Chapter 418: Chapter 418: I Want a Son

Originally, Qiao Xinyu didn’t want to pay her any mind, but now she asked again, “What’s wrong with her kid?”

“Back then, it was agreed that Aunt Hu would help take care of the baby after it was born. You know that old shrew is lazy to the bone, just sitting around all day eating pumpkin seeds and ignoring everything at home, including the child.

The poor kid, yesterday while she was eating pumpkin seeds, on such a cold day, she left the child crawling on the ground. Not knowing better, the kid picked up a seed and nearly choked to death!”

Qiao Xinyu joined in with a few curses against Hu E, “I’ve always said we don’t have anyone to look after the kids, and when we’re busy, the children really suffer from neglect. But her situation is just too unfortunate.”

Xu Qinghuan said to Shen Jinju, “This problem can be solved easily. Your husband is the team leader, so if you step up to handle this issue, it’s perfectly justifiable.”

Shen Jinju laughed, “How should I solve it? Tell me, if I can do it, I’d want to do some real work for the production team too.”

Xu Qinghuan said, “The labor force in the production brigade almost all have work now, but the children at home are not only inconvenient, they are also at risk, just like today’s incident.

Older kids can be sent to school, but there’s no solution for the younger ones. In my opinion, like in cities, they should organize daycare centers and kindergartens and have a few reliable aunties help take care of them.”

Qiao Xinyu clapped her hands and said, “Great, that’s fantastic! I’ve wanted to do this for a long time, but where will the money come from?”

Xu Qinghuan said, “Under three years old, they go to daycare; three to six years old, they go to kindergarten. As for the wages, it’s up to the production brigade, whether it’s funded by the brigade or by charging the parents, it’s up to the brigade office to decide.”

Shen Jinju’s eyes lit up, her family also faces this problem, “Alright, I’ll go ask my husband when I return and have him discuss it with the brigade office.”

But she was here today not just for this issue, and she chuckled awkwardly, “Did the youth worker talk to you about anything? She came to ask if I knew anything about the college entrance exam, I told her I didn’t know. She also said she wanted to buy the Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry Self-study Series, I wonder if she found it?”

Jiang Xingcan was tugging on Qing Xiao’s hair with all his might, making Qing Xiao cry from the pain, unable to move.

Xu Qinghuan quickly went over to rescue Qing Xiao from this little terror’s grasp. She didn’t hear what Qiao Xinyu and Shen Jinju said, but Shen Jinju left with her child, saying she was going to tackle the daycare and kindergarten issue.

Qiao Xinyu complained, “She really is sharp.”

Xu Qinghuan asked, “So what did you say?”

“I kept quiet, she felt embarrassed seeing me quiet, so she left.” Qiao Xinyu concerned herself with the kindergarten issue, “Who do you think the brigade should appoint as the daycare caretakers for peace of mind?”

Xu Qinghuan thought for a bit, “Aunt Li and my aunt, they’re both quite dependable.”

Shen Jinju moved swiftly, the next day she brought a list to Xu Qinghuan for discussion, “Look, this is a list I drafted of families wanting to send their children to daycare and kindergarten. For daycare, there are twenty-three children under three, not including your kid;

There are more going to kindergarten, around seventy to eighty kids under six, so we need at least two classes.”

Xu Qinghuan said, “Then split them into two classes. Kindergarten kids need to learn some knowledge, they can’t just be kept playing all the time. Two classes at least need three teachers, recruited from educated youths or community members who graduated from junior or senior high school, ideally with talents like singing or dancing.”

“This is quite complicated.” Shen Jinju frowned.

Xu Qinghuan knew instantly this idea wouldn’t be implemented, “I’m just suggesting, see what you all think.”

“We also need a venue, beds, it’s quite a big investment. I mentioned it to the production team, and there was quite a lot of opposition.”

Xu Qinghuan stopped talking about it.

Zhou Guizhi made dumplings and invited Xu Qinghuan and her husband to bring the kids over to eat.

The dumplings with sour pickled green beans and meat filling were her favorite during pregnancy, she filled a bowl with twenty or so and sat next to Jiang Xingye, eating happily.

Jiang Xingye held his daughter, eating himself and feeding her a bit too. Jiang Xingcan had a good appetite, couldn’t wait, kept fussing, so Jiang Xingye stopped eating to focus on feeding his daughter.

Jiang Chijing was being fed by Jiang Xingmei, he looked quite gentle but was actually eating more than his aunt.

Zhou Guizhi asked Xu Qinghuan, “Huanhuan, what do you think of me becoming a caretaker?”

Xu Qinghuan wasn’t surprised she wanted to, “Whether it’s one sheep or a flock, you take care of them anyway. You’re already looking after two kids at home, becoming a caretaker is just caring for more and making some income, but I’m not sure if it’ll work out.”

Zhou Guizhi hesitated, “I’m mainly idle. Your grandparents are healthy now, insisting on doing all the housework. I can’t help you much, just looking after the two kids. If I could look after more, I could earn some money for candy for the little ones.”

The third child heard this, and chimed in, “Candy, candy, milk, candy!”

Tian Jinhua got a bit anxious, was about to scold when Zhou Guizhi effortlessly pulled her granddaughter into her arms, “First eat the dumplings, then grandma will give you candy, fill your belly before having candy.”

She instantly felt relieved.

Xu Qinghuan glanced at her, “Sister-in-law, are you pregnant again?”

Tian Jinhua was startled, “No…”

She calculated her cycle, realizing she was several days late.

Xu Qinghuan sighed, “Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet, constantly getting pregnant, how can this continue? Didn’t I advise you to rest for two years?”

“I feel okay physically!”

Tian Jinhua happily touched her belly, her face lit up with joy, as if she really believed it was a son this time.

Xu Qinghuan lowered her head to eat her food, ignoring her.

Zhou Guizhi was also a bit speechless, “Isn’t your own health important? Huanhuan is a doctor, if you don’t listen to her, why rush into pregnancy? And you’ve already had three, having too many children is like raising cats and dogs, isn’t it ruining them?”

Tian Jinhua felt like cold water had been poured over her, tears streaming down, “Mom, I just want to give Xingbing a son!”

Jiang Xingbing is now working at the commune, closer than the county, coming home once a week.

He happened to be there today.

He’s quite understanding of his wife, back when he was working the fields at home, he did wish for a son to care for him in old age.

No matter how good a son-in-law is, he’s still someone else’s son.

Without labor at home, when you’re old and can’t work, no work points, how can you survive on the production team’s measly rations?

But now, with a job outside, he really wasn’t fixated on having a son.

Zhou Guizhi sighed, unable to say anything.

The old lady spoke up, “In my Jiang family, sons are the same as daughters, when have you seen me or your mom treating granddaughters poorly or grandsons better? Why are you so stubborn, not cherishing your health? In old age, illnesses will be the children’s burden.”

Tian Jinhua sneaked a look at Xu Qinghuan, “Isn’t there still sister-in-law?”

At this, Jiang Xingye couldn’t hold back, “Is my wife your personal doctor?”

The nerve!

Tian Jinhua looked at her own husband in confusion. Pregnant, she felt emboldened.

Seeing Jiang Xingbing silent, she awkwardly added, “I didn’t mean that. I have no disdain for daughters, I just want a son, I really want a son!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep