Just as Shuzhen anticipated, after developing an interest in embroidery, Xinzhi’s slightly restless personality gradually became more composed.
She still bickered with her twin brother Chenchen, but no longer resorted to physical fights at the drop of a hat.
Chenchen, after being secretly reprimanded and punished by his father, also became much less unruly.
Currently, the siblings, together with some cousins, are training their bodies with two experts appointed by Lian En on behalf of Old Man Wu, learning some basic skills in free sparring and combat.
While the exercise strengthens their bodies, it also boosts their physical prowess a bit.
The kids practised rigorously for two hours every morning and evening, exhausting themselves to the point of crying out in agony.
After persevering for a month, although the fair-skinned children had turned into little dark pears, their physical fitness and combat abilities really did improve substantially.
Running five kilometers was no problem for them, and their military boxing was executed skillfully.
Most importantly, the children’s spirit and demeanor had undergone a remarkable transformation!
They became more resilient, brave, disciplined, and courteous.
Viewed individually, it’s not very apparent, but when lined up in formation, they looked mighty impressive, like tall, unyielding little poplar trees.
Alas, the end of the summer break had arrived, and Lian Hai’s and Lian Yue’s families had to return for school.
No matter how reluctant the little ones were, they would have to wait for the winter holiday or next summer break.
Before leaving, Lian Hai’s and Lian Yue’s families brought back plenty of local mushrooms, wood ears, pine nuts, hazelnuts, lion’s mane mushrooms, and various fruit wines, intending to gift them to Wu Liguo, Wei Lai, and Feng Anhuai. After all, once they were in Beijing, everyone did their utmost to support them.
A little hometown product may not be worth much, but ultimately, it’s the thought that counts; a handful of peanuts may not fill you, but it warms the heart, right?
They prepared some for themselves and some to send with Wu Yinghong, Su Hongying, and Shuzhen.
They had quite a substantial amount.
And when they boarded the train, someone saw them off, and when they reached their destination, someone was there to welcome them. Moreover, they traveled in a sleeper carriage.
Otherwise, the hassle of entering and exiting the station would be a major issue.
Not long after those families departed, it was already September with the cool autumn breeze and the rice grains turning yellow.
The drums of autumn harvest sounded, embodying the hectic nature of autumn—three seasons’ worth of work, and even the embroiderers couldn’t stay in bed.
The production team had newly acquired two combine harvesters, so crops like rice, soybeans, and late millet no longer needed to be harvested manually. This year’s autumn harvest busied everyone for two full months until every grain was finally stored away.
There was no other way; after dealing with the field work, there were still plenty of forest lands to tend to!
Some belonged to the village, others were contracted out.
After Shuzhen and her husband’s ’cultivation,’ the hazelnuts and pine nuts practically ceased distinguishing between a bumper year and an ordinary year.
Every year was abundant, bringing great joy and also considerable exhaustion.
Of course, as long as the yield was high, the people in the farming village were exhausted but willingly so!
As soon as all the fieldwork was done and the first snowflakes started to fall from the sky, Wu Yinghong and Su Hongying, both pregnant almost simultaneously, began to go into labor one after another.
After an agonizing struggle lasting a whole day and night, Wu Yinghong finally delivered the plump baby girl she had longed for.
Finally having both a son and a daughter, she smiled in exhaustion. Just as she was pushed out of the delivery room, she saw her husband’s reddened eyes and heard his nasally thick voice, "Darling, three sons and one daughter, we now have both sons and daughters. Let’s not have any more children and not endure this suffering again, okay?"
It was nearly the 1980s when the one-child policy was about to be implemented; even if you wanted more, you wouldn’t be allowed to!
Wu Yinghong felt a bit indignant inside, but she was moved by her husband’s considerate concern.
Back then, people universally believed in the idea of more children bringing more blessings, having them if circumstances allowed, and having them even when circumstances didn’t.
Every family wished they could form a soccer team, and how many of them cared enough for their wives, not wanting them to suffer any longer by not having more children?
"Alright, the eldest follows your surname Liu, the second follows my surname Wu, the third will be your uncle’s grandson to continue the family lineage. As for the daughter, she’s our darling little treasure. In the future, you four gentlemen must protect the two of us!" Wu Yinghong slightly curled her lips and nodded.
"Mom, that’s incorrect. You’re forgetting Grandpa. We should be protected by you five gentlemen!" Liu, who insisted on taking time off to come and said he was Grandpa’s full representative when he wasn’t there, determined to witness Mom’s safe delivery and the arrival of his little sister, seriously corrected Mom’s little ’mistake’.
"Yes, yes, yes, you sure talk a lot and create plenty of fuss. Now that you’ve seen it, hurry back to class! Stop disturbing your mom and sister during their rest." Liu Shouren waved his hand dismissively like swatting a fly, wanting to chase away this punk who couldn’t take a hint.
Liu’s shoulders slumped, and he muttered sadly, "Sure enough, with a little cotton-padded jacket, us waistcoats don’t get much attention. I think I ought to consider Grandpa’s suggestion and live with him in Beijing. Eat better, live better, the schooling conditions are just great..."
"Exactly, the most important thing is that you can be especially doted upon!" Observing his cheeky expression, dual disdain overwhelmed Liu Shouren, who sarcastically quipped, "Surprised, huh? You deployed the same trick too often, even good methods fail. Haven’t your teachers taught you the story of ’The Boy Who Cried Wolf’? Now hurry and swiftly attend school. Otherwise, don’t trouble yourself; I’ll willingly send you to Grandpa for military management!"
"Hm, I’m serious, unlike you who only scares people."
Upon hearing this, Liu sprinted off, not daring to linger even a tiny bit!
His hundred-meter dash attitude made Shuzhen chuckle, "Hey, that kid runs like the wind, really fast. No wonder Uncle Wu says he’s got martial talent and always wants to recruit him for early training. This body’s potential and reaction speed truly aren’t exaggerated!"
The parents rejoiced in their child’s praise while remaining modest.
Shuzhen was about to return home to fetch the chicken soup already brewing for her sister-in-law when she saw her second brother laden with packages, supporting her pale-faced second sister-in-law coming their way.
"No way, you two sisters-in-law? Knowing about pregnancy almost simultaneously was close enough, but now you’re planning for my eldest niece and little nephew to be born on the same day?" Shuzhen gaped, surprised, at her second sister-in-law, to whom the doctor said her water had broken and was about to give birth.
"I hadn’t expected it either, but it seems these two sisters are quite destined!" Being helped onto the delivery bed, Su Hongying responded with difficulty in trembling voice.
Less than an hour later, cries of infants were heard from the delivery room. Su Hongying gave birth naturally to her youngest son, completing the tally of five sons.