As the busy farming season came to an end, Song Wei fished out the large softshell turtle they had been raising in the pond.
Lin Zhen quickly took it over to handle and prepare.
“Such a big turtle, and we still have venison left. Should we invite Great Uncle’s family and the brigade leader’s family to join us for the meal?”
They had a good relationship with these two families, and it was important to maintain those ties.
Lin Zhen nodded in agreement.
Song Wei sent Lin Ping’an to invite the brigade leader’s family while she went to Great Uncle’s house to extend the invitation.
Naturally, none of the guests arrived empty-handed. They brought eggs, rice, and flour, and the brigade leader even brought some liquor.
Most people in the countryside were hardworking and rarely idle. The men helped wash and cut the meat, the women took charge of the cooking, and the children and household animals played outside.
Those who couldn’t help in the kitchen pitched in by feeding the chickens or cleaning the deer pen.
Everyone was bustling with activity, filling the entire courtyard with a lively atmosphere.
During the meal, men and women sat at separate tables.
With the harvest completed and such a fine spread of dishes and liquor, it would’ve been almost improper not to drink a little.
“Come, Lin Zhen, I must toast you. Thank you for what you did for my son,” said one of the elders.
Jiang Wenwu also grinned and raised his glass. “Brother Lin Zhen, I toast you!”
Lin Zhen lifted his cup in response. “There’s no need to thank me. I was able to join the military back then thanks to Uncle Lei’s help.”
At the women’s table, the conversation centered around Song Wei’s pregnancy.
“It’s wonderful that you’re carrying twins. In our brigade, I’ve only heard of Old Wang’s wife having twins before.”
“Song Wei, have your babies moved yet?”
Song Wei nodded. “Yes, they moved just today.”
“They must be quite lively then, haha… But twins can be difficult to deliver. Make sure to stay active and walk around regularly. Otherwise, labor might be tough.”
Having given birth themselves, the women were familiar with such matters.
Song Wei listened attentively and nodded.
“I understand.”
“You and Lin Zhen are both good-looking. Your children are sure to be even more beautiful!”
The food on the table was so delicious that everyone kept eating while chatting.
The children, especially, were so focused on eating that they barely looked up.
After the autumn harvest, life gradually became less hectic.
But there was still plenty to do.
Even with her large belly, Song Wei could sit on a stool and shell corn with the elderly women, joining in their conversations and sharing gossip.
After the public grain was handed over, the brigade leader organized another hunting trip into the mountains.
This time, Song Wei didn’t go, but Lin Zhen joined.
Everyone brought their dogs along.
With Wolf One and the other dogs tracking, the group returned with a considerable haul: two wild boars, one sika deer, two roe deer, and several smaller game like pheasants and rabbits.
When the hunting party returned, the entire brigade cheered enthusiastically.
There was meat to eat again at last.
“That was amazing, Brigade Leader! Let’s go into the mountains one more time!” pleaded one of the young men.
The brigade leader shot him a stern look.
“What are you thinking? Going once a year is enough. Don’t get greedy.”
“The game in the mountains needs time to recover. If we go too often, we’ll disrupt the balance of the mountain, and that will bring us misfortune.”
The enthusiastic young men were quickly chastised by the elders, their excitement dampened by the reprimands.
“Understood,” they replied.
Everyone divided the meat and returned home happily to cook.
Song Wei didn’t go to collect the meat herself. She stayed home to watch over the chickens.
Their hens had started laying eggs!
Looking at the small egg in her hand, her eyes curved into happy crescents.
As soon as Lin Zhen returned, she eagerly showed him the tiny egg, barely larger than a pigeon’s egg.
“Lin Zhen, look! Our chickens have laid eggs!”
Their courtyard was spacious, with a dedicated area for raising chickens. They kept thirteen chickens in total—eight hens and five roosters.
Over the past two days, all eight hens had started laying eggs, one after another.
Lin Zhen nodded. “Good. From now on, you can eat as many eggs as you want.”
Song Wei muttered, “Do I really seem that greedy?”
Well, maybe a little.
“We have so many roosters—they’re not really useful. Let’s eat one sometime.”
Lin Zhen couldn’t help but laugh. He was still holding the meat he’d brought back, and here his wife was already craving chicken.
“Whatever you say.”
Song Wei chuckled sheepishly, feeling a bit embarrassed by her own appetite.
But she really was craving food lately—and she got hungry so quickly.
Song Wei’s appetite had grown considerably. Besides her regular meals, she now snacked on fruits and other treats throughout the day.
Yet, despite her growing belly, she hadn’t gained much weight elsewhere. It probably had to do with her daily activity levels.
In addition to her daily walks, Song Wei suddenly remembered—they needed clothes for the babies.
It wasn’t easy to buy baby clothes here; most people made them themselves.
The village women were all skilled at handicrafts.
Song Wei had learned to make clothes too, though she’d never tried making any for a child.
It wasn’t until Great Aunt brought over two pairs of adorable little tiger-head shoes that it occurred to her.
The tiger-head shoes were tiny—smaller than her palm—and exquisitely cute.
Song Wei imagined chubby little babies wearing such small shoes. How tiny their feet must be! It was utterly adorable.
“You should start preparing clothes for the babies. Do you know how to make them?”
Song Wei shook her head. “I’ve never made baby clothes before.”
“Come, I’ll teach you. It’s convenient since you have a sewing machine at home.”
Song Wei rummaged through their storage and found some soft fabric. Great Aunt began teaching her how to make clothes for a newborn.
“They’re this small?” Song Wei exclaimed, looking at the tiny garments that seemed fit for a doll.
Great Aunt chuckled. “Newborns are just that tiny. But they grow fast! Still, it’s best to prepare plenty of clothes—babies tend to soil them with pee and poop. You’ll likely need to change them at least twice a day.”
Oh, right—there were no diapers here. People used cloth nappies instead.
These cloth nappies were made from fabric and weren’t nearly as absorbent as modern diapers.
So, they’d need to prepare plenty of spare nappies too.
Having a sewing machine made things much easier. It was far faster than stitching by hand, and before long, the elderly woman had finished a tiny outfit.
“Now you try,” she said.
Song Wei nodded, sat down, and attempted to make a small garment herself.
Newborn clothes were unisex, so there was no need to distinguish between styles for boys or girls.
Since she was having twins, Song Wei decided to make two identical sets in the same color and style.
“You can practice making the clothes at home. I’ll go back and make some more small shoes,” Great Aunt said.
Song Wei agreed. The shoes required delicate craftsmanship—something she, as a beginner with only basic sewing skills, couldn’t manage yet.
“Thank you so much, Great Aunt. Please take this fabric back with you.”
“Why give it to me? Won’t you need it for your two children?”
Song Wei insisted, pushing the fabric into her hands. “Lin Zhen bought this as discounted fabric. The color doesn’t suit anyone in our household, and we have plenty more cloth at home. Please take it—you and Great Uncle can make new clothes for yourselves.”
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