Chapter 123. Large generation gap
After giving Sister Mei the food coupon and the money, Lin Qing He carried these things back home.
It was still early when she arrived home. But she still needed to start cooking pigs again at this hour. Both pigs in the backyard have grown up and become big chubby pigs. They got hungry very fast.
It was currently the time for them to grow meat, so Lin Qing He fed it.
She worked hard for a while and Mother Zhou came in holding little Su Cheng.
Mother Zhou set little Su Cheng in the room to play by himself before coming out to help.
Lin Qing He said: "It's nothing much. Mother, go, and rest."
Mother Zhou responded: "No need to rest. It's just minding a child, how can I get tired."
Lin Qing He passed the pig food cooking to her and said, "Why didn't Father come over to eat this morning?"
"Just let your father eat breakfast at home." Mother Zhou didn't expect her to mention this. She answered after being stunned for a bit.
"Don't have to skip this meal. Mother, you must get up in the night to bring Little Cheng over to drink milk. No need to get up in the morning to busy away. Just ask Father to come here and eat. I'll make it together, it's quite convenient to do," Lin Qing He urged.
She didn't discuss this with Zhou Qing Bai. Still, the couple had similar thoughts.
They eat lunch and dinner together. No need to skip out on breakfast either, right?
Mother Zhou grinned in response to this, "Alright, I will tell him when your father comes back."
"I'll tell Father when I deliver lunch at noon." Lin Qing He replied.
"Okay." Mother Zhou nodded with a smile.
Lin Qing He took out the lean meat and chopped it. She was making spring pancakes for lunch and this was going to be the minced meat filling. No need to remark on how good the taste will be.
Mother Zhou saw this but said nothing.
She had opened up her mind. Fourth's wife can do what she wants. She and her old spouse can save the money for the three grandsons.
And Fourth's wife can still buy meat back when she and her husband came over to eat. She really didn't mind about them eating and talk about making something casually at the sight of them joining. Things went they should be.
What can Mother Zhou complain about?
Lunch was spring pancakes, even if the season wasn't right. Spring pancakes were quick and simple to eat.
Inside were cucumber sticks, aromatic minced meat, and scallion sprinkles. It tasted undoubtedly delectable with it all wrapped within the dough.
There was also a pot of egg drop and tomato soup, making the whole person feel cozy.
Lin Qing He told Father Zhou that it was fine to come to their house for breakfast.
Father Zhou laughed and said that Qing Bai also brought this up in this morning.
Zhou Qing Bai grinned at his wife. Sure enough, hie and his wife connected.
Lin Qing He also chuckled. Seeing that they were full and drunk until content, she packed up and went home.
This autumn harvest was really tiring.
A chicken at home was killed by Lin Qing He to stew.
The whole family gathered around to eat together. One was consumed about every half a month, so two were used for nourishment in one autumn harvest.
Mother Zhou drank soup as well and ate a lot of chicken.
On the night when the autumn harvest was completed, everyone was relieved.
Mother Zhou laid on the kang with her old spouse and emotionally remarked: "No wonder Fourth's wife is so thin. From my observation, she ate so little during every meal."
Because they ate together she could witness this. It was one bowl of rice or half a mantou. She also preferred to eat vegetables. The meat was all for old Fourth and the boys.
"Fourth's wife is pretty good." Father Zhou also had this perspective.
Since old Fourth retired, Fourth's wife had changed. Her current self was really great. Even though she can't save any money according to these meal plans, there was only so much consumed by her. Wasn't it all eaten by old Fourth and these grandsons?
What was there to say about her?
Mother Zhou nodded in agreement.
It was impossible to say Fourth's wife was acting. Fourth's wife couldn't be bothered to act in front of the old couple. She was always the kind of person to say one is one, act on two, then it was two.
The most she ate were those vegetables. She can often be seen holding a tomato or snacking on a cucumber.
"Say, San Wa isn't small now. Why is there no reaction from Fourth's wife's stomach?" said Mother Zhou.
