Housing was extremely cramped at the time. It was common for families of more than a dozen people to squeeze into houses that were only ten or twenty square meters. When there were many children, it was almost impossible for each person to have their own room, so brothers and sisters naturally had to share.
Whether they were boys or girls, and whether sharing a room was convenient or not, adults generally thought that as long as everyone had somewhere to sleep, that was enough. For girls, they might simply hang a curtain beside the bed for a little privacy. Such arrangements were common in both rural and urban areas. There was simply not enough space.
But when it came to Qiao Heping, he absolutely refused to let his children live like that. He thought it would be too unfair to them.
As an only child himself, Qiao Heping had had his own room since he was young. He did not believe in the idea that siblings had to share a room so they could grow closer. As far as he was concerned, having one room per person was much more comfortable.
Their current home was perfect for their family. It had three bedrooms and a living room, so there was plenty of space. How could that not be good?
Qiao Heping felt that having just one child was the ideal situation. He definitely did not want a second child.
When he heard that his wife thought the same way, he was delighted. Holding his daughter in his arms, he leaned toward his wife and said happily, “We’re on the same page. Then let’s not have any more children. What do you two think?”
Qiao Heping even remembered to ask his parents.
Qiao Qiusheng did not care either way, while Qiao Zhufang waved her hand.
“It’s up to you two. It’s not like I’m the one having the babies. One child is pretty good too. When I gave birth to you, the pain was unbearable. I told my mother right then that I would never have another child. It’s better if you only have one too. Yingying won’t have to go through that pain a second time.
“Besides, I heard that the more children a woman gives birth to, the faster she ages. Yingying is so pretty, so she shouldn’t keep having children. What if she becomes ugly afterward? It wouldn’t be worth it.”
Qiao Zhufang was very particular about her daughter-in-law He Yingying’s appearance. Whenever she went to the department store to buy Snow Cream, she never forgot to buy some for Yingying too.
Her son was only average-looking, so having such a beautiful daughter-in-law made her happy. Since Yingying was already so pretty, she absolutely did not want childbearing to ruin her looks. They already had one child, which was enough.
After hearing his parents’ words, Qiao Heping nodded in satisfaction. Still holding his daughter, he smiled at her even though she was too young to understand him.
“From now on, Mom and Dad will only spoil you. Listen to Daddy—life is so much easier without brothers or sisters. And when you grow up, you’re not allowed to pester Mom and Dad to give you a little brother or sister!”
Seeing how unreliable her son was acting, Qiao Zhufang waved him off.
“Stop teasing your daughter. It’s already past eight. Hurry up and put Jia Jia to bed. How can a little child stay up so late? You and Yingying have to get up and go to work tomorrow too!”
Hearing that, Qiao Heping scratched his head awkwardly.
“All right. You two go to bed first. Yingying and I will wash up, and we’ll go to bed soon.”
Qiao Heping reluctantly put his daughter into the bamboo cradle. He still had not had enough of holding her. Having a daughter made everything feel completely different from before. Now that they had a child, both he and his wife were eager to get home after work every day just so they could spend time playing with her.
But it really was getting late, so it was better to let their daughter sleep.
Qiao Heping kissed his daughter’s little cheeks several more times before slowly covering her with a thin floral blanket. He moved the cradle back into the bedroom and placed it beside the bed. Only after watching his daughter close her eyes and settle into sleep did he leave to wash up.
While brushing her teeth, He Yingying spoke softly, her words muffled by the toothbrush.
“Remember, when you go do that thing tomorrow, don’t let anyone find out. It wouldn’t be good for our reputation.”
Qiao Heping answered confidently, “Don’t worry. No one will find out. I have experience with this. Long, Zhuzi, Huzi, and I will split up and act separately. We’ll change our clothes, put on hats, and even stick on fake beards. Then, when we’re around the people who lent money to the Hu family, we’ll casually mention a few things as if we just happened to know about them. Then we’ll leave. I guarantee no one will recognize us.
“And once the Hu family starts getting chased by people demanding their money and becomes too busy dealing with the mess, they won’t even have time to investigate how everyone found out in the first place!”
After hearing this, He Yingying felt relieved.
“Then I’ll leave it to you. Hmph! They don’t know how to watch what they say. Let them deal with the mess themselves!”
Knowing that the Hu family next door was about to have trouble, He Yingying could not help feeling cheerful. The next morning, she even hummed a little song while watering the vegetable patch in front of their home.
Qiao Heping had already left. He still needed to discuss their little scheme with his brothers.
Meanwhile, Qiao Zhufang had pushed the bamboo cradle outside as well. The morning sun around six or seven o’clock was warm and gentle without being too hot. She was used to bringing her granddaughter outside after breakfast and again around four or five in the afternoon so the child could get some fresh air. Staying cooped up inside all day was not good for anyone.
Qiao Jia Jia had slept well and was full of energy. She had just finished half a bowl of sweet pumpkin porridge and was now holding a small tomato with both hands and eating it.
She loved tomatoes and was surprisingly skilled at eating them. Today, her mother had specifically picked out a small tomato for her, about the size of an egg. It was just the right size for her to hold with both hands.
When she ate it, she first bit a tiny hole into it and slowly sucked out the juice. Then she nibbled on the flesh. That way, she would not get tomato juice all over her clothes.
The sun had just risen, and eating a tomato while basking in the warm sunlight was incredibly comfortable.
As a little child, she did not have to worry about anything. All she had to do was eat obediently, sleep obediently, and slowly grow up.
This kind of life was truly wonderful. It was exactly the kind of life Qiao Jia Jia had dreamed of in her previous life.
