Chapter 75 Main Story Ending

Chapter 75: Conclusion of the Main Narrative

After the New Year, the weather grew warmer day by day.

Two events of varying significance occurred that were somewhat related to the Li family.

One was that Jin He's parents-in-law in the prefectural city suddenly sent a letter. In it, they claimed to have been misled by their nephew's provocations and expressed deep regret. They harshly criticized the nephew in the letter, asking Jin He not to hold a grudge against them. They added that while they didn't expect her forgiveness, they wanted her to know that, having no children of their own, everything they possessed would eventually be hers.

The letter seemed to signal a sudden change of heart; an outsider might have been moved to tears reading it. But after a quick glance, Jin He set it aside and paid it no further attention. Back then, out of affection for her late husband, she had done everything she could, saying all the right things and fulfilling all her duties. Now, she felt she had done more than enough and had no desire to get involved with that family again.

After reading the letter, Madam Li felt suspicious and remarked, "Those two old folks aren’t that kind-hearted—they must be up to something."

Jin Hui suggested, "Second Uncle knows many people in the prefectural city, and Jin He’s in-laws are also a respectable family there. Why not ask him to make some inquiries? Even though Jin He surely doesn’t want to be involved with that family, it’s better to know what they’re planning so we can be prepared."

Madam Li thought this made sense and sent a message to Squire Li.

After a back-and-forth, Squire Li replied within ten days. When Madam Li read his response, she was furious all over again.

It turned out that the old man in that family had fallen ill. The nephew, realizing he couldn’t marry Jin He, figured that once the old couple passed away, the family property would still be his. So he couldn’t even be bothered to put on an act and didn’t care whether they lived or died.

Only the old woman was left to arrange treatment for her husband and keep the household running. Though she was harsh by nature, she wasn’t clever. With the old man bedridden, the servants no longer showed the same respect as before, and life had become very difficult for her.

So they thought of Jin He, who had always been diligent and hardworking. But given how badly things had ended before, they couldn’t directly ask her to return. Instead, they planned to write letter after letter, feigning sincerity and slowly persuading her.

Sure enough, after that, letters from the prefectural city came more frequently and urgently. Jin He eventually stopped reading them altogether, burning each one as it arrived, acting as if nothing was happening. Gradually, the letters stopped, and the matter quieted down.

The other matter was that Sun Yushuang, the former third husband of Squire Li’s family, had opened a fabric shop on the same street. It was much larger than Jin He’s, employed many people, and, having just opened, always had handsome young men at the door attracting customers. It seemed to be doing very well.

When Madam Li found out, she was displeased and said, "There are so many businesses out there—why does he have to do the same as ours?"

She asked Jin He, "Since you’re on the same street, you're bound to run into each other constantly. Has he come by to say hello?"

Jin He shook her head.

Madam Li gritted her teeth. "It’s not like when he was falling over himself to please you before."

Jin He said, "In business, everyone relies on their own strengths. His shop is bigger with more variety, but my costs are lower, turnover is faster, and I have many loyal regular customers. We each have our advantages—there’s no need to worry, Mother."

Jin He remained steady-minded, focusing on her own work without comparing herself to others.

Seeing her attitude, Madam Li also felt reassured and stopped worrying on her behalf.

Besides, she didn’t have time to worry anymore—her youngest son’s husband was about to give birth.

In the days leading up to the due date, Jian Ru often felt his belly skin stretched very tight. The second young master made a soothing ointment and applied it for him every day.

By now, the fetal movements were very noticeable. Whenever the second young master applied the ointment, the baby would often move, either nudging with its head or kicking with its little feet, as if annoyed at being disturbed during sleep.

On the morning of the day before the due date, when the second young master was tidying the bedding, he noticed a few drops of blood on the sheet. He knew this was the "blood show," meaning the baby would be born soon.

Jian Ru himself hadn’t felt anything yet, but the nervous second young master helped him back to bed to lie down.

The second young master asked the newly hired Old Lady Zheng to inform the neighbors and the front courtyard. Soon, Madam Li arrived, followed by Jin Hui and her two younger sisters. Even the eldest sister-in-law came, despite her own large belly.

Seeing this, Jian Ru grew nervous too. Madam Li sat on the edge of the bed, holding Jian Ru’s hand, and comforted him, "Your Eldest Sister and Second Sister are both strong—they’ll make sure you and the baby are safe and sound."

Jian Ru asked worriedly, "Will it hurt a lot?"

Hearing this, the eldest sister-in-law also listened carefully.

Madam Li said, "It will definitely hurt. All women and men have to go through this. But when your Eldest Sister gave birth to her two, Jin Rong used some kind of medicine that could ease the pain a lot when it got too intense."

Jin Rong added from behind, "It’s an oral anesthetic."

Madam Li said, "Yes, that’s the one. Make sure to give plenty to both Jian Ru and Qing Lan."

