Shen Meng was holding Xiao Gang when she returned to the ward where Lu Jiasheng had already fallen asleep. Xie Jinghao looked at the man, who was snoring with his stubble-covered face, with some heartache.
"Don’t stare at him anymore; you should get some sleep too. Dr. Cheng specifically arranged this ward for you, you’re the only new mother here. Once more patients arrive, it won’t be this quiet."
"Elder sister-in-law, put Xiao Gang next to me. I’ll watch over him, and you can rest for a while."
Shen Meng shook her head. She was counting on Lu Jiasheng to take proper care of both her and her daughter tonight. She would take Xiao Gang to sleep in the empty space; she could hold on a little longer.
"You get some sleep. Xiao Gang isn’t sleepy right now. Ni will bring over some things soon. I’ll watch over her. Tonight, I’ll take Xiao Gang to Dr. Cheng’s office to spend the night."
Xie Jinghao didn’t insist anymore. Once the effects of the epidural kicked in, she felt dizzy, and her stomach was still burning with pain; she really couldn’t hold on any longer.
Shen Meng told them to rest a bit more and took Xiao Gang out of the ward. She rented a cooking space from the kitchen staff, but they didn’t bring any food and needed to buy it now.
"Xiao Gang, are you hungry?"
The little guy was a bit lazy; he shook his head and snuggled back into Shen Meng’s embrace.
"What’s the matter?"
"Mom will love my sister more now."
Although it was just a short sentence, she understood it quite well. It must have been someone with a loose tongue saying something nasty, leaving an impression on the boy.
"Xiao Gang, did elder aunt tell you that if your daddy and mommy have a little brother or sister, they won’t love you anymore? Is that it?"
"Second Aunt, little auntie."
No wonder he had been listless ever since Xie Jinghao gave birth. If it was about worrying over his mother before, forcing himself to stay awake and waiting quietly outside the delivery room, as soon as he saw his mother and sister come out, he started acting off!
"Nonsense, don’t listen to their crap. Your daddy and mommy’s favorite, the one they love and cherish the most, is definitely Xiao Gang. Think about it, when your mother has anything good, isn’t it always Xiao Gang she thinks about? Now you have a little sister, it means you have one more person who likes you and loves you. Just like your brothers Mingyang and Ming Liang love your sister Ming Fang, you and your sister are both precious to your father and mother."
"Really?"
The little guy’s eyes sparkled, showing a unique spirit.
"Of course, it’s true; don’t you believe what elder aunt says?"
"I believe, hehe..."
With a smile back on the little guy’s face, Shen Meng breathed a sigh of relief. She thought she had to tell all of this to Xie Jinghao and Lu Jiasheng later. They needed to comfort Xiao Gang properly. Despite his age, a child understands everything.
In the evening, when Lu Jiasheng woke up, he saw Shen Meng changing the diaper of the crying baby, while Xiao Gang sat on a stool next to them, munching on an apple with a crunchy sound.
"Elder sister-in-law, let me do it, I really owe you one."
He hurriedly stood up, rubbed his hands together, and was about to go help the baby get dressed.
"No need, I’ve got it sorted here. She’s hungry. Check if Jinghao has milk. If she does, it needs to be fed."
Xie Jinghao was also awakened by the crying. She was already in severe pain and hadn’t been sleeping well, with heavy eyelids that seemed difficult to open. She struggled to get up, but even a slight movement caused her belly to ache terribly.
"I’ll feed the baby!"
"Just lie on your side and turn over, let Ni latch on while leaning against you. The nurse just said this is how to do it, you should know how to feed her. As for Jiasheng, watch Xiao Gang and Jing Hao. I’ve rented a stove, I’m going to make some food. Oh, when we go back, we have to thank Uncle Guai properly, he bought us five hot water tickets before he left!"
Shen Meng placed the baby beside Xie Jinghao, helped her turn over with difficulty, and watched the child start to nurse hungrily before she began to give instructions.
Lu Jiasheng finally snapped out of it, frantically searching the pockets of his clothes. Fortunately, when he returned home today, he had hidden most of his money on his person, leaving only a small amount in his bag.
Laboring had been really hard, and his father had said that he should give the family some money this time home; as long as things looked decent, the rest was for him to keep. He was so happy at the time, thinking his father was being kind and that he should give more to his mother to manage the household, since it wasn’t easy for her. Little did he expect, instead of seeing his family happily eating together, he found his wife and child being bullied.
When his sister-in-law went out to carry Xiao Gang, Jinghao had briefly told him about the recent events at home. Knowing that his wife and son had been under the care of his elder sister-in-law, he felt deeply grateful.
"Elder sister-in-law, this money is for you. Jinghao and Xiao Gang have been under your care for such a long time, I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart. I was a fool before, feeling that you were no good – that was my mistake. I’m really sorry."
"It’s nothing, we’re all family, there’s no need for such words. Besides, Mingyang’s kids have also received plenty of care from you two. That’s all in the past now, just look after them, I’ll go cook."
Shen Meng took the money from Lu Jiasheng’s hand without any pretense – it was his obligation to provide it, and besides, it was better in her hands than to give it back to Liu Sanjin upon returning home.
That evening, Shen Meng cooked a pot of chicken soup noodles. The rich aroma spread through the ward, making two other families who had just moved in stare enviously at them.
"It’s so late, where did elder sister-in-law find chicken to buy?"
Shen Meng ate her meal first, then patiently fed Xiao Gang with the bowl. She smiled and said, "It was just by chance. There was a girl with a chicken at the hospital entrance, saying her family’s chicken got killed by a collapsed wall. She couldn’t bear to eat it, so she brought it to see if anyone at the hospital would buy it."
"Yes, it’s all good fortune. Jinghao, you should eat more, the soup is nourishing. Elder sister-in-law made plenty, if you get hungry in the night, I’ll warm it up for you, eat a bit more."
"Ah!"
The two other lying-in women, holding their cornbread and porridge, felt a twinge of sorrow. Both giving birth, yet why were they treated so differently? That family had just had a girl, yet they could enjoy chicken soup noodles. If they had given birth to a boy, wouldn’t they be eating dragon meat by now?
Envy aside, they were now mothers too, and wouldn’t say much more.
Three days later.
Uncle Guai was waiting with his ox cart at the hospital entrance. The cart was laid with thick mattresses, and the blankets brought were also warm. Xie Jingho, well-wrapped and helped onto the ox cart by Lu Jiasheng, was recovering decently, though getting off the bed on the second day nearly cost half her life. A couple of days later, she was almost able to tolerate it.
Shen Meng held the child, with Xiao Gang following, carrying a basin in his hand. The little guy was in a daze these past few days, especially at night when sleeping, he always felt like he was lying on clouds, very soft and comfortable.
Lu Jiasheng was very thankful to Shen Meng, and through his wife and child, knew that Mingyang and his were living quite well nowadays. In the middle of the night, watching his sleeping wife on the hospital bed and their child in her arms, he made a decision in his heart.