Chapter 42

Jin Xiuzhu sat with Fang Min for a while, waiting until her expression had calmed before they ventured out together.

In truth, Jin Xiuzhu knew some medical skills. She had been secretly harmed in the Marquis Mansion years ago, which left her unable to bear children. Since then, she no longer trusted the maids around her and began to study medicine herself. While not an expert, she was competent enough for personal use.

However, she was naturally cautious. Even though she considered Fang Min a good friend, she still hesitated to reveal too much about her past. She planned to wait until the doctor confirmed everything was fine before giving Fang Min a prescription for pregnancy maintenance.

Jin Xiuzhu accompanied Fang Min to the county hospital, where they underwent a series of tests. The hospital asked them to return in a few days for the results.

Seeing that it was still early, Jin Xiuzhu suggested they visit the Chinese Medical Hospital. Fang Min followed Jin Xiuzhu's advice; she wasn't very familiar with the area and rarely went out, so she agreed to go along.

At the Chinese Medical Hospital, they registered first and then waited in the consultation room with their number. There were other patients inside, and they had to wait a bit before it was Fang Min's turn.

The old doctor took Fang Min's pulse and, after a moment, informed them it was a slippery pulse.

Fang Min didn't understand and looked at Jin Xiuzhu.

Jin Xiuzhu nodded and whispered, "You're pregnant."

Fang Min's eyes lit up.

However, the old doctor mentioned that Fang Min's constitution seemed weak, and her pulse was shallow. He advised her to take care of her health and prescribed some medication for maintaining the pregnancy.

As he wrote the prescription, Jin Xiuzhu took it and hesitantly said, "Doctor, my family also gave me a prescription for pregnancy maintenance. I'm not sure if it's good, so I haven't dared to take it. Could you please take a look?"

The old doctor, calm by nature, didn't think much of it and nodded, asking her to write it down.

Jin Xiuzhu took a pen and wrote the prescription on a piece of paper. Some ingredients overlapped, but her list was longer, consisting mainly of mild substances.

The old doctor tilted his head as he read, stroking his beard faster and faster. Before Jin Xiuzhu could finish writing, he excitedly asked, "Who gave you this prescription?"

"It was from an old doctor in my village. At the time, we were poor and couldn't afford the medicine, but I remembered the formula."

"Good, good, this is an excellent prescription."

He couldn't help but sigh, "Many skilled people choose to live in seclusion. My own prescriptions are based on medical texts, but this one is better."

Jin Xiuzhu smiled, "You're being modest, Doctor."

She thought to herself that this prescription was indeed superior, as it had been provided by the former director of the Imperial Medical Institute.

The old doctor shook his head. "Not at all."

Then he turned to Jin Xiuzhu and asked, "Could you leave this prescription with me? I'd like to study it further."

"Of course."

Jin Xiuzhu wrote another copy and then left with Fang Min, picking up the prescribed medicine on their way. Considering Fang Min didn't have a pot for boiling the medicine, they bought a clay pot at the supply store.

On the way, Jin Xiuzhu shared some precautions and taught her some dietary supplements.

Fang Min listened with bright eyes. "How do you know so much?"

Jin Xiuzhu smiled helplessly. "I had no choice. When I was young, my family was poor, and my parents favored my siblings. I thought that learning more skills might open up more opportunities for me in the future, so I pushed myself to learn as much as possible."

Fang Min always felt sorry for herself growing up, but now she realized Jin Xiuzhu had it even worse. Despite her hardships, Jin Xiuzhu never gave up. Instead, she thrived in adversity, much like the wild grass described in an essay she once read, struggling upward against all odds. She saw a resemblance between Jin Xiuzhu and that grass.

Now she understood why she liked Jin Xiuzhu so much. Being around her gave her courage and vitality.

Fang Min didn't realize that in later times, people would refer to someone like Jin Xiuzhu as having high energy. She felt grateful to have Jin Xiuzhu as a friend, guiding her through the health center and the county hospital without ever finding her troublesome but rather showing genuine concern.

It seemed her good luck in life was reserved for meeting the Political Commissar and Jin Xiuzhu.

In a way, that was just fine.

If Jin Xiuzhu knew what Fang Min was thinking, she would be delighted.

For now, Jin Xiuzhu only thought about how she would scold Jiang Mingchuan when she got home.

By the time they returned, it was almost noon. Jin Xiuzhu told Fang Min to rest for a bit and promised to call her when lunch was ready. Given her current condition, there was no need for formalities.

