I was reborn after my cousin stole my life.

Chapter 173: He who eats another's food is bound to be grateful; he who takes another's mo

Shen's mother was very good at dealing with people. After learning from Teacher Shen that Yuan Xiu had helped on the day of the accident, she specially brought things from her hometown to visit her and thank her.

On the coffee table were the tea cakes, canned fish in fermented rice wine, and jujube cakes she had brought.

"I only realized how dangerous that day was after listening carefully to what Mingxiu and Xiaoting had to say. It's all thanks to your help. I came in a hurry this time, and I just bought some local specialties at a store before I left. I brought some over for you too, so please don't mind."

"Auntie, you're too kind. You must have brought all of Teacher Shen's favorite foods. Please keep them for her. Political Commissar Wang already came to thank us yesterday and even brought a gift. I'm too embarrassed to accept double thanks. Teacher Shen and I really don't need to thank each other like this. She has helped me much more than I have helped her."

Mother Shen smiled and said, "Yes, yes, I know she's teaching you to read and write. She's a teacher, so it's only right that she teaches you. But what you're doing helping her with is a matter of life and death, which is incomparable to this."

Yuan Xiu couldn't argue with her, so she had no choice but to accept the gift.

Shen's mother stared at her belly for a moment and said, "Your belly is pointed, you're definitely carrying a son."

Yuan Xiu was almost five months pregnant, and her pregnancy was quite obvious. As the weather got warmer, she wore less clothing. Today, she wore the spring polka dot dress she had bought at the mall last time, paired with a blue knitted cardigan sweater, white socks that reached mid-calf, and a pair of white cloth shoes provided by the hospital.

She simply braided her hair into a single braid from top to bottom at the back, making her look elegant and refreshing.

Yuan Xiu touched her belly. "Auntie, you even read this?"

Mother Shen laughed and said, "I've seen a lot. I wouldn't say I'm very accurate, but I'm pretty close. A girl's belly is round, and a boy's belly is pointed. When I look at you from behind, there's been no change in your waistline. You still look like a girl. It's almost certainly a boy."

Yuan Xiu laughed and said, "We'll see if Auntie's prediction is accurate after the baby is born."

"Alright, let's make a bet. If it's a son, I'll prepare a basket of red eggs for you. If it's a daughter, I'll make her a set of little clothes."

"Auntie, you've really lost out on this bet. You'll have to spend money whether you win or lose."

"What's the big deal? I'd love to!"

Shen's mother stayed at Yuan Xiu's place for quite a while before leaving. After leaving Yuan Xiu's place, she went home and then went to Wu Yufen's house with some things in her hands.

After a while, Yuan Xiu saw from upstairs that Wu Yufen was holding Shen's mother's hand and reluctantly seeing her off at the door.

"My dear sister, please come visit us often!"

Alright, let's call each other sister-in-law, aunt, and elder sister as we see fit.

Shen's mother quickly built a good relationship with the military families, and even Sister-in-law Guiying talked about Shen's mother with Yuan Xiu.

"Teacher Shen seems aloof and doesn't like to chat with us. Her mother, on the other hand, is quite talkative and can chat with anyone."

After saying that, Sister-in-law Guiying looked down at Yuan Xiu's belly and asked, "Has your Chief of Staff Jiang said who will take care of you during your postpartum period?"

Yuan Xiu shook her head.

"Where's his mother? Didn't she say she was coming? She seems quite enthusiastic; she's sent things several times since you got pregnant."

Yuan Xiuzhen didn't know this. Actually, she was a little afraid of getting along with her mother-in-law. Her mother-in-law was a very generous person, but she didn't know what kind of personality she had. Jiang Zhou and her didn't seem to have a very close relationship. If her mother-in-law really came, would she, as the daughter-in-law, be able to get along with her?

"He who eats another's food is bound to him; he who takes another's money is bound to him." She had eaten a lot of food from others and taken a lot of money from them. She was afraid that if her mother-in-law was really difficult to get along with, Yuan Xiu felt that she wouldn't be able to stand up for herself.

She didn't want to be a wronged, submissive wife.

"I can take care of myself."

There's a canteen for meals, and Jiang Zhou washes the diapers when he gets off work. A month will pass quickly.

"How can you take care of yourself? If you don't take good care of yourself during your postpartum period, you'll suffer a lot when you're old. It's okay. If your mother-in-law really can't come, we're here for you. Chunmei and I are free anyway, so we'll take turns taking care of you during your postpartum period."

Yuan Xiu took her hand and said, "Sister-in-law, you are all so kind. The luckiest thing for me since I came here is that I have met you."

"Isn't that your Chief of Staff Jiang?" Guiying's sister-in-law joked.

Yuan Xiu blushed. "I'm being serious, and you're just teasing me. I'm not talking to you anymore."

"Okay, okay, I won't tease you anymore. Now tell me how your hometown's fermented soybean paste is made? I've heard you describe it a few times, and my mouth is watering..."

……

Teacher Shen's postpartum confinement lasted for forty days. Forty days later, Political Commissar Wang hosted a dinner at a state-run restaurant for several close families.

Yuan Xiu cut a piece of pure cotton fabric sent by Ms. An Hui and used a sewing machine to make a summer dress for Teacher Shen's child as a full-month celebration gift.

Mrs. Shen held up the little dress to the baby and said, "Little Yuan, you're so skillful! I was just saying I'd make clothes for your baby after you gave birth, but if I actually did, I'd be showing off my limited skills in front of you."

She handed the little dress to Teacher Shen and said, "Look how perfect it is! You can wear it when the weather gets warmer."

Teacher Shen looks so much better than when she gave birth; she has a rosy glow and has gained weight.

"Have you chosen a name for the child?" Yuan Xiu asked.

"He chose it," Teacher Shen said with a smile. "He practically wore out the dictionary, and finally picked the character '媗'."

"That Xuan?"

"The character 媗, with the 'woman' radical, shares the same radical as her sister."

Mother Shen said, "Choosing a name is difficult to write and difficult to recognize. There are so many characters with the 'woman' radical. Why don't you choose a better one?"

Teacher Shen sighed helplessly, "Mom, you're just nitpicking."

Shen's mother took her granddaughter from her arms and said, "Come on, Grandma will change our little Xuanxuan's diaper. If we change her diapers often, our little Xuanxuan won't get a red bottom."

After the child was taken away, Teacher Shen said to Yuan Xiu, "I've finished my postpartum confinement. My mother is taking care of the child, so I can't really help much. If you have any questions about your studies, you can come and ask me directly. Summer vacation starts next month. Old Wang has asked the school for leave, so I can take leave until the start of the second semester. I have plenty of time."

Yuan Xiu did not refuse and nodded in agreement.