Daily Life in the 70s

"Elder sister-in-law all arrived."

"Another room full of hustle and bustle."

"Today, Yang Peimin was also free from work, pulled into conversation by them."

"Shen Yiyue and Shen Yixiang, the unmarried girls, just stayed in the kitchen."

"Yang Peimin grew a bit restless."

"With so many people, who knows when those two will finish." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"As she moved, everyone else started to stir."

"It’s a lot faster when everyone pitches in."

"While working in the yard, Yang Peimin pulled up the door curtains so the twins inside the house could see her and stay calm."

"Shen Yiqiu, holding Tuantuan, couldn’t bear to let go, teasing her, ’Come back to my house with Auntie...’ Of course, little Tuantuan had no idea what she meant."

"Outside, Shen Yidong laughed, ’That won’t do; this is Ah Guang’s only daughter so far. If you really want one, I have plenty to choose from here—take your pick.’ She was joking, yet her face held a hint of seriousness."

"That left Shen Yiqiu momentarily stunned."

"Shen Yidong had another daughter last year, making it her fourth daughter."

"Yang Peimin also looked up, noticing that Shen Yidong brought her four daughters along—the three eldest were playing with a group of children on the ground, and the youngest, about ten months old, was on the kang with Chen Guizhi, and she seemed quite well-behaved."

"Shen Yixia, seeing Shen Yidong, muttered a barely audible sigh, yet smiled, ’You ruthless one, how could you just give away the flesh of your own body like that, when you can support her just fine yourself.’"

"Shen Yidong replied, ’It’s just that my third sister adores daughters. Among all the siblings, it’s just my house that has an abundance of girls, we’re sisters after all, it doesn’t matter who raises them; it would fulfill my third sister’s dream.’"

"Yang Peimin glanced at her, ’Be careful, Xiao Fang and the others might hear you.’ She really couldn’t stand hearing her talk so flippantly about giving a daughter away."

"Shen Yiqiu shook her head, ’Stop talking about it, I’m just indulging in the idea; how could I separate mother and child.’"

"The expression on Shen Yidong’s face darkened, and she sighed, ’My fate is bitter.’"

"Her sisters comforted her, ’Things will work out; you’re still young.’"

"’Didn’t you hear just now? They’re about to enforce the Family Planning policy. I’ve already had four children; How could they allow me to have another?’ Shen Yidong thought of it and felt a complete turmoil inside."

"’It hasn’t started yet, so you should hurry up and get pregnant now.’"

"’You think it’s so easy, as if saying it makes it happen?’ Shen Yidong responded a bit harshly."

"However, no one took it to heart since she had been upset with her in-laws over the fact that her fourth child wasn’t a son."

"’Then just pay more attention to your health, try to nourish yourself well; once your body is better, it will happen faster,’ Shen Yixia advised."

"Shen Yidong sat back down, ’My body has always been strong; it’s just that I can’t produce a son. You all have sons; do you know any tricks?’ she quietly asked."

"Everyone was slightly taken aback."

"There really wasn’t any trick."

"Who even cared about such things?"

"Shen Yidong looked toward Shen Yiqiu and Shen Yichun, who had the most sons, each with three."

"Especially Shen Yiqiu; she had three in a row."

"Shen Yiqiu shook her head, ’There’s no trick; I had no idea, I just got pregnant and had them, and they turned out to be boys. I even wanted a daughter. If there were a trick, why would I have only sons?’"

"Shen Yichun also said, ’I don’t know either; I ate and used everything the same as when I had daughters, I don’t know anything different.’"

Shen Yidong finally looked at Yang Peimin.

Yang Peimin: "..."

"Sister-in-law, what about you? You are the luckiest, having given birth to twins."

Everyone looked at Yang Peimin.

Yang Peimin inexplicably felt her face turning red, their gazes...

"Are there any tricks to how you... you know... when you’re with him?" Shen Yidong even dared ask, leaning toward Yang Peimin and whispering, "Sister-in-law, is it because my brother was a soldier, that he’s healthy, lasts long, and it happens more often...?"

Damn!

Shen Yiguang, where are you!

Yang Peimin pushed her away and coughed lightly, "Fourth sister, you really..."

"Sister-in-law, if you have a method, please tell me, I’m begging you."

"No, fourth sister, it’s all like a lottery draw, what you get is what you get, it’s all up to fate, let nature take its course..." said Yang Peimin.

Shen Yidong looked disappointed.

Then the sisters began to give her advice on body nourishment.

Yang Peimin didn’t know what to say as everyone hoped she would continue trying for a son.

Shen Yidong listened with an agitated face.

Everyone felt helpless.

They changed the subject.

Talking about skincare, Shen Yihuo looked at Yang Peimin’s flawless complexion and asked, "Sister-in-law, what have you been eating? I feel like your skin is even better than it was a few years ago, and Tuantuan takes after you."

Yang Peimin winked at them, "This year I didn’t buy much to bring back, just a skincare set for everyone. Try it out when you get home, I always use this."

Everyone loved such gifts except Shen Yichun who felt it was a waste—she was already forty, and using it seemed pointless compared to the younger ladies.

Yang Peimin noticed her expression and said, "If elder sister doesn’t like it, I can bring you some fabric instead."

Shen Yichun quickly said it wasn’t necessary, but Yang Peimin didn’t mind; she’d bring it anyway when she left.

Shen Yidong brightened up hearing about the skincare products and excitedly said, "Sister-in-law, if we use it, can we have skin like yours?"

Yang Peimin laughed, "Not necessarily, it’s not just about the skincare products. There are issues with skin type and even metabolic functions. I have fairly good skin, and I am still quite young, with better metabolism, but even then, improvement isn’t guaranteed. However, if you keep at it, who knows, maybe in ten years, you and your Xiao Fen will look like sisters..."

Shen Yidong nodded repeatedly, visibly excited, "Yes, yes, just imagine..." But she was secretly thinking, if she could have good skin like Yang Peimin, her man would always be glued to her. Maybe her son would even come sooner...

Yang Peimin had no idea what was running through her mind.

Shen Yiguang came back in; he must have gone to someone’s house.

Shen Yidong immediately said, "Ah Guang, you’re back."

Shen Yiguang smiled and nodded, "Went to see fourth Uncle, been hard on you ladies, what were you chatting about?"

Shen Yidong, who couldn’t hold her tongue, blurted out, "We were just talking about how you guys had twins, whether there’s a method."

Shen Yiguang raised an eyebrow.

Then, looking at Yang Peimin, she shrugged at him: I didn’t say anything.

Shen Yiguang said seriously, "A healthy body naturally does it, tell fourth brother-in-law to exercise more."