Chapter 69: I Want to Buy a Bicycle

Since that day, Jinzi had completely changed his previous careless ways and began studying diligently with his sister.

It took him over a week just to get familiar with a tractor.

He was more focused than anyone else, but unfortunately, not the brightest.

Within a few days, the commune’s investigation results came out. They confirmed that Qian Zhiya had no improper relations with any man. Everything had been fabricated by another female educated youth, who was even reported by her own partner for being jealous of Qian Zhiya’s good family background and attractive looks.

The commune handled the matter decisively. They immediately ordered Zhou Xue to be sent to a farm in the Northwest for reformation.

On the day she was taken away, her cries echoed throughout Ping’an Village.

She first tried to apologize to Qian Zhiya, and when that didn’t work, she began hurling curses at her—vicious words that were unbearable to hear.

Wang Hongxia, hiding in the crowd, turned pale with fear.

Thankfully, she hadn’t gone against the Village Head that day, or she might have been taken away too.

It was said the farms in the Northwest were extremely harsh. Whether Zhou Xue would survive and return was uncertain.

After Zhou Xue was taken away, the Village Head explained the situation over the loudspeaker, officially clearing Qian Zhiya’s name.

“This matter is now behind us. But if I hear any more rumors that don’t match the facts, I’ll report them to the commune or the police as needed. Our village will not tolerate poisonous people who harm others.”

Qiu Yinuo yawned lazily, looking like she could never get enough sleep.

“You sleep so much every day. How are you still this tired?” someone asked.

“Mom, have you ever heard that breast milk is a mother’s lifeblood? I’m using up my energy and blood to feed the babies every day. How can my body not be tired?”

Cheng Hongying’s brows twitched. “What are you trying to say?”

“The babies are six months old now. I plan to wean them.”

“What did you just say?” Seeing that she wasn’t joking, Cheng Hongying was furious and gave her a few swats. “Qiu Yinuo, what kind of mother are you? The babies are only six months old, and you already want to wean them?”

“Why not? We have formula milk, don’t we? At six months they can also eat wheat paste. That stuff keeps them full longer.”

“No matter how filling it is, can it be as nutritious as breast milk? Look at you and Jinzi—both of you drank my milk until you were a year and a half old. You were healthy and rarely sick. If they switch to formula, will they grow up with bodies as good?”

She was genuinely heartbroken for her grandsons. “How can someone as cruel as you be their mother?”

“Did you forget? Dabao already stopped drinking my milk.”

“That doesn’t mean you should cut off Erbao’s food just because Dabao weaned! You’re still their real mother!”

“I am their real mother, but I’m also my own person. I’m not going to let them go hungry. I’m just weaning them—why does that have to be some unforgivable crime?”

As for weaning, Qiu Yinuo meant what she said.

Right in front of Cheng Hongying, she picked up Erbao. “Erbao, starting today, you can’t drink mommy’s milk anymore. If you disagree, just say ‘uh-uh’ twice.”

Erbao was always quiet, rarely making any noises unless he needed to go number two.

Qiu Yinuo was very satisfied with this “well-behaved, sensible, and considerate” Erbao. “See that? Erbao has no objections.”

Cheng Hongying: “……”

That very day, Qiu Yinuo made wheat paste for both babies, mixing in half a crushed egg yolk.

After half a year, Dabao finally got to taste something truly delicious again. He was so moved he nearly cried with joy and almost started licking the bowl clean.

Erbao ate delicately, but he still finished every bite cleanly, which showed just how much the two little ones loved it.

That night, Qiu Yinuo experienced the pain of engorgement.

A dull, aching pressure built up in her chest, and before long, a large patch on her shirt was soaked. Heat and tingling spread across her skin.

The pain made her suck in a sharp breath. Being a woman was truly exhausting.

She clutched her pillow tightly. The hard lumps inside her breasts caused a stifling discomfort in her chest.

He Ziqing quickly sat up and asked in a low voice, “Sister Yinuo, what’s wrong?”

“My milk is coming in too much—it hurts like hell.”

Just then, a soft knock came from the door. “Who is it?”

“It’s me. Open the door, I brought you some hot water.”

He Ziqing jumped out of bed to open the door. “Auntie, come in quick. Sister Yinuo is in a lot of pain.”

“They say the best way to relieve engorgement is to apply heat. I even asked around—boiling water with barley and hawthorn can also help ease the pain. Try drinking some.”

The liquid was warm as it entered her mouth. Qiu Yinuo pursed her lips. “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

“Silly girl, how could I sleep knowing you’re hurting?” After watching her finish the drink, Cheng Hongying pushed her back down onto the kang. “I’ll get a hot towel. A little heat and you’ll feel better.”

He Ziqing wasn’t sure what to do, so she stood to the side and helped wring the towel.

As soon as she put her hand in the basin, she nearly burned herself and almost knocked it over. “Qingqing, let me do it. The water’s too hot,” Cheng Hongying said, as if the heat didn’t bother her at all. She calmly reached into the basin and wrung the towel with practiced ease.

Qiu Yinuo looked at the steam rising from the towel. “It’s too hot. Let it cool down a bit…”

Before she could finish, Cheng Hongying cut her off. “If it cools down, it won’t work as well. You need to use it while it’s hot.”

Qiu Yinuo’s throat bobbed—she didn’t know what to say.

The next second, her shirt was lifted without warning.

The scorching towel was pressed to her chest, and she nearly jumped off the kang from the heat.

Fortunately, Cheng Hongying was ready and firmly held her down. “Endure it—it’ll cool in just a moment.”

As the heat gradually faded, the swelling in her chest also eased.

It really did hurt less than before.

After several rounds, with He Ziqing even going out to get more hot water, they toiled into the middle of the night before Cheng Hongying finally returned to her room.

After enduring a few difficult days, Qiu Yinuo’s milk supply started to decrease.

During this time, she even took her brother to work with her.

As for Qiu Qianjin becoming an apprentice, Qiu Yinuo strictly forbade her mother from boasting about it in the village.

She was mainly afraid that Jinzi’s motivation would only last three days and that he’d quit later. That would be even more humiliating for their Qiu family.

So, to outsiders, it just looked like Qiu Qianjin was tagging along with Qiu Yinuo to work. No one knew he had actually started as an apprentice.

One day, as soon as they got off work, Qiu Yinuo dragged her mother back into the house.

“I want to talk to you about something.”

Cheng Hongying gave her a suspicious look. “You just finished weaning and now you’re up to something again?”

She already had to worry so much about her two kids, she’d recently noticed a lot more white hairs on her head.

“It’s just—since we always borrow the Village Head’s bicycle, it’s getting a bit inconvenient. Today I passed by Taolin Village and chatted with their chief. He said he could save a bicycle ration ticket for me if I want it.”

Cheng Hongying exhaled heavily. She knew the moment this girl had time to think, nothing good would come of it.

“So I want to buy a bicycle.”

“Get lost! You’ve got a bit of money and you already don’t know how to behave!”