Chapter 65

Chapter 65

When Ji Yunshu was wheeled into the ward by the nurse, He Qiuxia and Wang Yulan had already brought the babies back. The two little ones lay side by side in the hospital crib, wrapped in the two patchwork quilts their grandmother had sewn by hand—the boy wrapped in the old one from Pei Yufeng's childhood, the girl in the new one.

The nurse adjusted the height of Ji Yunshu's bed and said with a smile, "Comrade Ji, you came in very promptly, and the babies cooperated well—they didn't put you through too much suffering. You had a very fast delivery. Some mothers are in labor for a day or two before giving birth, but you delivered twins in just over three hours, which is already extremely smooth. It's just that by the time the girl came out, your strength was nearly spent, so it dragged on a little longer. But she came out crying loudly—clearly a healthy, lively child."

Ji Yunshu leaned against the pillow and gave a faint smile. "Thank you."

The nurse said, "But you still need to be careful during your confinement. Let me go over the most important points first—Comrade Pei, please make sure you remember these."

"Confinement sounds like one month, but it's best to rest for a full forty-two days. During these forty-two days, no cold water, no cold drafts, no heavy lifting. It's hot now, so you might think opening the window wide is necessary for ventilation, but just crack it open a little—the wind must not blow directly on the mother. No washing your hair or taking baths for now; you can wipe yourself down with a warm towel, but do it in a warm place and put on dry clothes right away afterward to avoid catching a chill."

"As for diet, in the first few days after birth, eat easily digestible foods—millet porridge, soft noodles, steamed egg custard—and eat small meals more often. Use less salt, but don't eliminate it entirely. Brown sugar water is fine, but no more than ten days—drinking too much can make the bleeding last longer. For soups that help with milk production—crucian carp soup, pig's trotter soup, chicken soup—drink them, but skim off the oil on top; too much grease will clog the milk ducts. Fruits are fine, but scald them with hot water first—nothing cold, and preferably nothing with a cooling nature."

Then the nurse turned to Ji Yunshu: "Also, after childbirth you'll have postpartum bleeding, lasting about four to six weeks. The color will gradually lighten from red, and the amount will decrease. If the bleeding suddenly gets heavier or you have stomach pain, come to the hospital immediately. Clean the area daily with warm water and keep it dry. Comrade Ji, when you breastfeed, try to prop a pillow behind your back and bring the baby to your chest—don't hunch over to reach the baby, or your back will give you trouble after your confinement."

"Comrade Pei, for nighttime rest—if your wife says she's tired, let her sleep, don't disturb her. When the baby cries, you get up and soothe them first, let her get as much sleep as possible. Raising a kid isn't just the woman's job—both spouses need to put in the effort. I know you military officers are busy, but no matter how busy, you can't leave your wife to handle everything on her own. Although this delivery went smoothly, carrying twins takes twice the toll on your body. If she doesn't recover well during confinement, it'll leave lasting problems—back pain and leg pain will be common, and in severe cases it can affect her for life. So for these forty-two days, you'll need to put in more effort." The nurse finished speaking, glanced out at the darkening sky outside the window, and closed the medical chart in her hand.

"That's all. Call us if you have any questions." The nurse picked up her tray and prepared to leave.

"Thank you," Ji Yunshu said. Pei Yufeng added, "I've got it all down."

After the nurse left, Pei Yufeng went over her words in his head, one by one.

Pei Yufeng also understood why the nurse had spoken that way. A lot of cadres were away on duty all year round, and military wives were left home alone—not only doing housework but also raising children. Some military wives had multiple kids, and it was truly exhausting. When women overwork themselves, their bodies end up with all sorts of chronic problems. The medical facilities on the island weren't as good as in the capital, and if it wasn't treated properly, it became a lifelong issue and tormented them in their old age.

He was Ji Yunshu's husband—of course he wanted her to be okay. Everything he did, he did for her.

Pei Yufeng was peeling a starfruit at her bedside. Starfruit helps stimulate the appetite and adds sugar, and it wasn't too cooling for a new mom. After peeling, he cut it into thin slices on an enamel plate, rinsed off the chill with hot water, and fed it to Ji Yunshu. He did all this without saying a word, his lips pressed into a tight line, the red veins in his eyes hadn't faded yet.

Ji Yunshu watched him and tugged on his sleeve. "Brother Pei."

"Hm?"

"I'm really fine. The doctor said everything went smoothly." Ji Yunshu tried to reassure him.

Pei Yufeng set the enamel plate on the nightstand and took her hand. "No more kids after this."

