Chapter 340 The Day of Suffering for the Birth Mother?
Because it was nearing the end of the year and a time of frequent snow and wind, the academy for the four little ones had already suspended classes.
However, Qin Niangzi's school in the Women's Assistance Association did not stop, but the closer it got to the end of the year, the busier the women from each family became.
When it comes to buying necessities, where can you find cheap fabrics? Where can you buy large quantities of millet and get it for free? The dried vegetables that the family will eat during the winter, and the oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar that will last for a long time in the coming year, all these things have to be taken care of by the housewife.
Especially with the establishment of the Imperial Medical Academy, the newly opened laundry and brewery were in dire need of manpower. Many people felt that it would be better to earn some money than to spend their time learning to read.
Thus, it's almost as if Qin Niangzi's school has stopped operating, even though it's said to be running continuously.
Qin Niangzi was gentle and resilient, and also well-educated. She got along very well with Li's mother and sister-in-law.
Sure enough, having already heard that today was Dewdrop's birthday, around 9:00 AM after Dewdrop had finished her breakfast, Madam Qin came to the door with a small box.
"Madam Qin, please sit down."
The school in the women's aid association is unlikely to reopen until after the first month of next year. As for the midwives' school, Third Sister said that Qin Niangzi should suspend the classes now and resume them next year.
Madam Qin thanked Sister-in-law Li for the teacup she brought, and smiled as she responded to Mother Li's words.
"Well, I'll listen to Third Sister. I've also assigned them homework, so I'm sure they won't forget it during the holiday."
"I've come today to bring a gift for the young lady."
As she spoke, Madam Qin opened the box, inside which was a small silver lock.
"Midwife Li, please don't be disgusted. This is something my daughter wore when she was little. It's not a family heirloom; I bought it from a jewelry store."
The craftsman who made this was very skilled and made it with exquisite patterns, so I rushed to buy one.
I only wore it when my daughter was 100 days old, and then I put it away.
That evening, when I came over to join in the fun at dinner, I overheard Third Sister mentioning that Little Dewdrop's third birthday was approaching, and that reminded me of this object.
As she spoke, she called to Luzhu'er, who was standing beside Li's mother. Luzhu'er recognized her immediately and knew that this was another old woman, so she walked step by step to Qin Niangzi's side.
Madam Qin picked up the small silver lock and hung it around Dewdrop's neck, saying, "May our young lady be safe and healthy every year."
Dewdrop first glanced back at Li's mother, and seeing Li's mother nod, she turned around, bowed to Qin Niangzi, and thanked her: "Thank you, Grandma. I like it very much. It's beautiful."
Hearing Lu Zhu'er's childish words, Qin Niangzi vaguely recalled what her own daughter looked like when she was about the same age.
"Mrs. Qin, you must come over for dinner tonight. Third Sister said she's going to sing for Luzhu tonight. You have to come and listen to how she's up to her antics."
...
After another busy day, Li San Niang took the pastries that her boss and Qiu Xiang bought at the shop in Shengpingfang at noon and returned home.
These pastries were merely a treat for Lu Zhu'er's sweet tooth; the real birthday gift was prepared by Li San Niang half a month ago.
A pair of gold bracelets for little children!
My little dewdrop deserves to wear the best!
Actually, this children's gold bracelet weighs only two qian (10 grams), a thin circle, which fits perfectly on a child's wrist.
The whole family was waiting for Li San Niang, the mother, to return.
After washing her hands, Li San Niang fed the pastries to Lu Zhu'er, then held Lu Zhu'er and took out the small gold bracelet from the box.
"Dewdrop, did you like what your mother bought for you?"
Dewdrop, despite her young age, already knows what is beautiful and ugly. Just now, she was showing off the little silver lock around her neck to Li San Niang.
Dewdrop dangled the gold bracelet on her wrist, then happily tilted her head up and kissed Li San Niang. "I like it, it's yellow, just like Little Yellow, it's valuable."
"Haha, haha, Dewdrop is so clever! That's right, isn't the golden one more valuable?"
These words made Li's father smile.
Li Ersao was quite surprised to see that Li Sanniang had bought a pair of gold bracelets for Luzhu'er as a third birthday gift.
You should know that the last time Li San Niang received her salary, she bought a pair of silver bracelets for children to wear.