Father Zhou replied: "Already got three sons. Better to not give birth anymore. Go ask old Fourth to ligate."
Any more, them two old couple can't save money for their granddaughters-in-law.
"Sons are enough. Isn't there still a daughter to be born." Mother Zhou whispered.
"Can you guarantee that it'll be a girl? What to do if it's a son again?" Father Zhou shot back.
Mother Zhou wanted to say if pregnant, then give birth. Who would disdain in having too many sons in this era?
But at the thought of Fourth's wife's lifestyle, she didn't say anything. And also, Fourth's wife's stomach was quite capable.
If she got pregnant again, there was a bigger chance of being a son.
No matter how the two of them save more money, they might not be able to accumulate the gift money for the four grandsons. After all, they were over sixty, their work-life can only last for several years.
Unknown to her parents-in-law's worry for her sons' future, Lin Qing He was exhausted from Zhou Qing Bai's tossing and turning until she was a salty fried fish. (T/N: what an image... basically she's dead and drained of all moisture)
But still, she didn't forget to tell Zhou Qing Bai off: "Can't you save some strength and rest?"
"I am resting." Sated, Zhou Qing Bai hugged her.
At this time, it was already the end of October and the weather was getting a little bit colder. It wasn't too hot to be held by him. Lin Qing He let him be and said, "Starting tomorrow, you will cover the backyard!"
The autumn harvest was over, he should do what he was supposed to.
Zhou Qing Bai concurred and talked about going to the hospital for a check-up after a while.
"Wait until the winter isolation is here." Lin Qing He could only utter..
Once winter isolation, she'll explain it to him then. Don't let anger get to this man's health.
After all, she knew exactly how much he wanted a daughter. If she could, she would actually bear the pain and give him one.
But there was really no way, she got ligation done.
"Hurry up and sleep," Lin Qing He ushered.
Tomorrow was food distribution. She had to bring some more back home to sell and make a fortune.
Food distribution was indeed a major event in the village. Lin Qing He called Zhou Dong to join her.
This way, she'll be able to pull the grain back together with Zhou Dong's cart.
Father Zhou and Mother Zhou gave their food book to Zhou Qing Bai and asked him to go over and carry the two's rations back.
Yes, directly to their youngest son's house.
Lin Qing He saw Zhou Qing Bai take out the old couple's work point food book: "..."
She didn’t plan to take care of the old couple's three daily meal. It was just because the autumn harvest was too hectic. The old couple only made so much. She thought might as well make it together as it was only an increase in amount.
But it seems that the old couple thought they would eat with her family in the future...
"What's the matter?" Zhou Qing Bai asked her when she looked at food book in a daze.
Lin Qing He saw his 'entirely natural' expression and thought, this was the large generation gap between her and this man. What else can she say?
She could only accept it!
As long as Mother Zhou doesn’t interfere with how she does it things or how extravagant the dishes were, it was fine. If she does, then in the future, it'll be back to how it was.
After giving Sister Mei the food coupon and the money, Lin Qing He carried these things back home.
It was still early when she arrived home. But she still needed to start cooking pigs again at this hour. Both pigs in the backyard have grown up and become big chubby pigs. They got hungry very fast.
It was currently the time for them to grow meat, so Lin Qing He fed it.
She worked hard for a while and Mother Zhou came in holding little Su Cheng.
Mother Zhou set little Su Cheng in the room to play by himself before coming out to help.
Lin Qing He said: "It's nothing much. Mother, go, and rest."
Mother Zhou responded: "No need to rest. It's just minding a child, how can I get tired."
Lin Qing He passed the pig food cooking to her and said, "Why didn't Father come over to eat this morning?"
"Just let your father eat breakfast at home." Mother Zhou didn't expect her to mention this. She answered after being stunned for a bit.
"Don't have to skip this meal. Mother, you must get up in the night to bring Little Cheng over to drink milk. No need to get up in the morning to busy away. Just ask Father to come here and eat. I'll make it together, it's quite convenient to do," Lin Qing He urged.
