Chapter 81 It’s born! (Catching insects)

After returning from the Phnom Penh Grain and Oil Company, the three people from Factory 119 No. 2 could not help laughing when they recalled the frustrated, angry and shocked expressions of the three people from Shiwei. They laughed all the way to the office and happily described the scene to Ma Defa.

"You didn't see it. Director Qiu's face turned black and his eyes widened." Kong Zhenzhen laughed so hard that she fell backwards. She held Lin Xiang's arms and sat down, worried that the pregnant woman was too emotional.

Lin Xiang held her belly and tried to suppress her joy. She didn't dare laugh too much because she was worried. "Hahaha, I can't do that. I'll remember this for a year. Their expressions were so funny."

Zhao Jianjun touched his shiny forehead excitedly: "They are still thinking of taking some apple wine to copy us, what a joke! Such a good thing can be left for them for another year, they are really crazy!"

"I guess this person will be so angry that he can't sleep when he goes back." Ma Defa just came back from Wudaogou. It's a pity that he didn't see such a scene. But he also brought the latest news about coconut planting: "The roots of the second batch of coconuts transplanted earlier are a bit rotten. Captain Qian is very upset and can't sleep well. He found an old master who used to grow fruit trees to help with research. I also went with him and read several books. Now the soil is being dug for ventilation and drainage. We will see the situation later."

Back to the point, Lin Xiang put away her cheerful smile and said seriously, "We are all crossing the river by feeling the stones. When Xiao Ma Ge and Captain Qian really want to summarize their experience, they can record all the situations and make a book to facilitate the discovery and solution of problems in the future."

Ma Defa nodded: "I think so too. I have discovered many problems in the past few days. I will remember them all and sort them out when I have time."

Zhao Jianjun patted Xiao Ma on the left shoulder and said, "Okay, work hard. The raw materials for our coconut juice are now in your hands!"

Seeing this, Kong Zhenzhen patted Ma Defa on the right shoulder and said, "Do it well!"

Lin Xiang watched as Ma Defa was patted on both shoulders. She leaned back in her chair, nodded, and followed the crowd: "Do it well!"

Ma Defa: "..."

After the National Food and Drinks Congress revised its rules, all participating manufacturers were confirmed to be representatives of sugar factories and wine factories. All other factories that wanted to find loopholes were ruthlessly beaten back.

Zhao Jianjun approached Yang Tian to determine the amount of sponsorship and supply details for the March Food and Drinks Conference, but Lin Xiang approached him again and made a suggestion.

"Director, since we're sending coconut juice anyway, why not send some Spanish mackerel sauce as well?"

Yang Tian was surprised: "Then the Food and Drinks Fair will not agree to it. How can Bayu Sauce be exhibited there?"

Lin Xiang shook her head: "We won't do anything unconventional if we don't exhibit it, so we'll just give it away for free! We'll give away coconut juice and some Spanish mackerel sauce, and if people like it, they can eat it. If someone wants to sign an order with us, we can't refuse."

"Hey!" Zhao Jianjun was really impressed by the brains of Lin Xiang, a young man. Being young is good, and the brain works really fast! "Yes, yes, yes, just send it out, send it out with coconut juice, everyone can eat it if they like it, and forget it if they don't like it. We don't have to do anything, just take the order if there is one."

By then, the Food and Drinks Congress will not be able to find fault with us.

No, we also have to give it to the people working behind the scenes of the Food and Drinks Conference!

It's such a big trip, I must make the best use of it!

After finalizing the arrangements for the Food and Drinks Conference, there is only a little over a week left until the Chinese New Year.

Gradually, some red marks appeared in the family courtyard. Spring Festival couplets with black characters on red paper were pasted on the doors, and a big Chinese character "Fu" was written upside down and entered thousands of households.

The supply and marketing cooperatives are in short supply these days, and military families buying all kinds of New Year goods to take home can be seen everywhere. At dawn, many people have already lined up in long queues just to get their hands on the New Year goods.

"Xiangxiang, just stay at home. Mom is good at stealing things. She will definitely be able to buy it."

Lin Xiang also wanted to go and take a look, but her mother-in-law urged her to rest at home.

The main reason was that she was worried about the constant coming and going of people.

