Chapter 173: Adding a pair of chopsticks

Yu Xiangnian hugged Cheng Jingmo back and said, “Cheng Jingmo, you’re actually better than me. You’ve gone through so many hardships since you were a child, but you never became pessimistic or dark. You’ve always strived to improve and treated everyone with kindness.”

“You’re the kind of person with a stable and strong core. Even without me, you would still succeed. You will become someone even more remarkable than my father!”

Cheng Jingmo said, “Without you by my side, no matter how successful I become, it would lack something.”

The two embraced each other, whispering their heartfelt thoughts.

As they chatted, Yu Xiangnian suddenly said, “Cheng Jingmo, my stomach hurts a bit.”

Cheng Jingmo asked worriedly, “Did you eat something bad?”

“My period has started.”

“I never heard you mention that it hurts when it comes.”

“Maybe it’s because I’m not used to the environment here.”

Cheng Jingmo got up and lit the kerosene lamp. “I’ll make you some red sugar water with boiled eggs.”

“Add more sugar.”

While Cheng Jingmo was in the kitchen boiling eggs, Cheng Huazi, wrapped in a cotton jacket and wearing cotton shoes, came in.

“Father, why aren’t you asleep yet?”

“I can’t sleep when I’m old,” Cheng Huazi adjusted his jacket. “What are you doing?”

Cheng Jingmo replied, “Yu Xiangnian isn’t feeling well, so I’m making her some red sugar water with eggs.”

Cheng Huazi walked over to the stove, took a look, and then sat on a small stool by the stove.

He took out his pipe, picked a burning piece of wood from the stove with tongs, lit his pipe, and took a puff.

Then he slowly said, “Jianwa, you’ve been married for over a year now, and your wife’s belly hasn’t shown any signs?”

The water in the pot boiled, and Cheng Jingmo cracked two eggs, the shells breaking open.

He put the eggs in the pot and said calmly, “We don’t plan to have children for now.”

Before Yu Xiangnian suggested not having children yet, Cheng Jingmo had always thought that having children was a natural thing. If they came, they would have them; if not, they would wait.

But since Yu Xiangnian didn’t want to have children, he respected her decision. Except for the first time, they had been using contraception every time.

Cheng Huazi had never heard such a thing before and said disapprovingly, “Isn’t marrying a wife all about having children?”

After a pause, he softened his tone and said, “You’ve always had your own ideas since you were a child. If you two don’t want children, then don’t.”

“Father, I have something to ask of you. It’s not a troublesome matter. If you can’t decide, you can discuss it with your wife.”

Cheng Jingmo’s gaze remained indifferent as always. “Father, please go ahead.”

Cheng Huazi took another puff of his pipe. “You see, there are so many children in the family. I was thinking, why not take one with you? Choose between Laoliu and Damao; they’re older and more obedient. Of course, if you can take both, that’s even better!”

“You know the kids here have a hard life! They’ll be farmers their whole lives. Now that you’ve made something of yourself, you have the ability to help the family. If they succeed like you, the Cheng family will remember your contribution.”

“Besides, you and your wife are willing to raise Xiao Jie, who’s not related to you at all. These are our own children; we should help our own family even more. Your wife seems proud, so talk to her first and prepare her mentally.”

Cheng Huazi spoke as if Cheng Jingmo had already agreed to take the children.

Cheng Jingmo’s eyes were on the boiling eggs in the pot. He listened quietly until Cheng Huazi finished speaking. Then he said, “Father, that’s not possible.”

Cheng Huazi paused his pipe in mid-air. “Why not?”

Cheng Jingmo said, “We adopted Xiao Jie because he has no parents.”

In other words, Laoliu and Damao had parents, so he couldn’t raise them.

“How can you say that?” Cheng Huazi’s tone was stern. “Raising one is raising; raising two is just an extra pair of chopsticks! Your wife is idle anyway; taking care of two more kids won’t be too hard for her!”

Cheng Jingmo said, “She’s not idle; she does a lot.”

Cheng Huazi asked, “What can she do? Even the laundry and cooking are done by you!”

The eggs in the pot were ready, and Cheng Jingmo scooped them along with the sugar water into a bowl.

“What she does is more meaningful than these tasks. She can translate foreign languages into ours, treat illnesses, and knows a lot of things we don’t!”

“Father, it’s my decision to disagree with this. Please don’t bring it up again.”

Cheng Jingmo extinguished the fire in the stove, holding the kerosene lamp in one hand and the bowl of eggs in the other as he walked out of the kitchen.

He left Cheng Huazi sitting on the small stool, the tobacco in his pipe glowing intermittently in the darkness.

Cheng Jingmo pushed open the door to their room and placed the bowl on the bedside table. “Eat it while it’s hot.”

Yu Xiangnian sat up lethargically and pouted, “You added ginger.”

She could smell it and didn’t like the taste of ginger.

“I only put in two small pieces. This way, your stomach will stay warm.” Cheng Jingmo coaxed her like a child. “I’ll feed you. Hold your breath while you drink, and you won’t smell it.”

In the next room, Zhang Hongli and Cheng Shuansuo had just finished their business.

Zhang Hongli, cleaning herself with some paper, whispered, “Listen to that! That fox spirit has her husband running around for her in the middle of the night!”

Cheng Shuansuo, half-closed eyes and lazily said, “If you looked like her, I’d let you boss me around too.”

Zhang Hongli pinched his arm hard. “I knew you were attracted to her! The night she arrived, you couldn’t take your eyes off her!”

Cheng Shuansuo pushed her away. “Get lost! Stop spouting nonsense!”

Zhang Hongli, even angrier, pinched him harder. “Nonsense?! You used to come to me every three to five days, but since she came, you’re here every night. Are you imagining I’m her?”

Cheng Shuansuo turned away from her and said nothing more.

Who knows if he was too tired or if she had hit the mark.

In another room, Li Cuihua tucked in Damao, who had kicked off his blanket, and said, “Shuanzhu, Brother Jianwa is so good to his wife!”

Cheng Shuanzhu mumbled in his sleep, “Mm.”

Li Cuihua leaned closer and said, “Shuanzhu, let me tell you. They’re only staying for a month. If there’s anything we don’t like, keep it to ourselves and don’t offend them.”

“Brother Jianwa is supporting half of our family! Besides, Brother Jianwa is so successful now, we might need his help in the future. We can’t afford to offend them, understand?”

Cheng Shuanzhu, half-awake, said, “Brother Jianwa and I were close as kids. We used to forage for food in the hills and rivers together. If anyone bullied him, I would help him. Besides, him pampering his wife doesn’t use my money or effort, so why should I offend him!”

“Glad you understand that!” Li Cuihua lay down. “Sleep now. We have to work early tomorrow.”

After drinking the red sugar water, Yu Xiangnian lay down but couldn’t sleep due to the pain.

When Cheng Jingmo lay down, he placed his warm hands on her lower abdomen.

“Close your eyes; I’ll rub it for you.”

“Cheng Jingmo, how do you know about this?”

If Yu Xiangnian didn’t know Cheng Jingmo had never been in a relationship before, she might have thought a previous girlfriend had taught him.

Cheng Jingmo replied, “I heard it from my married comrades.”

Yu Xiangnian didn’t know when she fell asleep.