CHAPTER 389: CHAPTER 389

Yang Peimin looked like a smooth talker, Ge Sanni thought to herself indifferently.

Yang Peimin didn’t care what she thought, and called over to the others, "Feel free to sit anywhere, there’s food and drinks on the table, don’t be shy, since you’re here, stay for lunch before you leave. I have a great cook hidden away at home."

They had initially planned not to eat and leave soon after arriving, to avoid causing trouble due to their large group.

Yang Peimin cared less about their plans, "The moment you walked in, my second brother went to kill a chicken."

Feng Exi spoke for the group, "We didn’t bring much, it feels so awkward to come and freeload a meal."

They had pooled money to buy a can of Milk Essence for the child.

Yang Peimin waved her hand dismissively, "What are you talking about? It’s a joy just to have people visit."

That settled the matter of eating.

Tan Yan looked around the room, which was quite spacious. Because there were not enough chairs, Yang Peiying brought in more from outside.

"How many people live here? Why did you rent such a big place?" She had heard Guo Caixia talk about it on their way here and hadn’t thought much of it, imagining at most two extra rooms, but it was actually a three-story building. "The rent must be very expensive."

Yang Peimin smiled, "As you see, there are many people in my family. My two sisters are also here, and a smaller house simply wouldn’t fit us. The rent, though, isn’t that expensive."

"And your husband? Why haven’t we seen him?"

"He’s in the military. He was out on missions for the past few months and barely made it back for the birth of our child at the last moment."

"Wow, that sounds really dangerous." Everyone expressed their sympathies about her difficult childbirth.

At this point, Ge Sanni had something to say, "You were told not to eat so much, having a big baby makes delivery difficult."

Then everyone started asking about the baby’s weight, and Yang Peimin mentioned her son’s birth weight.

"It’s not that heavy, so why was the birth so difficult?"

"It’s hard to say, sometimes the baby’s position or insufficient amniotic fluid can lead to difficulties during birth, but your boy was half as big again as Sanni’s daughter—it seems like he’d be a lot easier to handle."

This was the third time Ge Sanni’s daughter was brought up by Feng Exi, and Ge Sanni pursed her lips tightly, showing clear reluctance.

However, Feng Exi didn’t notice her expression and continued, "Sanni’s daughter, I remember you visited too, she was like a little mouse, her tiny face wasn’t even as big as my palm, and she cried like a kitten. By the way Sanni, how’s your little girl doing now?" They remembered when Sanni’s mother-in-law took the little girl home during the summer break, they were really worried because she was so small and didn’t seem as robust as other children. And they hadn’t even bought her a can of baby formula, which was pitiful to see.

Ge Sanni forced a smile and was reluctant to say more, just uttering, "She’s doing well."

Since she, as a mother, said so, Feng Exi nodded and didn’t ask further.

Yang Peimin shifted the topic, "So tell me, what did you all do when you went home?"

"What else could we do? Just get up early to cook and take care of the whole family. But my boy has grown a lot, he almost didn’t recognize me."

"Children are always like this, very forgetful. Once he gets used to playing, he’ll be fine. But when I left, he cried so hard it was heartbreaking. There’s really nothing I can do about it. What about yours, Pei Min? What will you do about Lele? You still have school to attend."

"You’re still worried about that? Haven’t you seen? Her mother and sister are both here now, and they’ve rented a house nearby—it’s very convenient."

Pei Min smiled, "That’s exactly the reason."

"So is your mother going to stay here and help you with the child?"

Pei Min shook her head, "She’ll return home after helping me through my confinement. There’s too much to do at home, and they can’t manage without her. I’ll have to hire someone to help with the baby here. Taking her back home with me isn’t an option; I can’t leave him."

Tan Yan was surprised, "You’re planning to hire someone to look after the child? Can you really manage that?" Of course, her question hinted at the financial aspect.

Ge San Ni was also all ears, wondering where Pei Min was getting such confidence. Pei Min was still a student, a girl from the countryside. Even if her family was doing well, resources would be limited. Her husband, although a military officer, wasn’t making an enormous salary. She was curious where all the money was coming from, since Pei Min was eating well, renting a house, and planning to hire help.

Pei Min replied, "It’ll be tight, but I can manage it."

San Ni breathed a sigh of relief, she thought so. Where could Pei Min get such confidence? It looked like they were just getting by on her husband’s salary, barely making ends meet, and she had no concept of saving money. She would have her hands full in the future.

While they were talking, Peiying came in and announced, "Brother-in-law is back."

Shen Yiguang had returned, and Pei Min was delighted, "Why is he back so early today?"

"Brother-in-law said he’s off today, and he brought back a basket of watermelons too, perfect for everyone to try."

Pei Min looked at her roommates and smiled, "You’re in for a treat." There was envy in her voice; she couldn’t eat them. Watermelon was too cooling, and Zhang Minghua was watching.

Peiying quickly added, "Sis, brother-in-law brought you apples too. Mom said you can eat those."

Pei Min smiled then. Apples weren’t a common treat for her. Since coming here, she’d had meat at every meal, but fruit was rare.

"Quickly cut them up and bring them in for everyone."

Peiying darted out again, her steps light and quick as a rabbit.

"You have a nice sister."

Soon Peiying brought in the cut watermelon, and a peeled apple for Pei Min, "Everyone start with these, there’s more outside."

"Where did all these watermelons come from?"

"My brother-in-law said he bought them from a farmer, they grow them themselves. My sister is in confinement and shouldn’t be exposed to wind or wear short sleeves, she keeps saying it’s hot. So my brother-in-law went and got her these watermelons to cool down. He was supposed to be back last night, but he heard of a village that grew them, though it was far. He went there overnight, so that’s why he only got back today. But mom said my sister still can’t eat them. However, my brother-in-law said it wasn’t a wasted trip since you all came over."

"Oh my, so there’s a whole story behind it. Look how red and big these watermelons are, and they taste so sweet!" Everyone laughed, "Pei Min, your man really loves you!"

Pei Min nodded with a smile, "Of course, he was so caring when I had his son!"

San Ni felt she shouldn’t have come.