Chapter 68

“Teacher Jiang, do you have a baby in your belly?” Zhang Xiaocao ran up to Jiang Suihan, her eyes fixed on her stomach.

Jiang Suihan smiled. “Yes, Teacher Jiang is expecting a baby.”

Zhang Xiaocao dug into the worn, old backpack slung over her shoulder and pulled out a handful of jujubes. “Teacher Jiang, these are from when Chunmei and I went to the mountain yesterday. They’re really sweet—give them to the baby!”

Yesterday was Sunday, and there were no classes. Her mother had gone out to chat with others, and Chunmei came over to play. Zhang Xiaocao hadn’t wanted to go, worried that if her mother came back and saw the house hadn’t been swept or the clothes hadn’t been washed, she would be scolded. But Chunmei didn’t say a word and immediately started helping. The two of them worked hard for half a day, and with time to spare in the afternoon, they invited some other kids from the courtyard to the mountain to pick fruit.

She was the one who found the jujube tree and called her friends to come pick the fruit together. They divided the jujubes evenly. Zhang Xiaocao only tasted a few herself, saving the rest to bring home and hide in her room. She shared some with her two younger sisters and saved the rest to give to Teacher Jiang.

Jiang Suihan picked up a jujube, casually wiped it on her clothes, and took a bite. “It’s really sweet! This is the first fresh jujube I’ve had this year. Thank you, Xiaocao.”

Zhang Xiaocao smiled shyly, pleased. “Teacher Jiang, you should eat more! I have more in my bag.”

Teacher Jiang had helped her so much, but she wasn’t capable of much. The only way she could show her gratitude was by giving her the fruit she picked herself.

Jiang Suihan took the remaining jujubes from Zhang Xiaocao’s hands and asked, “Do your parents still get mad at you?”

Zhang Xiaocao nodded, then shook her head. “They’re not angry anymore. I promised my mom I would help take care of my little brother every day after school and not slack off. My mom also promised me I could finish primary school.”

As for middle school, which was in the county, she didn’t know if her parents would let her go. But just being able to study for one more year made her feel satisfied.

In the village, most girls her age only attended school for a year or two before dropping out to help with housework—washing clothes, cooking, taking care of younger siblings, and sometimes even working in the fields. Compared to them, her life was much better now.

Jiang Suihan patted Zhang Xiaocao’s head. “If you ever need help with your studies, you can come to me.”

Zhang Xiaocao nodded vigorously.

Jiang Suihan pulled out two milk candies and handed them to Zhang Xiaocao. Lately, she had been feeling hungry often, so she always carried something to eat in her pockets at work—sometimes candy, sometimes biscuits. With the abundance of snacks at home recently, even Jiang Leyun had managed to sneak some treats.

But after eating too much candy, Jiang Leyun’s tooth started hurting. Luckily, it was a baby tooth, and just the other day, it fell out while he was gnawing on a chicken bone. He had bled so much that it scared him into tears, which was amusing.

Zhang Xiaocao shook her head, refusing the candy, and bolted off.

Watching her student’s slender legs run off so quickly, Jiang Suihan muttered to herself, “With that speed, it’s a shame she’s not in track and field.”

She glanced at the candy in her hand, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth.

She hadn’t ridden her bicycle today and slowly walked home instead.

On the way, she ran into Sister Wu and a few others.

As usual, Wu Guihua greeted her warmly. “Xiao Jiang, finished with work?”

Jiang Suihan, carrying her books, walked leisurely. The afternoon sun wasn’t harsh, and the sunlight felt pleasant on her skin.

“Yes. Are you all coming back from the mountain?”

Wu Guihua replied, “We went to gather some firewood and picked some wild greens. We found quite a lot! Xiao Jiang, would you like to take some home? Just boil them with a little salt and oil, and they’re ready to eat.”

Jiang Suihan waved her hand, “No need, we still have vegetables at home.”

She had tried wild vegetables before. A few days ago, her mother-in-law, feeling bored at home, went to the mountains with a few newly-acquainted neighbors to pick some wild vegetables. There wasn’t much—just enough for one or two servings per person. The taste was, how should I put it, not unpleasant but slightly bitter. It was tolerable but not particularly enjoyable. She ate a bite and decided not to continue, but her mother-in-law enjoyed the wild vegetables she had picked herself and said she would go again next time.

“Xiao Jiang, are you pregnant?” one of the women suddenly asked.

