Ye Shuzhi glanced at the bundle Mrs. Li had set down, unsure of its contents but guessing that it must be gifts for the baby.
In her frail state, her pale face quickly dampened with tears, her voice choked as she said, "Elder sister, I am sorry!"
At this time, others might not understand her apology’s significance, but as a woman, Mrs. Li understood that her sister-in-law was apologizing for her past behavior.
Mrs. Li smiled and said, "You are in confinement now, you shouldn’t cry. It could harm your eyes."
As she spoke, she took out a handkerchief from her bosom to wipe the tears from her sister-in-law’s eyes.
Mrs. Li’s warm gesture, more motherly than a mother, her care during Ye Shuzhi’s vulnerable time, made Ye Shuzhi utterly grateful.
At that moment, she fully realized, human hearts are made of flesh, and blamed her past foolishness.
She silently vowed, from now on, she would rely completely on her elder brother and sister-in-law as her support, and to be careful with her words, never impulsively offending her brother or sister-in-law again.
"While your sister-in-law was making clothes for your nephew, she heard about your news and prepared an extra set for your child. It was hectic after my son was born, and I also made an extra small quilt later but didn’t manage to give them to you on time. Now, they’ll be useful."
Mrs. Li said this as she opened two bundles; inside were infant’s small quilts, large towels for bathing, and some items to wrap the child in, including baby diapers. Everything was very complete, and the fabric was all new with good quality.
Ye Shuzhi, looking at these items, couldn’t help but reach out to touch them, realizing that the preparation made by her elder sister was better than what she, as a mother, had prepared herself.
The Mother-in-law had only prepared one set of clothes. After the child was born, hastily made preparations seemed inadequate, as diapers were insufficient and clothes not enough for cold weather.
Naturally, her maternal family would send things; little kids grow fast and don’t need to buy much since they quickly outgrow them.
This was all explained by her Mother-in-law. Fortunately, the elder sister had prepared these items; otherwise, the Mother-in-law would certainly have complained about her maternal family being stingy.
Seeing elder sister did not come, certainly, she had not prepared anything. These items were not prepared by the mother; it was clear her nearest mother and siblings were unreliable.
Yesterday her husband had notified Housekeeper Tang, who passed by their gate, to help pass the message to her sister who had married into the county.
At this point, her sister hadn’t arrived, seemingly unreliable as well.
At this moment, Ye Shuzhi fully understood; of all her relatives, the one who truly cared was her elder sister, whom she hadn’t treated well before.
This was why she now called her "elder sister" instead of just using "Mrs. Li."
Mrs. Li then took out a purse made of red fabric from her bosom and handed it to Ye Shuzhi.
"This is a little something from your elder brother and me, for you to buy some nutritious items for yourself and some treats for the baby. Make sure to eat well during your confinement; don’t forget to eat the chicken and eggs we sent this time."
Ye Shuzhi, looking at the wallet in her palm felt its weight, convinced the content was not Copper Coin, perhaps not gold, but definitely Silver.
Inside there were more than five taels. Although, at her maternal home, five silver taels wasn’t much, yet coming from her previously ill-treated sister-in-law, it was heartwarming indeed.
"You might not know certain things while in confinement; you must be careful. If there’s anything, send a message back, and we’ll come to see you when the baby is a month old."
At this time, Mrs. Li cautioned like a mother, about avoiding cold water as much as possible and not going out in the wind.
The things Mrs. Li mentioned, she herself had only experienced when she had given birth to her son. With the five daughters she had before, she had still had to work during confinement!
Ye Shuzhi had just delivered and couldn’t move; her abdomen still ached, making it inconvenient to get out of bed, and it was only the cold weather that kept her constantly in bed.
In some aspects, she had heard some things, but the elder sister who was talking to her about these now, had not received such assistance when she was in labor in her memory, except perhaps her sensible eldest daughter helping with washing diapers.
Later, the sister-in-law had to start working even before the end of her confinement period, never mind avoiding the wind and not touching cold water.
After she got married, as her family became wealthier, her elder sister probably didn’t have to engage in such labors when she gave birth to her son, right?
Ye Shuzhi was deeply moved; not yet having been a mother, she hadn’t understood how hard it was for a woman. At this moment, she could only nod obediently, looking at her elder sister with full gratitude, unable to express her feelings in words.