Fang Min didn't argue and obediently went back to lie down.

For lunch, Jin Xiuzhu prepared two dishes and a soup, all light in flavor. Fang Min ate some, and after a while, Jin Xiuzhu brought her the boiled medicine. Fang Min drank it despite feeling nauseous.

Jin Xiuzhu comforted her, "The taste isn't great, but it has no side effects. It's good for both you and the baby."

Unlike the Western medicine prescriptions she had seen, which came with warnings about who shouldn't take them and potential side effects. If it weren't for the distance from the county, she wouldn't have given her child those fever-reducing pills.

Now, Jin Xiuzhu kept several commonly used medicines at home, and whenever her child fell ill, she administered the medicine she had prepared.

Fang Min understood and nodded, forcing herself to finish the medicine.

That evening, Commissar Zhu heard about the situation and came over with two cans of malted milk essence to thank Jin Xiuzhu. He also offered money and coupons, saying that Fang Min would likely be eating lunch at Jin Xiuzhu's place for the foreseeable future.

Jin Xiuzhu didn't refuse. "I won't pretend with you. I'll take the money. Rest assured, I'll make dishes suitable for her."

Commissar Zhu smiled, appreciating Jin Xiuzhu's straightforwardness. He preferred such honesty over unnecessary politeness. "Thank you very much."

"The doctor said her pregnancy is still early and her body is somewhat weak. She needs to rest well for the first three months and avoid strenuous activities."

Upon hearing this, Commissar Zhu's expression became serious. "Understood."

After everyone had left, Jiang Mingchuan emerged from the kitchen, asking in confusion, "Who's pregnant?"

Xiu Zhu shot him an annoyed glance and replied, "Fang Min."

Mingchuan nodded, "That's good. Commissioner Zhu is getting on in years; he really should have a child."

Xiu Zhu reminded him, "You're not exactly young yourself."

Jiang Mingchuan picked up on her meaning and nervously rubbed his nose.

In the evening, Jin Xiuzhu was the first to finish her bath. When Jiang Mingchuan returned to their room after washing up, she reached out to him as soon as he lay down.

Mingchuan didn't expect her to be so direct. His face flushed red as he grabbed her hand and whispered, "Didn't we just do that this morning?"

Xiu Zhu persisted, "But everyone else is getting pregnant. Why not me?"

She then looked at him suspiciously and asked bluntly, "Is it because you can't?"

Jiang Mingchuan was irritated. "Don't you know if I can or not?"

Xiu Zhu didn't respond to that, only saying, "I'm certainly capable."

Mingchuan was speechless.

So she was still implying that he wasn't.

He gritted his teeth and pulled her onto him.

The next day, Jin Xiuzhu slept in for once. Only her daughter Fu Yanyan remained at home. Yanyan glanced at her mother, who was walking a bit awkwardly, before calmly looking away. She wanted to remind them both to be more discreet. This morning, when Dad left, his steps seemed unsteady.

Jin Xiuzhu didn't notice her daughter's gaze. After resting for a while following breakfast, she began preparing lunch. Fang Min came over for the meal, holding a letter and asking if Jin Xiuzhu had any mail to send. If so, she could send it along with hers.

Xiuzhu agreed, taking the letter and giving it a quick look. Seeing that the address was in the capital, she guessed it was meant for Fang Min's parents.

She smiled and said, "Right, such big news should indeed be shared with the family."

Fang Min tugged at the corner of her mouth, "I saw the commissioner writing to his sister and thought I'd write to my family too."

Actually, she didn't particularly want to write to her parents. She used to, but seeing their brief replies, her heart gradually grew distant. It was her grandparents who always urged her to write, and later, the commissioner reminded her that they were still her parents.

Jin Xiuzhu knew that Fang Min wasn't close with her family, so she didn't say much. After sending Fang Min off, Jin Xiuzhu took out the fine fabric Wang Ling had given her and started cutting it to make clothes. The amount of fabric wasn't large, so she planned to make underwear for the two children for summer, and use the remaining material to create a few outfits for the unborn baby. The scraps could be used for shoes.

The main reason was that He Yan wore through clothes too quickly. It would be a waste to make him a short-sleeved shirt from such nice fabric. Since she couldn't make something for her son, she naturally couldn't for her daughter either. So, she decided to make clothes for the children, which could later be repurposed into socks or other items when they no longer fit.

