Chapter 257: Sterilization

Watching Mingyuan and Wang Zhenhe exerting themselves to throw outside, Wang Qian realized she truly lacked that physical stamina. It’s no wonder rural families favored having sons; besides the issue of carrying on the family line, the difference in physical strength between males and females was evident during work. Sons indeed proved to be skilled laborers, earning more public points, while daughters tended to earn fewer work points compared to adult male laborers – an undeniable fact.

After tending to the beehive, seeing the father and son sweating profusely, Wang Qian hurried back with damp towels. “Dad, brother, wipe off your sweat first.”

Mingyuan and Wang Zhenhe took the towels and wiped the sweat off their foreheads and bodies.

“Sister, why don’t you go catch some fish for us to eat? I’m craving it,” Mingyuan suggested, recalling that they hadn’t had much fish since their elder siblings left. “Alright, you two stay here; I’ll go catch some fish. Brother, I’ll catch a couple extra fish for you. We can take them back and eat with Grandma.”

Arriving at the reservoir, they watered the space and placed the caught fish in a tank for Grandma to sell. Wang Qian then playfully fished while Wang Zhenli happened to be heading up the mountain for work. Seeing his niece fishing, he couldn’t resist joining her.

“Qian Qian, how many fish have you caught?” Wang Zhenli inquired.

Seeing her uncle, Wang Qian smiled, “Uncle, give it a tug. I’ve caught one. Not sure how big it is, but I’ll give this one to you first. I’ll catch another later.”

The fish she caught weighed about two pounds, which Wang Zhenli considered quite sizable.

“Wang Qian, I can’t accept this. Can I have the next one?” Wang Zhenli hesitated.

Looking at the slightly embarrassed Wang Zhenli, Wang Qian chuckled, “Uncle, don’t be so polite. Take it and bring it home to stew for the sisters. Don’t hesitate; take it now. I’ll catch more later.”

Wang Zhenli walked away cheerfully with the fish. After giving away the first fish, she caught another slightly smaller one shortly after, but it wasn’t much of a difference. Carrying the fish with a pretense, she leisurely made her way back. When she neared the house, she took out three fish.

“Brother, I’ve caught some fish. Let’s keep them in the water for now and take them when we leave,” she suggested.

Mingyuan walked in from the back door holding a bowl of mulberries. “Hey, sister, come and try these. They’re dark purple and sweet. Ah, with our elder siblings not around, no one’s been eating these,” he remarked with a tinge of melancholy.

The expression on Mingyuan’s face reflected his loneliness.

Wang Qian grabbed a mulberry and popped it in her mouth. “Brother, don’t worry. In the future, we’ll reunite with them. Let’s pick more to sell in the city and share some with the Yang and Cong families. How about we make some jam to take back? It should taste great,” she suggested.

Mingyuan was unsure about jam, but Wang Qian knew exactly how to make it. In her previous life, she had seen and tasted such delicious jam.

Looking at her skeptically, Mingyuan asked, “Sister, do you know how to make it? Don’t waste the ingredients.”

Wang Qian confidently replied, “Brother, leave it to me. You go pick the mulberries, and I’ll start the fire. I’ll show you what delicious really means.”

Impressed by his sister’s confidence, Mingyuan obediently went to pick mulberries while Wang Qian washed and cooked the fruit, adding sugar to create a delightful jam. Once it had cooled a bit, she had Mingyuan taste it. “Mmm, delicious! Sweeter and tastier than sugar. Sister, this is amazing. You’re talented at this. We can enjoy it with bread and steamed buns in the future. It’s really tasty.”

Mingyuan reluctantly set down the spoon after taking two large bites, mindful not to eat too much. His sister had warned him that eating too many sweet things could cause cavities.

Returning from washing clothes by the river, Zhang Lan noticed that both her son and daughter’s hair had grown long. She decided to trim their hair herself.

Mingyuan maintained his short hair, while Wang Qian only adjusted the length, trimming the fringe slightly but still covering her eyes. Zhang Lan expressed dissatisfaction, “Qian Qian, why did you leave it so long? Your pretty face is almost entirely covered. Your naturally beautiful face is hardly visible.”

Wang Qian held Zhang Lan’s hand, smiling, “Mom, that’s exactly what I wanted. If I look too pretty, I might attract unwanted attention. My brother is two years older but still lacks protective abilities. It’s better for me to look a bit plain to avoid trouble.”

While Wang Qian’s words sounded somewhat conceited, they struck a chord in Zhang Lan’s heart. Indeed, it wasn’t necessarily a good thing for a young child to be too attractive, especially with only the siblings in the city. It was wise to stay modest, just as her daughter had suggested. However, it was challenging for the child.

