Chapter 123: Bound to the Childbirth System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 124: Seventies Hutong Daily Life (22)

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

Dong dong—dong dong dong——

"Who is it? The door isn't locked, come in."

Squeak—the room door was pushed open from outside, and Shen Yao poked her head out to take a glance; it was Cheng Bing.

"Off work from the factory?"

Looking up through the glass window at the sky outside, the sunlight was bright enough.

Cheng Bing pursed her lips and nodded, slightly awkwardly placing the few cans of canned food she was carrying in her hand onto the table.

"Work at the canning factory isn't busy today; Sister Zhou told us to finish early and go home."

Rubbing her palms hard, Cheng Bing hesitated again and again, but still brought up the matter of the canning factory's recruitment after the holiday.

After listening, Shen Yao made a "hai" sound and waved her hand, "Recruitment requires an exam; you got the position through your own ability, no need to thank me."

Cheng Bing shook her head very seriously, "Sister Yao, I must thank you.

If it weren't for you trusting me and letting me cover your shift, I wouldn't even be qualified to participate in the canning factory recruitment."

The recruitment at the canning factory after the holiday wasn't the kind open to the whole city, but rather an assessment for temporary workers like Cheng Bing who worked for others.

Passing the assessment meant entering the canning factory as a temporary worker; although still a temporary worker, at least they wouldn't have to worry about becoming unemployed directly when the person they were covering for returned to work.

One must know that at this time, general jobs in Jing Shi were hard to find.

The Street Office did have some odd jobs like pasting matchboxes, but those were prepared for people in difficulty; back then, in order to stay in Jing Shi, Cheng Bing had made a scene at the Street Office together with Zhao Meizhi.

Given this fresh grudge, for Cheng Bing to get work at the Street Office was purely daydreaming.

So Cheng Bing understood her situation; Shen Yao had let her cover shifts for a few months, and she hadn't deliberately been lazy or shirked work, being serious and hardworking every day she entered the factory.

And so, good news came that couldn't be stopped; Cheng Bing received the imperial edict, and as soon as she got home after work, she ran over to thank Shen Yao for her help back then.

Facing Cheng Bing's gratitude, Shen Yao said nothing on her face, but felt quite pleased in her heart.

After all, although helping others didn't seek repayment, the other party knowing gratitude also proved her judgment wasn't wrong.

Putting away the canned food Cheng Bing brought, Shen Yao stood up and slowly saw the other person off.

The two talked only about matters at the canning factory the whole time, mentioning nothing else.

Grandmother-in-law Zhou came out from the neighboring room, "Not mentioning it is good."

"That girl Cheng Bing looks down-to-earth and hardworking; she really doesn't seem like a person from the old Cheng family."

Shen Yao couldn't help but laugh, "Grandma, back when Cheng Bing used tricks to stay in the city, you even said she was troublesome."

Now seeing that Cheng Bing didn't cause trouble or make a scene, Grandmother-in-law Zhou's attitude completely reversed, and she thought the person was good again.

Shen Yao truly deserved to be Grandmother-in-law Zhou's biological granddaughter; mocking her own family was merciless.

Grandmother-in-law Zhou:...

Grandmother-in-law Zhou touched the tip of her nose somewhat awkwardly; back then she had indeed made a miscalculation. This child Cheng Bing, although some of her actions had bad habits, seemed much more normal compared to the other people in the Cheng family.

She had to admit she had drawn conclusions too early back then, which caused the current mix-up.

"This girl is decent; if she works seriously, when the canning factory recruits again, becoming a regular employee isn't impossible."

The Zhao family can be considered a blessing in disguise; although they were somewhat unwilling when marrying, but looking now, aren't they stronger than the Cheng family and the Qian family?

"Aiyo, that's exactly right; back then I had good judgment, and Cheng Bing is also a child who knows gratitude."

"Look at the Qian family and the Cheng family again, hum! This is the retribution for not accumulating virtue!"

At the Zhao family doorway, Zhao Meizhi stood with hands on her hips, looking at the empty small courtyard with a face full of smugness.

She spoke loudly; even though there was no one in the courtyard, the neighbors lived close by, so those who should hear could hear.

Saying what was in her heart out loud, Zhao Meizhi instantly felt refreshed and invigorated.

Happily turning back, she washed the canned food Cheng Bing brought with warm water, and announced that tonight, the family would eat one can of canned meat first to satisfy their cravings.

Zhao Laibao and Zhao Yuanbao, the brothers, surrounded Zhao Meizhi begging to cook one more can.

They had seen that even though Eldest Sister-in-law had sent three cans to the Xie family, their home still had three cans.

Zhao Meizhi waved them away, "Go, go, go, you children only think of good things.

One can a day can last three days; don't act like a hungry ghost reincarnated, letting others see and laugh at you."

After speaking, Zhao Meizhi shouted at Cheng Bing, and for the first time didn't let her help with work, but told her to seize the time to read and study more.

"Mom doesn't know about the exam, but it definitely can't deviate from the textbook content.