She didn't discuss this with Zhou Qing Bai. Still, the couple had similar thoughts.
They eat lunch and dinner together. No need to skip out on breakfast either, right?
Mother Zhou grinned in response to this, "Alright, I will tell him when your father comes back."
"I'll tell Father when I deliver lunch at noon." Lin Qing He replied.
"Okay." Mother Zhou nodded with a smile.
Lin Qing He took out the lean meat and chopped it. She was making spring pancakes for lunch and this was going to be the minced meat filling. No need to remark on how good the taste will be.
Mother Zhou saw this but said nothing.
She had opened up her mind. Fourth's wife can do what she wants. She and her old spouse can save the money for the three grandsons.
And Fourth's wife can still buy meat back when she and her husband came over to eat. She really didn't mind about them eating and talk about making something casually at the sight of them joining. Things went they should be.
What can Mother Zhou complain about?
Lunch was spring pancakes, even if the season wasn't right. Spring pancakes were quick and simple to eat.
Inside were cucumber sticks, aromatic minced meat, and scallion sprinkles. It tasted undoubtedly delectable with it all wrapped within the dough.
There was also a pot of egg drop and tomato soup, making the whole person feel cozy.
Lin Qing He told Father Zhou that it was fine to come to their house for breakfast.
Father Zhou laughed and said that Qing Bai also brought this up in this morning.
Zhou Qing Bai grinned at his wife. Sure enough, hie and his wife connected.
Lin Qing He also chuckled. Seeing that they were full and drunk until content, she packed up and went home.
This autumn harvest was really tiring.
A chicken at home was killed by Lin Qing He to stew.
The whole family gathered around to eat together. One was consumed about every half a month, so two were used for nourishment in one autumn harvest.
Mother Zhou drank soup as well and ate a lot of chicken.
On the night when the autumn harvest was completed, everyone was relieved.
Mother Zhou laid on the kang with her old spouse and emotionally remarked: "No wonder Fourth's wife is so thin. From my observation, she ate so little during every meal."
Because they ate together she could witness this. It was one bowl of rice or half a mantou. She also preferred to eat vegetables. The meat was all for old Fourth and the boys.
"Fourth's wife is pretty good." Father Zhou also had this perspective.
Since old Fourth retired, Fourth's wife had changed. Her current self was really great. Even though she can't save any money according to these meal plans, there was only so much consumed by her. Wasn't it all eaten by old Fourth and these grandsons?
What was there to say about her?
Mother Zhou nodded in agreement.
It was impossible to say Fourth's wife was acting. Fourth's wife couldn't be bothered to act in front of the old couple. She was always the kind of person to say one is one, act on two, then it was two.
The most she ate were those vegetables. She can often be seen holding a tomato or snacking on a cucumber.
"Say, San Wa isn't small now. Why is there no reaction from Fourth's wife's stomach?" said Mother Zhou.
Father Zhou replied: "Already got three sons. Better to not give birth anymore. Go ask old Fourth to ligate."
Any more, them two old couple can't save money for their granddaughters-in-law.
"Sons are enough. Isn't there still a daughter to be born." Mother Zhou whispered.
"Can you guarantee that it'll be a girl? What to do if it's a son again?" Father Zhou shot back.
Mother Zhou wanted to say if pregnant, then give birth. Who would disdain in having too many sons in this era?
But at the thought of Fourth's wife's lifestyle, she didn't say anything. And also, Fourth's wife's stomach was quite capable.
If she got pregnant again, there was a bigger chance of being a son.
No matter how the two of them save more money, they might not be able to accumulate the gift money for the four grandsons. After all, they were over sixty, their work-life can only last for several years.
Unknown to her parents-in-law's worry for her sons' future, Lin Qing He was exhausted from Zhou Qing Bai's tossing and turning until she was a salty fried fish. (T/N: what an image... basically she's dead and drained of all moisture)
But still, she didn't forget to tell Zhou Qing Bai off: "Can't you save some strength and rest?"