Ji Yunshu gently squeezed his hand. "Alright, whatever you say."

Pei Yufeng lowered his head, slowly rubbing his thumb across the back of her hand. "I'll buy you anything you want, cook anything you're craving. You need to rest up and recover well during this time."

He Qiuxia carried the boy over to the bed and leaned down so Ji Yunshu could see the baby. Wang Yulan held the girl nearby, gently swaying her, clucking her tongue in admiration: "This child is so beautiful. Look at that nose—takes after Little Pei, tall and straight. And those eyes and brows take after Little Ji—she's going to be a looker for sure. In all my years on the island, I've never seen a newborn this good-looking."

"Auntie Wang, their faces are still all wrinkled—you can't even tell who they take after yet." Ji Yunshu tilted her head to study the two little ones. The boy was sleeping soundly in the old patchwork quilt, mouth slightly open, a tiny pink tongue peeking out. The girl, held by Wang Yulan, had her eyes cracked open, dazedly rolling them around.

"How can I not tell? Look at that chin—carved from the same mold as Little Pei. Look at those ears—they're like yours. Once her face fills out after confinement, it'll be even more obvious." Wang Yulan gently placed the child back in the crib, straightened up, and clapped her hands. "By the way, have you picked names for the children yet?"

Ji Yunshu glanced at Pei Yufeng. He answered for her: "Yes. The boy is Pei Yansheng—Yan from Yan'an, sheng meaning life. The girl is Pei Nianan—nian meaning remembrance, an meaning peace."

Wang Yulan repeated the names twice: "Yansheng, Nian'an... These are good names. Educated people really are different."

Wang Yulan played with the babies a little longer, and seeing that He Qiuxia didn't need anything, she went back to rest.

After Wang Yulan left, the ward fell quiet. Ji Yunshu leaned against the pillow with her eyes closed for a moment, then opened them and tugged on Pei Yufeng's sleeve.

"Brother Pei, I'm hungry."

Pei Yufeng stood up immediately. "What do you want to eat?"

"I don't know. Just hungry—want something hot. My stomach feels empty." Ji Yunshu touched her belly. The bump that had been there during pregnancy had suddenly deflated, and she wasn't used to it yet. She lifted her hospital gown to look—luckily she'd taken good care of herself during pregnancy and hadn't developed any stretch marks, but her body still ached faintly.

Ji Yunshu did feel that childbirth was truly torturous. If it weren't for—

No, no, no! She couldn't think about that. Ji Yunshu watched Pei Yufeng reach out and gently stroke the boy's little face, and her heart softened.

He Qiuxia said from the side, "The nurse just said that right after birth, you should eat soft foods—noodles, porridge, things like that. Light, not too oily or salty. Go check the cafeteria—it's one-thirty now, so it should still be open. Just not sure if they have porridge."

"I'll go look." Pei Yufeng strode out of the ward and returned in less than fifteen minutes with two steaming bowls. One was fine noodles with just a little salt and scallions, the broth clear. The other was sea fish porridge, the fish shredded into fine threads mixed into the rice, cooked until soft and tender.

Ji Yunshu picked up her chopsticks, took a bite of the noodles, chewed a couple of times, and her brow furrowed slightly. She then scooped up a spoonful of the fish porridge, put it in her mouth, chewed, and set the spoon down directly.

"Not good?" Pei Yufeng immediately tensed up.

"The noodles are too bland—no flavor. The fish porridge is a bit fishy—I don't want it." Ji Yunshu pushed the bowls forward.

He Qiuxia let out a helpless laugh from the side. "Then what do you want to eat? Mom will go home and make it for you. Right after giving birth, you can't eat anything too salty or oily. Best to have some brown sugar millet porridge—it replenishes blood and nourishes the stomach."

"Brown sugar millet porridge works." Ji Yunshu leaned against the pillow, her eyes darting around before settling on the window. Her voice grew softer and softer. "I also want grapes. It's grape season now—this time of year I'd normally be eating grapes. Big, purple ones that burst with juice when you bite into them. I used to eat them every summer, but this year I can't."

As Ji Yunshu spoke, a thin layer of moisture gathered in her eyes. She herself found it a bit ridiculous—she hadn't cried when the pain of childbirth was at its worst, nor when the noodles were too bland, but at the thought of grapes she couldn't eat, her tears suddenly couldn't be held back.