Jin Rong said, "Using too much isn’t good either—it has to be the right amount."

Madam Li waved her hand. "Just do what you think is best. Don’t let them suffer too much."

After talking for a while, Jian Ru felt less tense.

Jin Rong checked his pulse and felt the baby’s position, saying nothing would likely happen that morning and he should rest well. She advised Jian Ru to eat as usual at noon—a full meal would give him strength for the birth—and said she and Jin Hui would return in the afternoon.

Once everyone left, the room quieted down.

The second young master sat on the edge of the bed, wiping Jian Ru’s face with a cloth.

Jian Ru said, "I want to take a bath."

The second young master nodded. "That’s fine."

As a doctor, the second young master had different views from ordinary families and didn’t believe new mothers should absolutely avoid washing their hair or bathing. After birth, bathing carried a risk of catching a chill, so it had to be done with the right medicinal soak and proper precautions. Not only would it not harm the body, but it could actually be beneficial.

However, baths couldn’t be too frequent, and sponge baths were often used instead, so a thorough bath before giving birth was still necessary.

The second young master didn’t let Jian Ru lift a finger, not even during the bath. Jian Ru only had to obediently stretch out his arms and legs.

When it came to washing below, Jian Ru wanted to do it himself, but the second young master gently stopped his hand, saying, "Your belly is in the way—you can’t reach."

Jian Ru had no choice but to tilt his head back and let him handle it.

At that moment, there were no romantic thoughts. As the second young master washed him, Jian Ru reflected on why the books he’d read often used phrases like "sharing weal and woe" and "inseparable" to describe the relationship between spouses.

While drying his back, the second young master kissed the nape of Jian Ru’s neck. Jian Ru turned to look at him, and with perfect understanding, they leaned in and kissed.

Afterward, Jian Ru smiled warmly. The second young master asked, "What are you thinking?"

Jian Ru said, "I’m thinking that tonight, our family of two might become a family of three."

The second young master also smiled, kissed him again, and wrapped him in a large towel.

After helping him out of the tub, he quickly dried him off before cleaning up the things on the floor.

For lunch, Jian Ru ate scallion oil rolls, stewed chicken, stir-fried yam, and steamed egg custard, accompanied by thick, fragrant millet porridge. He was very full.

When Jin Hui and Jin Rong returned, he was still rubbing his belly, savoring the memory of the meal.

But when he saw them busy boiling water and preparing silver needles, scissors, and other tools, he grew nervous again.

Noticing his change in expression, the second young master took him to the next room and played chess with him to distract him.

Before they could finish the game, Jian Ru began experiencing cramping pains. The second young master knew labor had started.

He carried Jian Ru horizontally back to the inner room.

As soon as Jin Rong saw Jian Ru’s condition, she understood what was happening. She had her brother set him down and then pushed him out of the room.

The second young master was uneasy—he had intended to stay and accompany Jian Ru during the birth—but Jin Rong said sternly, "Xiao Ru came to see me a couple of days ago specifically to say that when he gives birth, he doesn’t want you in the room."

The Second Young Master was taken aback and looked at Jian Ru on the bed, his face contorted in pain. Jian Ru shook his head at him and said, "I look too awful. I don’t want you seeing me like this."

At a time like this, who cared about appearances? But Jian Ru insisted, and the Second Young Master didn’t want to go against his wishes. His young husband always wanted to look beautiful in front of him, so he listened to him.

He hurried back to the bedside, not caring that his older sisters were watching, and planted kisses on Jian Ru’s forehead and cheeks. Holding his hand, he said, "I’ll be right outside. Don’t you worry."

Jian Ru nodded, but when the Second Young Master tried to leave, he wouldn’t release his hand. The Second Young Master leaned down and kissed him on the lips once more, and only then did Jian Ru allow him to leave.

After exiting the inner room, the Second Young Master waited outside, separated only by a thin door panel. Jin He escorted Madam Li in, and the eldest sister-in-law was also supported by her maid.

At first, there was no sound from inside the room.

Later, they could hear him crying out in pain.

The Second Young Master could no longer sit still and paced anxiously in the outer room.

Old Lady Zheng, who’d recently been hired and was also a midwife, went in and out to fetch hot water. When she came out, she said to the Second Young Master, "They gave him a dose of pain medication. The second young lady says everything is going smoothly, so don’t worry."

The Second Young Master anxiously asked, "Is he okay?"

Old Lady Zheng replied, "He’s doing well. Young Master Jian has been active and ate well at noon. He’s very strong. In my opinion, the baby should arrive within the hour."

The Second Young Master felt slightly relieved.

But when the pain medication wore off and Jian Ru screamed in pain again, his face turned pale. Seeing this, Madam Li took his hand and tried to reassure him.

