Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19 - 9: A Kind Father and a Loving Mother

Chapter Nine: Loving Father and Kind Mother

"Grandfather, Father, Mother, are you doing well in Heaven? I have a son now. You must be doing well. I think our family being able to travel to this place must be because you're watching over us. Our family will definitely live happily."

Zhou Jiao noticed the redness in Zhang Guoqing's eyes, reached out to tug on his hand, and playfully said, "Brother, doesn't your son look like a little pig, eat and sleep. Help me move him to the left side; you lie on my right, and rest early since we have things to do tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll go to the main room to tell our mom to rest, no need to come here. Feed every two hours at night. You should also take out the baby formula and bottle to see if he drinks it at night. Oh, and get the diapers out, a set, and two pig's feet, a pound of red dates, two packs of formula, and prepare a bottle. You can decide on the other meats, not too much as I'll go out at dawn to make a round and come back around the Ming Road.

My mom treats those ragged cloths like treasures, don't throw them away, just wrap them up for me. I reckon the second sister-in-law's child will need them."

Zhou Jiao knew that his second brother's little daughter just turned two, still needing diapers. She remembered how that little girl was poorly treated by Lin Juhua, never well-kept, and without milk to feed, it was Mother Zhang who softened and fed her rice porridge. A few times when there were rare occasions of egg custard at home, Lin Juhua would eat it all when Mother Zhang turned her back, leaving her angry. Like a little chick, raised on rough care. Thinking of this, Zhou Jiao couldn't help but laugh aloud.

When Zhang Guoqing reached the main room, the kerosene lamp was still lit. A night of light from it costs a few cents, so in the village, unless necessary, people don't keep it on, moving in the dark. So Zhang Guoqing was a bit surprised; were they planning to watch over things overnight?

"Mom, the baby has already eaten and slept; you and dad have been on your feet the whole day, go and rest now. No need to get up at night, be careful not to catch a cold. I'll stay alert at night; don't worry."

Mother Zhang nodded drowsily, instructing Zhang Guoqing to wake her if the baby cried, fearing they wouldn't know how to care for him. Father Zhang, seeing nothing more needed of him, also went to bed. Zhang Guoqing carefully blew out the lamp and closed the door.

At two in the morning, when the baby awoke crying, Zhang Guoqing picked him up immediately, prepared the formula, and the little one quieted down upon eating. He didn't wake Jiao Jiao, letting her sleep knowing a bit more rest would be good for her post-delivery weakness. Changed the diaper, and the little rascal slept comfortably, not crying like the others'. Indeed his son, smart.

He wanted him to feed on mother's milk by five the next morning, then adjusting to formula at midnight, adding one more formula feeding during the day, so Jiao Jiao's body could handle nursing.

Sleepily, he sensed some noise in the courtyard. Zhang Guoqing got up, noticing it was gradually getting light outside. Got himself ready in the dim light.

Headed to the kitchen, where his older sister-in-law was making breakfast. Country folks rise early, probably around five, though without a watch to check. As the eldest sister-in-law, she busied herself day after day, truly not easy.

As for the second sister-in-law, she would also need to get up soon to prepare pig feed, or else if the pigs starved and cried, his mom would give her an earful.

After breakfast, the men of the house would either work in the backyard vegetable garden or tend their own land. No one loitered; it was something for idlers. Women hurried to finish household chores before heading to work by 6:30, washing clothes, cleaning up. After work in the afternoon, they still needed to gather feed for the pigs.

Unable to find his mother, he never did shout out loudly. He just greeted his older sister-in-law, casually grabbing two vegetable buns as breakfast on his way out. Then, Mother Zhang just returned from the backyard with freshly picked vegetables for the kitchen.

"Mom, I'm heading to the city to see if there's anything for lactation. I'll share the good news with my sister, and on the way back, I'll drop by the Zhou family to share the joy, hehe."

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