Under the star-studded night sky, a group of people sat around the grass, not far from a bonfire roasting a wild mountain goat, with a large pot on top bubbling with the aroma of meat.

The simple and sincere Mu’s face flashed a shy smile, "... There’s an agricultural market in town, you can buy a lot of good stuff if you go there early..."

"... More people are raising sheep in the open markets, we have quite a few more this year... The summer is too hot, I’ll send some over to you in the winter..."

"... Watermelons, plenty of them... Wild fruits aren’t worth much, no one buys them..."

Not far away, Zhou Jiao listened absentmindedly to the sporadic words, somewhat dazed. Is this the era she belongs to or the future?

"... People from the county commune have come to persuade them to return to their hometown... Habits become natural, this is also their homeland... Relatives and friends come over..."

"... It’s not like before, with a military camp here, it’s safer... The population has multiplied... You used to hear wolves howling as a child..."

The pregnant Yi Shumin stretched her body, with Zhou Jiao lying behind, "It’s really nice here. If Xiao Fei wasn’t unable to leave, I’d want to transfer to work here."

Zhou Jiao smiled, not answering. Occasionally staying for a few days is fine, but truly living a herdsman’s life long-term is another experience altogether.

Not to mention, without Zhang Guoqing’s skillful means, it’s impossible to eat meat every day.

Within the sheepfold, those bleating lambs represent the hope for the entire family next year. Unless there’s an honored guest, who would be willing to feast? And the harsh winter, for the herdsmen, is a major test as well.

People, living in this world, none has it easy. Some hide their pain inside, others are used to receiving sympathy and support.

"When do you plan to send the Liu Yi brothers to daycare?"

Zhou Jiao chuckled, "Your topic transition is quite distant."

"Hahaha... If I wasn’t pregnant this time, I would’ve brought Yueya’er along. It’s better for the child to stay around oneself. I see the Liu Yi brothers are so smart, they can’t do without your guidance."

"You simply think the grass is greener on the other side. Isn’t your Yueya’er also very clever? I heard from Grandma Fang that at her age, she already knows not to play with kids with runny noses."

"Who knows whom this girl takes after? She’s very domineering but fun now. Every day she claps her little hands singing and knows to carry a handkerchief with her..."

Zhou Jiao listened to her talking about the child’s merits and smiled knowingly. Indeed, a pleasant mood can make one relax, without worrying whether the baby in the womb is a male? There’s no more...

The next morning, a group of them swayed into the county town on a production team’s ox cart.

Just stopping, Zhang Guoqing took out a baby carrier from the backpack, and with Zhou Jiao’s help, embraced a pair of twins, apologetically looking at his eldest son, "Would Daddy carry you?"

Aunt Sun, beside, was frantically pacing, "I’ll watch the kids, give me one."

Ping’an shook his head, chuckling gleefully, "Grandma Sun, my dad wants you to feel assured to play."

Such high emotional intelligence! Old Mrs. Cheng and Zhou Jiao exchanged a smile and advised, "Alright, it’s usually you who tends to the children. Let’s listen to Xiao Wu this time, come, walk with us."

Over there, Fang Fei carefully supported his wife down, "Are we really going in? The market is quite crowded."

Old Mrs. Cheng waved her hand, "Leave it to me, I’ll watch her. You guys just take care of the children."

With two ladies alongside Old Mrs. Cheng and Zhou Jiao, Fang Fei was reassured, especially when seeing his wife being protected in the center by a few people.

Over there, Zhang Guoqing saw his son bouncing with the wild kids, signaling to Ping’an and sighed in relief as he ran to find his mother.

To be honest, he wasn’t keen on traveling with so many people. He had initially planned that with the old lady and two aunts, they could have a leisurely vacation.

Who knew the pregnant woman also insisted on coming, no wonder his wife doesn’t like her. Truly without any sense or awareness! Even at four months, she’s a pregnant woman, why join in the fun!

Zhang Guoqing sympathetically glanced at Fang Fei. Back then, he vowed not to marry anyone but a strong woman, seems young people are unreliable! If it were him, he’d slap her a few times to make her behave.

Luckily, Fang Fei didn’t know what he thought, otherwise, he’d seriously question his cheek? Truly shameless! No need to slap your wife, how about you just test slapping her hand?

Lately, Fang Fei has also been quite aggrieved, hasn’t he? Who told this foolish brother to be famously doting, causing his woman to often demand he learn a bit more.

At this moment, he also looked sympathetically at Yi Jiefang and the silly three laughing. Laugh while you can, be happy while you can, with such a typical model there, you’ll understand when you marry too.

Inside the agricultural market, apart from the stall owners, there weren’t many buyers. By this time, it was nearly work hour, who had time like this group?

No matter where they were, no matter the age of the young kids. At this moment, seeing the sorghum corn and grains, they stood there looking at the adults.

Despite their youth, they already understood what unified distribution and purchase was, what ration and meat meant? Compared to the outside world’s common folks, they were much more fortunate, enough to eat, and at most, occasionally dine out.

Besides, they haven’t forgotten the years when parents and elders prioritized them, often hearing their stomachs grumble.

Zhang Guoqing walked around and found there were more stocks here than in Jingjiao, but just a few more stalls, adding up to stand out.

No matter how bountiful the harvest, relying on the one to two hundred jin yield per mu, the farmers’ lives weren’t easy.

Zhou Jiao hugged her son, squatted in front of an elderly man with a dark complexion, and asked in the local dialect, "Mister, how much?"

The elderly man’s face immediately relaxed into a smile upon being asked the price, "You see these corns are grown in my own plot of land, not a bad one among them, not expensive, twelve cents."

Golden, plump grains of excellent quality. Zhou Jiao smiled and nodded, "Is it enough for the family if sold?"

Perhaps wanting Zhou Jiao to buy more, or maybe the old man was just talkative, he happily said, "Keeping half mixed with wild vegetables is no problem."

"Do you want it? I don’t require grain coupons. If you buy them all, I’ll count it as eleven cents for you. Buy it, you won’t lose. If it weren’t for my kid’s wedding, I’d be reluctant to sell."

Hearing this, Zhou Jiao looked at the thick calluses on the old man’s hands and didn’t bargain with him. She continued walking, occasionally stopping to ask a few questions and buy a little.

Different from the others, Zhou Jiao consistently signaled to Ping’an, and after leaving would ask one or two questions. The mother and son coordinated seamlessly, understanding each other with just a glance.

Compared to Aunt Sun and the others who focused on item prices, Old Mrs. Cheng, wandering, gradually noticed something odd. With childlike curiosity, the old lady deliberately followed the mother and son.

Old Mrs. Cheng appreciatively patted Zhou Jiao. Life is full of learning, and details reveal true skill. With such a mother, how can one worry about the children’s excellence?