On the way back, Li Qingxiu asked Li Weiguo to stop so she could buy some meat. Previously, the family ate meat about two or three times a week, but now she planned to increase it to five or six days.
Li Qingxiu bought over half a kilogram of prime ribs, one kilogram of pork butt, a piece of pork liver, half a split pig’s head, a set of small intestines, and one kilogram of sweet potato starch.
The doctor had said that Su Qingyun was somewhat anemic and that eating pork liver could help replenish blood. However, Su Qingyun didn’t like eating animal offal, especially pork liver. Stir-fried pork liver had a strong, gamey smell, so Li Qingxiu decided to braise the liver and, while she was at it, braise some pig’s head meat as well.
The leftover broth could also be used to make sausage.
At noon, there was only time to make egg and vegetable noodles. After eating, Li Qingxiu had Su Qingyun rest in bed while she started braising the pork liver and pig’s head.
Li Weiguo went to the school to request leave. He originally intended to apply for maternity leave directly for Su Qingyun, but the school said the substitute teacher wouldn’t arrive until next month. For now, Su Qingyun could rest for a week, and formal maternity leave would begin next month.
When Li Weiguo returned, he explained the situation to Su Qingyun, who understood. Teachers were like fixed positions—one person per role—and the school had its difficulties.
“If it really doesn’t work out, we can just quit.”
“Let’s rest for a week first and see. The doctor also recommended a week of rest. Maybe I’ll feel better by then.”
Li Weiguo knew Su Qingyun was reluctant to give up her job and didn’t want to pressure her. “Alright, then rest well. We’ll go to the hospital for another checkup next week.”
“Okay.”
“Big brother! Didn’t you say you’d help me cut the meat?” Li Qingxiu was washing the sausage casings while holding her nose, and seeing that Li Weiguo hadn’t come out, she started calling for him.
“Coming!”
Li Weiguo helped Su Qingyun lie down, covered her with the blanket, and then went out to assist his sister.
The pork liver and pig’s head were already braised. Li Qingxiu fished out the meat to let it cool and skimmed the residue from the broth. After the broth cooled slightly, she added the sweet potato starch and minced pork, then stirred vigorously until everything was fully blended and no dry starch remained.
The sausages turned out well. After boiling them, she stored them in the refrigerator to chill. They could be pan-fried when eaten, which was very convenient.
The pig’s head meat and pork liver were a bit greasy when eaten hot, so she planned to have them the next day. For dinner, she made sweet and sour ribs and cabbage stewed with tofu. Su Qingyun loved the ribs.
Half a kilogram of ribs didn’t yield many pieces. The Li siblings each took only one piece and didn’t reach for more. With a household budget of 40 yuan, eating meat every day wasn’t feasible—they still had to be frugal.
Su Qingyun naturally noticed this. Since her sister-in-law arrived, her appetite had improved significantly, and she was well aware of how kind her husband and sister-in-law were to her.
There was no need for many words of gratitude. She placed a rib into each of their bowls. “You two eat as well.”
Li Weiguo transferred the rib from his bowl to his sister’s. “Eat, everyone eat.”
After dinner, Li Weiguo washed the dishes while Li Qingxiu cut one-third of the pig’s head meat, placed it on a plate, and brought it to the neighboring Li Chunhua’s house. Earlier, she had asked Li Chunhua to help make some small blankets and pads, and today she was going to pick them up.
When Li Qingxiu arrived, Li Chunhua’s family of four had just finished their meal.
“Sister-in-law, I braised some pig’s head meat and brought some for the children to try.”
"Oh, you should keep it for yourselves, why think of us!" Though she said this, the smile on her face was already uncontrollable. She took the bowl and sniffed it. "It smells so good! I caught a whiff of it when you were cooking this afternoon."
Wang Zhiwei brought a stool for her. "Qingxiu, you chat with your sister-in-law while I go wash the dishes."
Li Chunhua poured the meat into her own bowl, washed the plate, and placed it on the table. Then, she grabbed a stool and leaned in, lowering her voice. "Qingxiu, people are starting to gossip about your family eating meat every other day. Although most don’t believe it, you still need to be careful, you understand?"
Li Qingxiu naturally understood and knew Li Chunhua meant well. So, she explained that Su Qingyun had gone to the hospital for a checkup and needed to rest at home to protect the pregnancy.
