"Third brother, what are you doing?" Ma Shulan yelled, scaring Hu Zi to tears.
Li Hongru quickly picked up the child and comforted him. When Zhang Weifang heard the child crying, he immediately put down the shovel in his hand and ran in.
"What's wrong with Hu Zi?" Zhang Weifang held Hu Zi, and he stopped crying. He mumbled and rolled around in her arms, wanting to drink milk.
Zhang Weifang glanced at Li Hongru and told him to take his parents out first. Ma Shulan walked out while cursing:
"Third brother, your wife has too many problems. She even kicks me out just to feed her."
Li Hongru didn't say anything. He also knew that Zhang Weifang was very particular and didn't like to breastfeed in front of others. He thought this was a very good quality. He also didn't like those women who breastfed casually everywhere.
Hu Zi fell asleep after eating and drinking his fill. By this time, the meal in the kitchen was almost ready.
While eating, Ma Shulan started to attack Zhang Weifang:
"Weifang, women should be more diligent. There's no reason for men to go into the kitchen. Besides, the third child has a hard time at work too. How can you let him wash diapers?"
"Mom, I usually do these things, and Hongru just lends a hand occasionally." Zhang Weifang was a little unhappy now. Did her mother-in-law have nothing better to do than come to her house to give her advice?
Upon hearing this, Ma Shulan became even more angry:
"Weifang, women in the village not only have to work, but also wash clothes, cook, and take care of children. You're really lucky to be married to the third brother."
Zhang Weifang's temper flared up. "It's fine if you don't help me, but you're also finding fault with me? How could she tolerate this?"
"Mom, it's New Year's Day, are you coming to my house to cause me trouble? Huzi has been born for almost a hundred days, and I have taken care of him all by myself. It's not someone else's turn to tell me what to do."
Li Guifang's face also darkened. He didn't expect his daughter-in-law to dare to speak like that.
"Old Third's wife, how do you talk to your mother-in-law? Ever since you got married, Old Third has become completely disobedient. Now it seems that it's all because of you."
Zhang Weifang didn't say anything and looked at Li Hongru coldly. If he didn't say anything, Zhang Weifang would make a big fuss.
Fortunately, Li Hongru was very helpful. He looked at his parents, feeling helpless and sad:
"Mom and Dad, we're living a good life, and we don't need you to take care of the children, so we don't need you to get involved."
"Third brother, Mom is doing this for your own good, why are you so cowardly?"
"Mom, I think I'm fine this way. I'm grown up and have my own ideas. I'm not someone who can be manipulated by others."
In the end, the two sides parted ways unhappily, and the old couple left angrily. They were so disappointed with the third child that they decided not to care about them anymore.
After the spring, the weather became warmer, and Zhang Weifang took her son back to her mother's home to stay for a few days. She originally wanted to stay a few more days, but there were so many people around that she didn't dare to use diapers and her food was not good.
There was no other way, so Zhang Weifang had to take Hu Zi back home early.
April 17, 1963 was a special day, as Le'an County had its first power plant.
The establishment of the power plant marks the realization of electricity freedom in Le'an County.
Residents also register with the neighborhood committee with their household registration books and can wait for the wiring to be laid and the electricity meters to be installed.
Two months later, electricity was available in Zhang Weifang's home. Although it was only a dim light bulb, it was much better than candles and oil lamps.
However, the voltage of the newly installed electrical wires is not very stable, and power outages occur from time to time.
With electricity, Zhang Weifang exchanged an electric rice cooker and electric baking pan in the system mall, making cooking more convenient.
Hu Zi is growing up day by day, and he now sleeps less. Zhang Weifang takes him for a walk outside every day to let him bask in the sun.
The strawberries are ripe again, sweet and sour and delicious. Zhang Weifang can eat several a day, making Hu Zi drool.
Hu Zi is already six months old. Zhang Weifang’s milk supply is running low, so she feeds him rice noodles twice a day. Hu Zi eats them happily.
Pumpkin-flavored and beef-flavored rice noodles are Hu Zi's favorite. He eats a different one every day, and he has grown a lot taller.
Zhang Weifang's arms would ache after holding the 18-pound Hu Zi for a long time, so she exchanged a stroller for one in the system mall and pushed it to take her son out to play every day.
The mother and son lived a carefree life, but Li Guifang and Ma Shulan had a hard time. The villagers asked them from time to time:
"Captain, why doesn't your grandson come back?"
They were too embarrassed to say that their relationship was bad, and had to cheerfully explain:
"My grandson is used to living in the city, so I didn't ask them to come back."
Li Hongru goes back to his hometown twice a month to visit his parents.
That day, when Li Hongru came back, Li Guifang directly made a request:
"Next time, bring your wife and children back with you. Don't you know what the villagers think of us?"
"Dad, I understand."
Zhang Weifang had no objection to this matter. It was impossible for him to stay away forever. As long as everyone could get along on the surface, it was fine.
One Sunday, Li Hongru and his family of three returned to Beiguan Village. Hu Zi was so cute that he was surrounded by uncles and aunts as soon as he arrived at the village entrance.
"Hongru, your son is really fair, he is well raised."
"Yes, he's plump and well-fed."
Seeing their little grandson, Li Guifang and his wife were still happy.
Li Hongdong's eldest child is also 2 years old. Li Gaitang brought him over to play with his younger brother.
Dabao is rather thin, but very clever, with a dark red face that looks like it has been exposed to the sun for a long time.
"Brother, it looks good."
"Dabao looks good too. Here, have some strawberries." Zhang Weifang gave two strawberries that she brought home to Dabao.
It was Dabao's first time eating strawberries, and he happened to pick a sour one. It was so sour that his facial features wrinkled together and he looked like a little old man. Hu Zi laughed "hehe" beside him.
The two brothers had a great time playing together. When making rice noodles, Zhang Weifang also made a bowl for Dabao.
This was the first time Dabao had the smooth rice noodles and he loved it.
Dabao is eating now, but every day he eats either steamed bread or noodles. Occasionally he gets a steamed egg which is meat, so rice noodles are simply a delicious meal for him.
Li Gaitang saw his son enjoying the meal and asked Zhang Weifang about the price:
"Weifang, how much is a bucket of this rice noodles?"
"Sister-in-law, Dabao is too old to eat rice noodles. You can give him milk powder, which is more nutritious."
"Milk powder is too expensive and requires a ticket. How can I buy it easily?"
"Sister-in-law, rice noodles are not cheap either, 6 yuan a bucket."
When Li Gaitang heard that it cost 6 yuan per bucket, he was immediately speechless. As farmers, they could only save a few dollars a year, so how could they afford to spend it carelessly?
Ma Shulan became upset when she heard the price. The child is so young, does he need to eat such expensive food?
"Weifang, it's not easy for the third child to earn money. You should spend it frugally. Children can just eat some rice soup. There's no need to buy these things."
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