Back to the 60s: The Struggle Career of a Charmed Wife
Chapter 264 - 0264: Giving Birth in the Countryside 4_1

Chapter 264: Chapter 0264: Giving Birth in the Countryside 4_1

"Lu Jiang’s wife is pregnant, isn’t she? Congratulations, congratulations!"

"How long has it been? You have never mentioned it. You are so silly, being pregnant yourself and still helping others with childbirth."

"Just looking at you, you can tell you’re so blessed, got pregnant just after getting married. Maybe a fat little boy next year."

In the midst of everyone’s congratulations, Feng Qingxue saw Niu Xiuying, who was constantly rubbing corn.

She wore a patched hat, rolled up her shirt sleeves to her elbows, and from the bamboo basket at her feet, an occasional baby’s cry could be heard. The way she was handling the corn did not at all reflect a woman who had given birth less than ten days ago.

Niu Xiuying was rubbing corn with one hand and patting the child in the basket with the other. It was indeed too hard!

Feng Qingxue was filled with emotions and admired them sincerely.

Wang Fengqiao noticed her niece’s look, glanced at Niu Xiuying, turned around, and said with a smile: "During harvest time, which woman gets to rest a full month after childbirth? Only the most fortunate women. Generally, they go back to work in the fields a few days after giving birth. However, you don’t have to worry. When you deliver a baby, I’ll take care of you during your confinement period, for the full month. Lu Jiang absolutely adores you, he doesn’t mind if you don’t earn contribution points from working the fields. That’s why before he left, he made your uncle promise to take good care of you so as not to exhaust you."

Back then, she had guessed that Feng Qingxue was probably pregnant. She whispered it to a few sisters-in-law, but they didn’t quite believe her. Now they do, don’t they?

A pregnant woman and a non-pregnant woman look completely different.

Feng Qingxue smiled slightly, her heart sweet, "I will be depending on you, auntie!" She was in a position where she didn’t have to follow the example of women like Niu Xiuying and absolutely wouldn’t work hard in the fields close to delivering and only a few days after giving birth.

She was definitely going to observe confinement and for a full forty-two days at that.

There were no senior female family members at home, so preparations needed to be made in advance. She didn’t have to worry about the baby’s clothes and diapers, as there was plenty of fabric in her space. Lu Jiang’s father and several nephews could help with washing, so there was no need to worry. It was just that her own clothes for postnatal care would be a bit bothersome.

"Lu Jiang has been gone for quite a while now, hasn’t he reached his unit yet?" Wang Fengqiao asked.

Feng Qingxue nodded, "He’s been there for quite some time."

About half a month ago, she received a telegram from Lu Jiang. He had been on the train for ten days before returning to his unit. He confirmed that he had arrived safely and then went to the hospital for a check-up. Recently, however, she hadn’t heard from him. She didn’t know how he was recovering or whether he had been following Wu Zheng’s advice and getting massages and acupuncture from Dr. Guo or Guo Xiuying to heal his arm and leg.

As they were talking, Wang Zhengguo came over and said: "Xue, there’s a letter and a package for you. The postman delivered it directly to our brigade."

Feng Qingxue was startled. At first, she thought it was from Lu Jiang. When she brought it home, she discovered it was sent by one of Lu Jiang’s comrades.

This comrade, by the name of Hu Ping, briefly introduced his background and current situation in the letter. He was working at a logging yard in the Northeast. Lu Jiang wanted to get some nice things for his pregnant wife, so he sent her a lot of local products as nourishment - a large bag of pine nuts, a large bag of hazelnuts, a large bag of dried mushrooms, a dried wild boar’s leg, two dried wild chickens, and half a slice of dried roe deer.

Their location was near a deep forest, quite a natural treasure trove. They often found food in the mountains, so they never went hungry.

Hu Ping didn’t mention needing anything in return. Feng Qingxue thought for a moment, made an excuse to check her pulse with Wu Zheng, and then went into town. She sent Hu Ping thirty jin of cornmeal and twenty jin of white flour, stating their hometown had a good harvest and they had a surplus to exchange goods.

.

The temperature suddenly dropped by more than ten degrees, and it was going to rain today. It was so cold, and there were many people catching colds. Fortunately, she went early, or else there wouldn’t have been enough seats.