In the evening, He Yan returned from having dinner at Wei Ningqing's house. Jiang Mingchuan wasn't back for dinner tonight, leaving only Jin Xiuzhu and her daughter at home. He Yan had already finished his homework at the Wei's. He sat next to Jin Xiuzhu and soaked his feet, telling her, "Mom, Wu Xiaojun didn't go to school today. Auntie Qian even came to the school looking for him."

Jin Xiuzhu paused in her work and turned to him in confusion. "Where did Wu Xiaojun go?"

He Yan shook his head. "I don't know. Auntie Qian even came to our class to ask if I had seen Wu Xiaojun. I told her no. I don't play with Wu Xiaojun anymore, so I don't know where he is."

Jin Xiuzhu furrowed her brows. "Where could he have gone?"

He Yan continued shaking his head.

Jin Xiuzhu turned to him and said, "If anything happens, you must tell us. Don't run off. Where would we find you if you got lost?"

He Yan nodded.

He wouldn't run off. He didn't want to see his mom worry like Auntie Qian did. Wu Xiaojun was being disobedient.

Jin Xiuzhu continued drawing, but after a few strokes, she felt restless. She told her daughter, "Let's visit Auntie Qian tomorrow."

Fu Yanyan, who was nearby, heard this and nodded in agreement. Her face didn't show much concern. She believed that Wu Xiaojun wasn't stupid and wouldn't put himself at a disadvantage.

From what Big Sister Daya had told her, Wu Xiaojun had been throwing tantrums since he was little, lying on the ground crying and banging his head when he didn't get what he wanted. He knew better than anyone that his whole family favored him.

Still, Fu Yanyan accompanied Jin Xiuzhu to the Wu residence the next day.

Before they even reached the door, they heard Qian Yufeng's scolding, Wu Xiaojun's crying, and Daya and Grandma Wu's attempts to mediate.

It was unclear what Qian Yufeng had said, but suddenly, Wu Xiaojun cried out, "You all favor others! You'd rather give money to Uncle's family than buy me a schoolbag. Uncle has a child now, yet I'm not even as important as that widow's kid..."

"Shut up!"

This was Grandma Wu's voice.

"Why should I shut up? It's you who made Dad give money to Uncle. You favor Uncle's family. Why are you still living here? Go live with Uncle..."

"Wu Xiaojun!" Qian Yufeng shouted angrily, "How dare you speak to your grandmother like that?"

"What's wrong with what I said? You're no better. You don't work or earn money, yet you take Dad's money to support your own family. Do you even care about me, your son? I don't want you as my mother. Look at the other military wives in the unit. They're beautiful and earn their own money. Look at yourself."

"Don't tell me you're from the countryside. He Yan's stepmother is also from the countryside. She was worse off than you at first, but now, He Yan wears nice clothes and eats well. His stepmother even buys him a schoolbag. You can't even compare to her..."

Daya hurriedly tried to stop him. "Xiaojun, don't say any more."

"Why shouldn't I? I'll say whatever I want. You can't give me anything. Why did you even have me? Did you bring me into this world just to suffer? I hate this family and I hate you. Why should a girl go to school? Why can't you save the money for my schoolbag..."

"Wu Xiaojun, no one in this family has wronged you. If you want to run away from home, then go!"

Grandma Wu's voice trembled with anger.

"I will go. I don't even want to come back."

Hearing this, Jin Xiuzhu quickly led her daughter upstairs to avoid running into them.

Wu Xiaojun opened the door and rushed out, with Daya chasing after him with reddened eyes, "Xiaojun..."

Wu Xiaojun didn't look back.

In the house, Old Lady Wu lectured Qian Yufeng, "It's all your fault. Look at how spoiled the child has become. Who else acts so undisciplined like him, always wanting to compete with others at such a young age, his mind never on studying..."

Qian Yufeng was already feeling cold-hearted from her son's actions. Hearing this, she instantly became furious, "Yes, everything bad is my fault. You're right, and you stay at home too. Why don't you teach him? At least I cook every day. What do you do? All you do is give money to Uncle, what does our family owe his? Why should we support them? I tolerated it in the past, but now, even when he can't move in bed, he still manages to have another child. And yet, you still want to give him money. Why? I ask you, why?"

"Why is it wrong for my son to want a schoolbag? If not for you, would my son run away from home over a schoolbag? It all boils down to not having enough money."

Old Lady Wu covered her chest in anger and yelled, "Get out! Get out of here!"

Qian Yufeng wiped her tears, "Fine, I'll leave. I don't want to stay in this house anyway."

