Chapter 28
“Mama, what did Auntie Li come for?” Ye Anmin asked, leading Yangyang out.
“She said a nearby cotton factory is hiring and asked me to sign up with her,” Ye Qingzhi said, combing her hair. It felt much darker and shinier than before. “I have to take care of you four. I don’t have time to go to work.”
Not to mention that the work at the cotton factory was hard, the four children really couldn’t be left without her care.
The three older ones needed to eat, and the youngest couldn’t be left alone. There were also chores like laundry and cleaning.
He Qiming was busy with work. Although the three older ones could help, she was still the main one.
If she had to work and do housework at the same time, He Qiming would definitely not be at ease. He would also have to take care of the family. The four children could only eat at the canteen, and the youngest would have to be looked after by other military wives.
To earn that twenty yuan, not only would she be exhausted, but the quality of life for the rest of the family would also plummet. If the children’s studies were also delayed, it would really not be worth it.
Besides, they had savings, and He Qiming had a monthly salary of one hundred and twenty yuan, which was enough for them to live a prosperous life with some left over.
Mainly, Ye Qingzhi knew the future. By the 80s, there would be plenty of opportunities to make money. There was no rush, and she didn’t care about these few pennies.
When He Qiming came back in the afternoon, he brought up the matter of work and had the same opinion as Ye Qingzhi.
His salary was enough to support the family. There was no need for Ye Qingzhi to work so hard, and it would also interfere with taking care of the children.
“We still have to prioritize the children.” The main reason he had gotten married was to have someone to take care of the children. Besides, he didn’t want Ye Qingzhi to be too tired.
“We have a very skilled old doctor here. He’s not here these few days. When he comes back, I’ll take you to see him and ask about some non-harmful methods of contraception.” He Qiming had gone to the hospital today. The doctor had said that the most effective methods of contraception now were ligation and IUDs, both of which were very harmful to the body.
This was 1968, the most intense years. Could this old doctor have been sent to the army for refuge?
Those who were persecuted were all skilled people and must have some real ability. The original host’s body had been severely depleted in her early years. It would be good to go and have a look. It wasn’t that she wanted to live to be a hundred, she just wanted to live a high-quality life.
As they were talking, the food in the pot was ready. Ye Qingzhi made way for He Qiming to move the whole pot to the stove to keep it warm.
“Mama, this dried cucumber is delicious. Let’s dry more next year,” Ye Anjie said as he ate.
“The dried beans are also delicious,” Ye Anmin added from the side.
“Alright, we’ll dry them all. What do Jingyan and Yangyang like to eat?” Of course, Ye Qingzhi would not forget the other two.
He Jingyan paused for a moment. Because of the fight, he had become much closer to the two Ye Anmin brothers and Ye Qingzhi. It was not like before, where there was always a barrier.
“Dried cucumber is more delicious.”
“Haha, I told you dried cucumber is delicious. See, big brother also likes it,” Ye Anjie said smugly to Ye Anmin.
Ye Qingzhi’s lips curved into a slight smile. To be able to express his preferences and make requests showed that He Jingyan was trying to open up to them.
After dinner, He Qiming and Ye Qingzhi cleaned up the dishes together. “No need for you. You’ve been tired all day. Go and soak your feet and rest.”
Just then, He Jingyan and Ye Anmin had prepared the foot-washing water for He Qiming, so Ye Qingzhi had even less need for his help.
If He Qiming’s work was very easy, or if he was just playing at home, then Ye Qingzhi would definitely have him do housework together. But he had to get up before dawn for drills and also had various training during the day. He was already very tired, while she only cooked at home and occasionally did some laundry. How could she let him do it?
After quickly cleaning up, the few children had already consciously washed up and gone back to their rooms. Even Yangyang had been cleaned up and taken away by his older brothers. Only He Qiming was left in the living room, soaking his feet.
“The water is very hot. You should come and soak for a while too,” He Qiming said, beckoning to Ye Qingzhi.
Ye Qingzhi took off her shoes and socks and sat opposite He Qiming. “Have you lit the heated brick beds for the children?”
“I have. Don’t worry,” He Qiming said, deliberately stepping on Ye Qingzhi’s foot. One black and one white, it looked inexplicably sensual.
