Chapter 17 Sophora japonica is born
In the blink of an eye, it was the end of April and May.

After lunch that day, Li Shengli was hiding in the sunshine in the factory yard, basking in the sun and being lazy. The cook had been busy for a while and now he had some free time.

Li Shengli was basking in the sun when he accidentally saw two old men, Yi Zhonghai and Sha Zhu, walking out in a hurry. Li Mingdao was full of questions. What happened?
Thinking of this, Li Shengli followed the two of them and slowly walked to the guard room and took a look outside. He saw an old man Yi Zhonghai and Sha Zhu following an old woman walking back in a hurry.

How did this old lady find the steel mill? Li Shengli wondered.

"Uncle Wang, what happened?" Li Shengli handed a cigarette to Uncle Wang in the message room and pointed in the direction where Uncle Yi Zhonghai and Sha Zhu were leaving with Auntie.

"Oh, that woman just came over and said she was looking for Lao Yi. I almost didn't react." Uncle Wang lit up the cigarette and took a puff.

“Later I realized it was Yi Gong from Workshop 7.”

"I asked her what she wanted to see Mr. Yi about, and she said something like Qin Huairu is about to give birth?" Uncle Wang was also puzzled. Who is this Qin Huairu? Is she a relative of the old Yi family?
"I sent a message to Workshop 7, and a little while later, Engineer Yi came running over with that idiot Zhu." Uncle Wang pointed in the direction the three men left while blowing out smoke rings.

"By the way, Li kid. You know those three people. Do you know what happened?" Uncle Wang asked with a gossipy look on his face. It seems that eating melons is engraved in his genes.

"Oh, I know him." Li Shengli nodded, "We live in the same courtyard."

"Then tell me in detail." Uncle Wang urged. He had nothing to do in the message room, so he had to find some fun when there was melon to eat.

"You know that there was an accident in our factory some time ago." Li Shengli did not finish his words in one breath but instead asked Lao Wang if he knew about the accident that happened some time ago.

"Yes, I have the most up-to-date information. The person who had the accident is called Jia Dongxu, right? He seems to be Yi Gong's apprentice." Uncle Wang nodded, thought about it, and recalled.

"That's right." Li Shengli nodded and said.

"This Qin Huairu is Jia Dongxu's wife." Li Shengli put out the cigarette in his hand.

"When Jia Dongxu had the accident, his wife was still pregnant. She must have been eight or nine months pregnant. Calculating the time, it's about time for her to give birth." Li Mingdao said, pinching his fingers and counting.

"There are not many men in the Jia family. I guess she came to find Engineer Yi because she was about to give birth. Besides, Engineer Yi is the boss of our hospital." Li Mingdao thought about it seriously and thought that the situation should be like this.

Uncle Wang thought about it and it made sense. If something happened to his apprentice, as a master he should at least take care of his apprentice's family.

"What does that Sha Zhu have to do with this?" Uncle Wang thought of Sha Zhu who had just gone out with Yi Zhonghai and asked.

"I don't know about that." Li Shengli spread his hands and wondered why the fool had to get close to the woman while she was giving birth.

"Maybe it was Master Yi who called him over. Master He is probably a kind-hearted person. He can't just sit there and watch things go by." Li Shengli did not take the opportunity to say bad things about others. His conscience did not allow him to do so.

"Oh." Uncle Wang nodded meaningfully.

Looking at Uncle Wang's expression, Li Shengli knew that he was overthinking. Sha Zhu had not reached that point yet. This matter should have been caused by Uncle Yi Zhonghai calling him over.

When Li Shengli got the information he wanted, he said hello to Uncle Wang and continued his walking journey.

After getting off work in the evening, Li Shengli returned to the courtyard and went to the home of his third uncle Yan Bugui across the street and knocked on the door.

"Uncle, are you there?" Li Shengli called out at the door.

"Who is it?" The three aunts from inside the door answered, and footsteps were getting closer.

"Auntie, it's me, Li Shengli." Li Shengli took a small step back and replied. With a creaky sound, Auntie opened the door.

"Victory, what's wrong?"

"Auntie, are uncles at home? I want to discuss something with him." Li Shengli was not in a hurry.

"I'm here, please come in first." The third aunt said as she opened the door.

"Shengli, come here, sit down." The third uncle Yan Bugui was sitting at the table listening to the radio. The volume was so low that Li Shengli didn't notice it.

"No need, Uncle, I just came here to consult you about something." Li Shengli waved his hand to indicate that it was just a small matter.

"What's the matter?" asked the third uncle Yan Bugui slowly.

"Oh, that's what happened. Qin Huairu is about to give birth." Li Shengli asked in a low voice.

"Shengli, you are well-informed. Your third aunt told me when I came back." Third uncle Yan Bugui looked surprised.

"Shengli, drink some water." The third aunt came over and put a glass of boiled water on the table in front of Li Shengli.

"Thank you, Auntie." Li Shengli expressed his gratitude.

"Today I saw an old man and Sha Zhu leaving the factory in a hurry. I asked the old man in the message room, and it was an old woman who came to the factory to find the old man and said that Qin Huairu was about to give birth." Li Shengli revealed the source of his information.

"I thought, not only is the eldest uncle not at home, but this idiot Zhu is also not at home." The third uncle Yan Bugui said thoughtfully.

"So Shengli, what is the matter that brought you to see me?" The third uncle Yan Bugui asked after thinking for a while.

"Third uncle, this is what's going on. If Qin Huairu gives birth, we don't need to give any gifts. What are the customs here?" Li Shengli had never experienced such things before, so he came to ask his third uncle Yan Bugui for advice.

Although Yan Bugui is stingy, he still knows these etiquettes.

"Not for now, let's wait until the baby is one month old." The third uncle Yan Bugui also thought of this.

"If the Jia family holds a full-month banquet at that time, you can give a gift then." The third uncle thought for a while and added.

"Okay, I got it, Third Uncle." Li Shengli thought about it and thought that given his relationship with the Jia family, they would not invite him.

"Uncle Three, you have to prepare the red envelopes. It will be unreasonable if you don't invite him to the full moon banquet." Li Shengli teased the uncle Yan Bugui with a smile.

"As the saying goes: the gift may be small but the sentiment is great." The third uncle choked and said meaningfully.

"Okay then, I won't bother you anymore, Third Uncle." Li Shengli smiled secretly in his heart and stood up to say goodbye. It seemed that this stingy old man Yan was not going to give him a red envelope.

Li Shengli left the Yan family and breathed a long sigh of relief. Given his relationship with the Jia family, it didn't matter if he didn't go to visit them.

After returning home, Li Shengli read a book and then rested. In the evening, he heard someone coming back in the yard. From the sound, it was Uncle Yi Zhonghai and Sha Zhu. He guessed that Jia Zhang was waiting for them in the hospital.

(End of this chapter)