Daily Life in the 70s-Chapter 250: With Child

Yang PeiMin watched, agape and dumbfounded.

But on reflection, she sighed for her, recognizing the inevitability of the situation.

Guo Caixia had previously been an educated youth sent to the countryside. Later, seeing the slim chances of returning home, and with her age increasing, she decided to marry a local young man. Unexpectedly, two years after her marriage, the national college entrance examination was restored. Like countless other educated youths, Guo Caixia saw hope and her unwillingness to settle. Ignoring her in-laws’ opposition, she resolutely attended remedial classes to prepare for the exam.

She had been a primary school teacher in the village but quit her job to take the exam, which greatly displeased her mother-in-law, especially since her first child was a girl. Her mother-in-law was eager for her to have a grandson.

After Guo Caixia passed the university entrance exam, her mother-in-law was not at all pleased or proud. Instead, she felt that, besides losing a source of income due to Caixia quitting her job, they now faced extra expenses. The child was not looked after, and there was no telling when a grandson would come. The old lady flew into a rage, causing a huge commotion. It was only when Guo Caixia, understanding her mother-in-law’s temperament, took out fifty yuan she had saved for a long time to give to her mother-in-law for childcare, that she could peacefully pursue her studies.

Guo Caixia hadn’t anticipated such a rebellious act from her mother-in-law, but apart from her husband’s family, she couldn’t find any relatives or friends to entrust her child to. Her own family was far away, an impractical option. Her husband worked odd jobs in the county and couldn’t take care of the child either. After much consideration, she decided to keep her daughter by her side.

After Guo Caixia explained the circumstances, everyone felt more sympathetic towards her and didn’t mind her bringing her daughter to live with them.

The little girl was also well-behaved, quiet and timid, sitting on her mother’s bed, stealthily observing everyone. She appeared quite lovable.

Yang PeiMin took out two pieces of candy to coax her, "This little girl looks so well-behaved, come, this is a reward from Auntie."

The little girl timidly didn’t dare to take it, glancing at her mother. Yang PeiMin smiled at Guo Caixia, "Sister Guo, you’ve taught your daughter well, she knows not to accept things from strangers easily."

Guo Caixia smiled and patted Xiao Lian’s head, "This is your Aunt Yang, you can take it, but you need to say thank you."

She then expressed her gratitude to Yang PeiMin, grateful to anyone who showed kindness to her and her daughter, "You’ve gone to the expense, thank you."

"Don’t mention it, Xiao Lian is very cute."

The dormitory lights were controlled by the housing office, with a uniform bedtime of nine-thirty. Yang PeiMin climbed into bed early, pulled the curtain around her bunk, changed into her clothes, applied her skincare products, and lay down to rest.

It felt like ages since she had a good night’s sleep and finally didn’t have to worry about Shen Yiguang.

The next day, they all woke up early without needing to be called. Yang PeiMin, hearing the noise, got up as well, but faced the annoying matter of queuing for the bathroom. Fortunately, each dormitory had its bathroom, so there was no need to use the outdoor ones without walls.

After bustling about and finishing her morning routine, she went down to grab breakfast. After eating, she headed to the classroom for roll call. No one in the dormitory shared her major, so she went on her own.

Although classes started on the first day, fortunately, the workload wasn’t heavy. Yang PeiMin managed to have a peaceful nap at noon, while most of her roommates were engrossed in their books. Even Guo Caixia, who brought her child, was simultaneously rocking her child to sleep and reading with one hand.

Cheng Aihua, from the opposite bed, asked her again, "Pei Min, aren’t you going to study?"

"I’m used to taking a nap at noon, I don’t have the energy in the afternoon if I don’t sleep."

Liu Yilan, who was next door, overheard this and said, "Don’t you have to work in the fields in the countryside, Pei Min? How can you still take a nap?"

Yang PeiMin, already lying down, replied indifferently, "There are also people in the countryside who don’t work in the fields."

Liu Yilan snorted, "Must be nice, not having to starve either."

"Why bother going hungry? Isn’t she kept by a man? Didn’t her man come to see her this afternoon? By the look of him, he’s clearly an officer with a rank, no chance of starving," added another roommate, Miao Ying.

Liu Yilan nodded, "No wonder, I didn’t see because I was washing things at that time."

Yang PeiMin didn’t bother to respond to them anymore; she just covered herself with the quilt and went to sleep.

Two days quickly passed, and the weekend arrived.

Yang Peimin was packing her things, preparing to return to the military base the next day.

"Hey, Peimin, you’re going back?" Cheng Aihua asked.

"When your beloved is over here, how could you not come back? You single kids wouldn’t understand," joked another roommate.

"Ah, I miss home already." Cheng Aihua’s words struck a chord with everyone, who were quite envious of Yang Peimin, the only roommate who could go home.

"What are you taking to get back, Peimin?"

"The bus."

"There’s a bus? That’s pretty convenient."

Yang Peimin shook her head, "Not really, the bus only goes to the township, and from there it’s another hour by ox-cart to the compound. If I can’t find an ox-cart, I have to walk three to four hours to get home."

"It’s really not easy, but it’s better than those of us who have to take the train."

Then they all started asking whether Guo Caixia was going back home, since her place was the closest next to Yang Peimin.

Guo Caixia just shook her head, "Not going back. It’s just more arguments waiting to happen at home. Here, at least, I have some peace and can focus on reading a few pages."

"So you’re just letting your mother-in-law take the money for nothing?" Cheng Aihua felt like it was such a waste.

"Isn’t it only right for a daughter-in-law to honor her mother-in-law? Think about getting it back? That’s out of the question for me."

"That’s the truth. Once you’re married, getting along with your mother-in-law is an art." Among the roommates, only Cheng Aihua, Liu Yilan, Miao Ying, and one named Zhu Qing were unmarried.

So, tales of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relations were endless.

Wiping sweat from her forehead, Yang Peimin thought that once she left the dormitory, she could write a book on the subject, perhaps titled something like "Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law Relations."

Everyone was chatting energetically when the dormitory supervisor came up to call Yang Peimin, "Who is Yang Peimin? There’s family at the gatehouse looking for her, saying they’ve come to pick her up and to bring her things down."

"Wow, does this mean you don’t have to take the bus? Someone’s come to pick you up?"

Yang Peimin shook her head, also indicating she had no idea.

But in her heart, she knew it was Shen Yiguang who had come.

A surge of happiness rose within her.

She efficiently finished packing and bid farewell to her roommates.

Her steps were light as she walked towards the large gate of the school.

Standing beside the school’s big gate was none other than Shen Yiguang, his green military uniform strikingly conspicuous.

"You came to pick me up!" Yang Peimin bounded towards him in three big steps.

Shen Yiguang instinctively opened his arms to catch her, but Yang Peimin halted just in front of him, aware of the crowd at the school gate.

Shen Yiguang helplessly tapped her on the forehead, then smiled.

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