Chapter 37.1

“Is the reflex reaction in the Zhou family a bit slow?” The neighbor in the east jokingly said to her husband, “She was pregnant before, and now the whole family is excited just by looking at her.”

“Are they waiting until the baby is stable to celebrate?”

“Probably. This family is so cautious. They seemed perfectly fine before. Now, look, Aunt Zhou got up early to make steamed dumplings and egg soup, just for her daughter-in-law.”

“Before, it was all chaotic. They probably didn’t have the time to focus.”

“That’s true.”

In the main room, the Zhou family was unaware of their neighbors’ conversation. Mother Zhou was so overjoyed by the good news that she went to bed smiling. Joyful events bring a refreshing spirit, and when she encountered the neighbors, she beamed as she announced she was about to become a grandmother.

“What are you going to buy?”

“I’m looking for some shrimp skin to add to egg drop soup for extra flavor and nutrition.”

“That’s hard to find.” The elderly neighbor accompanied her to the market. “When my daughter was pregnant, I had to ask around before I finally found some kelp. I heard kelp is good for pregnant mother. Why not give it a try?”

“I’ll go and see. If I can’t find any, I’ll just make do. Hey, do you have any eggs? Can you sell me some?”

“We only have one chicken. If it didn’t lay eggs, I would’ve already had it slaughtered.”

“What happened to the chicken?”

“I sold it. Why would I let them eat it?” The old woman chuckled, her basket swinging as she walked with energy. “If you’re looking to buy this, you might as well ask in the countryside. But I’ve heard that with the current trend of getting rid of capitalism, there are fewer chickens raised in rural areas.”

“True. I need to find some good stuff to help her nourish her body.”

“You’re really good to your daughter-in-law.”

“She’s good to me too. She’s like my own daughter.”

“How about your little girl? Is she still in school?”

“No, she’s gone to the countryside.”

The two women chatted all the way to the market, where Mother Zhou couldn’t find any shrimp skin in the grocery store but bought a pound of eggs that were in stock. She also wanted to buy lard but couldn’t find any, so she generously bought a pound of biscuits to take home.

At noon, she steamed an egg custard for Luo Lan, but when she opened three eggs, two were rotten. Annoyed, she muttered as she cracked another egg, only to find it was bad as well. Just as she was getting frustrated, Luo Lan returned from work.

“Mom, did you take Junfang to the station?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s going on?”

“I bought some eggs, but half of them are rotten. I wanted to make you egg custard, but now I can’t even use them.”

“Oh, that’s what this is about.” Luo Lan laughed. “Stop buying from the grocery store. I’ll have someone bring you good ones.”

“You have a connection?”

“I do. From now on, if you need anything, just let me know, and I’ll have someone get it.”

“Then please buy a can of malted milk powder. And some brown sugar too.” She reached into her pocket for money, saying, “Let me see…”

Luo Lan quickly covered her mother-in-law’s hand.”This is all bought for me to eat, right?”

“Of course. You’re eating for two now, so you need to eat well. There was a woman in Junhui’s unit who became anemic when she was pregnant, and neither she nor the baby survived.” Mother Zhou slapped her own hand in frustration. “Oh, I shouldn’t be telling you this. Lan’er, don’t be scared. Let Qingshan figure out a way to get some good things for you. Should we ask your sister-in-law to buy some eggs?”

“Mom, don’t scare yourself. I’m healthy.”

“Still, don’t be careless.”

“Alright, I’ll have someone buy the good stuff.”

“Then I’ll give you the money.”

“Keep it for yourself. That’s for living expenses. I have money, and if I don’t spend it now, when will I?”

“Right. Don’t hold back. Money is for spending, and as long as we’re healthy, that’s what matters.”

“Exactly.”

Mother Zhou said this, but the next day, she still went to the credit cooperative to withdraw her savings. Since Luo Lan said she would have someone buy things, she didn’t bother buying eggs of unknown quality herself and instead used the remaining good eggs to make fried eggs for lunch.

Eggs, milk powder, malted milk powder, sugar, canned goods—those were the good things available during this period. Oh, and biscuits. Biscuits containing sugar and oil are also a treat for people lacking high-quality carbohydrates.

System: Pistachios, almonds, macadamia nuts, pecans… I have a variety of dried fruits and nuts here. As for what your mother-in-law thinks is good, those don’t count. Host, you should go for a big purchase this time, right?

Luo Lan: I can’t do that. Bringing back so many things at once, I haven’t even seen the stuff you mentioned. How will I explain it to people?

System: So what do you want to exchange? You already have a lot of points, so don’t be stingy.

Luo Lan: Recommend some good things for pregnant women.

System: I guess I have to moonlight as a salesperson^[1]onveys the meaning that someone is taking on an additional or temporary role as a salesperson. Sigh, since you’re the host, I’ll help you out. Here’s some pregnancy milk powder, formula milk, specially developed for expecting mothers, containing dozens of beneficial ingredients.

Luo Lan: I’ll take two cans.

System: Don’t get the malted milk powder, it tastes terrible. You should get black sesame paste. It’s nutritious and helps with calcium. Plus, there’s red date and goji berry oatmeal, ham sausage, honey, coix seed cake, lotus root powder, various biscuits… chocolate, lion’s mane mushroom, cream, red dates…

Luo Lan: Stop. I’ll exchange for two pounds of biscuits, assorted flavors. Also, a pack of sesame paste and a pack of red dates.

