CHAPTER 246: 246 JIANG SHIJING

"Hmm, it’s safer to go to the hospital." Bai Hongying nodded.

It’s really just a young girl all alone, I definitely have to take care of her.

Early on Sunday morning, the two of them went to the supply and marketing cooperative. Honestly, there are the most people in the morning. Jiang Xinyu bought carrots and twenty pounds of potatoes. She also bought a piece of tofu to have for lunch.

She tried not to squeeze into crowded places, fearing she might get bumped.

"Aunt Bai, the flavor of the pepper here is really strong."

"The chili is even spicier."

Jiang Xinyu nodded in deep agreement. Chilis were indeed much spicier here than back home. Maybe it’s because of the soil and water differences.

"Aunt Bai, can you teach me the local dialect here when you have time?"

"Sure, I’ll teach you."

When school started on Monday, it was time to begin learning ideological education topics.

At noon, the three of them went to the cafeteria together, though this time they weren’t lucky enough to get seats.

"Let’s go eat under the shade of the trees."

Jiang Xinyu was thinking about how to ask about the place in the Northwest where they reform prisoners, but asking out of the blue felt inappropriate.

"Xiao Jiang, what’s the annual output of your textile factory like? Do you have a larger demand close to the Capital compared to here?"

"Our factory manager receives pressure from various places daily. Even with overtime, we can’t keep up with shipments.

But this time it should ease a bit, as two more workshops were built before I left.

Also, our deputy manager improved the loom, allowing a group to produce one percent more than before."

"That’s impressive. I wonder if you can let us learn it too?"

"Zhang, I can’t be sure about that. It should be a matter between factory leaders."

"Yeah, that makes sense."

"I can give you our factory manager’s phone number."

"Thank you, Xiao Jiang."

Through this, Jiang Xinyu feels that the two of them are being more genuine with her.

When formal classes started, Jiang Xinyu immersed herself in her intense studies, needing to prepare in advance. Giving birth would keep her occupied for about a month.

"Xiao Jiang, you don’t have to go all out; when you give birth, we’ll make sure to send you notes daily."

"That’s really kind of you, but can you leave school any time?"

"We can; there’s not so much strictness in our department."

Jiang Xinyu nodded. "Come to my place tonight and familiarize yourself. We’ll have dinner together. I’ve hired an aunt to take care of me and the baby. She’s really good at cooking."

They agreed with smiles. The two had privately discussed how Jiang Xinyu was a girl worth befriending.

They both had worked for many years, met many people, and felt they were quite good at judging character. Both believed Jiang Xinyu was worth their friendship, so she definitely was.

During the break, Jiang Xinyu called out to Zhang Xinghua. "Counselor, I’ll probably give birth around late October. Could you tell me the longest maternity leave time I can take?"

"The school has regulations; the longest is forty days. Of course, if you think you can study at home, you can apply for another month’s leave when you come back."

Jiang Xinyu nodded. The school rules were quite humane.

"Counselor Zhang, I understand."

This put Jiang Xinyu at ease. During confinement, she’d first look at the notes from the two girls. If she could keep up, she’d apply for leave; if not, she’d return to school after confinement.

When October came, she suddenly felt quite cold in the mornings and evenings. But at noon, it was still very hot. It made Jiang Xinyu feel simultaneously hot and cold.

With someone to take care of her, she relaxed, and her face wore more smiles. Although she still thought about Wei Kaiyun every night, it wasn’t as painful.

On October 22nd, Jiang Xinyu got up normally. After washing up, she sat down to eat but suddenly turned pale.

"Aunt Bai, I think I’m going to give birth; my belly hurts so much."

"Let’s go, I’ll help you to the hospital."

"No need, I can walk there myself; you just quickly clean up the table and grab those two bags."

Seeing Jiang Xinyu so composed reassured Bai Hongying. She hurriedly tidied up, carried the two cloth bags, and supported Jiang Xinyu’s arm as they headed for the hospital.

"Xiao Jiang, are you okay?"

"Don’t worry, Aunt Bai, I’m fine. This kind of exercise even helps delivery, it’s okay, we’ll be there soon." Jiang Xinyu’s words were somewhat intermittent; she was in real pain, but she knew she couldn’t afford panic.

Finally, she entered the delivery room. Her clothing was soaked through.

"Good job, comrade. Your amniotic fluid just broke, and the cervix has opened. Follow our instructions."

Jiang Xinyu persevered, without crying or shedding tears.

No audience; self-weakening would only make her vulnerable.

At a quarter past eleven in the morning, the child cried out.

"Congratulations, it’s a son. Seven pounds and two ounces."

"Is the child healthy?" Jiang Xinyu weakly asked, but she really cared.

"Haha, rest assured, the baby is very strong. Listen to how powerful his cry is."

Jiang Xinyu glanced at the red-faced child with closed eyes and smiled weakly.

Once the baby was wrapped, he was placed next to her.

Jiang Xinyu refused to close her eyes and sleep, waiting until Bai Hongying came in before she fell asleep.

Bai Hongying, having felt useless all her life for not having sons, found herself loving this little boy deeply.

She sat lovingly nearby, waiting for Jiang Xinyu to wake up so she could go home and cook.

Jiang Xinyu felt herself drifting, knowing she had very important things to attend to but couldn’t stop.

Suddenly, the baby’s cry woke her.

She opened her eyes abruptly, struggling to sit up. Bai Hongying immediately helped her up.

Jiang Xinyu took the child, looking at the squinty-eyed, frowning baby crying, overflowing with motherly love.

"Xiao Jiang, hold on, I’ll go get some hot water to wash you, the baby is hungry."

Jiang Xinyu nodded, looking down at the crying baby, feeling he was full of life.

Bai Hongying came in with a basin of water, only to see Jiang Xinyu just watching the baby cry, which made her quite upset.

"Xiao Jiang, why aren’t you soothing him? He’s too small, his throat will get damaged from crying."

"It’s fine, the baby cries more, improves lung capacity."

"Alright, you put the baby down first, I’ll help with some massage for lactation."

"No need, Aunt Bai, I brought a spoon; you can feed him some warm water. I can massage myself."

Jiang Xinyu truly felt embarrassed, remembering how the cake shop owner, pregnant at the time, had her read parenting manuals to help, she knew what to do.