Chapter 92 Red Duck Eggs

For the next three days, the Qiao family's business continued as usual, but Lu Zhao and his servant did not visit again.

When Qiao Mianmian went out that day, she took a special look at the Lu family's house. As she approached, she saw a maid rushing out and bumping into her.

"Girl, are you alright?" Qiao Mianmian went over to help her up.

"I'm fine, I need to hurry and get a doctor. My old lady has been having trouble adjusting to the new environment these past few days, and she just vomited again." The maid was so anxious that tears streamed down her face. "By the way, miss, where is the nearest clinic?"

Upon hearing that it was Old Mrs. Lu who was ill, Qiao Mianmian quickly said, "You go back and take care of Old Mrs. Lu. I'll go and call a doctor for you. I know the way and I can run faster."

She then ran off to find a doctor, and upon arriving at the clinic, she asked which doctor was available and urged them to hurry up. No wonder she said she hadn't seen any members of the Lu family these past few days; it turned out that Old Mrs. Lu was ill.

The doctor was dragged along by Qiao Mianmian, and when they arrived at the Lu family's house, he was panting heavily. "I have to say, you girl, you can really run... Where is the patient? Where is he/she?"

Qiao Mianmian called out, "Grandma, which room are you in?"

"Here it is!" The little maid ran out and led the doctor inside.

Qiao Mianmian looked around and, not seeing anyone else, had no choice but to stay and help. After a consultation and getting the medicine, it was almost lunchtime.

"The old lady is fine, she just needs some rest due to the change in environment, and she won't get better anytime soon." The doctor packed his medicine box and said, "You must be the old lady's granddaughter. I can see you're in such a hurry, which shows how filial you are."

The old lady Lu on the bed had pale lips. She looked at Qiao Mianmian and the doctor and said, "Thank you."

Qiao Mianmian said she wasn't her granddaughter, but a neighbor. "It's getting late, and I still have to go to the food stall. Grandma, please rest first. If you feel unwell, you can have someone go across the street to call my grandmother or the others, or go to another neighbor's house. You don't know this place well, so don't be polite with us. We people in this alley are all friendly to each other."

"I'm so sorry to have kept you from doing your business." Old Madam Lu looked apologetic. The dowry from Bianjing had arrived today, and she had asked Granny Kong to take people to the new house to make arrangements, leaving only a young maid at home. She never expected this to happen.

"You're welcome. We're neighbors, no need for such formalities." Qiao Mianmian led the doctor out, thinking she should hurry to the food stall, but as soon as she stepped out, she saw her grandfather rushing out again.

"Hey Mianmian, what are you still doing here?" Qiao Youfu asked.

Just as Qiao Mianmian was about to mention Grandma Lu's matter, her grandfather saw the doctor next to Qiao Mianmian and, without saying a word, pulled her into the house, saying, "Quick, come in with me and take a look, my granddaughter-in-law might be about to give birth!"

"What?" Upon hearing this, Qiao Mianmian once again disregarded the food stall and followed them into the house. Hearing the low moaning coming from her sister-in-law's room, she was stopped at the door by her grandmother.

Zhang was covered in sweat. "Go quickly to the front street and call Liu the midwife over. Then go to the food shop and call your mother and eldest brother back! Hurry up!"

Qiao Mianmian didn't dare to delay and ran away as fast as she could. She first went to call the midwife and then ran to the food shop.

As soon as Lin saw her daughter, she clicked her tongue and said, "Where have you been? I haven't seen you all morning. I told you that if you didn't come back soon, I would have your father go back to look for you."

"Mom, stop scolding me! My sister-in-law is about to give birth. You and my brother should go home quickly!" Qiao Mianmian leaned against the door frame, panting heavily.

"What? How could it be so fast? There were still a few days left!" Lin's hands trembled as she spoke. "Qiao Mancang, come and cook the noodles!"

As she untied her apron, she called out to the backyard, "Jiawang, come back with me right now!"

When Qiao Jiawang learned that his wife was about to give birth, he ran away as fast as he could, and Lin Shi couldn't even see him anymore.

Qiao Mancang's heart also tightened upon hearing this. "Mianmian, go to the kitchen quickly and check on the food. Let's finish what the customers have ordered and then pack up and go home as soon as possible."

Qiao Mianmian nodded, her mind preoccupied with her sister-in-law's affairs. She couldn't concentrate on cooking all the time.

