Chapter 207 Some Die of Drought, Some Die of Flood

Chapter 207: Some Drown While Others Thirst

Song Xilan honestly couldn’t remember at the time.

She was swamped.

She had to eat multiple meals a day to nourish her body, breastfeed two babies, decide on names for them, and manage the endless stream of relatives and friends visiting to see the new mother and newborns.

Most of these visitors were from Jiang Chengxiao’s side, so he handled hosting duties, while Song Xilan and the babies were put on display like pandas.

Fortunately, the guests were considerate and didn’t overstay their welcome—they came, saw, and left after fulfilling their purpose.

Still, gifts flooded in. Song Xilan had Ji Guiying go through them, keeping what was useful and sending the rest back home to be stored.

Ji Guiying informed Song Xilan that there were so many items they had nearly filled an entire storage room at home.

It was a classic case of feast or famine.

That afternoon, after feeding both babies, Song Xilan sighed, “I’m worn out! Other mothers struggle just feeding one child, but I have to feed two—it’s exhausting!”

Jiang Chengxiao frowned, puzzled. “If it’s really too much, we could give them formula instead.”

They had prepared formula in advance, worried that if her milk supply wasn’t enough, they could supplement with it.

But Song Xilan’s health was excellent, and with ample nourishment, she had plenty of milk for both babies, even leaving some extra. So, the formula had remained unused.

Still, breastfeeding two infants wasn’t easy. The babies ate slowly but needed feeding constantly. She was always either feeding one or the other, and Jiang Chengxiao, seeing how tired she was, suggested giving them formula so others could help out.

But Song Xilan shook her head. “The doctor said formula isn’t as nutritious as breast milk. If I have enough milk, it’s better to keep breastfeeding.”

At this time, formula options were extremely limited—just plain powdered milk, without distinctions like infant, child, or adult formula.

Even this kind was nearly impossible to get; ordinary people couldn’t easily obtain it. Only through the Jiang family’s connections had they managed to get their hands on some, thinking that even if the babies didn’t need it, Song Xilan could drink it to build her strength back up.

As they talked, they suddenly noticed a filthy, skinny girl of about eleven or twelve standing hesitantly at the ward door, clutching an equally dirty and frail baby in her arms.

Song Xilan motioned for Jiang Chengxiao to go see what was going on.

The girl spoke in a tearful voice, “Uncle, Auntie, my little sister has no milk to drink—she’s starving. Please, could you give her some milk?”

Jiang Chengxiao frowned, still confused. “Why doesn’t she have milk? Where’s your mother?”

“My mother doesn’t have milk for her,” the girl replied softly.

Jiang Chengxiao still didn’t understand. “Little girl, you shouldn’t be roaming around alone with your sister—what if you meet bad people? Come on, I’ll take you back to your parents.”

Ji Guiying, who had just finished changing the older sister’s diaper, turned and said, “Xiao Jiang, wait. This poor thing—I know her.”

Ji Guiying, who often moved around outside, knew more about the situation.

She explained to the couple that this girl’s mother was the woman who’d given birth quickly at the same time as Song Xilan.

She had already borne five daughters, and this was her sixth child—she had been dead set on a son, only to deliver yet another girl.

Her husband and mother-in-law, in a rage, had just walked out, abandoning them without care.

The medical staff, taking pity on them, had allowed them to stay in a hospital bed despite their inability to pay the delivery fees.

For the past two days, no one had come to care for them—not even food had been provided. If not for the kindness of neighboring patients’ families sharing what they could, the mother and her daughters would’ve gone hungry.

The woman had given birth to so many children in a row, and it seemed she had never properly nourished her body. This time, she couldn’t even get enough to eat. As Ji Guiying put it in less elegant terms, her chest was like two shriveled cloth sacks—how could there be any milk to feed the baby?

For the past two days, the little girl had been carrying the infant around, asking for breastmilk from others.

Fortunately, this was the maternity ward, surrounded by nursing mothers, so they managed to survive, albeit barely.

Today, she must have exhausted all nearby options and finally made her way to the private ward.

Song Xilan, who had just become a mother, was especially tenderhearted at this time. How could she bear to hear such a tragic story? Her heart ached terribly, and she quickly beckoned the little girl inside. "Come in, hurry!"

She had given birth to twins, while the other woman had a single baby, which should have been larger than the twins at birth.

But in the past two days, the twins had been eating and sleeping well, filling out nicely. Their faces were no longer so wrinkled and had begun to show a bit of cuteness.

Yet the baby in the little girl’s arms remained just as shriveled, looking frail and barely holding on.

It was heartbreaking.

Song Xilan reached out to take the baby, but Jiang Chengxiao stopped her.

Jiang Chengxiao was a bit selfish by nature. Why should a grubby child compete with his own precious babies for milk? Moreover, he couldn’t stand the thought of anyone else touching his wife’s breasts—not even an unfamiliar baby girl.

"Little girl, I have some formula here. Let’s make some for your sister. She’s still so small—it’s no way for you to keep carrying her around asking for breastmilk every day. Here’s a can of formula and a bottle. They’re yours now."

Song Xilan had just finished feeding her own two little ones. Nursing wasn’t easy—despite their size, babies had surprising strength. No wonder people say babies ‘nurse like little champions.’ She was still sore from nursing, and she wasn’t entirely keen on feeding someone else’s child either.

Hearing Jiang Chengxiao’s suggestion, she agreed. "Yes, little sister, take this bottle and formula back for your sister."

Even though bottles aren’t cheap, she didn’t want to reuse one that had been given to someone else for her own babies. Might as well help them out.

The girl’s face brightened. "Really? Thank you, uncle and auntie! But… but I don’t know how to make the milk."

To her, formula was way more precious than ordinary breastmilk. With this, her sister wouldn’t have to go hungry anymore.

Song Xilan gave Jiang Chengxiao a poke. "Go teach her how to do it."

Jiang Chengxiao picked up the thermos and filled the bottle with water. "Remember, never use boiling water. Always test the temperature yourself before feeding—don’t risk burning the baby."

As he spoke, he swirled the bottle briskly to cool the hot water inside.