Chapter Sixty-One: Childbirth

Chapter 61 Childbirth Approaches

His bag was somewhat worn-out, with a patch sewn on it. Traveling back from Xuzhou in such weather, even if not exactly roughing it, was still extremely arduous.

She noticed a trace of weariness hidden between Xiao Xun’s brows.

Honestly, Lin Qiuran hadn’t expected Xiao Xun to buy her a hairpin. She had thought someone like him would only purchase practical things like a donkey cart. Having accepted the hairpin, she couldn’t very well send him away now.

Lin Qiuran asked, “Have you eaten lunch? Are you hungry? I’ll make you something to eat.”

Xiao Xun’s eyes lit up, but then he glanced at Lin Qiuran’s belly and said, “It’s alright. Something simple will do. I can even wait until dinner.”

Lin Qiuran shot him a look. If you're hungry, say so; if not, just say no—why be so vague? If she were just being polite, she wouldn’t have offered at all.

Lin Qiuran said, “I’ll cook a meal. You must be tired from the journey, so sit and rest for a while. If you want to lie down on the bed, change into clean clothes and wash your feet first.”

Xiao Xun nodded. “Mm, I know.”

Lin Qiuran went to the kitchen. With Lin Dong’s help, preparing a meal wasn’t a big deal.

It was already past the hour of Wei (1–3 p.m.), with more than two hours left until dinner. Lin Qiuran took out some wontons and broth from the ice cellar and asked Xiao Dashi to kill a chicken. “Dad, make sure to drain the blood properly. I’m making a meal for Xiao Xun.”

Given Xiao Xun’s appetite, a bowl of wontons probably wouldn’t fill him up. Lin Qiuran decided to make Poached Chicken as well. She didn’t know what he had been eating outside, but if he hadn’t been eating right and his stomach was empty, it wouldn’t be good for him to have anything too greasy.

Xiao Dashi hadn’t considered this. He thought there were snacks and dried fruits at home—surely he could eat those if he was hungry. He was about to suggest keeping it simple and waiting for dinner when Sun Shi glared at him. “Just do as you’re told and slaughter the chicken. Stop wasting words.”

Sun Shi was pleased because she noticed Lin Qiuran seemed more concerned about Xiao Xun than before and was even wearing the Ruyi hairpin. Since Lin Qiuran hadn’t chosen it herself, it must have been bought by Xiao Xun.

How wonderful.

Lin Dong was boiling water, which would be used both for de-feathering the chicken and for cooking the wontons in broth.

Lin Qiuran found a large bowl and placed dried shrimp, seaweed, and salt at the bottom. Remembering that Xiao Xun could handle spicy food, she added a bit of chili oil.

She cooked sixteen wontons in total, planning to boil them once the chicken was nearly ready.

Poached Chicken was easy to prepare: boil the whole chicken in water, turning it occasionally and basting it with hot water frequently.

Lin Qiuran usually found chicken skin from stews too oily and unappetizing, but she liked it in Poached Chicken for its firm, springy texture. To achieve that, the heat had to be even. After boiling, the chicken was plunged into ice water to enhance its springiness and firm up the meat. Finally, it was served with a dipping sauce made from minced ginger and scallions.

Lin Qiuran loved this dish, though it wasn't a popular dish with customers.

A bowl of wontons and a plate of Poached Chicken—after preparing them, Lin Qiuran tasted both to ensure they were up to standard.

Lin Dong carried the food to the front hall. Since the kitchen now occupied a separate room, meals were served in the front courtyard. The room had passages at both ends, making it convenient for dining and preventing food smells from lingering in the living quarters.

Xiao Xun didn’t wait for Lin Qiuran to call him; he came out on his own.

Lin Qiuran said, “Go ahead and eat. If it’s not enough, just let Lin Dong know. There are plenty of wontons left. But since we’ll have dinner later, don’t eat too much.”

Xiao Xun nodded. “I’ll get a bowl. You should eat some too.”

Lin Qiuran replied, “I won’t. I’m not hungry.”

