Chapter 82: First Update

After seeing off Zhuo Liang, the couple tidied up the items sent by the husband's parents.

The more Gu Cheng looked, the darker his expression became. "What kind of things are these they've sent? This... this old baby carrier... My god, and this."

"Please stop talking. I'm getting dizzy," Qin Yao said, feeling a bit lightheaded. These items all had their "historical stories." Just what kind of mischief had this Gu guy gotten into when he was a child?

Gu Cheng decisively declared, "Throw them away. Throw it all away."

"Keep what can be used. Maybe your son will need them," Qin Yao said coolly.

Qin Yao touched her belly. Currently, her body was quite inconvenient and needed care. Third Sister Xie had offered to take care of her for a few months when she was further along.

While this works, it would separate Third Sister Xie and Third Brother Gu. Qin Yao felt guilty about this. She wondered if she could find a suitable job near the family apartment for Third Brother, so that the couple could be together more often and both families could look after each other.

"I’ll check around for you," Gu Cheng said.

Qin Yao nodded and pulled out the manuscript of *Female Militia Leaf* she had written over the past few months, asking Gu Cheng to transcribe it for her. Originally, Qin Yao had planned to write a short story of about 80,000 to 90,000 words, but inspiration had struck, and it had grown to nearly 200,000 words. After months of work, she had finally finished, leaving only the tasks of revising and transcribing.

Qin Yao, being not very far along in her pregnancy, could still handwrite 2,000 to 3,000 words a day. She asked Gu Cheng to help her with the transcribing.

Gu Cheng agreed.

"We don’t need to rush. We can earn money over time," Qin Yao sighed, feeling tired. Pregnancy was exhausting, and having a child was no easy task, especially with the physical and mental toll it took.

Fortunately, she still had the affection system, and being by Chen Baozhen and Gu Cheng's side, her body was constantly nourished and felt very comfortable.

She’s due around the Spring Festival. This timing would be convenient for Gu Cheng to take leave. Qin Yao asked him to prepare in advance and try to be in the delivery room with her on that day. With him by my side, I probably won’t have to suffer too much.

"Why earn so much money?" Before getting married, Gu Cheng had been a man who hardly spent money. Living at sea, he hadn't had the opportunity to spend money even if he wanted to. At most, during his annual leave, he would buy gifts for his family, but that was all.

After marrying Qin Yao, he had spent a large sum to furnish their new home and buy furniture and appliances, but that had only been a year's worth of his savings. Having served in the military for over a decade, his old savings might not be as vast as the ocean, but they were like a constantly replenishing well, capable of withstanding such expenses.

Even with two more children, Gu Cheng was never worried about not being able to support them. "Not just two children, we could support five or seven."

Qin Yao said expressionlessly, "Raising children isn't just about money."

"Ten children, we could still manage."

Qin Yao kicked his shin, "Be careful, or I’ll hit you."

"Children are difficult to manage. You'll handle them."

Gu Cheng said lightly, "I’ll handle them. I'm excellent at managing people. I’ve managed hundreds, even thousands. What’s there to fear with just two kids?"

"I sincerely wish you maintain that confidence and have the honor, like your father, to drink your son’s urine," Qin Yao said, closing her eyes and pressing her hands together in a prayer gesture.

"Hey—" Gu Cheng sat with a bold posture next to his wife. He couldn't lose this battle of wits. "Do you really believe in TCM? Urine is quite useful in it. Such good fortune, I wish for us to share it together."

With that, he mimicked Qin Yao, pressing his hands together and silently making a wish.

Qin Yao opened her eyes, infuriated by his words. She hugged his neck, lunged forward, sat on Gu Cheng's lap, and pinched his neck.

"Captain Gu, you're really shameless now!"

"Same to you."

Qin Yao leaned against Gu Cheng's chest, feeling drowsy. She wasn't too worried about the future. After all, her work was easy, requiring only one or two hours a day to complete. The rest of the time was spent "reading newspapers and studying," which, of course, was part of the job for writers like her. Spending a large amount of time reading political newspapers and following national affairs was part of their work.

It was 1973, and 1974 was just around the corner. There were still four years until the resumption of the college entrance exam and five to six years until the economic reforms.

Qin Yao had no intention of taking the college entrance exam.

She had spent over twenty years in school, earning both a bachelor's and a master's degree. After all the effort to become a free social individual, she would be crazy to go back to university.