Lin Xiang understood her mother-in-law's thoughtfulness and kindness, but it was too boring to stay at home during such a lively time. She turned around and looked eagerly at the man beside her.

The wet almond eyes were clear and bright, as if they were twinkling the eyes of a pitiful deer. He Hongyuan's heart tightened, and he could not refuse his wife's silent request for help.

"Mom, I'll take care of Xiangxiang, she'll be fine. Besides, it's good to go out for a walk. Didn't the doctor say that you have to walk around frequently before giving birth?"

He Guifang looked at the two young people standing on a boat and naturally had no choice but to greet her son and daughter-in-law with a smile: "Let's go! Be careful."

"good."

When Lin Xiang lived in an orphanage before she traveled through time, she looked forward to the Chinese New Year the most because she could eat a lot of delicious food, sweet candies, and set off fireworks and firecrackers during the Chinese New Year.

Now it's no different than it was in the seventies.

At seven o'clock in the morning, a beam of light broke through the deep and heavy sky, revealing a golden halo. Customers lined up in front of the supply and marketing cooperatives, non-staple food stations, and seafood stations to buy New Year's goods.

He Guifang moved among them nimbly and robustly, preparing to queue up to buy meat first, leaving her son and daughter-in-law with the task of queuing up to buy candy and melon seeds.

He Hongyuan asked his wife to stand in front of him. He protected his wife with his hands on both sides and kept an eye on the crowd. However, it was easy to get squeezed in the queue: "How about you wait on the side?"

"Let's wait in line for a while." Lin Xiang shook her head. She didn't want to be an outsider!

When it was their turn, Lin Xiang excitedly took out two pounds of candy and cake tickets from his pocket and handed them over. He weighed half a pound of peanut candy, half a pound of orange candy, one pound of milk candy, and two pounds of melon seeds. Finally, he each bought one pound of peach cakes and egg cakes, as well as two cans of maltose.

He Hongyuan was in charge of paying and packing the things. The cloth bag in his hand was getting bulging. He remembered, "Didn't you say last night that you wanted to buy some biscuits and vanishing cream?"

"Yes!" Lin Xiang almost forgot about this, "I also want a box of Golden Chicken Biscuits and four boxes of Vanishing Cream."

After He Guifang came, Lin Xiang bought a box of vanishing cream for her mother-in-law, but her mother-in-law was reluctant to use such good things, so Lin Xiang still supervised her to apply it on her face every day.

Now both of them have almost run out of their lotion and need to buy new ones.

He Hongyuan packed all his things, and finally looked around the counter and bought his own things: "Comrade, two packs of Formosa cigarettes and a bottle of Special Liquor."

They had prepared enough New Year's goods, and when the three of them got together to go home, they were carrying so many bags that it was like moving house.

Several bags of candies and cakes on the cupboard exuded a faint aroma. Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan were preparing a combination of New Year gifts.

"Send a bottle of liquor, a pack of cigarettes and two boxes of vanishing cream to Uncle Zhou and Aunt Feng's house."

The gift was valuable and would be a valuable gift no matter where it was placed. It was also a thank you gift to He Hongyuan's uncle and aunt and their family for always taking care of them.

In addition, they also prepared food for the homes of their comrades and colleagues with whom they had a good relationship, and paired it with some candies and cakes to make a set of New Year gifts, which were festive and practical, and all of them were edible.

Before the twenty-ninth day of the lunar year, the family does a thorough cleaning and starts preparing the New Year's Eve dinner.

This year, everyone agreed to spend the holiday at Zhou Shenghuai's house, as more people would make it more lively. However, He Guifang didn't mind and prepared to cook some delicious dishes to bring over, with He Hongyuan and Lin Xiang helping out.

The pork belly is cut into large slices, and red bean paste is sandwiched between every two slices of white and tender meat. They are placed on glutinous rice, like a small tower. They are steamed in a pot until they are crispy, soft and sweet. This is called sweet pork belly.

Cooked pork belly with skin is cut into thin slices, colored with soy sauce and brown sugar, and then stir-fried with bean sprouts. The meat slices are placed in a wide-mouthed porcelain bowl, and bean sprouts are evenly placed on the meat. Finally, the bowl is placed on top and steamed. When the pot is removed from the pot, the upper and lower bowls are quickly turned over to form a bowl, and the bean sprouts are placed at the bottom of the bowl. On top, the thin, dark brown, fatty and oily meat slices are placed. This is salty roasted white.

