Chapter 199 - 199 Madam Zhang's Child Was Due
199 Madam Zhang’s Child Was Due
“So what if we haven’t finished eating? It won’t go bad if we store it,” Qin Xiaoyao replied.
“Besides, with the current situation, if we really waited until the end of the year, it might be hard to buy pork for the new year. I’m making preparations in advance.”
Qin Dazhuang was stunned.
He realized that his daughter’s words made sense.
“Alright, this matter is settled then,” Qin Xiaoyao continued.
As she spoke, she even patted Qin Dazhuang’s hand.
Only then did Qin Dazhuang not protest anymore.
After this, Eldest Sister-in-law Qin came up to talk and mentioned that Madam Zhang was going to give birth soon.
“Zhang Laosan just came to pass a message. He said that Madam Zhang will be giving birth in a few days.”
“But the Zhang family didn’t take it seriously. Zhang Laosan asked if we want to help them make some preparations,” Qin Dahu said.
“Of course we do,” Qin Xiaoyao said immediately.
After thinking for a while, she asked, “Is there a midwife in the Zhang family’s village?”
It wasn’t easy to give birth in ancient times. She wasn’t worried about Madam Zhang, but she was afraid that something would happen to the child.
“There is!” Qin Dahu replied.
“Zhang Laosan’s eldest aunt is one. He came here this time specifically to discuss this matter.
“But the Zhang family still doesn’t have any intention of engaging his eldest aunt.”
Qin Xiaoyao immediately broke into a smile.
“This is easy. Ask his eldest aunt to help Madam Zhang deliver the baby. Our family will pay for them, but don’t tell the Zhang family the truth. Just say that his eldest aunt happened to encounter their situation, and she decided to help for free,” she said.
With the Zhang family’s habit of taking advantage of others, they would naturally be happy to accept other people’s help for free.
Everyone nodded.
As long as the child could be born safely, it was not a big deal to spend money to hire a midwife for Madam Zhang.
“In addition, get Zhang Laosan and his eldest aunt keep a close eye on Madam Zhang. Once Madam Zhang goes into labor, Father and the rest of you will have to set off for the Zhang family’s village.
“Once the child is born, you have to bring him back at once. Otherwise, I’m afraid things may take an unexpected turn if we’re too late.”
Previously, because the Qin family didn’t bother with Zhang Ershui, the latter was only released after one of his arms was broken by the gambling house.
It was said that the Zhang family even lost a large amount of silver.
Due to this, the Zhang family bore a deep hatred towards the Qin family.
However, they didn’t dare to cause trouble for the Qin family, so they could only vent their anger on Madam Zhang.
It was only because Madam Zhang was expecting and the Qin family had warned that the Zhang family was not allowed to hurt the child in Madam Zhang’s belly that the Zhang family could only try their best to restrain themselves.
Moreover, the Zhang family was still thinking of using the child to win back the Qin family, so they naturally did not go too far in their treatment of Madam Zhang.
However, so much time had passed, and the Zhang family’s patience was running out.
When Madam Zhang’s child was born, the Zhang family would definitely take action.
“Mm-hmm!” Qin Dazhuang replied. His expression was quite grim.
Qin Xiaoyao frowned again when she thought about the locust plague that might happen soon.
What if…
“Forget it. Big brother, if there’s no work at home, why don’t you just stay in the Zhang family’s village? Stay there for a few days and watch over them until the birth of the child.”
It was not safe for people to walk outside when the locust plague was raging, and the locusts were flying everywhere.
If they waited until Zhang Laosan came to report, it would be too late if he was delayed.
“But…” A look of hesitation flashed across Qin Dahu’s face.
Only after Eldest Sister-in-law Qin glared at him did he nod in agreement.
“Alright. Then I’ll go and stay at Zhang Laosan’s house for a few days,” he said.
Qin Xiaoyao nodded, feeling more at ease.
After chatting with the Qin family for a while and having dinner there, she went home.
The next day, Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu sent the pork over early in the morning.
Qin Xiaoyao was overjoyed. She quickly weighed it and paid the money.
