The next day, before dawn, Zhao Lingli prepared breakfast, served the two elders their meal, and then began to pack her things.
Tao An helped his grandparents half-carry them onto the tricycle, and Zhao Lingli placed the packed bundles on it.
"I'll ride the tricycle, Xiao Jiu, you ride the bicycle."
Tao Changyi came back in the morning and, after breakfast, still hadn't left. He gave Tao An some instructions on what to do when he went home.
Grandpa was worried about interfering with Zhao Lingli's work, so he said, "You have Xiaojiu and Xiao'an, so don't go back. Just focus on your work and come pick us up in a few days."
Zhao Lingli felt a little embarrassed that she, as the godmother, had only been home for a few days, so she thought about asking for a few days off.
Xiao Jiu knew exactly what she meant. "It's alright, Mother. Seventh and Eighth Sisters are taking care of things at home. What's the big deal? Why are you being so formal with your own family?"
"Your work is more important. Why don't you use the money you saved from your perfect attendance bonus to buy my older sister more eggs?"
Zhao Lingli looked at her daughter, both amused and exasperated: "One thing at a time,"
"Yes, you made so many little clothes and swaddles for Xiaxia, didn't you? That's enough, really."
Finally, persuaded by Xiaojiu, the brother and sister rode a tricycle and a bicycle respectively, leaving the county town under the watchful eyes of their parents.
When going uphill, Xiao Jiu pushes the bike from behind, and once it's stable, she goes back to riding.
Once you leave the county town, the roads become difficult to travel on. Not only are they bumpy, but in the sweltering heat, dust flies everywhere, and there's not a breath of wind. Even the slightest movement leaves you drenched in sweat.
The cicadas weren't chirping as loudly as they used to during the hottest days, and many villagers wearing straw hats were busy working in the fields.
Children chattered as they ran along the country dirt road, and many children were playing in the shallow waters of the river.
Fortunately, there were elders around to keep an eye on things, so their safety was ensured.
Grandpa and Grandma looked around as they walked, occasionally huddling together and whispering to each other.
Tao An, wearing a straw hat, instructed Xiao Jiu, "Keep up a bit, don't ride so fast!"
After a bumpy 30 or 40 minutes, we finally arrived back at their Xihe Village.
As soon as they entered the village, people saw them, greeted the grandparents first, and then teased the newly enrolled college student Tao An.
"Tao An is amazing! He actually got into university. Now your Tao family is famous in our county!"
"He's not famous because of Tao An. His older brother and younger sister are both very capable."
"Who else can raise five college students at the same time? This is probably the first of its kind in our province!"
When Tao An went home to get a certificate last time, the village secretary found out and definitely spread the word everywhere.
Sure enough, as soon as they entered the village, everyone surrounded them.
Grandma is hard of hearing and her speech is not clear anymore, so she just smiles and looks at everyone, while Grandpa gets out of the car and talks to some of the elders.
Although Xiao Jiu wasn't very familiar with the villagers, she had a sweet tongue and kept calling everyone "auntie" or "grandma." Who wouldn't like that?
The country folk were simple and honest, and they kept talking to her, also curious about her military academy life. She only talked about what she could.
When asked about Cuihong, she answered truthfully, "I gave birth to a boy, and he's quite chubby. We've already taken his 100-day photos!"
“Oh dear, look at this. The daughter who got married gave birth to a son, but the one who was brought back gave birth to a daughter. What a pity.”
Everyone was in high spirits when suddenly a discordant voice broke in, and Xiao Jiu frowned and looked over.
It turned out to be Huang Xin's sister-in-law. Before he could even wipe the mocking and disdainful look from his face, she saw it.
Noticing her large, protruding belly, he couldn't help but laugh and say, "What's wrong with having a daughter? Didn't you have a daughter too? This is your second child, isn't it?"
"Your daughter is great, but didn't your older sister marry into the family? How can she not give birth to a son after all the trouble she's caused all these years?"
Why is this golden daughter-in-law so mean? Seeing that she had no intention of letting it go, Xiao Jiu stopped smiling.
"Who says that marrying a son-in-law guarantees having a son? If that's the case, then everyone should just marry a son-in-law!"
Besides, what's wrong with my Tang Xia being a girl?
She has so many aunts and uncles who dote on her, which is better than your family having no relatives at all, right?
As he spoke, he didn't forget to lift the handbag from the tricycle.
"See? I gave them all to my Tang Xia."
I don't care whether she's my niece or nephew; our family doesn't discriminate against girls, and we love her just the same.
Besides, my brother-in-law and sister haven't said anything yet, and you, an outsider, are meddling in my family's affairs?
What did my sister do to make you so jealous?
"Look at you, so frail and thin, you'd be better off asking your husband for a couple more bowls of rice instead of worrying about others!"
Xiao Jiu snorted coldly. After seeing the woman, whose name she didn't even know, turn pale, she was satisfied and told her brother to ride his bike home, ignoring the whispers behind them.
As soon as I heard they were coming back, I saw my eighth sister running towards me before I even got to the front door.
"Hello, Grandpa and Grandma," he greeted the elders, congratulated Tao An, and then looked at Xiao Jiu.
"We're finally back. We aired out the bedding inside and outside the house a few days ago, so we can move in right away when we get home."
Xiao Jiu pushed the cart with one hand and affectionately wrapped his other arm around Cui Lan's waist.
"I'll cook lunch to treat everyone properly."
After settling Grandpa and Grandma in, I said, "Brother, you stay home and tidy up. I'll go to the countryside to see if I can buy anything."
“I’ll go,” Tao An said, standing up. Xiao Jiu struggled to get on her bicycle. “No need, no need, I’ll go.”
I got back early this morning, around eight o'clock, and didn't have time to buy anything. I have to make this trip to bring back some groceries.
Xiao Jiu first went to the town and then to the supply and marketing cooperative in the township to check the prices.
As expected, meat and eggs remain in short supply, and even the grains sold in grain stores are mainly coarse grains.
The sweet potatoes and potatoes didn't look very fresh either.
Xiao Jiu took out two pig trotters and five catties of pork to thaw outside the warehouse last night, and put them into the space this morning. The freshness is just right.
He returned home with bags and packages, and set aside some: "I'll go see Sister Cuihua."
On the surface, they took two pig trotters, two catties of brown sugar, and two catties of pastries.
After arriving at the front yard and confirming that her brother-in-law was not home, Xiao Jiu took out another five catties of salted duck eggs.
"You've finished the meat, I'll get you some fish. How are you feeling this postpartum period, big sister? Is Xiaxia easy to take care of?"
Cuihua wasn't as plump as Cuihong, perhaps because she didn't get enough nutrition, but the baby girl was very beautiful when she was born at full term.
"It's great. The baby isn't fussy, I have enough breast milk, and the two of them take care of the baby to my liking. There's nothing to complain about."
My godmother sometimes comes back to visit on weekends or evenings, and it's kind of you to remember her, sending back so many nutritional supplements.
During the period of drinking, Xiaojiu sent back soy milk powder, milk powder, sesame paste, brown sugar, goji berries, red dates, red beans and other supplements needed by postpartum women.
Cuihua was slightly less attractive than Cuihong, but compared to other pregnant women, she had a rosy and radiant complexion and fair skin, and it was clear that she hadn't suffered much.
"Oh, well, if I can't come back, the gifts have to arrive first! Come here, my little Xiaxia, look what I've prepared for you!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com