Chapter 5 – Making Milk Formula, The Cuckoo in the Nest

“Is your household lacking things?” Once inside, Chen’s mother lowered her voice to ask.

Chen Rou nodded. “There’s nothing at home. We have to prepare everything for winter this year.”

She had down jackets in her space, but it wasn’t convenient to take them out. After much thought, she figured she’d have to spend some money and make do with the local options.

She had gotten married in June this year. It was hot back then, and indeed, there was nothing at home. Now it was already September, and by October, the weather would start to change. October would also be a very busy month. Wasn’t it best to get things ready while there was still time?

Chen’s mother was aware of all this and said, “I’ll agree to it for you and talk to your uncle.”

Chen Rou took three yuan out of her pocket. “Take this money, Mom. Make sure to return it to Uncle later.”

“One yuan is enough,” said her mother.

“What can one yuan buy? I know the new cotton and cotton fabric coming in this year won’t be cheap,” Chen Rou shook her head.

But in the end, her mother only accepted two yuan from her.

When Chen Rou was about to leave, her mother shoved two eggs into her hands. “Go back and live well with Guobin. Try to have a baby soon.” Once a child was born, the heart would settle.

Chen Rou didn’t take the eggs and said, “Let my nephews have them.”

She already had eggs in her space, but on her way back home, she used the chance to take out eight eggs from the space.

If Han Guobin asked, she would say she traded them with an old lady on the road.

But when Han Guobin came home at noon and saw the eggs, hearing that she had brought back some tilapia and visited her family, he naturally assumed the eggs came from his mother-in-law’s house.

He knew his mother-in-law treated him well and made a note of it in his heart, but he didn’t say anything flattering.

If there ever came a time when he could help, he would surely do so without hesitation.

Chen Rou usually steamed or boiled the eggs directly. Frying used too much oil, and she only used a little oil when stir-frying vegetables. She saved wherever she could.

As for eggs, it was one per person per day—no more than that.

Still, when it came to food, Chen Rou truly put effort into it. At least for now, Han Guobin was eating much better than before.

So much so that at night, on the heated kang bed, he started getting frisky.

“It’s about to be autumn harvest. This isn’t a good time to have a child.” That night, as he clung to her, Chen Rou had no choice but to say this.

“I’ll do the work. You just cook at home,” Han Guobin replied.

This cheeky man on the kang had quite the charm. His body had been washed with soap and carried a fresh scent that made it hard to resist.

In the end, Chen Rou despised herself for being unable to withstand his sweet talk.

Han Guobin’s life now—no need to say more—could be described as blissful. He worked each day with extra energy.

Before, their married life wasn’t this harmonious, and their living standards were low. Though he still worked hard, it didn’t feel like it does now—so full of vitality.

He was just hoping his wife would get pregnant soon so that he could finally enjoy the warmth of a wife, child, and a hot bed at home.

By late September, the village began the autumn harvest.

The first crops to be harvested were peanuts, and Chen Rou joined the other women every day.

She and Zhou Zhen got along well now. Working together, Zhou Zhen saw how diligently she worked and said, “What’s gotten into you lately? I never saw you work like this before.”

“I haven’t been married long. Of course, you haven’t seen me like this before,” Chen Rou replied.

Zhou Zhen said, “Well, you sure weren’t this hardworking before.”

“I’ve had a change of heart. Now that we have our own household, this life is mine to live. If I live it well with Guobin, isn’t that better than anything?” said Chen Rou.

Zhou Zhen laughed. “Seems like you really have figured it out.”

Chen Rou continued pulling up peanuts. The team leader assigned each person a plot of land, and whoever finished first was free to go. Chen Rou wanted to join Han Guobin for lunch.

By about eleven o’clock, she had finished pulling all the peanuts from her plot.

She said to Zhou Zhen, “Hurry up too. I’m going to find my Guobin.”

“You’re not even going to help me out?” Zhou Zhen still had some left and complained.

“If you talked less and worked more, you’d be done by now.” Chen Rou waved her hand and left.

A nearby woman said to Zhou Zhen, “Guobin’s wife has really improved.”

“They sure are lovey-dovey, always calling him ‘my Guobin,’” another woman chimed in.

“Well, don’t be jealous. They’ve only been married a few months. Of course they’re all over each other,” Zhou Zhen shot back.

After spending time with Chen Rou, she genuinely found her likable. She worked fast and well, was capable both at home and in the fields, and kept her house very clean.

She also didn’t gossip about others, had a tight mouth, and Zhou Zhen never worried about private conversations leaking out.

Now, seeing someone get sour, she just snapped back.

Chen Rou went to another work area. By then, Han Guobin had almost finished too and was helping his parents. When he saw her wave at him, he smiled.

“Second Brother, didn’t you check the river? You’re smiling so brightly,” joked Han Laosan when he saw his brother like that.

