"Sister-in-law, don’t worry, I believe my brother knows what he’s doing," Xu Nianhua comforted, hoping that Zhou He, who was pregnant, wouldn’t overthink. She changed the subject and asked, "Sister-in-law, when is the baby due?"
At the mention of the baby, Zhou He touched her swollen belly, her face beaming with maternal radiance. She said, "At the end of September."
"Ah, I should be off to school by then," Xu Nianhua looked regretfully at her stomach and said, "Little baby, when auntie comes back, you’ll already be a few months old. Then auntie will bring you some toys."
Xu Nianhua said with a beaming smile, seriously pondering what toys a baby of a few months would play with.
Xu Nianhua made an effort to get up earlier than usual and happened to see Xu Nianji pushing the carts of sprouted beans to go sell at the market.
"Second brother, you’re up so early too?"
Xu Nianhua usually woke up at six, but now it was only five-thirty. Her disrupted biological clock made her so sleepy that she yawned continuously. Seeing Xu Nian’an also helping out, she couldn’t help but be surprised.
"Why don’t you sleep a bit longer?"
Xu Nian’an glanced at his wristwatch, noting it was only five-thirty, and said, "It’s a bit far for big brother to carry the sprouts to the market by himself, and I thought I’d get some exercise. You have half an hour; go back to sleep a bit more."
"No need," said Xu Nianhua, rubbing her eyes and also starting to help. The weather was getting warmer, and the days were becoming brighter earlier. She said, "Big brother, sister-in-law told me yesterday to persuade you not to work so hard. She’s really worried about you."
Xu Nianhua started to change the water for the sprouts that needed it.
Xu Nianji was busy pouring the sprouts into a bucket when he heard Xu Nianhua’s remarks and paused, his ears turning red. He said, "Your sister-in-law is pregnant, and she tends to think too much."
"Sister-in-law is just worried about you," Xu Nianhua turned around and caught a glimpse of Xu Nianji’s side profile, the bright red of his ears. She teased, "Big brother and sister-in-law really have a great relationship. But, work still needs to be done. Just don’t push yourself too hard, big brother. You need to take some proper rest."
"Little sister is right; big brother getting up so early every day, selling the beans and then doing other work, it really is too exhausting," Xu Nian’an added, saying, "Big brother, I’m also a part of this family. I... "
"Nian’an, just focus on your studies."
Xu Nianji seemed to anticipate what he was about to say, continuing, "With you and little sister getting into university, our family will have two college students. That would bring glory to mom and dad and honor to our family. I’m not good at studying, but I like selling the sprouts now, it’s much easier than the bricklaying job I had before."
"So, you two don’t need to worry about me. Focus on your studies, and make sure you get into university. Otherwise, don’t blame me, your big brother, for laughing at you." Xu Nianji’s voice carried deep sincerity; he truly hoped that his siblings would make it into university.
"Big brother, second brother, we are family," Xu Nianhua suddenly stretched out her well-maintained hand, which had suffered a bit from frostbite before. She had been applying clam oil, and later on, Pei Yicheng’s gifted hand cream, which made her hands even whiter and tenderer.
Hands as soft as the tenderest shoots, fingers like spring onions, Xu Nianhua was extremely pleased with them.
"That’s right, we are family," Xu Nian’an placed his hand over hers, followed quickly by Xu Nianji, who said, "The three of us, as siblings, must stick together, never allowing petty things to cause any resentments between us. Nian’an, little sister, if I, as your big brother, ever do anything wrong, you must remind me."
"Big brother, it’s you and second brother who dote on me the most. It should be me getting reminded if I do anything wrong," Xu Nianhua playfully said, filling the room with laughter.