The Friendly and Generous Neighbor

The door was ajar. It would be impolite for her to push it open and enter by herself.

"Is that Xinghua? Come in. I'm feeding the livestock." A loud voice came from inside. It accurately recognized Jiang Xinghua's voice.

With permission granted, Jiang Xinghua pushed open the door.

The first thing she saw was a woman standing in a chicken coop scattering chicken feed. A flock of chickens surrounded her and clucked non-stop.

"There's enough food for everyone. Stop fighting." She said to the chickens.

Immediately after this, she walked over to feed the ewe that was tied to the tree. She worked tirelessly without rest.

This person was Wang Hua, Mdm Fu's best friend. They were about the same age.

She was dressed plainly and looked very kind. Her hair streaked with black and white.

She looked rather worn out from working hard all year round. However, she was especially vibrant and her face was rosy. She was an agile lady.

"Xinghua, you came at the right time. I just harvested a few fresh eggs from the hens. Take them home for your mother-in-law's nourishment."

Wang Hua walked out of the chicken coop and handed over the eggs she had just picked up.

She passed Jiang Xinghua the eggs without any bit of hesitation. She was a very generous woman.

She was constantly thinking of Mdm Fu's confinement. "By the way, my eldest son brought me a jar of medicinal wine just now and said that it was especially effective in treating sore back and legs.

I'll pour you half a jar now. Bring it back too. Put some in the bath when your mother-in-law is going to shower. It's good for her recuperation."

They had both worked hard their entire lives. At this age, it was only natural that their backs and bodies would ache from the accumulated years of work. Moreover, her best friend had just risked her life to give birth to a child at this age. She needs more care.

"No, Aunt Wang…"

She was here to return the items, not to get more items.

Once Wang Hua had made up her mind, she would not hesitate to act.

"I'll go pour it now." Without waiting for Jiang Xinghua's response, Wang Hua hurried into her kitchen.

When she stepped out again, it was not just half a jar of wine. She looked as if she had brought out everything that was edible in the household.

"Also, these red dates, wolfberries, and astragalus are also excellent supplements, packed with nutrients and good medicinal properties. I can't finish them by myself. You bring some to your mother-in-law."

They were all supplements given by her eldest and second sons. She could not eat so much by herself. Instead of letting them collect dust at home, she would rather send some over to her best friend to nourish her body.

She envisioned a future in which her best friend and her would continue to stay in this village and grow old together. Together, they would enjoy a future filled with joy and happiness.

"No, Aunt Wang, we can't take your things anymore…"

"What are you talking about? It's not like you don't know my relationship with your mother-in-law." Wang Hua would not allow herself to be rejected. Her authoritative tone was exactly the same as Mdm Fu's. "Besides, your mother-in-law is already old. She needs to take extra care to rest and recuperate well during her confinement period."

"Don't worry, Aunt Wang. I'll take good care of my mother-in-law."

No wonder her mother-in-law had insisted on sending a pigeon over without thinking. Aunt Wang was more than worthy.

"But Aunt Wang, I can't take these items. My mother-in-law asked me to return the eggs and brown sugar today…"

Jiang Xinghua was interrupted halfway.

"What!!"

"Return?! To me?!" Hearing this, Wang Hua became furious. "Is the old saying true? That a woman loses some common sense after giving birth? What does she think we are?! What does she mean by returning it? I need to go ask her for an explanation. Does she still see me as a good friend?!"

She had absolutely no intention of taking back what she had given away.

How could she treat her like an outsider!

She truly deserved a scolding.

With that, Wang Hua angrily walked towards the door. She wanted to go straight to the Fu family's house to look for Mdm Fu, and ask her what she meant face-to-face.

Does she still see her as her good sister?

Mdm Fu and Wang Hua were the same kind of people who were short-tempered. They both explode easily.

Afraid that the two of them might get into a conflict, Jiang Xinghua quickly stopped Wang Hua in her tracks.

She knew that she needed to bring in their care for each other to clear up the misunderstanding. "No, no, that's not what my mother-in-law meant, Aunt Wang. It's just that she feels bad about always taking your items. She's worried that might affect your friendship in the long-run.

