Lin Qingqing was helpless when she heard what her mother said. How could anyone be like her, saying this to her daughter the moment she saw her. Fortunately, Lin Qingqing understood her experience and was really worried about her. If someone who didn't understand her well, they would think she had bad intentions.
"Mom, I know. You went through so much hardship when you gave birth to me. How could I not pay attention?" Lin Qingqing said with understanding. "Mom, you've worked so hard to take care of me this time. You also brought so many things. You must be tired from the journey. I've already prepared lunch. Let's go back and eat first."
"Hey... Hey..." Mother Lin had tasted her daughter's cooking when she came home last year, and she knew that her daughter was good at cooking. The weather was still a little cold now, so she was happy to have a hot meal. "Mom brought you a homemade cured chicken, and clothes and shoes made by my family for your baby in your belly. I also brought a set of clothes for Haici." She didn't think of bringing clothes for Lu Haici, because she brought clothes for her daughter's baby in her belly because the baby was about to be born. But the mother-in-law said that since she was here, she should also bring a set of clothes for Lu Haici to make Lu Haici happy.
Anyway, there was some material that her daughter sent home, so she made a set. Lin's mother was willing to make it for Lu Haici, because the family was well off. In addition to the five yuan she gave to her mother-in-law every month, her daughter also gave five yuan to the second wife. In Lin's mother's mind, her son-in-law promised her daughter to send ten yuan to her parents' home every month, so of course they should appreciate it.
Lin's mother's thinking was traditional in that era. She never thought that this was money earned by her daughter. She only thought that her son-in-law was the head of the family, and she was grateful that he could be so generous.
"That's great." Lin Qingqing said, "Hai Ci will definitely be very happy."
Lu Cheng went to park the car, and Lin's mother carried two bags and followed Lin Qingqing to the family compound. This was not her first time here. She came here with Aunt Lin last time, so she was familiar with the roads in the family compound. If she saw someone familiar, she would greet them, "Hello, Comrade. Qingqing is pregnant. I need your help to take care of her on weekdays."
The military wife she greeted said, "Aunt Lin is here. Are you here to take care of Comrade Lin?"
“Don’t worry, Sister-in-law Lin, we will take care of Comrade Lin’s orders.”
"That's right, Captain Lu is very kind to Comrade Lin. He even washes his clothes every day." Speaking of this, Captain Lu is really a role model for the men in the family compound. He does everything from washing clothes to fetching water and washing dishes. When the female comrades in the family compound quarrel with the male comrades, they use Captain Lu as an example.
When Lin's mother heard everyone praising her son-in-law, she was also happy: "Yes, our Lu Cheng is also a good one. Our daughter was brought up in pampering, and only Lu Cheng can tolerate her personality." Lin's mother thought her daughter was very good. She graduated from junior high school and now has a high school diploma. She has good eyesight, found a good son-in-law, and has the ability to find a good job. However, she would not say this in front of outsiders. In front of outsiders, she would praise her son-in-law so that when her son-in-law knows, he will treat her daughter better.
"No way, Comrade Lin has a very good personality, he is gentle, and he taught us a lot."
"That's right. Comrade Lin cooks delicious food, makes delicious snacks, and is good to children."
Lin's mother: "I learned all that from my mother-in-law. Speaking of cooking skills, my mother-in-law's cooking skills are amazing. My in-laws like girls, so my daughter was raised by my mother-in-law, and she taught her cooking skills." In Lin's mother's opinion, her daughter's cooking skills must have been learned from her mother-in-law. When she said that her in-laws like girls, she was proud. There's nothing she can do. Nowadays, it's really something to be proud of for her in-laws to like girls. Besides, their family likes girls not because they can't give birth to boys.
"I heard from Comrade Lin that her grandfather is a doctor."
When Lin's mother heard the other party talking about her father-in-law, her tone became even more proud: "My father-in-law's medical skills are the best in the surrounding area." Indeed, her father-in-law is the pride of their Lin family. In the entire Gaoshan'ao Production Brigade, who doesn't give face to her father-in-law
Mother Lin was very happy that she was welcomed by everyone. When she arrived at the Lu family, she couldn't stop smiling.
"Mom, grandma, grandma, you're here." Lu Haici was waiting at the door. When he saw them coming, he happily went forward to greet them.
"Grandson, I haven't seen you for a long time. Grandma misses you." Mother Lin also said happily, "Grandson, grandma brought you new clothes. I don't know if they are suitable for you. Try them on later."
"Thank you, grandma." Lu Haici, who lacked love as a child, liked it most when his relatives were nice to him. His mother was one of his favorite people, so his mother's mother was also someone he liked. Now that his mother's mother was nice to him, Lu Haici felt happy.
Mother Lin opened the sack and took out a set of clothes for Lu Haici: "Haici, this is for you. A white shirt, a pair of corduroy trousers, and a pair of cloth shoes. Do you think they fit you?"
"Okay, I'll try it right away." Lu Haici walked into the house carrying clothes and shoes.
Lin smiled gently and shook her head: "Mom, you and I will share a room. I have prepared three sets of spring clothes for you."
