Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Jin Xiuzhu's pregnancy was going relatively well. Unlike Fang Min next door, who was so nauseous that she could barely function. She had always been thin, but later on, her chin became even more pointed, and there was no flesh left on her face, making her eyes appear unusually large.

She couldn't eat anything at all, vomiting everything she tried to consume.

In contrast, Jin Xiuzhu found everything delicious. She ate spicy food, sour food, and her cheeks remained rosy and healthy.

It wasn't until Fang Min saw Jin Xiuzhu enjoying pickled plums that she couldn't resist trying one. To her surprise, she could eat them without feeling sick. From then on, she started eating pickled plums like they were meals. Sometimes, in order to eat her regular meals, she would mix the pickled plums with her rice and vegetables.

The pickled plums were made by Jin Xiuzhu and were extremely sour – too sour for the children.

Every time Commissioner Zhu saw Fang Min eating this way, he found it difficult to swallow his own food.

Jin Xiuzhu learned this method and began soaking her food in vinegar and mixing it with pickled plums. Now, when Jiang Mingchuan and the two children ate, they kept their heads down, afraid they wouldn't be able to eat if they looked up.

In mid-May, Zhong Xue came for a visit from the capital. When Jiang Mingchuan received notice from the guard at the gate, he wondered where this other sister of his had come from. It wasn't until he saw her that he was somewhat surprised.

Zhong Xue had come alone. She had cut her hair short and wore a neat, clean blue work uniform, which made her look energetic.

She greeted Jiang Mingchuan with a smile, "Brother Mingchuan."

Jiang Mingchuan smiled as well. Seeing the two large packages beside her, he quickly picked them up. "Why did you suddenly come? You didn't give me any advance notice so I could meet you at the station."

Zhong Xue shook her head. "No need. I wanted to try my hand at being independent. Always staying in such a small place, I don't know what the world is like outside."

Then she added, "This time, I've come to see Sister-in-law about work-related matters."

Jiang Mingchuan nodded, recalling Jin Xiuzhu and Wang Ling's previous conversation. He guessed the reason for her visit and led her towards their home.

Zhong Xue followed behind, asking Jiang Mingchuan questions as they walked. Jiang Mingchuan wasn't much of a talker; unlike Jin Xiuzhu, who could chat with anyone, he only responded when Zhong Xue asked him something.

Although Zhong Xue now worked at the department store, she wasn't particularly talkative. She was diligent in her work, but she wasn't known for her sweet words. So, before they reached the family quarters, the two of them fell silent.

Walking one after the other, an onlooker might have thought they didn't know each other.

It wasn't until they arrived at the door and Jin Xiuzhu opened it that Jiang Mingchuan seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. His entire demeanor relaxed, and he even joked with Jin Xiuzhu, "Guess who came?"

Hearing this, Jin Xiuzhu knew it must be someone unexpected. Curious, she asked, "Who is it?"

Jiang Mingchuan stepped aside to reveal Zhong Xue behind him.

Seeing the transformed Zhong Xue, Jin Xiuzhu was pleasantly surprised. "Zhong Xue? How did you come here by yourself?"

Seeing the joy on Jin Xiuzhu's face, Zhong Xue's mood lifted as well. Smiling, she said, "I mainly came to see you and also to check out the fabrics you mentioned in your letter."

Jin Xiuzhu hurriedly took her hand. "Come in, I'm so happy."

Then she turned to Jiang Mingchuan and told him to make some malted milk and tea. Jiang Mingchuan put down the packages and went into the kitchen as instructed.

Zhong Xue quickly said, "No need, Brother, go take care of your business."

From the kitchen, Jiang Mingchuan replied, "It's fine, I'll leave soon."

He brought out two bowls of malted milk and placed a cup of tea next to Zhong Xue.

One bowl of malted milk was for Zhong Xue, and the other was for Jin Xiuzhu. Jin Xiuzhu didn't think anything of it and began drinking hers slowly.

Jiang Mingchuan left, taking out the trash on his way out.

Watching this, Zhong Xue smiled and said, "How nice."

Growing up, Jiang Mingchuan hadn't been much of a talker. She had always thought of him as rather wooden, but with Jin Xiuzhu, he became gentle and considerate – a side of him she had never seen but envied deeply.

Jin Xiuzhu didn't understand what she meant and looked up curiously. "What?"

Zhong Xue shook her head. "It's very tasty."