On New Year's Eve.

He Guifang brought some cooked and sliced ​​sausages and bacon from her hometown and put them on a plate. He Hongyuan carried a square plate in a bamboo basket with several bowls of delicious dishes on it. They were all staple dishes that can only be eaten during the Spring Festival. The family of three locked the door and set off to Zhou Shenghuai's house to celebrate the New Year.

Zhou Shenghuai and Feng Li got up early in the morning and continued to work hard, preparing a large table of dishes, including braised hairtail, blanched shrimp, coconut chicken soup, cold chicken, cold shredded pork, cabbage with pork fat, corn shrimp and radish cakes, and braised pork with potatoes...

When He Hongyuan came over with four dishes, Zhou Yuezhu hurried over to greet them: "Wow, they smell so good!"

Lin Xiang followed closely behind and said in the same tone: "Yuezhu, this roast pork is especially fragrant, eat more later."

"Okay!" Zhou Yuezhu smiled.

Four dishes were served, and people sat in a circle, preparing to welcome the New Year. The New Year gift that Lin Xiang brought back from the factory yesterday - a box of coconut juice - also came in handy.

One bottle per person, so lively.

He Guifang worked for a long time but still did not look tired. Her face was full of smiles. She was in high spirits and invited everyone to toast: "Come on, come on, we spent the New Year together last year, and we can spend the New Year together again this year. It's great."

Everyone at the table raised their glasses. Zhou Shenghuai and He Hongyuan drank white wine, while the others drank coconut juice, celebrating the Spring Festival and welcoming the New Year together.

Feng Li took a sip and put down the enamel cup, saying with a smile: "This year is different, there is one more person!"

Lin Xiang naturally knew that Aunt Feng was referring to the baby in her belly. She raised her hand to touch the baby and then teased Zhou Yuezhu: "Why, Yuezhu is going to bring Comrade Shen to have the New Year's Eve dinner?"

"Oh, cousin-in-law!" Zhou Yuezhu blushed, smiled and gave her a scolding look, muttering in a low voice, "He is celebrating the New Year with his comrades in the army cafeteria today, and he said he would come to our house to pay New Year's greetings tomorrow."

Everyone burst into laughter after hearing this and teased Zhou Yuezhu, seeing her blushing. Feng Li was even more delighted to see her daughter, feeling that the child had really grown up and it was time for them to get married.

Lin Xiang quickly picked up a piece of sweet pork and put it into Yuezhu's bowl: "Here, here, my cousin's wife gave it to you."

Zhou Yuezhu stuck out her tongue at her and was delighted.

Turning around, Lin Xiang saw an extra piece of sweet Shaobai in her bowl. She smiled and handed a piece of salty Shaobai to He Hongyuan on her left: "I'll give you one as a reward, too."

He Hongyuan opened his mouth and took a bite of the salty braised pork belly. The thin pork belly was steamed until it almost melted in one sip, with a strong salty and fresh taste. It was sweet and fragrant, and chewed together with the fragrant bean sprouts at the bottom of the bowl. It was fat but not greasy, soft and refreshing.

This is my mother’s familiar craft, full of the flavor of the Spring Festival that I looked forward to as a child.

Lin Xiang prefers sweet shaobai. The sweet and sticky shaobai is sandwiched with red bean paste. The sweet taste instantly fills her mouth with one bite. The shaobai meat is fragrant and sticky, and the red bean paste has a soft and sweet texture. Even the glutinous rice at the bottom of the bowl is infiltrated with the oil of the pork and the sweetness of the red bean paste. Each grain is soft and fragrant.

In this era of food and clothing shortages, people could only afford to eat such large pieces of meat during the Chinese New Year, and they would feel satisfied and happy with its sweet taste.

The New Year's Eve dinner lasted for two hours. When the vigil reached midnight, Lin Xiang insisted on setting off firecrackers. She watched He Hongyuan light the fuse at the door of the house. The crackling sound exploded in her ears. Lin Xiang saw her husband walking towards her and the children step by step, with red festive firecrackers flying behind him in the dark night.

