PFC Chapter 330 Relief
Chapter 330 Relief
For the next two days, Li Xiaoyun was taken care of in an exceptionally meticulous manner.
"Xiaoyun, I simmered this chicken soup for two hours. They say it's especially good for the baby."
Li's mother carefully placed a bowl of steaming chicken soup in front of Li Xiaoyun.
Li Xiaoyun smiled as she accepted the bowl, feeling both touched and somewhat helpless.
This is the third bowl of chicken soup she's had today; she really can't drink any more.
"Mom, thank you, but I really can't drink anymore," Li Xiaoyun said softly.
Upon hearing this, Li's mother immediately showed a worried expression: "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Should I go find Doctor Qian to take a look?"
"No, Mother," Li Xiaoyun quickly explained, "I'm fine, I just drank too much, my stomach is about to burst."
Li Xiangyang, who was standing nearby, couldn't bear to watch any longer and gently advised, "Mother, Xiaoyun is really alright, don't be so worried."
Li's mother rolled her eyes at her son: "What do you know? Pregnancy is a big deal, you can't be careless!"
Li Xiaoyun glanced helplessly at Li Xiangyang. These past two days, under her mother-in-law's care, she had been almost unable to move an inch.
When she goes to the toilet, her mother-in-law stands guard at the door, afraid that she will fall; when she eats, her mother-in-law watches her until she finishes the last bite, afraid that she will be malnourished; even the temperature of the water for washing her face must be tested by her mother-in-law before she feels comfortable letting her use it.
Although touched by her mother-in-law's concern, Li Xiaoyun could not bear being treated like a porcelain doll.
That night, after Li's mother went to sleep, Li Xiaoyun finally had a chance to speak with Li Xiangyang alone.
"Xiangyang, I know Mom cares about me, but I really can't take this anymore," Li Xiaoyun leaned on Li Xiangyang's shoulder and complained softly. "Today I wanted to go out in the yard to bask in the sun, but Mom insisted it was too windy outside and wouldn't let me; I wanted to help pick the vegetables, but Mom wouldn't let me either..."
Li Xiangyang put his arm around his wife's shoulder and gently comforted her, "I know, but Mother is only doing this for your and the child's sake. Just bear with it a little longer; things will be better once Mother returns to the city."
Li Xiaoyun sighed, "It's not that I don't understand Mother's feelings, it's just... this is too tense, it makes people uncomfortable. Besides, I'm perfectly healthy, not that delicate."
Li Xiangyang thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "I'll find a chance to talk to Mother tomorrow."
On the morning of the third day, Li's mother packed her luggage and prepared to return to the city.
"Mother, are you leaving already?" Li Xiangyang asked, somewhat surprised.
Li's mother nodded: "Yes, if we don't go back soon, I'm afraid there will be problems at work. But don't worry, I'll get the paperwork done and ask for leave as soon as possible, then I'll come back to take care of Xiaoyun."
Hearing this, Li Xiaoyun breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time showed a reluctant expression: "Mother, don't worry, take your time."
After seeing Li's mother off, Li Xiaoyun felt a great weight lifted from her shoulders and plopped down on the kang (a heated brick bed), letting out a long sigh: "Finally gone..."
Li Xiangyang couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Looking at you, you look like you just escaped from a tiger's mouth."
Li Xiaoyun rolled her eyes at him: "Why don't you try being treated like a fragile object?"
Li Xiangyang walked to his wife's side and gently stroked her lower abdomen: "Don't be angry, it's bad for the baby."
"You're coming again?" Li Xiaoyun made a move to hit her. "Get out of here, don't get in my way!"
Li Xiangyang blinked, looking aggrieved. "I was just worried about you."
“If you really care about me, let me relax a bit,” Li Xiaoyun nudged her husband’s shoulder. “I need some peace and quiet; you guys have been suffocating me these past few days.”
Seeing his wife's emotional state, Li Xiangyang didn't dare say anything more and quickly nodded in agreement, "Okay, okay, I'll go out now. Call me if you need anything."
After saying that, Li Xiangyang quickly walked out of the house. Just as he stepped into the yard, he heard a "bang" behind him as Li Xiaoyun slammed the door shut.
Li Xiangyang shook his head with a wry smile. It seems that a woman's temper really does change during pregnancy.
With nowhere else to go, Li Xiangyang strolled toward Wang Ergou's house.
Pushing open the door, I saw Wang Ergou tidying something up in the yard.
"Ergou, what are you busy with?" Li Xiangyang asked as he walked into the yard.
Wang Ergou looked up and saw Li Xiangyang. He grinned and said, "Hey, what a rare guest! I haven't seen you around these past few days!"
"My mother came back, and she's so worried I won't take good care of Xiaoyun, I haven't dared to go out," Li Xiangyang said with a wry smile, sitting down on a small stool in the yard. "What are you doing?"
“Let’s build a new nest for Little Golden Eagle,” Wang Ergou said, pointing to the golden eagle in a cage not far away. “This little guy is growing fast; his old one is too small.”
Li Xiangyang walked closer and took a look. He saw that Xiao Jin was much bigger than when he last saw it, its feathers were fuller, and the sharpness in its eyes was self-evident.
"It's definitely growing fast," Li Xiangyang exclaimed. "In a few more days, it'll probably be able to hunt on its own."
Wang Ergou nodded, his face full of anticipation: "Grandpa Zheng said it will be ready in two more months. Then catching wild rabbits with it will be much easier."
As the two were talking, they heard a commotion coming from afar.
"What's going on?" Li Xiangyang asked, frowning.
Wang Ergou put down his tools and wiped the dust off his hands: "The sound seems to be coming from the village entrance. Let's go check it out."
The two walked quickly toward the village entrance, where they saw that a number of villagers had already gathered.
In the center of the crowd, production team leader Zheng Dehou was talking to two strangers, his face looking very grim.
"What's wrong?" Li Xiangyang walked over and asked Zhang Weiping, who was standing to the side.
Zhang Weiping leaned closer and lowered his voice, saying, "These two were sent from above. They said they want to collect iron from the village because the country needs it."
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangyang immediately understood.
In recent years, the country has vigorously developed its industry, resulting in a large demand for steel.
Although there was no large-scale mobilization for iron collection as during the "Great Leap Forward" period, relevant departments still organized the collection of scrap steel to meet the needs of industrial production.
Zheng Dehou's voice came over: "The iron in our village was collected and handed over last month; there's none left."
One of the strangers persisted, "How could there not be? Your awareness is lacking! Can't you squeeze out just a little more?"
“Exactly, don’t hide it!” another person chimed in.
Zheng Dehou was sweating profusely with anxiety: "There really aren't any left. I can take you to check each house one by one."
Seeing this, Li Xiangyang stepped forward and said, "Comrades, our village did indeed collect and hand over all the iron last month. I can testify to that."
The stranger looked at Li Xiangyang suspiciously: "Who are you?"
“My name is Li Xiangyang, I’m a villager, and I also have a temporary position at the Forestry Bureau,” Li Xiangyang replied calmly.
This statement is somewhat exaggerated. Although Zhou Yongnian made this promise to Li Xiangyang, the official appointment has not yet been made.
Of course, it can't be considered lying.
“Li Xiangyang? From the Forestry Bureau? That name sounds familiar.” One of them seemed to realize something, then quickly regained his composure. “Alright, we trust you, so we won’t stay any longer.”