Hua Mei's belly was quite noticeable, bulging under her washed-out white shirt.
Fang Shugen's mother softened her attitude towards Hua Mei, but Hua Mei didn't have Fang Meixiang's leisurely life; she still had to do a lot of work in the fields and at home.
Passing by Fang Damiao's house, I saw Fang Meixiang sitting at the door holding her child. Fang Shugen's mother would always come over and casually strike up a conversation, "Meixiang, you shouldn't have given birth this early according to the gestational age. Did you get pregnant as soon as you married Damiao, or was the baby premature?"
She approached Fang Meixiang and said, "Come here, let me see." Pulling back the swaddling clothes, she saw that Fang Meixiang's son was chubby and fair-skinned with a healthy rosy complexion. Suddenly, she felt a pang of discomfort in her heart.
She bit her lip, her voice low, "I've heard premature babies are hard to raise, maybe..."
Fang Meixiang hugged the child tightly and walked into the house. Fang Damiao came out and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Da Miao, let me see your son. He's so well-grown. Was he born at full term? If he was born at full term, the timing is wrong."
Fang Damiao slammed the door shut.
"Hmph, you're the only one with a son? Who cares!"
People were always worried about Fang Meixiang taking care of the child alone, and Fang Damiao had a good reason not to go to work in the fields, so he stayed at home with Fang Meixiang to take care of their son.
“Dad, this won’t do. We’ll give him the seedlings and then plant sweet potato vines. If he doesn’t plant and manage them, everyone else will have extra money to sell, but he won’t have any income. He won’t even have anything to eat.” Fang Meixiang’s mother said worriedly while washing the dishes after dinner.
“I’ve thought about this. Last time I asked him to go to the fields, he said the child was too small and he didn’t feel comfortable taking him to the edge of the fields.”
“That’s true. The weather is so unpredictable these days. If we take her out, she might get a headache or feel hot or cold.” Fang Meixiang’s mother stopped what she was doing, her brows furrowing even more.
"Tell Meili to help Meixiang take care of the seedlings. The work in the seedling fields can't be left undone. If this continues, they won't even have a chance to eat this year."
"That's the only way. We'll do more work ourselves and have Meili stay home with Meixiang to help take care of the children."
Fang Meili was also very happy to hear the news, her eyes lit up, "Great, I'll go and bring Dongqiang over tomorrow."
"Not having to work in the fields makes me as happy as if I've found a treasure."
“Mom, I’m not just sitting around at home. I take care of Dongqiang, right? When I’m home, I have to wash clothes and cook meals. I’m not just sleeping with him.”
Fang Meixiang's mother walked over and said, "Meili, there's nothing I can do about this, so I need your help. Dongqiang can be taken to the fields when he's older, but he's still young, so I need you to put in more effort to help him out."
"Okay, I know. You've done a lot of work in the fields, and I'll do a little more work around the house too, so you'll have a hot meal when you come back."
"Our Mary may be a bit sharp-tongued, but she has a soft heart!"
"Hehe, you're flattering me."
"Meili, I don't know the difference between hot and cold, so Dongqiang will have to rely on you to take care of him."
"Okay, okay, I understand."
The next morning, Fang Meili went to Fang Damiao's house to bring Fang Meixiang and Fang Dongqiang.
"I'll take care of your son. You go and work hard in the fields. If there are no sweet potatoes to sell in the second half of the year, see how I deal with you!" Fang Meili warned Fang Damiao as she packed a few diapers to take with her.
"I know, I know!" Fang Damiao went to prepare the farm tools to take to the fields.
Fang Meili never called him brother-in-law, and she always spoke to him directly.
Fang Meili picked up Fang Dongqiang with a diaper in her arms and called to Fang Meixiang, "Let's go home."
Fang Shugen's mother slowed down her pace next to the diapers and clothes that Fang Dongqiang was drying, muttering, "The child is thin," "He's hard to take care of."
Fang Meili, carrying Fang Dongqiang, stepped out of the doorway. "Oh, are you smelling the diapers to see if they smell good?"
"Can't I walk a little slower if I'm just passing by? Is this your house? Oh, your house isn't here. Why are you walking out here so early in the morning?"
Fang Shugen's mother shrugged, leaned forward, and stared at Fang Meili. "You stayed here last night?"
Fang Meili mimicked her actions, saying, "I came here this morning to pick up my sister and nephew to take them home. Some people are jealous and have malicious hearts; they always try to harm others."
"Hey, don't talk nonsense," Fang Shugen's mother said anxiously, "How did I harm your family by just passing by?"
“I didn’t give my name or surname. Those who are guilty will come to meet me.” Fang Meili stood her ground.
"With a mouth like that, you'll have a hard time finding a husband. Who would want you?" Fang Shugen's mother cursed as she walked away.
"Don't worry about it. Thinking too much will make you sick."
Fang Meili pointed at Shugen's mother's back and said to Fang Meixiang, "Stay away from this person, she's going to beat Dongqiang and harm him."
Fang Meixiang glanced at her and nodded as if she understood.
As Fang Meili carried Fang Dongqiang and they were almost at their doorstep, she saw Yu Jihong carrying her daughter and following behind Fang Sandi to the fields.
Yu Jihong's daughter was also born last year, but earlier, and she is already over a year old. When Yu Jihong holds her, she turns her little head around, curiously looking at her surroundings.
Yu Jihong was still the same as before, with her head held high and back straight, her eyes carrying an air of arrogance that kept strangers at bay, unlike the other women in the village.
She combed her hair neatly and dressed like an unmarried young girl.
Fang Meili glanced at Fang Meixiang.
Fang Meixiang cut her hair shortly after arriving at Fang Damiao's home last year, sporting a short bob that made her look somewhat rustic.
Fang Meixiang had no one to take care of her hair. Not only Fang Meixiang, but Fang Meili also noticed that many women cut their hair after becoming pregnant.
It's like an unwritten rule; no one says to do it, but everyone does it.
With a haircut and the changes in her figure during pregnancy, she went from a young girl to a woman.
"I want to be like her in the future, and even after having a child, I'll still dress myself up like a young woman," Fang Meili thought to herself.
She immediately gasped again, realizing she was going to become a madwoman.
However, she did look quite good like that, and Fang Meili glanced at her again.
When they arrived home, Fang Meili put Fang Dongqiang into the bamboo basket that she had prepared beforehand.
Yesterday, they planned to bring Fang Meixiang and Fang Dongqiang back, so they found a bamboo basket for drying things, lined the bottom with straw, and put an adult's winter coat on top.
"You stay here and watch over things, I'll go wash the dishes first." Fang Meili settled Fang Meixiang in and then turned and went into the kitchen.
After washing the dishes, she came over to check on Fang Dongqiang and saw that he was still fast asleep, his little mouth occasionally moving. Then she turned around and went to wash the clothes.
Although Fang Meixiang is not mentally stable, she knows how to hold a baby and how to breastfeed.
But once Fang Dongqiang started crying, she was at a loss, holding him and anxiously pacing around in circles.
Whenever this happens, Fang Meili would put down what she was doing, rush over to take the child, gently pat Fang Dongqiang's back, and hum a lullaby to soothe him.
Once Fang Dongqiang stopped crying and fell asleep peacefully, Fang Meili continued with the unfinished housework.
Occasionally, the baby's babbling could be heard from inside the house, accompanied by a few crowings of roosters.
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