The little boy's gold bracelet today is a bit light, but it's still gold, and it looks like it's worth at least twenty taels of silver.
"Oh my, Third Sister is really willing to spend so much."
Dewdrop, you must be good to your mother from now on, because your birthday is a day of suffering for your mother.
Your mother suffered a lot when you were born.
Look how good your mother was to you on your birthday! She bought you pastries and even made you wear a gold bracelet.
Li Ersao said with a hint of sourness, and although Luzhu was still young, she already understood the meaning behind the words. After hearing Li Ersao's words, she looked up at Li Sanniang and asked, "Giving birth to Luzhu hurts your mother?"
Dewdrop's question, tinged with a mixture of caution, heartache, and confusion, softened Li San Niang's heart, but she felt aversion and disgust towards Li Er Sao's words.
How can we instill such ideas in a child as young as Dewdrop?
Even if you want to teach a child about the kindness of her parents in raising her, you should wait until she is older. Besides, what Li Ersao said was hardly education.
Isn't that just using the debt of life to coerce children into being obedient and easy to control?
Li San Niang didn't even glance at Li Er Sao, but held Lu Zhu'er and said softly, "After the pain, I gave birth to Zhu'er. Zhu'er is my precious baby. I was so happy when Zhu'er was born."
When Lu Zhu'er heard Li San Niang say that she had been born, Li San Niang was happy about this and felt relieved.
After letting out a sigh like a little adult, the little dewdrop looked at Li San Niang with affection: "Good girl, be good, stay home and wait for your mother with Xiao Huang."
Speaking of Little Yellow, Pearl started fussing about wanting to get down on the ground and get Little Yellow a bone to gnaw on.
After watching Bao Ya follow Lu Zhu into the kitchen, Li San Niang felt relieved, but when she turned around, her face darkened.
Li San Niang naturally wouldn't argue with Li Er Sao about the fact that her children's birthdays were the day their birth mother suffered. Li San Niang thought of her second brother, Li San Lang, Xiao Si Lang, and Xiao Wu Lang, so she softened her expression, looked up at her mother, and smiled, "Mother, I'm sure you suffered a lot when you gave birth to me. After all, I was born much later than my eldest and second brothers. You've had a hard time, Mother."
After giving birth to Dewdrop, the child understood even more how good his mother was to him.
Although the children's birthdays are the days their mothers struggled to give birth to them, parents have the right to choose to have and raise their children, and they should take responsibility for their children.
"I gave birth to Dewdrop, so naturally I want to give her the best, just as my mother and father raised me with the same care."
Li Ersao hugged Xiao Wulang tightly, her heart skipped a beat. Judging from Li Sanniang's words, she must be dissatisfied with what Li Sanniang had just said.
Sister-in-law Li shook her head inwardly, thinking that Sister-in-law Li was still a bit petty, even jealous of a pair of delicate gold bracelets for children that cost twenty taels of silver.
"Sharing joys and sorrows depends on the person. Some people can endure hardship together, but they can't do it once they become rich."
Sister-in-law Li recalled the words her mother had spoken to her before her marriage. At that time, because her brother's father, Sun Datou, had saved Jiang's father's life, even though her brother had remarried to her father after her mother's marriage, and her father was just an unknown doctor, the Jiang family still decided to marry Sister-in-law Li to her brother.
Given the Li family's circumstances at the time, it was certain that Sister-in-law Li would face hardship after marrying into the family. That's why Sister-in-law Li's mother gave her a lesson in social etiquette before the marriage.
Besides gratitude, it was of course because the Jiang family had high hopes for Brother Li's future and believed that Brother Li's future would be bright, which is why they married Sister-in-law Li into the Li family.
Li San Niang looked at her mother and continued, "I know that my mother only hopes that I will have a smooth life. She would never make me remember the day my mother suffered just because I was born."
I, too, only wish for Dewdrop's peaceful and smooth life. On her birthday, she grew a year older, and I only wish for her happiness and joy.
Li San Niang then turned to look at Li Da Sao: "I believe that as long as I teach Lu Zhu'er well, she will naturally think of me."
Just like if the elder sister-in-law teaches Tiger Head well, Tiger Head (Li Dalang) will naturally treat his elder sister-in-law well.
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