Wang Fengnian hurried into the room, kneeling on the kang beside Lu Liu, joining Lu Yang at his side to support him.
Lu Liu had just taken his medicine, and seeing his father, tears began streaming down his face.
“Daddy… it hurts so much, I’m so tired… you never told me it was like this before…”
Wang Fengnian looked at him, sweat covering his forehead and face, hair plastered with moisture, and his heart ached.
“It’s always like this. Giving birth is never painless. You’ve already delivered one—listen to me, push a little more, and it’ll be over soon.”
After delivering the first child, the second would come quickly.
Lu Liu waited for the medicine to take effect and turned to look at Lu Yang.
“Brother, you shouldn’t be here. What if I scare you?”
Lu Yang shook his head. “Stop talking. Save your strength; there’ll be plenty of time to speak later. Do you think I can be scared by childbirth? I didn’t grow up scared, did I?”
Lu Liu curved his lips but said nothing more. Lu Yang still spoke:
“The first one is the little boy, right? The uncle didn’t announce it, and no one said anything.”
These days, every family hoped for a son.
Lu Liu, not yet finished delivering, didn’t want anyone to dampen his spirits, so no one had spoken.
He guessed and said, “It’s okay. Little brother is fine. This is our little boy. We’ll raise him well, teach him, and make him as capable as you.”
Lu Yang, sensing his brother’s reliance, smiled. “You talk as if you just gave birth to a child for me.”
He smiled, but tears fell onto Lu Liu’s face.
Lu Liu reached up, wiping the tears. “Brother, you made me see that little brother is no less than a man. Don’t cry—I won’t say anything more.”
The second child was easier to deliver. Lu Liu was numb with pain, but the medicine gave him strength. Following Li the midwife’s instructions, he breathed in, breathed out, pushed, exerted, repeated—over and over.
Eventually, Lu Liu released the burden, feeling light. Another cry pierced the air, and Li the midwife announced loudly, “It’s a little strong boy! A son! Congratulations! Your family has grown!”
Lu Liu grasped his father’s and brother’s hands, thoughts drifting far away.
So the little brother didn’t count as a “son”? That explained the previous silence—why no one had celebrated earlier.
Chen Guizhi brought out coins for the midwife’s fee, adding a little extra as a tip.
In the village, delivering a boy meant giving more. She, fiery as ever, scolded Li the midwife: “You’ve got no tact! My son-in-law was carrying twins, and you didn’t announce the first, only the second! How is that fair?”
Li the midwife washed his hands in a basin, took the coins, checked the amount, and chuckled. “A ‘ding’ means a boy. You got a healthy grandson; you should be happy. I’ll leave now so you can enjoy your joy.”
Chen Guizhi, still unsatisfied, said, “A ‘ding’ is a man, but what about the child? Today is a big day! My son is still outside waiting. If he hears this, he’ll think we only had one child. What kind of business is that?”
Seeing her insistence, Li corrected himself: “Congratulations! Congratulations! Your family has twin sons! Both are healthy, crying loudly!”
Only then did Chen Guizhi let him leave, calling out to those outside about the children and Lu Liu’s condition, asking them to wait.
The kang was large, prepared for delivery with three mats underneath. After birth, two mats could be rolled away, leaving one, and a blanket could be laid for Lu Liu to rest.
Wang Fengnian helped him clean up, then Lu Yang used dry cotton cloth to wipe his hair so it would dry faster.
The twins lay in small swaddles on the kang, tiny and wrinkled, their resemblance unclear.
Once everything was settled, Li Feng was allowed in to stay with Lu Liu.
Lu Yang stepped out and realized it was already dark. Candles had long been lit inside, but he hadn’t noticed until stepping outside.
Xie Yan sat in the main room with his father-in-law. After some awkward conversation, they fell silent.
Seeing Lu Yang, Xie Yan called, “Jingzhi.”
Lu Yang glanced at him, smiling. “Back?”
Xie Yan nodded. “Yes. We were a bit late. Li Feng rode ahead; we followed behind with my father-in-law. Didn’t make a sound so as not to disturb you.”
So considerate.
Lu Yang looked further and saw his mother coming from the stove room, calling them to eat.
Dinner was a stew, slowly simmered on the stove. Both pots still had water heating, and Yao Fulang had steamed a pot of rice, ready for them.
Lu Yang saw Yao Fulang and remembered to report the birth to Chen Jiu. He set down his chores, washed his hands, and stepped out.
He needed a breath and time to rethink a few things.
Xie Yan, seeing his fatigue, accompanied him outside. “Were you scared?”
Lu Yang shook his head. “No… I just realized how difficult pregnancy and childbirth really are.”
Xie Yan held his hand. “After all, making a person… in the myths, only immortals do that. Giving birth is like a mortal undergoing a trial, isn’t it?”
Lu Yang considered it—sensible.
Chen Jiu’s home was nearby. Wang Meng had returned; the household was lively.
Li the midwife had left; they had checked in and learned Lu Liu’s labor went smoothly—he had a little boy and a stronger boy. They planned to visit the next day to celebrate.
It was late, and the house was messy—no point disturbing them tonight.
Chen Jiu, seeing Lu Yang, was initially surprised. She thought his earlier words were polite talk. But he truly came to share the good news.
Lu Yang smiled, explaining: “You care about my brother. That thought is precious—I won’t forget it.”
Chen Jiu pursed her lips. “How is he now?”
Lu Yang said, “All is well. Li Feng is inside keeping him company. No major bleeding; he’ll recover with rest.”
Chen Jiu had Wang Meng fetch some roasted sesame—two bamboo containers: one sweet, one salty—for Lu Yang to take to Lu Liu.
Lu Yang accepted them and returned to dinner with Xie Yan.
Li Feng wasn’t at the table; he remained inside with Lu Liu.
Lu Liu’s hair was still damp. Li Feng had brought a small stove inside, sitting at the edge of the kang to dry Lu Liu’s hair with the fire.
The kang was warm; with the stove, Lu Liu felt comfortable.
Sweat had dried, and his lips were chapped. Li Feng gave him some rice water to drink.
Lu Liu noticed the dark circles under his eyes. Concerned, he said, “Did you not rest on the way here?”
Li Feng teased, “Look at you—you’ve lost all color. Like paper.”
They had bought cheap paper—yellowish, not bright white.
Lu Liu said, “My face is pale.”
He gestured for Li Feng to see the children. Li Feng, tall, could see all three of them—father and two sons—clearly from his position.
Lu Liu told him about Li the midwife announcing the birth. Li Feng frowned.
“He didn’t announce our first child,” Lu Liu said.
Li Feng nodded. “Your mother mentioned it; he corrected himself. If it’s not done properly, I’ll talk to him later. Li the midwife is an outsider; we don’t fuss. We’ll care for the children, pamper them like our own eyes.”
Lu Liu felt reassured, nudging him to eat and rest.
“We’ll all sleep and talk properly tomorrow.”
Li Feng agreed, brought a bowl of porridge, fed him, dried his hair, and told him to sleep. He called Shun Ge’er to watch over him.
Wang Fengnian had eaten and joined Shun Ge’er indoors.
Chen Guizhi arranged the sleeping spaces. It was cold, and rooms weren’t fully ready for separate beds.
They used the kang as a shared sleeping space. Lu Erbao, Xie Yan, and Li Feng shared one room; Shun Ge’er, Zhao Peilan, and she shared another. Lu Yang and Wang Fengnian stayed in the same room as Lu Liu.
