"How are you so sure it’s a grandson? It could be a granddaughter." Qin i’s tentative question caused a huge stir.
The Second Auntie’s expression was unnatural. Standing at the door, besides her daughter-in-law, He Yufeng, was the Ma family of three. They all lived in the sa courtyard and knew very well how desperately Granny Guo was hoping her daughter-in-law was carrying a grandson. She was always bribing the Second Auntie’s two grandsons with candy, trying to get them to call the baby in her own daughter-in-law’s womb "little brother."
No one dared to joke that Su Kexin was carrying a girl. Granny Guo would fly into a rage. They all rembered the ti the Second Auntie’s younger grandson called the baby in Su Kexin’s belly "little sister," which sent Granny Guo into such a fury that she cursed him out. For a whole month after, she would scold the little boy every ti she saw him. The Second Auntie was no pushover, either, and the incident nearly caused a permanent rift between the two families.
In the end, it took a diator from the neighborhood committee to get the two families to drop the matter and make peace. After that, no one dared to suggest Su Kexin was carrying a girl again.
When the Fang and Wu families feuded, it was the Ma family who suffered the most, caught between them.
Just when everyone expected Granny Guo to unleash her fury on Qin i and were sweating nervously for her, Granny Guo held back. For the sake of Qin i saving her daughter-in-law and unborn grandson, she tolerated the impertinent remark. "Fourth Wife of Jing, you mustn’t say such things. The baby in my daughter-in-law’s belly is a grandson."
"Right, right, right, it’s a grandson," the Second Auntie imdiately chid in, her tone fawning and eager to please.
’Could I afford not to fawn? Could I afford not to suck up? Last ti, my younger grandson just said Su Kexin was having a little sister, and Granny Guo was relentless. This ti, my older grandson bumped into Su Kexin’s belly. If sothing had actually happened, I would’ve had to take him and flee to the countryside.’
’Thank heavens! It’s a good thing the Fourth Wife of Jing knows dicine.’
Granny Guo was satisfied. She said smugly to Qin i, "See? Even the Second Auntie says it’s a grandson. She has experience. She has two grandsons at ho."
Qin i froze, unsure how to respond. She cast a sympathetic glance at the pregnant woman on the bed. ’During pregnancy, she’s served the best food and drink. After birth, if it’s a son, she’ll get to eat whatever she craves. If it’s a daughter, she’ll have to eat whatever she’s given.’
’Judging by Granny Guo’s attitude, even getting taken care of during her postpartum confinent will be a struggle.’
"Right, right, right, I have experience. The Hero’s wife’s belly is exactly the sa as my daughter-in-law’s when she was pregnant. It’s definitely the shape of a belly carrying a grandson," the Second Auntie chid in.
Qin i looked helplessly at the Second Auntie, who was trying so hard to appease Granny Guo. ’Isn’t it a bit hasty to determine the baby’s sex based on the shape of the belly?’
"Fourth Wife of Jing, don’t you agree?" the Second Auntie asked Qin i, trying to drag her into it.
Qin i wanted to ask, ’Second Auntie, are you trying to drag down with you?’ It was bad enough that she was sucking up to her, but trying to pull her in too? ’Not happening.’
"Ahem." Under Granny Guo’s expectant gaze, Qin i gave a light cough. She couldn’t bring herself to say sothing against her conscience. Looking at Granny Guo, she asked, "Do you have a pen? I’ll write a prescription. You can take it to the traditional pharmacy to get the herbs. As long as she takes the dicine as prescribed and there are no external incidents, I guarantee she’ll make it to her due date."
"Yes, yes, yes." As soon as Granny Guo heard the word "prescription," she imdiately went to get a pen and paper.
Qin i accepted the elentary school notebook and pen from Granny Guo, surprised. "Do you have any other kids at ho?"
She knew from taking Su Kexin’s pulse that this was her first pregnancy.
"No, I prepared these in advance for my grandson," Granny Guo replied.
Qin i was speechless. ’The baby isn’t even born, and she’s already bought school supplies. Granny Guo’s dedication to his education is actually pretty comndable.’
Qin i sat at the table, carefully writing the prescription. Jie Jingchen stood by the window, watching her movents as she wrote, a profound look in his eyes. Her earnest concentration exuded a heart-stopping charm.
Once the prescription was finished, Qin i put down the pen, picked up the paper, and handed it to Granny Guo.