System: Don’t you want various meats?

Luo Lan: Suddenly, I don’t feel like eating meat. I actually find vegetables very appealing. Give me two pounds of eggs.

After a few days, she showed the eggs to her mother-in-law, keeping them for cooking. The other items like oatmeal and sesame paste she placed in her room, and Zhou Qingshan noticed her preparing them once, so afterward, he proactively made them for her every night.

“Wife, you have a great connection. You got all these things that aren’t easily found even in Beijing or Shanghai.”

“Don’t ask.”

“Alright, I won’t ask.”

The man smiled and responded with good humor. He had returned to work, but there wasn’t much to do at the office, so he came home early every day. He was just curious about the good things his wife had, but didn’t dig too deeply.

Today, he was preparing milk powder, mixing it with water at about fifty degrees. The rich aroma was enticing. It was clear it was a nutritious product.

“I’m thinking of going to see Junfang this weekend. How’s your body? Should I go back with you or go alone?”

“I’ll go too.”

Zhou Qingshan took his mother, while Zhou Junhui rode her bike with Luo Lan. The family of four returned to the brigade on the weekend. Upon entering, they ran into familiar faces, and her sister quickly suggested they take another route.

“The old couple from the Wang family died from carbon monoxide poisoning. They’re holding the funeral over there.”

“Carbon monoxide poisoning?” Luo Lan was surprised. “In this weather, how could they afford to have a fire for those two?”

“I heard they were cooking after moving in. It was their eldest son’s turn to take care of them this month. There wasn’t any smoke at night, but they were dead by morning.”

In winter, such incidents occur every year. Whether the Wang couple’s son was negligent or it was an accident was hard to say. After all, the old couple had been bedridden, and it was hard to find good children in the long vigil of illness.

“Sister, how’s Junfang doing at school? What are people saying in the village?”

“She’s doing well. Junfang has a good temperament, and the kids all like her. You should go see her, she’s probably missing you.” Luo Mei leaned in and whispered, “Just ignore whatever the second sister-in-law says.”

“I understand.”

“By the way.” Luo Mei suddenly remembered and clapped her hands excitedly. “I heard you’re pregnant! Oh, you have no idea how happy I am. I wanted to visit you, but my mother-in-law…”

“It’s fine. We’re sisters, we don’t care about those formalities.”

“What do you want to eat? I’ll make it for you and bring it over at noon.”

“I’m craving your fried rice porridge.”

“That’s no problem. I’ll make it for you when I get back.”

The news of her pregnancy had spread throughout the brigade, and many people were asking about it during the journey. Now that she was nearly three months along, she was stable and didn’t mind answering questions.

“Looks like the problems were with that family. The world is like this, it bullies women. But now, look, you’re finally getting some recognition.”

“Thank you, Auntie.”

“Auntie still has some leftover eggs. Do you want to buy some to help with your health?”

Before Luo Lan could respond, Zhou Qingshan and his mother all nodded in unison: “Yes, please!”

“Ha ha!” The woman laughed heartily, pointing at Luo Lan. “What good fortune! You married into a good family, and you’re blessed with a child this lifetime!”

Mother Zhou had originally come to buy things, so she wasn’t in a hurry to see her daughter anymore. She followed the woman to her home and bought two pounds of eggs, treating them like treasures.

“Mom, let me carry them,” Zhou Qingshan offered.

“No need. You just ride steadily. Don’t jostle the eggs around.”

When Zhou Junfang saw her family had arrived, she happily put down the broom in her hand. The once delicate girl now worked diligently, and Mother Zhou peeked into the kitchen to find there was still leftover rice soup in the pot.

Not bad. She could cook.

“Mom, don’t worry. My sister-in-law’s older sister visits me every day and says if I can’t make food, she’ll help me, and then bring it to me.”

“Learn to cook yourself.”

“I told her that. She taught me twice, and now I can make noodles.”

“Good girl.”

As her daughter grew up, Mother Zhou knew she had to let her learn and grow. She felt relieved that her daughter could cook and wouldn’t go hungry. With her daughter-in-law pregnant, she felt less worried about Junfang.

“Lan’er, do you want to steam the eggs, boil them, or fry them?”

“Mom, make one for Junfang and for Junhui too.”

The sisters waved their hands in unison: “No need. We’re not eating.”

Zhou Junfang smiled and said, “We’re not tempted.”

Having just bought the eggs, Mother Zhou boiled two for Luo Lan for lunch. Her sister brought the fried rice porridge she made, and her eldest sister-in-law came over with eggs as well. Since taking her medicine that was given by Luo Lan, her little girl, who the doctor had said could pass away at any moment due to her condition, was getting better.

“Sister-in-law, you didn’t sell any of these eggs, did you? You still need to live at home. There’s no need to be so polite with me.”

Her eldest sister-in-law chuckled and affectionately touched her daughter’s hair. Thanks to better breathing, the child was eating much better, and her once sparse hair had grown thick.

“Even if I sold them, it would just be to buy her medicine. It’s still not enough.”

Her eldest sister-in-law’s goodwill made Luo Lan more than happy to give her medicine. Sometimes, it wasn’t about the amount between relatives but the attitude that mattered most.

While they were chatting, the second sister-in-law unexpectedly arrived, empty-handed but smiling like a flower, doing her work with surprising finesse.