LW chapter 81

 

Li Xin rolled his eyes in pain. “I’m about to give birth.”

Chen Qing got down from the bed and held his shoulders. “Then why don’t you lie down on the bed for a while?”

“Am I supposed to give birth in your house?” Li Xin almost laughed at them. “Let me go home first. My mother said the pain comes and goes, and it’ll be fine once this wave passes.”

Chen Qing and Qin Xia didn’t know what to do, and Aunt Sun and Zhou Yuan had gone out.

Qin Xia said: “Then I’ll carry you back, I’m strong.”

Chen Qing nodded. Li Xin was almost angry with them. He was in pain yet wanted to laugh. “How can you carry me with such a big belly? It’s fine, you can help me once the pain stops.”

Once the pain subsided, Li Xin stood up. “I’ll go home to give birth.”

Chen Qing didn’t care about anything else—not even putting on his shoes—and followed Qin Xia. They each held a side to help escort Li Xin home.

When they reached the crossroads, Li Xin said he wanted to go back to the Li household. Suddenly, his labor pains started again. He gripped Chen Qing’s hand and said, “Take me back home.”

Chen Qing then remembered that Li Xin was married and had a family of his own. Qi Shuning hadn’t been home recently, which is why Li Xin had moved back to his mother’s house.

Li Xin was in so much pain that he couldn’t walk. Qin Xia clenched his teeth and carried him directly onto his back. “Quick, show me the way.”

Li Xin wasn’t small, and now that he had two children, he was even heavier. He didn’t feel embarrassed by Qin Xia carrying him. He stretched out his hand to point the way. Then, Chen Qing ran to the house of Li the blacksmith and shouted, “Aunt Yin, Aunt Yin! Li Xin is about to give birth!”

It was the first time Chen Qing had run and shouted in the village. When he ran into the Li family courtyard, he saw Zhang Yin come out. “Ah Qing, is Xinxin going to give birth?”

“Yes, he’s already home.” Panting heavily, Chen Qing leaned against the house’s wall.

Zhang Yin didn’t care about anything else. She told Niu Niu to call Li the blacksmith back and walked toward Li Xin’s home with Chen Qing.

Fortunately, they had prepared well beforehand. Zhang Yin asked Chen Qing about the situation. He only said that Li Xin was experiencing intermittent pain. Zhang Yin knew what was happening, but she quickened her pace nonetheless.

Qin Xia had laid Li Xin steadily on the bed and asked again, “What should I do now?”

Li Xin bluntly replied, “I’m a little hungry and want to eat something.”

Qin Xia: “… ”

Li Xin was the eldest, so Qin Xia hurried out to find food for him.

He rushed home like the wind. Meng Shuanzi’s mother was tidying the yard. After harvesting the rice, they had to spread it out to dry in the courtyard.

When she looked up, she saw Qin Xia carrying an oilskin bag out. She shouted, “Why are you running so fast?” For some reason, she thought he was being chased by something and was running recklessly without fear of falling.

While running, Qin Xia said, “I’m taking this to Li Xin to try.”

Mother Shuanzi said, “Are you still a child? Do you have to share your treats? Li Xin’s family doesn’t need food from you.”

Qin Xia paused when he heard her words and said, “Mother, I left some for you. It’s in your room.”

Calling her “Mother” left her neither angry nor appeased. She sulked at home for quite a while.

The room was very quiet. Li Xin leaned against the bedhead, able to hear only his own heavy breathing. He gently touched his belly. “Children, please don’t torment me too much.”

After a while, Zhang Yin arrived. Seeing that Li Xin was fine, she held his hand. “Labor pains will last for a while. Rest well, and eat something to restore your strength. Mother will make you a bowl of noodles.”

Just as she finished speaking, Qin Xia returned with an oil-paper bag. It was a snack that Meng Shuanzi’s mother had bought for him. He said it was a type of milk cake that was fragrant and sweet. He had never tasted such a delicious treat in Xia Xi. He thought Li Xin would like them too, to give him more strength for the birth.

Seeing Qin Xia, Zhang Yin was stunned for a moment. Qin Xia smiled at her. “He said he was hungry, so I found something for him to eat.”

“Thank you very much.” Although Zhang Yin was anxious, she could still manage. She needed to prepare hot water. Li Tiejiang would seek help when he heard the news. She had to stay with Li Xin so that he wouldn’t be scared.

