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."
