"Baby formula, baby bottles, adult washbasins, water cups, towels, toothbrushes, and some nutritional supplements."
Ji Xia showed it to her: "There's chicken soup in this thermos, and I've prepared two servings of rice. Brother, you eat with your wife, and I'll take Mom out to eat."
Seeing how thoughtful Ji Xia had been, Ji Zhijun looked grateful and said, "Xia, thank you so much. It's really kind of you to think of everything."
As they were talking, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor, and a worried mother and daughter rushed over.
Upon seeing Ji Zhijun, she was overjoyed: "Zhijun, where's Ah Hong? How is Ah Hong? Has she given birth yet?"
Ji Xia looked back and examined them for a while before finally remembering who the two people were.
The middle-aged woman, around fifty years old and with a weathered face, is Zhang's mother, Zhang Hong's biological mother. The other girl, pale and thin, is Zhang Hong's third sister, Zhang Lan.
Zhang's mother gave birth to three daughters, Zhang Hong, Zhang Qing, and Zhang Lan, before finally having a precious son, Zhang Zhuang.
Because she only had one son, she naturally doted on him, while her three daughters were all targets of her exploitation.
Ji Xia had witnessed her shrewishness and ruthlessness in her previous life, when Zhang Hong was in confinement after childbirth.
Zhang's mother learned from her daughter that the Ji family had exhausted their wealth for Lin Haodong, resulting in Zhang Hong's malnutrition and the baby's premature birth.
An old woman from another village pointed at Ji's father and cursed him, calling her a spendthrift who had dragged the Ji family down and harmed her daughter and grandson.
Behind Zhang Hong's back, however, he criticized her for being stupid and not knowing how to take more property to return to the Zhang family.
Ji Xia felt guilty towards his parents, but he had no liking for this old woman who sucked her daughter's blood to provide nourishment for her son.
Upon seeing his mother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ji Zhijun quickly replied, "Mother, Zhang Hong is fine. She gave birth to two sons, and both mother and children are safe."
"Peaceful? That's good!"
"I was shocked to hear that Ah Hong had a difficult childbirth and was rushed to the hospital."
Zhang's mother leaned against the wall, panting heavily, and asked with relief, "What happened? How did a difficult childbirth occur?"
Ji Xia subconsciously glanced at her mother and brother; she also wanted to know what was going on.
Chen Jing explained, "I fell while taking a walk. I was with my aunt outside the yard picking vegetables to prepare dinner when I heard my sister-in-law screaming in the yard. When I went in, I saw that she had fallen and was bleeding."
Ji's mother patted Chen Jing's hand with relief: "Luckily, Jing was there. He's young and fast. He found a midwife and Zhijun, and even brought an oxcart. I was terrified when I saw the blood."
Ji Xia smiled apologetically at the Zhang family mother and daughter: "Mother was a bit careless. My sister-in-law's twin pregnancy is definitely dangerous, and she needs someone by her side."
Ji's mother couldn't help but sigh: "Someone has to do the housework, right? Your sister-in-law is pregnant and can't work, so your father and brother have to go to the fields. Someone has to do the laundry, cook, pick vegetables, and feed the chickens. How can I just sit around and do nothing while your sister-in-law is pregnant?"
The mother and daughter offered an explanation that sounded both sighing and resentful. Zhang's mother's expression was not good, but she didn't say anything.
In the countryside, many pregnant women still work and carry water. When Ji's mother was working at home, she let Zhang Hong rest by herself. When Zhang Hong accidentally fell, no one could blame Ji's mother.
When Zhang's mother arrived, she heard that her daughter had a difficult and premature birth and suspected that she had been mistreated by the Ji family. She rushed to the hospital hoping to get some benefits, but unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.
Ji Xia was reluctant to face the old woman, so she stuffed the things she had prepared into Ji Zhijun's hands: "Brother, you take these first. Ah Jing and I will go find a doctor and arrange a private room so you can get a better rest tonight."
Ji Zhijun took the bag and lunchbox, revealing a simple and honest smile: "I came in such a hurry today that I forgot to bring any money. Tell me after you pay, and I'll give you the money back."
Why are we being so formal with each other as family?
Ji Xia waved and winked at Chen Jing, signaling him to follow.
The two asked the doctor to arrange a double room, booked both beds, paid the fees, and returned to the ward, where the nurses had already made arrangements for Zhang Hong and the two babies.
When Ji Xia returned to the ward, she saw Zhang Hong lying weakly on the bed, with Ji Zhijun wiping the sweat from her forehead with concern.
Ji's mother surrounded the crib, happily playing with the baby.
Only Zhang's mother sat on another hospital bed, holding the chicken soup that Ji Xia had brought and drinking it in big gulps, gulping it down. Zhang Lan stood behind her nervously, watching her quietly, swallowing her saliva repeatedly.
The chicken soup that Ji Xia brought smelled amazing. In addition to the chicken soup, there was also stewed chicken, braised pork ribs, and white rice. Zhang Lan hadn't eaten meat in who knows how long.
Ji Xia was speechless when she saw Zhang's mother's actions.
Actually, Ji Xia originally planned to wait until Zhang Hong settled down, leave Ji Zhijun to take care of her at the hospital, and then invite Ji's mother and Zhang's mother and daughter to have a meal at a restaurant.
They're in-laws, after all. Why can't they even invite each other to a meal?
However, before she could even speak, the woman had already eaten all of Ji Zhijun and his wife's food. Her eating manners were so unsightly, as if she hadn't eaten in ages.
Her eyes looked strange, and Zhang's mother probably understood, but she explained nonchalantly, "The doctor said that Ah Hong's stomach has been cut open, so she can't eat or drink. I thought it would be a waste if she didn't drink."
My sister-in-law can't eat or drink, isn't it because her brother is here? This was originally prepared for Zhang Hong and Ji Zhijun.
Ji Xia looked at Ji Zhijun and Zhang Hong suspiciously: "Sister-in-law can't eat this?"
Ji Zhijun nodded to her: "The doctor said that since her abdomen has just been opened, she can't eat or drink for eight hours, so I let my mother-in-law eat."
"Did the doctor say when I can start eating? What foods are suitable? Is there anything I'm lacking? I want to prepare early tomorrow morning?"
Zhang Hong smiled gratefully at her: "We've prepared enough, everything should be ready."
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