“What are you doing? It tickles,” Ye Qingzhi said, kicking He Qiming’s foot. “We’re running out of coal at home. Where can we buy some?”
“I’ve already told logistics. They’ll send some over in a couple of days,” He Qiming said with a smile.
Although it was just a small matter, it made Ye Qingzhi even more sure that she had not married the wrong person.
That night, they did nothing but sleep on the warm heated brick bed, and they slept until dawn.
“Are you clearing snow again today?” Ye Qingzhi asked, wrapping herself tightly in the quilt.
“Yes, the place we’re going today is a bit far. I might not be able to come back for lunch. You and the children can eat first. Don’t wait for me,” He Qiming said, then kissed Ye Qingzhi and left.
As usual, she waited for He Qiming to bring back breakfast before getting up. The children had boiled the hot water. After washing up, Ye Qingzhi applied some vanishing cream and slowly ate her breakfast.
This was what life was supposed to be like. Those few months in the countryside could only be considered survival.
The snow had stopped, but the weather was still very cold. The school had said to wait for a notice to resume classes, which meant that they might not have to go to school for the next few days.
Fortunately, the few children were very obedient and had strong self-control. Without Ye Qingzhi having to urge them, they would consciously memorize and write, and would even ask her to test them.
“Qingzhi, are you at home?” Li Jinfeng came in with a strange woman. She stomped her feet at the door and introduced, “This is the Sister Guifang I told you about. Her husband is the battalion commander of the 2nd Battalion. Sister Guifang, this is Qingzhi, Regiment Commander He’s wife.”
“Please sit down. It’s so cold. Why did you come over?” Ye Qingzhi poured them some hot water and added a few more pieces of firewood to the stove.
Li Guifang looked just as capable as Li Jinfeng. After sitting down, she said with a hearty laugh, “I heard from Jinfeng that the cotton factory is hiring. We’re all planning to sign up. I came to ask if you want to go with us. That way, we’ll have a companion on our way to and from work.”
“I’ve discussed this with Qiming. I have to take care of four children, so I’m not going,” Ye Qingzhi said, shaking her head.
Li Jinfeng and Li Guifang exchanged a look. Li Jinfeng leaned closer to Ye Qingzhi and said with a broad smile, “Qingzhi, if you’re not going, can you help us watch our children?”
Ye Qingzhi was taken aback for a moment. What? Watch their children?
This was not for a day or two. They were going to work, not just out for a while. For years on end, when would she stop helping?
Besides, the responsibility of watching children was so great. What if the children got hurt? Who would be responsible?
“I know this is a bit presumptuous, but my son is still young, only two this year. I’m really not at ease leaving him at home,” Li Guifang said with embarrassment.
Ye Qingzhi almost screamed. How old? Two?
“Then you are indeed quite presumptuous.” If she remembered correctly, this was their first time meeting. How could she say that?
“It’s just that… what?” Li Guifang had originally thought that Ye Qingzhi would nod, so she had been about to say she was very sorry. But Ye Qingzhi had answered like this.
“Qingzhi.” Li Jinfeng felt the atmosphere become a little heavy.
Ye Qingzhi smiled and said, “I said you are indeed quite presumptuous. We’ve never met before, right? We have no relationship at all, and you’re asking me to help you watch your child? A two-year-old child at that? How can you say that? I’m embarrassed just to hear it.”
Seeing Ye Qingzhi’s face darken, Li Jinfeng quickly came out to explain, “Qingzhi, it’s my fault for not explaining it clearly. It’s like this, I think you’ve taught your children very well, so I want to entrust my child to your care. I’ll give you five yuan a month. She’ll occasionally have lunch at your place, but most of the time I’ll come back to cook myself.”
What she said was a little more reasonable.
If it was just Li Wenhua, it was not impossible to agree. A five-year-old girl, well-behaved and obedient, could also play with Yangyang. But adding Li Guifang’s son was not an option.
Two-year-olds were at their most mischievous, especially boys, like huskies. She didn’t have the energy for that.
