The next morning, the villagers learned that Zhang Dongi had given birth to a daughter. While the Li family was full of joy at gaining a precious pearl, most of the villagers were gossiping about the matter.
Since there was no more work to do on the farmland, the villagers often gathered to chat after finishing their work at ho.
Today, everyone gathered as usual under a banyan tree near the production team's office. So were nding clothes, so were playing chess, and the rest were chatting while eating lon seeds.
"I heard from my niece, who lives next to the midwife, that the Li family's first branch gained a daughter. Zhang Dongi almost lost her life during the process," a middle-aged woman said while cracking lon seeds.
After she said this, one of the villagers added, "That midwife is my husband's aunt. She told that the Li family gave her 20 yuan as a red envelope. I think they really love the child."
When they heard this, the villagers laughed, and one of them replied, "A daughter is a money-losing good. No matter how well you treat and educate a daughter, when she grows up, she will marry into another family. All your effort is wasted, as you are only raising another family's daughter-in-law."
Hearing this, most won agreed with her. After all, before they married, they were treated as slaves or outsiders in their own families since they would eventually leave. Once they married, they were still treated as outsiders by their in-laws for having joined the family halfway.
In the end, whether at their parents' house or their husband's family's house, they were still considered outsiders, and no one would treat them truly well.
While most of them held this kind of mindset, the female educated youths had different opinions.
"Aunty, I don't think your words are right. Now is the new era. Won can also hold up half the sky. We are not worse than the sons. Even after we get married, we can still be filial to our parents and take care of them in their old age," one of the female educated youths said.
Hearing her words, another female educated youth nodded and added, "I agree with this comrade's words. I see that the Li family is not a family that favors boys. They also treat girls well. This kind of mindset and behavior is respectable and should be taken as an example."
"We shouldn't be trapped in old mindsets and look down on won. Just because we have weaker physiques compared to n doesn't an we can't do what they can. Sotis, we can do things n would never be able to do," she said with a smile.
Even though the villagers disagreed with her words, they were curious. So, the middle-aged woman asked, "Comrade, what do you an by that? What can we do that n cannot?"
The female educated youth smiled and replied, "We can give birth and continue the family's bloodline, while n cannot. Without a woman, how can a man have a child? And the sa applies to won. Without a man, how can a woman have a child?"
"So, whether it's a man or a woman, both have their own strengths and weaknesses. Every child is precious, and there is no need to be partial to one just because of their gender."
As soon as she finished her words, they heard Li Chenze's voice coming from behind. "I agree with this comrade. Whether it's a girl or a boy, both are our children. Why should we love one and dislike the other?" he asked with a smile.
The villagers were embarrassed to be caught red-handed by him as they were gossiping about his family. So, with thicker skin, pretended as if nothing had happened and said with a smile, "Li Dalang, congratulations, ah!"
Li Chenze didn't want to embarrass them too much and nodded. "Thank you."
Seeing that he didn't mind their words, another villager asked, "Li Dalang, your wife just gave birth. Why aren't you accompanying her at ho?"
Everyone knew how much the Li family's n loved their wives. So, seeing him out with his brothers instead of accompanying his wife did make them curious.
"My brothers and I are going to visit the production team to get the birth certificate for my daughter," Li Chenze replied.
Hearing this, everyone could notice the joy in his voice and said nothing. After so casual words, the Li brothers rode their bicycles and left.
Looking at their backs, one of the villagers said sourly, "I don't know what the Li family did to be able to buy two bicycles."
"Who knows? Maybe they did sothing illegal," another replied in a hushed tone.
While the villagers were gossiping, Lu Jueyu and Pan ijia were busy baking cookies at Lu Jueyu's house. With the baking oven built in the backyard, they worked while enjoying the breeze.
"Third sister-in-law, how far along are you in your pregnancy?" Pan ijia asked.
Lu Jueyu smiled when she heard her question and replied, "It's almost 19 weeks."
Pan ijia nodded and asked again, "Third sister-in-law, I heard that you have morning sickness. Is it really that bad?"
"It was actually bearable after the first trister passed. Now, besides so soreness, I don't feel uncomfortable at all," Lu Jueyu replied.
After hearing this, Pan ijia was lost in her thoughts. Noticing this, Lu Jueyu asked, "Second sister-in-law, what's wrong?"
Coming back to her senses, Pan ijia shook her head and said, "It's nothing. I was calculating my monthly cycle and realized that I didn't have my period last month."
When she heard this, Lu Jueyu was delighted and asked, "Second sister-in-law, have you told Second Brother?"
"I haven't told him," Pan ijia shook her head.
"Second sister-in-law, the first trister is important. You should inform the Second Brother and go have a check-up. If it's good news, you need to take so folic acid," Lu Jueyu said.
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