Jin Xiuzhu laughed. "Right? Teacher Fang next door gave it to us."

Zhong Xue had brought many things with her. One large package contained food and drinks, while the other held gifts for the whole family. For Jin Xiuzhu and Jiang Mingchuan, she had bought watches. For the two children, she had purchased coats and shoes.

"All these foods were given to my parents by their friends after they returned. There was too much, so I brought some over. Don't dislike them; they're all good. My parents are very grateful for how you took care of me. If it weren't for you, they might not have been able to return. The watches were bought by my parents, and the clothes and shoes for the children were bought by me. I thought they looked nice, so I got them."

"You're too kind, there was no need for all this."

Zhong Xue shook her head. "Sister-in-law, you're the one being too polite. I wish I could have brought more. Without you, I wouldn't have had the courage to stand up to them. I'd still be suffering at the Pan household."

"My life is so much better now. My parents help take care of the two children, and I can focus on my work. I don't plan on getting married anytime soon. We'll see what happens in the future."

"That's great."

Knowing that Jin Xiuzhu was pregnant, Zhong Xue insisted on cooking lunch. She prepared the dishes that Jiang Mingchuan had bought that morning. When Jiang Mingchuan returned for lunch, he found the meal already ready.

He still had a piece of meat in his hand, which he had specifically bought on his way back from the supply and marketing cooperative.

During the meal, Zhong Xue told him, "I won't be eating dinner here tonight."

"Why not? Aren't you staying for the night?"

"No, I'll be going to the county this afternoon. Besides seeing you, I'm also here for work. Our manager is about to retire, and I'm competing with another colleague for the position. That's why I came for a visit and didn't take many days off."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded understandingly. "I see. Then, I'll call Sister Wang this afternoon. You can find her yourself. I've already told her about you. She used to ask me every day about your reply. Now that you're here in person, she'll be even happier."

Jiang Mingchuan, hearing this, said, "I'll make the call. Give me the phone later."

"Okay."

So after lunch, Jiang Mingchuan took Zhong Xue to the front gate and made a call to Wang Ling. Then he sent Zhong Xue off to the boat.

In the afternoon, Jin Xiuzhu was still wondering if Zhong Xue had left directly, but she unexpectedly arrived with Wang Ling in the evening. Wang Ling's face was full of joy, and as soon as she entered, she said with a smile, "Your friend is truly reliable, directly ordering three hundred bolts of fabric."

Zhong Xue followed behind her. Upon entering, she said, "Sister-in-law, I came to tell you that I'm going back."

Jin Xiuzhu hesitated, "Leaving now? It's almost dark."

"It's fine as long as the train hasn't stopped running."

"Why so urgent?"

Wang Ling smiled and said beside them, "It's alright, it's alright. I'll send her to the city later and make sure she gets on the train."

Only then did Jin Xiuzhu feel relieved. "That would be troubling you, Sister. This is her first time here, so she's not very familiar with the area."

"Sure, sure, don't worry."

Wang Ling was particularly agreeable now. This business partner named Zhong Xue was straightforward. After arriving at the factory, she didn't waste any words and directly asked to see the goods.

Seeing the goods was good—her greatest confidence lay in the quality of the goods. So without saying anything else, she led them to the factory at the back to inspect the batch of premium fabrics.

Zhong Xue seemed to be someone who took her work seriously. She asked about the production location of the silk threads, the pros and cons of the fabrics, and even inquired about the pattern designs... Although these questions might seem troublesome, after being in the industry for a while, one could discern some patterns. Generally, the more questions they asked, the more likely it indicated their interest in cooperation. The fear was that they wouldn't ask any questions at all.

Indeed, after asking clearly, she decisively ordered three hundred bolts. She was honest and said that she wasn't entirely confident yet to place this batch of fabrics in the capital's department store. She needed to go back and work on it, but there shouldn't be too many problems. She would take two bolts back this time and call later. At that time, Wang Ling should arrange for a transport team to deliver the fabrics to the capital. Even if it didn't work out, she would still help sell them, ensuring no losses.

Hearing this, Wang Ling finally breathed a sigh of relief and quickly agreed to the arrangement, saying that they would work overtime over the next few days to finish the remaining fabrics.

Zhong Xue was very efficient and decisive in her work, signing the contract right away.

Afterward, she said she wanted to go back and say goodbye to Jin Xiuzhu and the others. Hearing this, Wang Ling hurriedly said she would accompany her.