Ji Yunshu didn't actually want to cry, but for some reason she just couldn't help it. Maybe it was because childbirth had been too painful. But when the pain is that intense, it affects your senses—she'd been in too much pain to even have the strength to cry. So now, suddenly unable to have grapes, the tears came all at once.

He Qiuxia quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe her eyes. "Don't cry—you can't cry right after giving birth, it's bad for your eyes. Grapes are hard to come by on the island, but raisins can satisfy the craving. Mom will call your father right away and have him mail a big package of raisins—enough to last you through confinement."

Pei Yufeng was already on his feet. "I'll go buy some. The next ferry leaves in half an hour—if I hurry, I can still make it before the state-run store closes."

Ji Yunshu quickly grabbed the hem of his jacket, tears still clinging to her lashes. "No, don't go."

"Aren't you craving them?" Pei Yufeng was puzzled.

"I don't want them anymore. If you leave, I'll feel worse. I'm just talking about the grapes—it doesn't matter if I actually get them. It's just that the noodles have no flavor... ugh, I want chili peppers, and soy-sauce duck, and sweet-and-sour meatballs..."

A fellow patient in the ward who had given birth three or four days earlier was speechless: "Sister, don't be so fussy. Eat something light first—how can you want to eat everything? Your body hasn't recovered yet!"

Ji Yunshu knew she couldn't eat any of those things, but she just wanted to talk about them. The more forbidden something was, the more she wanted to eat it right then—in short, she was being "fussy."

"Comrade, thank you for caring about my wife. But she's not being fussy—she just gave birth to twins, her body's been through a lot, and her appetite is off. She can't stomach food that's too bland. She's not usually a picky eater—today is a special circumstance." Before Ji Yunshu could speak, Pei Yufeng immediately addressed the other patient. "She often talks about whatever she craves. If she can eat something, she'll have a few more bites; if she can't, I'll find something else for her. The doctor said the most important thing now is to keep her mood cheerful. As long as it won't harm her recovery, I'll find a way to get her whatever she wants."

After saying this, Pei Yufeng gave a slight nod. The other patient saw how he defended Ji Yunshu and thought to herself that this officer and his wife truly had a wonderful relationship.

Pei Yufeng saw the tears still clinging to Ji Yunshu's lashes and her hand that wouldn't let go of his jacket. He slowly sat back down in the chair by the bed. "Alright, I won't go."

In the end, Ji Yunshu was too hungry to hold out. She picked up her chopsticks and slowly finished the bowl of bland noodles, one bite at a time. As she chewed, her eyes stayed fixed on Pei Yufeng, as if afraid he might really turn and head for the dock. When she finished, she set the empty bowl on the nightstand, leaned back against the pillow, and let out a small yawn.

"I'm sleepy. When I wake up, I want millet porridge."

He Qiuxia tucked the blanket around her. "Mom will go home and cook brown sugar millet porridge. It'll be ready by the time you wake up."

Ji Yunshu nodded obediently. "Take your time, Mom."

He Qiuxia left the ward with her lunchbox. Ji Yunshu closed her eyes and was soon fast asleep. Pei Yufeng sat in the chair by the bed, gently tucking her exposed hand back under the blanket, then stayed in that position, quietly watching her face. The coconut palm leaves swayed gently in the breeze outside the window, and he heard her murmur something softly in her sleep, the corner of her mouth curving up. He couldn't make out the words—probably she was eating grapes in her dream.

When Pei Yufeng came out of the ward, the clock in the corridor had just struck three in the afternoon. He stood on the concrete steps at the hospital entrance, his mind racing—the state-run store in Yuecheng closed at six. If he headed to the dock now to catch the ferry, by the time he got there the store would already be closed. Too tight—there was no way. But the provincial capital's state-run store was less than an hour's drive from the garrison. If he left now, he could still make it before closing.

With that thought, Pei Yufeng turned and went back to the ward. He Qiuxia was sitting in the chair by the bed, using a damp towel to wipe the dried sweat from Ji Yunshu's forehead. Ji Yunshu was still sleeping, breathing steadily, her complexion slightly better than when she'd first come out of the delivery room, though her lips still lacked color.

"Mom, I'm going to the state-run store in the provincial capital to see if they have canned grapes. If Xiaoshu wakes up and asks, tell her I went to buy something—I'll be back soon."

“Going to the provincial capital at this hour? That's two-plus hours round trip.” He Qiuxia looked up, keeping her voice low so she wouldn't wake Ji Yunshu.

