Chapter 210: No Comparison, No Harm
Deng Changyuan and Deng Yuntai had been childhood friends, so Deng Changyuan was well aware of how Uncle Jiu treated his daughter-in-law. Compared to Uncle Jiu, some of his own parents' actions were hard to describe.
This time, his wife had gone to the county town to give birth, spending the money he had worked hard to earn. He hadn't expected his sister-in-law and parents to react so negatively, openly and subtly accusing his wife of being wasteful. This made him deeply uncomfortable.
Yes, the family hadn't yet divided their assets, and the money he earned technically belonged to the entire family. But he wasn't throwing the money away. Giving birth in the county town was about ensuring the safety of his wife and child—a necessary expense.
To support his wife, Yuntai and his wife had not only provided a place for his wife and her parents to stay but had also personally gone to the county town to help take care of them. They had contributed both money and effort.
In contrast, his parents and his elder brother and sister-in-law had accused his wife of being extravagant. This disappointment was the main reason Deng Changyuan, who rarely spoke harshly to his parents, had threatened to separate from the family.
He hoped his parents and elder brother and sister-in-law wouldn't push things too far, allowing the family to stay together for a few more years. But if they continued to say inappropriate things in front of his wife, he wouldn't hesitate to ask Uncle Jiu to mediate the division of the family and live separately.
With his current income, if he were to live independently, he wondered how much better his life would be.
Ou Guohua, unaware of the family tensions, was enjoying her time in the county town. Her stay had broadened her horizons, making her realize the stark differences between city and rural life.
In the village, feces and urine were everywhere. It was common for children to defecate right outside their homes. If the house was near a river or stream, the feces would be shoveled into the water. If not, dogs would be called to eat it. In later generations, whether in cities or villages, people rarely saw dogs eating feces. But in this era, it was a common sight in rural areas, and everyone was used to it.
Besides human waste, there was also chicken and duck feces. Most chickens and ducks were free-range, so their droppings were scattered everywhere. If you weren't careful while walking, you'd inevitably step in it. Stepping on dry feces was bad enough, but stepping on fresh ones was downright disgusting.
The county town, on the other hand, was clean everywhere. Last month had been the first "National Civility and Courtesy Month," and the entire county had been cleaned up, even the hidden corners. It was a refreshing change.
This was just a comparison of hygiene. In other aspects, rural areas and the county town were worlds apart.
Ou Guohua said to her younger sister with emotion, "Ah Ping, life in the county town is a hundred times more comfortable than in the village. No wonder so many people try every means to become city dwellers. I've only been here a few days, and I'm already reluctant to go back."
Zhang Xiuping smiled. "Don't worry. Once my restaurant opens and I'm settled, I'll help you find a suitable business for you and Afang. Then you can come to the county town and keep me company."
Ou Guohua replied, "I'll wait for your good news. Living in the county town and doing anything is better than staying in the village."
Zhang Xiuping added, "Don't think too much about it now. Focus on giving birth and raising the baby until it's weaned. Otherwise, you won't be able to do any business with a baby to care for."
Speaking of childcare, Ou Guohua felt a bit troubled. She sighed, "I don't know if my in-laws will help take care of the child. If they don't, I'll have to do it myself, and it'll be hard to run a business in the county town."
Zhang Xiuping, recalling her cousin Bu Dafang's experience, suggested, "If your in-laws won't help, ask your parents to step in. You can give them a monthly allowance. It's a win-win."
Ou Guohua's eyes lit up. "Ah Ping, you always have a solution. Let's do that."
On the morning of the seventh day of the fourth lunar month, Ou Guohua gave birth to a baby girl at the maternal and child health center. The birth of their granddaughter delighted Ou's parents, who had become grandparents. However, Ou Guohua, the mother, felt a tinge of regret. For rural families, not having a son as the first child often felt like an incomplete dream.
Zhang Xiuping, noticing her sister's feelings, comforted her, "Ahua, having a daughter is actually a good thing. Look at me—I have a daughter too. They can grow up together like we did. If you'd had a son, they might not have been able to play together. In a way, this continues our sisterhood."
Ou Guohua, still pale from childbirth, smiled weakly. "Ah Ping, you're so good at comforting people. Honestly, I don't really care if it's a boy or a girl. But you know how it is in the village. My in-laws aren't as open-minded as Uncle Jiu. I came to the county town to give birth, and I don't know what they're saying behind my back. If I bring a daughter home, I'm afraid they'll say something unpleasant."
Zhang Xiuping frowned. "It can't be that bad, can it?"
Ou Guohua sighed. "I hope I'm overthinking it, but knowing my in-laws, there's a chance they might."
Zhang Xiuping thought for a moment. "How about this? When we go back tomorrow, Afang and I will take turns visiting your house to keep you company. With us around, your in-laws won't dare say anything out of line."
Ou Guohua replied, "That's a temporary solution, not a permanent one."
Zhang Xiuping suggested, "Why don't you ask A Yuan to talk to his parents beforehand? That way, they won't say anything to disrupt the family harmony."
Ou Guohua shook her head. "No, this is just my speculation. Nothing's happened yet. If I bring it up with A Yuan, it'll seem like I'm stirring up trouble. I'll wait and see if my in-laws say anything unpleasant first."
Zhang Xiuping nodded. "Alright, let's wait and see. I'll come to keep you company every day. If you need my help, just let me know."
"Okay, let's not talk about these unhappy things. Ah Ping, come and see if the baby looks more like me or her father."
"Of course, she looks more like you. Look at her nose, her mouth, and her little hands. They're exactly like yours."
"Really? Let me see..."
(End of this chapter)