“I want a puppy,” Pei Wanqing said with her big round eyes, her chubby little face looking very cute.
“Okay, then I’ll get you a puppy,” Zhi Xia said with a smile.
Chenye didn’t know what he wanted. Compared to a pet, he preferred looking at picture books.
He liked Grandpa's study. There were many books inside, as well as writing brushes and ink. He wanted to practice writing, but Grandpa didn't allow it, saying he was too young and it would hurt his fingers. However, Grandpa could teach him to read books.
Even at just three years old, he already recognized many characters.
After dinner, the two little ones played in the yard. Zhi Xia had bundled up tightly and stood in the doorway.
Old Pei came back holding a small puppy that was still barking.
When Zhi Xia had said she would get a pet dog, she was planning to get a more unique breed. But in this day and age when most people had farm dogs, it would be too conspicuous.
So she had asked Old Pei if he knew of any families wanting to give away puppies. As it turned out, Old Pei knew his granddaughter wanted a pet, so he went and got one from another family himself.
As soon as Wanqing heard the barks, she hopped up and went to greet the new arrival.
The yard was filled with laughter and delight. Zhi Xia also felt reassured enough to return to her room.
The puppy was a yellow dog. Wanqing named it Da Huang.
With a little companion to play with, she happily spent her days playing with the neighborhood children and their pets. She no longer fussed about missing her dad Pei Jing, except for occasionally when she got scolded for misbehaving.
On the day of the one-month celebration, the weather was sunny and fine, and it was getting warm.
Zhi Xia dressed Wanqing in a little skirt with a small jacket on top, while Chenye shed his sweater and cotton pants, immediately feeling much cooler.
Sister Zhang boiled a large pot of hot water and told Zhi Xia to give the children a bath and wash their hair.
After Zhi Xia had cleaned up, An Zhiren and An ZhiXian had arrived.
This was the local custom – women couldn’t do their one-month confinement at their maternal home. But on the one-month celebration day, they would be brought back to their maternal home for their families to dote on them and keep them for a few days. It also gave the husband’s family a chance to air out bedding and tidy up a bit.
After all, the new mother and babies had been cooped up indoors for a month without going out. With the children eating, drinking, peeing and pooping inside, things were bound to get smelly.
In fact, Zhi Xia was no longer very familiar with the An family home. She had only stayed here for a month or so before getting married, and the handful of times she returned later were fleeting visits.
Her room was still the original one that seemed untouched.
Zhou Nan helped carry the children into the room. After everyone else had left, she hesitantly said, “It’s best if Chenye and Wanqing sleep in the room to the left with Wen Qing. That room has been cleaned up already. The furniture and beds have all been replaced. It’s Wen Qing’s room now.”
“Then I’ll have to trouble Mom,” Zhi Xia said. She took out a jar of medicinal ointment from her bag and handed it to her. “I heard your back has been bothering you. Rubbing this ointment on your waist should provide some relief. You can try it first.”
What Pei Jing said was right – the most exhausted person from the births of several children was Zhou Nan.
Both in obligation and in feelings, Zhi Xia really shouldn’t have taken her for granted.
Giving the ointment was not about forgiveness or holding grudges. If emotional knots were so easily untied, they wouldn’t be called knots.
She was just thankful for Zhou Nan’s dedication. But emotionally, she didn’t want to force herself.
Although Zhi Xia was still aloof, Zhou Nan was already very moved.
She knew that Old Master and Old Madam had been using the health supplements from Zhi Xia over the years. Third brother had even specifically asked for some to research.
She felt envious, yet also knew she had done wrong and hurt the child’s feelings.
No matter what, whether the ointment worked or not, at least she was willing to care about her now.
Zhou Nan was so emotional she had to dab at the corners of her eyes, afraid Zhi Xia would see her tears. She quickly said, “Mom will go make lunch. You can stay here with the kids for a few days. Let me know if you need anything or want to eat something. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Zhi Xia watched her hurrying figure and sat motionless on the bed for a long time.
