The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 57 - 56: He Yun Gave Birth

Around ten o’clock, just as Xue Yue was about to fall asleep, He Lang returned, carrying several bags of various sizes.

One look told Xue Yue that he had gone to the black market again.

"Have you eaten?"

He Lang put the things down. "Not yet."

"I’ll go heat up dinner for you." As she spoke, Xue Yue started to get out of bed.

He Lang stopped her. "Don’t bother. I’ll do it in a bit. You should get some sleep."

Xue Yue yawned. "All right, then. The food’s in the pot. You just need to heat it up. I’m going to sleep first."

Ever since she got pregnant, Xue Yue would get drowsy around eight or nine at night. It was even later today, so sure enough, she fell asleep the moment she lay down.

When she opened her eyes in the morning, she was alone in the room again.

Xue Yue felt a little helpless. ’Am I turning into a piglet that does nothing but eat and sleep?’

Xue Yue got up, and out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a stack of books and newspapers on the table.

She turned to look, and her face instantly lit up with joy.

She took a look. The books were all relatively old, but the newspapers were fairly recent. He Lang must have bought them from the salvage station.

Just then, He Lang came in.

"You didn’t go to work today?" Xue Yue had thought He Lang was already gone.

He Lang walked over. "I’m taking today off. I have to make a trip to the provincial capital tomorrow. I’ll be gone for about two or three days."

He Lang pulled a wad of cash from his pocket and handed it to Xue Yue. "I had someone help me sell the watch. I got a 50-yuan cut. I spent some last night, and this is what’s left."

Xue Yue took it and counted. It was five hundred and fifty yuan.

"I had someone in the provincial capital buy you two cans of milk powder. I brought them back last night. They’re in the cabinet. Drink some if you get hungry; it’s nutritious."

Xue Yue nodded. "Do you need to take money for your trip?"

"I still have some on me. You should put this money away. I’m going to head to the old house in a bit to tell Mom and Dad to come stay over here starting tomorrow."

"Okay."

When He Lang went to the old house and told her, Mrs. He agreed at once.

"By the way, your sister is due next month. After you get back from the provincial capital, I’m planning to go see her."

He Yun hadn’t visited in half a year, and her due date was in July, so Mrs. He was a little worried.

What they didn’t expect was that no sooner had He Lang left for the provincial capital than Liu Jian Country came with news: He Yun had already given birth to a boy.

Mrs. He was initially very happy. After all, the Liu Family had always wanted a boy, and now their wish had finally come true.

"Isn’t Xiao Yun due next month? Why did she give birth early?"

Liu Jian Country’s eyes darted away as he stammered, "Xiao Yun wasn’t careful and had a fall. It caused her to go into labor early."

Mrs. He asked anxiously, "Is Xiao Yun all right?"

"She’s fine. Both mother and child are doing well."

"That’s good, that’s good." Mrs. He breathed a sigh of relief.

After Liu Jian Country left, Mrs. He prepared to go see He Yun. She bought an old hen and half a basket of eggs in the village, and before leaving, she made a point to inform the third branch of the family.

They had a custom here that when a daughter gave birth, her maternal family would visit her at her in-laws’ home with gifts to show their care.

Xue Yue was still in her early months of pregnancy, so she planned to go with Mrs. He. From the first branch, He Nan and Guo Jinfeng also wanted to go; He Nan was worried after hearing about He Yun’s premature birth and wanted to see her. From the second branch, He Ze was away, and Gao Cuiyun was far along in her pregnancy. It was inconvenient for her to go with her large belly, so she stayed behind.

She gave Mrs. He fifty cents and asked her to help buy something for He Yun. Her due date was originally only a month after He Yun’s, but now He Yun had given birth early.

The four adults, along with Tuanzi, took an ox cart to the town’s supply and marketing cooperative first.

He Nan bought a jar of malted milk extract and a jin of dried noodles. Xue Yue bought a jin of sponge cake and a jin of dried noodles.

