Chapter 133

When a woman and her husband give birth, it's like walking through the gates of hell.

As night fell, Mu Jin's cries of pain grew louder and louder inside the house.

Zhou Lin brought in food twice, and was outside as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

The woman and her husband who came to help in the village returned home as the sun began to set.

Today is Lunar New Year's Eve, and there's still a lot of work to do at home.

Zhou Lin was extremely anxious and couldn't care less about them now. He couldn't even remember when they got back.

Zhou Si and Mu Bai also received the news, and Zhou Ling, unusually, came along with Mu Bai to lend a hand.

After all, he was a man who had fathered three children. When Zhou Ling arrived, he and Master Zheng joined hands to help Mu Jin adjust her breathing and when she needed to exert herself.

This saved Grandpa Zheng a lot of effort. After all, he's getting old and his energy isn't what it used to be. With Zhou Ling around, he could finally rest.

Zhou Si knew that his older brother probably wouldn't have time to cook the New Year's Eve dinner today, and he couldn't be of much help, so he prepared the New Year's Eve dinner at home and brought it over.

On the way here, we met Mu Sheng and Mu Nianjun. When we were almost at the door, we met Mu Lingqiao and Mu Mian.

This was the first time Zhou Lin hadn't cooked a meal this year, yet the table was still laden with food.

"Big brother, have something to eat. I'll go in and relieve Brother Qi Qiu for a while."

"That's how it is when a boy gives birth, don't worry too much. When Mian'er gave birth to Little Sweetie, it took six hours."

Mu Lingqiao sat down next to Zhou Lin, and Mu Zhaoye also came over from home at some point.

The first year, several families didn't have New Year's Eve dinner with their own families. Instead, they all gathered at Zhou Lin's house to accompany him and wait for the birth of his first child.

Mu Nianjun brought a plate of brown sugar and egg soup that he had specially made to the house.

After the group of friends took turns eating, Zhou Lin gradually calmed down with so many people keeping him company.

The sound of firecrackers filled the air, and before we knew it, it was New Year's Day, not New Year's Eve.

Amidst the sounds of firecrackers, a loud cry came from inside the house.

Zhou Lin stood up excitedly, and Mu Zhaoye smiled and said, "Congratulations, Brother Lin."

Mu Lingyun and Mu Lingqiao also quickly congratulated him, saying, "Congratulations, brother! Look at my nephew, he's so energetic!"

Zhou Ling helped Grandpa Zheng out of the house, her eyes smiling.

Grandpa Zheng said gently, "A boy weighing seven pounds and six ounces, it must be tough for Jin-ge. Little Peach is a lucky boy, his birthday is just right."

"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Zheng and Mr. Yue."

As Zhou Lin spoke, he handed the red envelopes he had prepared to Grandpa Zheng and Zhou Ling.

Because Zhou Ling also came, he booked another room from upstairs in the evening.

Zhou Ling waved her hand, not taking it, "We're family, no need to be so polite. Uncle Zheng, I'll take you home. You should go back to your house and check on your two sons."

"Thank you, Yue."

Zhou Ling smiled, taking it as repaying the favor Mu Jin had done for arranging such a good marriage for Mu Baixun with the Liu family, and slowly helped Grandpa Zheng out of the house.

When Zhou Lin entered the house, Mu Bai was playing with his newly-born nephew, who was crying happily.

His little nephew is so adorable that he couldn't bear to go back with Zhou Ling. He'll get up early tomorrow morning and go home to pay his respects.

Little Peach closed her eyes, clenched her little fists, and cried loudly, her face all wrinkled and red.

Mu Nianjun smiled and said to Mu Jin, "I'll follow your lead."

Mu Jin looked exhausted. She glanced at the chubby little boy in her arms and couldn't see any resemblance between them.

Upon seeing Zhou Lin enter, the young men in the room wisely did not linger.

After helping to tidy up the food on the table and put it into the cupboard in the kitchen, he went home.