As a liberal arts student, she didn't see the need to pursue another college degree. She didn't believe the teaching quality at that time could compare to what it would be in the future, so why waste the time?

Many people went to college for the diploma, which was a means to a stable, well-paying job. Qin Yao had no interest in that kind of security and didn't need the diploma.

As for getting rich... Qin Yao didn't have much ambition to make money. She wanted to do things she was interested in, like running a magazine, a publishing house, or a coffee shop.

These were modest goals. But if she became wealthier in the future, she dreamed of building a private zoo, buying a small island, and developing a resort.

In the past, Qin Yao would have only thought about having the energy to raise a few cats. Now, having come to the 1970s, with opportunities to make money, her ambitions went beyond just a few kittens.

With a zoo, she could raise not just house cats but even big cats with the 'king' mark on their foreheads.

She also wanted a dolphinarium, a panda house, and elephants...

Before, Qin Yao wouldn't have dared to dream of opening a zoo. But now, it so happened that her twin brother worked as a zookeeper. In the future, she could learn management experience from him and use his connections to obtain resources.

All of these required money and funds. Where would the money come from?

— From taking advantage of Bai Qiuling.

Before Qin Yao transmigrated into this book (a popular trope in Chinese web novels where a character is transported into a fictional world), she had read many stories set in this era. Female leads like Bai Qiuling, after rebirth, took the college entrance exam, pursued higher education, and didn't forget to start businesses, set up stalls, open factories, and sell clothes, shoes, and fast food...

The 1980s were a golden age for entrepreneurship. Qin Yao knew she could make money by wholesaling clothes or opening a clothing factory, but there was no need for her to do these things personally.

Bai Qiuling was the original female lead. Investing in her business would definitely not be a loss. When Bai Qiuling started her business and needed partners, Qin Yao planned to invest, letting Bai Qiuling make money while she and Chen Baozhen rode the wave and benefited.

Investing in the female lead and reaping the rewards was definitely a sure-win business.

Thinking about this, Qin Yao became happier and happier.

"What’s got you so happy? You’re drooling!" Gu Cheng looked down at her, amused by how this woman in his arms was giggling to herself, not knowing what she was thinking about.

Qin Yao squinted her eyes like a lazy kitten. "I thought of something good."

Gu Cheng smiled and rubbed his face against her neck. Qin Yao pushed him away. "It's so ticklish."

"Let me hold you for a little longer." Gu Cheng rubbed her cheek. Only when their skin touched like this did he feel the real sense of being back by her side.

After fantasizing for an hour or two, Qin Yao returned from her virtual joy. It would be at least five or six, maybe seven or eight years before she could open a zoo. For now, she needed to live well and save money.

Sighing softly, Qin Yao let out a long breath.

Gu Cheng had been coming home earlier. In the evenings, when he had time, he would accompany Qin Yao for a walk. Occasionally, they would run into Chen Baozhen and Gao Jianguo.

*

Chen Baozhen was a month ahead in her pregnancy compared to Qin Yao. Gao Jianguo felt an inexplicable sense of pride, thinking it was fate given by heaven. His child was older, older than Gu Cheng's child. Haha.

He couldn’t help but feel smug, thinking his child would have a head start. Proudly, he said to Gu Cheng, "Your child is a younger sibling."

Gu Cheng shot him a dismissive glance, not wanting to waste time arguing. "It’s just a month or two—what difference does that really make?"

"Yaoyao, come to my house for dinner?" Chen Baozhen broke free from Gao Jianguo and tried to help Qin Yao, but Gu Cheng, seeing this, stepped forward, standing between the two, fully protecting his wife. He gave Gao Jianguo a meaningful look, "These two troublemakers shouldn't be left alone together."

Qin Yao hugged Gu Cheng's arm and gave Chen Baozhen a helpless look.

They were like the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, kept apart by the two kids nearby.

"Yaoyao, I'll come to your house to find you tomorrow."

Qin Yao nodded, "Sure."

Qin Yao thought prenatal education should keep up, and Teacher Chen had given her several classical music records. Every night before bed, Qin Yao would listen for a bit.

At that time, she was also learning to play the accordion from Chen Baozhen, practicing a rendition of "Auld Lang Syne" on her own.

Chen Baozhen taught her how to play the accordion in the yard, and the music drifted through the air.

