Chapter 177
Luo Xiangqian immediately said, "Yes, your parents are both very good parents! Keep talking!"
His eyes were shining with excitement, and his expression was like that of a groom at a mass wedding.
Hu Yanni coughed lightly and continued, "So... I think, since our relationship is stable and I have decided on you, why not take advantage of this New Year to bring you to meet my parents. Of course, if it is convenient for you, I will also go to your house to pay New Year's greetings."
"Convenient! My family is really very convenient!" Luo Xiangqian said, "You don't know, my family is looking forward to my marriage, they are almost turning into stone! If you go home with me to see them during the Chinese New Year, they will probably kneel down and kowtow to you!"
"You're talking nonsense again!" Hu Yanni chuckled.
Xie Jinxuan said: "I'm not kidding. Xiang Qian's family is really looking forward to him getting married and having children. If they knew that he had already agreed to a date and was just waiting to get married, his whole family would be very happy."
"Yes, I met Lao Luo's mother on the road the other day. She held my hand and kept asking me if there were any suitable young girls in our factory that she could introduce to Xiang Qian." Xia Qingtang said, "I saw his mother's expression, she was almost dying of anxiety. Unfortunately, I couldn't tell the truth, so I had to say that all the girls of marriageable age in our factory were married."
"Jinxuan has been married for more than three years, but I still have no news. My family must be worried." Luo Xiangqian said, "The Chinese New Year is coming soon. After the Chinese New Year, I will be 26 years old, which is really old. Now Yanni is willing to meet my parents, that's great! They will never urge me again!"
Xie Jinxuan said: "Yes, congratulations."
Even Leng Feng, who had been silent the whole time, said, "You have waited until today."
Hu Yanni smiled at first, then put away her smile: "Although they are looking forward to your marriage, your family must have requirements for their daughter-in-law, right? Will they object to someone like me?"
Luo Xiangqian immediately said, "What? Objection? How is that possible? You are a female college student! If my family knew that I could marry a female college student, I'm afraid the whole family would laugh to death. How could they possibly object?"
"After all, my family is quite different from yours..." Hu Yanni still looked a little unconfident.
She has talked with Xia Qingtang many times. Hu Yanni has always been very satisfied with and likes Luo Xiangqian. Luo Xiangqian gets along well with her. She likes his carefree and loyal personality. It is much more comfortable than when she was dating Gu Xingan. Moreover, although Luo Xiangqian looks rough, he is actually very gentle to her. Putting aside all other external things, Hu Yanni just likes Luo Xiangqian as a person.
But the issue of family background has always lingered in Hu Yanni's mind, because she always feels that her conditions are not that good. Although she is a female college student, her family is just an ordinary working-class family after all. Moreover, she does not have extraordinary beauty like Xia Qingtang. Although she looks good, she is just a little beauty. Therefore, she has always been a little uneasy.
By taking this opportunity to speak out, Hu Yanni was also trying to find out the truth for herself.
Luo Xiangqian grabbed Hu Yanni's hand, stared into her eyes, and said in a deep voice: "Yanni, listen to me, you are really very good. You are a college student, smart, beautiful, kind, and gentle. You are much better than people like me. My family is indeed good, but that is also the result of my grandfather's hard work. It has nothing to do with me. What's more, your whole family is also good people who work hard and contribute to the country. Is our family so unaware? Do you still look down on others?"
"That's not what I meant..." Hu Yanni blushed slightly, "Your family must be very aware... I mean the perspective of outsiders..."
"What do outsiders think of us? Our marriage and life together are our business, at most it's a matter between our two families. You are good to me, I am good to you, and our two families are happy, isn't that enough? Besides, I'm really not young anymore. As long as I can find a woman to bring back to my family, they will be happy and don't care about anything else." Luo Xiangqian said: "They have no requirements for me to find a partner. If they knew that I brought such a good partner home, my whole family would definitely be happy for several years!"