Mu Jin's eyes curved slightly. "Give your son a hug."

Zhou Lin was immediately at a loss for what to do with his hands and feet. The baby in the swaddling clothes was so soft and small that it was not even as long as his forearm.

I was afraid that I might accidentally hurt Little Peach.

Mu Jin smiled gently and softly taught him how to hold the baby, "Yes, like this, put your hands down to support the baby."

Zhou Lin's entire body stiffened, his arms too heavy to move. Looking at Xiao Taozi, who had cried herself to sleep in his arms, his eyes were filled with tenderness.

He's a father now, and besides Mulan, he has another little boy he needs to protect for the rest of his life.

"Ah Jin, you've worked so hard. Since we got married, I haven't had a single day that I haven't been happy."

Mu Jin smiled and gave him a reproachful look, then said gently, "Me too, I never thought I could live such a good life."

Zhou Lin said solemnly, "Ah Jin, I will make sure you and Xiao Taozi have a better life and that you don't suffer any hardship or injustice."

Mu Jin's eyes were full of laughter. "Look at Xiao Taozi. Just now, Brother Nianjun said she looks like me, but I didn't even notice."

Zhou Lin took a closer look at the wrinkled little peach and nodded in agreement, "It's better to be like you."

As soon as she finished speaking, Little Peach closed her eyes and burst into tears again.

"Are you hungry?" Zhou Lin held Xiao Taozi, who was clenching her little fists and crying her heart out, not knowing what to do.

Mu Jin blushed slightly. "Yes, you may leave now. I will breastfeed Xiao Taozi."

Zhou Lin blushed, as if he had thought of something.

Gently placing the little peach into Mu Jin's arms, she went outside and brought over the red date and walnut rice porridge that she had left warm in the pot for Mu Jin.

Little Peach sucked hard, and Hibiscus looked at him with loving eyes.

The boys can raise their own children on their own, but unlike the girls, they only have breast milk and their chests don't change much.

It was still flat, like the chest of a tough guy.

That's why young men dared to have children; otherwise, if they had grown up with deformities after giving birth, many young men probably wouldn't have dared to have children at all.

Little Peach ate her fill and then fell into a deep sleep again.

Zhou Lin brought in a bowl of porridge. "Eat something first."

Mu Jin looked tired. She took the porridge and asked softly, "Are the doors to the upper floor locked?"

Zhou Lin nodded, "I'll carry you and Xiao Taozi upstairs in a bit. I've already set up Xiao Taozi's crib. I've also found the little quilt and blanket you sewed, and made sure they're soft and cozy."

Newborn babies are soft and fragile all over.

Zhou Linsheng was afraid of putting pressure on him, so he had prepared a small bed early on, the same height as the one he and Mu Jin slept in, surrounded by wooden railings. It was more appropriate than sleeping with him and Mu Jin.

There was a young couple in the village who accidentally slept on their child, who cried out in pain. The couple was exhausted from taking care of the child, and by the time their parents woke them up, they were barely breathing.

The child we've been longing for is gone just like that. Who could bear that?

Since then, most families in the village with children will order a small bed to place next to their bed.

After Mu Jin finished her bowl of porridge, Zhou Lin quickly took it to the kitchen and washed it clean with freshly drawn well water.

Back in the house, Mu Jin put on the clean undergarments and cotton-padded coat that Zhou Lin had brought down, and put on a cotton hat, wrapping herself up tightly from head to toe, so that not a single breeze could get in.

Gently, I carried Hibiscus upstairs first, then rushed downstairs, wrapped up the sleeping Peach, and carried her upstairs as well.

Place the little peach in the crib and gently cover it with a thick blanket.

Zhou Lin touched Xiao Taozi's little hand; it was warm and not cold at all, so he felt relieved.

Hibiscus, wearing only her undergarments, was already asleep. Her cotton hat was askew to one side. She had been exhausted for most of the day and had stayed up until this late, so she was really sleepy.

