Oran stirred the soup with his spoon, then complained about Ginny and Bear's sluggish progress.
Bear's initiative in this regard had always been in the negatives, while Ginny herself had gotten stuck at 99%.
"Isn't it all because of Bear Cub? But when he comes back this time, he won't be getting away. Brother Oran, don't assign him any fieldwork. I'm cutting off every excuse he could possibly use!"
"As long as you two are happy, you don't need to worry about anything else. Uta needs some new baby supplies too, so I'll bring your share along while I'm at it.
Also, here's a form. Fill it out once Bear gets back."
"What is this?"
"A workplace safety inspection. It doesn't have much practical meaning for the two of you. It's mainly to tell Bear that, scientifically speaking, you should start planning sooner rather than later.
Wait a few more years, and you'll be an older mother. Right now is just the right time."
Not everyone was Charlotte Linlin, able to fight powerful enemies at sea while pregnant. Insisting on having children past a certain age did no one any good.
"Let me see... household poverty, husband absent from home for long periods, both spouses illiterate or semi-literate. Brother Oran, are you sure these are relevant?"
"Of course. This conveniently eliminates the possibility of Bear using fieldwork to run away from it. Economic and educational factors have a major impact. Being able to raise a child and raising one well are two different things.
If you have time, ask Croccus about his experiences at the hospital. Sometimes he really does want to hit people."
In Piltover's eleventh year as a nation, the literacy campaign had only begun after the national government stabilized, and it was still ongoing.
Firefly Island had