Another year has passed in the blink of an eye.

The first five days of the Lunar New Year are the days for visiting relatives and friends. The factory was closed for three days. Lin Xiang went back to work on the third day of the Lunar New Year. The factory was also filled with the atmosphere of the Spring Festival.

Candies, melon seeds and peanuts were distributed everywhere, and everyone gathered together to chat, hoping that the new year would be better and each year would be better than the last.

This is the most simple wish.

After the bustling New Year, the temperature gradually rises, the grass is green and the birds are singing in March, and the 119 Second Factory is busy with the most important work of the new year - participating in the National Food and Drinks Conference of the new year.

Lin Xiang's belly was getting bigger and bigger, making it inconvenient for her to travel far. She and Kong Zhenzhen once again checked the quantity of coconut juice and Spanish mackerel sauce to be supplied to the Food and Drinks Conference, and signed for confirmation after watching the loading and delivery.

The goods in that truck will arrive at the National Food and Drinks Congress ahead of schedule via the freight route.

Zhao Jianjun took Ma Defa, Kong Zhenzhen and two new employees from the factory office on a three-day and two-night green train ride.

Kong Zhenzhen packed her things and prepared to leave, and reminded the staff outside: "Xiao Zhong, Xiao Xiang, your team leader Lin is pregnant, please pay attention at all times and be quick."

"I understand, Captain Kong, we will definitely be able to do it quickly."

Lin Xiang is in good condition now, but her belly is getting bigger and bigger, and it is more strenuous for her to walk. Her eight-month pregnant belly feels heavy, but she is in good spirits.

"Go ahead and do your best. Try to bring back more orders. I'll be watching over the factory. Call me if you have any questions."

Zhao Jianjun arranged for Qiu Hongxia and Yang Tianduo in the factory to take care of her. He couldn't let Lin Xiang, who was pregnant, work too hard. "If there's anything urgent, you can find Director Huang and Secretary Tang. They are reliable at critical moments."

"Okay." Lin Xiang always felt that Director Zhao's comments on Factory Director Huang and Secretary Tang were like superiors commenting on subordinates, which was really funny.

Lin Xiang stood in the corridor on the second floor of the second factory office building and watched her colleagues leave, hoping that this year's Food and Drinks Fair could still give 119 a surprise.

——

At this time, He Hongyuan's workload was not heavy, so he could pick up Lin Xiang after get off work most of the time.

The man picked up his wife at the office building of the second factory, and the two of them walked slowly home in the salty sea breeze.

"Why don't you take a leave and rest at home?" He Hongyuan was worried as he saw Lin Xiang's belly getting bigger and bigger.

"It's not that exaggerated. I feel uncomfortable staying at home so early." Lin Xiang knows her own physical condition well. "I can stay at home and wait for the birth of my baby next month."

He Hongyuan knew that his wife was a person with her own ideas, so he didn't force her. He just started to nag: "Then you should go to places with fewer people, and be careful to go earlier for lunch..."

"I know, I know." Lin Xiang tilted her head and stared at the man, making He Hongyuan silent.

"What's wrong?" He Hongyuan raised his hand and touched his chin, "I shaved."

"I feel like you've become more and more talkative, not like the quiet person you used to be." Lin Xiang didn't forget to look for her accomplice and patted her belly gently, "Don't you agree, baby?"

He Hongyuan: "..."

Every night, He Guifang would boil a large pot of water for her daughter-in-law to wash her face and feet. Pregnant women could soak in the hot water comfortably at night, which would also help to make their calves feel more comfortable.

He Hongyuan brought a basin of hot water into the house, and Lin Xiang sat on a chair to soak her feet. The rising hot steam relieved her tired body.

Until a large hand with a thin band covered her sore calf and squeezed it gently.

"Why are there so many coils on your hands?" Lin Xiang felt itchy from the thin coils on the man's palms, but it was not uncomfortable. She closed her eyes and leaned back in the chair, enjoying it.

"It's the result of training, especially all the shooting training in the past, which is all due to the wear and tear." He Hongyuan was not too gentle or too heavy when he first gave his wife a massage. He had clearly used up most of his strength, but when he pinched her, a red mark was still left on Lin Xiang's leg.

My daughter-in-law has delicate skin and tender flesh, so you have to be extra gentle with her.

