Zhang Minghua had also said she wanted to come over, but Yang PeiMin quickly had a phone call made to stop her; she knew her own mother was completely unable to leave, and she was aware of the situation at home as well. Her sister-in-law’s children were still young, and Li Hong was pregnant too. Moreover, with the new policies in place, the commune had been dissolved and a pilot township for household responsibility contracts had been established. With land distribution, planting, and harvesting, there were many tasks in the fields, so even if she came, she would worry about her family. It was better to let her stay busy at home, otherwise the sisters-in-law might have opinions. It wasn’t anything urgent over here; she simply needed to write to her often and make frequent phone calls to ease her worries. If they couldn’t bring anyone over, they could just hire someone.
Yang PeiMin felt her body growing heavier by the day, but her eating and drinking were unaffected. She insisted on walking in the courtyard and up and down the stairs for an hour every two days, getting the clothes and items ready for the hospital, always prepared to head there at any moment.
She also asked Shen Yixiang to help make several sets of postpartum clothes, as she knew from her past life’s wealth of information that many new mothers complained about their figures changing after childbirth.
Yang PeiMin had therefore started to prepare early, despite being more than nine months pregnant without having put on much weight. She knew the time after giving birth was when it was easiest to develop a belly, so she had Shen Yixiang bring back some gauze, which she planned to use later for waist-wrapping and recovery.
Luo Dahua, seeing her collection of odd items, couldn’t help but ask about them. After Yang PeiMin explained, Luo Dahua’s eyes widened in amazement, "I’ve given birth to three children and still didn’t know as much as you. Back when I was a girl, I wasn’t as thin as you, but I was neat and tidy, easy on the eyes. Never did I expect that after having the kids, my belly would protrude , looking like I was still three months pregnant. And then there’s the... you know, the, the nursing areas... they’ve all sunk in... I used to need it every day, but now only once every three or four days... I don’t even know if he’s disgusted by me now..."
Yang PeiMin listened, a mixture of embarrassment and bewilderment in her expression.
Luo Dahua gave her a knowing glance and chuckled, "It’s all part of it—I’m just giving you a heads-up. Even if there’s a light on, the touch feels different... For a man, if he’s satisfied in that department, everything else is easy to talk about..."
Yang PeiMin went to the vanity and fetched a bottle of essential oil and a container of moisturizing cream for her, "This oil is for applying to the chest, combined with massage techniques to prevent sagging and also to restore some elasticity. You take it and give it a try. As for this cream, it’s for applying to the face and body, suitable for everything. It’s just like you said, you know, it makes the touch smoother..." As she spoke, she couldn’t help but reflect on how she’d become one of those married women who could talk about such things without blushing.
Luo Dahua received the items with surprise and delight, "This, this is costly, right?" She hesitated to accept them.
Yang PeiMin pressed them into her hands, "It’s fine, these are made by me, not that expensive. Just take them with gratitude, you’ve been helping me so much. Don’t be formal with me." The essential oil was extracted using the equipment at school, and there wasn’t much of it.
Luo Dahua, looking at Yang PeiMin’s smooth and radiant face, nodded repeatedly, "Oh, thank you so much! Show me that massage technique, and I’ll use it every day when I get back."
Yang PeiMin smiled and agreed.
Luo Dahua stayed there these days and had brought her two daughters with her, concerned that Yang PeiMin might not get proper care on her own. Given that the house had many rooms, there was no worry about not having enough space.
Unable to resist the group’s insistence, Yang PeiMin let them be, only asking Shen Yiyang to buy more meat to treat the kids and satisfy their cravings.
Yet despite Yang PeiMin’s belly approaching ten months with each passing day, there was no sign of labor commencing.
Shen Yixiang also brought handcrafts back from the factory, and the women of the household would gather together whenever they had nothing else to do and work on crafts.
Luo Dahua still laughed and said, "I didn’t expect to make a little extra money just by going out."
Shen Yixiang then said, "Sister-in-law Lu, there are plenty of opportunities to make money. The factory is hiring now. If you’re interested, you can come and have a look. They start the pay at 30 yuan a month, and if you do well, it will gradually increase to 40 yuan."
Luo Dahua was somewhat tempted. She hadn’t managed to get the kindergarten teaching position in the compound, so she’d been going to the county to pick up some artisan work, like making paper boxes, which didn’t earn much. With three kids in school, the household expenses were piling up. But when she looked at the two kids beside her, she just sighed, "I can’t really leave this place. If I leave, there would be no one to take care of their grandpa."
That was true. Shen Yixiang didn’t insist. She had just seen Sister Luo busily coming and going and had wanted to lend a hand.
"Sister, your classmate Guo Caixia is working at our factory as a temp, helping with sewing buttons and ironing clothes. She’s very hardworking. Sister Liu was saying how capable she is. Sometimes she even spots the small imperfections in the clothes, and now that’s her specific task..." Shen Yixiang started talking about Guo Caixia.
It was a holiday, and instead of going home, she stayed around looking for things to do, helping with button sewing and becoming familiar with Shen Yixiang. So when the factory was hiring, Shen Yixiang let her know and suggested she come in for an interview.
Luo Dahua, listening to all this, felt envious. Having a job sounded wonderful.
While they were talking, a neighbor came over for a visit. A middle-aged woman named Aunt Qu, holding a child’s hand, smiled as she entered: "I saw the door was open, so I came in. My little lion was making a fuss about coming over to watch TV. I told him it wasn’t time to have the TV on at your place, but he wouldn’t stop fussing. I had no choice but to let him come over and see for himself."
Luo Dahua gave her a look. "We haven’t turned it on. We’re all busy with work."
Aunt Qu was amazed at the piles of clothes in their hands, "Are you making clothes? Oh wow, these clothes are so bright and shiny. Where did you get these garments to work on?"
Shen Yixiang replied, "They’re from the Liu Yang Clothing Factory. I work there, remember? We brought home the unfinished work to get help from everyone." The name of Liu Yang Clothing Factory was straightforward, taken from Sister Liu and Yang PeiMin’s surnames. It wasn’t hard to come up with such a name.
Aunt Qu’s eyes filled with envy. "You have a great job, being able to bring work home ." Then, looking at Yang Peiying, "Yingzi is so adept too. She finishes a garment in no time. Whoever marries her will be fortunate."
Yang Peiying’s cheeks flushed red.
Aunt Qu really had a way with words, joking about Yang Peiying for no reason. Yang Peimin furrowed her brows. Those who were familiar knew that Yang Peiying was shy and introverted. She tended to avoid this kind of banter, and Aunt Qu, as far as she remembered, wasn’t particularly close to them — just someone they saw often and greeted occasionally.
So, the atmosphere cooled a bit.
Shen Yixiang was straightforward: "Auntie, you see we’re all busy and don’t have time to entertain. Maybe come over another day when we’re free, and we can chat then."