Having a family really is wonderful! Qiao Jia Jia thought happily as she ate her tomato.
The tomatoes had been grown in their own vegetable patch. There was a large open area in front of their building. Apart from the pathways people used to walk through, the rest of the land had been divided among the families to use as vegetable gardens, one plot per household.
The Qiao family’s plot had tomatoes and cucumbers growing in it. Worried that the tomatoes might be too cold and upset the child’s stomach, Qiao Zhufang had even thoughtfully warmed the little tomato in some hot water before giving it to Jia Jia.
At that moment, Hu Shifu’s wife, Ma Dahua, also came outside carrying her son.
Everyone generally kept similar schedules at that time. Most families were already up by five or six in the morning.
He Yingying hummed as she watered the vegetables. Anyone could tell at a glance that she was living a very comfortable life.
Seeing her like this, Ma Dahua, who had just stepped outside, felt extremely jealous. And seeing Qiao Zhufang right beside her, helping take care of Yingying’s child, only made her feel even more resentful.
In Ma Dahua’s mind, He Yingying had been married for five or six years before finally having a child, and it was only a girl. Yingying should have been ashamed and unable to hold her head up. Her life in the Qiao family should have been miserable.
When Ma Dahua had married into the Hu family, she had given birth to two daughters in a row. No matter how hard she tried, she could not have a son. Her mother-in-law had cursed her repeatedly during that period, calling her a barren hen. She had even nearly been divorced by her husband.
Those days had been unbearably miserable. Fortunately, her mother-in-law had died early. Otherwise, she would probably have been driven back to her parents’ home by now.
She had suffered so much simply because she had not been able to give birth to a son. So why was He Yingying, who had also been married for five or six years and had only given birth to a daughter, living such a comfortable life?
Qiao Zhufang, instead of tormenting her daughter-in-law, treated He Yingying just as well as she always had, almost like her own daughter. She even doted on her granddaughter and had stopped working so she could stay home and help look after the child.
Why did He Yingying deserve all that?
She had only given birth to a daughter!
Ma Dahua felt increasingly resentful. The more she saw He Yingying living such an easy and comfortable life next door, the more miserable she felt inside.
In her mind, since He Yingying had failed to give birth to a son, she should have suffered just as she had!
That morning, Ma Dahua had even heard He Yingying ordering her husband to bring her some water to wash her face.
How dare a woman who could not even give her husband a son order her husband around?
Since she had only given birth to a daughter, she should have felt ashamed in front of her husband and believed that she had let him down!
Before she had a son, Ma Dahua herself had barely been able to hold her head up at home. She had always felt that she had wronged the Hu family and nearly caused them to have no one to carry on the family line. In front of her husband, she had been extremely submissive, practically waiting on him like a servant attending an emperor.
It was only after she finally had a son that she dared to use the child as leverage to make requests of her husband. Otherwise, she would never have dared to order him around like she had yesterday, telling him to hurry up and bring the food home.
But He Yingying?
She had only given birth to a daughter, yet her life was even better than that of a woman who had given birth to a son.
Her husband was considerate, her mother-in-law adored her, and she had nothing to worry about.
Why?
Everything became worse when there was a comparison.
Now, seeing how well He Yingying’s life was going, Ma Dahua felt as though ants were crawling all over her heart. Waves of jealousy and resentment kept rising inside her.
And seeing He Yingying happily watering the vegetables while letting her mother-in-law look after her daughter only made her even more irritated.
Holding her son, Ma Dahua looked at He Yingying with a fake smile.
“You haven’t gone to work yet? If you don’t leave soon, you’ll be late.
“Yingying, don’t take this the wrong way. I’m only saying this because I’m concerned about you. You don’t have to look after your child now, unlike the other female workers who still have to worry about things at home, so you should pay more attention to your work at the factory. You can’t be late or leave early.
“You’re an old employee now. You should set a good example for the younger workers. You can’t let them see you coming in late and then follow your example. Otherwise, wouldn’t the whole factory become a mess?
“I’m a straightforward person, so don’t take offense if my words sound unpleasant. I’m only saying this for your own good and giving you a little advice.”
Qiao Jia Jia was listening from nearby. She stopped eating her tomato.
Why does this woman sound so unpleasant?
The way she spoke made it sound as though she were genuinely giving her mother some well-meaning advice, full of concern and sincerity.
But if you thought about it carefully, wasn’t she actually implying that Mom had a bad attitude toward work?
She was clearly trying to put a label on her!
Fortunately, He Yingying had been an expert at arguing back when she lived in the village. How could she possibly miss the sarcastic undertone in Ma Dahua’s words?
She smiled and replied,
“Whoa, whoa, let’s not get our generations mixed up. I can’t call you ‘Big Sister.’ You’re about the same age as my mother-in-law, and you actually look even older than her. I should call you Auntie instead.
“I’ve always been very careful about getting people’s seniority right since I was little.
“Oh, by the way, Auntie Ma, your son is grown up now. Have you gone back to work at the factory? Are you a department head now? Have you started managing workplace discipline?
“I don’t think I’ve heard that our logistics department head, Director Guan, has been transferred. I’ll have to ask about it when I get to work today.
“But anyway, whoever is in charge, I definitely won’t be late.
“You probably don’t know because your family hasn’t bought a bicycle yet, but riding a bicycle to work is really fast. It only takes about five minutes to get to the factory. How could I possibly be late?
“You’ll know once your family buys a bicycle.
“Oh, wait. I almost forgot. Your family is still borrowing money just to raise your son. I guess you probably won’t be able to afford a bicycle for the next few years.
“I’m a straightforward person too, you know. I really didn’t mean to say your family is poor. Please don’t misunderstand me.”