Wang Xiaohua glanced at the window, nudged Meng Anzhi with her elbow, and gestured with her lip towards the window.
Looking over, Meng Anzhi saw that it was Zheng Laosi feeding Chen Maimiao sesame cakes.
Chen Maimiao glared at him reproachfully, took the pancake, broke it in half, and stuffed one half into Zheng Laosi's hand.
Zheng Laosi held the half-eaten pancake, chuckling foolishly. Seeing Chen Maimiao finish half of the pancake, he broke off another half and handed it to her. Chen Maimiao glared at him, and he reluctantly ate it himself.
After the two finished eating the pancakes, Zheng Laosi carefully helped Chen Maimiao walk away.
Wang Xiaohua looked away, her face full of envy. "They have such a good relationship; they even share a pancake. I'll buy one myself and try it on my husband."
Meng Anzhi couldn't help but chuckle and teased, "What if he refuses to share half with you?"
Wang Xiaohua immediately raised her chin, her eyes flashing with a fierce light, "Then he can forget about eating pancakes from now on."
The two girls burst into laughter.
Zheng Laosi helped Chen Maimiao walk home, his face beaming with undisguised joy. "I caught the big ship unloading cargo today and earned three hundred coins in just one morning."
When we pass by the butcher shop later, I'll buy some meat and stew it to make you a nicer meal.
Chen Maimiao's smile faded as she reached out and lifted his collar to look inside. His shoulder was covered in blood vessels and swollen. Chen Maimiao felt a pang of heartache, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"I'll sew you some thick shoulder pads when we get back."
"What will you do with that fabric?" Zheng Laosi asked gently, placing his hand on her slightly protruding belly. "Keep it to make clothes for our son, won't that be better?"
Chen Maimiao slapped his hand away and said coldly, "You touch it every day, what's so special about it? It's not like it'll fall off."
"Pah, pah, pah..." Zheng Laosi quickly spat twice on the ground, "Why say such unlucky things? Now that the child is here, we should treat him well."
"Oh... who are you treating so well?" Boss Zheng's gaze fell on Chen Maimiao's stomach, and he paused slightly, "Fourth brother's wife is pregnant??"
Zheng Laosi in front of Chen Maimiao, "Cousin... is there something you need?"
Boss Zheng's gaze swept over the couple. " Laosi... how many months pregnant are you? How come you kept it so secret? If I hadn't caught you today, were you planning not to tell me?"
Zheng Laosi forced a smile, "Cousin... I just wanted the child to sit still for a bit before informing everyone."
Boss Zheng chuckled, his gaze sweeping over Chen Maimiao's face, which startled Chen Maimiao so much that she shrank behind Zheng Laosi.
A mocking glint flashed in Boss Zheng's eyes. "I have to say, you two are really funny. Every time you see me, you act Ghost One. Even though we've separated, we're still family. Do you think I'd eat you up?"
He enunciated each word very heavily, which frightened the couple so much that they turned pale.
Zheng Laosi mustered his courage and said, "Cousin... is something wrong? If not, we're going home."
Boss Zheng was displeased. "Go home? Did I say you could leave?"
He leaned forward and reached into Zheng Laosi's arms. A worn-out purse landed in his palm.
Zheng Laosi instinctively reached out to grab it, but was slapped hard across the face by Boss Zheng. "You've gone too far! Did I say you could touch it? You're whining about taking a little money from me? You've really gotten too bold as a father!"
Seeing her husband being beaten, Chen Maimiao anxiously said, "Why are you hitting people? This is in the street..."
"So what if it's on the street? Do I need to pick a spot to beat you up?"
Zheng Laosi covered his face and murmured, "Cousin... you can't steal my money anymore, I have to support my family..."
Before he could finish the word "rob," his purse was snatched from his hand. Boss Zheng turned around instinctively and saw Jin Shanyao looking at him with a look of surprise and delight.
" Five Hundred Wen... Is it really you?" Jin Shanyao his head excitedly, putting his arm around Boss Zheng's shoulder as if they were best buddies.
Boss Zheng instinctively flung away the Jin Shanyao his arm, and took two steps back. "Big sister... we don't have any grudge against each other, do we?"
"Tsk... Look at what you're saying. We've known each other for a while, what's wrong with exchanging a few words when we meet?" Jin Shanyao her hand, playing with her purse, and suddenly moved closer.
Startled, Boss Zheng stumbled and fell to the ground with a thud. Jin Shanyao down and pressed her face against his, saying with a half-smile, "I have to say, you're quite funny. Every time you see me, you act Ghost One."
