Reborn in '77, I have a job panel!

Chapter 107 Everything Must Be Done with Extreme Caution

After work in the afternoon, Qian Cheng would wait for her at the school gate. Sometimes he would arrive early and stand there watching the students leave school, chattering like sparrows. Sometimes he would arrive late and Zhang Mingxi would stand at the gate waiting, smiling whenever she saw him.

The two walked home together, stopping at the market to buy some groceries. Qian Cheng picked out the vegetables, while Zhang Mingxi watched, occasionally pointing to this and saying she wanted to eat it, or pointing to that and saying she didn't want to eat it. Qian Cheng indulged her, buying whatever she wanted to eat.

When they got home, Qian Cheng cooked, while Zhang Mingxi handed him scallions and garlic. After cooking, the two sat at a small table, eating and chatting about the day, the children, and their hometown.

After dinner, Qian Cheng washed the dishes, while Zhang Mingxi sat on the sofa listening to the radio. After washing up, the two went for a walk together, strolling around downstairs to digest. They came back, washed up, talked for a while in bed, and then turned off the lights and went to sleep.

On the weekend, Qian Cheng took Zhang Mingxi for a walk in the park. There's a Zhongshan Park in the provincial capital; it's not large, but it's tree-lined and quiet. The two strolled slowly, and when they got tired, they found a bench to sit on. Zhang Mingxi leaned on his shoulder, watching the people coming and going, the children running on the grass, and the elderly practicing Tai Chi.

Sometimes Qian Cheng would touch her belly and talk to the thing inside.

"Little one, were you good today?"

'

The baby inside her belly moved slightly, as if in response.

Zhang Mingxi smiled: "He understood."

Qian Cheng smiled and said, "Of course, my son is very smart."

""

Zhang Mingxi said, "What if it's a girl?"

Qian Cheng said, "The daughter is even better, she looks like you, and she's beautiful."

Zhang Mingxi blushed and gently punched him.

Life went on like this, day after day, ordinary yet very fulfilling.

At the company, Lao Wang reports every few days. The bases in Liaoyang, Anshan, and Fushun are all operating normally, the vegetables are growing well, and they can be harvested next month. They've gained dozens more customers in the provincial capital, now supplying over 700 organizations, delivering more than 70,000 jin (35,000 kg) of vegetables daily. Revenue is stable, and so are profits.

Qian Cheng listened and nodded.

"Uncle Wang, thank you for your hard work."

Old Wang said, "It's no trouble at all. You take good care of Mingxi; we'll handle the company matters."

Qian Cheng said, "Okay, feel free to contact me anytime if you need anything."

""

Old Wang left, and Qian Cheng sat on the sofa, looking out the window at the sky. The sky was blue, with a few clouds drifting by. He suddenly thought of Laowozi Village, Hou Yufen, Qian Lu, Xiao Ni, and his master Zhang Changtian.

He picked up the phone and made a call to the village.

Captain Li answered the phone and was very happy to hear it was him.

"Chengzi! You finally called. Your mom talks about you every day."

Qian Cheng said, "Uncle, I'm fine. Could you call my mom for me?"

""

After a while, Hou Yufen answered the phone.

"number of days?"

"Mom, it's me."

Hou Yufen's voice trembled slightly: "You haven't called in a long time, Mom misses you."

""

Qian Cheng said, "Mom, I'm fine. Mingxi is pregnant too, everything's good."

Hou Yufen was taken aback: "You're pregnant?"

"Yes, it's been more than five months."

Hou Yufen was so happy she didn't know what to say, and kept saying "good" several times.

"You need to take good care of her and not let her get tired. Make her whatever she wants to eat, and don't be stingy with the money."

Qian Cheng smiled: "Mom, I know."

""

Hou Yufen added, "After I give birth, I'll come to the provincial capital to see you."

""

Qian Cheng said, "Okay, I'll pick you up then."

After hanging up the phone, Qian Cheng felt a warm glow in his heart.