After that, she arranged for her family to cure the pork.
After she was done with the necessary matters, she chose another five or six catties of meat and put them in the basket. Then, she went to the Liu family’s house with Madam Liu and the others.
At this moment, the courtyard door of the Liu family’s house was open, and it was very lively inside.
When they saw Qin Xiaoyao and the others, Aunt Liu and Big Girl Li quickly came up to welcome them.
Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao had brought so much meat over, the Liu mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were grinning so widely that they couldn’t close their mouths.
“I was worried that the meat was not easy to buy, but you actually sent so much. We don’t have to worry about buying meat anymore!” Big Girl Li laughed.
“It just so happened that my father was slaughtering pigs, so I bought more and brought some to your house.”
“Is there anything else to do at home? We’re all here to help, so just tell us what to do!”
“Haha! The house has been cleaned up. There’s nothing to do. Just sit and chat!” Aunt Liu said hurriedly.
“Big Girl, entertain your Aunt Song and the others,” she instructed Big Girl Li.
Big Girl Li broke into a smile, and she was about to answer in the affirmative.
However, Madam Liu said, “You two can talk. I’ll go help out in the kitchen with Xiaomei.”
Qin Xiaoyao smiled and didn’t stop her.
She let her mother-in-law take Wang Xiaomei and Song Ye, and they left with Aunt Liu.
After that, she followed Big Girl Li, and they found a place to sit down and chat.
“Congratulations. You’ve finally gotten this new courtyard house that you have been dreaming of,” Qin Xiaoyao said with a smile.
Big Girl Li smiled and touched her belly, which was already showing.
“Thanks!”
“Actually, I thought that it would be more convenient for the baby to live in the town after he was born. It’ll be good to send him to the academy in the future.”
Qin Xiaoyao looked at Big Girl Li’s tummy and couldn’t help feeling moved.
She opened her mouth and said, “This child is indeed blessed.”
Then, she couldn’t help but look down at her tummy.
Due to the drought and the impending locust plague, she and her husband had been using birth control.
However, that kind of thing wasn’t absolutely safe. She didn’t know if she was…
Forget it. She would just let nature take its course.
Seeing Qin Xiaoyao’s reaction, Big Girl Li couldn’t help but laugh.
Then, she turned to Qin Xiaoyao and asked with a cheeky smirk, “You… also have good news?”
Qin Xiaoyao’s face turned red.
“What good news? Don’t spout nonsense,” she replied.
Seeing that Big Girl Li was about to speak again, Qin Xiaoyao quickly changed the topic.
“When are you and Xiaomei planning to move in? Also, have Daniu and Erniu found a job yet?”
The teasing look on Big Girl Li’s face disappeared, and her smile also vanished.
“It’s easy for me and my Xiaomei to move. I can just ask Daniu and Erniu to come with us in the afternoon, and we’ll be able to move everything over.
“On the other hand, those two’s job-hunting…”
“The weather is so hot now. Many shops are only open for half a day or at night. It’s not easy to find work,” she said.
Qin Xiaoyao was stunned.
“The current situation is indeed not good. The business of my father’s meat stall has declined sharply. He and my two brothers have a lot of free time now.
“Previously, I heard my eldest sister-in-law say that Father wanted Big Brother and Second Brother to go out and find some work to do.”
Big Girl Li was shocked.
“Are there any leads?” she quickly asked.
Her Uncle Qin knew a lot of people, and there were many people who were willing to do him favors.
If he wanted to help the two brothers of the Qin family find work, he would definitely be able to do it.
“There are. But the work is not easy,” Qin Xiaoyao said with a frown.
“What kind of job? Whether it is easy or not, they still need people to do it, don’t they? If they’re still short of people, can you ask Daniu and Erniu to join them?” Big Girl Li said quickly.
Qin Xiaoyao glanced at Big Girl Li and was amused by her expression.
“It’s hard work, and they will be exposed to the sun. It’s really not easy,” she said.
Seeing that Big Girl Li was still curious, Qin Xiaoyao continued, “He’s a dock hand supervisor at the dock my father knows.”