Tuesday 22 December 2020

BTTS 226




Chapter 226. Can't birth


Lin Qing He didn't know about eldest son's current wish was to enter university to get work and save money to buy a house.

If going according to the college students' condition, he doesn't really need to buy a house. The work unit will allocate one to him. What's more, a unit's accommodation of an excellent standard.

Da Wa hadn't got employment yet, so he didn't know this.

The snow came late this year. It wasn't until late November when it began to fall.

These days, Lin Qing He was learning and reciting words and sentences in English when she was idle.

After the year turned over, it will be '76. After another turnover, it will be the year when the college entrance examination is restored.

Counting the time, it was really soon.

Lin Qing He pore over the book. Zhou Qing Bai returned with Er Wa and San Wa from outside. The father and sons went for a run. Their faces were red when they came back.

Lin Qing He came out to check and said, "Don't you know to apply some vanishing cream before you go out?"

Then she took out the cream for the father and sons to smear. Er Wa and San Wa grabbed a mirror and put it on. Zhou Qing Bai had Lin Qing He.

"Mother, my uncle (3rd Bro Lin) just came over and asked Father if he wants to hunt pheasants. I want to go with my father." Er Wa said.

"You're going, then I'm going too!" San Wa immediately followed up.

"You stay at home and wait for us to hunt and bring a pheasant back to nourish you." Er Wa hurriedly interjected.

He feared that he'll get implicated by him and can't go either.

"I can hunt by myself. What use do I need you for?" San Wa retorted.

Er Wa became mad. San Wa ignored him and looked directly at his parents.

"Tomorrow, I will make sticky bean paste buns. It's gonna be busy. Both of you have to stay to help." Lin Qing He said in a huff.

"Mother, my eldest brother went the last time." Er Wa pointed out.

"After that one time, I get frightened at the thought of it. You two will stay here. You don't want this blessing of being able to stay indoors on these snowy days and want to wander outside. You got to be idle." Lin Qing He said.

On the next day, Zhou Qing Bai went hunting pheasant with Third Brother Lin. Lin Qing He kept Er Wa and San Wa back to help make bean paste buns.

Mother Zhou also joined in.

Sticky bean paste buns were the most commonly eaten in winter. They were also delicious. A family's favorite.

Mother Zhou told Lin Qing He about what she had heard: "Don't know where this plague( a person) came from. A big hole was torn open in the granary."

Lin Qing He still had classes to teach, so she had no idea. She was surprised when she heard this: "Someone touched the granary? They want to die?"

At this time, if one dared to touch something like the granary, they will get shot without hesitation.

"That's right. But no one was caught." Mother Zhou uttered.

In her opinion, this was suicidal behavior.

Lin Qing He frowned. During this time, this actually happened. She can almost imagine how chaotic it will be when the restriction loosens in the future. At that time, it'll truly be demons dancing.

"When I go out in the future, you should come and take a look often, Mother." Even though they had Fei Ying, it still felt unsafe.

"There is no need to worry in our village. There are neighbors left and right. Once Fei Ying bark, they can hear." Mother Zhou assured, "Still, I will come over often."

Lin Qing He nodded.

Zhou Qing Bai and Third Brother Lin came back in the evening. They were carrying a few pheasants.

Third Brother Lin took two back. The rest was left at this side.

Family members should be nourished a bit. Last winter, Father Zhou was seriously ill. This year he earned six points.

Putting aside the fact that he didn't want to push himself, he couldn't even if he wanted to. He was getting older.

The days passed, it was December.

When she woke up in the morning, the yard was covered with thick snow. It snowed quite heavily. The whole family was eating breakfast when the neighboring Mrs. Huang came over to ask for brown sugar.

Her daughter-in-law gave birth to another chubby boy last night. However, brown sugar at this time was really hard to buy.

So she came over to ask Lin Qing He.

"We got a jin. However, i'll need to use it later, so I can only give you half a jin, Auntie." Lin Qing He said.

