Male Lead's Canon Fodder Wife

The next morning, the villagers learned that Zhang Dongmei had given birth to a daughter. While the Li family was full of joy at gaining a precious pearl, most of the villagers were gossiping about the matter.

Since there was no more work to do on the farmland, the villagers often gathered to chat after finishing their work at home.

Today, everyone gathered as usual under a banyan tree near the production team's office. Some were mending clothes, some were playing chess, and the rest were chatting while eating melon seeds.

"I heard from my niece, who lives next to the midwife, that the Li family's first branch gained a daughter. Zhang Dongmei almost lost her life during the process," a middle-aged woman said while cracking melon seeds.

After she said this, one of the villagers added, "That midwife is my husband's aunt. She told me that the Li family gave her 20 yuan as a red envelope. I think they really love the child."

When they heard this, the villagers laughed, and one of them replied, "A daughter is a money-losing good. No matter how well you treat and educate a daughter, when she grows up, she will marry into another family. All your effort is wasted, as you are only raising another family's daughter-in-law."

Hearing this, most women agreed with her. After all, before they married, they were treated as slaves or outsiders in their own families since they would eventually leave. Once they married, they were still treated as outsiders by their in-laws for having joined the family halfway.

In the end, whether at their parents' house or their husband's family's house, they were still considered outsiders, and no one would treat them truly well.

While most of them held this kind of mindset, the female educated youths had different opinions.

"Aunty, I don't think your words are right. Now is the new era. Women can also hold up half the sky. We are not worse than the sons. Even after we get married, we can still be filial to our parents and take care of them in their old age," one of the female educated youths said.

Hearing her words, another female educated youth nodded and added, "I agree with this comrade's words. I see that the Li family is not a family that favors boys. They also treat girls well. This kind of mindset and behavior is respectable and should be taken as an example."

"We shouldn't be trapped in old mindsets and look down on women. Just because we have weaker physiques compared to men doesn't mean we can't do what they can. Sometimes, we can do things men would never be able to do," she said with a smile.

Even though the villagers disagreed with her words, they were curious. So, the middle-aged woman asked, "Comrade, what do you mean by that? What can we do that men cannot?"

The female educated youth smiled and replied, "We can give birth and continue the family's bloodline, while men cannot. Without a woman, how can a man have a child? And the same applies to women. Without a man, how can a woman have a child?"

"So, whether it's a man or a woman, both have their own strengths and weaknesses. Every child is precious, and there is no need to be partial to one just because of their gender."

As soon as she finished her words, they heard Li Chenze's voice coming from behind. "I agree with this comrade. Whether it's a girl or a boy, both are our children. Why should we love one and dislike the other?" he asked with a smile.

The villagers were embarrassed to be caught red-handed by him as they were gossiping about his family. Some, with thicker skin, pretended as if nothing had happened and said with a smile, "Li Dalang, congratulations, ah!"

Li Chenze didn't want to embarrass them too much and nodded. "Thank you."

Seeing that he didn't mind their words, another villager asked, "Li Dalang, your wife just gave birth. Why aren't you accompanying her at home?"

Everyone knew how much the Li family's men loved their wives. So, seeing him out with his brothers instead of accompanying his wife did make them curious.

"My brothers and I are going to visit the production team to get the birth certificate for my daughter," Li Chenze replied.

Hearing this, everyone could notice the joy in his voice and said nothing. After some casual words, the Li brothers rode their bicycles and left.

Looking at their backs, one of the villagers said sourly, "I don't know what the Li family did to be able to buy two bicycles."

"Who knows? Maybe they did something illegal," another replied in a hushed tone.

While the villagers were gossiping, Lu Jueyu and Pan Meijia were busy baking cookies at Lu Jueyu's house. With the baking oven built in the backyard, they worked while enjoying the breeze.

"Third sister-in-law, how far along are you in your pregnancy?" Pan Meijia asked.

Lu Jueyu smiled when she heard her question and replied, "It's almost 19 weeks."

Pan Meijia nodded and asked again, "Third sister-in-law, I heard that you have morning sickness. Is it really that bad?"

"It was actually bearable after the first trimester passed. Now, besides some soreness, I don't feel uncomfortable at all," Lu Jueyu replied.

After hearing this, Pan Meijia was lost in her thoughts. Noticing this, Lu Jueyu asked, "Second sister-in-law, what's wrong?"

Coming back to her senses, Pan Meijia shook her head and said, "It's nothing. I was calculating my monthly cycle and realized that I didn't have my period last month."

When she heard this, Lu Jueyu was delighted and asked, "Second sister-in-law, have you told Second Brother?"

"I haven't told him," Pan Meijia shook her head.

"Second sister-in-law, the first trimester is important. You should inform the Second Brother and go have a check-up. If it's good news, you need to take some folic acid," Lu Jueyu said.