With that, she turned around and ran out the door.

Daya tried to stop her, "Mom—"

Old Lady Wu slammed the door shut, causing a loud "bang" to echo through the room.

Qian Yufeng heard it and shook off her daughter's sleeve, running away. Daya chased after her, crying out in desperation.

When everyone had left, Jin Xiuzhu carefully descended the stairs with her daughter. Once downstairs, Fu Yanyan looked up at her. Jin Xiuzhu said, "Let's buy some vegetables first."

Fu Yanyan nodded.

Mother and daughter went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy vegetables, and along the way, they bought a few sweets to eat as they walked back home.

When they arrived home, they noticed that the door next door was open, and sobbing could be heard from inside.

Jin Xiuzhu paused, then turned to knock on Fang Min's door. Meeting her gaze, she asked deliberately, "What's going on?"

Qian Yufeng covered her face and cried. Beside her were the concerned Fang Min and Daya. Fang Min looked towards Jin Xiuzhu, unsure of how to comfort her.

She explained, "Auntie Qian knocked on the door earlier. I told them you were out. Seeing that she wasn't in a good state, I invited them in to sit down."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded, then hurriedly approached and asked, "What happened? Don't cry, don't cry. Tell me what's wrong, and if I can help, I will."

As she spoke, she gently patted Qian Yufeng's back.

Qian Yufeng shook her head and choked out, "No one can help me."

Jin Xiuzhu turned to look at Daya.

Daya lowered her head and said, "My brother wanted a schoolbag like He Yan's. When we didn't buy it for him, he ran away from home."

"Ahh?"

Jin Xiuzhu showed surprise on her face before replying awkwardly, "Well... How about I find someone to help buy one?"

Daya remained silent, looking at her mother.

Qian Yufeng shook her head again. She sniffled, wiping away her tears and snot. Fang Min saw this and hesitated, holding a towel in mid-air before quietly retracting it.

Qian Yufeng took a deep breath and recounted the events of the past two days. Then, she continued choking back sobs, "If I don't buy it, who knows what he'll want tomorrow? Yesterday, I was worried sick and searched everywhere. Do you know where he was hiding? He was actually sleeping in front of my grandfather's grave."

Upon hearing this, the expressions on their faces varied. Fu Yanyan suppressed a smile, while Jin Xiuzhu remained calm. Only Fang Min gaped in shock, never expecting something like this.

Qian Yufeng continued to sob and lament, "He despises me for being useless, unable to earn money like you and support the family. He says I can't even buy him a schoolbag and accuses me of giving money to my family... Yes, I'm useless, but I've never demanded anything from him. I scrimp and save for his sake, so how can he say such things about me?"

Fang Min had never imagined a child would speak to their mother like that. She couldn't think of what to say.

However, Jin Xiuzhu spoke gently, "The child is still young. He just said things out of anger. Do you really believe those words? Blood is thicker than water. Take yourself as an example. Even though your family caused trouble in the past, if they were in difficulty now, wouldn't you worry?"

Hearing this, Qian Yufeng's expression softened. In truth, she wasn't that upset. This time, her son not only insulted her but also Old Lady Wu. She had also lashed out at Old Lady Wu, saying things she had long wanted to express.

By running away, she vented her frustrations but also felt lost, unsure where to go. It seemed like returning to her family was her only option, but she didn't want to go back there. After some thought, she ultimately came to Jin Xiuzhu.

Still, she stubbornly replied, "I won't worry."

Jin Xiuzhu gave her a disapproving glance. "There are some things I need to say. Recently, I learned a phrase: 'Endure hardship to rise above others.' You're still young, and you have a long life ahead of you. It's time for you to change. Think about your daughter, even if not for yourself. Do you want Daya to end up like you, being looked down upon by her in-laws?"

Qian Yufeng fell silent.

Sitting beside her, Daya looked up at Jin Xiuzhu, her eyes red and filled with lingering fear and concern.

Qian Yufeng's nose tingled, "I want to improve, but what can I do?"

Jin Xiuzhu looked at her dejected appearance. "Study, find a job, earn money."

Qian Yufeng wanted to say that she couldn't study or find work, but then she remembered that Jin Xiuzhu used to be illiterate. Now, not only did she work at the newspaper office, but she also earned money. Thinking about her son's words,

at first, she felt heartbroken, but later realized that she indeed fell short compared to Jin Xiuzhu. There was no point in getting angry.

But now, Jin Xiuzhu told her that she was still young and had a long life ahead of her. She needed to consider her daughter.

