Chapter 166: A Visit from the Cat and Dog

Chapter 166: A Visit from the Cat and Dog

The sun rose in the east, and Zhao Xiping pushed open the door. The crying inside had ceased, and in the distance, faint cries of vendors could be heard. On the road outside the wall, the sound of wheels rolling over the ground, solid and thudding, jolted those in a daze back to reality.

Zhao Xiping recalled how Uncle Old Niu had come to his door with joyous news the day after A’shui was born. He felt excited and couldn't wait to share the good news of having a son with his relatives and friends.

"Sir, the room is tidy, and both mother and child are asleep. I'll take my leave now," said the midwife, who had eaten her fill and was preparing to leave.

Zhao Xiping asked her to wait a moment, then quietly returned to the room to fetch one hundred coins for her, saying, "I'll see you out."

"Sir, you're too kind." The midwife smiled as she accepted the money. She had already been paid when she came, and another hundred coins as a gift for the birth was not insignificant.

After seeing off the midwife, Zhao Xiping went to knock on the door of the Gu family next door.

Gu Qianhu had heard the commotion last night and saw Zhao Xiping approaching with a joyful expression. He congratulated him, "Another addition to the family."

"Yes, it's a boy. Our houses are close, so I came to inform you first. We'll invite you for a meal when he's a month old."

"Sure, I'll definitely come." Gu Qianhu asked if he had eaten, "If you haven't, why don't you eat something at my place?"

"No, thank you. I still need to visit my younger sister's house." Zhao Xiping bid farewell and didn't want to keep him any longer.

He left Qianhusuo and headed west. On the way, he met Huang Ancheng, who was about to start his shift. Zhao Xiping stopped him to share the good news, then went to Zhao Xiaomi's in-laws' home.

Upon hearing the news, Zhao Xiaomi immediately tied up two old hens from her home, picked up a basket of eggs she had bought a couple of days ago, and called on Huang Lianzheng. The two hurried out.

By this time, Zhao Xiping had already left the city and was heading north. Before he even approached, the big black dog came running to greet him, barking restlessly as it got closer.

Sui Liang ran out at the sound, seeing his brother-in-law, he scolded, "Big Black, are you crazy? Why are you barking like that?"

"It probably smelled the blood on me. Sui Liang, your sister gave birth this morning. You have a nephew now; you're an uncle." Zhao Xiping stopped, his face bright and warm like the sun, calm yet powerful.

Sui Liang was stunned for a moment, then quickly asked, "How is my sister? Why didn't you come to call me last night? I wanted to be with her."

"She's sleeping now. Come with me to see her."

"Okay." Sui Liang followed him, but after a few steps, he ran back to the kitchen to give some instructions. When he came out, he saw Zhao Xiping leading a camel and ran into the kitchen again to pick up a bucket of fish.

The cat, Miao Guan, meowed from the warehouse, asking for fish. In the next moment, it was lifted up by Sui Liang.

"Miao Guan, I'm an uncle now—" Sui Liang laughed, "Do you want to come with me? We have a new addition to our family. From now on, I will take care of him just like my sister took care of me."

"Meow—" Miao Guan cried out, struggling to get down.

A merchant came in and asked, "Is breakfast ready? Do you have pork and leek pancakes this morning?"

"I don't know. Go ask someone inside. I have to go back to the city. My sister gave birth, and I'm an uncle now." Sui Liang boasted loudly.

"Ah, did Sui Yu give birth? Is it a girl or a boy?"

"Just like me, it's a boy."

"A son takes after his mother. Your family will have another promising person."

Hoofbeats grew louder, and Zhao Xiping rode a camel over.

"Zhao Qianhu, congratulations on your precious son."

Other merchants came out upon hearing the news, all saying, "Sui Yu gave birth? Congratulations. Is it a boy or a girl?"

"It's a boy," Zhao Xiping replied, "We should go now. You all have work to do."

"Alright."

Sui Liang, holding Miao Guan, mounted the camel and took the bucket of fish handed to him by a merchant. He thanked them and left the inn amidst a series of cat calls.

The big black dog ran behind the camel, and Gan Da chased after it, calling out to the dog, which ran faster and faster.

The dog chased the camel back into the city, its first time entering. It mixed with the crowd, following the camel closely despite the alarmed cries of people, all the way back to Qianhusuo.

Sui Liang jumped off the camel, patting the panting dog, and said, "Why did you chase us back? Did you also want to see my sister?"

"Come in," Zhao Xiping opened the door and said, "Come in."

Miao Guan landed and ran excitedly into the courtyard, darting around. Upon smelling the blood, it became restless, its fur bristling, and it sat outside the closed door of the main room with its tail up.

The big black dog also walked to the front door, lying down with its tongue out, pressed against the wooden door.

"Third Brother, why did you bring the cat and dog back?" Zhao Xiaomi came out of the kitchen.

Zhao Xiping glanced at the cat and dog and said, "They must be worried about your sister-in-law. Since they're here, let them stay."

"Fish soup is simmering in the pot. Do you two want to eat some?" Zhao Xiaomi asked.

Both Zhao Xiping and Sui Liang shook their heads, though they had missed breakfast, neither seemed to feel hungry.

Snow on the roof melted, dripping along the eaves, gradually wetting the ground.

Suddenly, the sound of a baby's cry echoed from inside the room. Zhao Xiping immediately pushed the door open, followed closely by Sui Liang, with the cat and dog mingling among their legs, raising their heads to rush in.

Sui Yu woke up and turned her head to see a black dog's head poking beside the bed. As she looked, the dog twitched its ears and wagged its tail.

"Meow—" Miao Guan circled the bed with its tail up.

"Sister, you're awake? Are you hungry?" Sui Liang asked, moving closer.

"There's fish soup simmering in the kitchen," Zhao Xiaomi added.