She had eaten lunch and was currently watching what she eats. The doctor had said eating less wouldn’t harm the baby, but eating too much would make the baby larger.

In the village, those with poorer conditions tended to have quicker births, while those better off often had slower ones. A larger baby would only make things harder for her, so she figured it was better to indulge after giving birth.

After speaking with Xiao Xun, Lin Qiuran returned to her room, and Lin Dong left as well.

Xiao Xun sat down and looked at the two dishes, unsure which to try first. In the end, he picked up a piece of chicken, dipped it in the sauce, and ate it.

It was truly delicious. He vaguely remembered his last return home, when aside from breakfast, he had eaten at the food shop. That afternoon, when he came back in the snow, the two of them had talked in the room for a while before Lin Qiuran hurried off to the kitchen as if fleeing.

Xiao Xun could tell Lin Qiuran had been unhappy then, unwilling to engage with him. This time felt different, and not just because the food tasted better.

He finished everything, feeling about eighty percent full, but didn’t ask for more.

After eating in the afternoon, he had dinner a little over two hours later but didn’t eat much. As an adult, he knew whether he was full or not, and no one bothered him about it.

After the meal, Lin Dong and Lin Xia handled the cleanup, and Xiao Xun followed Lin Qiuran back to their room.

Lin Qiuran walked slowly, so Xiao Xun slowed his pace. When she quickened her steps, he did too.

Lin Qiuran glanced sideways at their shadows against the wall—it was as if a large dog was following her.

Back in the room, Lin Qiuran took an extra quilt from the cabinet. Last time at the food shop, they had shared one quilt. This time, she had prepared in advance. “I’ll sleep on the inside, you on the outside.”

Xiao Xun said, “Alright. I’ll fetch hot water. You can wash up and get ready for bed.”

Lin Qiuran found the feeling somewhat novel, as if she had gained a hardworking, accommodating roommate.

Xiao Xun brought hot water and filled a warming pan. While Lin Qiuran washed her feet, he added charcoal to the brazier and refilled the kettle on the stove.

After soaking her feet, Lin Qiuran picked up a towel. Her belly was quite large, making it difficult to bend over. She planned to dry her left foot first from the left side, but just as she moved, a shadow fell over her. Xiao Xun knelt before her, took the towel, and carefully dried her feet.

Once done, he went out to dispose of the water. He took a while to return, and when he did, his sleeves were rolled up, and he carried a faint dampness.

Lin Qiuran had already taken down her hair, placing the hairpin on the dressing table. Two candle lamps lit the room. In the deep silence of the night, the candle flames flickered gently. Unlike the room at the food shop, their home was spacious and well-equipped.

Yet Xiao Xun still seemed somewhat out of place here. “I’ve washed up,” he said.

Lin Qiuran replied, “Then check if there’s enough charcoal in the brazier and refill the kettle on the stove. Don’t let it boil dry.”

The stove would likely go out overnight, leaving the water warm by morning—perfect for washing up.

She didn’t immediately get into bed but sat on it instead. Xiao Xun said, “I’ve already checked.”

Quite clever, she thought. Lin Qiuran nodded. “Then let’s sleep.”

Lin Qiuran settled into bed, and Xiao Xun blew out the lamps. After extinguishing them, he changed his clothes, the rustling sounds faint in the quiet.

The water on the stove bubbled softly. Before falling asleep, Lin Qiuran asked, “When will you go back?”

Xiao Xun said, “I’ll leave on the afternoon of the first day of the month. I’ll return again around the middle of the month.”

If possible, he wanted to be there for the birth of their child. But if he couldn’t make it in time, there was nothing he could do.

Lin Qiuran nodded. She wouldn’t insist he stay just for the birth. She tended to sleep deeply and soon drifted off. After she fell asleep, Xiao Xun gently touched her belly over the quilt.

The next day was New Year’s Eve. Lin Qiuran was awakened early by the sound of firecrackers. The sky was still dark, and Xiao Xun hadn’t left yet, so she went back to sleep. When she woke again, she was surprised to find Xiao Xun still there.

Lin Qiuran felt that the two of them had gone from strangers to slightly familiar strangers.