"Yes, Yanni, you really don't have to worry about these. Think about it, Lao Luo's mother asked me to introduce him to the female employees in our factory, which shows that their family does not look at conditions when looking for a partner, but only at the individual. Besides, you have decided to meet the parents of both parties, so don't think too much, and make arrangements as soon as you have the winter vacation. If you stick your head out, you will be hurt, and if you hide your head, you will be hurt too, so just give it a try, it won't hurt." Xia Qingtang said.
Hu Yanni laughed and nodded, "Yes, Qingtang, you are right. We have to meet each other. If it doesn't work, then it doesn't work. I have to muster up the courage."
After deciding on this matter and finishing lunch, Hu Yanni said, "Qingtang, you have been on so many newspapers recently. You are simply a celebrity in the city."
"Have you read my newspapers too?" Xia Qingtang stood up to pour water for everyone, and couldn't help but be a little confused. "You also read the Workers' Daily? You college students also read the Workers' Daily?"
"Xiang Qian and my parents showed them to me. I read the provincial newspaper, the municipal newspaper, the Workers' Daily, magazines... I read them all. I think the reports in the provincial newspaper and the Workers' Daily are the best written. They are the best at praising people. The reports in the municipal newspaper are a bit weird. No matter how I read them, I feel like they are picking on your age," said Hu Yanni.
This is also normal. The reporter from the provincial newspaper is a female reporter who has always admired Xia Qingtang. This could be seen from the day of the interview.
As for the reporter from the Workers' Daily, he was almost a friend of Xia Qingtang. They had met many times before, and the other party had always been optimistic about Xia Qingtang, so his words of praise were beyond words.
Luo Xiangqian said, "Indeed, the report in the city newspaper was indeed a bit problematic. Although they kept praising you, they kept emphasizing the issue of age in the end, as if you were not old enough to be the vice chairman of the trade union. But ability has nothing to do with age. Some people are just young and promising, and they can't be jealous! Besides, after you became the vice chairman, you made so many contributions to the factory, and they wrote about it in the report. It's ridiculous that they still doubted your age."
Leng Feng also said: "I've read it too. The report in the city newspaper is the worst. Linking age with position only makes them look ignorant."
"Yes, Qingtang, they wrote about you like this, you should go and settle the score with them!" Hu Yanni said.
"Hi, after the reporter from the city newspaper finished writing, he actually sent the draft to our factory for Assistant Yan and me to review. Assistant Yan asked me questions about the last paragraph. At that time, the reporter said that this was his truest feeling. He recognized my abilities and contributions, but he was not very supportive of my age. He also believed that promotion too quickly would undermine many original rules, which was not a good thing. I thought at the time that this kind of thing is a matter of personal opinion, and it was normal for him to have a different opinion. And he is the writer, so he should write according to his own ideas. I have no objection." Xia Qingtang poured the water and put down the thermos.
Luo Xiangqian said, "Xiao Xia, you have such a good personality and are so easy to talk to. If it were me, I would definitely ask him to revise it. If he doesn't revise it, then it won't be published in the newspaper."
Xia Qingtang said: "No need to change it. So many newspapers and magazines have interviewed me and have written a lot of good things about me. I think it would be good for me to have some doubts. Everything will turn into its opposite if the whole world praises me."
As soon as these words came out, several people laughed. Hu Yanni said, "Indeed, Qingtang, you are very wise to think this way."
"Yes, there has to be someone to find fault with me. Otherwise, I will always feel uneasy." Xia Qingtang said realistically.
But don't forget, although she has connections above her and her job is perfect, she still has enemies, such as Yang Dachuan who recently got married. Who knows when this person will jump out and cause trouble for them?
"I have saved a copy of those newspapers for Yanni. When you have a baby in the future, you can show it to your child." Luo Xiangqian laughed, "When do you two plan to have a baby? You have been married for several years. You are not in a hurry, but I am worried for you. I have seen my colleagues' children. They are so small and soft, and very interesting."