"I am resting." Sated, Zhou Qing Bai hugged her.
At this time, it was already the end of October and the weather was getting a little bit colder. It wasn't too hot to be held by him. Lin Qing He let him be and said, "Starting tomorrow, you will cover the backyard!"
The autumn harvest was over, he should do what he was supposed to.
Zhou Qing Bai concurred and talked about going to the hospital for a check-up after a while.
"Wait until the winter isolation is here." Lin Qing He could only utter..
Once winter isolation, she'll explain it to him then. Don't let anger get to this man's health.
After all, she knew exactly how much he wanted a daughter. If she could, she would actually bear the pain and give him one.
But there was really no way, she got ligation done.
"Hurry up and sleep," Lin Qing He ushered.
Tomorrow was food distribution. She had to bring some more back home to sell and make a fortune.
Food distribution was indeed a major event in the village. Lin Qing He called Zhou Dong to join her.
This way, she'll be able to pull the grain back together with Zhou Dong's cart.
Father Zhou and Mother Zhou gave their food book to Zhou Qing Bai and asked him to go over and carry the two's rations back.
Yes, directly to their youngest son's house.
Lin Qing He saw Zhou Qing Bai take out the old couple's work point food book: "..."
She didn’t plan to take care of the old couple's three daily meal. It was just because the autumn harvest was too hectic. The old couple only made so much. She thought might as well make it together as it was only an increase in amount.
But it seems that the old couple thought they would eat with her family in the future...
"What's the matter?" Zhou Qing Bai asked her when she looked at food book in a daze.
Lin Qing He saw his 'entirely natural' expression and thought, this was the large generation gap between her and this man. What else can she say?
She could only accept it!
As long as Mother Zhou doesn’t interfere with how she does it things or how extravagant the dishes were, it was fine. If she does, then in the future, it'll be back to how it was.
Links:
What happened to my strong female protagonist? She's keeping all her grievances in and not properly expressing herself. She even wants a baby for that boorish man! Girl draw the line before your in-laws move in!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Lin Qing He becomes weak. It's alright for her to have a baby with Zhou Qing Bai since she's already fall in love with him. Although he's kind of rough when it involves their couple thing, he's a good husband so far especially considering the era.
ReplyDeleteAbout making food for the Old Zhou couple, it's hard to object because in China especially when filial piety is important but I believe LQH won't stay idle if the old couple wants to take a step further
Mother Zhou is taking care of a baby which require more energy. I've took care of my sister's baby whenever it's needed and only after a couple of hours I've became lazy to cook. In this case, Mother Zhou still helps LQH when she comes to their house
Just because you love someone doesnt mean you should have his kids. She has 3 already and she will be the one doing all the heavy lifting. She's being pressured into having children, the ML doesn't know he's being an ass because he's living from the perspective of an ancient stud horse. Noone would dislike having more kids in that era so it has nevet occured to him that she may not want more. The Mc is the reason why we are all hating the ML because she's never seriously sat him down and told him "I don't want any more kids!! At all!" I don't think the ML is a brute who'd force her if he knew how much she didn't want it. But what shes doing now is unfair to the to herself, us the readers and the ML.
Deletei remember in high school my science teacher said that the baby's sex depends on the male's length �� i don't know if it's true or just a myth because she said it jokingly
ReplyDeleteFalse!!!
DeleteShe got to be joking!!!
It's all about XY chromosomes in guy's semen.
No, but it's our male partner who determines the sex of the baby since males carry both X and Y chromosomes while we only carry the X choromosome, as Maggie has stated
Deleteyeah but she explained it as the sperm carrying the y chromosome 'swims' faster but dies faster too while the sperm carrying the x chromosome is the opposite so if the 'that' is longer and once the male ejaculates, the sperm carrying the y chromosome will reach the egg first because it's faster and the distance will be relatively short
Deletewe were all laughing at that and at the same time we don't know if we were to believe her or not
nope, those few centimeters wont make a difference. its more the day you have sex in relation to the ovulation of the female. if you have sex to around 2 days before ovulation then the boys will be dead and only females still alive. if you have sex around ovulation 1 before or at the exact date then the fast boys will get to the egg faster and fertilize it before the girls get a change to reach it.