“I'll make it. If they've got it, she can eat it the second she wakes up.” Pei Yufeng saw that Ji Yunshu was sleeping soundly, knowing she was utterly exhausted and would likely sleep for a good while longer. If he hurried, he should be able to get back early.

He Qiuxia looked at Pei Yufeng. He hadn't even had a sip of water since this morning, and his lips were chapped and peeling. She didn't say much, just nodded and set the thermos on the nightstand. “Go on, then. Be careful on the road. I'll watch over her here, don't worry. And drink some water before you go.”

Pei Yufeng downed a large glass of water and ran out of the hospital, just managing to catch the bus to the provincial capital's city center. There were only a few people on the bus. He sat by the window, hands clasped on his knees, still worrying about Ji Yunshu.

The coconut groves and dirt roads flew past the window, but Pei Yufeng had only one thought—she'd just given birth, she looked so weak, had no appetite for anything, and she just wanted some grapes. He had to satisfy her. Whatever she'd craved during her pregnancy, he'd always found a way to get it. Now that she'd had the baby, he couldn't let her down.

By the time the bus reached the provincial capital, it was almost 5:30. Pei Yufeng jumped off and practically ran inside the state-run department store. The store was already preparing to close—clerks were clearing the display items from the counters, and a cleaner was mopping the floor. Pei Yufeng hurried to the food counter, bent down, and scanned the glass case—the canned fruit section had peach, orange, pineapple, and lychee, but no grapes.

“Excuse me, do you have any canned grapes?” he asked the clerk behind the counter.

The clerk, a round-faced woman in her forties, was stocking cans for tomorrow on the shelves without looking up: “Grapes are sold out. This season they're the hottest item—a shipment comes in and it's gone that same day.”

Pei Yufeng pressed: “Is there any left in the warehouse? Can you check?”

“No, we got a case last week and it sold out that day. Don't know when the next batch is coming. Check back in a few days.” The clerk finally looked up at him, probably noticing his military uniform, the sweat on his forehead, and his unusually fast talking. Her tone softened a bit: “Comrade, who are you buying for? Your kid wants some?”

“My wife just had a baby and wants to eat grapes.”

The clerk paused, set down the can in her hand, thought for a moment, then shook her head: “Really don't have any. Not even raisins—this month's shipment sold out the day it came in. You know how hard grapes are to get on this island, and lots of kids love them. How about something else? The peach is good too, nice and sweet.”

“No need, thank you.”

Pei Yufeng stood on the steps outside the department store, watching the sun sink toward the horizon, still trying to figure out where he could quickly find the canned grapes Ji Yunshu wanted. The provincial capital's store didn't have them, and Yuecheng probably didn't have them either. Canned grapes were scarce this time of year—the supply co-ops didn't stock them at all, only the big department stores' food counters got a shipment occasionally. The canned grapes and raisins Ji Yunshu had eaten before were all things he'd stood in line for on the first pre-dawn ferry to Yuecheng—if you went late, they were gone.

He couldn't let her wake up with nothing to eat. When she'd eaten that bowl of noodles earlier, she'd chewed so reluctantly, her brow furrowed with every swallow—she'd forced herself to finish it so he wouldn't worry. She'd carried their babies for ten months, endured over three hours of labor, given him twins, and now she was lying in that hospital bed, just wanting some grapes. If he couldn't even manage that, he was a pretty lousy husband.

Pei Yufeng turned and headed toward the dock. It was a twenty-minute walk from the department store to the pier, and he nearly jogged the whole way. The Hai'an ferry terminal glowed golden-red in the sunset. The ferry had already stopped running, but a few small wooden boats were still moored at the dock, where an old boatman with weathered skin was squatting by the gangplank mending a fishing net. Nearby, a few men in shipping uniforms were loading and unloading cargo, talking loudly about the first ferry tomorrow morning.

Pei Yufeng walked over to the old boatman mending his net, crouched down, and got straight to the point: “Old-timer, do you run this route regularly?”

The old boatman squinted up at him, his eyes wrinkled from the sun: “Ran it for decades, even before the ferry existed. What can I do for you, soldier?”

“Can I ask a favor? Are you heading to Yuecheng tomorrow morning?” Pei Yufeng asked.

“Sure am—leave before dawn every day, take this batch of seafood to the state-run market across the way. What do you need me to bring?”

“Not sending anything over. I'd like you to buy a few cans of grapes from the state-run department store in Yuecheng. My wife just gave birth and is craving them. Can't find them on the island or in the provincial capital—only the big stores in Yuecheng get a shipment occasionally. Canned grapes are scarce there too; if you go late, they're gone. You have to be there when the doors open.” Pei Yufeng pulled money and ration tickets from his pocket, counted out a few big bills, added some ration coupons, and handed them over: “Money and tickets are all here. Buy as many as you can. Keep the change—consider it a tip for your trouble.”