“Auntie, if you have anything to say, just tell me.”

Zhang Yin nodded. “Thank you for your help.”

Chen Qing did not enter Li Xin’s room. He had heard from Aunt Sun that pregnant people must not enter the birthing room. It was said that baby spirits lived inside them. If Li Xin’s child sensed another child in the room, it would get angry and not come out properly. So, he waited outside.

Zhang Yin instructed Qin Xia in a few things. Then, Qin Xia found Chen Qing outside and said, “Aunt said she needs a lot of hot water. If possible, cook her a bowl of soft noodles.”

Chen Qing nodded and quickly lit the fire to cook. After a while, Li the blacksmith arrived with Wen Gong, and Aunt Sun and Zhou Yuan arrived as well.

Aunt Sun took over Chen Qing’s work and asked Zhou Yuan to take him back to rest. Seeing that everyone had arrived, Chen Qing sighed in relief. As he did so, he felt a faint pain in his lower abdomen.

When Zhou Yuan came to carry him, Chen Qing could already tell that he wasn’t feeling well. Zhou Yuan carried him back, glancing at him again. “Shall I go back and boil medicine for you?”

Chen Qing nodded. “Alright.”

Aunt Sun looked at them, her gaze returning to Chen Qing. “Ah Qing, go back and rest. Everyone is here now.”

Chen Qing nodded and left with Zhou Yuan.

On the way, he hugged Zhou Yuan’s neck, feeling a little panicked. His stomach no longer hurt, but he felt uneasy. “Ah, I’m not overthinking it…”

Zhou Yuan gently rubbed his forehead with his chin. “It’s okay. Don’t be afraid.”

When they arrived home, Zhou Yuan laid Chen Qing on the bed and boiled the doctor-prescribed medicine. Chen Qing was tired, but worried about Li Xin, so he fell asleep dazed.

After a while, he smelled the bitter scent of the medicine.

Zhou Yuan let the medicine cool, then brought it to the bedside. Since Chen Qing hadn’t been sleeping soundly, he sat up. Zhou Yuan held the bowl and tried to feed him.

Chen Qing looked at the black bowl of medicine and took a deep breath. Sipping it mouthful by mouthful would be endless torture. It would be better to drink it all at once.

He took the bowl, tilted his head back, and swallowed it all in a few gulps. The medicine was bitter and astringent. After drinking it, Chen Qing didn’t dare move, afraid he would vomit it back up.

Zhou Yuan fed him a piece of cake afterward, and only then could he barely suppress the nausea. He leaned against the pillow. “Wait at Li Xin’s. I’m still worried.”

“I want to stay with you.” Zhou Yuan replied, “Mother is there. She’ll come back and tell us if anything happens.”

After thinking about it, Chen Qing had to agree.

Today was September 12. They were still half a month away from Yuancang Mansion. It seemed that Qi Shuning wouldn’t make it back in time for the birth of his child.

After drinking the medicine, Chen Qing didn’t dare lie down. He was afraid that if he did, the medicine would come back up. So, he sat and spoke with Zhou Yuan. “Qin Xia, will he marry Meng Shuanzi?”

Zhou Yuan nodded. “Yes.”

Recently, Meng Shuanzi had been trying to convince his mother that Qin Xia was a good match for him. He argued that he was hardworking and capable and could earn money to support the family. Mother Meng had always hoped that Shuanzi would marry a woman because he is tall and strong, and she wants him to have a soft, gentle wife. Qin Xia did not meet these expectations. He was taller than average, spoke and acted straightforwardly, and was neither gentle nor delicate. While this was good, it was different from what she had hoped for, so she couldn’t fully accept it yet.

Her biggest worry was that the man would run away again after they married.

“Shuanzi has already made wedding preparations,” Zhou Yuan reassured him.

Chen Qing breathed a sigh of relief. “Qin Xia is a good person.”

Zhou Yuan laughed at him. “You’ve become friends that quickly?”

Zhou Yuan was happy to see Chen Qing making friends. The more friends Chen Qing had, the happier he would be.

“He carried Li Xin home today.” Chen Qing said. “He’s really nice and enthusiastic. Meng Shuanzi won’t be losing out by marrying him.”

“Lie down and sleep.” Zhou Yuan said.

