Chapter 241: The original body

"What, a 'Hundred Families Quilt' to gather blessings?

Although there is such a saying, there is another saying: if the person making the quilt is muttering about 'borrowing luck,' they might just borrow away all the good fortune..."

"Wangjie, don't scare Manman. Is there really such a mysterious thing?"

"Why would I lie to you? It's just that you young people don't know; those of us who are older have all heard of it..."

"Oh, Manman, what is your relationship like with the person who asked you for fabric scraps? If it's not good, you should get them back quickly."

"Exactly, exactly. To have your luck borrowed for no reason, that's so bad."

In the Jiashuyuan, a group of pregnant women had returned from their prenatal checkups at the hospital and were gathered by a wind-sheltered wall, warming themselves by a fire while chatting.

As they talked, the conversation drifted to this topic.

Shen Man felt a bit lucky inside. Thank goodness, thank goodness Tangyuan had reminded her, otherwise she might have foolishly taken her old clothes.

Brother Zhou definitely wouldn't have bad intentions; she trusted Brother Zhou's character.

It was just that Ji Xianxian was truly a ticking time bomb; she couldn't trust her.

"It should be fine. I'll just be a bit more careful next time."

She had given Lu Manman's clothes, so even if luck were being borrowed, it would be Lu Manman's luck being borrowed.

Gu Yinyin: Sister-in-law, it's mine, it's mine.

"Hey, Manman, your due date is coming up, right?"

"Mm, soon."

"That's great. Will there be anyone to take care of you then? If not, I can take turns looking after you."

Wang Mingkui kindly said that her due date was in April of next year, so there was still plenty of time.

Shen Man was already at her due date in the blink of an eye, and it was her first pregnancy, and twins at that—she couldn't handle it alone.

"There is. My grandfather and my teacher will all come to help look after the children."

Shen Man nodded embarrassedly. Without meaning to, she had become a "dependent on the elderly."

Her grandfather and her teacher were all fighting and scrambling to take care of the children.

She certainly couldn't refuse, nor would she want to.

As for her, her husband would take leave at that time to specifically look after her during her postpartum month.

So, everything was well arranged; she wasn't panicked, not even a little bit.

Just after Shen Man said goodbye to the military wives and headed home, the postman arrived at the island's Jiashuyuan. He happened to be looking for her, saying there was a package from Suzhou and a remittance slip from the Capital.

Seeing her big belly, the postman delivered the package into the house and placed it properly on the table before taking his leave.

"Thank you."

A package from Suzhou—who else could it be?

Auntie Ge!

Sure enough, after opening the package, the envelope inside was revealed.

To be opened by Manman personally...

Good child, I have distributed the wedding candies and clothes you sent back. The neighbors are all very happy for you. Congratulations on finding a good man to whom you can entrust your life.

We have inquired, and the island has a constant temperature all year round, it's not cold, so we made a few sets of baby belly bands, little shoes, and hats. You can use them directly when you have the children. It is our heartfelt wish...

I hope you are well. When you and your husband have time in the future, come back to your hometown to visit.

Ge Xiuqin.

The handwriting was not neat, and there were even typos.

But the care between the lines could not be hidden.

Shen Man touched the tiger-head shoes and the little hat for the children, unable to put them down. Her heart felt warm...

Auntie Ge and the others had always been thinking of her.

As for her deadbeat father, he was as steady as a rock, remitting 150 yuan every month.

Shen Man accepted it with a smile, but she wouldn't have any feelings for the deadbeat father.

Presumably, by now, the deadbeat father should have also received the big gift that was more than ten years late.

The original body's mother really had great foresight!

Since ancient times, it has been said that once you have a stepmother, you have a stepfather. A father with money is unreliable, while a mother with money is almost always left for you.

Although one cannot say this statement is 100% correct, it is definitely a portrayal of most unhappy original families.

A border town, the Loess Plateau.

Upon receiving the remittance of over sixty yuan, Lu Mingyuan breathed a sigh of relief.

He had fallen ill last month and had run up a tab at the clinic.

The people there had only let him run the tab because he was a special envoy. If he didn't pay it back in time, how could he face the doctor?

So, as soon as he received the money, he went to the commune to exchange it for money and coupons, then specially bought a bag of apples and carried them to the clinic...

"Xiuying, let me tell you, you can't go on like this alone. Your Bao'er's brain needs treatment, and it will cost a lot of money. As a woman, how can you raise Bao'er?

Listen to your aunt's advice and find a man soon. That way, he can take care of you and your son..."

"Thank you for your kindness, Auntie. I will consider it."

Bai Xiuying's smile was faint. She didn't refuse, but she didn't agree either.

Her husband had been picking coal cinders on the railroad tracks when he didn't notice the train coming, and then...

The railway department had given a humanitarian compensation payment, and now everyone was eyeing her like a tiger.

A widow, the deceased husband's compensation, and an eight-year-old son with some intellectual problems.

She knew very well in her heart that if she gave in and met someone with poor character, what kind of end she and her child would likely face.

Eight-year-old Bao'er, drooling, with his right-hand fingers in his mouth, tilted his head and asked inarticulately:

"Uncle, are you here to find my mom?"

"Mm, I'm here to pay off a debt."

Lu Mingyuan awkwardly came face-to-face with the woman who had walked out, then gave Bao'er a smile.

He didn't know much about the situation of Doctor Bai and her son, only roughly that the other party was a widow with a child. Fearing gossip, he intended to put the things down and leave.

"Mom—"

"An uncle came over to say he's paying off a debt!"

How would a child know about social niceties? He only knew that the old grandmother who had just come to find his mom had glared at him, and he was very familiar with that kind of look...

When his dad was around, he often glared at him with that kind of look.

This uncle wouldn't, so he was happy to pass the message for him.

Hearing her son's shout, Bai Xiuying hurriedly got up to cover her son's mouth.

It was that special envoy surnamed Lu. The other party smiled awkwardly and then politely took out the IOU for the previous tab—

"Doctor Bai, I'm here to pay off the debt. It's 26 cents in total. Please count it."

"Okay."

Bai Xiuying nodded, took the money and coupons, counted them, and locked them in the cabinet.

"I, I,"

Seeing the other party tear up the IOU, Lu Mingyuan had no reason to stay. He hesitated for a while, stammering.

Then, to the other party's surprise, he placed the bag of apples on the table and gathered his courage to say:

"If it weren't for you letting me run a tab for the IV drip last time, I'm afraid my brain would have been burned out long ago. This bag of apples is something I specially bought for Bao'er. I hope he stays safe and sound."

"Hey,"

By the time Bai Xiuying wanted to refuse, the other party had already left, looking as if something were chasing him.

"Mom, fruit, eat."

Hearing that uncle say the apples were for him to eat, Bao'er's saliva secreted even faster.

"Next time you see the uncle, you must say 'hello uncle,' do you know?"

Bai Xiuying sighed. No mother could refuse her child's request.

It was her own lack of ability; she couldn't cure Bao'er's brain, and even less could she provide Bao'er with good living conditions...

If she had to find a stepfather for Bao'er, she... ===== CHAPTER 242 =====