Jiang Suihan recognized her as He Shuiqing, the woman who had spread the initial rumors about Wang Lijuan. Everyone in the family compound knew that Wang Lijuan and He Shuiqing didn’t get along. They had a mutual dislike and would often argue whenever they were in the same place.

“Sister He, did you notice?” Jiang Suihan asked.

He Shuiqing laughed, “Your clothes are loose, and your belly isn’t showing much yet, so it’s hard to tell. I only guessed because I heard your mother-in-law mention it. Last night, while chatting with everyone downstairs, your mother-in-law mentioned casually that you’re not feeling well, so I figured you must be pregnant. How many months along are you?”

Jiang Suihan’s mother-in-law had been staying in the family compound for a month, making frequent trips to the nearby market and even going to the county with a car last week, buying a lot of things she couldn’t carry alone, which was why the little soldiers at the gate had to help.

Everyone was speculating about the reason. One of the women analyzed that the reason must be because Jiang Suihan was pregnant, so her mother-in-law hurried from the capital to take care of her. She pampered her daughter-in-law, making sure she didn’t have to do any work, and it seemed like she was treating her like royalty. People wondered why she would leave a good life in the capital to endure hardships here.

Jiang Suihan smiled and replied, “Just a little over three months.”

Wu Guihua looked at Jiang Suihan’s belly in surprise and said with a smile, “You’re really pregnant? Congratulations! This is great news. You’re pregnant, and so is Xiaohong, and even Captain Ruan’s wife, who went to the hospital for a checkup two days ago. The doctor said she’s over two months along. Three pregnant women at once will definitely make the family compound lively next year.”

The others also congratulated her with smiles. Since Jiang Suihan wasn’t very familiar with them, she just politely thanked them.

He Shuiqing suddenly asked, “Does Deputy Commander Xu have any siblings?”

Jiang Suihan didn’t understand the reason for the question, “He has two older sisters.”

He Shuiqing slapped her thigh, looking somewhat exaggerated, “So that means he’s the only son in his family. Xiao Jiang, you need to work hard to have a son. If you have a daughter, Xu Zhao’s mother and the elders in the family might not be pleased, and you’ll face a lot of pressure.”

“Just like Chen Xiaohong, who had three daughters before. Her mother-in-law was so upset that she wrote her a letter scolding her, saying she was useless for not producing a son. Now Chen Xiaohong is pregnant again and keeps saying this time it will definitely be a boy. She’s so confident, but the doctor can’t guarantee it. If she ends up having another daughter, it will really be a joke.”

The tone had a hint of gloating.

Jiang Suihan frowned, disapproving, “The sex of the baby is not determined by the woman but by the man. Different combinations of chromosomes result in different outcomes. If both chromosomes are X, it’s a girl; if one is X and the other Y, it’s a boy. Don’t blindly believe everything you hear. I don’t think a son is necessarily better than a daughter.”

She didn’t go into further detail, worried that they might not understand if she explained too much.

He Shuiqing disagreed, “Xiao Jiang, you may have read a lot, but that doesn’t mean you’re right. Boys and girls can’t be the same. In our hometown, not having a son means people will criticize you, and you’ll never hold your head high. After you die, there will be no son to perform the rites. I have a cousin with two daughters only. The couple is very honest, but everyone in the village bullies them because they don’t have a son.”

She cast a sidelong glance at Jiang Suihan, secretly thinking that maybe reading too many books had messed up her brain. Sons are for carrying on the family name, while daughters are like spilled water. How can they be the same?

It seems that too much education might not be good for women. Her own daughter shouldn’t read too many books—knowing a few characters will suffice.

Wu Guihua asked in surprise, “Xiao Jiang, is what you said true? The sex of the baby has nothing to do with the woman. It’s all about the man?”

She had lived for thirty years and was hearing this for the first time, which completely overturned her previous beliefs.

Jiang Suihan shook her head and laughed, “It’s not like that. Without men, how could women have children? Simply put, our genetic material comes in two types of chromosomes, X and Y. Women have two X chromosomes, while men have one X and one Y. When the chromosomes combine, there are two possibilities: either two Xs or one X and one Y. The former results in a girl, and the latter in a boy. Do you understand now?”

The four people in front of her shook their heads in unison, their faces showing a look of confusion.

