Free Web NovelChapter 365: Chapter 365: Extra Story 14
At the entrance of the delivery room, Shen Que first inquired about Jiang Cheng’s condition, and Xing Er replied, "Don’t worry, everything went smoothly. She needs to freshen up a bit, and she’ll be out soon."
"That’s good, that’s good."
Shen Que finally felt relieved, his eyes fixed on the little one.
Isn’t it too small?
"Come, hold your baby."
Xing Er handed the baby over, and Shen Que took a deep breath, looking as solemn as if he were going into battle.
However, his arms felt like they weren’t his, trying various postures, but he didn’t dare to take the baby from Xing Er’s arms.
Seeing this, Grandma Shen grew anxious and urged, "That’s your son, not a bomb. Just hold him!"
After all, she’s waiting to hold him too!
What an opportunity, yet he’s useless!
Hearing this, Shen Que asked with a distressed look, "Is it...possible to hold him wrong? He’s too small."
Grandma Shen, speechless, pushed Shen Que aside.
"Get out of the way, don’t talk nonsense, he’s a healthy seven-and-a-half-pound boy. What do you mean too small? The number is auspicious."
Pushed aside, Shen Que watched closely as Grandma Shen gently supported the neck, cradled the bottom, using her arms.
Shen Que, summarizing the key points, was still full of questions.
But he didn’t dare to ask.
He eagerly watched Grandma Shen, eyes full of affection as she held the little one. Shen Yue was curiously watching too, and Shen Xing frowned standing next to Shen Que, whispering, "Brother... are babies this small?"
"Shh, don’t let aunty hear."
Shen Xing nodded, standing quietly aside, not daring to touch, only to watch.
Half an hour later, the delivery room doors opened again, and Jiang Cheng came out.
Shen Que rushed over immediately but didn’t see Jiang Cheng’s face.
Jiang Cheng was wrapped tightly, even her head covered with a blanket.
"It’s for the sitting month, avoid catching a cold. We’ll observe in the hospital today, if everything’s okay, then we’ll head home."
Shen Que nodded repeatedly, accompanying the push of the hospital bed to the ward.
The ward had long been prepared, warm and airtight.
Jiang Cheng was carried to the bed by Shen Que, and at last, her head was uncovered.
Shen Que lowered his head, kissing her forehead.
"Thank you, my love."
"I wanted this too, he’s my son after all."
Jiang Cheng’s eyes were full of tenderness, her demeanor slightly changed post-childbirth, less sharp, gaining a maternal glow.
"Where’s the child, let me see, I only got a glimpse inside."
"Here he is."
Grandma Shen brought over the little one, placing him in front of Jiang Cheng’s chest, instructing her on how to hold him.
Perhaps women learn instinctively, or for some other reason, anyhow, Jiang Cheng grasped it in a second, holding the baby before Shen Que could.
"Good thing he doesn’t look much like a monkey."
Jiang Cheng said at once, making Grandma Shen laugh and cry.
"Isn’t that the truth? I remember Shen Que looked just like a monkey when he was born, all dark. Luckily, sons typically take after their mothers."
After saying this, Grandma Shen advised Jiang Cheng, "Hold the baby less; otherwise, you’ll have backaches, and your arms will hurt."
"Okay."
Jiang Cheng didn’t argue, obediently letting the baby lie beside her, refraining from holding him.
The practice of sitting the month, having existed for five thousand years, has its reasons.
Though foreigners return to work right after giving birth and drink cold water and such, in Jiang Cheng’s view, respecting the ancestral traditions of Hua Xia isn’t wrong.
In traditional Chinese medicine’s theory, a woman’s pores open wide postpartum, entering a state of physical weakness; catching cold or exhausting oneself during this time can harm the body.
So, recuperation is crucial.
Jiang Cheng even thought it resembled recovery after a severe illness.
Perhaps her hormones were soaring, newly postpartum Jiang Cheng wasn’t sleepy at all.
Lying down, chatting with everyone, occasionally nursing the baby to ensure milk flow while eating some light rice soup herself.
Xing Er stayed, remaining as Jiang Cheng’s exclusive postpartum doctor.
Shen Xing and Shen Yue returned home, inspecting the house to ensure no drafts.
At night, Shen Que stayed by her side while Xing Er headed home.
The moonlight shimmered, and Shen Que sat by the bed watching the one big, one small sleeping, feeling a warm glow inside.
This must be happiness.
"Uh..."
The startled little baby caused Shen Que to jerk awake, lightly patting before turning the child towards the "nourishment."
Jiang Cheng was tired, knowing Shen Que was there, she left it alone.
That night, Shen Que had to get up every two hours, assisting the little one to feed.
Jiang Cheng slept fitfully, nearly through the night, feeling much better the next day.
By the next morning, the doctor came to press the stomach to expel postpartum blood, an unforgettable sensation for Jiang Cheng.
Fortunately, Jiang Cheng’s health was good, and by the third day, she was cleared to return home.
The doctor gave many instructions, which Shen Que listened to attentively.
Jiang Cheng was once again bundled tightly; in the height of summer, she was stiflingly hot.
Upon getting in the car and coming home, Jiang Cheng was drenched in sweat.
It wasn’t just the heat, but weakness too.
That feeling of being hollowed out physically was particularly apparent.
Xing Er checked Jiang Cheng’s pulse, arranging a personalized nutritional regimen for her.
"You’ll be weak after childbirth. Just focus on resting well, take your time. Avoid supplementary over-tonics now, so the month’s rest is necessary, ideally for forty-five days."
Jiang Cheng understood, regarding her own health, she didn’t argue.
Thus began her postpartum confinement period.
Jiang Cheng spent her days mostly lying down, barely holding the baby.
Xing Er arranged nutritional meals, while Grandma Shen and Shen Yue helped care for the baby, with Shen Que also at home.
Shen Xing was assigned to the kitchen to assist Xing Er.
After witnessing Jiang Cheng’s smooth delivery, George returned to S City.
During this time, Li Chunxiang, Director Leng, Director Lu, Principal Wang, having heard Jiang Cheng gave birth, called to congratulate.
As for visiting, Shen Que declined them.
The reason was Jiang Cheng needed to recuperate well; they would host a 100-day banquet later.
Upon learning this, everyone started pondering gifts for the occasion quietly.
Suddenly, half the golden lockets in S City were sold out.
The vendors selling golden lockets nearly thought something major was about to happen, otherwise why would everyone buy gold?
These matters Jiang Cheng was unaware of, her current days revolving solely around meals.
As it was summer during the postpartum period, with Xing Er’s permission, Jiang Cheng used a wormwood-ginger water wash for her hair, drying it indoors, avoiding dampness or chills.
With Xing Er’s excellent medical care, Jiang Cheng’s postpartum bleeding nearly ceased within a week, each subsequent day feeling slightly stronger.
The sweating also decreased day by day.
Moreover, Xing Er provided Jiang Cheng with herbal ointment to remove stretch marks, purely herbal, entirely free of side effects.
Receiving the ointment, Jiang Cheng gazed at it intently.
Xing Er, puzzled, asked, "What’s wrong? Don’t you like the scent?"
"No."
Jiang Cheng shook her head, holding the ointment, she gazed at Xing Er.
"Xing Er, are you interested in making money?"
"Of course I am, who doesn’t want to make money? I’m planning to buy a house and later open a pharmacy, all these I’d like to have."
