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◎Day 8 of the control group◎

"I heard that you just had a baby, so I specially bought some baby formula. My mom asked someone in Beijing to buy it for me." Mei Zixian smiled warmly, her eyes quickly scanning the furnishings in the room.

She had some doubts about why her husband had chosen Shen Xinglian's family, whose circumstances were not as good as her own.

There was a sewing kit in the living room, inside which was a small garment that was only half-sewn.

"I can't accept this." Shen Xinglian said, and Aunt Li took it away.

Aunt Li accepted the gifts but didn't offer Mei Zixian a glass of water.

Mei Zixian spent ages exchanging pleasantries without anyone offering her a glass of water; Shen Xinglian's judgment was far too poor.

"The house is messy, don't mind it." Shen Xinglian noticed that she kept looking left and right.

“You didn’t have time to tidy up while you were in postpartum confinement. That’s good.” Mei Zixian walked over to the bookshelf.

Shen Xinglian's eyes turned cold, and she shouted, "Aunt Li, could you please pour me a glass of water?"

"I've been so forgetful during my pregnancy that I've even forgotten how to pour water."

Mei Zixian was naturally too embarrassed to argue with her.

Aunt Li quickly brought the water over.

Jiang Wanzhou loves to drink and make flower tea, so Shen Xinglian keeps it at home at a constant temperature.

But Shen Xinglian noticed that the water Aunt Li gave Mei Zixian was just ordinary water.

Shen Xinglian quietly gave Aunt Li a thumbs-up from under the covers.

Aunt Li is truly a wonderful person.

"I heard you have an older brother, why isn't he home?" Mei Zixian paused, then asked seemingly casually.

"He went out to play," Shen Xinglian said with a smile. "His aunt had an exchange meeting today, and he's been waiting for her boat to come back so he can pick her up."

At the "exchange meeting," Mei Zixian raised an eyebrow. "Isn't Brother Yu supposed to be from the countryside? He's really capable. How come I've never heard of a village girl speaking a foreign language?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to look down on people from the countryside, it's just that I have some stereotypes."

Shen Xinglian said sternly, "Stereotypes are unacceptable. Farmers are our most lovable, kind, and respectable comrades."

“My sister-in-law is very studious. To be honest, a large part of the reason I married her older brother is because of my sister-in-law.”

"Yes, if I had a sister-in-law like Wanzhou, I would sell everything I own to send her to school," Aunt Li exclaimed.

Mei Zixian was drinking water.

Jiang Renzhou led Shen Mingyuan in: "We have guests?"

Shen Xinglian's expression changed. Seeing that Jiang Renzhou didn't seem to be acting strangely, she wondered if he had heard that sentence.

This person is quite cunning. If I heard that he might face retaliation after his sister's postpartum period ends because of his marriage to this family, I'd say.

Mei Zixian saw Jiang Renzhou and tentatively asked, "I don't know how Commander Jiang's sister grew up like this? But Commander Jiang doesn't have any objections to her showing her face in public and dealing with foreign guests like this? My husband doesn't really like me going out."

Shen Xinglian paused slightly as she looked at Jiang Renzhou.

Jiang Renzhou was unhappy: "Aunt Li, I'm going to the canteen to buy food later. I've already told Brother Lei to come over for dinner tonight. You don't need to wash the dishes tonight, I'll do it. Thank you for your help today."

Shen Xinglian nodded.

Seeing that Jiang Renzhou and Shen Xinglian were ignoring her, Mei Zixian chuckled dryly and said, "When will the exchange meeting end? I'll go to Brother Yu's house to wait for you."

Jiang Renzhou frowned as he changed Mingmei's diaper. He picked up the diaper and was about to leave when he said in a low voice, "Isn't your husband unhappy about you showing your face in public? What kind of person are you, squatting in front of someone else's house?"

Shen Xinglian rubbed the corner of her mouth.

Stop laughing, you jerk.

“Commander Jiang, you have a good understanding of the situation. My wife just loves me, but she can’t restrict my personal freedom.”

"Sister-in-law, I'm back. Look, someone gave me a gift." Jiang Wanzhou walked in.

Jiang Renzhou was washing diapers in the yard when he looked up and asked, "Where's Qingyu?"

“Your brother’s business isn’t over yet, and the foreign guests are quite anxious, so they’re not in the mood to buy anything,” Jiang Wanzhou sighed.

"Comrade Jiang is back. How did the exchange meeting go? Unlike me, I was just transferred here and didn't even get to attend," Mei Zixian asked.

"It went quite smoothly. If you were looking for Qingyu, you probably wouldn't be able to wait any longer," Jiang Wanzhou said to Shen Mingyuan.

"These are snacks that my aunt brought. Mingyuan often brings them. They're supposedly from France."

"Thank you, Auntie." Shen Mingyuan quickly washed his hands in the kitchen and picked up the bag.

Jiang Wanzhou smiled faintly and ruffled Shen Mingyuan's hair: "Why are you all sweaty? You haven't taken a shower. What if you get sick?"

"Auntie, it was Dad who splashed me!" Shen Mingyuan pouted, remembering the painful memory.

Jiang Wanzhou was surprised: "My brother would do such a thing?"

Shen Xinglian was also surprised: "Your dad would do something like this?"

Shen Mingyuan nodded.

Shen Xinglian: "That's great! We'll have another powerful general for our beach battle later."

"Okay, sister-in-law, you're on my team. Let's see if my brother dares to hit us then." Jiang Wanzhou came up with a wicked idea.

Mei Zixian felt bored and embarrassed: "Thank you for your hospitality, sister-in-law. I suddenly remembered that I have something to take care of, so I'll be leaving now."

