Daily Life in the 70s
Chapter 105 Curiosity

Chapter 105: Chapter 105 Curiosity

Chen Guizhi spit at her playfully, "Go to the side, don’t block the light, if you don’t believe it, why so much talk?"

Seeing her mother getting annoyed, Shen Yidong approached her with a grin, "Mom, I’m just skeptical, aren’t I? With sister-in-law being so young, isn’t there a saying ’smooth-cheeked but unable to handle affairs’? Isn’t it normal for me to think like this? By the way, Mom, is your back really feeling better?"

Chen Guizhi rolled her eyes at her, obviously irritated, "Would I really lie to you? Move aside, go check on your girls, don’t let them play in the water."

Shen Yidong, hand on her belly, sat down beside her, "It’s okay, they wouldn’t dare to play in the water. I punished them last time, they’re scared." As she spoke, her eyes darted around, then she turned to Yang PeiMin, "Sister-in-law, you’re really helpful. Why don’t you give me a massage too? These days, I feel heavier and my back starts to ache. The worst part is getting up at night to go to the bathroom, it’s not just sore after, but I also can’t go back to sleep."

Yang PeiMin glanced at her. Recently, the Shen family’s meals had been consistently substantial: eggs every meal, meat every other, plus tofu and fine grains. On top of that, Shen Yidong liked drinking soup, always asking someone to bring home pork bones to simmer. So over the New Year, everyone had gained weight, especially Shen Yidong. She would often say she couldn’t bear to feel hungry and needed an extra meal. Since she was expecting, everyone was understanding.

Not only did her face fill out, but her belly inflated quickly like a balloon. Yang PeiMin just learned that she was over six months pregnant. Her complexion was rosy, skin smooth, with a hearty appetite and teaching her daughters with a firm voice. She didn’t exhibit the weakness typical of pregnant women but was full of energy and fighting spirit.

Therefore, Yang PeiMin didn’t discern any signs of the backaches that troubled her.

Chen Guizhi, however, showed concern for her daughter, "How long has it been? What other symptoms besides back pain? Any cramps in your legs? You’re still sleeping with Xiao Fen and the others, how can that be? No, bring them over to sleep with me tonight."

Shen Yidong nodded in agreement, "Those little debt collectors sometimes need to get up to pee at night. My back has only been uncomfortable for a few days now. I thought it was like my other pregnancies, but it’s never been this severe. I figured I’d just endure it, but if sister-in-law knows a remedy, I hope she can help me."

Chen Guizhi quickly turned to Yang PeiMin and asked, "My daughter-in-law could use some help too, right? You can teach Yixiang and the others, and take a look at Yidong, can’t you?"

Shen Yidong watched her, eyebrows raised, waiting for the response.

Yang PeiMin was somewhat unsure, "I’ve never massaged a pregnant woman before, and I daren’t do it. After all, it’s different, the fourth sister has a child in her belly. What if something goes wrong? How could I live with myself, how could I face the fourth brother-in-law?"

Seeing that Shen Yidong wanted to say more, Yang PeiMin quickly interjected, "I’m sorry, Mom, I can’t be sure about this. You know, when I give a massage, I apply quite a bit of force, and the acupoints require firm pressure. With such strength, can the fourth sister withstand it? Can the baby?"

Only then did Chen Guizhi nod in realization, "Right, you can’t be too rough with these things. Yidong, you’d better bear with it, this isn’t something to take lightly. Your pregnancy is far along already, we can’t risk anything going wrong."

Shen Yidong, hearing her old mother saying the same thing, had her suspicions that Yang PeiMin might be holding a grudge and therefore not massaging her, but she was concerned about the child in her womb, who was her lifeblood and tied to her future. Her son couldn’t afford even a slight mishap. Never mind.

Seeing that she didn’t bring it up again, Yang PeiMin smiled faintly. In fact, a little help with rubbing the sore waist could provide some relief; one just couldn’t press on the acupoints. A gentle rub would suffice. But why should she help Shen Yidong? Wasn’t this pregnant woman just one of many who went through this? Didn’t everyone go through the same?

She knew that her elder sister-in-law, even if she had a sore back, was definitely not as exaggerated as she claimed. If it really were that severe, would she have waited until now to mention it? She would have proclaimed it to the world long ago, prompting her family to fuss over her even more!

"Fourth sister, I think it’s not okay for you to be alone like this. At night, when you need to urinate or drink water, wouldn’t it be better if someone was there to hand things to you? I’ve heard that later on, there can be cramps in the legs too, and for that, it’s necessary to have someone by your side. What does the fourth brother-in-law say? Is he comfortable with you looking after three children on your own?"

Yang PeiMin looked at her, her face full of questions. "Xiao Fen and Xiao Fang miss their dad too. What exactly is the fourth brother-in-law busy with? It’s been so long, and he hasn’t come to see you and the kids."

Shen Yidong’s facial muscles twitched slightly, and she looked somewhat uneasy as she turned her face away. "Isn’t he helping out at the commune’s barbershop? And he runs around to other villages now and then; he must be busy. Once he’s less busy, wouldn’t he come to see us, mother and children?"

Chen Guizhi glanced at her and wondered aloud, "You’ve been staying here for so long. Doesn’t your husband’s family have any thoughts about it?"

Shen Yidong pursed her lips and said, "What could they think? It’s not like that at their place..." She stopped mid-sentence when she saw Yang PeiMin and coughed before continuing, "My mother-in-law values the flesh in my womb, and it’s more comfortable to solidify the pregnancy at my parents’ house. It’s more reassuring with my own mother here, isn’t it? So my mother-in-law also wants me to be happier, to come back and spend time with the mother. I didn’t come back much in the past two years, did I? Now, I’m making up for those times."

Chen Guizhi, however, mused, "That’s all well and good, but being separated from your husband for this long isn’t right either. How about this: let’s see if he comes nearby in the next few days. We can invite him over for a meal and have him talk with you and the children."

Shen Yidong replied perfunctorily, "Alright, understood."

Chen Guizhi seemed to catch on to something as she carefully observed, "Yidong, did you have a fight with your husband?"

"Mother!" Shen Yidong raised her voice, "That’s not the case. You’re all overthinking it. Could he argue with me? I’m the only one who scolds him; how could he talk back? Don’t make wild guesses. It’s impossible. Plus, I’m carrying his son in my womb."

After hearing her response, Chen Guizhi also figured it made sense and dropped the topic, just instructing her to send a message to Xiao Fen’s father to come for a meal.

Yang PeiMin glanced at Shen Yidong; this elder sister-in-law would always become obedient when mentioning the fourth brother-in-law. It was quite amusing, and she couldn’t help but feel curious about what sort of trouble the two were stirring up.

After demonstrating for Chen Guizhi, Yang PeiMin returned to her room, turned on the light, and started reviewing her high school textbooks and materials. Although there were some differences from the subjects in her previous life, the basics were there, so she managed to pick things up quickly.

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