Worried she wouldn’t take good care of herself during the postnatal confinement, Lin Yuan asked Lin Yi to hurry to Liu Family Village the next morning to bring her grandmother. Initially, she only intended to bring Lady Fan, but when they returned, the carriage was nearly full. Apart from Lady Fan and her younger aunt Liu Limin, there was also her older uncle’s wife Zhao Suxin, and even her second uncle’s wife Jeng Ruyue, who was always in poor health, came along.
Lin Yuan was overjoyed and carefully helped her second aunt off the carriage. It had been a long time, and Jeng Ruyue’s face was still very pale. She walked slowly, and even her smile seemed listless.
"Second aunt, you’re in poor health, why did you also come?" Lin Yuan felt sorry for her and quickly supported her hand to help her into the house.
Jeng Ruyue smiled faintly, her voice softer than thawing spring water, "Your mother is having a baby, how could I not come? I also wanted to bask in your mother’s good fortune."
Lin Yuan’s heart ached, although she knew she was joking, it still felt uncomfortable. Children were nothing short of a luxury for her second uncle and aunt.
Liu Limin had rushed to see the new nephew the moment she got off the carriage. Lady Fan, with the help of her eldest daughter-in-law, disembarked carrying a large bundle. It contained clothes and bedding she had made for Lady Liu and the baby while she was away.
Zhao Suxin even carried out two large baskets of eggs from the carriage, handing them to Lin Yi with a laugh, and said to Lin Yuan, "We weren’t even prepared when your mother gave birth. When this young man came to fetch us, I was still wondering; Lan Yue, your mother gave birth so early, it must be a boy! Well, I didn’t expect that I’d actually guess it right!"
Lin Yuan giggled and joyfully responded to Zhao Suxin, "Great uncle’s wife’s words are always so accurate. If you say my mother had a boy, then it must be a boy!"
"Oh you, cheeky girl, you make it sound like I’m some sort of witch," Zhao Suxin, supporting her mother-in-law’s arm, playfully scolded Lin Yuan with a smile.
As everyone joked and laughed their way into the house, Lin Yuan then remembered to ask why her grandfather and others hadn’t come yet. Jeng Ruyue patted her hand, sounding increasingly weak as she said due to the fatigue of the carriage ride, "Your grandfather and the others came too. They’re in the ox cart at the back."
Lin Yuan nodded and hurriedly lifted the curtain of Lady Liu’s room, letting everyone in.
Inside, Liu Limin was kneeling by the side of the little one, amusing him with a small wooden toy.
The little fellow had only been born a day ago and couldn’t see people clearly yet. Watching her younger sister’s silly and endearing antics, Lady Liu couldn’t help but tease, "If you like it so much, have one yourself, hurry up!"
Liu Limin looked up and glared at her sister, "I would if there was a man to have one with me!"
This remark was overheard by Lady Fan who had just entered the room; she barked fiercely, "Naughty girl, what nonsense are you talking about? Shame on you!"
Liu Limin shrank her neck and lowered her head, continuing to play with the little one.
Lady Fan poked Liu Limin’s behind, urging her to move aside, and sat herself down on the kang bed. Tears welled up in her eyes as she saw her daughter; she knew all too well how much her daughter had suffered to have a son. Now, finally, the hardship had given way to sweetness.
When Lady Fan cried, Lady Liu’s eyes also reddened involuntarily.
Zhao Suxin hurriedly wiped her tears and urged, "Mother, please don’t cry. You’re making the eldest daughter cry too. Elder sister, you shouldn’t cry during your confinement; it’s bad for your eyes. Come on, let your great aunt have a look at our little master. Oh, he’s really handsome, look at those eyes, so long and narrow, just like his father. He’s going to be a real ladies’ man when he grows up!"