"I think I can have a baby next year or the year after. My business is stable and I've adapted to my job. I can think about having a baby." Xia Qingtang was talking when he suddenly asked, "What day is today?"
"Today is the 20th, and the day after tomorrow is the winter solstice." Xie Jinxuan said.
"It's the 20th..." Xia Qingtang's expression changed slightly.
Others couldn't understand it, but Hu Yanni was a girl and had been Xia Qingtang's good sister for many years, so she reacted immediately.
At that moment, the two didn't say anything else. When the male comrade went to clean up and wash the dishes, Hu Yanni took Xia Qingtang to the yard to bask in the sun.
"Qingtang, did you miss your period this month?" Hu Yanni asked in a very low voice.
This was their habit when they were in school, because everyone regarded this matter as something embarrassing, so no one dared to talk about menstruation directly, no one even dared to say period, they all used "it came" or "it didn't come" as a substitute.
Xia Qingtang nodded and said, "It's the end of the year, and the union is busy. Once I got busy, I forgot about time. I just remembered that I'm already a week late this month."
"Does that mean..."
"There is such a possibility... Let's wait a little longer, because sometimes I am too busy and tired and it will be postponed for a while. If it doesn't come by the beginning of next month, I will go to the hospital to check." Xia Qingtang said: "There is such a possibility."
She and Xie Jinxuan had been taking precautions over the past few years. Xie Jinxuan would go to the hospital every month to get some family planning products. Even when they were passionate, they would remember to take precautions first. However, on the day of the collective wedding, both of them were a little drunk and forgot to take precautions that day. It was not until before going to bed at night that Xie Jinxuan remembered it.
Xia Qingtang didn't think too much about it at the time. After all, it wasn't such a coincidence that she didn't take any precautions just that one time... If she really got pregnant at that time, it would be fate.
Besides, she was actually prepared for pregnancy and childbirth, so she was not too panicked.
She had originally been thinking that she would be able to have a baby next year or the year after, and if the baby really came, she would be very happy.
Seeing Xia Qingtang's calm expression, Hu Yanni smiled and said, "If she gets pregnant, it will be a great joy."
"Well, if I'm pregnant, it's time." Xia Qingtang took a deep breath and said as calmly as possible: "Don't think about it for now. I just want to relax today."
"Then can you still play table tennis later?"
They agreed before lunch that they would go play table tennis together in the afternoon.
Xia Qingtang hesitated for a moment and said, "I'm not sure either. Otherwise, I won't fight anymore. I'll go to the park with Xie Jinxuan."
"Then I'll go too."
Therefore, the plan of playing table tennis was changed to a visit to the park. The five of them strolled in the park together for the whole afternoon. After returning in the evening, Xia Qingtang and Xie Jinxuan went to the bathhouse to take a hot bath, and then went to the small western-style building to have a hot dinner. The two of them went back to the small courtyard hand in hand to rest.
Life is comfortable and happy, but the work in the factory is getting busier and busier.
The end of every year is the busiest time for the union. During this period they do not engage in any activities and only focus on their work.
The Chinese New Year was celebrated earlier this year, and it was already January 1982 in a blink of an eye. After New Year's Day it was Laba Festival, and because it was a rare occasion, we had a rest from the 1st to the 3rd this year.
On the morning of Laba Festival, Xia Qingtang and Xie Jinxuan went to the small western-style building to eat the Laba porridge cooked by Aunt Six.
Xia Qingtang ate two large bowls of rice in one breath and a big steamed bun, which was more than his usual appetite.
Aunt Six asked, "Has Qingtang's appetite increased?"
Grandma said, "It's better to eat more. Qingtang has been too tired in the past six months and has lost a lot of weight."
"Yes, not to mention how busy the factory is, she also has to take care of business matters. I watched her lose weight little by little." Aunt Six said, "Do you want to have another bowl?"
The Laba porridge cooked by Aunt Six was sweet and delicious. Xia Qingtang hesitated for a moment and said, "Then I'll have another half bowl."
