465

A village with 300 people has seen its population increase by 25 percent today.

Although many hands make light work, it will still take many years for these beans to grow up!

County Magistrate Niu asked privately, "Brother Qi, how come your village's population has suddenly increased so much?"

Secretary Qi was speechless. He didn't know the reason either. He said, "These bears have nothing better to do than sit on the kang (a heated brick bed) after eating their fill! What's even stranger is that out of ten pregnant women, seven or eight are twins."

Secretary Qi had wondered more than once if the dragon in the back mountain was too fond of their village, which was why their village had more children.

County Magistrate Niu became even more curious, his eyes darting around, and said, "Your village is quite strange! Go back and investigate thoroughly to find out why!"

There's always a reason behind everything; nothing happens without a cause.

"Alright." Secretary Qi agreed, and went back to ask those who had given birth what they had done to have so many children, and most of them were twins.

After County Chief Niu finished discussing business with Secretary Qi, Secretary Qi laughed and said, "Brother Niu, my good-for-nothing second son has taken a liking to your Lili. Oh, I'm not exaggerating, but Lili is a wonderful girl! Because Rongjun has been serving in the army, Lili has never complained. Now that Rongjun is getting on in years, it's time for him to get married."

Qi Rongjun and Niu Lili got engaged last year, but Qi Rongjun didn't come back because he had a mission.

I happen to have some vacation time this year, so I'll take the opportunity to hold my wedding.

County Magistrate Niu didn't mince words and nodded, saying, "Alright, you can make the arrangements for Qijia Village. But as you know, Lili works in the county town and can't stay in Qijia Village for long. So I'll prepare a courtyard for Lili in the county town. Brother He, what do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Secretary Qi was even happier and said, "Great! That way, Lili can work nearby too. My eldest son moved out before, but Rongjun, our youngest son, lives with us and we're not separating anymore."

“Alright, it’s a win-win situation. We all want the best for our child, so let’s not be petty,” County Chief Niu said politely and generously.

Although County Chief Niu said that, Secretary Qi was not a blind man, and Qi Rongjun was his son whom he valued, so of course he had to make a good arrangement.

After Secretary Qi returned, he kept trying to find out the reason, but he was neither a doctor nor a fortune teller, so how would he know?

When they came to Grandma Qi's house for drinks, Secretary Qi complained to He Jingyu that they couldn't find the cause.

He Tiantian, who was listening nearby, had an eye on him and found the Snake King.

"Snake King, are those twins related to you?" He Tiantian asked, as the changes in Qijia Village were closely related to the Snake King.

The Snake King took two steps back and stammered, "It wasn't me, it wasn't me who did it."

He Tiantian rolled her eyes, speechless. The Snake King was really funny. Did he really think he was the male version of the White Snake?

"I've done the math, and almost all of those pregnant women like to soak in the hot springs behind the mountain. The water only became boiling because of your cultivation. Do you think that has anything to do with you?" He Tiantian asked. The changes in Qijia Village were closely related to the Snake King, and these dozens of pairs of twins might also be closely related to the Snake King.

The Snake King scratched his head and said, "It's probably because my remaining spiritual power in the water changed the water quality. As you know, although our spirit snake clan doesn't lay dozens of eggs at a time like those giant snakes, we still lay seven or eight eggs at a time."

He Tiantian was taken aback, then thought for a moment and said, "I vaguely understand. Some things in your body dissolve in water and can enhance a woman's fertility?"

When the Snake King heard He Tiantian's question, his eyes became a little misty, and he even looked a little shy. He nodded and said, "It seems so. Whatever, it won't do any harm. If there's nothing else, this Great King will go and cultivate properly."

He Tiantian also wanted to ask if the Snake King had disappeared.

"Sigh, the Snake King has grown up and seems unwilling to stay with me anymore," He Tiantian sighed, expressing a sentiment akin to a child growing up and no longer being under their mother's control.

If the Snake King heard or knew what He Tiantian was thinking, he would be both angry and anxious.

He wanted to be with He Tiantian, but he was afraid he wouldn't be able to control himself!

At the end of 1974, Qijia Village had many happy events.

Qi Rongjun and Niu Lili got married. He Tiantian prepared a gift, a khaki cashmere coat, which her grandmother had sent her. It was a bit big, so He Tiantian gave it to Niu Lili.

Niu Lili received the clothes and happily changed into them immediately.

Qi Xiaoyan went home to visit her family and also attended her second brother's wedding.

"Sister Tiantian, I'm applying for a professional training program for veterans next year." As soon as Qi Xiaoyan got home, she put down her luggage and ran over to find He Tiantian.

He Tiantian was very happy to see Qi Xiaoyan's rosy cheeks and good complexion.

“Sure, it’s not like you can stay in the army your whole life.” He Tiantian covered her mouth and smiled. “Brother Dajun can’t wait.”

"Yes, my parents are getting old, and it's not good for me to be away all the time," Qi Xiaoyan said with a smile. She couldn't come back when she first joined the army, and Niu Dajun was the one who visited her. "By the way, where's your brother Yingjie?"

"He's probably still somewhere in the mountains!" He Tiantian said. The two sisters chatted for a long time, sleeping together at night and playing together during the day, as close as one person.

Qi Daniu was always their little shadow, following them everywhere they went, whether it was playing or taking a bath.

Having spent more time with He Tiantian and Qi Xiaoyan, Qi Daniu has broadened her horizons and is no longer the shy Qi Daniu she used to be.

Many families held celebrations for a baby's full moon and weddings. This Spring Festival, Qijia Village was more lively than ever before!

Before we knew it, it was springtime in 1975.

During the spring planting season, many people came to report that their wives or daughters-in-law were pregnant. According to the statistics, there were two fewer pregnant women this year than last year, totaling forty-nine.

Last year, due to a labor shortage, the men in the village worked day and night during busy seasons, which was very tiring. However, the addition of new family members and favorable weather made it a happy occasion.

Especially this year, her daughter-in-law, Niu Lili, is also pregnant.

County Chief Niu asked Secretary Qi again, but Secretary Qi still didn't know.

When He Tiantian was talking to her mother, she joked that it might be because of the hot springs behind them.

Wang Shuping also privately told her husband, so the chances of the two going to the hot springs were very high. As expected, Wang Shuping also became pregnant.

Seeing that Secretary Qi had not yet found the reason, He Jingyu told Secretary Qi about the hot springs.

After careful consideration, Secretary Qi concluded that women who enjoy hot springs are more likely to conceive.

Unable to think of any other reason, I came up with this one for County Magistrate Niu. (To be continued.)