She knew this was even better than the honey from the estate, where her younger daughter got that honey had always been a mystery, one that both the couple and their daughters kept.
The sisters-in-law were having a conversation, while outside in the living room, the mother and son were eating snacks. Shuying tried to listen to what her younger sister and sister-in-law were talking about in the room next door.
She didn’t know if it was because the soundproofing was too good, but she heard nothing of their conversation.
Shuying was curious about what exactly her sister-in-law had given to her younger sister, having previously been unable to enter the birthing room, then turned to her son, eating beside her, and said,
"Son, this is outside, don’t just wander around. If you walk away and get snatched by a child snatcher, your auntie won’t buy you a rattle-drum."
"Mhm, mhm, I want auntie’s rattle-drum."
Seeing her son obediently agree, Shuying therefore opened the door, then shut it, went to the next room, and opened the door without even knocking, "Oops".
The sisters-in-law, who were chatting, heard the door open and only felt a gust of cold air rush in as they looked toward the door.
Upon entering, Shuying caught the scent of blood and so she waved her hand to fan the air.
"Shuying, quickly close the door."
Mrs. Li glanced at Ye Shuzhi, who was still wrapped in bedclothes, and the winter breeze was just too piercing.
Shuying pouted and closed the door, approached Shuzhi’s bed, looked at the baby, then glanced at Shuzhi, and as if unintentionally, commented,
"Shuzhi, we are all sisters, why did you give birth to a daughter on your first child? Don’t end up like your sister-in-law, giving birth to daughter after daughter, what a hardship!"
Ye Shuzhi, having just been comforted by Mrs. Li, felt her mood suddenly worsen by her elder sister’s remark.
Seeing her elder sister enter empty-handed, was this really how sisters should act?
Shuying, seeing her sister’s annoyed expression, yet remained unapologetic, looked down and noticed two opened bundles.
"Oh, sister-in-law, you gave her so many things for your baby girl, it’s too extravagant for such a young child to have all these things!"
Ye Shuzhi, infuriated by her elder sister, felt like vomiting blood, feeling something flow out as her displeasure surged.
"Elder sister, you... you are too much. Don’t assume you’re better just because you had a son, your son isn’t even as good as sister-in-law’s daughter, perhaps my baby girl will be smarter than your boy."
The two sisters engaged in a heated exchange, including themselves in their back-and-forth, and Mrs. Li felt they were beyond hope, could these really be siblings?
For one visiting a woman post-delivery to say such things, wasn’t this just aggravating the mother?
Mrs. Li stayed silent, letting them continue, but she already smelled a stronger scent of blood and watched Ye Shuzhi with concern.
"Shuzhi, you’re just sour grapes because you didn’t have a boy. Even if my son isn’t smart, a son is there to take care of his parents in their old age!"
Shuying, boasting, left Ye Shuzhi so mad she could not speak, feeling a wave of dizziness and blurred vision.
Just then, outside there was a commotion and the sound of a baby’s giggles could be heard.
Shuying was drawn by the sound of her own son, no longer concerned about irritating Ye Shuzhi, and hurried out to close the door.
At this time, Ye Shuzhi’s face looked somewhat pale and ashy, dizzy and blurry-eyed, and she closed her eyes.
Mrs. Li, worriedly glanced at Ye Shuzhi, feeling somewhat helpless.
Although she had given birth a day ago, it wasn’t like the massive bleeding that occurred during childbirth.
However, a postpartum woman getting angry could affect her recovery, or even lead to severe bleeding, presenting such problems.
In panic, Mrs. Li remembered the honey and took out the jar she had hidden since the room, because of the presence of the woman and child, had a stove with hot water on it.
She added a bit of honey to a bowl and then poured in some hot water to cool it down a bit, saying to Ye Shuzhi with her eyes closed,
"Shuzhi, don’t sleep just yet; first, drink a cup of honey water."
Ye Shuzhi struggled to open her eyes, but she had no strength to speak.
Mrs. Li, seeing her sister-in-law’s worsening complexion, as she had feared, then carefully spoon-fed her the honey water.
Ye Shuzhi mustered her strength, opened her mouth and drank a few sips of honey water, feeling slightly better afterward, then fell into a deep sleep.
The baby nearby, sensing something, suddenly awoke from a deep sleep and started wailing loudly.
Mrs. Li, who had just breathed a sigh of relief at her sister-in-law’s improved complexion, was then drawn to the crying sound of the baby.
She glanced at Ye Shuzhi, who clearly didn’t have the strength to feed the baby, saw there was still a little honey water left from earlier, and carefully fed it to the infant.
The baby, being held and fed honey water by Mrs. Li, drank the water with "dab dab" sounds.
The newborn, having enjoyed a bit of honey water, appeared quite satisfied and full.
As Mrs. Li breathed a sigh of relief and put down the spoon, she bent her head to observe the baby’s expression, and the baby gave a "Flower King’s smile."
Mrs. Li gently checked the baby to see if it needed a diaper change or not.
Realizing that wasn’t the case, she understood the baby had been crying because it was hungry.
With no heart to check what was happening outside, she anxiously stayed by the bedside.