It just so happened that there were quite a lot of things at home, hence she thought of giving some to you. Also, she said that this pigeon is for you to nourish your body.

You know my mother-in-law's personality very well. She hates owing favors to others, and especially to the people whom she loves."

Wang Hua paused.

She knew Mdm Fu too well.

She had never liked to trouble others, and would only ask for help when she was left with absolutely no choice. She was as stubborn as a mule.

She had her own style of doing things and relating to others.

In this aspect, the two of them were extremely similar.

Putting herself into the shoes of her best friend, she could empathize with her more. She must have felt bad to keep on receiving items from her, like she was a beneficiary of her charity.

"But our relationship! We're best friends. I don't know what she's thinking."

Although Wang Hua was angry, she still calmed down.

Nothing was more important to her than her best friend's confinement.

Spotting the pigeon in the basket, she gave a look of surprise.

"Xinghua, where did this pigeon come from?"

She had eaten pigeons before. Her two sons had bought them for her in the past.

They were extremely expensive.

She had heard others say that just one pigeon would cost a few hundred copper coins. Moreover, there was only so much meat on a pigeon. She felt that it was more worth it to eat a chicken instead.

Every time she ate a pigeon, her heart ached and she would keep telling their son not to waste their money on this again.

Wang Hua knew the Fu family's financial situation very well. How would they have the money to buy pigeons?

"Aunt Wang, it's like this… So my mother-in-law told you not to worry about her confinement. The family can survive for the time being." Jiang Xinghua shared the events that had happened in detail.

Wang Hua was happy to hear that. Nothing could make her more happy than knowing that her best friend's life was improving.

Usually, she wanted to help the family too. However, her best friend would always refuse to take her money.

She said that that was an insult to their friendship.

She even said that if Wang Hua brought that up again, she would cut off ties with her. Hence she did not dare to mention this matter again.

She could only find various excuses to send the family things from time to time.

"Looks like giving birth to a daughter was a good omen. Your Fu family would get luckier and luckier." Wang Hua said with a smile.

There was nobody else who had ever encountered pigeons falling from the sky.

It seemed that the seemingly-unreliable fortune-teller had finally got it right this time.

Hopefully, the Fu family would get luckier.

And never be unlucky again.

"I think so too. Ever since my mother-in-law has given birth, there have been good things happening at home, one after another. My father-in-law named her Fu Xing'er, and her nickname is Fubao." Jiang Xinghua nodded hard.

"Fubao. Not bad, not bad."

Just listening to the name made her feel certain that it would bring blessings and luck.

"By the way, Aunt Wang, my mother-in-law is old and could not produce any milk. Fubao will need a long-term supply of goat milk from your family in the future. My mother-in-law had instructed specifically that you are to sell it to us at the price of what you usually sell to others. Otherwise, she won't want it."

"I don't care if she wants it or not. I'm not giving it to her. I'm giving it to Fubao."

Wang Hua got angry again when she heard that Mdm Fu wanted to pay her.

She was treating her like an outsider.

After her confinement period, she would find her and teach her a lesson.

As she spoke, Wang Hua went to get another bowl of goat's milk. "Also, bring this goat's milk back for Fubao. If your mother-in-law says anything else, just say that I'll wait for her to finish her confinement and then beat her up. When it's Fubao's ten-days celebration, I'll go visit her.

"But Aunt Wang, I, I…"

"That's about it. It's getting late. Hurry up and go back to take care of your mother-in-law." Without waiting for Jiang Xinghua's response, Wang Hua grabbed Jiang Xinghua's basket and filled it with a lot of things.

In the end, Wang Hua only accepted the pigeons and fortune candies. As for the eggs, she didn't take out any, but instead added more into her basket. Jiang Xinghua stepped out of the house with a basket full of goodies.

On her way back, more people approached her to express their well wishes and words of congratulations.

"Your Fu family has finally given birth to a daughter. Your Fu family's good luck is approaching."

Jiang Xinghua smiled and thanked them one by one.

Suddenly, she felt as if she had stepped on something. She stopped to take a look.