She changed into new clothes and selected some of the jewelry she had bought the day before to wear: the velvet flower, the butterfly hairpin, the Ruyi hairpin, a lotus-patterned gold bracelet on her wrist, and the pearl earrings, which were also quite lovely. After putting them on, she examined herself in the mirror. It was worth working hard to earn money—though she hadn’t transformed entirely, she looked much better than before.

Stepping out of the room, she found Sun Shi and the others busy preparing the New Year’s Eve feast. Lin Dong had wrapped more wontons.

Lin Qiuran smiled. Sun Shi asked, “How about having tangyuan instead?”

Lin Qiuran nodded; these were store-bought, with black sesame filling—sweet filling and chewy, sticky skin, very delicious.

New Year's Eve was especially lively. In the morning, visitors came to the Xiao family, including the restaurant staff and Aunt Yu's family. Since it was customary to have a reunion meal for the New Year, they didn’t invite the guests to stay for dinner.

Aunt Yu was beaming with joy because Da Hu’s marriage had been settled.

Lin Qiuran listened nearby as Aunt Yu spoke of a fortunate, honest-natured girl. The betrothal gifts were given according to the local customs in the county town. The girl’s family was more well-off than the Li family, and they agreed to the marriage because they valued the Li family’s diligence and hard work.

They might not have certain things now, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be in the future. The stall was doing very well, and they’d already saved up enough for a house in just a few months. They’ll get engaged in spring, and the wedding would take place next autumn. In the meantime, the family would work to earn money and buy a house so the bride could move right into the new house.

Aunt Yu had also made two sets of outfits for the unborn child, using good fabric. She was truly grateful to Lin Qiuran. Since adding hot soup to the stall, business had improved even more. Lin Qiuran didn’t take her share of the profits from the hot soup, so Aunt Yu wanted to return the favor another way.

This time, she also brought the share of the profits from recent days, totaling three taels of silver.

Lin Qiuran accepted it, saying, "Then I’ll be looking forward to the wedding."

Aunt Yu was delighted and caught up with Sun Shi for a while. She also mentioned that Brother Dong, the pancake seller, had gotten engaged. Some stalls had left, but new ones had come, making South Street quite lively.

The savory pancake stall was open until yesterday and would reopen on the second day of the New Year. Aunt Yu didn’t want to miss such a good money-making chance. To help her son get married, she was full of drive. If she could save enough money one day, she might even open a small shop like the Xiaos’.

After seeing Aunt Yu off, Sun Shi’s smile didn’t fade as she happily went to the kitchen to cook.

At noon, the family had a simple meal, but the New Year’s Eve dinner in the evening was incredibly lavish and required little effort. The braised pork with abalone was already prepared, and the chopped pepper fish head had its sauce ready. Lin Qiuran made squirrel mandarin fish, and Lin Dong prepared a few stir-fried dishes.

Ten dishes in total, symbolizing wholeness and good fortune.

Outside, the sounds of firecrackers and fireworks were incessant. Xiao Dashi set off two strings of firecrackers, while Sun Shi urged everyone to eat, "Hey, stop setting them off now, it’s time to eat!"

Xiao Dashi replied, "Coming, coming! Setting off more scares off the Nian monster, ensuring a year free from illness and disaster. Other families are setting off a lot; we can’t fall short, or the Nian monster might come right to our door."

Lin Qiuran and Xiao Xun came out of the room and couldn’t help but laugh at this reasoning. "Dad, let’s set off more after eating."

The house was brightly lit with candles, and the table full of delicious food made everyone hungry. Even after the meal, the noise outside showed no signs of stopping.

Sun Shi murmured, "We have to stay up for New Year’s Eve tonight. I suppose the fireworks will go on until midnight. Xinghua said there would be lantern displays these past few nights."

In the past, when they lived in the village, they wouldn’t go to the street to see the lantern festival after dark on New Year’s Day because it was a long way back home. She wanted to go take a look later, but Lin Qiuran, being heavily pregnant, couldn’t go easily. If they went out, Sun Shi was afraid Lin Qiuran might feel bad.