Qiao Mianmian was busy in the kitchen, and Qiao Jiaxing and Cao Yuan became nervous. Seeing that her second sister-in-law was not concentrating, Qiao Mianmian went over and patted her on the back, "Don't be afraid, Mother and the doctor are here, and the midwife and doctor have also gone. After we finish making these dishes, we'll go home."

She hugged her second sister-in-law. Neither of them had ever given birth, and both had unknown fears about childbirth. The two encouraged and comforted each other.

Qiao Jiaxing, who had been watching for a while, couldn't help but say, "Fifth Sister, if you don't cook soon, you'll be going home even later."

"Okay, I know. What's wrong with letting me hug your wife?" Qiao Mianmian rolled up her sleeves and started cooking.

She didn't dare to delay, and in the lobby, Qiao Mancang explained to each guest, "I'm really sorry, there's an emergency at home, and I can't take any more guests today. Next time you come, I'll give you a discount!"

Many of the customers were regulars. Everyone has an emergency sometimes, and since the Qiao family said they would offer a discount, no one cared.

Some people might joke, "Then you should remember my face, shopkeeper. Don't forget it next time I come."

"Of course, you're all regular customers. I can remember not only your faces, but also what you like to eat. Take care, everyone."

Qiao Mancang had just finished explaining to a few people when he had to explain again to the newcomers. Those customers who had ordered but hadn't started eating all said they wanted to take the food home.

Qiao Mianmian and the others bustled about, and the moment they closed the food stall door, no one dared to stop, and they hurried home as fast as they could.

As soon as she entered the alley, Qiao Mianmian saw Jin Shi and Chun Sheng's mother standing at the door.

"Why are you all back?" Chun Sheng's mother asked.

"Jiawang's wife is giving birth, how can we concentrate on opening? Quickly cook the dishes the customers ordered." After saying that, Qiao Mancang hurriedly headed home. "I'm not saying anything more, I'm going home first."

Qiao Mianmian was also very anxious. When she arrived at her door, she saw Lu Zhao, dressed in official robes, rushing over. It seemed that someone had notified him.

Several people entered the courtyard and saw Qiao Jiawang squatting on the ground with his head in his hands. Qiao Mancang went over and picked Qiao Jiawang up by the collar.

“You’re going to be a father, so act like one. Stand up straight. How about it, haven’t you given birth yet?” Qiao Mancang frowned.

Qiao Jiawang shook his head. "They won't let me in."

"The room is so small, you'll only get in the way if you go in. Just wait here!" Qiao Mancang looked nervously at the door.

Qiao Mianmian's heart was in her throat.

Cao Yuan went inside to ask if there was anything she could do.

Qiao Youfu stood before the ancestral tablets and prayed, "Ancestors, please bless us and keep us safe, I beg you..."

He kept repeating the word "peace and safety," saying, "I don't ask for a son in one go, I just want both the mother and child to be safe and sound."

Everyone stared nervously at the door. Qiao Mianmian wasn't a doctor, let alone a midwife, but she knew how dangerous childbirth could be.

She stared intently at the door, not even noticing Lu Zhao enter. It wasn't until Lu Zhao stood in front of her that she snapped out of her daze. "Ah, Lord Lu, what brings you here?"

"Thank you for your help this morning. I came to ask if there's anything I can help with?" Although he didn't know what he could do to help, he felt he should ask.

"Look, I'm already standing here watching, so I don't need you anymore. You should go back now. When my nephew or niece is born, I'll send some red duck eggs to your family." Qiao Mianmian had no interest in chatting with Lu Zhao; she was only hoping for a smooth and safe outcome.

No sooner had she finished speaking than a loud baby's cry rang out from inside the room. Cao Yuan came out, her hands trembling, crying and laughing at the same time, "I...I've given birth."

"How is he?" Everyone rushed over in unison.

Cao Yuan was so excited that she couldn't hold back her tears, "Everyone is safe, Mother... Mother and child are safe!"

Hearing the words "mother and child are safe," Qiao Mianmian gradually breathed a sigh of relief. When she raised her hand to wipe her face, she found herself shedding tears.

Qiao Jiawang had already gone inside. Zhang came out first and let out a long sigh of relief. "Thank God, thank God, everything is fine. It's a big, healthy boy."

"That's wonderful!" Qiao Youfu was overjoyed. "I'll go buy duck eggs. Jiaxing, you come with me. We'll distribute the duck eggs to the neighbors today!"