The group took their things and went to the Liu Family’s home.

The gate to the Liu Family’s courtyard was open. As soon as they reached the entrance, they saw Daya in the yard washing clothes. The little girl was so thin, yet she was forcefully scrubbing the clothes in the basin with both hands.

"Daya."

Liu Daya looked up, and upon seeing them, she ran over happily.

"Grandma, Eldest Uncle, Eldest Aunt, Third Aunt."

Xue Yue patted Daya’s head, and Daya smiled back at her.

Mrs. He asked Daya, "Where’s your mother?"

"She’s in the room. Grandma, my mom gave birth to a little brother."

Then Daya added, "Grandma, I haven’t seen Erya in a long time."

For a moment, they didn’t understand what Daya meant.

Just then, Liu Jian Country’s mother came out of the house. When she saw the things they were carrying, her eyes darted about before she said with a smile, "Oh, my in-laws are here! I was wondering who was talking in the yard."

"Yes, in-law. Jian Country said Xiao Yun gave birth, so I came to see her," Mrs. He said.

Mrs. Liu walked over with a smile. "She did! A baby boy. Come in, quick." She then led them toward the room at the very end.

Xue Yue sized up the Liu Family’s house. It had four rooms in total, and the courtyard wasn’t very big.

Upon entering, they found the room was a bit dark. He Yun was propped up in bed, holding a baby in her arms.

Mrs. Liu called out to He Yun, "He Yun, look who’s here!"

When He Yun saw Mrs. He come in, her eyes instantly reddened. "Mom, Big Brother, why did you all come?"

Mrs. He walked over, glanced at the baby in He Yun’s arms, and then set down the things they had brought.

Only then did she say, "Well, Jian Country told us you gave birth prematurely. We were worried, so we came to see you."

A flicker of guilt crossed Mrs. Liu’s eyes. She quickly said to Mrs. He, "My dear in-law, stay for lunch. You all talk with He Yun, and I’ll go cook for you."

Mrs. He nodded. "Thank you for the trouble, in-law."

Mrs. Liu waved her hand. "It’s no trouble at all."

Mrs. Liu gave He Yun a look and then went out.

After Mrs. Liu went out and closed the door, He Yun shifted the baby toward her mother, saying happily, "Mom, it’s a boy."

Mrs. He took the baby and smiled. "Yes. You’ve worked hard."

He Yun said with a smile, "Mom, we named him Jinbao. What do you think? It’s a nice name, isn’t it?"

Mrs. He nodded.

Xue Yue leaned in to get a look at the baby in Mrs. He’s arms. He looked so tiny, and his face wasn’t very smooth. How should she put it? He looked like a little old man. ’So this is what a newborn looks like,’ she thought.

"Right, I need to ask you. Jian Country said you had a fall and went into labor early. How on earth did you fall?"

He Yun bit her lip, her eyes turning red again. "It’s all Jianwei’s girlfriend’s fault."

Only after He Yun finished explaining did they understand the full story. It turned out that Liu Jian Country had two older sisters and a younger brother. The sisters were both married and had moved out. His youngest brother, Liu Jianwei, was still unmarried and unemployed, but he had a girlfriend. Recently, Liu Jianwei had brought her home, saying they wanted to get married. But his girlfriend complained that his current room was too small and demanded to have He Yun’s room instead. He Yun, of course, refused. During the argument that followed, Jianwei’s girlfriend gave her a shove, causing her to fall and go into premature labor.

Mrs. He was furious after hearing this. She snapped, "No wonder Jian Country was hemming and hawing and didn’t dare say anything! What did your parents-in-law say about the room? She pushed you and made you give birth a month early, and they’re just going to let her get away with it?"

"My parents-in-law haven’t said anything about the room. But now that I’ve given birth to a son, they probably won’t make us switch with Jianwei."

"And what about her pushing you?"

He Yun said in a low voice, "My mother-in-law apologized to me."