At times, Zhang Lan wondered how her young daughter’s mind could hold so much. Some things her daughter thought of surprised her; the girl was already making plans on her own. Perhaps it was her father’s successful education or the child’s early maturity.

Reflecting on her daughter’s obedience, especially in crucial moments when she protected her family, Zhang Lan couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. “Qian Qian, I’m sorry for burdening you. I wonder whether it was right or wrong for you to be so beautiful. When you both go to university in the future, we’ll dress up nicely. By then, your siblings will be by your side, and at the very least, your uncle can protect you. It warms my heart to know you’re studying there.”

Thinking about how all four children, including their younger sibling, will soon be attending university, Zhang Lan felt immense joy. Each of her children was making progress in their education, making their parents very proud.

After washing his head, Mingyuan emerged to hear his mother’s words, “Mom, don’t envy them. Why don’t you go and visit too? We could go to the big city for a change and see Grandma Zuo. I wonder if Zuo Yu and Zuo Hao got into their schools?”

Just as they were discussing this, White’s bell rang outside again, signaling, “Someone from the Wang Zhenhe household, come out and get the mail.”

With White becoming quite familiar with their family, Mingyuan rushed out upon hearing the bell, and true to Chinese tradition, as soon as they were mentioned, the mail arrived.

Excitedly returning after reading the contents of the letter, Mingyuan exclaimed, “Mom, Zuo Yu and Zuo Hao both got in. Zuo Hao is going to military school, and Zuo Yu got into F University. This is great; they can be together now.”

“Congratulations on their acceptance. It’s no surprise that those three are so bright. Zuo He, how’s he been lately? Any news?” Zhang Lan inquired.

“Mum, it says Zuo He is in his third year of high school. But when did he skip a grade? I had no idea,” Mingyuan replied.

Discovering that Zuo He was a year ahead of him left Mingyuan feeling somewhat uneasy. Zuo He hadn’t even mentioned skipping a grade, and now he would be preparing for the college entrance exams next year while Mingyuan remained in the 11th grade.

Zhang Lan and Wang Qian found Mingyuan’s indignant expression somewhat amusing. “Brother, it’s just a year ahead. It’s not a big deal. When you meet him in the future, you can have a good discussion with him.”

Mingyuan found solace in their comforting words. “That’s right. I won’t let it slide when I see him. Oh, Mom, sister made some jam. Let’s bring some back to eat, and you and Dad can have the rest at home. Don’t forget to eat it; it spoils easily.”

Zhang Lan nodded in understanding. For lunch, she cooked their favorite fish, and they enjoyed a lively meal together.

After finishing her meal, Wang Juan hurried over. “Sister, the team is currently counting the slots for sterilization. Are you going with this group or waiting for later?”

Upon hearing about sterilization, Wang Qian immediately understood the family planning matter. Zhang Lan felt apprehensive about sterilization.

“Sister-in-law, you go ahead and register. I’ll wait and see. At my age, I can’t have any more children. It’s just a matter of time. I’ll go after you all finish this batch,” Zhang Lan replied, masking her fear.

Unable to express her fear, Zhang Lan postponed the decision. Wang Juan smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll go home and freshen up. I don’t want the doctors to mock us rural women for being unhygienic. I’ll head off now.”

Quietly, Wang Qian asked, “Mom, is this operation necessary? Can’t we avoid it? After all, it’s a surgery. Won’t it be harmful to the body?”

Zhang Lan wasn’t entirely sure about the procedure, as everyone was going for it, and she hadn’t heard of any negative aspects. “I haven’t heard anything bad about it. The propaganda didn’t mention any issues. I’ll wait and see.”

In the afternoon, the siblings packed their things to return to the city. Upon arriving at the bus station, they overheard a group of women discussing sterilization. One woman was particularly dramatic, getting off the bus and sitting on the ground crying, “I’ve lost my xx.”

Wang Qian found this situation amusing. It seemed strange how the topic of tubal ligation was intertwined with the woman’s outburst. She thought the woman was exaggerating, considering the public setting. It seemed that being married meant no filter for one’s words. The men nearby felt awkward and pretended not to hear.

Mingyuan shook his head helplessly. “Sister, it’s not worth listening to such talk.”

Back in the city, Geng Lianhua heard about the sterilization issue in the rural areas. She worried about her daughter’s health, despite her recent check-up showing improvement. With the news of sterilization, she wondered if her daughter’s body could handle it.

“Grandma, my mom hasn’t decided yet. Let’s wait and see. If it comes to that, we’ll take good care of her and ensure she gets proper nourishment. It shouldn’t be a big deal,” Wang Qian reassured.

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