WSMTATMC C75

Chapter 75

After Chen Qingyan’s case was cleared, they didn’t make a big show of it; life continued as calmly and simply as before.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the family again returned to the manor. Before leaving, Wang Ying called Chen Bo and, seeing there was a month before the autumn harvest, used the time to have some workers build five more rooms on the empty land behind the house.

During the last extension, Wang Ying hadn’t thought ahead—there were three main bedrooms, a living room, and a study, plus servants’ quarters and side rooms, all more than enough for the immediate family. But when Old Master Liang and Qinghuai visited, there wasn’t enough space.

This time, with the new rooms, even mother-in-law and sister could come for a stay. Otherwise, if Wang Ying took Yuanbao alone to the manor, Li Shi would worry herself sick missing her grandson.

Having received the order, Chen Bo quickly recruited workers. This was a slack period for most of the laborers, so as soon as word spread that the master needed to build, many signed up—some even volunteering for free out of gratitude.

With their past experience, the new rooms went up fast—less than a month, and it was nearly done. The new wing had four more bedrooms, enough for third aunt and Lin Qiu’s family to visit and stay.

On the sixth day of the tenth month, news arrived from the county: Lin Qiu had given birth to a ge’er.

At the new Cao household, Chen Rong was making chicken soup in the kitchen.

She used an old hen—it made the most nutritious broth—with half a wild ginseng root, something Cao Kun had saved for years for just such an occasion.

In the bedroom, Lin Qiu lay in bed, the little one sleeping soundly beside him.

Cao Kun returned from outside; he didn’t dare pick up the baby immediately, first taking off his outerwear and warming up before holding and cooing over the child.

“How’s little Mai today?”

Lin Qiu, pale-faced, replied, “He’s fine; just finished nursing.”

“Rest and recover—mother and Aunt Chen can watch the child.”

“Mm.”

Lin Qiu’s labor had been dangerous: a first-time parent, slender, with narrow hips, the baby couldn’t come easily.

But the county had skilled midwives—Cao Kun had spent ten taels of silver to hire two experienced midwives from rich families.

In the end, the baby was born safely, but Lin Qiu suffered greatly, losing a lot of blood and becoming extremely weak; so for days, Chen Rong and Cao’s mother nursed him round the clock.

“I’ve already sent word to cousin and them. They’ll hopefully come for the baby’s full-month ceremony.”

Cao Kun must have been uncomfortable—soon the baby started to fuss.

Lin Qiu sat up carefully and took the baby back. Seeing the red birthmark on the baby’s brow, he sighed. He had really borne a ge’er…

Chen Rong’s old warning was still in his heart; each time he held the child, he felt torn—loving and resenting, his spirit exhausted. In modern terms, Lin Qiu was suffering postpartum depression, but few in the old days understood this.

Cao Kun picked up on Lin Qiu’s low spirits, but as a man, he wasn’t especially sensitive; there was the shop to run outside, and at most, he could help hold the child and comfort Lin Qiu at night—not much else.

Chen Rong and Cao’s mother focused on the baby, thinking Lin Qiu’s spirits were just weak after childbirth, not realizing he was truly distressed.

Only Lin Sui noticed his brother’s mood and, alone with him, tried to talk: “Brother, what’s wrong?”

“I’m fine.” Lin Qiu forced a smile.

Lin Sui shook his head, “You’re definitely hiding something. We’ve grown up together, I can tell.”

“Don’t overthink—I’m fine…”

But Lin Sui clung to him, “Brother, you’re all I have left. If anything happened to you, how would Mama and I survive?”

Lin Qiu faltered for a while. “Sui, what if I only ever have ge’er children—will Cao Kun go out and have a child with someone else like our father did?”

“What are you talking about? Brother-in-law isn’t that sort of person!”

Lin Qiu leaned against the bed, dazed, “Father wasn’t like that at first, either…”

Though Lin Changbin was now cold, he’d once been upright—no one could have predicted how he turned out.

Lin Sui realized his brother was spiraling and finally went to tell their mother.

Chen Rong regretted her earlier words immediately. “It’s my fault for mentioning boys. The poor child took it to heart.”

Cao’s mother happened to overhear and slapped her thigh in frustration, “What nonsense is this? We’re not a noble family—we don’t need sons for a royal line!”

“Madam C…” Chen Rong was shocked. When she’d married, her mother-in-law had only ever longed for grandsons; she never expected Lin Qiu’s would be so unconcerned.

“I’ll talk to him!”

Cao’s mother, blunt as ever, couldn’t hide her feelings. She went straight to her son-in-law’s room.

Lin Qiu was crying quietly. “Mother, you’re here.”

“Qiu’er—listen to me. At first, I didn’t agree to you marrying Cao Kun, but he insisted. Since you joined our family, I see how well you treat him. Compared with other sons-in-law, you’re literate, you can help with the shop—you’re far more capable. Neighbors at the old house praise us for having such a good son-in-law.”