Chen Qing shook his head. “No, if I lie down, the medicine will come back up, and I’ll feel like vomiting.”

Seeing how uncomfortable he was, Zhou Yuan felt pity for him. “Would candied fruit help?”

Chen Qing shook his head. Just thinking about the sweet, greasy candied fruit made him want to vomit more. “I want to eat sour bean cake.” But the sour bean cake had been eaten two days ago.

“I’ll buy it for you.” Zhou Yuan started to leave, but Chen Qing quickly pulled him back. “It’s too far. You won’t make it back in time to look after me.”

Zhou Yuan fell silent. “Then what should I do?”

Chen Qing thought for a moment. “Go get me some vegetables from the pickle jar.”

Zhou Yuan was puzzled, but he still fetched some sour beans for Chen Qing without cutting them. Chen Qing ate one whole piece and finally suppressed the nausea. At least he could lie down.

He lay on his side and looked at Zhou Yuan sitting by the bed. Other thoughts arose in his mind. He didn’t want sweets, he wanted candied hawthorn with sugar on the outside and sour mountain haw on the inside. He also wanted mountain mushrooms stewed with pork and pickled cabbage with chicken. He felt a little depressed. Earlier, he had wanted to vomit, but now he wanted to eat many things.

“What do you want to eat?” Zhou Yuan asked him. He knew Chen Qing well. When Chen Qing had that look, it meant he wanted something to eat.

“Candied hawthorn, mountain mushrooms with pork, and pickled cabbage with chicken.”

Zhou Yuan ran a hand through his hair. “All right, I’ll make them all for you.”

Chen Qing put his hand under his cheek and fell asleep shortly after. Seeing him asleep, Zhou Yuan pulled his hand back. It wasn’t too hot outside, so it was comfortable to sleep with the window open. Zhou Yuan put his hand on his stomach and sat by the bed to keep watch.

After a while, Aunt Sun came back, looked at Chen Qing, and talked about Li Xin’s situation: “The labor has just started. Uncle Wen said it will take some time before the baby is born. Is Aqing all right?”

“He just took the medicine and fell asleep.” Zhou Yuan glanced at Chen Qing and said, “Mother, please watch him for me. I’m going to the mountain.”

Aunt Sun was startled. “What are you going to do on the mountain?”

“Aqing said he wants candied hawthorn. He wants me to cook him some red mountain mushrooms, and then I’ll see if I can pick some wild mushrooms. He said he wants to eat mushrooms with pork stew.” Zhou Yuan packed his bag, and Aunt Sun hurried to stop him.

“Don’t go yet. I still have some red mountain mushrooms. You don’t know how to identify mushrooms,” she said. “What if the ones you pick are poisonous and you poison Aqing?”

Zhou Yuan was stunned. “Then what should we do?”

“His appetite is changing right now. He might not even want them when he wakes up.” Aunt Sun was experienced. “Mushrooms with meat are easy to make. Don’t you have any dried mushrooms at home? They’re the same if you soak them in hot water. You can make it when he wakes up.”

Zhou Yuan had to stop and look for the dried mushrooms that Zhang Xu’s family had sent him. He had to boil water again. Aunt Sun sat by the bed, gazing at Chen Qing’s sleeping face.

Unknowingly, more than seven years had passed since Chen Qing arrived in Luohe Village. During this time, he didn’t seem to have changed much. His face was still somewhat youthful, but he was about to become a father. She wiped her tears. This family was finally going to start living.

Zhou Yuan boiled water and soaked the dried mushrooms. He asked Aunt Sun to watch over Chen Qing while he went out to buy meat. He wanted to buy some meat. Aunt Sun agreed.

She thought about how she had recently seen Chen Qing sewing by the bed, and decided that now that their family had finished the autumn harvest, they could start sewing again. They could go to town the day after tomorrow to buy gifts for Li Xin’s children and fabric to make clothes for the babies. Now that she was going to be a grandmother, she had to learn how to be a good one.

Zhou Yuan hurried back with the meat but suddenly remembered something. He said to Aunt Sun, “Mother, butcher another chicken for Aqing. He said he wants to eat pickled chicken gizzards!”

Aunt Sun: “…”

 

Acargoreng: Missed yesterday’s update—sorry about that 💕I’ll make it up with two chapters today. Thank you for reading!

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