Jiang Suihan rubbed her forehead, “If you don’t understand, that’s fine. Just remember that whether a woman can have a son is not up to the woman but the man.”

She felt like she had lost several brain cells explaining this and began to doubt if she was suited to be a teacher if she couldn’t explain such a simple concept clearly.

Jiang Suihan asked again, “Didn’t the women’s federation in your village ever provide education on this topic?”

Wu Guihua shook her head, “We have a women’s director in the village, but she’s just someone from the village herself, in her thirties or forties, who knows a few characters. She doesn’t understand what you’re talking about with genes and chromosomes. Moreover, bringing this up in the village would lead to conflicts with the old women. They don’t care about book knowledge; they stick to traditional beliefs. If a daughter-in-law doesn’t produce a son, it’s always considered her fault, regardless of the husband’s situation.”

The old women in the village are quite formidable, with outdated and conservative views. Trying to reason with them is pointless and will only frustrate yourself.

He Shuiqing nodded in agreement: “Indeed, people have been living like this for hundreds of years. If you suddenly tell someone that it’s not the woman’s fault if she can’t have a son, but rather the man’s inability, who would believe that? If someone doesn’t beat you up, it’s just because they’re kind. It’s fine to say such things among us, but don’t mention it to Chen Xiaohong. If she finds out, she might go home and have a falling out with her husband immediately.”

Jiang Suihan didn’t know what expression to make. Just as she was about to speak, she saw someone approaching.

“What are you doing here?”

Xu Zhao walked up quickly: “I finished work and came to pick you up.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he nodded towards Wu Guihua and the others.

Wu Guihua, perceptive as ever, said, “Since Deputy Commander Xu is here, we should leave now.”

Once they were a little further away, He Shuiqing couldn’t help but comment, “Even for such a short distance, he came all the way to pick someone up. Who would have thought Deputy Commander Xu would be like this after getting married? The two of them are so sweet, it’s a bit nauseating.”

Alright, she admitted her words were a bit sour.

Which young girl hasn’t dreamed of marrying a gentle and caring man who thinks only of her? If she couldn’t find one herself, it was just bad luck. But when everyone compares, it’s clear Xu Zhao treats Xiao Jiang exceptionally well, protecting her like she’s made of glass.

Someone nearby said, “If I had known Xu Zhao was such a good man, I would have written to my family to bring my younger sister here. Maybe today my sister would be standing next to Xu Zhao.”

Wu Guihua spat in disdain, “Are you dreaming? Does Xu Zhao even look at your sister? Look at yourself in the mirror. I don’t believe your sister could ever compare to Xiao Jiang.”

How bold and presumptuous!

The person’s face turned awkward, and they forced a smile, “In our family compound, no one can compare to Xiao Jiang. My sister isn’t as beautiful, but she’s not bad. She’s young and fresh, and a skilled farmer.”

Wu Guihua rolled her eyes, “Enough. Don’t be stubborn. There are plenty of girls who can farm well in the village. It’s nothing special. The Xu family has high standards. The daughters-in-law they marry must meet certain conditions. Aside from looks, they should at least be literate. What’s your sister’s education level?”

The person’s face turned red, stammering without a word.

How embarrassing to admit her sister hasn’t even finished primary school and is practically illiterate compared to Jiang Suihan.

Meanwhile, Jiang Suihan walked slowly, “Aren’t you busy today?”

Xu Zhao slowed his pace, walking beside her, “I finished the busy work in the morning. The afternoon isn’t too hectic.”

Jiang Suihan responded lightly, “I was just discussing the issue of having boys or girls with Wu Guihua and the others. I tried to explain it scientifically, but unfortunately, it wasn’t very successful.”

Xu Zhao glanced at her, “Not happy?”

Jiang Suihan pressed her lips together, “It’s okay. I’m not particularly unhappy, but it seems we still have a long way to go in our country.”

The economic foundation determines the superstructure. Many people still struggle to meet basic needs, let alone liberalize their thoughts.

Suddenly switching to such a profound topic, Xu Zhao was momentarily taken aback. He rubbed her head and spoke gently, “That’s why we need to work harder. Not just for our generation but for the previous one as well.”

He looked down and touched her belly, “The baby needs to work hard too.”

To grow up and become someone useful to the country and society.

Jiang Suihan smiled, “He’s still small, don’t put pressure on him.”

Xu Zhao raised an eyebrow slightly and chuckled softly, “Then listen to mom.”