Yes, she still had Daya.

Her Daya, just like the younger version of herself, was always overlooked and mistreated.

If she didn't stand up for herself, her daughter would likely face the same fate, just like her own mother.

Jin Xiuzhu said, "I'll help you look for a job. You should attend literacy classes diligently, learning one word at a time without slacking off."

Qian Yufeng suddenly raised her head, "Can you really help me find a job?"

Even Fang Min looked at her in confusion.

Jin Xiuzhu didn't make any promises, "I can't guarantee anything, but I'll keep an eye out for you. If I find something, I'll let you know, but you mustn't tell anyone."

Qian Yufeng nodded vigorously. "Certainly, I won't tell anyone. I'll go to the literacy class tonight."

She wasn't foolish; she definitely couldn't spread such news. What if something like what happened to Jin Xiuzhu before occurred again? What if someone out of jealousy reported her work at the canteen?

In her view, Jin Xiuzhu was a capable person. Since she had offered to keep an eye out for job opportunities, it meant that she must have a plan in mind. All Qian Yufeng needed to do was wait.

Jin Xiuzhu, fearing that Qian Yufeng's expectations were too high, added, "I don't know if it will work out, but I'll try my best to help you."

Upon hearing this, Qian Yufeng was deeply moved. She wasn't an ungrateful person. Her own son hadn't treated her as well as Jin Xiuzhu did by offering to look out for job opportunities. Qian Yufeng didn't know how to express her gratitude and quickly said, "It doesn't matter. Even if nothing comes of it, I won't blame you. Truly, all of you are so kind."

Qian Yufeng spoke from the bottom of her heart. Both Jin Xiuzhu and Fang Min were truly kind people, far better than her family back home. When Fang Min saw her crying, she had specially made her a bowl of malted milk. It was the first time Qian Yufeng had ever tasted malted milk in her life.

If she found work in the future, she would definitely buy two cans of malted milk for them.

Jin Xiuzhu hummed in acknowledgment.

With that, Qian Yufeng stopped crying and even managed a smile. Daya, who was sitting beside her, also flashed a small smile. She hadn't attended school these past two days while searching for her brother.

To her, the only one who still cared about her was her mother, and she didn't want her mother to be upset.

After seeing the mother and daughter off, Fang Min looked at Jin Xiuzhu with concern and asked, "Can you find her a job?"

It wasn't that she doubted Jin Xiuzhu, but jobs were hard to come by these days, especially since they were stationed within the military compound. Although there were rumors of a factory being built outside, when she asked the Political Commissar, he said it would take some time. Since Qian Yufeng couldn't read, finding her a job might be difficult.

Jin Xiuzhu smiled and, not wanting Fang Min to worry, explained her plan. "Wang Ling has been promoted to the head of the county textile factory. She wants to collaborate with me and have me design patterns for their products. When the time comes, I'll mention to her that Qian Yufeng can help out in the canteen. She may not become a regular employee, but working as an assistant should be possible."

Fang Min hadn't expected such a development and felt relieved. However, she couldn't help but ask curiously, "Then why did you tell her to attend the literacy classes?"

Surely, working as an assistant in the kitchen wouldn't require literacy skills.

Jin Xiuzhu calmly replied, "If she isn't willing to do something as simple as learning to read and write, then no matter what job I find for her, she won't be able to handle it. There would be no point in helping her find work."

Fang Min thought about it and agreed. She smiled at Jin Xiuzhu. "I always thought you were like me, afraid of getting involved in trouble. I never expected you to actively offer your help."

If things went wrong with Qian Yufeng's situation, it could lead to endless trouble.

Jin Xiuzhu understood this. "No matter the era, women often face more difficulties. Jiang Mingchuan brought me out of the village, and then I met you and Teacher Chen. I hope she can improve her situation too."

More importantly, the fact that Qian Yufeng sought her out showed that, in her eyes, there was no one else she could rely on besides Jin Xiuzhu.

Women helping women was something Jin Xiuzhu had known for a long time.

She wasn't as cold-hearted as she seemed. Back when she lived in the Marquis Mansion, she had secretly helped several maidservants, which contributed to her comfortable life there.

If she could lend a hand, she wouldn't stand idly by.

Hearing this, Fang Min was taken aback. She hadn't expected her attending the literacy classes to have such a significant impact on Jin Xiuzhu.

She was touched by Jin Xiuzhu's words. Initially, she hadn't thought much about it.