Aunt Six then smiled and served her another half bowl, then said, "If it's not enough, add more. I've cooked a lot anyway."
Xie Jinxuan watched Xia Qingtang drink porridge silently. After she finished eating, he pulled her outside to bask in the sun.
"Qingtang, since we have nothing to do today, do you want to go to the hospital?" Xie Jinxuan said softly.
Xia Qingtang didn't react yet: "Ah? Why do you want to go to the hospital? Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, I'm not feeling uncomfortable. What I mean is that you didn't have your period last month and you haven't had it until now," said Xie Jinxuan.
"Ah, you still remember... I really didn't have my period last month..." Xia Qingtang rubbed his hands and said, "You think... is that so?"
"So what do you think? Is there something wrong with you? It's different from usual."
"Well, I don't know. It seems that there is no problem. I just eat better and sleep better than usual." Xia Qingtang said.
She was indeed a little sleepy. For example, she would sleep for more than an hour in the small conference room at noon before waking up. This was indeed different from her usual self. Her appetite was indeed larger than usual, but just looking at these did not mean anything.
"So, let's go to the hospital for a check-up to be sure."
"Even if it is, it won't take long. Can it be checked out?" Xia Qingtang whispered, and then he laughed, "The hospital can definitely check it out..."
"So shall we go now?"
"Okay, hey...but don't tell our family yet, just say we are going out to buy some things." Xia Qingtang reminded.
Xie Jinxuan smiled and nodded: "Don't worry, I understand."
They both put on their cotton coats, said goodbye to their families, and rode their bikes to a nearby hospital.
When they came out of the hospital, neither of them spoke a word, and the expressions on their faces were calm and a little weird.
"Well... who will talk about it when we get home?" Xia Qingtang suddenly asked.
Xie Jinxuan blinked, and a smile crept onto his handsome face: "You said it yourself?"
"Well, let me tell you." Xia Qingtang touched her very flat belly with her hand and said in wonder, "Xie Jinxuan, there is a little life in here! How magical!"
Xie Jinxuan's eyes were filled with tears. He placed his hand on Xia Qingtang's shoulder and said excitedly, "Yes, there is a little life in here. It's our little life..."
"Oh, I still haven't reacted yet. I just feel... it's incredible, because my stomach is still very flat..."
"Because it's still early, didn't the doctor say that you won't have a belly until five months?" Xie Jinxuan said, "We'll observe then."
"Well! Let's observe." Xia Qingtang chuckled, "Ah, I still find it magical. I'm going to be a mother, and you're going to be a father."
"Yes, you are going to be a mother, and I am going to be a father!" Xie Jinxuan was also standing there, grinning foolishly along with Xia Qingtang.
The two of them were standing outside the gate, you looked at me and smiled, I looked at you and smiled. After a long while, both of them suddenly reacted.
"We have to go home!" said Xie Jinxuan.
Xia Qingtang laughed so hard that he fell backwards: "We both really look like fools!"
"You're happy, that's normal." Xie Jinxuan held her hand, "Let's go, let's go home."
"good."
The two of them walked to where the bicycles were parked. Xie Jinxuan unlocked the bicycle, then helped Xia Qingtang put on her scarf and hat, and said, "Do you want to buy some more thick clothes?"
"Why buy thick clothes? I'm not cold, and I've heard people say that pregnant women are more afraid of heat than cold." Xia Qingtang said, "My clothes are fine, let's wait until spring comes."
"That's fine." Xie Jinxuan said, "Just sit tight, we'll set off now."
"Okay, let's go." Xia Qingtang said with a smile: "Don't worry, the doctor said that I am very healthy and young, so I will definitely give birth to a healthy baby smoothly."
Xie Jinxuan then smiled and rode her bike home.
Xia Qingtang put one hand around his waist and the other on her belly, and she still felt it was magical.
Now, there is an unformed little life in this flat belly. Although she can't feel it at all, the doctor told her that in another seven or eight months, a baby will be born.