She could see that Zhou Nan was being deliberately cautious when mentioning the room on the left.
That used to be Gao Meiyun’s room. Now Wen Qing lived there, and it had become Wen Qing’s room.
The last traces that Gao Meiyun had left in this family were also gradually being erased.
People were always emotional. An JingZhi and Zhou Nan had wanted to treat Zhi Xia well, but after all, Gao Meiyun was the one they had raised like their own beloved daughter since young. Feelings couldn’t just be severed as one wished.
Moreover, Gao Meiyun had always been in front of their eyes. With years of doting formed into habit, it was unavoidable they would stand from Gao Meiyun’s perspective when an issue came up.
Gao Meiyun had already passed away for many years, and the feelings were fading away over time. Adding in the wrongs she had committed, one by one, those couldn’t stand up to scrutiny.
As time went by and feelings faded, Zhi Xia was the one still alive. Together with the latent guilt, it was normal for An JingZhi and Zhou Nan to want to make up to Zhi Xia.
This was also good. As long as everyone could live well, it would be enough.
Lunch was very plentiful. Chenye and Wanqing were given the same treatment at home as Wen Qing.
Although the An family had many offspring, there was only Wen Qing of the younger generation. It was giving Zhou Nan a headache. Now she looked forward to An Zhiren and An ZhiXian getting married and having children. As for the fourth son, he wasn’t exactly young either, yet Zhi Xia who was his twin sister already had five children.
Seeing the children all grown up, Zhou Nan felt both joy and sorrow.
Whenever Liu Ling had time, she would come to Zhi Xia’s room, saying she wanted to hold the babies more to give her some good luck.
Zhi Xia still wondered about something. When she first returned, she had Liu Ling drink snow crystal fruit juice, and also gave her a jar of snow crystal fruit preserves. Not only could snow crystal fruit repair the body, it also helped conceive children.
Her eldest brother-in-law had left just a few days before she gave birth, so it had already been over a month. Logically, if Liu Ling had gotten pregnant, she should have discovered it by now.
Perhaps it was because Zhi Xia had been staring at her belly too intensely that made Liu Ling rather uncomfortable. “Little sister, what are you looking at?”
“Nothing,” Zhi Xia hurriedly shook her head and asked her, “Sister-in-law, did you eat that jar of fruit preserves I gave you when I came back?”
“Oh you mean that. Wen Qing likes eating it. I tried it and it was pretty tasty,” Liu Ling said, somewhat embarrassed. “Actually I was reluctant to eat it myself, and only occasionally let Wen Qing have a couple pieces. But then my sister-in-law from my maternal family came over with her kids. The kids liked eating it so I couldn’t not let them eat it.”
The children hadn’t eaten enough, so Liu Ling let them polish off the remaining half jar.
Besides, her maternal family’s sister-in-law was nice, so she as the young auntie really shouldn’t have denied the kids food.
Zhi Xia could only feel resigned. It seemed Liu Ling was out of luck.
Anyway, she would be staying here for a few days and would watch for an opportunity to let her eat more, first conditioning her body. Then the next time big brother returned, there might be a chance.
After staying at the An family home for two days, Zhou Nan had originally wanted to sleep in Zhi Xia’s room at night to help look after the children, but was still rejected by her.
Since she never heard the children crying at night anyway, there was no need for her to insist.
The ointment Zhi Xia gave was very effective. After rubbing it for just two days, her back pain was much better.
When An JingZhi heard it worked, he asked for some to rub on his shoulders too.
Sitting all day at his age, everyone had some minor problems.
When there was a chance, Zhi Xia told Zhou Nan, “Mom, I’ve also imposed on Grandma a lot over the years. I’ve been back for so long this time yet haven’t had a chance to visit her. I’d like to find an opportunity to go to Zhou Village and see how she’s doing.”