After a while, the eldest sister-in-law could no longer sit comfortably due to her aching back, so the elder brother took her back, saying they would return later.

When she had rested and came back, she’d barely stepped inside when she heard the crying of a newborn baby.

The Second Young Master sprang to his feet, and the chair behind him toppled over with a crash.

Madam Li and the others also stood up, looking toward the door.

Shortly after, Old Lady Zheng emerged, beaming, carrying a swaddled baby, and said, "Congratulations! It’s a son!"

She tried to hand the crying baby to the father, but the Second Young Master barely gave it a glance and hurriedly made to push open the door to enter the room.

Just then, the door opened a crack, and Jin Hui poked her head out, smiling. "I knew you’d be impatient. He’s fine. Just wait out here patiently while we finish tidying up, then you can come in!" After saying this, she went back inside and closed the door.

Seeing his elder sister’s relaxed expression, the Second Young Master felt a surge of relief. His tense body relaxed so suddenly that his knees nearly buckled, and he had to brace himself against the doorframe.

After calming himself, he finally thought to look at the baby.

By then, Madam Li was already cradling the swaddled newborn in her arms, with everyone else gathered around.

The eldest sister-in-law smiled and said, "His little face, nose, and mouth are the spitting image of Xiao Ru’s."

Jin He added, "His brows and eyes are the very image of our little brother’s."

Granny Jin praised, "His earlobes are thick and full—a mark of good fortune."

Madam Li was beaming and, seeing her youngest son approaching, carefully placed the swaddled baby into his arms.

The Second Young Master felt the baby in his arms was unbelievably soft. Just as the eldest sister-in-law and third sister had said, the baby looked like both Xiao Ru and himself. As he gazed down at his son, he bent to kiss his forehead.

There was movement inside the room, and Jin Hui opened the door, saying, "Come in."

The Second Young Master hurried in with the baby and went straight to his young husband, who was lying on the bed and looking toward him.

"Xiao Ru, how do you feel?" the Second Young Master asked urgently.

Jian Ru looked somewhat pale but was quite alert. He smiled tiredly and said, "A bit tired. The second sister said I was one of her quickest deliveries."

The Second Young Master sat on the edge of the bed, leaned down to kiss his forehead and cheeks, and said gently, "Yes, our Xiao Ru is amazing."

Jian Ru smiled and looked at the swaddled baby in his arms.

The Second Young Master carefully placed the baby beside Jian Ru. By now, the little one was asleep, eyes closed and mouth slightly open.

After gazing at the baby for a while, Jian Ru said, "He’s perfect."

Seeing Jian Ru’s eyelids drooping, the Second Young Master gently covered his eyes with his hand and said, "If you’re tired, sleep. Don’t worry about anything. Just rest well."

Jian Ru murmured in agreement, his eyelashes fluttering against the Second Young Master’s palm before he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Everyone left the room after seeing the baby, leaving the three of them alone.

The room was quiet, with only the soft breathing of the two sleepers on the bed. The Second Young Master sat on the edge of the bed, watching his husband and child, feeling as if the last remnants of his past sickness and discontent had completely vanished at this moment.

...

Less than half a month after Jian Ru gave birth, Eldest Sister-in-Law Qing Lan’s time came and she gave birth to a boy.

Since the two births were so close, the month-old celebrations for both children were held together. Relatives from the Li family and Qing Lan’s family attended, along with many neighbors. The Second Young Master also invited Jian Ru’s relatives from the neighboring village, making for a lively, grand affair.

A few days after the month-old celebration, it was Qiao Zhi’s birthday. As promised, Jian Ru gave her an exquisite dressing case, which contained a few simple cosmetics.

Qiao Zhi was of age now and no longer ran around the courtyard with Xian Yu. Instead, she had developed an interest in beautiful clothes and accessories.

The gift from his uncle’s husband was exactly what she wanted, and she was so delighted she wished she could even sleep with it at night.

...

After the baby’s month-old celebration, the Second Young Master resumed his daily work at the clinic. Old Lady Zheng took care of the family, but whenever he had time, he would return home to check on them, never tiring of the commute.

This morning, Jian Ru mentioned that the weather was getting warmer and he wanted to sew a thin bellyband for the baby. He asked the Second Young Master to find some suitable fabric from the third sister’s shop when he had time.

In the afternoon, during a quiet spell with no patients, the Second Young Master went to the fabric shop two doors down. Jin He, knowing what he needed the fabric for, picked out two pieces of soft, brightly colored cloth and matched them with thread of the same color.

Since Jin He was in the fabric business, the family no longer bought cloth from outside but sourced it all from her. The eldest sister-in-law Qing Lan and Madam Li had discussed it with their third sister and agreed to follow the previous arrangement: each person would receive two sets of clothing per season, from innerwear to outerwear, with no limit for the children. The expenses would be settled quarterly from the family account. Any additional personal expenses would be paid individually to ensure Jin He wasn’t shortchanged.