Lin Qing He scooped out half a jin for her. Mrs. Huang paid slightly more money. Lin Qing He only took the market price. Huang Da Niang persisted: "Teacher Lin, please don't be polite with me. I know it's because it's me, otherwise, you'll be reluctant to give it. This money must be given."

"It's a joyous event to welcome the baby. We don't mind it. If you are like this, then I'll just say we got none in the future, Auntie." Lin Qing He said.

An extra two dime was given for the half a jin of brown sugar. How could Lin Qing He possibly accept these two dimes? They were neighbors. She would rather suffer a loss than let people have a chance to smear her.


Mrs. Huang smiled and then took it back, "Thank you, Teacher Lin."

"No need to thank. If I need it urgently and Auntie have, won't you also scoop some for me?" Lin Qing He smiled.


When Mrs. Huang went back, Lin Qing He continued eating.

Mother Zhou didn't say anything in front of her grandchildren. Once in private, she muttered to Lin Qing He: "Really. They knew she was close to giving birth and still didn't diligently head to the supply and demand cooperative. Instead, they came here to exchange."

Although she had a good relationship with Mrs. Huang, Mother Zhou disapproved of how she obviously came to take advantage.

The community's supply and demand cooperatives may have limited supply. However, if one wasn't afraid of hardship and to travel to the county city, they will be able to buy it after a few more trips, right?

"It's just a little brown sugar." Lin Qing He didn't mind.

What's more, she can get it easily. Since she got Shen Yu, she can buy everything she needs when she gets there. Milk powder had extremely limited stock. Still, she can also make reservations with Shen Yu. Once the goods were in stock, she will set aside two bags for her first.

Not much, just two bags.

Brown sugar was one of the materials she brought over. It was all used up. After all, it was only 20 jins. Not a lot. This batch was indeed bought at the supply and demand cooperative.

She owned a bicycle, so the journey to and back was quick.

Mother Zhou just muttered a few words. She didn't keep it at heart. It was unknown what went through her mind when she uttered: “It's enough to have Da Wa and the boys. Once they grow up, one of them can match a family of few."


Lin Qing He understood at once. This was comforting her on the matter of having babies, right?

She hadn't gotten pregnant since San Wa.

If Mother Zhou found out that she had ligated herself, then there will be no end to this matter. Afraid this was going to lodge in Mother Zhou's heart and not be overcome for a lifetime.

However, Zhou Qing Bai put the blame on himself. He explained that he was the cause, so they can't have any more babies.

With this, Mother Zhou felt a little guilty towards her.


Have to say, Lin Qing He had to give Zhou Qing Bai a thumb for what he did.

Sometimes, during the conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, the son had to shoulder the blame. Only then, they can peacefully co-exist.

"I feel my sons have been properly raised. They can compare to seven or eight brothers." Lin Qing He followed.

Mother Zhou was satisfied.

10 comments:

  1. Thank you for the chapter!!!
    Wuoooooh! The college entrance examinations are coming close😃😄😁

    ReplyDelete
  2. thank you for chapter! thumbs up for ZQB, he really loves LQH

    ReplyDelete
  3. Every time i read some chapter, my heart getting warmer

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for the chapter!

    Lin Qing He pore over the book. -> pore?

    community's supply and demand cooperatives may have limited. -> limited amount/supply

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Dorai_O!

      Google searched and verified- "The phrase meaning to study carefully is pore over"
      Source:https://grammarist.com/spelling/pore-over-pour-over/#:~:text=The%20phrase%20meaning%20to%20study,nothing%20to%20do%20with%20studying.

      Latter is corrected.

      Delete
  5. I was hoping that a miracle would happen and LQH would get pregnant but alas even when I want a little brother or sister from my mother, she's already ligated like LQH so I should just wish for another brother or sister in my next life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Official estimates show that within 10 years of having the tubal ligation done, between 18 to 37 women out of 1,000 become pregnant. That means there’s about a 2% to 4% chance pregnancy might happen. In these cases, the women’s tubes grow back together, making pregnancy possible again. But your age plays a significant role. The older you are, the lower your chances of pregnancy after tubal sterilization. There’s only about a 1% chance for women age 34 and older."

      Delete