Lin Ping’an returned with the eggs.
He had left alone, but he came back with someone else—Aunt Xinghua.
Song Wei was still munching on those sour plums.
When Aunt Xinghua entered, the smile on her face was impossible to hide.
“Are you really pregnant? What did Dr. Ji say?”
Song Wei nodded. “Two months along. The baby is healthy, and everything else is fine.”
Aunt Xinghua repeatedly exclaimed in delight. “You’re a blessed one! It hasn’t been long, and you’re already with child. Since Lin Zhen isn’t here, I’ll come over to cook for you from now on.”
She knew about Song Wei’s situation—her cooking was simply inedible.
But that wasn’t a big deal. “There are so many things pregnant women can’t eat. A young woman like you needs to be careful.”
Given how close their families were, Song Wei didn’t stand on ceremony.
“Alright, then I’ll trouble you from now on, Auntie.”
Trouble? It’s nothing! Our brigade doesn’t have many eggs, but my mother’s family raises plenty of chickens. I’ll have Wenwu make a trip to trade for more eggs. Heidan says you’ve been eating a lot more lately—nutrition has to keep up. The eggs he traded for won’t last more than a few days.”
Neither Lin Zhen nor Song Wei were short on money. Eating well was essential for the baby’s nutrition.
Aunt Xinghua had everything planned out meticulously.
Her eldest daughter-in-law was taking care of things at home, so she didn’t need to worry about household chores. She could focus on helping Song Wei.
That very evening, Song Wei enjoyed a meal prepared by Aunt Xinghua.
A large bowl of steamed egg custard, stir-fried cured meat, oil-fried dough bun, and a wild rabbit brought back by the wolf pack the day before.
The wolves had grown clever—when catching rabbits or pheasants, they only bit the heads.
When preparing the meat, they simply chopped off the heads to feed to the wolves—the rest of the meat was perfectly edible.
Braised rabbit meat, though with very little spice.
Pregnant women shouldn’t eat spicy food.
Song Wei thoroughly enjoyed her dinner.
“Auntie, you’re too kind! You should eat too—there’s no way I can finish all this.”
As she spoke, she piled plenty of meat into Aunt Xinghua’s bowl.
“Why are you giving me all this meat? You eat it. I’m fine with just this bun—it’s an oil-fried bun, after all.”
Song Wei insisted, “You eat too.”
After dinner, Aunt Xinghua swiftly washed the dishes, tidied up the house, and then prepared to leave.
“Auntie, take this can of tea back with you. It’s tea I found in the woods—our local tea. Take it home and give it a try.”
“Is this the same tea you gave us last year? Your Uncle Lei said this tea is really expensive.”
“Expensive? It didn’t cost a thing.”
She insisted on handing over the tea, and Song Wei and Lin Ping’an saw her off at the door.
“Auntie, take care on your way back.”
“I will. You two go back inside now. Heidan, remember—if your sister-in-law gets hungry tonight, make her some noodles and add an egg to it.”
Lin Ping’an replied loudly, “Got it!”
Early the next morning, Aunt Xinghua brought three boiled eggs for Song Wei.
“Eat up. I’ve asked Wenyong to go into town to see if there’s any pork for sale.”
Song Wei grinned and leaned in. “Auntie, you’re too good to me—just like my own mother.”
Few would go to such lengths—only a mother who dearly loved her daughter would care this much.
“What silly talk! You and Lin Zhen don’t have any elders around. Since we’re close, it’s only right that I look after you a bit more.”
“Enough said—I’m off to the fields. Don’t you still have some honey at home? Make yourself some honey water to drink too.”
“Yes, alright.”
“Oh, and we should let your Great Grandma’s family know about this. No need for you to go—I’ll stop by and tell them. I’ve already spoken to Old Lei. From now on, you can go to the fields if you feel like it, or just rest at home if you don’t. Anyway, your family doesn’t need those work points.”
Song Wei nodded in agreement to everything she said.
But she still wanted to go to the fields—staying at home all day was something she simply couldn’t stand.
After happily relaying all the instructions, Aunt Xinghua headed off to Great Grandpa’s house.
Song Wei made herself some honey water.
Probably catching the scent, Bear Cub immediately trotted into the room with its food bowl in its mouth and plopped down right at her feet.
Following closely behind was the glossy, well-fed fat fox.
“Yiyi wuwu…”
Bear Cub was truly a food lover and an expert at acting cute.
No matter who it was in the brigade, if they gave it food, it would roll onto its round belly and act cute to get pets.
Now, absolutely no one in the entire brigade was afraid of it.
In fact, Bear Cub was practically raised collectively by everyone.
But it still preferred Song Wei’s home, returning there to sleep at night.
Sometimes it would nap at someone else’s house at noon—usually wherever it had eaten the most that day.
Once full, it would simply lie down and sleep wherever it was.
Song Wei poured some honey water into the food bowls brought by Bear Cub and the fat fox.
She drank her own share and poured a cup for Lin Ping’an too.
“Eat up before heading to school.”
Lin Ping’an seemed reluctant. “Sis, maybe I should just stay home during this time.”
Song Wei found it amusing. “Are you worried about me? Don’t be—I’ll be careful. Nothing happened before, after all.”
“You can’t run and jump around like you used to.”
“I know, I know.”
Not long after Lin Ping’an left for school, Great Grandpa and Great Grandma arrived.
They brought a young rooster with them.
“Sweetheart, are you expecting?”
Even though they’d heard it from Aunt Xinghua, they couldn’t help but confirm it with Song Wei directly.
Song Wei nodded, and the elderly couple immediately broke into joyful smiles.
“That’s wonderful, that’s wonderful… Your family will flourish and thrive from now on. Here, we brought you a young rooster. Stew it and eat well.”
This was truly a generous gift.
Meat was incredibly precious at this time. Families with chickens would never slaughter them unless it was a special occasion or the New Year.
Yet here they were, bringing a chicken just because Song Wei had confirmed her pregnancy.
Song Wei was almost overwhelmed by their kindness.
“There’s no need—please take it back and enjoy it yourselves.”
“What would we eat it for? You’re the one who needs it most.”
“Oh dear, look at my memory—you shouldn’t be slaughtering chickens in your condition. No rush, wait until Dayou and the others return to handle it.”
No matter what Song Wei said, the elderly couple insisted on leaving the chicken for her to eat.
When it was almost mealtime, even before Lin Dayou and the others could come to help, Aunt Xinghua swiftly prepared the chicken.
So that day, Song Wei enjoyed a delicious meal of chicken stewed with mushrooms.
Of course, she didn’t eat it all herself.
She had Heidan take half of it to Great Grandpa’s house—after all, it was their chicken, so they deserved to taste it.
The remaining half was shared among themselves.
Song Wei invited Aunt Xinghua to eat with them.
“Auntie, if you don’t mind the trouble, please don’t decline sharing our meal. Since you’re taking care of me, you should eat with us from now on.”
Aunt Xinghua hesitated. “How can I take food meant for a pregnant woman?”
Song Wei insisted, “How much could you possibly eat? Auntie, please sit down and eat with us.”
Lin Ping’an nodded beside her and even brought over honey water.
“Auntie, let’s eat.”
Aunt Xinghua didn’t put on airs. “Alright then, I won’t stand on ceremony.”
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