Bai Shiqing clicked her tongue: "That's a matter of policy. He talks about it every day as if his own family is so powerful."

There was one more thing she didn't dare say: it was fortunate that Bai Jiaojiao broke up with Yu Wenli, and now she was living a very good life with Shen Heng.

"That's so true. I never expected Yu Wenli to be just a figurehead. What do you think he's after?"

Yao Aiting was also preoccupied with her work in the fields, and she was about to leave after only a few words.

Bai Jiaojiao stayed home with Bai Shiqing until nearly noon before she went back to cook.

Shen Heng came home quite early today, and Bai Jiaojiao found him at home when she opened the door.

"What are you looking for, Heng-ge?"

Where did you put our marriage certificate?

Shen Heng searched high and low, but couldn't find it.

What do you need this for?

"Haven't you heard? Zhou Yanshan's wife ran off with someone else because they didn't get a marriage certificate back then." Shen Heng thought to himself, no way, he had to keep the marriage certificates in his hands, both of them had to be with him!

Bai Jiaojiao was both amused and exasperated: "The certificate isn't the reason. The main problem is that they didn't register. Our Civil Affairs Bureau has records of this. Even if the certificate is lost, they are still a legally married couple, unlike them."

Shen Heng said, "No, you find it for me. I'll feel at ease once I have it in my hands."

Having no other choice, Bai Jiaojiao went to the quilt under the kang (a heated brick bed) and took out her small box, which contained all her belongings: the property certificate, the household registration book, and the marriage certificate.

"I've been keeping a close eye on things for you, haven't I?"

Give me both.

Shen Heng took it, glanced at the photo of the two of them, stroked his chin and grinned foolishly. After a while, he pointed to the marriage certificate and said seriously, "This photo of you isn't good. You're not smiling. I'm not smiling either. Yes, it's not good. I'll take you to take another one."

"Brother Heng, do you think this is a joke? Who takes a new photo like this? Didn't you see the stamp on it? If the photo is changed, it doesn't count."

Bai Jiaojiao pointed it out to Shen Heng.

Shen Heng had no choice but to abandon the idea: "That's fine, let's go to the photo studio and take a couple of pictures to keep for later."

“Okay.” Bai Jiaojiao also felt that it should be recorded; why hadn’t she thought of it before?

Shen Heng stared at their marriage certificate for a while. Bai Jiaojiao was about to go cook, so she reached out her hand and said, "Alright, you've seen it all. Put it away properly, it won't get lost."

"I'll keep it with me; I'll feel more at ease then."

"...Whatever you want."

Bai Jiaojiao locked her box and put it back in its place. Once she left, she didn't pay any attention to Chen Heng.

Shen Heng lingered in the house for a while before coming out to the kitchen to help Bai Jiaojiao wash the vegetables.

"You'd better hide it well, you know those photos are easy to damage. In ten or twenty years, you won't be able to see people's faces anymore," Bai Jiaojiao threatened Shen Heng.

"What can we do? Why is the government still issuing these counterfeit and substandard products?" Shen Heng's heart skipped a beat, as if his tail had been stepped on.

"Keep it safe and don't take it out to look at it every day. It's better if it's kept away from light and oxidation."

Shen Heng looked unwilling, but he nodded nonetheless.

Bai Jiaojiao secretly shrugged and smiled; her Heng-ge was just too adorable.

In mid-July, Bai Jiaojiao was sleeping at home when someone knocked on the door and woke her up.

Li Shutao came to inform Bai Jiaojiao and Bai Shiqing that they were about to give birth.

“Sister Jiaojiao, my sister-in-law said she wants you to go and keep an eye on things. She feels more at ease having you by her side.”

"Let's get going!"

Bai Jiaojiao rushed over without packing anything.

Bai Shiqing was still not moving. He lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), sweating profusely, with an old cloth spread under him.

Li's mother was busy preparing for the birth at home, while Li Shuxian paced back and forth in front of the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Little sister, you've arrived." Not to mention Bai Shiqing, even Li Shuxian felt a sense of relief upon seeing Bai Jiaojiao.

"Sis, how are you feeling right now?"

Bai Jiaojiao was much more reliable than Li Shuxian. She didn't try to dazzle Bai Shiqing, but instead sat down next to her. Bai Shiqing immediately grabbed her hand.

"I'm a little scared, little sister. I'm afraid I'll just leave like Mom did." Bai Shiqing was very emotional, so Bai Jiaojiao comforted her.

A little while later, the midwife arrived and asked Li Shu to go out first, while Bai Jiaojiao and Li's mother stayed to help.

If twins are small and in the correct position, they are easier to deliver. However, delivering two at once is more arduous than giving birth all at once.

However, the two children were quite sensible and didn't cause Bai Shiqing much trouble. They came out smoothly without even Bai Shiqing having to worry about the order of their arrival. They were a brother and sister duo.

After Bai Shiqing gave birth to her daughter, Bai Jiaojiao finally couldn't help but burst into tears.

"Why are you crying? Oh dear, I'm not even crying."

Bai Shiqing was a little weak and shook Bai Jiaojiao's hand.

"Sis, I was scared too, I didn't dare say anything! I'm fine, I'm just happy!"

Bai Jiaojiao was both crying and laughing when Li Shuxian, her father, came in and realized that Bai Jiaojiao had overshadowed his reaction.

"Brother-in-law is here, you two can talk now."

Bai Jiaojiao wasn't without her senses; she followed Li's mother and the two newborn children to the main hall.

Li's mother and the midwife each held one child, while the other men of the Li family waited in the main hall. Li Shiqing looked at his own grandson and granddaughter, and the wrinkles on his old face beamed with joy.

"Give me a hug! Is this a brother or a sister?"

Li Shiqing took the child from his mother's arms. His mother said, "This is the older brother, he came out first."

“I’ll go in and help your daughter-in-law with her milk. Here, Grandma will hold you.” The midwife then handed the baby girl to Li’s mother.

The uncles then swarmed forward, the three men huddled together, staring at their niece.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!