After giving birth, Yan Qingqing began her postpartum confinement period, during which Yuan Huiniang and Xu Shi both contributed a lot of help.
The little girl was gaining weight at a visible rate, and Yan Qingqing had grown to like her. Moreover, she felt that the child had the potential to become a beauty, just like her.
That day, after Xu changed the baby's diaper, the little girl quickly fell asleep, and then she gently placed her next to Yan Qingqing.
Madam Xu smiled and said, "Second sister-in-law, this girl is very well-behaved. Except when she's hungry or wet, she just sleeps quietly."
Yan Qingqing tilted her head and glanced at the child; he was fair-skinned and indeed very well-behaved.
Then Xu Shi spoke up again, "The child has been born for several days now, shouldn't we send over some celebratory noodles?"
Yan Qingqing thought for a moment and replied, "It's a bit late to send the wedding noodles now, and there's no time to make arrangements. I'm thinking of having a full moon celebration for her later."
Xu nodded and said, "That's fine. We must make it a grand affair. I only have Xiangbao as my child. Now that I have some spare money, I'd like to hold the ceremony, but unfortunately, my belly won't cooperate."
Yan Qingqing could tell that Madam Xu genuinely liked the child, so she comforted Madam Xu, saying, "I think Xiang Bao is a good child. Actually, I believe that it's not about having many children. If a child is filial, one is better than several. If a child is troublesome, the more children you have, the more debt you have."
After thinking about it, Xu realized that it made sense. Their Xiangbao was obedient and filial; he was truly a good child.
At this moment, Yuan Huiniang brought in a bowl of chicken soup and said, "Mother, the chicken soup is ready. Please drink it while it's hot."
Yan Qingqing felt full just looking at all that chicken soup. Even the best food couldn't keep her up for a month. Yuan Huiniang had been making her chicken soup every day ever since she first started bedridden.
Unable to bear it any longer, Yan Qingqing asked, "Hui Niang, are you going to slaughter all our chickens soon?"
Yuan Huiniang said nonchalantly, "It's alright, Mom. There are several families in our village that raise chickens. I've already talked to the village chief, and if we don't have enough, we'll buy some from them."
Yan Qingqing suddenly felt a little scared. Hui Niang is usually very smart, what's wrong with her today?
Seeing this, Xu Shi burst out laughing. Yuan Huiniang looked at her with some confusion, and Xu Shi quickly explained, "Silly child, your mother has had enough of chicken soup. Can't you give your mother something different?"
Yuan Huiniang then realized what was going on and whispered her explanation: "But the doctor said that drinking more chicken soup is good, not only for your recovery, but also for your milk production. I was just worried that my sister wouldn't have enough to eat."
Chicken soup can produce milk, and besides, there aren't many good things in the countryside. Yuan Huiniang couldn't think of anything else at the moment.
Yan Qingqing said, "Hui Niang, actually there are many things you can eat during postpartum confinement. I can eat whatever you eat normally, as long as it's low in salt and oil and light."
Although Yuan Huiniang had never heard of such a saying, since Yan Qingqing had brought it up, it must be true.
So he quickly said, "Mother, I'll make it for you again right away."
Yan Qingqing waved her hand and said, "No need, you've already gone to so much trouble to make this. Maybe next time."
After saying that, Yan Qingqing picked up the chicken soup and started drinking it. During this time, Yuan Huiniang and Xu Shi discussed what name would be best for the little girl, since she hadn't even had a proper name yet after being born for several days.
Yuan Huiniang said, "I think our Jinxiu's name is quite good. It's a pity that such a good name has already been used by that girl. Otherwise, it would be nice for my aunt to have this name."
Madam Xu added, "Jinxiu's name is indeed beautiful, given by Second Sister-in-law, but I'm sure Second Sister-in-law can come up with an even better name."
After finishing her chicken soup, Yan Qingqing put the bowl aside and said, "I have indeed thought of a name. How about Li Xiangyang? It means 'a heart like flowers and trees, growing towards the sun.'"
After repeating the name twice, Madam Xu said, "Although I don't understand what my second sister-in-law meant by those two sentences, Xiangyang is a good name. It uses the same character as her brother, so she will definitely be successful in the future."
These days, boys and girls have different statuses in the family. Boys are usually named according to the family genealogy. Girls can be named whatever they want, and some don't even have names and are just called Yuan Niang, Er Niang, or San Niang based on their birth date.
Unless one is exceptionally pampered at home, one cannot receive words from their brothers.
Yan Qingqing took the "Qing" character from her brother's generation, which shows how much the Yan family elders doted on her.
Thinking of this, Yan Qingqing suddenly missed Grandma Yan. Although they had only met once, Grandma Yan's love for her was genuine.
When Old Mrs. Yan said she would come to take care of her during her postpartum period, I assumed that given how much Old Mrs. Yan loved her daughter, she would definitely come. I just didn't expect Yan Qingqing to come ahead of time.
Thinking about this, Yan Qingqing considered whether she should bring Old Madam Yan over, so as not to disappoint Old Madam Yan's good intentions.
Before Yan Qingqing could even send someone to fetch Old Madam Yan, she arrived in a flurry of activity.
As soon as Old Mrs. Yan entered the door carrying a small bundle, she began to complain: "You've already given birth, why didn't you send someone to tell your mother? Those three little brats even lied to me and said you wouldn't give birth for another month."
"If I really wait a month before coming back to you, I'll be past the end of my postpartum period."
Yan Qingqing was delighted to see that it was Old Madam Yan. She said with a smile, "Mother, I was just about to ask Xiangping to pick you up. Why did you come by yourself? Did my brother and the others bring you here?"
Grandma Yan replied, "I'm not so old that I can't walk. Besides, how could a few dozen miles be difficult for me?"
I had a dream last night that you gave birth, and I couldn't wait a moment longer, so I packed my things first thing this morning.
As soon as I entered the village, I heard people talking about how I had given birth to a baby girl.
Yan Qingqing quickly helped Grandma Yan sit down to rest. Grandma Yan waved her hand and said, "It's alright, just lie down and rest. Look at the clothes I sewed for my granddaughter, aren't they pretty? I didn't know if it was a boy or a girl, so I chose some conventional fabrics."
Yan Qingqing took a look at the clothes sewn by Old Madam Yan. The stitches were fine and the fabric was soft. Even though Yan Qingqing didn't know anything about needlework, she knew that this was much better than the skills of Yuan Huiniang and the others.
When Yan Qingqing turned it over again, she was stunned. It was actually double-sided embroidery.
Yan Qingqing looked at Old Madam Yan and asked, "Mother, did you embroider this? I never knew you had such skill."
Grandma Yan said proudly, "Back when my mother worked for a wealthy family, she was the best embroiderer. Later, she accidentally injured her hand and was no longer suitable to be an embroiderer. But she can still do some sewing and mending."
Your mother taught you when you were little, but unfortunately you weren't cut out for it. The things you made were simply awful.
"If you had just learned how to behave properly, you wouldn't have had to suffer so much at your in-laws' house all these years."
Yan Qingqing remembered that such a thing did happen when the original owner was a child, but the original owner did not know that Grandma Yan's embroidery was so amazing.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com