Zhong Xue was now her benefactor, and she was willing to do everything personally for her.

Zhong Xue came in a hurry and left in a hurry.

Jin Xiuzhu hadn't expected to have anything good for her to take from home. She thought about making clothes for her two children and sending them over later. "Drive safely, and when you arrive, give us a call to let us know you're safe."

"Alright."

After they left, Fang Min secretly opened a crack in the door to peek. Meeting Jin Xiuzhu's gaze, she smiled somewhat embarrassedly. "I heard the noise and was curious to see."

Jin Xiuzhu briefly introduced Zhong Xue.

Upon hearing this, Fang Min knew who she was. Jin Xiuzhu had mentioned her when she returned from the capital, and she had left a deep impression. What was even more memorable was how this person had single-handedly sent her entire in-laws' family to the police station. At that time, Fang Min thought that if it were her, she definitely couldn't have done something like that.

She had been inspired and written about the other party in her book. When it was published, it received a great response. Many readers wrote to her, saying that they saw themselves in the supporting character, but lacked her courage.

For this reason, she had specifically replied to the reader, telling them that this was a true story and also mentioned Jin Xiuzhu's deeds. She hoped that they could draw strength from them and continue living well.

Fang Min hadn't received a reply since then, but she hoped that the reader was doing better.

Jin Xiuzhu asked her, "Have you eaten?"

"Commissar hasn't come back yet. I'll wait for him to cook dinner."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded. "Okay, if he doesn't come back, come find me next door. I'll make you a bowl of noodles."

"Alright."

Jin Xiuzhu closed the door. After He Yan finished washing the dishes, he came out of the kitchen and happily looked through the gifts and food that Zhong Xue had brought today.

The gift Zhong Xue gave He Yan was a pair of rubber-soled shoes, with military green cloth on top. This type of shoe was very popular now, and adults were reluctant to buy them, let alone for children.

He Yan excitedly put on his new shoes. They were a bit big, but he still liked them very much. Soon, he took them off and put them back in the box. "I'll wear them in the second half of the year. When they get too small, I'll give them to Yang Yingxiong."

Yang Yingxiong didn't have new clothes or shoes. Most of what he wore were hand-me-downs from the children in the unit. Now, he mostly wore Wei Ningqing's clothes and shoes, which Old Grandma Chen had washed clean and given to him. Some were He Yan's, and Jin Xiuzhu had made him a new set of clothes at the beginning of the year, but he had never been seen wearing them.

According to He Yan, those clothes were treasured and kept in the cabinet.

He Yan was very happy. "Auntie Zhong Xue is really nice."

After saying that, he went to look through the food. There were many canned fruits, malted milk, various biscuits and candies, dried longans, brown sugar... all things He Yan loved to eat.

Jin Xiuzhu reminded him, "Share with your sister."

"I know."

Then he called his sister over. "One for you, one for me," and began to share. When they finished sharing, there were still some left, which they gave to their parents.

Fu Yanyan didn't actually like eating these snacks very much, but she certainly wouldn't let her share be reduced.

She carried all the snacks she had received into her room and planned to keep them until after He Yan had finished his share. Then she would take them out to tease him, and he would do whatever she wanted.

He Yan didn't know his sister's little plan and happily carried his snacks into his room. He was already thinking about what he would bring to Wei Ningqing and Yang Yingxiong tomorrow.

When Jiang Mingchuan returned, Jin Xiuzhu told him about Zhong Xue leaving.

Jiang Mingchuan had intentionally come back earlier today. Hearing that Zhong Xue had left, he said, "Then forget it. I'll call her house later."

"Okay, we can send some things over later. She brought a lot of good things this time. She came suddenly, so I didn't have time to prepare."

"I'll buy the things. You don't need to worry about it."

"Alright."

In the evening, after dinner, Jiang Mingchuan boiled a pot of water for Jin Xiuzhu to bathe.

As the weather gradually became warmer, Jin Xiuzhu started taking a bath every day. She hadn't sweated staying at home, but perhaps due to her pregnancy, she always felt like she had a smell.

She was starting to show now, and Jiang Mingchuan worried about her, standing outside every time she bathed, waiting for her.

While Jin Xiuzhu bathed, Jiang Mingchuan would talk from outside, recounting stories from his training—some frightening, some funny, and many mundane, but each tale was interesting in its own way. Jin Xiuzhu didn't have as many entertaining stories to share with him; many things had happened to her, but she feared that telling him about them might scare him to death.