Seven or eight months later, it is the hottest time, but that time is still very suitable. Summer clothes will be fully available in late May or early June. After you finish with summer clothes, you can start working on autumn clothes after the baby is born.
Xia Qingtang couldn't help laughing as she thought about it. She was going to have a child... a child...
In her previous life, she had particularly longed to have a child, but now thinking back, not having a child in her previous life might not be a bad thing. After all, there were not many good people in the Kong family. If a child was born as stupid as her and as bad as the Kong family members, that would not be good.
Now, it’s different now. All the members of the Xie family are good people. Although she is not particularly smart, she has at least learned some brains.
No matter who this child looks like, as long as he is healthy and kind, he is the best child.
They were thinking about the future all the way, and soon they arrived home.
It is already past eleven o'clock. Every household is preparing lunch. The air is filled with the aroma of food. There is also the aroma of frying oil coming from the house next door. I guess they are cooking some delicious dish.
Xie Jinxuan parked her bike and walked in with Xia Qingtang: "Grandma, Aunt Six, we are back. Are mom and dad back?"
Grandma came over with a smile and said, "Your father won't be home for lunch today. Your mother said she would be home soon, so she will probably be late. Let's wait until twelve o'clock to eat. Have you two bought everything?"
"Oh, I've bought it." Xie Jinxuan smiled.
"What did you buy?" Aunt Liu also came out of the kitchen. "We'll have stew and sweet potato rice for lunch."
Xie Jinxuan said: "We bought some...supplements..."
"Supplements?" Grandma was a little confused. "Buy supplements for Qingtang? We already have supplements at home, why go out and buy them?"
"It's not that kind of tonic, it's..." Xie Jinxuan said: "Let Qingtang tell you."
Grandma and Sixth Aunt looked at Xia Qingtang curiously. Xia Qingtang smiled and said, "Grandma, Sixth Aunt, Jinxuan and I just went to the hospital. The doctor said that I am pregnant."
The room was silent until a pair of bamboo chopsticks in Sixth Aunt's hand suddenly fell to the ground, breaking the silence.
"Oh my God! Qingtang, you are pregnant?" Aunt Liu's eyes widened, and then she laughed, "Madam! Qingtang is pregnant!"
Grandma smiled like a child. She grabbed Xia Qingtang's hand and said, "Are you really pregnant?"
"I'm really pregnant. I had a checkup at the hospital and there's a checkup form here." Xia Qingtang said, "The doctor said I'm two months pregnant, but actually it's less than two months because it's based on my menstrual cycle. I didn't quite understand what he meant, but he also said I'd probably give birth in midsummer."
"Oh, then we have to prepare in advance." Grandma said: "You are pregnant now, and you have to go to work and take care of the business in the store. In my opinion, you and Jinxuan should live back."
"Yes, yes, you should move back and let me take care of you! Don't cook or do housework by yourself in the future, I'll take care of you!" Aunt Liu said immediately.
Xie Jinxuan also said: "It's good to live here. Anyway, the holidays are coming soon. I'll move back during the Chinese New Year and then recuperate here. It will be more convenient to stay here after giving birth."
"Ah... move back? But my stomach is still flat now, so I don't need to take care of myself. I am no different from usual." Xia Qingtang said.
"How can there be no difference? The difference is huge, but you just haven't noticed it yet." Aunt Six said, "We agreed before that as long as Qingtang is pregnant, you can come back and live here. The old lady and I will take care of you together."
"Yes, it's settled. Jinxuan, after lunch, you should call Xiaoyun to help you move the things over." Grandma made the final decision. "Also, notify your grandfather and your father to come back on time for dinner. Today is such a nice day, how can you not come back for dinner?"
Xie Jinxuan smiled brightly: "Yes, I understand. Let's move after dinner, and then I'll go inform grandpa and dad."
