Chapter 139
In mid-August, Xu Huaisheng, Miao Cuini, and other children from the family compound prepared to go to high school in the city.
Ye Fenghua took her eldest daughter's high school education very seriously and took two days off to personally take her to school.
She said to Gu Xi, "It's no harm for girls to study more. My husband also supports Da Ni'er going to high school. Besides, Da Ni'er is only sixteen years old this year. What can she do if she doesn't study? When she finishes high school, she will be eighteen years old, and I will feel more at ease when she goes to find a job."
Gu Xi smiled and said, "It's wonderful that you think that way, sister-in-law."
She gave a thumbs-up, praising Comrade Ye Fenghua for her increasingly open-minded thinking, and said that women can hold up half the sky and that women should read more books.
Ye Fenghua laughed at her words, then sighed, "If it were before, when I didn't have a job, even if Da Ni'er was young, I wouldn't have let her continue her studies..."
In their family, only the head of the regiment earns money. He has to support four children and send money back to his parents-in-law in his hometown. He doesn't have much money left over each month, which is not enough to send his children to high school.
It's already considered good if we can afford to send our child to junior high school. The child has to start working early to help support the family.
“You don’t know, the other day, my in-laws called and asked how old my daughter was and if we were going to arrange a marriage for her. I told them that she’s still young, and we’d have to wait a few years before arranging a marriage. I told them to let her finish high school first…” Ye Fenghua’s face darkened with anger, and she sneered, “But they actually said that it’s useless for girls to study so much. They said she’ll get married eventually anyway, so it’s better to send her back to her hometown to help with chores for a few years to get some experience before she can get married…”
Commander Miao was a soldier from a rural background; his parents, brothers, and sisters all lived in his hometown.
In rural areas, girls are expected to help with household chores as soon as they get a little older. There is a lot of work to be done in the countryside. Adults have to work in the fields to earn work points, and they are too busy with household chores, so they need to have younger girls help with housework.
Commander Miao is the elder brother, and his eldest daughter is already sixteen years old. Since she neither studies nor works, the old man often wants to call her back to help with the work.
Ye Fenghua said angrily, "How could I bear to let my good daughter go back to our hometown to serve a whole family? My parents-in-law are still here, and the family hasn't been divided yet. My brothers and I all live together. If Da Ni'er goes back, she'll have to do laundry, cook, raise chickens, and grow vegetables for the whole family... How stupid would I be to let my daughter go back?"
Gu Xi comforted her, "Sister-in-law, don't be angry. It's not worth it. Just refuse. Our Cui Ni still has to study in high school and then go to university. How can she go back to her hometown to work? Wouldn't that delay the child's future?"
“That’s right, whoever gives birth to the child loves them the most. Anyway, I will never agree to it!” Ye Fenghua nodded. “My in-laws still want Lao Miao to agree to send Dani’er back, so I told Lao Miao that if he dares to agree, we will get a divorce.”
Gu Xi clapped her hands and laughed, "Sister-in-law is amazing! What did Commander Miao say?"
"Of course he didn't agree." Ye Fenghua proudly raised her head. "Old Miao has already refused them, saying that if they want Dani'er to go back, they will stop sending money back to their hometown, so they didn't insist anymore."
If we don't send money back to our hometown, my brothers and sisters-in-law will definitely make a fuss, and my parents-in-law won't be willing to give it up either.
Gu Xi clapped her hands again. It seemed that Commander Miao was a wise man. If parents don't love their own daughter, no one else will.
Of course, I'd keep my own child by my side; it's not like I can't afford to raise them.
Ye Fenghua quickly realized what Gu Xi had just said and sighed, "It's fine as long as Dani finishes high school; there's no way she can go to university."
After she went out to work and saw more of the world, her thinking changed. She also hoped that her daughter could go to university, but the college entrance examination was canceled. If she wanted to go to university, she could only go to a university recommended by workers, peasants and soldiers, but this spot was very difficult to obtain, and her daughter Cui Ni might not be able to get in.
