The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 494 - 465 Stir, Happy Event, Reason_1

Chapter 494: Chapter 465 Stir, Happy Event, Reason_1

A village of three hundred souls saw a twenty-five percent increase in population today.

It’s true that the more people, the greater the strength, but it will take a good few years before these pea pods grow up!

Niu Peng asked privately, "Younger Brother Qi, how did the population in your village suddenly increase by so much!"

Village Chief Qi was at a loss for words too, as he didn’t know why, and said, "These darned things, they’ve got nothing better to do after a full meal than to hit the hay! What’s even weirder is that out of ten pregnant women, seven or eight are expecting twins."

More than once, Village Chief Qi wondered to himself whether the Divine Dragon on the back mountain was too fond of their village, which was why their village was continuously growing.

Niu Peng became even more curious, his eyes whirling round as he said, "That’s really weird about your village! You should go back and thoroughly investigate it to find out the actual reason!"

There is a cause for everything; nothing happens without reason.

"Alright," Village Chief Qi agreed, deciding to go back and ask those who had given birth exactly what they did to have so many children, and mostly twins at that. What was going on?

After discussing serious matters with Niu Peng, Village Chief Qi said with a smile, "Boss Niu, that good-for-nothing second son of mine has taken a liking to your Lili. Oh man, not to boast, but Lili is such a wonderful girl! Because Rongjun has always been serving in the army, Lili has never complained. Seeing Rongjun at this age, he should be getting married."

Qi Rongjun and Niu Lili had already gotten engaged last year, but Qi Rongjun couldn’t make it back due to his duties.

This year, he had leave that just happened to coincide with the wedding.

Niu Peng didn’t beat around the bush and nodded, saying, "Okay then, you prepare everything on Qijia Village’s end. But you know, since Lili works in the county town, she can’t stay in Qijia Village for long. I’m preparing a courtyard for Lili in the county town. What do you think, Brother He?"

Upon hearing this, Village Chief Qi was even more delighted and said, "That works, that way Lili can also commute to work easily. My eldest has already moved out, and Rongjun, our youngest, will stay with us without separating."

"Great, when two goods combine, that is for the best. We’re all just wanting what’s best for the kids, so let’s not quibble over the minor details," Niu Peng said politely, with great magnanimity.

Although Niu Peng put it that way, Village Chief Qi was no fool, and considering Qi Rongjun was a son he valued highly, of course, he wanted to arrange everything the best he could.

After returning home, Village Chief Qi kept searching for the reason, but he was neither a doctor nor a fortune teller, so how could he know?

When visiting Third Grandma Qi’s house for a drink, Village Chief Qi complained to He Jingyu that he couldn’t find the cause.

Upon hearing this, He Tiantian’s eyes lit up, and she found the Snake King.

"Snake King, do these twin births have anything to do with you?" He Tiantian inquired, suspecting that the changes in Qijia Village had a great deal to do with the Snake King.

The Snake King took two steps back repeatedly, stammering, "It wasn’t me, I didn’t do it."

He Tiantian rolled her eyes in exasperation, finding the Snake King rather amusing. Did he really think of himself as the male version of the White Lady?

"I did some calculations, and it turns out that nearly all of the pregnant women love soaking in the hot springs on the back mountain. The water boils because of your cultivation, don’t you think it is related to you?" He Tiantian asked. The transformations in Qijia Village and the dozens of pairs of twins might have a great deal to do with the Snake King.

The Snake King scratched his head and said, "Maybe there’s some of my leftover spiritual power in the water that has changed its properties. You know, although we Spirit Snake Clan don’t produce tens of eggs like those Pythons per birth, we usually lay around seven or eight eggs."

He Tiantian paused, then mused, "I vaguely understand now. Could something from you be dissolved in the water, enhancing the fertility of women?"

Hearing He Tiantian’s query, the Snake King’s eyes grew misty and even showed a hint of shyness as he nodded, "It seems that way, but let it be. As long as it’s not harming anyone, I must go back to my cultivation now."

He Tiantian wanted to ask more, but the Snake King had already vanished.

"Alas, the Snake King has grown up, and it seems like he doesn’t want to stay with me anymore," He Tiantian said with a sigh, filled with the sentiment that children don’t need their mothers as much once they’re grown.

If the Snake King had heard or knew what He Tiantian was thinking, he would have been both angry and anxious.

He wanted to stay with He Tiantian, but he was afraid he couldn’t control himself!

By the end of ’74, Qijia Village was again bustling with many joyous events.

Qi Rongjun and Niu Lili got married, and He Tiantian prepared a gift—a khaki cashmere coat that her grandmother had sent her. It was a bit large, so He Tiantian gave it to Niu Lili.

Niu Lili received the coat and happily tried it on right away.

Qi Xiaoyan came home to visit her family and incidentally attend her elder brother’s wedding.

"Sister Tiantian, I’m going to apply for early discharge next year," Qi Xiaoyan said as soon as she got home, put down her luggage, and ran to find He Tiantian.

He Tiantian looked at Qi Xiaoyan, who had rosy cheeks and looked very healthy, and was very pleased.

"That’s good, spending your whole life in the military isn’t ideal," He Tiantian covered her mouth and chuckled, "Brother Dajun must be getting impatient."

"Yes, our parents are getting older, and it’s not good for me to always be away," Qi Xiaoyan said with a smile. When she had first enlisted, she wasn’t able to come home; it was Niu Dajun who went to see her. "By the way, where is your Brother Yingjie?"

"Oh, him? Who knows which mountain hollow he’s in now!" He Tiantian said. The two sisters chatted for a long time, planned to sleep together at night, and to play together during the day, happily getting along as if they were one person.

Qi Daniu was their little tag-along; whether they went out to play or to soak in the baths, she would follow.

Being around He Tiantian and Qi Xiaoyan, Qi Daniu grew more experienced and was no longer the shy girl she used to be.

Many families were hosting full-moon feasts and weddings, making this Spring Festival in Qijia Village livelier and more joyous than ever!

In a blink of an eye, it was 1975 and spring had arrived.

During the spring plowing, many people came to report that their wives and daughters-in-law were pregnant. In total, there were forty-nine this year, two fewer than the last.

Last year, due to a shortage of labor, the men in the village had worked day and night during the busy season, which was exhausting, but having new additions to their families and good weather for the crops made it all worthwhile.

Especially this year, as daughter-in-law Niu Lili was also pregnant.

Niu Peng once again asked Village Chief Qi, but he still had no idea.

During a conversation with her mother, He Tiantian had joked that it might be because of the hot springs nearby.

Wang Shuping had also privately spoken to her husband about this, so there was a high probability of the two visiting the hot springs, and as previously guessed, Wang Shuping was also pregnant.

He Jingyu saw that Village Chief Qi still hadn’t found the reason and spoke to him about the hot springs.

Village Chief Qi carefully contemplated and noticed that those fond of soaking in the hot springs seemed prone to pregnancy.

Unable to think of any other reason, he took this as an explanation to give to Niu Peng.