Grandma quickly pulled Xia Qingtang over there and sat her down, then kept asking her about her health in a soft voice. She asked very carefully, from drinking water to going to the toilet to sleeping, and Xia Qingtang answered them one by one.
At twelve o'clock, Xie's mother also came back. Xie Jinyun ran out holding her stomach and said, "Can we eat now? I'm starving!"
Aunt Liu said, "It's time to eat. Go wash your hands and then you can eat."
The meal at noon was simple. Sixth Aunt made a big pot of stew with tofu, vermicelli, cabbage, potatoes and dried mushrooms, and ate it with sweet potato rice. She also steamed a small bowl of egg custard for Xia Qingtang and placed it carefully in front of him.
Xie Jinyun said: "Why does my sister-in-law have egg custard to eat? I want to eat it too."
"Your sister-in-law is different now. Of course she wants to eat egg custard." Grandma said with a smile: "Qingtang, talk to your mother yourself."
Xia Qingtang smiled and said, "Mom, this is what happened. Jinxuan and I went to the hospital this morning, and the doctor confirmed that I am pregnant."
There was silence again. Xie's mother stared at Xia Qingtang with wide eyes, too surprised to speak.
Instead, Xie Jinyun screamed, "What? My sister-in-law is pregnant? Then... am I going to be an uncle?"
"Yes, you are going to be an uncle. Speak a little more quietly and don't scare your sister-in-law!" Grandma patted Xie Jinyun's shoulder.
Xie Jinyun quickly covered her mouth and then burst into laughter.
Mother Xie stood up immediately: "How many months?"
"The doctor said two months, but actually it's less than two months, but it's about the same." Xia Qingtang said.
"Are you all healthy? Is there anything you need to be careful about?"
"The doctor said I'm healthy. He prescribed some pills for me, saying they're vitamins and other things, as well as calcium tablets. I should come back for a checkup in a month."
"That's good, that's good!" Xie's mother said excitedly, "You will have a hard time from now on. It's great that our family will have the next generation!"
Grandma laughed: "You never said you wanted to have a grandchild before, but now it seems that you do want to have one."
"I definitely thought about it, but whether to have children is a young person's own business, and I can't say anything about it." Xie's mother said: "Now I hear this good news, I am really very happy."
"We are very happy too. Today is such a good day!"
"Then should Qingtang move out? If she continues to live there, who will take care of her? Jinxuan can't cook, and we can't let Qingtang cook for herself." said Xie's mother.
Grandma said, "We just agreed that after dinner, we'll ask Xiaoyun to help move the things. They're going to move back."
"Yes, I'll go over and help too." Mother Xie said, "Eat quickly! Qingtang, eat more."
In a joyful atmosphere, everyone had lunch, and then Xie's mother took the brothers Xie Jinxuan and Xie Jinyun to move things.
Xia Qingtang also wanted to go over to help, but was driven back.
"You are a double now, so don't do those heavy work." Grandma held her back.
Xia Qingtang said: "Moving some things is not considered heavy work, it's just some exercise for the body."
"Listen to grandma, don't do anything. Just accompany grandma for a walk over there, that's all." Grandma said, "It is said that many people can get out of bed the same day after giving birth, but I've heard from doctors before that when you are young, it doesn't matter, but when you are old, people who do that will feel pain all over their body. But when conditions are not met, there is nothing you can do. No one takes childbirth seriously, and no one can take good care of their bodies. But you are different now. If you have the conditions, you can protect yourself well, and that's what you should do."
"Okay, I understand. I'll listen to grandma." Xia Qingtang nodded in agreement.
She and Xie Jinxuan had quite a lot of stuff, but luckily there were many people at home, so Sixth Aunt cleaned up the kitchen and came over to help, and they moved all the things in one afternoon.
The third floor was tidied up again. Aunt Six made the beds for them, and Xie Jinxuan slowly put her belongings back in place upstairs.
Mother Xie ran down again: "Mom, can Qingtang live on the third floor? Will it be unsafe when the baby is pregnant?"