Upon hearing this, Li Chunhua slapped her thigh. "I knew it! Your sister-in-law has been picky with food, and her belly doesn’t look like she’s seven months along at all."
"That’s right, so the doctor said she needs to eat well, preferably with some malted milk powder." Li Qingxiu forced a bitter smile. "Sister-in-law, to be honest, yesterday my brother didn’t even have enough money to buy malted milk powder. I had to lend him some. I brought two hundred yuan I saved when I came, and I’m not even sure if it’ll last until the baby is born."
Li Chunhua perked up at this topic and spilled everything about Su Qingyun’s aunt coming every month to demand money.
She would show up when the school paid salaries to take Su Qingyun’s wages, and then again when the cotton mill paid salaries, taking as much as she could.
Li Qingxiu looked stunned. "How could she do that? What kind of family is that?"
Li Chunhua curled her lips disdainfully. "What kind of proper family is an aunt? She just sees your sister-in-law as an easy target. Listen, Qingxiu, now that you’re here, you can’t let her take advantage of your brother and sister-in-law. That aunt will probably show up in the next day or two. Whatever you do, don’t let her take the money."
"Me? As a younger relative, can I really do anything?"
"Of course! You’re Deputy Factory Director Li’s own sister, and you’re here to take care of Teacher Su during her confinement. Aren’t you closer than some aunt?"
"Alright, I’ll give it a try when the time comes."
Seeing that Li Qingxiu had taken her words to heart, Li Chunhua felt relieved and stood up to fetch the small quilt she had made.
"I’ve finished the small quilt you asked me to make. Let me get it for you."
Su Qingyun’s aunt had previously pretended to be generous by giving a small quilt and a small mattress, but Li Qingxiu thought it wasn’t enough and felt they were too stiff and old. She even suspected they were just refurbished old bedding, so she asked Li Chunhua to help make a new set, along with seven or eight small pads.
Everything was packed in a nylon bag. Li Qingxiu reached in and felt the items—soft and thick.
"Look at your sister-in-law. Although the leftover fabric from the mill is cheap, it still costs money. Baby things can be made from old clothes, but she insists on using new ones."
Li Chunhua had a good heart, but she couldn’t help being talkative and couldn’t hold her tongue. Still, it was precisely because of this that she was so genuine.
Li Qingxiu explained on Su Qingyun’s behalf. "It’s not just my sister-in-law. I also don’t want my little nephew or niece to have to use such old things when they’re born."
Mainly, in this era, clothes and bedding were worn for a long time, often worn down so much that the original color was barely visible.
Li Chunhua glanced at her and said helplessly, "No wonder your sister-in-law gets along with you so well—you two are equally particular about things. Are you really going to use new cloth for diapers? New cloth is so stiff!"
Li Qingxiu smiled. "It’s fine. I’ll wash it a few extra times beforehand to soften it."
Li Chunhua had nothing more to say.
When Li Qingxiu was leaving, Li Chunhua grabbed a few handfuls of dried apricots for her to take back and help Su Qingyun stimulate her appetite.
The next day, Li Weiguo had to work overtime at the factory, so Su Qingyun gave Li Qingxiu over twenty yuan.
"Buy more meat from now on. You and your brother need to eat too."
This time, Li Qingxiu didn’t decline. She took the twenty yuan but left the small change, reasoning that one should never be completely without money.
Throughout the morning, several groups of people came to the house, all to visit Su Qingyun. Li Chunhua had acted quickly—news of Su Qingyun needing bed rest to protect her pregnancy had already spread throughout the cotton mill.
Li Chunhua was the first to arrive in the morning, bringing eight eggs and a jar of canned fruit. Though Su Qingyun wasn’t particularly sociable, she understood etiquette and chatted with Li Chunhua for a while.
Li Chunhua also mentioned that when she was pregnant with her first child, her belly was small too. She started spotting at eight months, but after resting well for a month, the baby was born perfectly healthy.
"Really? Was Sister-in-law’s belly small when she was pregnant with Nana too?" Su Qingyun’s eyes lit up, and she became much warmer toward Li Chunhua.
No matter what others said, it was all just talk. Only real-life examples could truly offer comfort.
"Really. You haven’t even had any spotting, so if you rest well, everything will be fine."