It was high noon during the wheat harvest season in the courtyard of the Xu family's third branch, located at the foot of Northeast Mountain. The yard and the main house were bustling with eager women who had come to lend a hand.
The contingent of relatives and friends, led by Wang Cuifen, the Xu family's eldest daughter-in-law, and Xu Dahua, the Bai family's eldest daughter-in-law, were running around in a frenzy. Some were encouraging their sister-in-law, while others were placating the husband's elder sister.
Fortunately, every one of these helpful women was experienced, having already given birth to several children. So while things were hectic, everything remained orderly, with no sign of chaos.
When Xu Changqing arrived, she saw her grandfather and her father, one with a cigarette and the other with a pipe, puffing up a storm. Ignoring Shen Weimin, who was following her, she hurried inside.
