Chapter 9 Origins_2

"Grandpa and Grandma were never the gossipy type, but since the villagers were always jealous of Dad and Mom's work, seizing any chance to talk tart, they gradually stopped discussing my parents. Moreover, there wasn't an opportunity to have the full-month celebration, we had few relatives on Mom's side, and the aunts lived far away. Everyone in the production team was battling for work points and came from different places, which left no chance to clarify the truth to the villagers." In fact, at that time, not many people were needed for tea and cotton picking, and even some larger villages only got one or two spots, let alone Yuanjiazhuang, which was remote and had no connections to higher-ups. If not for the fact that Mom had once saved a secretary's grandson years ago, they wouldn't have had the opportunity.

I don't know what he thought of, but Shen Chi chuckled, "It was just chance. One year after getting married, Mom had a poor appetite in the summer. Grandpa and Grandma sent her plenty of pickled vegetables to help her eat, and even bought some from the neighbors when their supply wasn't enough."

"By the time I was brought back, the villagers thought back to that time, calculated it, and everything matched up, so their suspicions ended."

Lin Xiaoguai looked stunned. She had many speculations about the Shen Family, but never considered that Shen Chi was not actually their son.

Surprised as she was, she felt relieved inside; though Shen Chi was only Wang Zhaodi's stepson, which eased her mind, knowing he wasn't actually a Shen allowed her to kick those burdens away.

"I'm going to sleep," Lin Xiaoguai muttered, pulling away from Shen Chi's embrace and crawling under the covers.

Shen Chi looked astonished; he had imagined many possible reactions from Wanwan, but none were as nonchalant as this.

Given the doctor had warned that Lin Xiaoguai's condition shouldn't be taken lightly, everyone, including Shen Zhangming and Luo Yufang, treated her with extra caution. Fortunately, after some time and proper care, Lin Xiaoguai's color improved noticeably. She no longer needed to stay in bed all day, walking outside was no longer a problem, and even helped with light chores occasionally, though she was often stopped halfway through.

"Did your brother go out again?" Lin Xiaoguai, having hung up the clothes, asked Shen Xiu, who was weeding the garden.

"Yes." Shen Xiu filled a basket with weeds and stood up, "Uncle Zhao's family is building a loft, and he went to help."

Lin Xiaoguai pursed her lips. Shen Chi was spending his rare day off working for money; the reason was obvious, it was for someone.

Still, thinking about the current wages made her wryly smile. Could she say she actually didn't need it?

Despite this, Shen Chi's thoughtfulness still moved her.

Maybe choosing this man wasn't as bad as she imagined.

"Wanwan—" Just then, Luo Yufang called from inside the house.

"Grandma, I'm here!" Lin Xiaoguai quickly responded.

"I told you to leave the laundry to me, why did you hang it up again?" Luo Yufang came out, looking reproachful.

"It's nothing, just a helping hand," Lin Xiaoguai smiled, "If I do nothing, I'll rust away."

"But still be careful. What if you strain your back?" Luo Yufang muttered, then turned to Shen Xiu, "Why don't you ever say anything?"

Shen Xiu said, half-laughing, half-crying, "I was squatting in the garden, and by the time I realized, she had already hung up the laundry. What could I do?"

"Oh, really?" Luo Yufang thought she understood but then added, "Why are you weeding so early in the morning?"

If you don't weed in the early heat, should you really wait until noon?

"You mean to say, all you see now are future grandkids and nothing else?" Shen Xiu was both annoyed and amused.

Luo Yufang also realized she had overreacted and awkwardly said, "Xiuxiu, grandma was confused, don't be mad."

Shen Xiu chuckled, "I wouldn't dare to be mad, I just hope fervently you won't make me help you weed."

Finally catching on, Luo Yufang remembered, wasn't it she who had instructed Xiuxiu to weed?

She looked around, "Well, I should check if the porridge is ready."

Lin Xiaoguai's smile softened. Having spent nearly half a month with them, she'd grown fond of the taciturn yet sensible grandpa and the usually gentle but occasionally confused grandma,

especially knowing well that Shen Chi wasn't actually their biological grandson.

"Xiuxiu, I've made you a pair of sandals, come by my room when you have time to try them on." Lin Xiaoguai mentioned.

The sandals she spoke of weren't those fancy ones made of leather or other materials from future eras; they were simple yet sturdy, made of scrap fabrics, perfect for girls of this era who loved to look pretty yet had to work.

"Sis-in-law, didn't I tell you not to handle needles? It's not good for the baby."

What Shen Xiu referred to was a local custom: pregnant women shouldn't handle sharp objects as it's bad luck, and this included needles.

Lin Xiaoguai wasn't unaware, just forgetful. Decades later, many old customs would be discarded for not fitting modern society, and she couldn't remember them all.

"I forgot for a moment," Lin Xiaoguai admitted sheepishly, "I already made them..."

"Well, let it go, but do remember not to use needles again," Shen Xiu said helplessly.

Lin Xiaoguai obediently nodded.

After breakfast, Lin Xiaoguai accompanied Luo Yufang to the veggie market, and once back, helped out in the kitchen.

"Grandma, can I cook the fish?" It wasn't that Lin Xiaoguai was picky, but at the market there were only carp, silver carp, and grass carp available, and the cooking options were limited to braised or fish head soup—he was frankly sick of them, yet she liked fish.

"No," Luo Yufang refused without a second thought, "Although you haven't felt nauseous, who knows when it might happen? Raw fish is the fishiest, and if it upsets your stomach, that'd be bad."

Hearing this, Lin Xiaoguai felt helpless. She had already been to the market, wasn't worrying about the fish's effect a bit too late?

Even so, she decided not to remind her.