She listened attentively, gradually understanding his work and profession. At first, she found this place strange, the soldiers here peculiar. To her, soldiers were supposed to defend the land, but here, they seemed to carry more profound meanings. They were the people's army, serving the nation and its citizens, and the common folk held them in high regard, while the soldiers themselves remained modest and humble.

Perhaps influenced by him, Jin Xiuzhu also began to think highly of military men, finding Jiang Mingchuan admirable.

After Jin Xiuzhu finished bathing, Jiang Mingchuan would dispose of the water, then let the two children wash up. Once everyone was done, he would take the dirty clothes out to wash.

Usually, by the time he returned, Jin Xiuzhu had already gone to bed. He would still give her a leg massage, having heard somewhere that pregnant women often suffered from edema later on and needed frequent massages.

However, his strength was too much, causing Jin Xiuzhu slight pain each time, even when she asked him to be gentler.

In another life, Jin Xiuzhu wouldn’t have looked twice at such a rough man. She preferred scholarly, refined gentlemen. Yet now, she felt content.

After giving her a good massage, Jiang Mingchuan lay down beside her, pulling the blanket closer to her side.

Suddenly, Jin Xiuzhu said, "I've been thinking, we should have a daughter. I don't want to be a mother-in-law."

Though society still favored boys, her daughter wouldn't have to endure the same hardships. A daughter would be better.

"I think Zhong Xue’s situation is ideal. Living with parents, with grandparents taking care of the child. Our daughter will be like that too."

Unlike in The Great Jing Dynasty, where married women rarely returned to their natal homes, there were no such restrictions here.

Every night, Jiang Mingchuan listened to her talk about these things, as if deciding the baby's gender was as simple as wishing for it. But he had grown accustomed to it. Political Commissar Zhu and Commander Yan had told him that pregnant women experienced significant mood swings, and all he needed to do was humor her.

Even Fang Min, usually gentle, would shed tears over trivial matters. All he had to do was agree with her. "That sounds great. I like daughters too."

"Right? Daughters are better."

"Mm."

Jiang Mingchuan gently stroked her belly. "Sleep now."

Before closing her eyes, Jin Xiuzhu suddenly said, "But thinking that this is our child, boy or girl, I love them both."

Jiang Mingchuan was taken aback by her words, feeling a softness in his heart.

After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Mingchuan also closed his eyes, drifting into sleep.

In the middle of the night, he suddenly woke up from a nightmare, drenched in cold sweat as if pulled from the water.

Regaining his composure, he quickly searched for the person beside him. Seeing her sleeping soundly, he finally relaxed.

He had just experienced a terrible dream, one where he and Jin Xiuzhu divorced. In the dream, Jin Xiuzhu had a bad temper, always arguing with him, accusing him of liking other soldiers' wives, of looking down on her, and even calling Yan Yan stupid.

He tried to explain himself, but Jin Xiuzhu acted as if she couldn't hear him, calling him useless.

Whenever he spoke to another military wife, she would cause a scene, eventually breaking household items...

Their children were terrified, huddled in a corner, too scared to cry.

In the dream, he had attempted to have a serious conversation with her several times, but it never worked. Their discussions always ended in arguments, until he stopped talking altogether, and her temper grew worse.

The exhaustion he felt in the dream was so vivid, even though it was just a dream, it left a lasting impression.

Thankfully, he had woken up. It was the first time Jiang Mingchuan was grateful it was just a dream.

Lying in bed, he reassured himself that dreams were often the opposite of reality. Still, he couldn't fall back asleep, haunted by the images from his nightmare.

---

In late June, Fang Min's sister-in-law came to visit.

Fang Min's sister-in-law was named Zhu Ying. Jin Xiuzhu had assumed that Political Commissar Zhu's family must have been well-off, given his fair complexion. However, meeting Zhu Ying revealed a different story.

According to Fang Min, Political Commissar Zhu's grandfather had once been a wealthy landlord. His father was the most successful among his siblings, studying abroad in his youth. Both his sister and brother's mother had been university students, once taught by Fang Min's grandparents. Later, they also taught Political Commissar Zhu, which explained why they remembered him so vividly.

