Lin Wan originally felt nothing, but when she laid down, her stomach began to ache faintly.
When Liang Hongmei finished washing clothes and came in with freshly made red sugar water, Lin Wan’s face was ghostly pale.
Liang Hongmei quickly helped her up and fed her the sugar water, then went outside to find a bottle, filled it with hot water, wrapped it in a soft piece of clothing, and placed it next to her belly, staying with her for a while.
Over a month without rest, suddenly lying in bed in broad daylight, the pain lulled her to sleep.
Liang Hongmei touched Lin Wan’s forehead, seeing nothing serious, she glanced at the remaining twenty or so rice dumplings beside her.
Quietly carried them out...
Liang Hongmei didn’t know which villages Lin Wan had gone to, she herself carried the bamboo basket to town.
After circling the town, she managed to sell a dozen.
As the sky gradually darkened, Liang Hongmei went to a nearby village for another round. By that time, it was already dark, with three or four remaining, she decided not to sell anymore.
When Lin Wan got up, smoke was already rising from the homes all around the village. Holding a clean menstrual bag, she filled it with some plant ash, and went to the toilet.
In an era without toilet paper, traveling was quite troublesome for women.
If their menstrual period came, they’d have to carry some plant ash.
Lin Wan entered the kitchen, simply cooked some porridge, heated a steamed bun and some sweet potatoes, and prepared some spicy sauce and crispy vegetables.
Evening meal was ready, but still no sign of Liang Hongmei.
There wasn’t much work in the fields now. While Lin Wan was puzzled, she went into the house for a look and discovered the bamboo basket was gone. She knew where Liang Hongmei had gone.
Lin Wan was worried about Mom, so she locked the door and walked towards the village entrance with the kerosene lamp.
When Liang Hongmei was almost at the village entrance, the sky was already black, there were no streetlights, and the path was pitch dark, relying only on a bit of moonlight, she walked towards the village.
She hadn’t walked far before hearing the ringing sound behind her.
This sound was most familiar to Liang Hongmei, it was the sound of a bicycle.
In their village, only Ye Qing’s house and the village chief’s house had one. When their family bought a bicycle back then, everyone in the village came to marvel at it.
Thinking of the village chief made Liang Hongmei nervous, she unconsciously lowered her head, hurried along the roadside, but still couldn’t avoid it.
Sure enough, it was the village chief, Liang Hongmei silently frowned, ignored him, and increased her pace, walking on her own towards the village.
Walking could never beat the most trendy bicycles nowadays.
Li Fugui pedaled a few times with force, blocking Liang Hongmei’s path.
"Hongmei, what a coincidence, want me to give you a ride?" Li Fugui said, wobbling as he got off the bike, a whiff of alcohol hitting her
Liang Hongmei, seeing his demeanor, knew he was drunk.
Hurriedly tried to pass him, ready to run forward. Who knew Li Fugui raised his hand and grabbed her.
"Hongmei, why are you running? It’s pitch black, not a soul on the road. Isn’t it perfect?" Li Fugui chuckled drunkenly.
"Perfect my ass," Liang Hongmei jerked her hand away, glaring angrily at him.
"Hehe, your Lin Guozhi hasn’t wanted you for so many years, I don’t believe you can endure the loneliness."