"You all came." Sui Yu felt quite happy. She glanced outside; the doors and windows were closed, and on the table near the window, an oil lamp with a trimmed wick cast a gentle, non-blinding light.

Sui Yu looked at the man holding the child at the foot of the bed and asked, "How long have I been asleep? Is the little one hungry?"

"Less than half a day," Zhao Xiping said. "Shall we eat something before you sleep again?"

"Sure." Sui Yu also felt hungry. She looked at Sui Liang and Zhao Xiaomi and said, "I'm fine, no need to stay with me. Just check on the baby and go about your business."

"It's cold in winter, I have nothing to do today, so I'll stay home with you. If you need anything, just call out," Zhao Xiaomi said as she walked away. "I'll get you some fish soup."

Sui Liang also said he had nothing to do. He walked over to Zhao Xiping and said, "Brother-in-law, let me take a look at him."

Zhao Xiping glanced at Sui Yu, then bent down to show the red-skinned baby to Sui Liang. As expected, Sui Liang's smile became forced, his mouth moved but he couldn't find any words of praise.

"Meow—" The cat jumped onto the bed.

"Hey, you're all dirty, no getting on the bed." Sui Liang picked up the cat and changed the subject, "Let's go, let's go, everyone out, Dahu, you too."

Sui Yu tried to suppress her laughter. She patted the dog's head and said, "Go out with Brother Liang. When spring comes and it warms up, I'll take the little master to the inn to play with you."

The cat and dog followed Sui Liang out, and the door closed. Zhao Xiping carried the fussing baby over and said, "You two are really close siblings."

Sui Yu finally laughed. She lowered her head to look at the child beside her, red and wrinkled, thin and small, with a pointed head.

"My head hurts." She didn't want to look anymore, lying flat on the bed with her arms and legs spread out, she said hopelessly, "We must have taken the wrong baby, right?"

Zhao Xiping ignored her, half-supporting her to sit up and quickly fetching a sheepskin coat for her to wear.

"No, sitting is uncomfortable, I'll lie down halfway." Sui Yu endured the pain as she lay down. "Go fetch a basin of hot water to clean me, and the pad underneath needs changing."

Zhao Xiping took out the clean pad she had prepared. As he pulled out the blood-soaked old pad, he fell silent.

Sui Yu half-lay on the bed, awkwardly lifting her jacket to feed the baby. Looking at the wrinkled little face, she couldn't help but laugh.

"Haha, you're so ugly." Her tone was mocking, "So ugly, who do you look like?"

The dog outside suddenly barked loudly, startling the baby who was nursing, causing him to cry out, his already red face turning even redder.

"Alright, alright, I won't say you're ugly anymore." Sui Yu patted him, "Don't cry, the more you cry, the uglier you'll become."

Zhao Xiping heard this as he entered with the water. It was true, and he had no response.

"Fish soup first or cleaning first?"

"Cleaning first, I sweated last night, I feel uncomfortable." Sui Yu continued to support herself while feeding the baby, which made her break into a cold sweat again.

Zhao Xiping didn't waste any time. He quickly wrung out the cloth and started wiping down her neck.

The hot cloth made Sui Yu shiver, and she couldn't help but ask, "Did you use boiling water? Aren't you afraid of burning yourself?"

"Not boiling water, it's not hot. Yin Po said you can't catch a chill," Zhao Xiping lifted her and wiped her waist, abdomen, and back, then hurriedly dipped the cloth in the water again.

After cleaning her upper body and legs, he went out to change the water, carefully cleaning Sui Yu thoroughly, and placed hot water bottles at her feet and lower back.

Just as he finished tending to her, the baby soiled himself again. Zhao Xiping went out to fetch more water and came back to clean the baby.

Sui Yu pinched her nose in disgust, "It stinks."

That was an exaggeration, but since a mother disapproving of her son was understandable, Zhao Xiping remained silent.

Sui Yu watched him clean up from the bed and said, "This kid has good luck; he started producing milk right after he was born."

"Not only does he have good luck, being born from your womb is a great blessing," Zhao Xiping said earnestly.

His sincerity made Sui Yu laugh heartily.

Zhao Xiaomi and Sui Liang heard this from the yard. She gave Sui Liang a meaningful look and said, "Can't tell, can you? My Third Brother is quite good at comforting people."

Sui Liang squatted down, watching Dahu the dog lift his leg to scratch himself, without responding.

"Xiaomi, bring the fish soup," Zhao Xiping opened the door and said, "You two don't wait. Eat if you're hungry, leave if you need to. I'll stay here, no need for your help."

"I'll go back to the inn for dinner, I'll tell my sister," Sui Liang stood up.

Entering the room, Sui Liang quickly closed the door, slowed his pace, and stood by the bed, seriously examining the ugly baby. He said honestly, "Sister, even if he's ugly, I'll still recognize him."

Sui Yu burst out laughing, "Then I'll thank you on his behalf, Uncle."

Sui Liang realized he had misspoken, his ears turned red as he scratched his head, then examined the baby again, saying, "Even if he's ugly, I'll still love him. Anyone who bullies him, I'll beat them up."

"Alright, you'll be his protector from now on." Sui Yu laughed until her chest hurt, quickly shooing him away, "Stay at the inn these days and keep an eye on things for me. Don't come alone to deliver money, every two days, your brother-in-law will make a trip."

"Okay." Sui Liang gently touched the baby's cheek, seeing the baby look at him, he found a bit of cuteness and softly said, "Uncle will go earn money, grow up quickly."

"The uglier a baby is when born, the better they look when they grow up." Zhao Xiaomi entered with fish soup and egg soup pancakes, saying, "With your sister and my Third Brother's looks, this child can't possibly be ugly. Just wait until the full moon to see."