Zheng Xu racked his brains but still couldn't figure out how Shen Heng had resolved the matter. Whenever he met Bai Jiaojiao afterward, he wanted to ask her about it, but Bai Jiaojiao just laughed it off.
“He came here to cause trouble. Heng didn’t do anything wrong, so of course he should pay the money.”
On the way to the pigsty with Zheng Xu, Bai Jiaojiao had no choice but to give Zheng Xu this explanation.
"Fine, go ahead and fool me like I'm an idiot. Foole me however you want, as long as you keep an eye on the pigs for me, you can do whatever you want."
"Captain, could we invite Brother Heng to come and raise pigs with us in a few days?"
"What, are you two planning to quit? That won't do. Shen Heng is the main labor force. It won't be a problem if you're not in the fields. But without Shen Heng, we'll have to do so much less work throughout the year."
How can a small pigsty accommodate so many people? Right now, Li Xiulian is essentially working for the pigsty for free. It's one thing to support Bai Jiaojiao, an idle person, and she can even provide some technical support, but it's unreasonable to have Shen Heng come over as well.
Bai Jiaojiao said, "I didn't say we'd transfer him over now, Captain. Aren't we going to keep a few more sows to have piglets this year? When it gets cold, all those piglets will need someone to take care of them. We'll have to find someone anyway. Heng-ge, it'll be so much easier for us to work together."
"You mean back then?" Zheng Xu thought for a moment. Bai Shiqing was probably going to give birth in July or August, and Li Xiulian would be able to leave the pigsty then.
At that time, there would only be Old Xu, who was physically disabled, and Yu Wenli, who seemed unreliable, in the pigsty, plus Bai Jiaojiao, who couldn't do any work. We really needed to find another capable person to come over.
If Shen Heng were working in the pigsty, Bai Jiaojiao could come along too. The couple would keep each other company, which would definitely make it more frequent for Bai Jiaojiao to run around the pigsty alone than it is now.
He thought this to himself, but didn't say it outright: "We'll see how things go then."
This was considered a concession, and Bai Jiaojiao didn't put Zheng Xu in a difficult position: "Thank you, Captain. Heng-ge will definitely be the best wherever he works."
Shen Heng has too much work to do right now. In October, they have to plant wheat, and November is a big harvest month. But the college entrance exam is in early December. She doesn't want Shen Heng to be distracted by other things during these two months.
When Li Xiulian was released, there was a shortage of manpower in the pigsty, so Bai Jiaojiao wanted to replace Shen Heng there. This way, they would have plenty of time to study. Now that the pigsty was clean, it wouldn't be a problem to study in the feed room in the yard.
Two months passed in the blink of an eye, and Bai Shiqing's belly was frighteningly large. She only suffered and felt no joy at all, unlike when she first found out she was carrying twins.
This was Bai Shiqing's first pregnancy, and Li's mother, watching from the side, kept saying that she was working too hard.
She no longer works in the fields, and her belly is heavier than that of women who are about to give birth.
Fortunately, Bai Shiqing was tall and strong, and Bai Jiaojiao couldn't imagine what would happen to her when she got pregnant.
There aren't many idle people in Shili Village now, but it just so happens that the two sisters have come together.
When the Li family members went to work, Bai Jiaojiao would come to keep Bai Shiqing company.
Bai Shiqing taught Bai Jiaojiao how to use a sewing machine, and Bai Jiaojiao actually learned it. She sat by the sewing machine making urine rings for her two nephews.
"Sister, look how well my handiwork is getting. I'll buy some fabric another day and sew a little flower quilt for my nephew."
Bai Jiaojiao looked at the neatly arranged urine ring in her hand and was very satisfied.
“My mother-in-law has prepared everything, we don’t need so much.” Bai Shiqing said, leaning against the quilt on the kang (a heated brick bed).
"Then I'll sew one for you, sis. Do you know what a down comforter is? I'll find someone to get some down from another village for you."
"You're really thinking too much. How many feathers does a duck have? No, it'll be unbearably hot when I give birth, what would I need that for?"
"Are you keeping it for winter? That thing is really warm and lightweight. I'm slow at making it, and by the time I've collected the materials, winter might be here. Oh, and I also want to make one for Dad."
Bai Jiaojiao thought that she would be leaving at the end of the year, and she should do something for her family this year.
"You can do it for Dad. Just bring the materials back, and then I can get it stitched up. Didn't the doctor say that if you're carrying two, the baby will be born sooner? I estimate it will be out in July."
Bai Shiqing couldn't wait for the next month to arrive so she could unload the goods.
“Look, there are reed beds in some places, and quite a few ducks. If we can bring back a lot, we can make a few more beds.”
Bai Jiaojiao was so enthusiastic that Bai Shiqing didn't object anymore.
“My father-in-law said that once the farming season is over, he'll find someone to build a house for the three of us, and then we can move out. Will I still be able to make those pastries then?”
The Li family is now incredibly cramped, with four sons and an old man, which is enough to overwhelm Li Shiqing and his wife.
"Of course you can. Why don't you build your house next to ours? There are fewer people there, so you can make your own snacks at home without having to come all the way here."
Bai Jiaojiao thought that she would have to leave Shili Village in the future. Bai Shiqing and Deng Min couldn't make pastries in the village alley. If the aroma wafted out, wouldn't that be an obvious message to the whole village?
“What you said makes sense. I think it’s good too; it’s both quiet and convenient.”
Bai Shiqing was very satisfied.
The two sisters were having a great time talking when a young married woman came in from outside.
Yao Aiting has been married into the village from another village for five years. She is Bai Shiqing's closest friend since all her childhood friends got married.
"Shiqing, you have no idea how lively the Zhou family was today. That Li Xiulian really knows how to make a fool of herself. Oh dear, my little sister is here too." Yao Aiting couldn't help but share the gossip first, and then greeted Bai Jiaojiao.
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