Gu Xi smiled and said, "A high school diploma is good too. Let's finish it first. Maybe we'll have a chance to go to university in the future?"
Ye Fenghua had a blind trust in Gu Xi, and when she heard her say this, she nodded and said, "You're right. Who knows how the policies will change in the future? If there's an opportunity, I still want Cui Ni to go to university."
She not only paid for her eldest daughter's education, but also for all her other children. As long as they had a talent for studying and were willing to learn, she would pay for their education.
After confiding in Gu Xi, Ye Fenghua finally felt relieved.
Every time she came back, she loved to chat with Gu Xi about anything. Gu Xi was always very supportive, and she could talk about anything, whether it was work or matters concerning her family or her in-laws.
Although the two are quite different in age, they get along like friends, and no one is better than Gu Xi.
After saying all that, Ye Fenghua inquired about Gu Xi's belly, touched her prominent belly, and said, "You're about to give birth, aren't you?"
"Not yet," Gu Xi said. "My due date is in mid-September, so there's still a month to go."
Ye Fenghua said, "This is a good time. The weather will be cooler by then, and it won't be so hot, so it won't be too uncomfortable during postpartum confinement."
“Indeed,” Gu Xi agreed.
What she feared most was having to give birth in the summer. In those days, there was no air conditioning, and just thinking about it made her dizzy.
As Ye Fenghua was touching it, she noticed that the area her hand was covering bulged up, as if the child inside had gently kicked it. She couldn't help but laugh, "Oh my, it's a lively one."
"Actually, it's fine," Gu Xi said with a smile. "I guess they thought I had been sitting for too long and wanted me to get up and move around."
Since the baby started moving in the womb, the movements haven't been frequent. She only moves a few times when she's been sitting for a long time; otherwise, she's very lethargic. I don't know what kind of personality the baby has.
Upon hearing this, Ye Fenghua realized that the two of them had indeed been sitting for quite a while and should get up and move around.
She helped Gu Xi up, saying, "When it comes time for you to recover after childbirth, only Yuansheng can take care of you. Is that alright?"
She was a little worried. Xu Yuansheng was a young, unmarried woman with little experience. Did she really know how to take care of a new mother and child?
“And my mom too.” Gu Xi smiled. “My mom said she’ll come when I give birth and take care of me during my postpartum period.”
"That's good!" Ye Fenghua was immediately relieved. Seeing her smiling like that, she thought she was talking about her own mother.
If the biological mother could come and take care of her daughter during her postpartum period, that would be the best.
Ye Fenghua then talked to Gu Xi about sending the children to school, saying, "I'll take Cui Ni and Huai Sheng to school tomorrow, so you don't need to worry."
Xu Yuansheng also wanted to send his younger sister to school, but Gu Xi was heavily pregnant and dared not leave, so he could only ask Ye Fenghua for help.
**
Xu Huaisheng is leaving tomorrow, and Xu Yuansheng is packing her luggage tonight.
Gu Xi wanted to help, but her two younger sisters helped her sit down and told her to just watch. She could only give Xu Huaisheng some instructions.
She also went to high school, although it was in her past life, but she vaguely remembered some things and knew what to pay attention to.
Xu Huaisheng listened attentively, his face showing reluctance, but he didn't say he wouldn't go to high school.
Her eldest and second eldest sisters both hoped that she could go to high school and get a high school diploma, which would be much better than junior high school and would make it easier for her to find a good job.
"Big sister, by the time I come back next time, you'll have already given birth, right?" Xu Huaisheng squatted down in front of Gu Xi and touched her belly. "I wonder if the baby is a boy or a girl. It's a pity I won't be able to see the baby come out."
She really wanted to stay home and wait for her eldest sister to give birth, otherwise she wouldn't feel at ease.
Gu Xi said, "It's okay, you'll see the baby when you come back! And Yuansheng is here too. Your Aunt Feng will come over as well, so there are plenty of people to take care of me. You don't need to worry."
After packing her luggage, Gu Xi went back to her room, retrieved a stack of money and tickets, and handed them to Xu Huaisheng.
