Xu Yunrong chuckled first, then unconsciously snuggled closer to him and whispered, "Then I'll eat and drink well too, and try to live to ninety-nine like you, so you won't be too lonely."
Meng Dashan smiled and nodded, his eyes full of doting affection.
After closing the door, Meng Zhao was not foolish enough to leave immediately; instead, she turned and went to the kitchen.
She knew in her heart that marriage was too risky. If she married the wrong person, it wouldn't be so easy to get a divorce. So she wouldn't compromise on this matter. But she could also completely understand what Xu Yunrong was worried about. She knew that it was because she loved her that she was so heartbroken.
Even if she didn't compromise, she still had to apologize. Knowing that Xu Yunrong liked sweet and sour dishes, Meng Zhao went out and asked Fang Muyun to cut her a good piece of ribs.
Heat oil in a cold pan, add scallions and ginger and sauté until fragrant. Then add the ribs and fry over low heat. Once the oil inside the ribs has seeped out and the surface has turned an appealing golden brown, remove them from the pan and set aside.
Leave a little oil in the pot, add white sugar, and stir-fry over low heat until the sugar caramelizes. Then, pour the fried ribs into the pot, stir-fry evenly so that each piece of rib is coated with the caramelized sugar, then add warm water and sauce, cover the pot and simmer for 25 minutes.
While the pork ribs were stewing, Meng Zhao began to prepare the fish in her hands, but something suddenly popped into her mind.
Pregnancy is something that cannot be completely controlled by human beings. Even modern condoms cannot prevent pregnancy 100% of the time. So how did her parents manage not to have a second child?
Could it be that they used the rumored birth control pills?
As far as Meng Zhao knew, the ancients did have many methods for contraception, but many of these methods would harm a woman's body. However, looking at Xu Yunrong's current physical condition, her complexion was rosy and she was full of energy, showing no signs of having any hidden illness.
Meng Dashan has a bad temper, and no one dares to provoke him to his face. But one can imagine that he only has one daughter, so there might be some gossip around him.
However, Meng Dashan remained unmoved due to Xu Yunrong's health, and continued to take meticulous care of his daughter Meng Zhao. He was even more protective of Xu Yunrong, as he loved his wife dearly and would never do anything to harm her.
Thinking of this, a thought suddenly popped into Meng Zhao's mind—could it be that her parents had never consummated their marriage since she was born? This thought made her pause in surprise. If that were the case, wouldn't that be too... tragic?
Meng Zhao is now eighteen years old. When she first transmigrated, people would call her "little girl" when she went out to run errands. But now, few people call her that anymore. Her clothes and makeup are one thing, but her figure and posture are another.
Although eighteen years old is the age when you are just starting college in modern times, your body is actually gradually approaching maturity.
She doesn't want to have children, but that doesn't mean she's not interested in men. Sex can indeed bring pleasure, so wouldn't it be a shame to completely avoid it just to avoid getting pregnant?
But Meng Zhao remembered that Gui Youguang's mother married into the Gui family at the age of sixteen, gave birth to her first child at the age of seventeen, and then gave birth to seven more children in the following years. Not only that, she also suffered the pain of losing her son twice during this period.
In many TV dramas and novels, frequent pregnancies are often seen as a symbol of being favored, but for her, it was not.
The constant pregnancy and childbirth are extremely harmful to a woman's body. Her body deteriorates rapidly, but she is powerless to resist her husband and can only secretly find ways to prevent pregnancy.
Later, she heard about a folk remedy that eating raw snails could prevent pregnancy. Snails are considered a very cold food and can be harmful to the body. However, looking at her weak body after giving birth, she was terrified of getting pregnant again, so she hardened her heart and ate the raw snails.
As a result, shortly after consuming it, she suffered unbearable abdominal pain and died at the young age of twenty-five.
Examples like hers are not uncommon. Some women even ingest mercury or insert things into their private parts to avoid pregnancy. These methods of contraception are simply astonishing.
Thinking of this, Meng Zhao couldn't help but sigh. To avoid getting pregnant, she would probably have to abstain from sex from now on.
Just as Meng Zhao had taken out the fish's internal organs, a bright white object caught her eye, instantly sparking an idea. She quickly picked it up and washed it with water.
Meng Zhao's eyes lit up instantly. Fish bubbles? That's right! Although there was no rubber in ancient times, it doesn't mean that there couldn't be something to replace it.
Fish maw, sausage casings, and the like can all be used!
Although the fish maw looks a bit disgusting, it can still be used if it is cleaned with special methods.
Its biggest advantage is that it does not harm the body, making it far superior to other contraceptive methods that can damage a woman's health.
Fish bladders certainly can't compare to modern condoms in terms of contraceptive effectiveness, but even condoms can't provide 100% protection.
Thinking about it this way, having a fish bladder as a substitute is at least better than nothing.
Since there was a demand for contraception in ancient times, it means there was a market for it. Meng Zhao put the fish bladders he had just cleaned aside, intending to deal with them later.
After all, she had just told her parents that she didn't want to get pregnant, and bringing this up again would only make them angry.
Her most important task right now is to appease her mother. First, she cleans the fish, puts it on a plate, adds seasonings, and steams it in a pot.
Then she reduced the sauce of the stewed ribs over high heat. By this time, the ribs were already flavorful. She slowly poured a little vinegar along the edge of the pot, and instantly, the aroma of vinegar and meat intertwined and filled the entire room, making it mouthwatering.
Seeing that it was almost time, Meng Zhao quietly pushed the door open and peeked inside. She saw that even after so much time had passed, her parents were still snuggling together in the same position as before. Just as she was about to leave, they both noticed her.
Meng Zhao smiled somewhat awkwardly, "Dad, Mom, I've made a few dishes, it's time for us to eat."
Xu Yunrong still had a hint of displeasure on her face. Seeing this, Meng Dashan gently patted her shoulder, and she then asked, "Where should we eat?"
Meng Zhao quickly replied, "The kitchen smells a bit strong. I'll bring the food and the stove inside to eat, so it'll be warmer there."
As long as you're still willing to sit at the same table and eat together after an argument, it's not a big deal.
A short while later, Meng Zhao brought the steaming hot food to the table. Xu Yunrong glanced at it and saw that the dishes on the table were all her favorites. Her expression finally softened a little.
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