"Madam, she's delivered, the doctor has delivered," Liu Rong announced as she hurried in from outside, her news for Qin Junyao, who was playing the zither indoors.
Qin Junyao released the strings and stood up, taking a few quick steps towards Liu Rong. "Are the mother and child safe?"
"Madam Zhang drank two doses of the labor-inducing medicine, and Doctor Sheng said it has harmed her body; she'll need three years to recover. The young master... he..."
"The baby is gone?" Qin Junyao gasped. Seeing Liu Rong hesitate, she feared the worst.
Liu Rong quickly waved her hands. "He's here, Madam. The young master is still here, but he was severely deprived of oxygen. Doctor Sheng said we'll have to wait until he's older to see if there are any issues with his lungs, or... his brain."
"Oh my," Qin Junyao relaxed her tightly clenched hands and exhaled deeply. "Liu Rong, you scared me to death. As long as he's alive, that's what matters. As long as he's alive, there's hope. I'll go see them."
"Madam," Liu Rong stopped her mistress. "Old Madam Qin wants you to come tomorrow. It's late, and the young miss cannot be left alone."
The crying of Xiao Langtou came from the kang at that opportune moment, reminding his mother that she was needed for her music.
Qin Junyao thought for a moment before returning to the zither. She sighed inwardly, wondering when Xiao Langtou would finally sleep peacefully without crying. She resolved that when Zhao Liangcai returned, she would make him take their daughter alone. He could take her for as long as she had cried.
The next day dawned clear and bright, a good weather day.
Qin Junyao, holding Xiao Si Niu, went to the Qin family's home at the foot of the mountain early in the morning.
"Yao Yao, coming so early? You haven't eaten, have you? We have millet porridge simmering at home, go have some. Give this little brat to me; he's heavy. Did he make a fuss last night?" Qin Ershen, who was hanging clothes in the courtyard, was the first to see Qin Junyao enter.
"I've already eaten, Second Aunt. Si Niu was very well-behaved last night; he ate and played for a while before sleeping. Much better behaved than Langtou."
Qin Ershen patted the back of Xiao Si Niu, who was hugging her neck, and said with a smile, "If this little uncle isn't as well-behaved as his niece, I'll spank him every day."
"Hurry inside, it's chilly out here."
Qin Ershen intended to take her son inside to Qin Lin's care and talk with Qin Junyao about yesterday's events. The general situation was similar to the news received last night, but the inherent dangers still made Qin Junyao's heart pound. If not for Doctor Sheng, it could have resulted in two lives lost.
What surprised her, however, was that Qin Mu had not collapsed; instead, she had moved into Zhang Da Ni's room. Qin Mu said she wanted to properly attend to her daughter-in-law during her confinement. During breakfast, she had spoken at length with Qin Sen, urging him to take good care of himself and not forget to visit often. In Qin Ershen's words, Qin Mu seemed to have taken a "consciousness-awakening pill," suddenly becoming more open-minded and clear-headed.
Qin Junyao first went inside to greet Qin Nainai and Doctor Sheng, who were eating, and then proceeded to Zhang Da Ni's room.
At the door of the room, she was stopped by Qin Xiaoyu. "Sister, you can't go in right now. Sister-in-law and Gouzi are weak. Mother says they need to warm up before you can see them."
Gouzi? Qin Junyao was sure she hadn't misheard, yet she desperately wished she had. "Who did you just say Sister-in-law is with?"
"Gouzi," Qin Xiaoyu looked at Qin Junyao with an expression that suggested she was foolish. "The nephew Sister-in-law gave birth to yesterday, Big Gouzi."
"Cough, cough," Qin Junyao choked on her own saliva, still managing to ask Qin Xiaoyu between coughs, "You said, cough, the baby Sister-in-law had yesterday is called, cough, Gouzi?"
Qin Xiaoyu rolled her eyes and turned to pour Qin Junyao some water. "How can a grown woman choke on her saliva? Our Nainai says humble names are good for raising children. From now on, if Big Brother, Second Brother, or Third Brother have a son, they'll all be called Gouzi."
"Our father is a log, our brothers are bulls, and our nephew is a dog. How perfect," Qin Xiaoyu said, handing the water to Qin Junyao. "It's good that I'm called Xiaoyu."
"Our family is special; Nainai spent money to give you a nice name, and you still choke on your saliva."
Qin Junyao coughed a couple more times while holding the water cup. Seeing Qin Xiaoyu turn and enter Zhang Da Ni's room, she looked at Liu Rong, who was suppressing a smile, and twitched her lips. Had her sister been brainwashed by her grandmother? Before, she would argue with her about her name, but now she complained about her own.
Thinking of her eldest, second, and third brothers' future sons lined up, being called Big Gouzi, Second Gouzi, Third Gouzi, Fourth Gouzi, Qin Junyao shivered.
"Study," Qin Junyao secretly resolved. She would make sure these children studied hard in the future, making them realize the importance of names. At this moment, she forgot that her own family had Ax and Langtou.
After seeing Zhang Da Ni, Qin Junyao was completely relieved. Her sister-in-law was a strong and determined woman. Even though she had walked through the gates of hell, she had not lost her courage regarding future life and childbearing. She even smiled and advised Qin Junyao that she wouldn't have to endure the pain of pregnancy and childbirth for at least three years and could eat and drink well. She said that with Doctor Sheng present, she wasn't worried about the child's health, and even if the child had a brain issue, it was okay. She and her husband, Qin Da Niu, would work hard to earn money and have more younger siblings for Big Gouzi, ensuring their son would be well-clothed and fed in the future.
Upon returning to her own home, Qin Junyao was still discussing her elder sister-in-law's optimistic outlook with Liu Rong and Liu Yu, remarking that if she had suffered such hardship during childbirth, she would never dare to have a second child.
"Madam, don't speak nonsense. They say each birth is easier than the last. Your future deliveries will surely be smooth," Liu Yu corrected Qin Junyao's pessimistic thoughts while folding clothes with Liu Rong.
Qin Junyao gently released Xiao Langtou's small hand, which was grabbing her hair, and replaced it with her own finger. "I was just saying."
"Remind me to bring gifts for the post-natal ceremony the day after tomorrow; I'm afraid I'll forget."
Liu Rong put a thick cotton coat into a box and asked curiously, "Is the Qin family's young master so frail that he still needs a post-natal ceremony?"
"Precisely because he's weak, he needs it even more," Liu Yu handed the cotton coat in her hand to Liu Rong. "Doctor Sheng will specially prepare water for the ceremony, and I can learn a thing or two."
"Madam, I heard that this morning Young Master Qin went to report the good news to the madam of the Da Furen's family. Will he be able to attend the ceremony?" Liu Yu had stayed late at the Qin household last night and had not accompanied Qin Junyao to the Qin family's home this morning, so she hadn't heard the latest news.
"I don't know," Qin Junyao shook her head. "He probably can't come. I've also sent word to the salt lake. Even if my elder sister-in-law's father isn't great, he's still the child's maternal grandfather. He might come for the ceremony."
"Then Zhang Da Furen's siblings will all come today?" Liu Yu asked again.
Qin Junyao nodded. "Someone was sent to pick them up this morning. You should remind Granny Ma to keep an eye on my maternal family. With so many people, there might be things overlooked. If anything is missing or short, we'll cover it first."
"No matter what, this is the first grandson of the Qin family's eldest branch. My father values face. We can't lose face because of something missing, which would cause discord at home. I can't handle it if my grandmother throws a tantrum again."