“I’m sorry, Sister Jinfeng. I didn’t have a good confinement period when I had my children before, and my body is very weak. Qiming said he would take me to see a doctor. I’ll have to recuperate for a while. I really don’t have the energy to take care of two more children. You should find someone else,” Ye Qingzhi said with a smile to Li Jinfeng. As for Li Guifang, who was she?
Li Guifang wanted to speak but was pressed down by Li Jinfeng’s hand. “Is your body alright, sister? Postpartum illness is no joke. You have to take good care of yourself. Otherwise, you’ll suffer when you’re old. It was our fault for being presumptuous. You already have to take care of four children. How can you have any more energy?”
A smile returned to Ye Qingzhi’s face. “That’s right. My energy is limited. These four at home are enough to give me a headache.”
After some more pleasantries, Li Jinfeng and Li Guifang got up to leave.
“Didn’t you say Ye Qingzhi was easy to talk to? Is this what you call easy to talk to?” Li Guifang had agreed to come to find Ye Qingzhi because she had thought that she was young and thin-skinned and would be too embarrassed to refuse. She hadn’t expected her to give her no face at all.
“She’s usually very easy to talk to,” Li Jinfeng said, glancing at Li Guifang.
When Ye Qingzhi had rebuffed Li Guifang just now, she had realized that Li Guifang’s son was only two and at his most mischievous. Ye Qingzhi would most likely not agree. Sure enough, Ye Qingzhi had not left any face and had directly refused.
“Then what do we do? Your Wenhua is already five. It’s fine to send her to preschool. My Xiaobao is only two and not old enough for preschool,” Li Guifang asked with a frown.
The army did not have a nursery. After all, military wives joined the army to have children and take care of their children and husbands. And you had to be five to go to preschool. Li Wenhua just met the requirement, but Li Guifang’s younger son was far from qualified.
Li Jinfeng’s eyes lit up. That’s right. Her daughter could go to preschool. Her third daughter could help take care of her at school, and she would go to and from school with He Jingyan and the others, so she wouldn’t have to worry about her being bullied.
“About that, Sister Guifang, do you have any good friends in the family compound? What Sister Qingzhi said just now was right. You don’t even know her. You wouldn’t be at ease leaving your child with her, would you?” Li Jinfeng’s tone changed.
Li Guifang was not stupid. She immediately understood that Li Jinfeng was trying to get rid of her and was planning to send her child to preschool.
“Then I’ll look around some more,” Li Guifang said, feeling uncomfortable but not showing it. After all, their friendship was not that good.
Ye Qingzhi didn’t care what Li Jinfeng and the others were doing. She was really a bit speechless.
She knew that people at this time had no sense of boundaries, but this was too much.
Never mind Li Guifang, even Li Jinfeng, they had not known each other for long.
If she had something to do and asked her to watch them for half a day or a day, just like they had asked Zhang Dama for help, then she would have no problem. But to ask her to take care of them for years on end, how could they say that?
“Mama, did Auntie Jinfeng want you to take care of Sister Wenhua?” Ye Anmin asked, leaning over.
“Not just that. She also brought someone I don’t even know. She has a two-year-old son and also asked me to help take care of him. She said she would give me money. Your papa is a deputy regiment commander, a higher rank than them. How can I accept money?” Ye Qingzhi snorted coldly. Shameless, with no sense at all.
When He Qiming came back for lunch, Ye Anmin told him about this.
He narrowed his eyes. “I think Li Hanxing and the others are too idle. It’s time to find them something to do.”
Ye Qingzhi raised an eyebrow. Was he going to cause trouble for the two battalion commanders?
“If they can’t manage their wives well, it’s their fault,” He Qiming said. He remembered something and said in a low voice, “Regiment Commander Xu might come to our house tonight. You don’t have to specially entertain him. Just be as you usually are.”
“Why is Regiment Commander Xu coming?” Ye Qingzhi asked curiously.
“His wife gossiped behind people’s backs, which led to Zhang Qingyuan’s son fighting with our son. Of course, he has to give us an explanation,” He Qiming snorted lightly.
Regiment Commander Xu had said last time that he would give an explanation, but there had been no movement. She had thought he was just saying it. Was he planning to bring Bai Xue to apologize?
With Bai Xue’s personality, she would probably be as angry as a pufferfish.