Deleteside tibit: thats why girls that are normally not sexually active and get pregnant from 1 night (when hormones are driving them to do what they normally wouldnt) more often have boys.
info from gynecologist, hope my recall is complete/i got it all right.
*the girls get the chance to reach it
Deletehttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1440662/
DeleteThat's not how any of this works.... It's like the belief you'd get a boy if the woman was on top. Like, just no.
I like the story lease continue with it, ignore the ignorant.
ReplyDeleteAlso typo I meant please
ReplyDeleteLove the story, please continue and ignore the ignorance.
ReplyDeleteLove the story, please continue and ignore the ignorance.
ReplyDeleteWhew, willing to bear a child just to appease a fuckbuddy she's stuck with after being practically kidnapped to a shitty time period from a relatively comfortable life in modern time? Author is absolutely not empathetic with women lol.
ReplyDeleteAlso, to the commenter above or below on the absolute drivel of r/badwomensanatomy, wikipedia is not that hard to use, just do a 5 min read up on human reproduction for God's sake
Well it is the setting from the start, that's why the author always mention the 'generation gap' we can't force those who lives in 1970 to share the same thought with 2020s. and as a reader, you can jabe your opinion but please try to understand the characters culture, environment, view points and etc.
DeleteI don't think she is acting weak if the line is crossed I'm sure she will deal with it. But as it is adding a little more when she cooks isn't really any more effort, especially since she was already sending a little over anyway. She fell in love so she wants to be good to her husband being kind isn't being weak sometimes you make compromises for the people you love That's actually healthy in a relationship if it go's both ways. Also she's not giving in by saying she would be willing to have another child she just cares about her husband a lot and changed her mind!
ReplyDeleteAgreed
DeleteAgreed
Deletewhy the hell are you so freaking invested to this extent? chill. it's fiction for heck sake. but all of you make everything into a topic. why does it bother you so much? if you can't handle this much then stop reading cause it looks like the more you read, the more you're gonna be offended so stop
DeleteWhat? Why is people suddenly disliking her? Although she's tough, of course she cannot go on like that. She came to like and bond with her instant family, of course she would try to accommodate them in her life. Since the first few chapters, her only requirement in living was not to be taken advantage of. I think she's doing great so far at adapting and still maintaining her individuality. Look, her MIL no longer nagged at her. She reach her goal already and didn't care. Having good relationship with them was just a plus.
ReplyDeleteAgreed
DeleteThose people just want to be enraged for a fictional character who she herself aint that mad about it.
DeleteLike damn imagine living life with people you like (& have choice to ditch) while not wanting to tolerate/adapt/compromise at all. Must be an insane concept ��
I so love this. I especially want to get a husband like Qing Bai. What's wrong with wanting to have a daughter? At least he is a doting husband. Always listening to his wife. A very good one. I'm so envious! And Qing He can't be discovered and it's not wrong to be a submissive wife. Give and take. This is actually really bliss. So so good.
ReplyDeleteAgreee
DeleteYep agree with you guys, too. I don't think there's nothing wrong with the FL. I think she had to pretty much move on and accept that she has transmigrated to a different period. What's the point of wallowing in misery due to "kidnapping" when she can't do anything about it. Fl is pretty optimistic, had adjusted to the time period and naturally fell in love with her partner. Also, she loves the man what's wrong with wanting to have a kid not that not having a kid is a bad thing? And maybe, it really is just an Asian thing where the parents are looked after when they're old. Sure, might grumble a little.. I'm Asian and I get it. Thanks for the hard work TL!
ReplyDeleteAgreed
DeleteI don't really like it tbh, how she's just decided to help out now, but welp whatever I guess.
