Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

Zhao Fengying and Xu Juan heard the commotion and ran out of the shop.

As someone who had been through it all, Zhao Fengying immediately guessed it and couldn't stop smiling.

"Oh my god, feeling nauseous is a good thing, it probably means you're pregnant."

Xu Li and Zhu Wenliang exchanged a glance, somewhat belatedly realizing what was happening, and still a little incredulous.

"Could it be?"

"Maybe it really is, honey."

Seeing the couple's hesitant expressions, a mixture of wanting to laugh and fearing it was a false alarm, Xu Bei said with a confident smile, "Of course! Otherwise, when has my sister, who loves fish the most, ever felt nauseous?"

Xu Li rubbed her stomach and suddenly remembered, "Speaking of feeling nauseous, I remember that day when you were eating rice with lard, little brother, I felt a bit nauseous."

Xu Bei blinked. That was before the old lady and Xu Dahong arrived, but he didn't want to mention those people at such a happy moment, so he smiled and said, "That makes it even more certain, I'm going to be an uncle!"

Zhao Fengying clapped her hands and laughed, "Yes, that's practically a done deal. I'm going to be a grandmother!"

Xu Juan was especially happy for her sister, and exclaimed joyfully, "That's wonderful! I'm going to be an aunt!"

After the sun went down, it got much colder outside. Xu Bei smiled and quickly added, "Sis, let's go inside quickly. Don't stay outside and catch a cold."

Xu Li came out wearing only a cotton-padded coat. After her younger brother said that, she quickly responded and turned back into the shop.

"Yes, yes, we can't be careless now." Zhu Wenliang, who was about to become a father, smiled so broadly that his eyes disappeared. He put his arm around Xu Li's shoulder as if he were protecting a piece of porcelain.

After the group filed into the house, no one was in a hurry to clean or tidy up. They all surrounded the newly pregnant woman, asking her all sorts of questions and showing her concern.

If it weren't so late, and some departments in the hospital had already closed, leaving only the emergency room, they would definitely have rushed over there for the examination.

That evening, the fish stew that was originally planned for the family dinner was definitely out of the question.

It was winter, and the outside was a natural refrigerator, so there was no need to worry about preserving the frozen fish.

Afterwards, Xu Li was consulted for her opinion that she wanted something sour, so it was changed to sauerkraut and pork stew with vermicelli.

Served with rice and a touch of chili oil, it's incredibly delicious and goes perfectly with rice.

Xu Bei, Zhu Wenliang, and Zhao Fengying were all in high spirits and drank some baijiu (Chinese liquor).

Xu Li drank orange soda just like Xu Juan.

This time, those who didn't drink finished eating and left the table shortly afterward, and Xu Bei and the others who did drink didn't linger at the table either.

After all, the couple had to go to the hospital for a check-up early the next morning, so it was better to go home as soon as possible.

After seeing the person off, Xu Bei and the others were listening to the news and newspaper summaries from the Central People's Broadcasting Station on their newly bought radio, while speculating about whether Xu Lihuai was carrying a boy or a girl, when Dahei came over to their house.

Seeing his childhood friend's delighted expression, Xu Bei guessed how much had happened without the other person even saying a word. Knowing the answer already, he asked, "Did you sell the table?"

Big Black grinned, showing his teeth. "Big North, you were absolutely right! Not only did you sell them, you sold two! That's like selling thirty wooden stools!"

Xu Bei praised without reservation, "Wow, you're really amazing."

Zhao Fengying, who was warmly greeting people, and Xu Juan, who was making tea and pouring water, also chimed in, "Yes, they said yesterday that it wasn't selling well, but today they sold two at a time."

"Big Blackie, you sold it before Guodong."

Dahei scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed but also proud. "It's not that I'm good, I just managed to get one out of trouble. It was my third younger brother. He went to his classmate's house to play, and this kid got all smitten and wanted to earn some commission. I never thought I'd get lucky."

Xu Bei remembered that Da Hei's third brother was also quite dark-skinned and a clever boy. "No matter how you sell it, a black cat or a white cat, as long as it catches mice, it's a good cat."

Dahei nodded in agreement and smiled, "That's true, but my mom said that even if he takes out his commission, he'll only get 50 cents. That's making that brat ecstatic."

Xu Bei knew that 50 cents had considerable purchasing power in the 1980s. "Your aunt is quite generous. Other parents might have just given her 10 cents."

Dahei chuckled, "My mom is really going all out, she's just playing the long game."

Xu Bei, Zhao Fengying, and Xu Juan all laughed when they heard this.

After chatting and laughing for a while, Dahei pulled away with two folding tables and twenty wooden stools.

Before opening the shop, Zhao Fengying would have been envious and anxious seeing so many orders placed by others, but now that the shop is doing well every day, her mindset has naturally changed.

Xu Bei saw everything and felt very gratified. At the same time, he also gave himself a big thumbs up for helping his mother arrange the opening of the shop.

Because of a sustainable business, I have more confidence and courage regarding the future and the dissolution of my marriage.

If she were still a housewife preoccupied with cooking, she might not be as open-minded about divorce as she is now.

A good night's sleep.

The next day, after breakfast, Xu Bei drove his mother and sister to the shop.

The house, empty all night, was cold and hard when heated.

The first thing to do upon opening the shop door is to light the stove and heat the pit.

Then, wait until it's warm before starting to clean.

Before Xu Juan had finished wiping the counter, customers started coming in to buy things.

Xu Bei wanted to pretend that she knew her sister's test results just like her mother and the others, so she didn't leave and even helped with the sales.

As a result, Xu Li and Zhu Wenliang had not yet appeared by 9:30, but Song Guomei came to the store first.

The little girl was dressed up carefully, with powder on her face, eyebrows drawn, and lipstick applied.

Zhao Fengying was very welcoming to Song Guomei, saying, "Xiaomei's here. Did you come all the way from home? Are you freezing? Come on in and sit on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed) to warm up."

"Auntie, I'm fine, I'm not that cold. You go ahead with your work, don't bother me, I'm not an outsider." As Song Guomei said this, she secretly glanced at Xu Bei, who was filling the stove next to her.

Even if Xu Bei knew about his friend's sister's little schemes, he could only pretend not to know unless the girl made it clear, otherwise things could easily get ugly. So he continued doing what he was doing.

Since Zhao Fengying already had a choice for her future daughter-in-law in mind, she tried her best not to let others misunderstand, and quickly said with a smile, "Guests are guests, we can't neglect them."

Although Xu Juan used to be a bit introverted, she has changed a lot recently due to her training and experiences. She smiled and agreed generously, "Yes, Sister Xiaomei, just listen to my mom. Besides, we're not busy right now."

As the group was talking, they heard the sound of a bicycle outside again.

Xu Bei, who was using a stove hook to pull the stove lid, looked out the window.

Upon discovering that in addition to the two union representatives from yesterday's visit, there was now an even older woman present, one of whom frowned.

I couldn't help but sigh to myself, "Getting a divorce in the 1980s was really not easy..."