Next door, Zhou Jiajia loved playing the mouth organ. The mouth organ was the cheapest and trendiest instrument, found in almost every household. However, compared to the accordion, the mouth organ's range was rather monotonous.

As the two practiced the accordion, Zhou Jiajia watched longingly from next door.

Qin Yao said, "Jiajia, do you want to learn? Come over."

Zhou Jiajia hesitantly stepped into the yard next door and took the accordion from Qin Yao, playing it with a semblance of skill.

"Wrong instrument," said Chen Baozhen, guiding her. "Your hands should be placed like this, yes, like this..." Zhou Jiajia glanced at her shyly.

Teacher Chen's voice was so pleasant, but Zhou Jiajia's mother, Neighbor Sister Zaohua, had warned her to stay away from Teacher Chen. Still, she couldn't help herself; she found Teacher Chen to be the most elegant woman she had ever met.

Qin Yao and Chen Baozhen, both pregnant, soon put down their instruments and let Zhou Jiajia play the accordion by herself.

Qin Yao rubbed her belly, feeling that this kind of prenatal education was very harmonious, as if she were carrying two well-behaved babies.

"Jiajia! Jiajia!" came a sudden call from Neighbor Sister Zaohua from next door. Startled, Zhou Jiajia caught sight of her mother and looked panicked.

Neighbor Sister Zaohua shot a displeased glance at Chen Baozhen. She had always held some prejudice against Chen Baozhen, fearing that her daughter would become like her.

What was the point of learning these instruments? They were just a bunch of noise, after all.

This accordion wasn’t cheap, and it would be a waste of money for a kid. Neighbor Sister Zaohua didn't want her daughter to ask for an accordion; what good would it do?

Seeing this, Chen Baozhen sat up straight and coughed.

Qin Yao invited, "Sister Zaohua, there's another accordion here. Would you like to come over and try it with your daughter?"

Zaohua said, "Ah?"

Instinctively, she wanted to refuse, but she was curious about this new and unfamiliar object. Back in the village, she had only ever heard people play the brass horn, the erhu, and occasionally the flute. That was about it.

It seemed that everyone had a childhood yearning for music. As a child, Zaohua had played the erhu and could manage a few lines of "Happy New Year," but the flute... she had never been able to make a sound with it. It was just a bunch of hissing air.

"Come on, give it a try. Jiajia, teach your mother."

Zhou Jiajia awkwardly guided her own mother on how to play the accordion, feeling a bit impatient. She thought her mom was only good at housework and couldn't learn anything else.

Neighbor Sister Zaohua took the accordion and played it with surprising skill, the sound surprisingly pleasant.

Chen Baozhen paid attention to Zaohua's hands, which were dark and had ten long, slender fingers covered in calluses, yet they were unexpectedly nimble and didn’t falter.

"It seems quite simple," said Neighbor Sister Zaohua, liking the small instrument in her hands. Unlike the flute or erhu, it produced such pleasant sounds easily.

Chen Baozhen smiled and said, "You’ve got a real gift, Sister."

Neighbor Sister Zaohua felt frustrated, thinking to herself, 'What rubbish,' as Teacher Chen always praised everyone for having talent.

Qin Yao said, "You're learning faster than Jiajia and playing better too. Before, Baozhen praised Jiajia for having musical talent, but I think Jiajia must’ve gotten it from you, Sister."

Playing the accordion required good hand coordination, and both hands needed to work together smoothly. Neighbor Sister Zaohua and her daughter could be considered talented in this regard.

"Xiao Qin, you sure know how to talk," said Neighbor Sister Zaohua, and this time, she couldn’t help but believe the compliment. Chen Baozhen taught her some more details, and Zaohua played a simple tune with a passable form.

They practiced until it was dark, and Zaohua finally gave the accordion back to Qin Yao, still reluctant to stop.

Zhou Jiajia whispered, "Mom, looks like we didn’t make dinner."

"Oh no."

Zaohua suddenly realized and glanced at Qin Yao. Qin Yao hadn’t started cooking either, but the men had returned today. Gu Cheng had already cooked dinner and called Qin Yao in to eat.

Neighbor Sister Zaohua hurried back home and busied herself preparing dinner. Political Commissar Zhou came out of the study and asked, "When’s dinner going to be ready?"

"In a little while."

"What’s taking so long? We’re starving here!"

Zaohua bowed her head and got to work in the kitchen, but for some reason, she felt a growing annoyance toward him.