When Lin's mother heard this, she said, "Oh, Haici and I can share a room." Not to mention that Lu Haici is young now, it doesn't matter if she shares a room with him. Even if Haici is old, she is an old woman, and there will be no gossip if they share a room, so what's the problem? Lin's mother didn't want to disturb her daughter and son-in-law.
Lin Qingqing said, "You should share a room with me. Lu Cheng doesn't know about some of the things I need to pay attention to during my pregnancy. If you sleep with me, you can remind me from time to time."
When Lin's mother heard this, she suddenly became worried that her son-in-law was too young to be careful with her daughter. Thinking of this, Lin's mother immediately agreed to share a room with her daughter. "Okay, I'll share a room with you."
Although two people shared a room, they slept in separate beds. The beds were placed side by side with two sets of sheets and quilt covers. It was very convenient and cozy.
"Mom, I'm done." Lu Haici came out wearing a white shirt and corduroy pants. "Look, mom, do they look good?"
"Good-looking! My eldest grandson is so handsome. He looks good in whatever he wears." The more Mother Lin looked at him, the happier she became.
Hearing his grandmother's praise, Lu Haici grinned and couldn't close his mouth. However, he still looked at Lin Qingqing, hoping to get his mother's approval.
Lin Qingqing also nodded: "It looks good. It's a bit cold to wear a white shirt now, so I need to put on a sweater. The clothes are a bit big, but I can still wear them next year."
When Lin's mother made the clothes, she deliberately made them too big because she didn't know Lu Haici's size. But if they were too small, they wouldn't be able to wear them, so they had to make them bigger.
"Then I'll wear it when I go to school tomorrow." Lu Haici now has this little idea of wearing it to school to show off.
"Haven't you eaten yet?" Lu Cheng's voice came from the yard.
Lin Qingqing: "Here I come."
Today, the family made noodles, egg and vegetable noodles, and cut a few pieces of bacon chicken that Lin's mother had just brought, which made the taste even better. The bacon chicken was not greasy, chewy, and fragrant.
After dinner, Lu Cheng went to wash the dishes, but was stopped by Lin's mother: "Son-in-law, you go ahead and do your work. I'll wash the dishes."
"No need, mom. I'll wash it. You just got here and you must have been tired after traveling for several days. I'll do it." How could Lu Cheng let his mother-in-law work at home? He was already very grateful that she could come to take care of his daughter-in-law.
Mother Lin said, "It's not hard, it's not hard. I have nothing to do on the train. I sleep all day and night."
Lu Cheng: "Mom, you are here to take care of Qingqing, not to do housework, so I'll go."
Lin's mother: "Son-in-law, housework is what we women should do, so let me do it." Although Lin's mother is the boss at home and Lin's father listens to her, she never lets her man do housework. She thinks it is a woman's job.
Of course, when she is not here, she is happy that her son-in-law can help her daughter with housework, which shows that her daughter is capable. But when she is here, of course she also wants to win favor in front of her son-in-law.
Lu Cheng: "Mom..."
Mother Lin: "Son-in-law..."
Neither of them gave in to the other.
Lu Haici looked at his father, then at his grandmother, and sighed. Why was everyone fighting over the task of washing the dishes? He didn't like washing dishes. He would rather wash clothes and light the fire.
Lin Qingqing was helpless: "Mom, let Lu Cheng wash it, you go and rest first. It's your first day here today, it's important to get your spirits back, there will be many things in the family that need your help in the future."
Lu Cheng: "Yes, Qingqing is right."
After hearing what her daughter said, Lin's mother did not insist: "Son-in-law, thank you for your hard work. Qingqing, mother will go take a bath first."
Lin Qingqing: "Hey, there's hot water in the kettle."
Life with Lin's mother is indeed comfortable. Lin Qingqing goes to work at 8:30. She used to get up early to prepare breakfast for Lu Haici because she thought Lu Haici went to school early. But since Lin's mother came, the cooking job has been handed over to her. Lin's mother is used to getting up early, unlike Lin Qingqing who likes to stay in bed.
However, Lin Qingqing would arrange the food for three meals a day, because Lin's mother was used to being frugal. If she were to make the decision, the three meals would not be very rich.
Lin's mother would prepare all the three meals a day that Lin Qingqing arranged. In fact, Lin's mother liked her daughter to arrange the quantity of the three meals so that she didn't have to think about what to cook and how much to cook every day.
Lin's mother cooks every day, and Lu Cheng is responsible for washing dishes. Except for Lin Qingqing's clothes, Lu Cheng and Lu Haici wash their own clothes.
When she was in the family compound, Lin's mother's life was very rich. In addition to cooking, she also made friends with many sisters who liked to listen to gossip. At the same time, she also learned to ride a bicycle, and every time she went to the vegetable market, she would ride a bicycle.
Coupled with the new clothes that Lin Qingqing prepared for her, she now looks younger. Not only is she energetic every day, but her mentality is also very good.
In the blink of an eye, it was mid-September of the following year, and during this time, Lin Qingqing had officially applied for maternity leave. Of course, there was no maternity leave in this era, so Lin Qingqing asked for leave. Even Lu Cheng avoided missions, unless they required him to do so.
It was noon on September 25th. Lin Qingqing had just finished her lunch when she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her stomach.