Cheng Bing, you must seize this opportunity; go back to the room and study well. Here at the stove, Jinbao and Yinbao will help."

Cheng Bing:...

Cheng Bing didn't even have time to nod before she was pushed into the room by the smiling Zhao Jinbao.

"Quick, listen to Mom and you won't be wrong; you study hard, I'll go help tend the fire."

"Hey, wait, our matter" needs an explanation.

"Wait until tonight; we're already married, making a scene is unnecessary. If you're willing to live a good life, I'll treat you well."

Zhao Jinbao looked not as smart as Zhao Yinbao, but he didn't have as many twists and turns as Zhao Yinbao.

Back then, the matter between Cheng Bing and Zhao Jinbao was inseparable from Zhao Yinbao.

Later Cheng Bing figured it out; she found it hard to face Zhao Jinbao, but now the two could talk things over because of a recruitment exam for a temporary worker at the canning factory.

Cheng Bing naturally wouldn't be reserved; she took the opportunity to smooth things over, guaranteeing she would live a good life with Zhao Jinbao. As for Zhao Yinbao, who had previous entanglements with her, "There's really nothing between the two of us."

Zhao Jinbao laughed and scratched his head, "I believe it; Second Brother has a lot on his mind."

Typical of eating from the bowl while eyeing the pot; in Zhao Yinbao's eyes, Cheng Bing had no job and was good-for-nothing, while others were planning to cozy up to a formal worker at the Machinery Factory.

Cheng Bing smiled and nodded, telling Zhao Jinbao to hurry and help his mother, then she turned and touched her cheek, digging out the books she had sealed away earlier to read again.

No matter what, she had to pass this recruitment!

The Zhao family was bustling with excitement because of the good news Cheng Bing brought back.

The Zhou family, separated from the Zhao family by a door, had an atmosphere that could be described as frozen three feet deep, chilling to the heart.

Zhou Erni had been in this era for nearly a year.

Such a long time was enough for her to recognize her terrible situation.

After the novelty of just arriving wore off, Zhou Erni was no longer stubborn but honestly chose to fit in, becoming an unremarkable granddaughter of the Zhou family.

"Hah! Zhao the Widow is showing off without limits; whether she passes or not is still up in the air."

"This person, she'd love to announce it to the whole courtyard; no wonder she's from a widow's background, pah, she really can't sit still."

Zhou Dama perfectly illustrated the psychology of sour grapes.

Because Cheng Bing's job was done for Shen Yao, this recruitment exam was also made possible by Cheng Bing's prior job giving her the qualification to take the exam, which made Zhou Dama feel even more stifled.

At first she just cursed the Zhao family while grumbling, then she dragged the Xie family into it too.

Between the lines it was all that Shen Yao was not being proper; clearly she should help their Zhou family, so why give the advantage to the Zhao family?

Zhou Erni:...

Zhou Erni stoked the fire while muttering in her heart that the old woman really had a thick face, didn't she know her own virtue? If she were the Xie family's little daughter-in-law, she wouldn't have entrusted the substitute work to the Zhou family.

Simply, she couldn't lift herself up.

Whether it was her weird grandaunt or her own bun-like mother, both were a pair of good-for-nothings.

Oh, plus a meddlesome and unreasonable grandmother, truly a gathering of scum, making one hopeless.

When she used to read novels, Zhou Erni thought these scum were very interesting, but after she transmigrated and truly experienced the power of these scum, Zhou Erni just wanted to go back and slap her former self awake.

Let you be all lowly, now look, retribution!

"Erni, go rest in the room, I'll do this work."

Zhou Da Ni, Zhou Erni's elder sister, thin and bony, pushed Zhou Erni, urging her to leave quickly.

Zhou Erni looked up, then shook her head to indicate she could handle the stoking work, "Elder Sister, you should go rest, we need to help Grandmother cook later."

If she did it badly she'd be beaten by the old woman; Zhou Erni still remembered the two red marks on her back.

Pah!

The Zhou family was just a trash nest; she had to find a way to jump out of here as soon as possible, the longer she delayed, the less hope there was.

As for her parents and sisters, if she had the ability she should help her sisters a bit; anyway, with the preference for sons over daughters, they were all quite pitiful.

As for her parents, they were already severely brainwashed, with no need to try to save them at all.

Zhou Erni wore a tattered padded jacket while stoking the fire and calculating.

After going around in a circle, Zhou Erni still fixed her gaze on Shen Yao.

It wasn't because Zhou Erni discovered something wrong with Shen Yao, but because Shen Yao had connections with sent-down youth.

Her age would be thirteen after the New Year, just right for sixth grade.

Calculating the time for educated youth going up to the mountains and down to the countryside, she and Zhou Da Ni could both make it.

Going down to the countryside was better than staying in the Zhou family; this place was truly not fit for humans.

Zhou Erni considered Shen Yao because she knew Shen Yao had a friend who was a sent-down youth.

After all, when Zhao Yueyue came over, the child who passed the message was Zhou Erni's little sister.

The two milk candies Shen Yao had stuffed over successfully went into the mouths of the three sisters.

