“Your father has something to do and hasn’t returned yet.” As Jiang’s mother spoke, she looked at Qiu Dafu and asked, “And who is this?”
Jiang Liu said, "Mother, his name is Qiu Dafu. He brought me back."
Qiu Dafu nodded to Madam Jiang, "Junior Qiu Dafu greets Madam Jiang."
Jiang's mother glanced at Jiang Dafu suspiciously, then smiled and said, "No need for formalities, we owe you a lot for the journey."
She immediately arranged for her servants to prepare a guest room for Qiu Dafu.
Qiu Dafu quietly stepped aside, not wanting to disturb the mother and daughter's long-awaited reunion.
Jiang's mother turned her head to look at the carriage behind her. Apart from Qiu Dafu and Cuizhu, there was no one else.
She was somewhat displeased. "Tang Yi is really something. How could he let you come back alone? And why are you dressed like that?"
Jiang Liu's expression changed at the mention of Tang Yi. To avoid her mother's nagging, she quickly said, "Mother, I'm hungry."
Sure enough, as soon as Jiang's mother heard that her beloved daughter was hungry, she hurriedly instructed the servants to prepare dinner.
Since returning to Lingnan Village, Qiu Yan has been visiting the Li family from time to time.
She tried to persuade the Li family to move into the new house, but Ye said that she was more comfortable living in the old house and did not want to move, so Qiu Yan stopped trying to persuade her.
After returning to the village for two days, Qiu Yan hadn't had such a leisurely time in a long time. Now that she had some free time, she wanted to find something to do.
Just as I was thinking this, I heard a knocking sound outside the door.
Someone knocked loudly on her gate.
Ling Qi quickly went out and opened the courtyard gate. It was Liu Shi, the cousin-in-law of Old Man Zhao, who came to knock on the door.
Upon seeing Qiu Yan, she hurriedly asked, "Xiao Yan, have you seen my uncle?"
"No, where did Great-Grandpa go?"
Qiu Yan just came back to visit him once, and the old man was in good spirits. She hasn't seen him today yet.
"The person disappeared when I woke up this morning. Sigh, they're such a worry."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Yan hurriedly asked, "Have you found Great-Grandpa's old house yet?"
"We've searched everywhere in the village, but we can't find any trace of him."
It's one thing if the old man gets lost in the summer, but in the winter, if we can't find him tonight, he'll freeze to death.
"Have you searched the mountains and forests?"
Liu shook her head; they hadn't had time to search for Shanlin yet.
Qiu Yan told the Liu family to continue the search, while she prepared to go to the mountains.
Looking at Qiu Yan's small frame, Ling Qi shook his head and said, "Miss Xiao Yan, the mountain path is covered in snow, you shouldn't go."
Ling Ba also said, "You should stay home and take care of Xiao Ran. Leave the search to us."
"Let's go together." Finding the person was the priority, so Qiu Yan didn't waste any more time with the two of them. After handing Gu Xiaoran over to Li Zheng, she led Ling Qi and the other two into the mountains.
At the Li family home, Gu Xiaoran sat obediently beside Madam Ye, curiously looking at her round belly. "Why isn't he coming out yet? I can't wait to play with him."
Li Zheng sat to the side, still tending the fire in the stove.
As soon as Gu Xiaoran finished speaking, Ye Shi's stomach began to ache in waves.
Seeing that her complexion was off, Li Zheng quickly asked, "Qiuyun, is your stomach upset?"
"I think I'm ready to give birth." Having given birth once before, Ms. Ye had some experience with childbirth.
This child is quite impatient; this time, she arrived more than half a month early.
Li Zheng quickly stood up. "Xiao Ran, behave yourself and don't move around. Your master will be right back."
Ye said, "Brother Li, don't worry, it will be a while, I can still hold on."
Having a baby is such a big deal, how could Li Zheng not be anxious? He explained things to Gu Xiaoran again and hurriedly went to find a midwife.
Qiu Yan and her companions arrived in the mountains and forests. Without much searching, they discovered Old Man Zhao's trail.
Because snow cannot hide footprints.
It's freezing cold, and the villagers are all staying at home right now. Who would come to this mountain forest?
Therefore, the single set of footprints was exceptionally conspicuous.
However, when they found Old Zhao, he wasn't on the ground, but in a tree.
And at this moment, he was trembling as he looked at the dark figure in the distance.
Ling Qi stared incredulously at Old Man Zhao in the tree, "This old man, he's become a child again."
Ling Bayi also found it hard to believe, "How could someone so old climb up there?"
"Shh!" Qiu Yan put her index finger to her lips, signaling the two to be quiet.
Then, she pointed to the dark figure ahead.
"Wild boar?" Ling Qi's previously lazy expression instantly perked up.
Seeing the wild boar, Ling Ba felt a bit hungry. "Miss Xiao Yan, have you decided whether to braise it or stew it?"
Qiu Yan never expected to encounter a wild boar in this freezing weather, and she couldn't be happier. This was practically a New Year's treat delivered right to her doorstep.
"Anything works!"
The moment Old Zhao saw Qiu Yan, he hurriedly waved to her, "Girl, don't come over, don't come over, it's dangerous here."
His words startled the wild boar.
The wild boar grunted twice, its eyes flashing with a fierce light, and suddenly pounced on Qiu Yan and the other two.
Ling Qi drew his sword from his waist with a swift motion, and Ling Ba did the same. The two of them walked step by step toward the wild boar.
With the two men hunting wild boar, Qiu Yan focused all her attention on Old Man Zhao.
Old Zhao felt a chill run down his spine, especially when he saw Ling Qi and Ling Ba chasing the wild boar.
"You two young men, you'd better be careful. Wild boars are very dangerous. A few years ago, someone in our village died from being eaten by a wild boar."
...
At the Li family home, Ye's contractions were becoming increasingly intense, and she was finding it difficult to bear.
Gu Xiaoran saw her curled up on the kang, covered in sweat, her face contorted in pain, her small face scrunched up.
"Housewife, don't be afraid, I'm here with you."
"Housewife, don't be afraid."
Soon, Li Zheng led the midwife into the courtyard.
Hearing Ye's painful groans, Li Zheng wanted to go inside, but the midwife stopped him at the door.
He stood outside the door, pacing anxiously back and forth.
Remembering that Gu Qian had carelessly left the ginseng he bought in the kitchen last time, he quickly went into the kitchen and started to brew ginseng soup.
Little Gu Xiaoran kept glancing into the room, her small face always showing anxiety.
The midwife entered the room and, seeing how much pain Ye was in, quickly comforted her, "Sister, just bear with it, the pain will subside after the baby is born."
The midwife was somewhat worried about Ms. Ye giving birth at such an advanced age.
She sat beside Ms. Ye, directing her to breathe in and out in sync with the contractions.
Ye was in unbearable pain and lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) writhing in agony. At that moment, she could only endure the pain and hope that the child would come out soon.
However, she felt weak all over and couldn't muster any strength.
A quarter of an hour passed...
Half an hour passed...
Half an hour has passed...
Ye's lower body was wet with a mixture of amniotic fluid and fresh blood, but the baby was still not visible.
Li Zheng paced back and forth outside, his heart burning with anxiety.
The midwife's eyes were red with anxiety. "Young lady, hang in there!"
Ye clenched her hands tightly, her nails digging into her flesh. The pain felt as if someone was tearing her bones apart inch by inch.
Giving birth to her first child was painful, of course, but she had long forgotten about it. However, it didn't seem to be as painful as it was now.
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