Three or Two Things about Rebirth

Qiu Jiashu yelled, picked up Fang Yuan, and spun around a few times while laughing.

He Manshu and Fang Yuan both screamed. Qiu Jiashu had turned enough and stopped. Fang Yuan pounded Qiu Jiashu's chest in shame and anger, He Manshu pounded Qiu Jiashu's back angrily, and Qiu Luming leaned against his father and watched with a smile. The room was suddenly filled with joy.

Qiu Luming is really happy for her second brother. A few days ago, her mother told her that before her second brother got married, she had a serious talk with him and asked him not to have children within two years of marriage. First, the young couple should fully enjoy the happiness of their own world, and second, they can have a running-in period. When they are sure that they can really go all the way, they can have children, so as not to let the children affect some decisions one day.

Qiu Luming felt that her mother's thinking was too avant-garde. Imagine that the age difference between her and her brother was three years, while the age difference between children in most families was two years or even one year. Obviously, her parents had always planned to have children.

She felt that this was real family planning.

Qiu Jiashu was so excited that his eyes were as big as bells. He quickly called his father-in-law and mother-in-law, and also called his eldest brother and third brother. He managed to hold back and not tell his colleagues at work the good news.

Qiu Luming sat on the sofa and silently watched Qiu Jiashu vent his joy. She said, "How childish." Fang Yuan on the side did not respond to her. Qiu Luming turned her head and saw Fang Yuan looking at Qiu Jiashu with a smile, with his hands on his belly. From this moment on, she had a baby who needed lifelong protection.

That night, Fang Yuan was kept by He Manshu and asked to live in Qiu Luming's bedroom, on the grounds that Fang Yuan had just woken up and would easily catch a cold if she went out.

"What about me?" Qiu Jiashu asked.

"You? Go back to your home!"

"Mom! I'm your biological son! Besides, it's May, not winter!"

"It's just not possible!"

"It's over. No one cares about me anymore." Qiu Jiashu turned around and walked out angrily. Within ten seconds, he opened the door again and came in with a camp bed, smiling. "Hey, I haven't slept in this bed for nearly two years. I miss it a lot. I'm not going back today!"

***

Qin Huifang stole the show in this performance. Because she had experience as a host and had a beautiful appearance, she was borrowed by the Propaganda Department to host the performance together with a handsome man from the Cultural Center. Afterwards, she was praised by the leaders for her "steady stage presence and grand and majestic style, quite like Ni Ping."

The three friends met on Sunday, and Qiu Luming gave them the skirts. Qin Huifang screamed and went into the house to change into them immediately. She came out and turned around to show them, but Han Meifen blushed and said, "Didn't we agree not to buy it?"

"The dress is not expensive, it's just trendy in style, and it's not a wedding gift. If you don't like red, you can have this blue one. I'll wear the red one."

Han Meifen bit her lip, "Luming, I'm sorry, I..."

"Don't be petty! Just take it if I bought it for you, and knit a sweater for Lu Ming later!" Qin Huifang stuffed the red skirt into Han Meifen's hands.

"No, no, I have asked for many things from Luming over the years, including food, daily necessities, books, magazines and tapes. I am not a heartless person. I am really embarrassed." Han Meifen raised her head, looked at Qiu Luming, and quickly lowered her head.

"You've been nagging me to death, just say it directly!" Qin Huifang became impatient and there was no trace of calmness and composure in her. She woke Bingbing up with a shout. The child started to cry, and she stuck out her tongue and hurried into the bedroom to comfort her.

Qiu Luming was silent for ten seconds. "It's your mother-in-law or your mother who doesn't agree with me being a bridesmaid, right?"

Han Meifen suddenly looked up.

Qiu Luming knew that she was right. She smiled and said, "Then, can we be friends?"

Han Meifen waved her hands repeatedly and defended herself incoherently, "No, no, no, friends are still friends! My mother-in-law said that people only get married once in their lifetime, so she takes it very seriously. Oh, she doesn't dislike you, she said, she said you are too beautiful, you outshine me..."

"Then please thank her for me."

Qin Huifang patted Bingbing to sleep, then tiptoed out and asked with a smile, "Who are you thanking?"

Han Meifen lowered her head in embarrassment.

"Thanks to her future mother-in-law, she said I was too beautiful and didn't want me to be a bridesmaid."

Qin Huifang was immediately furious, "What? You're getting married and you can't even decide on the bridesmaids? What kind of marriage is that? It's over with him!"

Han Meifen stammered.

"Han Meifen! You listen to her in everything before we get married. She is controlling you, you know that? You will have to listen to her in everything for the rest of your life! You listen to me. If you are embarrassed to say it, ask your parents to say it. She is just a housewife. Besides, Fu Xinyang is not as good as you in all aspects. How can a donkey have the final say as a driver?"

"No, no! She didn't control me!"

"So you volunteered? Han Meifen, Han Meifen, what are friends for? Are they there to help you out at the critical moment? People outside have spread rumors about Lu Ming, and as friends, we must first clarify the matter for her and speak for her!

You are the one who invited them first, and then you quit! When the time comes, your mother-in-law will show off to others and say: "Ah, my daughter-in-law wanted so-and-so to be the bridesmaid, but I thought she was too unlucky, so my daughter-in-law obediently changed the bridesmaid. What will you do? What will Lu Ming do?"

"No, she's not that kind of person!"

"Ah, I won't tell you anymore, you are not worthy of Lu Ming being your bridesmaid. She is indeed prettier than you!"

"You!" Han Meifen was so angry that she was about to cry.

"Didn't you say that yourself?"

The three of them parted unhappily.

Qiu Luming was glad that he hadn't told his mother about this, otherwise she would be angry again.

Fang Yuan did not have morning sickness, but was just sleepy. He Mansu was busy buying all kinds of fresh ingredients and cooking every day, but she really had no talent, and the food she made was really a waste of the ingredients.

Fang Yuan's mother came all the way from Yi City and tried to take her back to Yi City, but Fang Yuan refused on the grounds that she couldn't leave for work. Fang's mother was so angry that her eyes turned red and she started to criticize her daughter's family.

The next day, another car came from Yi City, delivering a car full of food and supplies. Fang Yuan hugged her mother and acted like a spoiled child. Fang's mother angrily scolded her, "I owed you in my last life, and you only know how to piss me off!"

Fang's mother, who was helpless with her daughter, began to train her son-in-law. She taught Qiu Jiashu how to cook step by step. Even though her daughter didn't know how to cook, she just disliked the fact that her son-in-law didn't know how to cook.

Qiu Jiashu began to practice cooking skills and achieved some success in a short period of time. He Manshu complained to Qiu Jiye about this, "I didn't even want to order him around like this, but now I'm being ordered around by their family. I really have no way to complain!"

Everything has its own way, and life went on smoothly.

***

On June 7, Qiu Luming and Qin Huifang attended Han Meifen's return banquet.

Neither of them was a natal family. On the wedding day, Qiu Luming heard the lively voices coming from the Han family, but he didn't go over to watch the fun. He Manshu felt bad, "You should go if you should. Don't wrong yourself, otherwise others will think you have acquiesced."

Qiu Luming shook his head. "I have a bad temper. If I mess up the wedding, it will be bad."