Zhou Lin helped him put his hat on straight, tucked the blanket in, lifted the blanket, and lay down next to Xiao Taozi.

On the same day, Wen Zhaoran accompanied Mu Jin to look after Xiao Taozi.

Wang Li took the "grass" peach that he thought was the most beautifully woven, wiped it clean, and placed it next to the little peach's swaddling clothes.

After delivering breakfast, Zhou Lin hurried downstairs to the kitchen, put two bowls of braised pork, four large white steamed buns, and two jin of meat into a bamboo basket, covered it with a clean burlap cloth, and carried it to the Zhou family.

He hadn't been to the Zhou family's house for about a year. He could skip the Mid-Autumn Festival, but if he didn't go during the Spring Festival, the villagers would definitely gossip about him.

Even though he was still angry, he had to show filial piety by going to the ancestral hall for the sake of his daughter, Xiao Taozi.

I left ten pounds of pork for my master's family, a full bowl of braised pork and six large white locust flower pork buns.

After visiting the Zhou family, I'll go to my master's house.

Yesterday, Mu Jin gave birth, and Uncle Mu came over, but unfortunately, he had too many things to do at home and had to go back after a short while.

He must be worried about the hibiscus.

When Zhou Lin arrived, everyone in the Zhou family was there. It seemed that his two younger brothers had already gone to their grandfather's house without waiting for him.

"Big brother is here. I heard that your mother had a son yesterday? Congratulations, big brother! Sons are all sweet and caring, much better than little men."

Zhou Ming cracked sunflower seeds, saying this, but his eyes were full of disdain.

Zhou Wu was talking with her two husbands when she saw Zhou Lin arrive. She stood up with a smile on her face.

It was exactly the same as when she coaxed Zhou Lin into doing chores around the house.

"Jin'er gave birth? Is the family able to manage? Should I go over and help him during his postpartum period?"

Zhou Lin shook his head, went into the kitchen, and took out a bowl of braised pork and two large white steamed buns from the bamboo basket.

He took a clean bowl from the Zhou family's cupboard, poured the still-warm braised pork into it, and put the empty bowl into the bamboo basket.

"I'm busy at home, so there's no need for you to go over there, Mother. I also need to go to my grandfather's place, so I won't stay any longer."

After saying that, he picked up the bamboo basket and left the Zhou family's courtyard.

Madam Zhou's face immediately darkened. This was the first time she had ever tried to win Zhou Lin's favor only to be met with indifference.

Turning to Zhou Laosan, she said, "Look at your eldest son, he really has a big temper. He actually listened to the slanderous words others said about his mother. Judging from his behavior, he probably doesn't even want to acknowledge me as his mother anymore."

Zhou Laosan glanced at her and said, "If you sincerely want to make peace with the eldest brother, take some things to visit him since Jin'er just gave birth. The eldest brother values ​​Jin'er the most. If he's not angry with you, then he certainly won't be angry with you either."

Bai Jin laughed and said, "Mother and son don't hold grudges overnight. I just happened to want to see my elder brother's son. I just ran into Master Zheng, who said he's a lovely little thing."

Zhou Wushi looked disdainful and said, "What's the use of a pretty girl like Yi Ge'er?"

“Mother, that’s not how it works. If she looks like my eldest brother, she’ll definitely find a good family to marry into when she grows up.”

Zhou Qiang cracked open a walnut, peeled out the kernel all at once, and ate it in one bite.

"I'm not going. The eldest son's family is much more troublesome than the eldest son's. Never mind."

When Zhou Wushi thought of Mu Jin, that boy was soft yet prickly, making people feel uncomfortable and suffocated.

Every time I faced him, I never got anything good out of him.

She was genuinely a little afraid of Hibiscus.

"Since we've already paid our New Year's visits, and my second brother and I don't have anything to do at home, let's go check it out first?"

Zhou Wu waved her hand, "It's up to you two."

Zhou Qiang patted the walnut crumbs off his clothes. "Wait for me, we'll go together. I won't go in, just bring it out for me to see."