The more you press and knead, the better you will be able to control the strength in your hands.

Lin Xiang leaned lazily without even opening her eyelids. She lifted her feet up after feeling comfortable in the foot bath. He Hongyuan took a foot towel from a stool nearby and wiped her feet carefully. Then he helped his wife to lie down on the bed.

In the later stages of pregnancy, people tend to be lazy and sleepy. Lin Xiang also developed a habit at night: she would sleepily listen to He Hongyuan telling her bedtime stories.

It is called: "It is what the baby in my belly wants to hear, not what I want to hear."

He Hongyuan curled his lips and smiled softly: "Okay, ask him what he wants to hear?"

Lin Xiang blinked her bright almond eyes, her eyes flickering with curiosity: "He said he wants you to talk more about being a soldier, fighting, and training. Just pick out everything you can say, he wants to hear it all."

This is more interesting than a fictional picture book.

He Hongyuan had been in the army for many years and had a wide range of knowledge. He had experienced all kinds of scenes, big and small, and Lin Xiang listened with great interest to whatever he talked about.

"When I first joined the army, I was a troublemaker and refused to obey discipline. Even after being severely punished, I still refused to accept it..."

Lin Xiang tilted her head to look at the man, raised her hand and poked his strong arm: "Tsk tsk, you are a hard person to manage, I hope our children don't learn from you~"

He Hongyuan didn't know who the child would take after, but after thinking about it, it would definitely be better if the child took after his mother: "Then let him learn from you."

"Well. Then what? How did you accept it? Were you so obedient and followed orders?"

He Hongyuan recalled his youth: "I was impressed by our brigade commander. He competed with me in cross-country running, weighted running, shooting, and military boxing... I had only been in the army for a few months at that time. I was young and energetic. I was the best in our village. After joining the army, no one among the new recruits could beat me. But when I really met a master, I was completely dumbfounded. At that time, I fully understood the gap between us unconventional people and the regular army."

Lin Xiang drooped her eyelids in a daze, and gradually became sleepy. She leaned on the man's shoulder and murmured, raising her hand to pinch his fingers: "You were the most powerful when you were a wild man, and you are still the most powerful now that you are in the regular army~"

By the last few words, there was already some ambiguity.

He Hongyuan turned his head and glanced at his daughter-in-law, and saw that she had fallen into a deep sleep. Her two long eyelashes cast a shadow on her eyelids like a small fan.

After watching silently for a while, He Hongyuan half stood up and tucked the corner of the quilt for her gently. Then he pulled down the light cord, and the darkness in the room and the sound of soft breathing by his ears made him feel at ease.

——

Every morning when they got up to go to work, He Hongyuan would accompany Lin Xiang out, and they would walk to the second factory leisurely as if they were taking a stroll.

Because her belly was getting bigger, she temporarily moved her office to the first floor so that she wouldn't have to go up and down the stairs. Her two assistants, Xiao Zhong and Xiao Xiang, were very perceptive and hardworking, which saved her a lot of trouble.

Director Zhao has been leading the team to the Food and Drinks Conference for five days. Excluding the journey, they should have attended the conference for two days.

Lin Xiang received a call from Kong Zhenzhen yesterday, reporting that everything was fine at the second factory. The venue was neatly arranged, and it looked like this year's event would be even bigger than last year's.

A week passed quickly, and when the National Food and Drinks Conference ended, the people from the second factory took a three-day train ride back to the island. Lin Xiang went out excitedly to greet them.

"Hey, don't come out." Kong Zhenzhen supported Lin Xiang with excitement, and spoke excitedly, "Xiangxiang, we signed another big order!"

Several people walked into Lin Xiang's office on the first floor, arranged for Lin Xiang to sit down first, and talked vividly about the situation of this year's Food and Drinks Conference.

Factory 2 provided free coconut juice as drinking water to all manufacturers at the event, which attracted everyone's favor and also gave them a booth with a good location.

In five days, we successfully signed contracts with fifteen cities. Together with the eleven cities signed last year, we have basically captured the major city markets in the south.

Although Lin Xiang said she had not been there in person, she was also excited after hearing what Kong Zhenzhen said: "That's great! In just over a year, we have become a store that is almost as big as the shrimp sauce canned food store!"