Unfortunately, Political Commissar Zhu's parents died during wartime when he and his sister were very young. Their grandfather abandoned all assets and moved the family back to their village to farm. As children, they took turns living with relatives, leading to a less than ideal upbringing.

Zhu Ying got married early and took her younger brother with her. Her husband passed away due to illness a few years ago. Her eldest son was serving in the military, while her youngest daughter had recently married a fellow orphan who was friends with her son. She now lived with her daughter, helping to raise her grandchildren.

Upon hearing about Fang Min's pregnancy, she made arrangements to visit, ensuring her daughter and grandchild were taken care of before coming.

Zhu Ying was ten years older than Political Commissar Zhu, yet appeared much older, with half her hair gray and deep wrinkles around her mouth, making her look particularly fierce when not smiling.

Even He Yan was hesitant to speak when she first arrived.

Despite her appearance, she was kind-hearted, bringing many local specialties from her hometown and insisting on sharing them with Jin Xiuzhu and others. She had heard her brother and sister-in-law mention their neighbors’ kindness in letters and wanted to express her gratitude properly.

Before her arrival, Jin Xiuzhu had worried about getting along with Fang Min's sister-in-law, but those concerns proved unfounded.

With Zhu Ying's presence, Jin Xiuzhu felt more relaxed. Not only did she keep Fang Min's home spotless, but she also helped clean Jin Xiuzhu's house in the mornings and prepared extra food to share. Eventually, Jin Xiuzhu suggested she stop cooking separately and join them for meals instead, as she was more assertive than Fang Min.

Zhu Ying adored Fu Yan Yan, especially after learning how smart she was. She doted on her, carrying her everywhere and saying she had never seen such a well-behaved little girl.

She confided in Jin Xiuzhu, "My daughter was quite mischievous as a child, almost like a ringleader. Now, she has two kids who are just as rambunctious, giving me headaches. I hope my eldest son will have a granddaughter someday, but he doesn't listen. He's already in his mid-twenties and still refuses to get married. Every time I urge him, he says he's busy."

Jin Xiuzhu chuckled. "Your eldest son isn't married yet?"

"No, he spends all his time in the military and barely stays home when he visits. I'm worried about him."

Jin Xiuzhu comforted her. "It's probably just a matter of time. Look how well Political Commissar Zhu and Fang Min are doing together."

"That's true."

Zhu Ying refrained from criticizing Fang Min in front of her, as her daughter had advised. It was their life together, not hers. She focused on helping out and saying positive things. Auntie Xiao had a good personality, a decent job, and a respectable background. What kind of person couldn't she find?

Zhu Ying thought it made sense, so after arriving, she found various chores to do, cleaning the house spotlessly, and ignored everything else.

She really liked Jin Xiuzhu next door. She was indeed a good person who gave her a luminous piece of fabric upon arrival. According to her sister-in-law, such material would sell for dozens of dollars at the department store. This scared her so much that she didn't even dare to touch it, fearing she might damage it. She only planned to take it back home for her daughter and granddaughter.

Jin Xiuzhu was beautiful and had a pleasant voice. She didn't look down on her for being from the countryside. If Jin Xiuzhu wasn't married and pregnant, she'd have suggested her for her eldest son. She believed her eldest son was no worse than Captain Jiang, tall and handsome, with everyone praising his looks.

Fang Min's sister-in-law had been there for less than a few days when it started raining. They initially thought it would be like before, stopping after a few days, but it continued for two weeks without any sign of stopping.

Fang Min was grateful, saying to Jin Xiuzhu, "Fortunately, my sister-in-law came early, or it would have been too inconvenient."

"I wonder when it will stop? It's annoying."

"It's probably due to the typhoon in the south. Don't worry."

Jin Xiuzhu didn't know what a typhoon was; she just felt that if it didn't stop soon, the blankets at home would become too damp to sleep under.

Little did Jin Xiuzhu know that before the rain stopped, Jiang Mingchuan received an urgent notice one night, requiring him to lead troops for flood relief operations.

Jiang Mingchuan had been returning late these past few days, and Jin Xiuzhu had gotten used to it, not thinking much of it. But then, at around nine in the evening, he suddenly woke her up, telling her he needed to go out for disaster relief and to stay safe at home.

Before Jin Xiuzhu could react, the man rushed over to give her a tight hug, kissed her forehead, and then hurriedly left.

Jin Xiuzhu touched her sore forehead where his stubble had pricked her and muttered, "Damn you."