Zhang Mingxi came out from the inner room and asked, "Did you call Mom?"

Qian Cheng nodded: "Yes, tell her you're pregnant, she'll be overjoyed."

Zhang Mingxi smiled: "Mom is so good."

Qian Cheng pulled her over and made her sit next to him.

"Mingxi, after you give birth, let's bring Mom to stay for a few days."

,

Zhang Mingxi nodded: "Okay, let Mom come and see her grandson."

""

Qian Cheng said, "What if it's her granddaughter?"

Zhang Mingxi laughed: "My granddaughter will watch too, Mom isn't picky."

They both laughed.

Outside the window, the sun was setting, and the sky was a deep red.

As life slowed down, Qian Cheng realized that there were so many small things in life that he hadn't had time to think about before, but now they were popping up one by one.

For example, buying groceries. In the past, when he bought groceries, he would walk to the market, pick whichever looked good, and finish in a few minutes.

That won't work now. Zhang Mingxi has become picky about food. Today she wants sour food, tomorrow she wants spicy food, and the day after tomorrow she wants sweet food.

He had to search for each item one by one, sometimes visiting several stalls to buy them all.

The vegetable vendors all knew him. When they saw him, they would smile and say, "Buying vegetables for your wife again?"

Qian Cheng nodded, picked out a few cucumbers, and bought two tomatoes.

The older sister said, "Your wife is so lucky." Qian Cheng smiled but didn't say anything, feeling secretly pleased.

Take washing clothes, for example. He used to wash his own clothes—a quick scrub, wring, and hang them to dry—very simple. Now, Zhang Mingxi's clothes can't be machine washed; they have to be hand-washed with warm water, not cold. Qian Cheng has an extra task every evening: he sits on a small stool in the bathroom, scrubbing each garment one by one. After scrubbing, he wrings them dry and hangs them on the balcony. Sometimes Zhang Mingxi comes over to watch and says he scrubs them cleaner than she does. Qian Cheng replies, "Of course! I've practiced."

For example, cleaning the house. Before, it didn't matter if the house was a little messy, since he lived alone and it was acceptable. Now it's different. Zhang Mingxi can't stand the smell of dust; she sneezes whenever she sees dust. Qian Cheng wipes the floor and tables every day, even polishing the windowsills until they shine. The neighbor lady saw this and said, "Little Qian, your house is cleaner than mine." Qian Cheng said, "I can't help it; my wife can't stand the smell of dust." The lady laughed and said he was a good man.

Qian Cheng realized that his mother used to do all these things, and now that it was his turn, he understood how tedious it was. But after a while, he got used to it. And once he got used to it, he actually found it quite nice. When he was washing clothes, he could clear his mind and not think about anything. When he was mopping the floor, he would work up a sweat, and a shower would make him feel refreshed. When he was buying groceries, he could chat with people and listen to their everyday stories, which was quite interesting.

Zhang Mingxi's belly grew bigger and bigger; at six months, it looked like a ball, and at seven months, it looked like a watermelon. She walked slowly, panting as she climbed the stairs, having to rest twice to get from the first to the third floor. Qian Cheng felt sorry for her and told her not to climb the stairs anymore, but to wait downstairs, and he would come down to get her.

Zhang Mingxi said no need, she would walk slowly and get some exercise. Qian Cheng couldn't persuade her otherwise, so he climbed with her. She walked slowly in front, and he followed behind. When she was panting, he was panting too; when she rested, he rested too.

Once, when they reached the second floor, Zhang Mingxi suddenly stopped and turned to look at him. Qian Cheng asked what was wrong, and she said nothing, she just wanted to see him.

Qian Cheng laughed and said, "What's so interesting about this?"

She said you look good, even better than when I first met you.

Qian Cheng said, "That's right. He used to be a sly and mischievous man, but now he's a proper and good man."

Zhang Mingxi laughed so hard she almost lost her balance. Qian Cheng quickly steadied her, saying, "Stop laughing, stop laughing, be careful you don't fall."