Yes, she's on her period. Su Xueli dreads this the most.

Because she is cold-sensitive, she suffers from severe menstrual cramps, which are excruciating every time. She has to take painkillers when the pain is at its worst on the second day.

But that happened when she was a young girl. In her previous life, after marrying Wei Mingshen, although they only dated a few times a month, he "cured" her menstrual cramps.

She got up, took out some toilet paper from the inside of the bed, folded it, and took it to the toilet.

While in the bathroom, she pondered whether she should go back to her parents' home. It was so awkward here, especially facing Wei Mingshen, who wasn't her husband. It was too embarrassing to be sleeping in the same bed with him at this moment.

Finally, she decided to tell her mother-in-law later that she was going back to her parents' home.

Since I can't work anyway because of my period, I'll just rest for two days and come back when the worst pain is over. It will be Chinese New Year by then.

In southwestern Shandong, it is customary for married daughters not to spend Lunar New Year's Eve at their parents' home; they must spend the day at their husband's home.

With this burden on her body, she lost her appetite. Even when Cao Maizi fried fish and crispy pork for her to eat, she refused.

While her stomach wasn't hurting yet, she sat down and quickly started weaving straw.

The deep-frying didn't end until after 2 PM, and the three people who had their food deep-fried were so disgusted by the fumes that they couldn't eat anything oily.

Cao Maizi cooked a pot of cabbage soup, just to let everyone have some hot soup, and then she would cook porridge and steamed buns for dinner.

Su Xueli drinks a lot of hot soup when she has her period, so she forced herself to drink two bowls, which made her feel warm and comfortable.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was in the kitchen, Su Xueli came over to Cao Maizi and said, "Mom, I want to go back to my parents' house for two days. I will definitely come back on the 30th."

Upon hearing this, Cao Maizi asked anxiously, "What's wrong, Xue Li? Did Shenzi upset you?"

Su Xueli denied it: "No, no, he's perfectly fine."

Cao Maizi cautiously asked, "Then why are you thinking of going back to your parents' home? It's the New Year, so it's not appropriate to go back to your parents' home."

Su Xueli could only smile wryly and say, "Mother, I just got my period."

Upon hearing this, Cao Maizi hurriedly said, "Then you must take good care of yourself when you have your period. It's cold outside, so don't touch any cold water or be exposed to cold wind. If you catch a cold, not only will your stomach hurt, but it will also affect your ability to get pregnant."

Su Xueli smiled bitterly: I will never get pregnant in my life.

Cao Maizi continued, "Then you absolutely can't go back to your parents' house, child. What if you catch a cold on the way? Hurry back inside. I'll have Shenzi light another fire. It'll be warm and cozy inside."

Su Xueli said, "Mom, it's okay. I'll wear thicker clothes, I won't catch a cold."

Cao Maizi objected, "No, no, you can't go back to your parents' house when you're on your period. You should stay at our own home. Stop making up little stories and go back to bed. I'll make you a bowl of brown sugar water. Hurry up, be good."

Su Xueli was pushed back into the house by Cao Maizi, and she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Wei Mingshen was unaware of what had happened. When he heard his mother calling him, he went to the kitchen and asked, "Mom, why did you call me?"

Cao Maizi whispered to her son, "You brat, listen to me. Your wife is on her period, so you have to take good care of her, just like you would a woman in her postpartum period."

Wei Mingshen gave a wry smile upon hearing this, "Mother, I've never taken care of someone in their postpartum period before."

Cao Maizi said, "Don't you understand? We can't let her catch a cold, we can't let her get angry. She's very susceptible to illness during her period, and it might make it harder for her to conceive later..."

Wei Mingshen couldn't listen anymore. "I know, Mother. I'll go start a fire."

Cao Maizi pulled him back and said, "If her stomach hurts, don't make her weave trinkets. Let her rest."

Wei Mingshen said with difficulty, "How would I know if her stomach hurts or not?"

Cao Maizi was so angry she wanted to slap her son. "Don't you know if your wife's stomach hurts or not? Why don't you ask her? How come you don't know how to care for your wife?"

Wei Mingshen surrendered, "Okay, okay, it's my fault, I'll go ask her if it hurts."