"Keep your money and tickets safe, don't let them get stolen. Don't be stingy with food either, you're still growing, eat more. Your two older sisters can earn money, it's enough to support you, understand?"
Xu Huaisheng held the money she gave him and said, "You don't need so much. My second sister gave me some, and I also have savings."
Over the past three years, she hasn't spent much of the pocket money her two older sisters gave her, but it still amounts to a considerable sum.
"This is for you. Keep it. A girl can't be without some money. It's easy for bad boys to trick her away." As she said this, Gu Xi looked at her younger sister's pretty appearance. A sixteen-year-old girl is at the age of blossoming flowers and could easily be abducted by bad boys.
Thinking about it, she said seriously, "You're not allowed to date before you're an adult, understand? Early relationships are risky, and girls need to cherish themselves!"
Xu Huaisheng: "...Okay, I won't."
Having met her brother-in-law and Battalion Commander Xiang, these outstanding and steady mature men, she had absolutely no interest in those immature boys her age. In her eyes, the male classmates in school were all little brats, and they all looked like they had serious illnesses.
Gu Xi and Xu Yuansheng were both afraid that their naive little sister would be deceived by bad men outside, and they repeatedly warned her against it.
Xu Huaisheng was initially apprehensive and saddened about going far away to study, but after hearing her two older sisters' nagging, all her sadness vanished, leaving her speechless.
However, you should still listen carefully to what your sisters say.
It wasn't until late that Shen Mingzheng came to tell Xu Huaisheng to go back to sleep, and Xu Huaisheng finally escaped a disaster.
The eldest sister had gone back to sleep, but there was still the second sister. She continued to stare blankly with her lifeless eyes, listening to her second sister's earnest instructions, nodding mechanically to indicate that she understood.
**
Since becoming pregnant, Gu Xi usually goes to bed early, but tonight she has trouble falling asleep.
She lay on her side on the bed, clutching her large pregnant belly, and said worriedly, "This is the first time Huaisheng has been away from her family. I don't know if she'll be used to it. She's so innocent and easily deceived. What if some ill-intentioned man tries to take advantage of her? After all, she's so beautiful..."
Shen Mingzheng listened to her incessant nagging, speechless, and patiently reassured her: "Don't worry, my little sister isn't that easily fooled. She's actually quite clever."
"She is a bit clever, but too naive and easily trusts others."
“She’s at school, and the school is strict, so there shouldn’t be any problems.” Shen Mingzheng patted her. “It’s not like a few years ago. No students in schools are involved in those sports anymore. There are still many students who are focused on their studies.”
Gu Xi was taken aback, realizing he was right. The worst of the uproar was at the very beginning of the movement, but now things had calmed down in both schools and society.
She remembered that starting next year, people would gradually be exonerated.
Shen Mingzheng didn't want her to worry too much, so he said, "If you can't sleep, I'll read to you and the child to help you cultivate your mind."
Gu Xi: "..."
Gu Xi looked at him with a complicated expression.
Ever since she casually mentioned prenatal education to him one time, he has wanted to read to her whenever he has free time. He reads various political ideologies and quotations from the Communist Party of China.
She didn't know if the child in her womb was influenced by this, but she wasn't, because whenever he read, she would become drowsy and sleep soundly through the night.
Gu Xi quickly drifted off to sleep amidst the deep, pleasant sound of Commander Shen reading aloud.
It didn't even last five minutes.
As for the baby in her belly, it was as quiet as a chicken, probably not very interested in its father's political and ideological education.
Seeing that she was asleep, Shen Mingzheng put away his book and looked at her sleeping face by the lamplight.
His gaze shifted from her face to her belly. The weather was hot and humid, and the pregnant woman felt hot. She was dressed very lightly, and her round belly could be seen under the thin fabric of her clothes.
When his hand gently rested on her belly, he quickly felt a bulge in his palm, as if the baby inside was greeting him through her skin.
The corners of his lips were slightly upturned, and his eyes and brows were gentle.
His wife and children are here; this is his whole world.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