ReplyDeleteNo, not really, have some balls mc why do you have to do it ? ...... Sigh imma drop it if the mc gets too stupid, it's showing signs of going there.
Mother Zhou wanted to say if pregnant, then give birth. Who would disdain in having too many sons in this era?
ReplyDeletefather zhou: 'btch we poor!'
yo tuve una hija hace 11 años y realmente fue doloroso y frustrante a pesar que tuve la ayuda de mi madre cuando lloraba demasiado hay un limite en lo que pueden ayudar al bebe,realmente odie esa experiencia y hasta la fecha no quiero saber de tener mas hijos .
ReplyDeleteА нельзя подкупить врача и соврать про диагноз? Ну куда ещё ребёнка, Цин Хэ и так много физически работает. Ещё один ребёнок - пострадает и её здоровье, и здоровье мужа. Потому что в пору урожая со свиньями у него нет сил возиться.
ReplyDeleteI recommended this to my sister but after reading it she told me she didn't want to get married hahahaha. She said that the strong protagonist she admired became soft and gave way to her husband too much when she fell in love ��. She didn't want to end up like the FL.
ReplyDeleteI keep getting confused whether MC wants a fourth kid or not. I don't think she 'got softer', it just got more difficult for us readers to guess what she really wants. Has she expressed herself clearly on this issue?
ReplyDeleteI keep getting vibes that she wants a kid, but also that she doesn't want a kid. Maybe it's the fear of childbirth? She doesn't want anymore stress? Or maybe she wants a child, but since she knows she can't, she's depressed? Depending on her personality, MC should really make this all clear. She should explain to her husband about being unable to give birth anymore, and then she should explain her thoughts on giving birth.
And the husband should chillax. I get you're a hard working man, and you should have a say in family issues, but BIRTH is something that drains the MOTHER. Talk to her!
I'm getting tired here. This all could be solved with a simple convo!!
Try discussing about childbirth or pregnancy to those who lives in 1960s.
DeleteAt that time woman is regarded as inferior than men. That's why they prefer son. Also woman values in those time are virtue, fertility, and maybe background. They don't have the same standing and no gender equality either.
No matter how good the ML is, his way of thinking is still being influenced by the culture, belief and environment around him.
As a reader it's okay to have opinions, but don't try to force your belief to the characters. Especially this setting is on 1960s and in rural area too, where many things are different than now. So please understand the characters culture and environment. So that we might understand their viewpoint and what the author want to potrays.
To me this novel is very realistic and no such thing as ML always bending to FL, especially given their circumstances and culture.
He only piles on more work for her. Burden of a husband, no amount of good sex can make up for the troubles you're bringing your wife.
ReplyDeleteGood grief, give our FL a break. If I have a husband who will share the housework AND can provide food and security, I wouldn't mind having his babies.
ReplyDeleteBut alas, haven't found one that's worth it hahah
y'all with definitely crash and burn if you manage to get transmigrated to the past with your modern setting. shut down that modern mentality for a second and just think, all the stuff that the ML does for her and doesn't complain, do you think men of those days with just do them when told? especially by their wives? in a rural community with strict familiar and environmental upbringing that strongly distingushes between a man and a woman's role in the family? heck no. he works hard all day, comes back home and has to deal with some chores as well. He literally washes his and his children's clothes. Do you think men of those days would be willing to accepts doing that? even some men of today's age would scorn at doing that after coming from work but you guys just wanna bash him and also bash her for not getting in his face because he wants another child. He probably wants another child because he knows that he wasn't around to care and help her when she was pregnant with their 3 boys and wants to make up for it now. grow up and maybe reset your mindset when reading books like these.
ReplyDeleteAgree
DeleteTaking care of others is not a sign of weakness y'all. It takes a lot of strength to be a care giver.
ReplyDeleteFemininity and flexibility are strengths that FL obviously have.
Please don't base strength on perceived 'manly' traits, like being stoic or harsh, that's your internalized misogyny speaking.