It was from what Third Ni said that Zhou Erni learned of this connection of Shen Yao's.

And that sent-down youth friend seemed to be living well; if Zhou Erni could go to the village or town where the other was sent down, relying on Shen Yao's connection, couldn't she also borrow some glory?

Zhou Erni, long since remolded by the environment, no longer cared about face or self-respect; what she valued most now was her own everything.

Borrow whatever connections could be borrowed, and curry favor with those that couldn't.

Zhou Erni kept cheering herself on; only by doing this could she see hope to persist in the oppressive life in the Zhou family.

The various undercurrents in the courtyard temporarily could not affect Shen Yao here.

Shen Yao still put most of her energy into nurturing the fetus.

Although Cheng Bing came to talk about the recruitment, the formal recruitment would be placed in the spring of next year.

By then, Shen Yao, who had already given birth, could long since carry a backpack to work, and there was no question of Cheng Bing passing and not being able to work for her.

"But this is good news for the Zhao family; Sister Zhao raising four children is too hard."

"If Cheng Bing can get a job, even as a temporary worker, it can ease the Zhao family's living pressure."

These days everything needs money and tickets; only when there are more workers in the family can things improve.

Otherwise, living a stifled life, the big family would be left with nothing but quarreling and bickering.

"Yes, but the exam isn't easy; it depends on whether Cheng Bing can strive to pass on her own."

Xie Ci'an shook his head; hearing Shen Yao say that Zhao Meizhi couldn't wait to publicize it in the small courtyard made him even more helpless.

"It depends on Cheng Bing's own ability;" Shen Yao couldn't provide much help with this kind of exam; at most she could tell the other what she was tested on back then.

But it had been a year and a half since she passed; the questions and such only had reference value.

The young couple mentioning the Zhao family and Cheng Bing was just idle chat before bed.

Once the topic passed, neither of them would care.

The warm yellow bulb was turned off, and the whole room fell into darkness.

Shen Yao tightly hugged Xie Ci'an's arm, closed her eyes, and fell asleep in a daze.

Days passed one by one, and the weather outside grew increasingly cold.

Shen Yao, staying home to nurture her pregnancy with nothing to do, began writing letters to Zhao Yueyue frequently.

Ever since Zhao Yueyue returned after learning from Shen Yao, she had taken on a whole new radiance.

Cooperating with several fellow Knowledgeable Youths who arrived at the same time and the village's young people, she set up various small-scale factories, directly driving the entire town and village into motion.

Although the model is still not large and remains in the exploration stage, a bright future can already be seen.

As Zhao Yueyue's benefactor and close sister, Shen Yao naturally received no shortage of mountain goods and supplies.

From all kinds of smoked wild game down to mountain fruit snacks, the small sundries room behind Shen Yao's room had not been empty for a moment.

Once again she thanked Zhao Yueyue for the fresh smoked meat pig trotter sent by the postman.

Shen Yao did not forget to write the Artificial Planting Plan she had mentioned into the letter.

Mountain goods are ultimately too niche; only by developing and expanding can they bring sufficient revenue.

All wild resources, in the end, cannot avoid being artificially scaled up (artificial planting).

*Exhale*

The envelope sealed shut with wax oil, Shen Yao patted her wrist and decided to wait until tomorrow for Xie Ci'an to go to work and help her mail it.

Standing up, Shen Yao couldn't help but let out an "aiyo"; hearing the sound, Grandmother-in-law Zhou hurried over.

"What's wrong? Does your belly hurt?"

Time had already arrived at late December, and Shen Yao's due date was fast approaching.

Her belly had now grown to a frightening degree; even Tian Na and Xie Ci'an had urged Shen Yao to go to the hospital for hospitalization directly, not to keep delaying at home.

It was still Grandmother-in-law Zhou who overruled everyone, saying the hospital isn't all that peaceful either.

Giving birth in the hospital certainly has no problem, but going straight there to be hospitalized and wait for birth — forget it.

However, despite speaking so resolutely in front of the Xie Family, when facing Shen Yao alone Grandmother-in-law Zhou still couldn't help feeling anxious and flustered.

Knowing is one thing, but without absolute certainty, it is normal for Grandmother-in-law Zhou to have many worries when facing her own family.

Shen Yao shook her head. "Nothing, my belly doesn't hurt. I just sat too long; my belly is too heavy to get up."

This was also Shen Yao's awkward situation in late pregnancy — too much pressure on her waist and abdomen.

This is still the result of the system's complete control; swap in a woman without a cheat, and never mind whether she can get up or not — the enormous pregnancy pressure would long since have left her only able to lie in bed, clothes brought to her hands, food brought to her mouth.

Hearing it was unrelated to childbirth, Grandmother-in-law Zhou very decisively let out a breath of relief. "I'll help you walk a bit; your pregnancy appearance is good, this time you ought not to suffer."

Shen Yao agreed in her heart after listening; she had already prepared various Shun Chan Wan, and when the time comes she will take them directly during childbirth — indeed she will not suffer too much.