He ran off as he spoke, but when he got to the door he realized he hadn't brought any money. He slapped his forehead and came back, saying, "Oh dear, look how happy I am! Old woman, hurry up and give me the money!"

Zhang smiled and went back to get the money.

When Qiao Youfu and his grandson went out, everyone knew that the Qiao family had gained a great-grandson, and they all congratulated them.

Widow Wang from next door ran out and, after confirming that Hu Qianqian and her child were safe, quickly went to her daughter-in-law and said, "Did you hear that? Hu Qianqian and her child are safe and sound. That's wonderful! You can have all the red duck eggs that the Qiao family brings later, so you can share in their joy."

Chen's belly was also growing bigger. She was more than a month later than Hu Qianqian. When it came to giving birth, she was looking forward to it, but also a little scared.

She grasped her mother-in-law's hand and, unusually, made a request, "Mother, could you let my mother come see me?" Since her marriage, she had never mentioned anything to her husband's family, nor had she ever returned home. But now, hearing the celebratory sounds from next door, she missed her mother terribly.

“Sure, of course. I’ll have Dazhu make the trip when he gets back. But Dazhu won’t be back until evening, so I’ll have Wuzhu go instead.”

Widow Wang stood at the door and yelled at the top of her lungs, "Wang Wuzhu, get back here right now!"

His voice was so loud that everyone in the entire alley could hear him.

Seeing her youngest son return, Widow Wang grabbed him by the ear and said, "You're not a little kid anymore, why are you still playing in the mud like Brother Da Hu? Go to your sister-in-law's house and tell her that she misses her in-laws and ask if it's convenient for them to come over."

"Wait a minute. Take this money and buy a serving of peach shortbread. Send it over and come back immediately. Don't take anything from the Chen family to eat, understand?"

"Yes, Mother! I'm not a child anymore, I'll go right now!"

After her youngest son left, Widow Wang went to the ancestral tablets to pray, hoping that her daughter-in-law could also give her a big, fat grandson.

Qiao Youfu and his grandson quickly bought some red duck eggs. Qiao Mianmian couldn't do anything else, but she knew how to boil duck eggs. She started a fire early and watched the duck eggs boil one by one, then soak them in red dye to color them.

Red duck eggs taste the same as regular duck eggs, but they are dyed for a festive occasion.

When Qiao Mianmian carried the red duck eggs out, they were still warm. She and her second brother split up to divide the red duck eggs, and Qiao Mianmian went to the Lu family first.

"Lord Lu, I'll give you three more, to share in your good fortune. I wish you and Qingjiu can find a happy marriage soon and have a son!" Qiao Mianmian was so happy that she kept saying auspicious words, making Qingjiu feel embarrassed.

"Miss Qiao, I'm not in a hurry. My... my master can get married first." Qingjiu chuckled.

"Okay, I'm leaving now. You must eat them, they'll bring you good fortune!" Qiao Mianmian went from house to house delivering red duck eggs. When she got home, her second brother had also returned.

The two of them went to the door of the elder brother and sister-in-law's house and only went in after confirming that they could go in.

The baby was wrinkled, pink and tender, with only a few sparse hairs on its head. It was said that it had just eaten and was fast asleep in its swaddling clothes.

Hu Qianqian had already rested once. Seeing that her sister-in-law couldn't take her eyes off her son, she beckoned to her, "Mianmian, do you want to hold him?"

"Huh? But I don't know how to hold her." She only dared to hold her older sister's daughter, Tao Jie, when she was older.

Hu Qianqian said it was okay, "Come here, I'll teach you."

She placed her son in her sister-in-law's arms. "Support his bottom with one hand and lift his head with the other. Relax your hands, don't be so tense. Look, he hasn't woken up yet, don't be afraid."

Qiao Mianmian froze, took a few deep breaths after listening to her sister-in-law's words, and gradually relaxed. "Sister-in-law, he's so warm."

"I hope that when he grows up, he will be just like you—smart, kind, and capable," Hu Qianqian prayed from the bottom of her heart.

"Sister-in-law, I'll feel embarrassed if you praise me like that. Oh dear, he kicked me, what should I do?" Seeing that her little nephew seemed to be waking up, Qiao Mianmian went to check on her sister-in-law anxiously, but the child quickly went back to sleep, even blowing a bubble from his little mouth, which melted Qiao Mianmian's heart.