The nurse finished speaking with a smile, then proceeded to take Zhang Shanni’s temperature and manually check her breastfeeding situation. If it weren’t for the fact that she was a female nurse with skilled techniques, Xie Jingchen almost charged up to hit someone.
Damn, how dare she touch his wife, and even hurt his beloved wife!
Even though Zhang Shanni was unconscious, the nurse’s rough handling — touching, pressing, and pinching — caused her freshly lactating and stiff chest to swell with intense pain. How could she not show a look of discomfort?!
"Twins of different genders?!" Zhou Xiuhua had already known one of the babies was a boy, and she immediately felt relieved that her son had descendants, and she was happy regardless of the other child’s gender. But upon hearing that they were auspicious twins of different genders, her face bloomed into a smile like a flower.
Xie Tiesheng was also happily pacing around the empty space in the room. His joy was so great, he probably would have set off some firecrackers if he had them in hand to celebrate.
Such a significant event for the Old Xie Family!
It had been so long since twins were last born in the family, and indeed, just as he wished, they were twins of different genders.
Xie Tiesheng was simply overjoyed! Coupling this with Zhang Shanni’s consistently good behavior, her wisdom and generosity that greatly endeared her to him, he felt even more delight for his daughter-in-law and the twin babies.
"Yes." Xie Jingzi had just found out that the swaddle opened by her mother indeed contained a girl! Just like that, along with the boy she was holding, they were twins of different genders.
"Who’s older and who’s younger?" Xie Jingzi was most concerned about this. The older one is Xiaojiu, the younger one is Xiao Shi...
"The brother is the older one! The mother is doing well now, just running a slight fever, which is normal; we’ll let her breastfeed after she wakes up. Also, family members should frequently apply warm water compress to help unclog her milk ducts, which can reduce the likelihood of a high fever."
The nurse was addressing Zhou Xiuhua and her daughters, yet it was Xie Jingchen beside them who kept nodding in agreement.
And Xie Tiesheng, feeling a bit out of place at this moment, very noticeably picked up the thermos, went to fetch some hot water, and prepared to have the grandmother wash the little buttocks of Xiaojiu and Xiao Shi, the twin grandbabies.
Although he rarely held the babies, the opportunities to care for infants with his spouse were quite frequent.
Over the years, he knew well that the smaller the infant, the cleaner they must be. This way, the little babies’ bottoms wouldn’t suffer.
Especially now, as the weather was getting warmer, they definitely should not let the grandchildren overheat.
After all, their mother was a preterm, and being meticulous couldn’t be wrong.
Indeed, although Zhou Xiuhua and Xie Jingzi had changed the twins into new diapers, the siblings lying in the baby’s crib were still fussing, giving off a feeling of discomfort and restlessness.
Xie Jingchen took a moment to glance over and seeing Da Bao’er and Little Baobao in such discomfort, he couldn’t stand it. Just as he was wondering what to do, Xie Tiesheng returned with a pot of hot water. Zhou Xiuhua’s eyes lit up and she directed her younger daughter to mix some cold water in, ensuring it was warm enough and not too hot for the dear grandchildren.
Seeing the hot water brought back by his father, Xie Jingchen’s eyes also brightened, finding the soft towel prepared by his wife. Fortunately, there was still a basin, and following his wife’s practice of living, he scalded the basin first, then added a bit of cold water. Feeling that the temperature of the towel was just slightly hot, he carefully reached under his wife’s clothes to gently wipe her body.
At this moment, upon seeing his son’s actions, Xie Tiesheng quickly stepped outside to stand guard like a Door God.
Here, Xie Jingchen personally wiped his little wife’s body. Following the nurse’s advice, he not only cleaned but also switched the water again to a slightly hotter temperature to continue the compress.
And indeed, the heavy and rigid feeling, once soothed by the hot compress, gradually eased the frowning brows of his little wife.
Seeing Zhang Shanni’s elegant eyebrows smooth out, Xie Jingchen finally sighed in relief.
And seeing the babies asleep again, Zhou Xiuhua and her daughter were profoundly shocked as they witnessed their Third Son/brother’s tender and warm conduct.
Although Zhang Shanni has always seemed close to Xie Jingchen, they never imagined that a tough man like Xie Jingchen would turn out to be such a warm and considerate guy!
The hearts of mother and daughter were flooded with mixed emotions. Fortunately, both of them just thought that Xie Jingchen was a good husband, and didn’t develop any feelings of jealousy towards Zhang Shanni because of his actions.
Zhou Xiuhua took it in stride, thinking back to when she gave birth, her partner was utterly devoted to her, although the conditions back then were harsh, the love was genuine.
Now, the elderly couple had spent most of their life together without ever having a heated argument, and she was very satisfied with her husband, Xie Tiesheng.
Seeing her son treating his wife well didn’t bring her any displeasure or resentment.
A man who treats his wife well, could he ever treat his own mother poorly?
The wife is newly married, and he already takes such good care of her. His mother is his blood; she looked after him during his childhood, adolescence, and youth. If such care doesn’t earn the son’s affectionate filial piety, it’s only her fault as a mother.
Zhou Xiuhua took it very lightly, only surprised for a moment by her son’s actions, then she let it go, focusing completely on her new grandchildren, Xiaojiu and Xiao Shi.
But Xie Jingzi was truly shocked!
She had four brothers, and the Third Brother married the latest. But none of the first three brothers were ever as good to their wives as this!
Which sister-in-law had her brother taking care around when she was in confinement? At most, he’d just hand over a towel, and the diapers and other things were washed by their mother and her.
She originally thought that since her Third Brother was in the military and even a Chief, even though he usually indulges and protects his wife so well, upholding a harmonious marital relationship, he would definitely become reserved during her confinement.
Anyway, when the elder brothers’ wives were giving birth, the brothers always kept their distance as much as possible, only returning to the room at night. Whenever they heard the baby cry, they wished they could just vanish!
This made her instinctively think that her Third Brother would behave the same. After all, men around the world generally act this way.
So, having been manipulated by Wang Junxuan, she had already prepared herself to be alone for life.
After all, her reputation in the village wasn’t good, that’s a fact. Moreover, marrying a man and then spending the whole day revolving around the husband, and his family - was it just to bear a child for them?
If it were a man she loved, no matter how hard or tiring, she’d accept it.
But nowadays, it’s mostly the parents who agree upon a match first, and then after three or four meetings, the marriage is set. The lucky ones, like her Fourth Brother and oldest sister, end up with a passable partner regardless of whether they are marrying or being married off.
If luck isn’t on their side, marrying someone like Xu Xiaofen or Wang Xiaocui, look how hard her eldest brother and the fifth brother live!
Men have it a bit easier, if the marriage is bad, they can still remarry.
But what about women? If a woman divorces, can she still marry someone good after that?
Thinking of the pain of childbirth and the potential for encountering a cruel mother-in-law and oppression from the in-laws, Xie Jingzi shuddered deeply—she really didn’t want to get married!
However, the way Xie Jingchen is acting right now deeply moved her.
She felt at that moment—
A man can be good and accommodating to his wife on regular days, and that’s just ordinary affection.
But when the wife is giving birth, when she’s in her most painful, most unattractive state and he still willingly takes good care of his wife and baby, that’s truly a good husband, a good father!
Such direct experience made Xie Jingzi hesitate: perhaps, getting married isn’t such a terrifying thing after all?