Lin Qiuran said, "Mom, you and Dad go, and take Lin Dong and Lin Xia with you."

It’s only once a year. Seeing how Lin Xia kept looking outside, she probably wanted to go. But since both were young, Lin Qiuran wouldn’t trust them to go alone.

Sun Shi nodded. Since Lin Qiuran hadn’t reached her due date yet and Xiao Xun was home, she wouldn’t have gone out otherwise.

After the others left, the courtyard grew even quieter.

Occasionally, a few fireworks floated over the courtyard wall. The fireworks of this era weren’t as spectacular as those in later times, but the sparkling lights were still a rare sight.

Lin Qiuran watched for a while until Xiao Xun said, "Let’s go out and take a look too."

Lin Qiuran replied, "But there are too many people outside."

She was afraid of being jostled and didn’t want anything to happen during the New Year.

Xiao Xun said, "We can go to the second floor of the eatery."

Lin Qiuran was surprised. Why hadn’t she thought of that? The eatery was on the street, and they could enter through the back door. The second floor would surely offer a better view than the street, allowing them to see all the lanterns below without having to jostle with the crowd.

Lin Qiuran smiled and nodded, "Okay!"

*

On the long street, lanterns swayed, and people occasionally had their breath misting in the air. Many, undeterred by the cold, stopped by street stalls, holding snacks in their hands.

Some smiled joyfully, others chased and played, and children rode on adults’ shoulders, holding small pinwheels that spun as they walked.

Lin Qiuran leaned against the window, her eyes filled with laughter. The view here was indeed great. If only she had suggested Sun Shi and the others come here earlier—now she had no idea where they had gone.

As she looked down, Xiao Xun watched her.

Xiao Xun didn’t know why, but when Lin Qiuran smiled, all the noise outside seemed to fade away.

Lin Qiuran spotted a lion dance and tugged at Xiao Xun’s sleeve, "Look! From up here, the lion looks so small, almost as if you could reach out and touch it."

She reached out as if to touch it, though she didn’t lean down too far. The windowsill was high enough, and she didn’t bend over. But Xiao Xun held her hand, saying, "This is the second floor."

Lin Qiuran replied, "I know."

She glanced at their clasped hands. Xiao Xun’s hand was warm, and she didn’t pull away.

From the second floor, the fireworks were even more beautiful, and they could see the iron sparks being struck in the distance. Most people below wore red, especially the children, who looked festive. Some children even wore tiger-head hats.

"Xiao Xun, look at that! My mom said she’ll make one for our child too." Lin Qiuran thought the children looked adorable in them, like dolls from New Year paintings.

Xiao Xun nodded in agreement. Lin Qiuran spotted something else, "That outfit is also lovely!"

After she gave birth, she would have one made for herself too.

Xiao Xun held Lin Qiuran’s hand tightly, watching whatever caught her interest.

The New Year was wonderful and truly lively. Yu'an was much more bustling than Xiao Village. It was just a pity that he had to leave the next day.

Xiao Xun wished he could stay a few more days, ideally until the second day of the New Year to accompany Lin Qiuran back to her parents’ home before leaving, but it was impossible. Time seemed to fly by. After staying up for New Year’s Eve, he woke up almost at noon.

He hadn’t felt this reluctant to leave the last time he was away from home, but this time, he didn’t want to go.

Lin Qiuran changed his packing cloth and packed some things for him, mostly easy-to-eat food. She didn’t want him to return empty-handed while others brought gifts back home, which would’ve been upset.

After seeing him off, Lin Qiuran put Xiao Xun’s quilt back into the cabinet. Since he wouldn’t be back often, leaving it out would just collect dust and take up space.

After Xiao Xun left, Sun Shi came over and asked, "Qiu Ran, did Xiao Xun say when he’ll be back?"

Lin Qiuran replied, "He said the fifteenth, but it might not be certain."

Sun Shi repeatedly said it was good, though Lin Qiuran didn’t understand why. But if the child hadn’t been born by then, perhaps they could go out to see the lantern festival during the Yuanxiao Festival. She quite liked that lively atmosphere.