“Okay,” Shen Xinglian called out.

Jiang Wanzhou whispered, "How did she find you?"

Shen Xinglian rolled her eyes: "Her eyes are always on the bookshelf, she's probably here for your brother."

Jiang Wanzhou suddenly stood up: "Could her man be from the Revolutionary Committee?"

“The Ren family has already accepted your brother, so they shouldn’t frame him,” Shen Xinglian pondered.

Jiang Wanzhou was still uneasy and decided to ask Zhou Qingyu.

It was very late, but Zhou Qingyu still hadn't returned.

In the morning, Jiang Wanzhou came out of the house carrying the clothes that Zhou Qingyu had already washed. When she saw Zhou Qingyu return, she smiled and said, "You're back. Have you taken care of everything?"

"Not yet, I'll go ask my sister-in-law something later." Zhou Qingyu quickly took the basin from her hands. "I'll do it, don't tire yourself out."

"Just a few clothes, I'm not tired," Jiang Wanzhou said, letting him take them. "Did you sleep last night? Why don't you catch up on some sleep?"

“I slept for a little while last night. If this matter can be handled well, the technical department will recommend me to go to the Soviet Union for training,” Zhou Qingyu said hesitantly.

Jiang Wanzhou nodded: "Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself. You'll come back when the baby is born, right?"

“It’ll only be a week,” Zhou Qingyu chuckled. “If it’s that long, I definitely won’t go. Wanzhou, you know we’re lacking everything right now. I heard that the Soviet Union has the latest drones. I…”

“I understand. Why don’t capable people contribute?” Jiang Wanzhou reflected on herself. “Don’t worry, I won’t hold you back.”

"I've already spoken with the cafeteria manager, and he'll save you a nutritious meal every day from now on, including a steamed egg."

Jiang Wanzhou felt a warm glow in her heart: "Don't be so delicate, everyone goes through this."

"My wife, you can never be too attentive to her." Zhou Qingyu rarely made a witty remark, her ears turning slightly red.

Shen Xinglian was wrapped in a blanket and sat in a wheelchair. Jiang Renzhou pushed her outside the door for a while and said, "Alright, alright, I know you two are very much in love."

Jiang Wanzhou was shocked: "Why are you here? My sister-in-law is still in her postpartum period! Can't you wait until I get there to talk to her?"

Shen Xinglian smiled and said, "It's an order from your brother's superior, so we can't lose face in front of foreign guests."

Zhou Qingyu looked guilty: "Sister-in-law..."

"It's alright, why apologize to family?" Shen Xinglian said cheerfully. "Maybe I'll have a job after my confinement period."

Jiang Wanzhou had no idea what they had done.

It was three days later when they met Zhou Qingyu and the other two again.

What happened? Her brother, sister-in-law, and lover could all attend, but she became the only one waiting for her sister, brother, and husband.

We agreed to improve together, but now they can't get in.

Zhou Qingyu brought a small bag of white flour and brown sugar home to eat, and the courtyard had already become lively.

Jiang Renzhou sent two orderly soldiers who efficiently carried several large baskets of ingredients into the kitchen.

Jiang Wanzhou directed from the side: "Put that basket of kelp in a shady place, and process the fish quickly, put it directly next to the well."

Jiang Wanzhou's eyes lit up when she saw Zhou Qingyu. She quickly ran over and whispered, unable to hide her excitement, "Those two soldiers told me. Congratulations, Young Master Zhou!"

Zhou Qingyu smiled somewhat shyly: "My sister-in-law deserves more credit."

"That's because you know how to use people well." Jiang Wanzhou patted his arm cheerfully.

Although Xingxing is the daughter of a capitalist and is well-informed, this kind of technical work must have seemed unreasonable to Zhou Qingyu.

Zhou Qingyu said nothing and still asked Xingxing for help.

Jiang Wanzhou knew perfectly well what was going on.

"Those people said that foreign guests actually want to eat the food I cooked?" Jiang Wanzhou was a little puzzled by this.

Zhou Qingyu nodded: "It was my sister-in-law who said that you can make a lot of strange things."

“I’ve already found the head chef at the cafeteria. He’s willing to help you, so you don’t have to work yourself out.”

"If you're willing to hand over the vegetables, let him see them; if you're not, he doesn't care."

"It's okay, those dishes are all... I don't know where I got them from." Jiang Wanzhou said casually, but thankfully she realized her mistake.

The afternoon sun was warm.

Jiang Wanzhou sat on the newly reinforced bamboo chair and asked for the menu she would be making that evening.

After catching up on her sleep and taking a shower, Zhou Qingyu walked out of the bathroom.

I then took a math book from the living room and sat down in front of him.

Zhou Qingyu didn't disturb Jiang Wanzhou and focused on writing.

Jiang Wanzhou quietly looked up at him. Occasionally, when he encountered a problem, he would frown and think, his fingertips unconsciously tracing patterns on the table.

Jiang Wanzhou didn't disturb him, and quietly pushed the cooled warm water towards his hand.

Peaceful and serene times, this is probably what it means.

Jiang Wanzhou lay down for a while, then prepared to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy thread to make clothes for her unborn child.

She keenly noticed some unusual lights and hushed conversations.

"...Have you heard? It's from Officer Zhou's family."

"You've moved really fast, you've only been married a short time."

"I heard the man's family didn't agree, and she got pregnant so quickly, who knows?"

"These country kids are really something."

"...Who could tolerate someone like Secretary Zhou?"

"You know, she looks so gentle and quiet, but she's got some serious skills. My girl was ruined by her."

Jiang Wanzhou paused for a moment, then calmly selected cotton thread.