After finishing her steamed bun, she wiped her mouth and asked Jiang Shaozhen, "When are the photographers coming?"
“I’ll come over when I’m done with my work. If you really want to see the child, I’ll try to find a way,” Jiang Shaozhen said gently.
“No need. The hospital has its own regulations, and I don’t want to make any exceptions. Let’s just get the certificates done. After that, since you’re often away, you can give me a copy of the original birth certificate and other documents, and I’ll just take a photocopy of the household registration book.” Shen Mingzhi spoke familiarly, completely unaware that there was anything wrong with what she said.
After listening to her, Jiang Shaozhen pondered for a moment and asked her, "How did you know to photocopy this? We need to borrow a photocopier from a university."
In modern times, photocopies are commonplace.
After eating her fill, Shen Mingzhi became too relaxed and forgot that many things that modern people are accustomed to no longer exist in this era.
"I heard about it," Shen Mingzhi said, scratching her head. "A few days ago, I went to sell medicine near a university, and the students there all said that the school had introduced a photocopier. I asked what it was, and they said it could copy the contents of one sheet of paper onto another sheet of paper exactly. And I've been learning about it too, okay? You can't do business without learning!"
"After the certificate is issued, you will move back to the Jiang family's house." Although Jiang Shaozhen had nearly a month's vacation, he would eventually have to leave.
Moreover, it's getting hotter every day, and the Jiang family has air conditioning, so it would be more suitable for the child to stay at the Jiang family's house after being discharged from the hospital.
“No, I don’t like your sister, and she definitely wouldn’t want to live with me. I also know that it wouldn’t be fair to you to come back and marry me and get the child registered, so I don’t want to trouble your Jiang family any further.” Shen Mingzhi felt that she could gradually get better on her own.
Jiang Shaozhen was silent for a moment, then compromised, but still took out a roll of money from his pocket. "Let's get a better house. I heard your house is small, damp, and stuffy, which isn't good for the child."
“I have money, I’ll move out after three months.” Shen Mingzhi actually wanted to rent the room that Shen Xiuzhu had vacated.
Although she didn't know what he intended to do with those vacant houses, she planned to talk to him about it in a month when she had some extra money.
"Do you really want to shoulder everything yourself?" Jiang Shaozhen's face darkened as he shoved the money into Shen Mingzhi's hand. His tone was serious. "It's fine if you're strong-willed, but how old is the child?"
Shen Mingzhi threw the money at him, "When did I ever try to tough it out? I took the money you left me, how did I act tough? I just didn't want to owe you too much, is there a problem with that?"
A roll of money, tied with a rubber band, fell down Jiang Shaozhen's body.
He crouched down, looked at Shen Mingzhi's stubborn face, and said with his head down, "I've decided to marry you, and I've already thought it through, I'll take on the living expenses for you and the child—"
“But all I’ve ever wanted is for your Jiang family to help me out temporarily. I’m not one to take advantage of others. I will repay you tenfold for the money you left me earlier once I’ve made some money,” Shen Mingzhi said.
He spoke very nicely last time, but then he just left... She's not counting on him anymore, lest she be filled with disappointment again someday.
Jiang Shaozhen's face was tense, and the oppressive aura emanating from him made it hard for her to breathe.
For the first time, Shen Mingzhi discovered that Jiang Shaozhen wasn't so easy to talk to after all.
“Since I’ve given it to you, I won’t ask you to repay me many times over.” Jiang Shaozhen said, clenching his fists at his sides.
Her child was also his own... that truth was pounding in his heart.
Just as he was about to speak, there was a knock on the ward door.
Then, Jiang Guofu pushed the door open, followed by several people from the photo studio.
"What's wrong?" Sensing that something was off in the room, Jiang Guofu immediately asked.
Jiang Shaozhen put the money away and said seriously, "It's nothing, let's take the photos first."
"Is she wearing this outfit for the shoot?" asked the craftsman who came in to put out the props.
We still take photos in the old-fashioned way.
Shen Mingzhi thought to herself that she had encountered an ancient relic.
"Change your clothes first, and call us when you're done," Jiang Shaozhen told her.
Shen Mingzhi said "oh" and waited for them to set up the props for the photo. Then, she took the clothes that Wang Sao had brought her out of the basket and changed them under the covers.
When Jiang Shaozhen was called in, Jiang Guofu and the photographer also came in.
Shen Mingzhi sat on the edge of the bed and stretched her leg to reach for her shoes.
Jiang Shaozhen naturally walked to her side, squatted down, picked up her shoes, and held her feet as he prepared to put them on her.
Shen Mingzhi immediately withdrew her foot and glanced somewhat embarrassedly at Jiang Guofu beside her.
Jiang Guofu looked away. "It'll be a few days before we get the photos. Zhizhi, how's your leg? Will you be able to walk in a few days?"
"It's much better now, no problem," Shen Mingzhi said. She admitted that she was in a lot of pain a few days ago, but she has been recovering in the last two days.
In a few more days, he should be able to run and jump.
The process of obtaining the certificates was very slow. Shen Mingzhi only received her marriage certificate, birth certificate, and a copy of her household registration booklet after her leg had fully recovered. All of these documents were still in the process of being processed.
A week later, Shen Mingzhi, who had finally been discharged from the hospital, carried her two children to the foot of the mountain outside the city to dig for medicinal herbs. Jiang Shaozhen, driving Jiang Guofu's car, finally managed to find her.
After several days of busy work by Aunt Wang, Shen Mingzhi was discharged from the hospital today, and Aunt Wang told her to go home and rest for three days as well.
At the foot of the mountain, Shen Mingzhi wore a woven straw hat, a faded plaid shirt, and blue trousers.
He crouched down and searched through the weeds.
Jiang Nian and Jiang Zhou were placed under a tree, its huge canopy blocking out all the sunlight. They lay on the edge of the bamboo basket, reaching out to pick foxtail grass.
Rice paddies are not far away.
Many people were also busy with farming in the rice paddies.
They all stopped when they saw a military green car.
The car was parked at the foot of the mountain, not far from Shen Mingzhi. Jiang Shaozhen got out of the car, wearing military green trousers, a vest, and a white shirt over them.
"Aren't you bothered by the sun?" Jiang Shaozhen walked to the child's side, picked a foxtail grass, and gave it to Jiang Nian, who was picking the foxtail grass.
Shen Mingzhi turned around and saw him pick up the two children, one in each arm.
Jiang Nian and Jiang Zhou have been pregnant for a month. Shen Mingzhi can only hold one in each arm for a short while. When she is doing chores, she carries them together in bamboo baskets.
Her cheeks were flushed, and her shirt was soaked with sweat.
"I'm wearing a hat, feel Niannian's temperature." Shen Mingzhi took off the white towel hanging around her neck and wiped away the sweat.
Jiang Shaochen pressed his face against Niannian's cheek, and Niannian immediately reached out and grabbed his ear, her little face full of curiosity.
“Niannian’s temperature is normal. If you’re worried, take her for a check-up tomorrow,” Jiang Shaozhen said, standing under the tree and looking at Shen Mingzhi’s rosy cheeks.
"I plan to take them for a medical check-up first thing tomorrow morning," Shen Mingzhi said, before continuing to dig for grass.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