Early on the second day of the New Year, Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi went to Lin Village to bring New Year’s gifts to Lin Qiuran’s parents.

They brought wine, pastries, and pork. Sun Shi also left some money for Liu Shi. Lin Qiuran hadn’t instructed this; it was Sun Shi’s own idea. After marrying their daughter into the family, Xiao Xun had encountered trouble, and Lin Qiuran, pregnant, had stayed with the Xiao family. Although life had gradually improved, communication was difficult, and Liu Shi had undoubtedly worried a lot.

Now that they had moved to the county town, Lin Qiuran couldn’t often show filial piety to Liu Shi. She had bought a bracelet for Sun Shi but nothing for her own mother, so it was only right to send something.

This money was from Sun Shi’s own savings, though Lin Qiuran often gave her money.

After some back-and-forth, Liu Shi accepted it. She asked Sun Shi if Lin Qiuran had had any signs the baby’s coming yet. Sun Shi shook her head, "Probably still another ten days or so."

While they talked, Yu Shi served tea and water nearby, smiling ingratiatingly at Sun Shi, who felt uneasy and forced a couple of dry laughs, ignoring her.

Liu Shi insisted they stay for a meal, but Sun Shi said she needed to return to check on Lin Qiuran, as she was worried leaving her alone at home. Delivering the gifts was enough; even though Lin Qiuran hadn’t returned, it still brought her honor.

On the sixth day of the New Year, the eatery reopened for business. Lin Dong had been practicing cutting and stir-frying at home during the break, improving her cooking skills and learning a few new dishes. For the remaining two or three dishes she hadn’t mastered, Lin Qiuran could teach her, ensuring she learned them before giving birth.

Sun Shi prepared the stewed dishes, and Lin Qiuran went to the shop daily. Since she hadn’t given birth yet, she thought she'd continue working on the second floor.

Who wouldn’t want to earn more money? But it was just after the New Year—whether families were well-off or not, everyone had eaten well during the festivities, and no one really felt like eating meat.

Business on the first floor was just okay, with only regulars who missed the food willing to come by. The second floor hadn’t seen a reservation in days. The firecracker debris in the snow outside had turned reddish-brown, and business at the neighboring Golden Ruyi wasn’t as good as before the New Year either. The teahouse was faring even worse.

Shopkeeper Shi lamented that if they had stayed open during the New Year period, given Lin Qiuran’s skills, they could have made a fortune—so many banquets and gatherings, and people with time off were eager to dine and drink with friends.

But there was no helping it—it wasn’t feasible for her to work with such a large belly.

So Lin Qiuran felt it was just as well that the second floor had no customers. After all, she wasn’t very agile in her condition. Standing for long periods made her back ache, and her heavy belly meant she couldn't even see her feet.

Early in her pregnancy, Lin Qiuran had been afraid of childbirth. Everyone said giving birth was like passing through the gates of hell—she was scared of the pain and the risks. But now, she found herself eager for the baby to arrive sooner.

Sometimes she even thought that if this were modern times, she’d definitely choose a C-section. Lady Yin carried for three years—how unbearable that must have been.

Lin Qiuran hoped for a quick delivery, but this baby had a more easygoing nature than she had expected. By mid-month, there were still no signs of labor. When she asked the doctor and the midwife, both only said, “Walk more these days. The baby will come when it’s time.”

Lin Qiuran sighed inwardly. All she could do was wait—what else could she do?

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Xiao Xun returned.

Lin Qiuran said, “Let’s go see the lantern festival tonight then.”

She knew she wouldn’t be able to go out during the postpartum month. Of course, she wished she could do as she pleased even after giving birth, but this was ancient times—no air conditioning or hair dryers, and it was winter. Might as well follow the rules and rest properly.

After eating tangyuan in the evening, Lin Qiuran got ready to go out with Xiao Xun.

She had just stepped out the door when a sharp pain struck her belly. Lin Qiuran grabbed Xiao Xun’s hand. “Xiao Xun, my stomach hurts.”