The old boatman set down his shuttle and net, looked at the stack of bills and tickets in his hand, then at the dust on Pei Yufeng's uniform that he hadn't brushed off and the sweat still on his forehead. He was silent for a moment. The crewmen loading cargo nearby had overheard too. One of them, a round-faced man in his early thirties, walked over and gave Pei Yufeng a once-over: “Soldier, you're with the island garrison? Which regiment?”

“2nd Regiment, Pei Yufeng.”

The round-faced man blinked, then grinned: “Deputy Commander Pei? I know you! During the last typhoon, you brought your men to the dock to haul sandbags—I was right there loading cargo. You carried two bags at once, faster than anyone, and you even helped Old Man Li, my neighbor, carry his. He's always said he never got to thank you... So, your wife wants canned grapes? Why didn't you say so!” He turned and exchanged glances with the other crewmen: “We're running the first ferry tomorrow before dawn. When we get to Yuecheng, we'll wait right outside the store. The moment the doors open, we'll rush in and buy them. Don't worry. My wife had cravings like that after giving birth too—I ran halfway across Yuecheng to find her a can of oranges. I know exactly how you feel.”

Before Pei Yufeng could speak, the old boatman had already tucked his shuttle back into the net, his tone carrying a clear note of approval: “When my old lady had our son, she said in the middle of the night she wanted sour plums. I rowed a boat to Yuecheng to get them for her. A man who takes care of his wife is blessed. Don't worry—we'll go buy them for you first thing tomorrow. I know roughly what a can of grapes costs; these tickets should cover several cans. If the hospital is far, I'll have my grandson deliver them to you.” He paused, then added, “Your wife's lucky to have you.”

Pei Yufeng divided the cash and tickets, handing them to the old boatman and the round-faced crewman, then wrote his contact information on a slip of paper and pressed it into their hands. When he was done, he stepped back and gave both men a crisp military salute. The old boatman was taken aback, waved his hand saying “Soldier, you're too kind,” but couldn't hide his smile.

It was past 7 p.m. by the time he got back to the hospital. Pei Yufeng quietly pushed open the ward door and saw He Qiuxia sitting in the chair by the bed, knitting. The ball of yarn rested on her knee, two needles clicking back and forth. She looked up at the sound of the door, put a finger to her lips, then pointed to the thermos on the nightstand and whispered: “The millet porridge is ready, she hasn't woken up yet. Go call your father and have him send raisins over, and also let Su City know the babies are born.”

He Qiuxia then thought better of it—she'd rather make the calls herself. She stood up and tucked the half-finished sweater into her knitting bag: “Never mind, I'll call your father. You stay here with her. She woke up briefly a while ago and called your name. I told her you'd gone to buy her grapes, and she drifted back to sleep peacefully.”

After He Qiuxia left, the ward fell quiet again. Pei Yufeng sat down in the chair by the bed, watching Ji Yunshu. Her hair was still slightly damp, a few strands clinging to her temples. Her breathing was even and deep, like a small boat that had weathered a storm and finally found safe harbor. The coconut leaves outside the window swayed gently in the night breeze, and the distant sound of waves against the rocks could be heard in the distance.

About half an hour later, Ji Yunshu's lashes fluttered slightly, and her eyes slowly opened. Seeing Pei Yufeng sitting by the bed, she blinked first, as if confirming she wasn't dreaming, then the corners of her mouth curved up: “Brother Pei, when did you get back?”

“Just now. The porridge is still warm—it's the brown sugar millet porridge Mom made, much better than the cafeteria noodles. Want some?”

“Yes.” Ji Yunshu sat up with Pei Yufeng's help, with a pillow behind her back: “Where did you go?”

“Went to the state-run department store downtown to see if they had any canned grapes.”

“Did you get any?”

“No, the provincial capital's store was sold out.”

Ji Yunshu looked at the sweat still on his forehead and the sweat stains on his collar, knowing he must have run there and back. She reached out, wiped the sweat from his brow with her fingers, her voice soft and gentle: “If you couldn't get them, it's fine. I'll drink the millet porridge, and I'll be fine after that. Maybe tomorrow I won't want canned grapes anymore—I'll want canned peaches instead. Those are easier to find, so you have to get me those.”

“Okay.”