The most feared situation for a person is when they are at odds with themselves. Once the knot in the heart is untied, it’s truly like removing an invisible shackle. The sky looks bluer, the clouds whiter, and the mood is incomparably joyful. With no annoying worries to deal with, Shuzhen’s good appetite naturally returned. She ate three to five meals a day, each time consuming as much as a big man like Lianshan would. Not only did she regain the weight she had lost in just a few days, but she even became a little bit more rounded. Looking in the mirror, she was startled by her own reflection: Oh my, is this round, apple-like face with a faint double chin really her? Shuzhen was stunned, then lamented: "Oh heavens! Should I start dieting? In just over five months, about six months, I’ve gotten this fat. At this rate, by the time the baby comes, will there be anything left to see of my chubby face and double chin?" "What nonsense are you talking about? Others are struggling to gain weight during pregnancy, and here you are talking about dieting. Calm down and stop making a fuss. It’s only because your brother-in-law is good-tempered. Try doing this with someone else!" said Su Hongying, content with her own weight gain, as she slowly cracked open some pine nuts, looking at her sister-in-law with a critical eye. Who doesn’t prioritize the baby’s nutritional needs during pregnancy? Yet here she is, finally gaining a little weight, and already talking about losing it. Nourishing yourself well for the sake of giving birth to a healthy, intelligent child is a mother’s duty. Once the baby is born, stop eating so much meat, do more housework, and you’ll naturally lose weight, right? Shuzhen rolled her eyes, feeling quite defiant: "The way you talk, it’s like my second brother doesn’t pamper you! Look at you, almost eight months pregnant, and when you wanted to go for a stroll, my second brother personally brought you over." "Well, you see, I’m carrying his precious daughter. How could he not personally escort me over?" Su Hongying laughed, her hand gently caressing her own round belly. They say a pointed belly means a boy, and a round belly means a girl. Judging by her belly, round and almost like a watermelon, it’s definitely a soft, sweet-smelling, pretty girl. Wu Yinghong blinked: So, are you two intentionally showing off to each other? Even a squabble turns into a fancy display? It’s dizzying. But compared to her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, her own Shouren is just as impressive! Thinking about the fragrant and neatly packed snacks stored in airtight jars at home—anytime she craved them, she could grab a handful of hazel nuts, pine nuts, and various dried fruits to enjoy—they couldn’t help but bring a sweet smile to her lips, sweet like honey. The trio of sister-in-laws chatted and joked for a while, and naturally, the conversation shifted to childbirth and postpartum confinement. The second sister-in-law will reach her due date in just over a month, and the seventh sister-in-law from the Su family will likely have her postpartum around the same time. When a daughter-in-law is in confinement, it doesn’t make sense for the mother-in-law to neglect her own grandson to take care of the external grandchildren. Though her second brother is a man of strength in the fields, he’s all thumbs when it comes to housework. Not to mention attending to the postpartum period; expecting him to take care of himself, Jianguo, and Jiandang well would be a blessing. Worried that her sister-in-law and little nieces and nephews might be wronged, Shuzhen intended to give their second aunt some money so she could come and help out more often. Su Hongying waved her hands repeatedly: "No need, little sister. I appreciate the thought as your sister-in-law. Let’s not bother second aunt. Otherwise, those two brothers, Qiangzi and Zhuangzi, will never let it go, accusing us of bourgeois exploitation. It’s not the busy season now, and even if my mom can’t come over to take care of the seventh sister-in-law for a few days, we still have four sister-in-laws and siblings who are free! They can each take turns helping me for about three to five days, and the confinement will be nearly over. Besides, the eldest sister-in-law lives just next door. If things get tough, she can still keep an eye out, right?" Wu Yinghong nodded with a smile: "Considering the fate of our names being just a sequence apart, I can’t just stand by and watch! Not to mention, there’s absolutely no problem with me handling your family’s meals. Hmm, washing diapers and changing baby wraps are not an issue either—I might as well use this as early practice." Su Hongying kept insisting that being able to help cook a few meals during critical times was already wonderful, and that there will be the child’s father for washing diapers and such. Women endure so much hardship during pregnancy, it’s not like the men should comfortably do nothing. They have to contribute a bit to understand the difficulties of fatherhood. In short, the two sisters-in-law were united in rejecting any help from their second aunt. No one could blame them, after all, didn’t the notorious strong brothers in the second aunt’s family often cause trouble? Previously, they despised their mother for her frugality, unwilling to support her even if it meant squeezing out her last savings. The second aunt followed Shuzhen’s family for two years, while those two unfilial sons cultivated the land well, yet never even thought of offering a single potato in tribute to their mother, who had raised them with hardship. Even when they returned, villagers brought chickens, ducks, geese, assorted pickles, and even came over with chickens, ducks, and geese to show goodwill, those two brothers didn’t even offer their mother a weed. Yet when the high-yield cabbage and radish seeds were out, those two siblings suddenly became interested. A family of four dressed worse than beggars brought their two children over, asking for seeds and expecting grandma to give them some ration coupons and money out of pity. After being sternly refused by their second aunt, the thoughtless duo even threatened to report that Lianshan and Shuzhen were hiring help, following a bourgeois path of exploiting people. With such a brazen attitude, it was as if they had Lianshan completely cornered. Having sons like these, the second aunt cried several times. She said she’d rather pack her bags and return home than see Shuzhen and Lianshan being put in a difficult spot. In the end, it was Liu Shouren who, after asking for the second aunt’s wish, decided to approach Captain Feng of their village, who had always wanted to ingratiate himself with the Liu family village to learn more techniques and buy more seeds. He gave those disobedient troublemakers a severe scolding for spoiling the village’s reputation, threatening that if they conjured more mischief, they’d be driven out of the village. Only then did things quiet down a bit. Using this opportunity, Shuzhen educated Little Lian’en, repeatedly emphasizing that he should grow up to be filial to his parents, love his siblings, and not cause any trouble. Otherwise, he’d be hit with a stick and chased out, and even if he cried as pitifully as Qiangzi and Zhuangzi, hugging them with snot and tears, he shouldn’t expect to come back. Little Lian’en, already smart and constantly aware of his mother’s educational ear tugs, came to fully understand the obligation to be a good, filial son and a kind, caring big brother. At that moment, he adorably hugged Shuzhen’s leg and nodded vigorously: "Baby will be good, be filial, and be a good son and brother. Mom, don’t leave Baby..."