The canned shrimp sauce produced by the first plant of 119 Food Factory basically supplies all cities in the south, which is already very rare.

The regions are as vast as the sea, and no food factory in the south can take over the supply from the north.

Zhao Jianjun was proud: "I'll go take a walk next door later! It took them so many years to do it, but we did it so quickly!"

This is something I must show off when I get the chance.

Even Madfa, who usually doesn't get excited, became visibly excited: "And we're not just selling coconut juice!"

Lin Xiang figured it out: "Could it be that Bayu Sauce also signed the order?"

"Yes!" Zhao Jianjun rubbed his hands excitedly. "Fortunately, you suggested giving away the Spanish mackerel sauce as well. If people like it, they can eat it. If they don't like it, forget it. As a result, who wouldn't like such a good thing? But after all, it's against the rules to sell canned Spanish mackerel sauce at the Food and Drinks Fair, and we didn't sign the order directly. It was after the event that the heads of grain and oil companies in eight cities privately came to me to sign the order for supply."

It was expected that coconut juice would continue to receive orders, which successfully expanded the scope of supply cities, but Spanish mackerel sauce was a complete surprise.

Lin Xiang felt the fetus move, as if the baby in her belly had kicked her. She smiled and said, "This trip has been quite rewarding. My baby just moved."

Zhao Jianjun waved his hand and said, "Everyone, please record the bonus! And this little baby in your belly should also be recorded. It must be a blessing to our factory. Grandpa Zhao will reward him with a dollar!"

Everyone burst into laughter. Lin Xiang touched her belly and laughed happily: "That's great. I'd like to thank the director on his behalf."

Getting salaries and bonuses was the most joyful thing, but Lin Xiang couldn't go shopping freely recently. Whenever there was something missing at home, it was often her mother-in-law and husband who went to get it. Money became just a number in her mind.

After the Food and Drinks Conference, April arrived as scheduled, and there were only more than 20 days left before Lin Xiang's expected delivery date.

Zhao Jianjun approved her maternity leave, and everyone told her to rest at home. Before leaving, Qiu Hongxia shouted to her in the bay fish sauce workshop: "Xiao Lin, we'll wait for you to come back!"

"Okay!" Lin Xiang reluctantly said goodbye to the place where she had worked for a long time, waiting to return here, a place that felt like home, after giving birth.

He Hongyuan took his wife home, and the family officially entered a state of alert, preparing for the birth.

He Guifang prepared everything the baby needed in advance, including four or five diapers, cotton wraps that were all soft and gentle to the skin, milk bottles, and several pieces of various clothes. She never had a moment's leisure.

"Hongyuan said that we should go to the hospital to give birth when the time comes. It will be safer." He Guifang had never given birth in a hospital at that time. All the women in the village gave birth at home. At most, they spent a few eggs or fifty cents to hire a midwife to help.

However, He Hongyuan had witnessed the danger of Jiang Saozi's childbirth last time. Even if it was caused by premature birth, it would not be that dangerous for ordinary people. He was still a little scared and planned to go to the hospital to give birth for peace of mind.

As someone from the future, Lin Xiang naturally preferred to live in a hospital, so she agreed immediately.

The waiting process is the most difficult. The tension that starts at some unknown time slowly comes over you and makes it impossible for your heart to settle down.

Ten days before the due date, Lin Xiang became more open-minded and even comforted He Hongyuan, who was equally nervous and would lie close to her belly to listen to the sound of the baby every day when she got home: "It's birth anyway, so it doesn't matter which day it comes."

Seeing his wife's heroic spirit of fearlessly going to the battlefield, He Hongyuan curled his lips and asked, "Aren't you afraid?"

"Don't be afraid!" Lin Xiang encouraged herself, but she felt guilty as soon as she said it. She looked at the man eagerly, "Actually, I'm still a little scared."

He Hongyuan held his daughter-in-law in his arms, equally nervous: "Don't be afraid, I'm with you."

Having said that, he seemed even more nervous and afraid.

There is no difference between a woman giving birth and going to the battlefield.

However, He Hongyuan had just said that he would accompany you that day, and the next day he received an important secret mission and needed to participate in a military exercise at the Navy Weapons Research Base.

Such a mission is not something that anyone can get casually. The organization values ​​him and selects the best and brightest members of the team to participate deeply, contribute to the country and coastal defense cause, and help test new weapons. This is also a kind of promotion.

Most people don't have such qualifications, which almost means that the future will be smooth sailing.

But He Hongyuan hesitated for a moment.

Lin Xiang advised him: "Didn't you say that this kind of drill would only take three or four days at most? Then there are still four or five days before my due date, so you can go without worry."

Such an opportunity was rare, and Lin Xiang was in good condition, so she had no intention of letting him disobey orders from his superiors and give up such a good opportunity to stay.

"You're back just in time, so just stay with me for a week and get ready to go to the delivery room!"

He Hongyuan thought about it again and again, and finally agreed: "Be well, wait for me to come back! Then I will accompany you to the delivery room."

"Yeah." Lin Xiang was having a good time at home. She patted her belly and said to the child, "Give your dad some face. When he comes back, we'll come out."

He Hongyuan was childish for once, and he touched his wife's belly and gave an order: "Wait for your father to come back."

Lin Xiang felt as if the baby had kicked her, and she said to her husband happily, "He agreed and kicked me."

He Hongyuan chuckled, thinking that the child was indeed his own, and quite smart.

The childish couple separated temporarily, and Lin Xiang leaned against the door frame to see the man off.

He Guifang watched her son go on a mission, but her daughter-in-law was quite open-minded and comforted her: "It's not easy to be a military wife. Many times, men have to leave when they receive orders."

Lin Xiang is indeed open-minded: "Actually, this time is not bad. I can wait for him to come back and stay for a few days. It will be a good time for me to give birth to the baby."

Lin Xiang calculated it clearly, but man proposes, God disposes. She never expected that the baby in her belly would be so disrespectful to its father and come out early!

At the end of April, five days before her due date, Lin Xiang felt a stomachache and went into labor prematurely.

He Guifang was well prepared and immediately called on her neighbors, Instructor Sun and Jiang Wenfang, to help take Lin Xiang to the military hospital and directly to the delivery room.

Zhou Shenghuai's family followed closely behind, and even Qiu Hongxia, Kong Zhenzhen, Zhang Huafeng, Yan Min, Jiang Weijun, and Song Qingya rushed over after hearing the noise.

In the dead of night, Lin Xiang was sent to the delivery room, while the others waited anxiously outside. Zhou Yuezhu was in a state of anxiety, muttering to herself: "When will my cousin's wife come out? When will my cousin come back?"

He Guifang also didn't know the exact situation: "When I left, they said it might only take three or four days, and now it's been four days."

Zhou Shenghuai knew about such missions: "It is normal to be delayed for one or two days occasionally. I have arranged for someone to wait at the dock. When Hongyuan returns from his mission, I will notify him to come to the hospital immediately."

Generally, giving birth for the first time takes a long time, and Lin Xiang was no exception. She worked from late at night until the sky turned pale and her whole body was covered in sweat. Then, a loud cry was heard in the delivery room.

The people outside the house were excited and rushed to the front of the house. As soon as the door opened, the nurse stuck her head out and said, "Lin Xiang's family!"

"Here we are!" He Guifang, Zhou Yuezhu and Feng Li responded quickly and hastily.

Not far away, an anxious male voice was heard, accompanied by steady but somewhat panicked footsteps, running towards them.

"Yes, I am Lin Xiang's man!"

"Hongyuan, thank God, you are finally back!" He Guifang breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her son coming.

After He Hongyuan finished his mission and returned to the island by boat, he immediately heard from the soldiers arranged by Zhou Shenghuai that his wife had left the hospital ahead of schedule and had given birth.

Hongyuan rushed to the hospital at a speed he had never run in his life, and just happened to see the nurse opening the door.

"Comrade nurse, has my wife given birth? How is she?"

The nurse was used to it and knew all the reactions of the mother's family. She smiled and said, "It's born. Come in and take a look."

He Hongyuan was the first one to rush into the delivery room. His steps were as heavy as if they weighed a thousand pounds and he was so nervous that his heart was about to jump out of his throat.

Until I heard the loud cry of a baby, I didn't see the person, but it was as if I was hit by a resonance of kinship, and my whole body felt numb.