Lin Qiu was confused, unsure of her meaning.

“You worked yourself to the bone to have little Mai—regardless of gender, I treasure this child. Our family is different from others; Cao Kun has no siblings, and I’m an old woman. Every new family member is a blessing.”

“Mother…” Lin Qiu was so moved, he started to cry.

His mother-in-law wiped her eyes too and patted his hand, “Don’t drive yourself crazy. I heard all about your father—Cao Kun would never treat you that way. If he did, I’d be the first to step in!”

“Over the years, many ge’er and girls chased after him, and he never did a thing. I can’t guarantee everything else, but you can trust his character.”

“Even if you never have a son, so be it. If our family line ends, what does it matter?”

Cao’s father had died young; she’d considered remarrying but stayed to raise her son on her own. Passing down the line was never her real concern.

Her words gave Lin Qiu real comfort, his anxiety melting away. He looked at the child in his arms and finally felt true affection.

He’d not really looked at his own baby before. This time, he saw the little one had Cao Kun’s nose and mouth and, apart from not looking much like him, actually resembled Lin Sui. He was adorable.

Lin Qiu hugged his child and whispered, “It was wrong of me—sorry I neglected you these days.”

Perhaps the baby sensed something, for he reached up and touched Lin Qiu’s face—soft skin next to skin.

In that moment, Lin Qiu’s heart cleared; whether others liked it or not, he’d love and protect this child.

On the second day of the eleventh month, Chen Qingyan and Wang Ying went to the county for their nephew’s full-month celebration.

Weather was normal this year; as soon as November began, snow fell, and temperatures dropped each day.

It was too cold for Wang Ying to take his baby along, so he left Yuanbao at home with Li Shi and Qingyun.

After a bumpy ride to the county, Cao Kun was waiting—in fact, he ran out as soon as he saw the Chen family’s carriage.

“Cousin Chen!”

“Yes, cousin-in-law.”

Cao climbed up to the driver’s seat. “Come home—my mother and Lin Qiu have been waiting days.”

The carriage sped to the new home. Inside, Chen Rong and Lin Sui greeted them. “You’re finally here, Qingyan, Ah Ying!”

Wang Ying jumped off the carriage. “I heard Qiu had a beautiful little ge’er—let me see him!”

Chen Rong brought him into the bedroom; Cao Kun took Chen Qingyan off to talk elsewhere, never making guests feel neglected.

In the bedroom, Lin Qiu was feeding the baby. The child nursed on goat’s milk—ge’er rarely produced much, so poor families fed flour gruel, only richer houses could afford nursemaids or goat milk.

Hearing the carriage, Lin Qiu guessed his family had arrived, and his heart filled with joy.

“Sister-in-law, you’re here!”

“Quick, let me see our pretty little boy.”

He handed over the baby, and Wang Ying, already practiced, gently rocked him. “So light.”

Chen Rong explained, “He was only five jin eight liang at birth, and now, a month on, about nine jin.”

“Yuanbao is already twenty jin! Holding him every day is like a dumbbell workout—hurts my arms.”

Chen Rong, laughing at the mention of Yuanbao, added, “That chubby boy is so cute. How many teeth now?”

“Eight already—four on top, four below. He can gnaw through half a bun by himself!”

“That boy’s an eater—Qingyan was just like him at that age.”

Wang Ying played with the baby. “Such a good-looking child—have you named him?”

“Yes. Full name, Cao Yuliu. Pet name, Mai.”

“Mai—adorable little Mai.”

Lin Qiu gently stroked his son’s hair, “Didn’t your mother come?”

“No, she’s busy with Yuanbao—wherever he is, she’s there. We couldn’t risk bringing the baby in this cold, so she stayed home with him.”

Chen Rong chuckled, “Your mother-in-law has her hands full now.”

A moment later, Cao Kun called everyone to eat—lunch had been ordered from the restaurant.

Lin Qiu told the others, “You go ahead. I shouldn’t have salty or spicy food yet, I’ll stay and watch the baby.”

Chen Rong said, “I’ll stay too, keep you company.”

“No need, Sister Sun is here. You go eat—it’s rare for your cousin and sister-in-law to visit, have a meal together.”

The restaurant was the same as their wedding—food was excellent. Everyone sat upstairs in a private room.

Chen Qingyan was the first to speak: “Only a few days to the full month—are the plans set?”

Cao Kun nodded. “It’s all ready. Family is small, and not many relatives on Qiu’s side—just a few of my friends coming, so we’re setting five tables at home.”

“If you need any help in these days, just tell me.”

“Will do. With your help, I won’t be shy.”

After the meal, Wang Ying remembered something. “I almost forgot the good news: Qingyan’s name has been cleared!”

1. Five jin, eight liang — Traditional Chinese weight: 1 jin ≈ 500g; 1 liang ≈ 50g; so ~2.9 kg (~6.4 lbs).