"Thank you," Granny Guo said, reaching out with a beaming smile. But before her fingertips could even touch the paper, Qin i suddenly pulled it back. Granny Guo froze, looking at Qin i in confusion. "Fourth Wife of Jing."
Qin i glanced at Granny Guo’s hand, frozen in mid-air. The corners of her mouth lifted into a sly grin, a hint of cunning in her smile. "Ten yuan."
Granny Guo suspected she had misheard, her smile widening. "Fourth Wife of Jing, what did you say?"
"I said, the prescription is ten yuan," Qin i enunciated slowly and clearly.
The smile froze on her lips. Granny Guo snatched her hand back and shouted, her voice thick with emotion, "Ten yuan? That’s so expensive! Fourth Wife of Jing, why don’t you just rob people?"
The Second Auntie was also surprised. The Fourth Wife of Jing was actually charging for a prescription. They were all neighbors. Every ti they went to see Doctor Qiao, he never charged a single cent.
They had all grown accustod to free dical care, taking it for granted. They assud Qin i would do the sa, so her charging a fee was a complete shock.
Father Ma and Ma’s mother, who were blocking the doorway, instinctively looked over at Jie Jingchen by the window. Seeing him remain silent, with no intention of stopping his wife, they also kept quiet. ’It wasn’t their money, so why should they get involved?’
Qin i flicked the prescription with a bent finger, a slight, arrogant smirk on her lips. "I have the skills to earn money. Rob people? Am I crazy?"
"You just scribble a prescription and demand ten yuan. If that’s not robbery, what is?" Granny Guo retorted, indignant. Her son’s monthly salary was forty yuan. Qin i demanding ten yuan for a single piece of paper felt like it was ripping her heart out.
"’Scribble?’ Hmph!" Qin i snorted coldly and folded the prescription. "Ten yuan is the neighborly price. If you think it’s too expensive, you don’t have to take it."
"You..." Granny Guo was fuming.
"Sister Guo, ten yuan is ten yuan," the Second Auntie interjected, trying to persuade her. "You didn’t see it, but after just a few needles from the Fourth Wife of Jing, the Hero’s wife was already feeling better. Besides, if you sent her to the hospital, it would cost you several dozen yuan, and it’s such a hassle. What’s more, the doctors at the hospital wouldn’t dare guarantee that the Hero’s wife could make it to her due date."
Granny Guo was swayed. The Second Auntie was right. This was also why she had refused the Ma family’s suggestion to go to the hospital and had run to the Jie Family to find Doctor Qiao instead.
When Doctor Qiao was ho from work, he treated the neighbors for free. Who would have thought that Doctor Qiao’s fourth daughter-in-law would charge ten yuan for simply writing a prescription?
"Sister Guo, think about your precious grandson," the Second Auntie said, going in for the kill.
Granny Guo relented. Ten yuan it was. But she wasn’t foolish enough to pay the whole sum herself.
"Second Auntie, it was your older grandson who bumped into my daughter-in-law’s belly. Your family shares the responsibility. You have to pay half," Granny Guo said to the Second Auntie.
"What?" The Second Auntie’s expression changed. ’Pay half? You must be joking! Half is still five yuan!’
’Five yuan!’
"If your older grandson hadn’t bumped into my daughter-in-law, she would have been fine, and the baby in her womb would have been safe. Logically, your family should pay the whole amount. I’m only willing to split it with you because we’re neighbors in the sa courtyard," Granny Guo stated.
"You... Fine, half it is." The Second Auntie gritted her teeth and agreed. She couldn’t refute Granny Guo’s words. She turned to Qin i and said, "Fourth Wife of Jing, co to my house later to get the money."
’Granny Guo just taught a lesson,’ Qin i thought. ’I never expected her to drag the Second Auntie into this. If I’d known, I would’ve asked for twenty yuan. But raising the price on the spot now would be dishonest and damage my credibility.’
’I’m new here. Reputation cos first.’
The exchange was made—money for the prescription.
Qin i walked out of Su Kexin’s room holding a five-yuan "steelworker" bill. She saw Jie Jingshan and Jie Jingchen waiting for her in the courtyard. Jie Jingchen was also holding so bags.
This ti it wasn’t snacks for children, but at and canned goods. Qin i’s eyes lingered on the pork ribs he was holding. ’How long has it been since I’ve had ribs?’
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