Before grandma could say anything, Xia Qingtang said, "I'm sure it'll be fine, don't worry, mom. I'm in good health, so there's no need to worry."
In the evening, Grandpa Xie and Xie Chengye also came back, and Grandma announced the news that Xia Qingtang was pregnant and moved back home.
Grandpa Xie and Xie Chengye were very happy. Xie Chengye was also quite interesting. He immediately ran back to his room, took out three hundred yuan and stuffed it into Xia Qingtang's pocket: "Qingtang, go buy whatever you want, and don't treat yourself badly. If you need anything else, tell Dad and he will arrange it for you."
Xia Qingtang smiled and said, "Dad, I have money, I don't need you to give me money to spend."
She has indeed made a lot of money from her business so far, but she doesn't even dare to tell the specific figures, otherwise it might scare everyone.
Xie Chengye said: "Just take it. The money you earn is yours, and this is the money your parents gave you. Just spend it."
"That's right, just take it. Who would complain about having too much money?" Grandma said with a smile.
Xia Qingtang had no choice but to accept the three hundred yuan and put it upstairs, but never used it.
After the Laba Festival, Xia Qingtang returned to the factory to continue working. It was a busy end of the year, and Xia Qingtang suddenly felt something different about being pregnant. She got hungrier and felt sleepy more easily.
On the busiest day for the union, Xia Qingtang couldn't help but fall asleep on the table in the afternoon.
Because she had never done anything like this before, she immediately attracted everyone's attention.
Lin Shuang said: "Xiao Xia, are you okay? Do you have a fever? Do you have a headache?"
Xia Qingtang said a little embarrassedly: "Chairman Lin, I'm fine and I'm not sick."
"That means I'm tired. Indeed, our union has been too busy recently. Fortunately, everything will be fine tomorrow and we'll have finished all the work we need to do." Lin Shuang said, "Although you are young, you still need to take care of your health."
"Yes, I know." Xia Qingtang thought about it and said to Lin Shuang: "Chairman Lin, I'd better report to the factory. In fact... I'm pregnant."
"Ah! You're pregnant? Congratulations! No wonder you were so tired that you fell asleep, that's what happens when you're pregnant. Oh, why didn't you tell me earlier? You shouldn't have been assigned such a heavy workload as today. You're pregnant, you should be doing some light work."
This is the rule in every factory, especially for female workers in the workshop, who will be assigned to do the easiest work after they become pregnant.
The work in the office is much easier, but the tradition is still followed and pregnant women are taken good care of.
Xia Qingtang said: "I just found out about it, and I haven't gotten used to it yet."
"How many months?"
"Two months."
"Oh, then your pregnancy will start to show after the Chinese New Year." Lin Shuang said: "I will tell everyone that after the Chinese New Year, those particularly hard jobs will not be assigned to you."
"Okay, thank you Chairman Lin, I'll be out then." Xia Qingtang walked out.
The next day, everyone in the office knew about Xia Qingtang's pregnancy. Shi Xiaoyu and Shen Wen immediately asked her all sorts of questions during lunch. Shen Wen also shared a lot of experiences from his predecessors, and Xia Qingtang wrote them all down.
On January 9th, after distributing the last bit of pork, the Future Electrical Appliance Factory officially closed for the holiday.
The factory director and his colleagues also flew back home for a rest and vacation. The factory arranged personnel to be on duty. Xia Qingtang was in a special situation this year, so Yan Jianshun gave her two days to himself and planned to work two more days.
When Xia Qingtang was on her way to catch the bus, she ran into Zhao Youxiu. He held Xia Qingtang and said, "Cousin, I heard you are pregnant?"
"Yes, cousin, you know about it too? The news spreads so fast." Xia Qingtang smiled.
"Have you told your parents?"
"Not yet. There's no time to go over and tell him. But Xie Jinxuan and I will go to the cotton mill to celebrate the New Year, and we'll tell him then."
Zhao Youxiu said: "Then can I tell my parents?"
