"You already have a son and a daughter, so it's good that you don't have any more children. Giving birth is like going through hell, so it's best not to have any."
Bai Shiqing urged, "You're still asking me? You got married before me, so why isn't there any sign of pregnancy? Are you scared?"
"I am a little scared, but the main thing is that we are both in school right now. How can we have time to have a child? And how can we take care of it after it is born?"
"You're wrong about that. You still have to work after you finish school. You'll be working your whole life. If you don't have time, why don't you have children?"
Bai Shiqing's words make sense, but Bai Jiaojiao wants to wait until the family's financial situation improves before having another child. Besides, she is currently extremely busy, and if she were to continue with the pregnancy and childbirth, she would probably lose all her hair.
“If you give birth, I’ll go to Yancheng to take care of you during your postpartum period. It’ll also let me see what a big city is like,” Bai Shiqing encouraged.
There were no female elders on either side of their family, so Bai Shiqing, as the older sister, took on this task very willingly.
This is also what Bai Jiaojiao was considering. In two years, if the private ownership economy is truly implemented nationwide, the employment of people will become more common. If she hires a nanny to take care of the child, she won't be criticized for her class stance.
Unlike now, where even the movement of people is strictly controlled, even if Bai Shiqing wanted to take care of her during her postpartum period, Yancheng might not be able to let her go.
"Let's talk about it later. Heng and I haven't even settled down in Yancheng yet, and we're still in a bit of a mess after having a baby."
Bai Jiaojiao only wanted to sound out Bai Shiqing's intention to have a child, but she didn't expect to be pressured to have one.
Seeing that Bai Jiaojiao kept pushing the topic away, Bai Shiqing became even more convinced that Shen Heng had problems in that area. She thought to herself that she couldn't keep rubbing salt in the wound, so she decided to stop there.
Why did you suddenly ask me that?
Bai Jiaojiao said, "We heard some rumors in Yancheng that families can only have one child in the future. I was just thinking that if you want to have a child, you should hurry up."
"Really? They care how many children you have?"
"There are too many people now, and the land is only so big. How can we grow so much food to eat?"
Bai Shiqing thought it made sense: "There are just too many people now. If our rural areas didn't have to supply those in the city who eat government-subsidized grain, we wouldn't be struggling to feed ourselves while tending the land."
The current practice of agricultural support for industry has indeed caused hardship for the elderly farmers.
"That makes sense. We already have enough people to build the country. If we can reduce spending and save resources, our country will have no trouble developing."
The two sisters chatted for a while, and then Bai Jiaojiao went back to her parents' home and told Deng Min and Bai Shihai about the fundraising.
The couple agreed without hesitation. Deng Min and Bai Shihai discussed it and took out eight hundred yuan, which they handed directly to Bai Jiaojiao. Bai Jiaojiao even signed a contract for them.
Why would family members need to sign IOUs?
"This isn't an IOU, it's an investment contract. Even close brothers should keep clear accounts."
"Stop saying such useless things, Shihai, you can't sign this with your little sister!" Bai Zhiman said, frowning in front of the kang (a heated brick bed).
"Dad, even without you saying so, we can't sign with our little sister."
The Bai family had no idea what a contract was. This kind of money-for-money arrangement was basically just an IOU. This whole family had absolutely no credibility.
Bai Jiaojiao was both amused and exasperated. Bai Zhiman strongly opposed the contract, and Bai Shihai also seemed to think that if they signed it, they would no longer be good siblings.
"Then I'll take the money. But don't worry, brother and sister-in-law, Heng will definitely not lose money this time."
“We’re not in a hurry for this money. We don’t have many expenses in the countryside. My brother-in-law is a capable man. If you’re short of capital, just use it for now. As long as it doesn’t delay Manzhi’s marriage.” Deng Min was polite, though it hurt her heart, she was still very generous.
Bai Jiaojiao turned her head and glanced at Bai Manzhi, who was lying down doing her homework. Her little niece was only in elementary school. It might be a long time before she got married.
“Your sister-in-law is right. Listen to her. You should earn more money and buy whatever other people in Yancheng have. Eat and drink as you please, and don’t be worse off than them.” Bai Zhiman still held the old-fashioned mindset. He lived for the sake of his reputation and didn’t want to be looked down upon.
Bai Jiaojiao agreed to everything. Deng Min invited her to stay for lunch. Shen Heng wasn't home today, so Bai Jiaojiao accepted and had lunch at the Bai family's house.
After running around all day, Shen Heng still hadn't managed to collect the eight hundred yuan. He brought back a little over seven hundred. Looking at the eight hundred yuan Bai Shihai had given him, he laughed and said, "I've really become a son-in-law now."
"How can you talk about yourself like that? I'll be relying on you to make big money and support me in the future."
Shen Heng felt incredibly comforted; nothing made him happier than Bai Jiaojiao's unconditional trust in him.
"I will definitely make sure you live a good life, the best life ever."
Shen Heng stroked Bai Jiaojiao's face, and unlike his previous jokes, he spoke seriously.
"Brother Heng, I know."
What Shen Heng could do in his past life, he can definitely do in this life too.
Even if he can't do it, Bai Jiaojiao, with the information from her second life, can still ensure their wealth for life.
For Bai Jiaojiao, being with Shen Heng was the best of days.
After the New Year, on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, Shen Heng took more than three thousand yuan with him and went to the south with Wang Fushun.
Bai Jiaojiao originally wanted to make some pastries for a couple of days since she was at home, hoping to earn a little money, but Shen Heng wouldn't let her do it anymore.
Shen Heng had no choice in the past; if he didn't let Bai Jiaojiao make desserts, Bai Jiaojiao would have to live a hard life.
Now that he can earn his own money, he will never let Bai Jiaojiao lift a finger.
Bai Jiaojiao was happy to grant Shen Heng's request for this kind of "male chauvinism" that was advantageous to her.
Even when Shen Heng wasn't home, Bai Jiaojiao's life in Shili Village was still very fulfilling.
During the day, she would go to Bai Shiqing's house to talk to her and look after the children. Over the past year, Bai Shiqing had accumulated a whole basket of gossip to tell her, which she could never finish. She didn't have to cook for herself much. Her older brother and sister knew that she couldn't cook by herself, so they let her take turns eating at their house.
She would go home and read a book in the evening, and then go to bed late.
Originally, she was worried that Shen Heng would be too busy traveling, so she wanted him to stay in Yancheng and wait for the start of the semester while he was selling goods. However, Shen Heng was worried about her taking the train by herself and insisted that Bai Jiaojiao wait for him at home so they could come back together.
Shen Heng returned on the last day of his journey, looking travel-worn, and pulled an oil paper package from his bag.
The oil paper package was huge, and Bai Jiaojiao's eyes widened: "Is this all filled with money?!"
"You're really obsessed with money. Open it yourself and see for yourself."
Under Shen Heng's teasing, Bai Jiaojiao blushed and opened the oil paper package, which contained several packs of white sanitary napkins.
"Heng-ge, you really bought it for me?"
“This thing is hard to find.” Shen Heng was clearly waiting for Bai Jiaojiao to praise him.
Bai Jiaojiao hugged Shen Heng's neck and kissed him on the cheek: "Thank you, Brother Heng."
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