"I could eat you up..." she said, grinning at Boss Zheng. Her two rows of neat, white teeth nearly gave Boss Zheng a heart attack.
He swallowed hard. "Big sister... the martial arts world is about give and take. I admit I was reckless last time, but I didn't provoke you these past two times. You can't just chase after me and beat me up."
Jin Shanyao's face turned cold. "I make friends... I never consider whether the other person wants to be with me. You?? I've taken a liking to you..." As she spoke, her gaze swept around the street, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Zheng Laosi's handkerchief around his neck. She ripped it off and stuffed it into Boss Zheng's hand.
"A greeting gift..."
Boss Zheng felt like dying. This woman was a madwoman. He clutched his handkerchief, wanting to throw it away but not daring to. It was dirty and wet, making him feel uncomfortable all over.
Seeing that he remained unmoved, Jin Shanyao reached out and slapped his face. "Are you stupid... returning the gift?"
"What..."
"What... what do you know? If we weren't friends, I wouldn't even bother with you," Jin Shanyao said without another word, reaching into Boss Zheng's arms.
With a flick of his wrist, he pulled out a money pouch.
Clutching his tattered purse, Jin Shanyao his hand in dissatisfaction, "I'm telling you, you're a grown man, and you only have a few copper coins? Where's your money?"
"I... I lost money gambling."
"Pah..." Jin Shanyao spat fiercely, pinched Boss Zheng's cheek, and threatened, "Go carry heavy loads for me tomorrow. If you don't earn three hundred coins, I'll break your legs."
Boss Zheng turned pale with fright, wanting only to escape as quickly as possible. He stammered, "Tomorrow, I'll go to the dock tomorrow. Don't worry... I'll definitely earn three hundred coins."
Jin Shanyao's serious face instantly broke into a smile. "That's right! Keep up the good work, and we'll go out for some food and fun tomorrow."
After she finished speaking, she stood up straight and nudged his leg. "Let's go... my friend."
Boss Zheng glanced at the money pouch hastily, not daring to ask for it back, nor daring to linger. He could only curse his bad luck inwardly and decided to stay home for the next couple of days to avoid the misfortune!
After Boss Zheng left, Jin Shanyao's gaze fell on the two little quails.
His eyes widened, "What are you looking at? Robbery..."
Startled, Zheng Laosi quickly waved his hands, "It's gone, it's gone... My purse is still in your hand."
Jin Shanyao out an old purse, picked it up, and asked, "Is this what you mean?"
Zheng Laosi nodded hurriedly.
Jin Shanyao casually tossed both purses to Zheng Laosi, "Let's go..."
Zheng Laosi hurriedly took it and pulled Chen Maimiao away in a rush.
The days slipped by uneventfully, and the chairs outside the Anzhi Hall remained there from April to August.
That day, as soon as Anzhi Hall opened its doors, Chen Maimiao was helped in by an old woman.
Zhou Xiaosi laughed, " Madam Chen... you must be eight or nine months pregnant, right?"
Before Chen Maimiao could answer, Old Woman Zheng smiled, "Young man, you have sharp eyes! My daughter-in-law is nine months pregnant. She came today to check on her health and also to ask if you deliver babies?"
"Auntie, please have a seat. I'll go call the doctor out..." Zhou Xiaosi said as he walked towards the side door.
Old Woman Zheng held Chen Maimiao's hand, "Don't be afraid... As long as you can give our Zheng Household a big, healthy son, I'll invite not only Dr. Anzhi Hall, but even a doctor from the capital city."
Chen Maimiao nodded without saying a word.
The curtain was opened, and Meng Anzhi walked in from the backyard. After sitting down, she asked, "Would you like to have your pulse checked?"
Chen Maimiao nodded and placed her wrist on the pulse pillow. After taking the pulse, Meng Anzhi smiled and said, "The child is fine, nothing to worry about."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Old Woman Zheng eagerly added, "Girl, this is my daughter-in-law's first child. She doesn't trust anyone and specifically requested Anzhi Hall to deliver the baby. You see..."
"Okay... give me the address, and I'll go check on things a couple of days before or after the start of the trip."
"Alright..." Old Woman Zheng didn't expect Meng Anzhi to be so easy to talk to. She only asked about the delivery price after giving her the address. When she heard that it was only three hundred coins, she immediately beamed with joy.
This is much cheaper than the village midwife!