The Second Young Master took the fabric and hurried home.

When he entered the room, the baby was asleep, and Jian Ru was half-reclining on the bed, reading a book.

Seeing him come in, Jian Ru put down the book and smiled, reaching out to him.

After giving birth, Jian Ru had undergone subtle changes. The youthful immaturity he once had was now replaced by the charm of a mature man.

Perhaps because he had been well-nourished during pregnancy and the postpartum period, his skin had become radiant and fair, his cheeks fuller, and his lips redder when he smiled, making him even more handsome than before.

The Second Young Master placed the fabric on the table, bent down to kiss his lips, and Jian Ru wrapped his arms around his neck, trying to burrow into his embrace. The Second Young Master stepped back slightly and whispered, "I’m cold from outside."

Jian Ru hummed, "I don’t care."

The Second Young Master had no choice. While they were entangled, he quickly took off his outer robe, which was chilled from the wind, and finally held him properly in his arms. Jian Ru felt warm, soft, and pleasantly heavy, making the embrace exceptionally comfortable.

After a moment of tenderness, when Jian Ru tried to get up, the Second Young Master found himself reluctant to let go.

As Jian Ru sat at the table looking at the fabric, he finally remembered to look in on the sleeping baby and asked softly, "Did he fuss today?"

Jian Ru said quietly, "No, the Old Lady Zheng fed him goat's milk earlier. After drinking, he played for a while and fell asleep not long after."

The second young master walked over behind Jian Ru, watching him inspect the two pieces of fabric and measuring them with a ruler.

After a while, Jian Ru turned to him curiously and asked, "Aren’t you in a hurry to go back?"

The second young master shook his head.

Jian Ru sensed something and asked, "Do you have something to tell me?"

The second young master said "mm-hmm."

Jian Ru put down what he was holding, stood up, and motioned for the second young master to sit on the chair. He then settled onto his lap, nestling comfortably in his arms, and said, "Go ahead, tell me."

The second young master wrapped one arm around his waist and gently stroked his soft cheek with the other, not saying anything for a while.

Jian Ru looked up at him and asked, "Is it something you’ve been keeping from me?"

The second young master said, "Yes."

Observing his expression, Jian Ru was about to reassure him that he didn’t have to speak if he wasn’t ready, but the second young master’s Adam’s apple moved slightly as he began, "That first time we met, I didn’t fall into the water by accident."

Jian Ru’s eyelashes fluttered, and his eyes instantly reddened. He reached up to touch the second young master’s face and said, "I... I should have figured..."

The second young master shook his head. "It’s not what you think."

"In previous summers, I could occasionally go to the clinic or even go out to the countryside with others. But that summer, because of the heavy rains, Mother was worried about me going out, so I was stuck at home or my uncle's villa."

"I felt deeply frustrated, thinking I had been a burden to my family for so many years and couldn’t see any point in living. My father’s death anniversary had just passed, and I couldn’t shake off the grief. At that moment, I had... that kind of thought."

Jian Ru understood what he meant by "that kind of thought" and just held him tighter around his neck, his shoulders trembling slightly.

The second young master gently rubbed his back. "Don’t be afraid. It was just a fleeting thought during a moment of despair. Since marrying you, I’ve never had such thoughts again. I have a husband and a family now—how could I make my husband weep for me every day?"

Jian Ru said, "But you still went to the river that day."

The second young master wiped the tear from Jian Ru’s eye. "Yes, I went to the riverbank. As I stood there, watching the muddy water rushing by, I thought to myself, if I jumped in, it would all be over with. No one would have to worry about me anymore, and I wouldn’t feel this pain anymore."

"Without realizing it, I unknowingly moved closer to the river. After days of rain, the bank seemed firm but was actually soft. Before I could even make up my mind, the ground beneath my feet gave way, and I fell into the water. I yelled for help, but there was no one around, and I was quickly swept away by the current."

Jian Ru scolded, "What were you thinking!"

The second young master said, "I never dared to tell you because I was afraid you’d think your husband was a coward."

Jian Ru said, "You’re not a coward. I know how much you’ve suffered."

The second young master said, "In the water, it was you who grabbed me. I could feel that you were still alive, so I struggled to held onto your waist, thinking that even if we died, at least we’d have each other."

Jian Ru said, surprised, "So the dreams I had were real after all."

The second young master nodded. "The moment I fell into the water, I already regretted it. Now, I have you and our baby, my health has improved, and I can treat patients at the clinic. This is the life I dreamed of as a child. Don’t worry, I will never have such thoughts again."

Jian Ru, his heart aching, held him tight and nuzzled his cheek, soothing him softly, "From now on, I’ll make sure you feel very, very happy."

The second young master hugged him back and said, "Our family of three is going to be very, very happy."

(End of Main Text)

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