"Go ahead, it's not something that can't be said."
Zhao Youxiu is quite smart. No matter what the matter is, he will first ask Xia Qingtang if he can tell her.
Zhao Youxiu laughed and said, "Then I'll tell my parents and make grandma happy."
Xia Qingtang said: "Your grandma won't be happy about my affairs. Speaking of which, I haven't seen your grandma for a long time. Is she in good health?"
"It's not bad. She's still as loud as before when they quarrel. My aunt doesn't give grandma money to spend now. She's unhappy about this."
"As long as she's in good health, the shuttle bus is about to leave. I'll go over first." Xia Qingtang waved his hand.
"Okay, go ahead and take care of yourself." Zhao Youxiu also waved his hand.
Xia Qingtang took the bus back to the small Western-style building and officially started his comfortable holiday life.
She now sleeps longer than usual. She goes to bed at 9:30 in the evening and does not wake up until 7:00. After washing up, Xie Jinxuan holds her hand and slowly goes downstairs. She does not start to eat breakfast until after 8:00.
Breakfast was specially prepared for her by Aunt Liu, and she would try to have an egg every day. If there were no eggs, Aunt Liu would make tofu pudding for her.
In the morning, if the sun is shining, Xia Qingtang will go out for a walk with Xie Jinxuan, check out the business of the Xinfeng Clothing Store, and go to the nearby park for some fun.
After lunch, she would take a nap for an hour and a half. When she got up, she would read some English, some novels, and some books that Xu Zhenhua had lent her.
She had already finished Xu Zhenhua's course, and because the results were quite good, Xu Zhenhua gave her several thick books and told her to read them when she had free time so as not to forget the knowledge she had learned before.
Since that time, Xia Qingtang has not met anyone selling family heirlooms. In addition, business is quite energy-consuming, so she gradually put aside the idea of buying and exchanging antiques. However, she still has to read the book given by Xu Zhenhua. After all, ordinary people cannot see it, and she has this opportunity to read it because Xu Zhenhua gives her face.
Xie Jinxuan would also learn some new knowledge during this time. He had been ranked first in the final exams for several semesters in a row. In the Student Union, he also became the Minister of the Organization Department.
The next semester will be the second semester of the junior year. After school starts, the president and vice president of the student union will step down, and they, the ministers, can participate in the election. Xia Qingtang feels that Xie Jinxuan can definitely become the president of the student union.
These resumes are very important to other people, but to Xie Jinxuan, they can only be regarded as icing on the cake. However, Xie Jinxuan still completed it very well because he is such an energetic person with extremely high self-demands.
There were still female students in the school who admired him, but because of the outcome of the previous incident, many people were scared away. So not only did Li Xuefei never dare to harass Xie Jinxuan again, but everyone else also stopped.
Xie Jinxuan's campus life also became quiet and pleasant. He made many friends in college, and they also formed a study group. Even during the winter and summer vacations, they had to complete a certain amount of study, and they would check each other's progress after school started.
Xia Qingtang said: "Speaking of which, if this child is born in early July, you will be able to take care of both of us."
Xie Jinxuan smiled and said, "Yes, this child calculated the time to come here. It just so happens that the summer vacation is long, so I can take care of you with peace of mind."
Grandma asked, "How long can the maternity leave be in your factory?"
"I asked the factory office, and they said it's the same as other factories, six months. However, if you still feel unwell after six months, or your family can't leave, you can take another two months off." Xia Qingtang said, "But we have someone at home who can take care of the baby, so I think six months is enough."
"Yes, you can send the child to nursery when he is one year old," said Xie's mother.
Grandma immediately said, "That won't work. Sending him there at one is too early. We have Xiaoliu and I at home. You have to wait until he's two years old before sending him there."
Xia Qingtang laughed: "Grandma, are you worried that the child is too young and will be bullied in the nursery?"
"I'm not afraid of this. You and Jinxuan are both strong children. Your child will definitely be stronger and will not be bullied!"
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