Daily Life in the 70s
Chapter 304 Sweet Talk

Chapter 304: Chapter 304 Sweet Talk

Yang PeiMin was completely intent on going home for dinner.

Shen Yiguang tightened her scarf for her and walked shoulder-to-shoulder with her towards the door.

"You looked so cool shoveling the snow just now!"

"Oh."

"Plus, you moved swiftly and gracefully. Especially that last move felt like the Heavenly Soldiers and Divine Generals coming to rescue someone in distress. Watching you, I felt so proud—truly, you are my man!"

"Smooth talker," Shen Yiguang couldn’t suppress a smile lifting the corners of his mouth.

Who praises their own man like this nowadays? Indeed, she was the woman he had chosen!

As for the slight jealousy he had felt earlier, it had dissipated with the wind.

After the exams had finished, everyone temporarily put their grades aside, happily preparing to go home.

Shen Yixiang felt happy yet reluctant; her visit this time gave her a sense of mission accomplished. Although she had caused Yang PeiMin to end up in the hospital earlier, which gnawed at her with guilt, she afterward put in double the effort to take care of Yang PeiMin. Finally overcoming this hurdle, she felt ready to go home and report back to Chen Guizhi.

What made her reluctant was the unconstrained, free life she had led during this period. She had spent some time learning at Sister Liu’s sewing society, which she enjoyed a lot. Wearing the beautiful clothes she made herself gave her a sense of achievement that words couldn’t describe.

She planned in her heart that after the New Year, she would come back with her elder sister-in-law, considering she’d also need looking after. Her mother would surely agree, and with this decision made, Shen Yixiang started packing more energetically.

She helped Yang PeiMin list out New Year’s gifts for everyone.

Whether the gifts were valuable or not was beside the point; it was the thought that counted. Yang PeiMin didn’t plan on buying anything expensive, just commonplace items. The easiest and most pleasing gifts were clothes. Conveniently, the sewing society had recently launched a line of menswear in two sizes, all ready-made.

She planned for each relative to receive a piece of clothing—parents and in-laws would get a whole set, while brothers and sisters-in-law would just get a coat. Since the sewing society had ready-made coats, there was no need for specific sizes, just pick and go. For the kids, she would just pay a little labor for the tailor to make them in the most popular styles.

As for the married elder sister-in-laws, Yang PeiMin discussed with Shen Yixiang, deciding not to bring clothes for them. Instead, they would bring some sweets and snacks.

Shen Yixiang nodded. "Who still buys clothes for a married daughter? Besides, she has her own husband and children; how could she manage everything? Even for myself, I’d say just bring some snacks that the kids like."

Yang PeiMin then thought of Shen Yidong, who was living at her own home.

Though she was provided for, she had taken on part of the responsibility for taking care of the elderly, which was not to say a daughter had no obligation to care for her parents. However, in these times, a married daughter was like water thrown out—a point for neither inheritance nor support. But still, it would be unreasonable not to bring something for her, as she was living in her own house, while other daughters who married far away could be overlooked.

"For the fourth sister’s family, I don’t even know what to bring; maybe just make a set of clothes for her three daughters."

Shen Yixiang initially said there was no need, but thinking of how the fourth sister had indeed done a lot for the family, having managed both the household and their mother’s illness while working, she agreed with Yang PeiMin on this.

Having bought everything needed in the city, they made another trip back to the military base.

Because Yang PeiMin’s school was on break, while Shen Yiguang hadn’t gotten leave from the military yet, this family visit followed a scheduled arrangement, which came rather late.

Shen Yixiang wanted to stay there, especially as the sewing society was very busy approaching the New Year. She felt she could help out and learn a lot there.

Shen Yiguang agreed, knowing he couldn’t really leave her alone here without worrying. It was only a few days, but he wanted to make sure nothing would happen before they could return home. Besides, Yang PeiMin still needed her care; although the pregnancy was more stable at three months, heavy household chores like carrying water and firewood would need Shen Yixiang’s help in his absence.

Shen Yiguang made his stance clear, and Shen Yixiang, not managing to argue against him, accepted it, prioritizing taking care of her sister-in-law, and regrettably followed him back to the base.

Returning to the base meant Shen Yiguang didn’t have to run around so hard.

During this period, Yang PeiMin noticed that Shen Yiguang had lost weight—not from eating less, but from severe sleep deprivation. He usually finished training at six in the evening, then rushed over two hours to the city, only to return to the base by three in the morning to make roll call at six, which left him sleeping less than five hours a night. Though he could handle it for a short time due to his background in the tough military lifestyle, even iron men would wear out over time, given the daily rigorous training.

Yet, she couldn’t stand not letting him come, being a pregnant woman who rightly deserved her husband’s company. Her pregnancy had been difficult, plagued with chest tightness, nausea, dizziness, and lack of appetite. She forced herself to attend classes and complete coursework during the day, but when she stopped, all sorts of thoughts would rush in—anxiety and fears about miscarriage or difficult labor, thoughts that proved she was not a fitting Military Wife, neither strong nor independent enough.

Shen Yiguang coming was his responsibility, but with the condition that he was a military man first, and before the nation, she should take a backseat and support his duties.

Alright, she admitted her willfulness.

Then she suggested he come every other day, but Shen Yiguang did not listen to her and came daily as usual, always eagerly discussing potential names for the child with her, accumulating a long list of backup names in the process.

All the names were for boys, although she also hoped her first child would be a boy—reality couldn’t always match one’s wishes. What if it turned out to be a little girl?

Shen Yiguang was oddly confident: "My seed, and I wouldn’t know whether it’s a boy or girl?"

Yang PeiMin was left speechless by him.

Back at the base, whether it was due to familiarity breeding contempt, the neighbors were exceptionally warm towards her.

Luo Dahua was almost hot on her heels entering the dorm, the first words out of her mouth being, "Congratulations!"

Yang PeiMin smiled at her, "Wow, you’re really well-informed."

Luo Dahua gave her a pointed look. "You kept it so tight-lipped. When Shen Ying came by to get pickles, I managed to pry it out of him."