Han Guobin said, “You finish the rest.”

He didn’t say much more and walked over to his wife.

Though Father Han wasn’t too pleased, he didn’t say anything. Mother Han couldn’t help muttering, “What’s this? In broad daylight, not even trying to act modest? Don’t they have any shame? So clingy, those two.”

A nearby older woman was clearly displeased and said, “Sister-in-law Han, your second son isn’t some stray. I saw you give birth to him with my own eyes. Why treat him like he’s worthless? Now that the young couple is finally living well, just let them be.”

Mother Han was immediately unhappy and was about to retort, but Han Laosan quickly said, “Mom, stop it. We haven’t even finished pulling peanuts. I want to eat soon. I’m starving.”

Only then did Mother Han drop the matter. But watching her second son forget his mother now that he had a wife, she still couldn’t help but feel stifled.

The older woman saw it and muttered with another woman nearby.

To some extent, everyone had a bit of favoritism. After all, even fingers came in different lengths. With many children, those feelings naturally arose.

But such blatant favoritism like in the Han family wasn’t all that common.

Especially when it came to Han Guobin, a young man from the village who was known for his good looks, life at the old Han household truly wasn’t as good as that of an ox.

Plenty of people talked about it behind his back.

At this moment, Chen Rou had already pulled Han Guobin over to the river to wash his face and hands.

Only after that did the couple come over to eat under the tree.

They were eating steamed buns, which had already gone cold by now, but that was fine. In addition to the buns, there was also a bowl of scrambled eggs with green onions, which had been cooked earlier that morning before they left home.

The couple ate the buns along with the scrambled eggs.

Unlike other big families who had someone at home to cook, they had to prepare their food before going out to work and bring it along.

There were quite a few young couples like them—relying on themselves for everything.

However, what others brought usually wasn’t as good as what they had.

Chen Rou’s steamed buns had been made with refined white flour, giving them a much better texture. Even though they were cold, they weren’t hard or dry.

Eaten with the scrambled eggs and green onions, they tasted quite good.

“Wifey, are you tired?” Han Guobin asked after finishing his food.

“Of course I am.” Chen Rou glanced at him and said, “My back almost couldn’t straighten up.”

Her voice was naturally soft and gentle, so her words carried a hint of coyness.

“Once I’m done, I’ll come help you,” Han Guobin said.

“If you come help me, what about your parents?” Chen Rou asked.

“Third Brother’s there to help them,” Han Guobin replied, not taking it to heart.

Originally, his parents lived with his third brother. He only helped out because they were right next door. But now that his wife needed him, of course he’d prioritize her.

“Then come help me a bit. My back’s sore,” Chen Rou said.

Don’t doubt it—she said it on purpose. Her back was sore, yes, but not unbearably so. What actually bothered her was the look her mother-in-law had given her earlier. She didn’t want to fuss with an elder, but didn’t her mother-in-law remember that the family had already been split? They were separate households now—helping each other was a favor, not a duty.

Even the household registration had been shifted to align with the youngest son, so obviously it should be him helping out.

Han Guobin nodded. “Take it easy, leave some for me to do.”

They still had more work to do in the afternoon, so the couple rested under the tree for a while. Chen Rou was a bit tired and soon fell asleep leaning on his shoulder.

Han Guobin turned to look at his wife with a gentle expression in his eyes. Leaning against the tree trunk, he closed his eyes as well.

This spot was a bit farther away, and others who had finished working also went to find places to rest—but no one came over here.

Still, it was clear to everyone now: Han Guobin and his wife were a loving couple.

Even though social conduct was quite strict in these times, they were legally married after all.

Some sour-tongued people couldn’t help but mutter about improper conduct, but no one really paid them any mind.

When the team whistle blew, Han Guobin and Chen Rou both stood up.

“Time to get back to work,” Chen Rou said to him.

“I’ll be right there,” Han Guobin nodded.

Chen Rou smiled and headed over, joining Zhou Zhen again to continue working.

But there was no denying that the autumn harvest was exhausting. By the time she finished and went home with Han Guobin, even Chen Rou, who wasn’t made of iron, didn’t feel like cooking.

Still, after a full day of labor, how could they not eat?

“I’ll do it,” Han Guobin volunteered.

Chen Rou raised an eyebrow. “All right then, go ahead.”

Han Guobin cooked a thin porridge and stir-fried cabbage with lard to go with it.

Chen Rou didn’t mind at all. After eating, she went to take a bath. Today had been really tiring, so Han Guobin took care of all the household chores.

After tidying up, he also bathed and washed the laundry before finally heading back into the room.

Chen Rou had already made a cup of milk for him.

She had three cans of adult milk powder in her space—Nestlé brand—which was perfect for nutritional supplementation.

She’d already tried it herself; this cup was specially prepared for him.