Chapter 295 Production

The couple exchanged some harsh words, then fell asleep in each other's arms.

The next day, before dawn, Xu Jin got up quietly, kissed the sleeping Sheng An on the face, and left home for the Hanlin Academy.

When Sheng An woke up, it was already broad daylight, and there was no one beside her.

With Hongliu's help, she dressed and washed up, and sat in front of the dressing table while Hongliu combed her hair.

Sheng An was the last one to get up in the family. When she arrived at the dining room, everyone else had already eaten breakfast. The breakfast that was brought to her was specially made by Aunt Gui according to her preferences.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Zhang Zhaodi came over and, together with Hongliu, helped Sheng An take a walk under the eaves to digest his food.

After walking for a while, Sheng An could no longer walk and sat down to rest under the drafty eaves.

Zhang Zhaodi asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

Sheng An shook her head: "It's fine."

After saying that, she realized she hadn't heard her aunt and the others all morning, so she asked them a question out of curiosity.

While fanning herself, Zhang Zhaodi explained, "We've been in the capital for almost two months. Your parents are worried about home and plan to go back after you give birth. They've gone to the street to buy things right now."

Sheng An knew that her aunt's family of four would leave sooner or later, but hearing this still made her feel reluctant: "If only you were all still in the capital."

Zhang Zhaodi was also a little sad, but she smiled and comforted her good friend: "Don't worry, we will come to see you again when we have time. You and Jin Nian can do the same. Take the children back to Qingzhou when you have time."

Sheng An nodded: "Yes, I will definitely go back."

Not long after, Xu Cuilian and the others returned, each carrying a full load of things.

Some were small trinkets for the children, some were for the Zhang Erkui and Zhang Xiaokui couples, and some were for close neighbors.

Zhang the Butcher bought a lot of wine, intending to take it back to his hometown and invite his good brothers for a good drink.

Xu Cuilian complained that he bought too much, nagging him incessantly the whole way home, and she was still grumbling about it when they got back:

"It's not like we don't have any wine at home. Why bring so much all this way? Aren't you tired? Next time you come out to play, don't come along!"

Butcher Zhang didn't dare to argue back, and just kept smiling obsequiously.

Zhang Daikui was a simpleton, and he defended his father: "Mother, it's just a few jars of wine. If Dad wants to take them, let him take them. Anyway, we're going back by boat, so we don't need to carry them up and down the way."

Xu Cuilian shoved her son in annoyance, put her hands on her hips, and scolded:

"I haven't even said anything to you yet! It's one thing to buy fun things for the kids, but you're such a grown-up and you still have to buy things for yourself. Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you if word gets out!"

Zhang Daikui blushed as he was scolded and stammered, "I never played this when I was a kid..."

Xu Cuilian rolled her eyes at him: "It's only because Zhaodi is good at making money that you have the money to squander. If it were our family's situation in the early days, you would have had to get up before dawn and go to bed in the middle of the night to slaughter pigs just to barely support the whole family!"

Zhang Daikui was not ashamed at all, and said with a simple smile, "My son has good taste; he married a capable wife."

Butcher Zhang, who was standing to the side, kept nodding.

Xu Cuilian was both amused and annoyed. She glared at Zhang the butcher and said, "What, you think I'm useless and can't let you live off me?"

Butcher Zhang dared not admit it, waving his hands repeatedly: "No, no, I didn't!"

Xu Cuilian was about to say something when she caught a glimpse of the two sisters snickering not far away and couldn't help but sigh:

"When it comes to living off a woman, Jin Nian is really something else. Look at this mansion. With his annual salary of less than fifty taels of silver, he would have to save for thirty years without eating or drinking to afford it."

Jin Nian was born into a life of plenty, always having plenty to eat and wear thanks to her second brother. Now that she's grown up, she lives a life of luxury thanks to her wife. Jin Nian is truly blessed!

Hearing her aunt's remark, Sheng An couldn't help but chuckle: "My aunt and father-in-law are truly siblings from the same womb. No other family's elders would say that their son is a freeloader."

Zhang Zhaodi laughed too: "That's right. Someone tried to sow discord between Da Kui and others, saying that I was too powerful and that everyone was calling him a gigolo. When my mother found out, she went straight to his door and scolded him so badly that he didn't dare to leave the house for several days. He would avoid my mother whenever he saw her."

After scolding that person, the mother-in-law still praised Da Kui in front of others, saying that he was lucky and didn't have to work hard like his father-in-law, who could enjoy a life of happiness by relying on his daughter-in-law.

Those who were envious and jealous heard their mother-in-law say this, and Da Kui didn't care at all about being labeled as a gigolo, so he stopped saying those divisive things.

More often, they teach their unmarried sons to keep their eyes wide open and choose a wife who can make money so that the whole family can live a comfortable life.

In short, it's both speechless and ridiculous.

The family of four made preparations to return to Qingzhou. Sheng An also had many things bought for them to take back with them, including gifts for Bao Lan and Shu Qi.

Grandpa Sheng, Grandma Sheng, and Xu Chenglin decided to stay in Beijing and return to their roots when they felt it was time to be buried.

With the day of the launch, as mentioned by Granny Wang, drawing ever closer, the entire household was on high alert, and Xu Jinnian could not find peace of mind even during the day at the Hanlin Academy.

Song Zhihang noticed his friend's unease and guessed his worries from their daily conversations. He patted his shoulder and comforted him:

"Don't worry, my godson is so well-behaved, he definitely wouldn't want to make his mother suffer."

Xu Jinnian stared at him without saying a word or showing any emotion.

Song Zhihang rolled his eyes at him: "Fine, fine, he's your son, your son with your sister!"

Xu Jinnian withdrew his gaze and returned to his desk to continue organizing historical records from the previous dynasty.

Compared to her family's anxiety, Sheng An remained calm, and the smooth passage of her pregnancy filled her with confidence in the baby in her womb.

These past few days, the baby's movements have become more frequent and stronger than before, clearly indicating that the baby wants to come out sooner.

It was another sunny day, and the air became incredibly hot as soon as the sun rose.

After finishing breakfast, Sheng An hid in the house, too afraid to go out.

Even with Hongliu fanning her, she was still sweating profusely from the heat.

Grandma Sheng and two other women came over to keep Sheng An company and help her relax. Seeing how hot she was, they each took a fan and fanned her.

Xu Cuilian told a joke that made Sheng An laugh out loud.

But joy turned to sorrow; she suddenly felt a sinking sensation in her lower abdomen: "Ah—"

Sheng An cried out subconsciously, and a surge of heat uncontrollably flowed out, running down through her thin dress.

Grandma Sheng and the other two women all had experience with childbirth, and upon seeing Sheng An's condition, they immediately knew that she was about to give birth. They all stepped forward to help her up, saying, "Quick, go lie down on the bed."

Seeing Hongliu standing there dumbfounded, Zhang Zhaodi urged urgently, "Go and call Granny Wang!"

As if waking from a dream, Hong Liu hurriedly turned around and ran outside.

After Sheng An lay down, Zhang Zhaodi hurriedly ran to the kitchen, asked Aunt Gui to boil water, instructed Li Tian to report to the Hanlin Academy, and sent another guard to invite Doctor Zhong from Tongrentang.

After arranging everything, Zhang Zhaodi rushed back to the delivery room to personally watch over Sheng'an:

"Don't be afraid, An'an. We've already sent Li Tian to the Hanlin Academy to inform your cousin. He'll be back soon, and we'll all be here with you!"