later she'd suffer for it.

And Cheng Xue, the one being discussed by the several people, was at this moment sitting on the bed in the room, stewing in anger.

Pregnancy was a good thing, but the child's biological father wasn't someone she could bring herself to look at favorably, which was quite a buzzkill.

Cheng Xue was the eldest daughter of the Cheng couple, and from childhood had been their heart and treasure.

Although the Cheng family had no son, only four daughters, Cheng Xue's special status still meant she lived very well among her sisters in private.

Even because of the Cheng couple's indulgence, Cheng Xue had become somewhat willful; nowadays her bad habit of liking to pull a long face at people at the drop of a hat was spoiled into her.

Reaching out to touch her belly with not the slightest bump, Cheng Xue gritted her teeth.

Soon, soon; as long as she gave birth to this child, she could shake off Zhang Wang's entanglement.

Heaven knew how much she loathed Zhang Wang touching her, like something dirty had stuck to her.

Huff.

She fiercely spat out two mouthfuls of turbid air; Cheng Xue thought of her birth mother who had already gone to buy her an old hen, and the expression on her face became a bit smug.

Look, this was her status in the Cheng family, and also the place where her several sisters couldn't compare to her.

Mom and Dad doted on her; from childhood she had wanted whatever she got.

Now only she and her little sister Cheng Shuang were left at home; if nothing unexpected happened, next year after Cheng Shuang graduated high school, she too would have to go to the countryside as a sent-down youth like Cheng Bing.

Cheng Shuang, humph!

Cheng Xue, who had not a shred of sisterly love, planned to find an opportunity to have a good talk with her mother, not letting Cheng Shuang learn from Cheng Bing and use low-down means to stay in the city — that would be throwing away their old Cheng family's face.