novellhall Chapter 1 Reborn as a Wet Nurse
Chapter 1 Reborn as a Wet Nurse
"Qingxiang, I heard you're going to Factory Director Lu's house to be that baby's wet nurse? Let me tell you, that won't do."
"Yes, yes, Haruka, there's always gossip around a widow's house. You're a widow who just lost her husband, and you're working as a wet nurse in a single man's house? Aren't you ashamed?"
"That's right. If you really go, so many people will talk behind your back and gossip about you. You'll ruin the reputation of our Nanya Village."
"If you ask me, you should go and beg your father-in-law and mother-in-law. Even though your husband is dead, you at least gave the Qian family a granddaughter. They should at least be able to feed you and your daughter, right?"
Zhuang Qingxiang listened silently to the gossip of the village aunties and sisters-in-law, feeling as bitter as if she had swallowed a bitter pill.
In her past life, she listened to the villagers and thought it was shameful to be a wet nurse in a single man's home, so she refused the job introduced by the village chief. During the day, she carried one child on her back and led another child to the fields to earn work points, and at night she took both children to live in a cowshed at the end of the village.
In the hot summer, we weren't worried about the cowshed being drafty, but the cowshed couldn't keep out the wind or people.
A few days later, some local thugs started sneaking in at night and groping her.
The stepdaughter, Qian Yue, was only five years old. She rushed over to protect her, but was kicked away by the scoundrel. She watched helplessly as the little child fell to the ground, vomited blood, and then died.
Her one-month-old son was so frightened that he cried loudly as someone stuffed something into his mouth and threw him aside.
She couldn't beat those thugs, and with her mouth gagged, she couldn't even scream for help.
Later, taking advantage of one of the scoundrels' momentary lapse in concentration, she grabbed a pair of scissors and fought them to the death, but was no match for them and died on the spot.
As she breathed her last, she heard a rogue say that the child was dead.
She will die, and her two children will die, in just a few days.
Zhuang Qingxiang's eyes reddened, unable to recall the horrific scene. All she wanted now was to live, have a place to stay, a job to make ends meet, and be able to raise her two children properly...
Looking at these women who spoke so casually without any real understanding of the situation, she took a deep breath, her eyes reddening, and said softly, "My in-laws have already kicked me and my children out. Otherwise, could you ladies help me out and talk to them so I can stay home and take care of my children in peace? If all else fails, could any of you ladies lend me a room for a few days? I don't mind, but my two children are so pitiful..."
The women immediately fell silent.
Zhuang Qingxiang's mother-in-law is no pushover; anyone who gets involved with her will get into serious trouble. Didn't you see how even the village chief can't do anything about her?
As for staying there, that's impossible. These days, everyone's living space is cramped. Wouldn't it be bad luck to let a widow stay there?
Zhuang Qingxiang lowered her eyes, spat inwardly, and led her two children past the gossiping women to the village entrance to meet the village chief.
The village chief looked at Zhuang Qingxiang and shook his head inwardly.
Director Lu of the military factory was in a hurry to find a young woman who could breastfeed to feed the baby, but there were only two women in the village who could produce milk, one of whom was only in her early twenties and she was unwilling, and her family did not agree either.
Zhuang Qingxiang's husband just died, and her in-laws dislike her and her own family. She's also too old, already thirty. If it weren't for her family's burden, a woman her age would already have a ten-year-old child. Logically, she's the most suitable candidate, but she's too beautiful. I'm afraid Director Lu won't agree...
"Xiao Zhuang, when you get to Director Lu's place, don't stay silent. Say a few nice words and be observant. If you can get Director Lu to let you stay and take care of the children, your food and lodging problems will be solved, and you'll get three yuan a month in wages. You can support your two children. If you can't stay, I can't help you. You'll really have to go back to the fields to earn work points, understand?"
After saying that, he looked at the two children that Zhuang Qingxiang was with, one on her back and the other in her hand.
The old village chief's head throbbed: "Couldn't you have let someone else look after these two kids first? What kind of image would it be to take them both to Factory Director Lu?"
Zhuang Qingxiang tightened her grip on Xiao Qianyue's hand and shook her head: "If no one can help me take care of her, I'll feel more at ease taking care of her myself."
She looked down at Xiao Qianyue and saw the little girl looking at her timidly, as if she was afraid that she would abandon her.
Zhuang Qingxiang felt a lump in her throat and almost burst into tears.
This timid child, whom I've only known for eleven months, rushed to protect her when she was in danger. How could I possibly abandon her?
"Village Chief, don't worry, I will definitely try my best to get Director Lu to accept me. Besides, it's more convenient to have children; it would be more gossipy if I didn't have any," Zhuang Qingxiang explained softly.
The old village chief thought about it and sighed, then started walking towards the military factory.
The military factory started construction eleven months ago and is now officially in production. Because it occupied some collective land, their village was also allocated a job in the factory, and all the able-bodied young men in the village almost fought tooth and nail for it.
If Zhuang Qingxiang can catch Director Lu's eye and take good care of that child, making Director Lu remember Dongya Village well, they might even benefit from it in the future.
The old village chief, with his own calculations in mind, quickly led Zhuang Qingxiang to the gate of a small courtyard.
The courtyard was newly built and is the residence of Director Lu. He originally lived alone, so it wasn't very big. Who would have thought that he would have another child now, and he would have to find a nanny for the child...
"Director Lu, is Director Lu home?" The old village chief knocked on the door.
Zhuang Qingxiang swallowed nervously.
It's hot, I'm all sweaty, and my throat is incredibly dry.
Then Zhuang Qingxiang knew she was in trouble.
The old village chief had a loud voice. He shouted and banged on the door, and immediately the sound of a child crying came from inside, followed by hurried footsteps. You could tell from the sounds that the owner was very angry.
As soon as the door opened, the old village chief called out, "Director Lu."
Zhuang Qingxiang didn't dare to look up. The village chief said that Factory Director Lu wanted to find someone who looked honest and simple, and her appearance didn't meet the requirements, so she only secretly glanced at the man's height.
He was very tall and strong, with broad shoulders and an upright posture.
He wasn't the well-dressed, wealthy factory manager she had imagined; his demeanor was more like that of a soldier.
"Village Chief Qian." Lu Congyue greeted him patiently as he heard the crying coming from inside the house.
The old village chief quickly said, "Director Lu, this is Zhuang Qingxiang from our village. Her baby just turned one month old..."
The cries from inside the house grew louder and louder, and Zhuang Qingxiang felt heartbroken listening to them.
She started taking care of her younger brother when she was less than ten years old. She also raised her second and third younger brothers and two younger sisters single-handedly. You could tell from her voice that the child was starving.
Ignoring the old village chief's pleasantries, Zhuang Qingxiang half-squatted down and said to Xiao Qianyue, "Yueyue, you stay here and wait for your mother."
He then said urgently in a low voice, "Director Lu, Village Chief, please speak slowly. I need to go see the child first!"
After saying that, Zhuang Qingxiang lowered her head and squeezed past Lu Congyue, heading straight into the house.
The child on the kang (heated brick bed) was crying and sweating profusely, and Zhuang Qingxiang was also covered in sweat from walking all the way.
She glanced around the room, quickly grabbed a towel from the washbasin stand, wet it, wrung it out, unbuttoned it to wipe away sweat, and then picked up the baby to breastfeed.