Early the next morning, Tian Yao was somewhat worried about Liu Zhi’s condition and went up to the Chen house again. Before leaving, he noticed there were still some sweets bought for the New Year at home and took them all along. He didn’t have any particularly presentable gifts to offer; sweets would have to suffice.
Yu Nian had no objections to this. He just sat to the side, unhurriedly feeding Little Gray.
When Tian Yao arrived at the Chen house, Chen Xu had already left early—presumably to fetch a physician from town. Father and Mother Chen merely greeted him upon seeing Tian Yao arrive and then left the two of them to talk.
Liu Zhi’s complexion was much better than the night before. Seeing Tian Yao arrive, he even propped himself up with pillows, sitting up to speak with him.
“Last night was such chaos, I never got to thank you properly.” Liu Zhi gently touched his belly. His every gesture was full of tenderness; it was clear at a glance that he was someone about to become a Little Dad.
“Between us, do we even need to say such things? I was just afraid I wouldn’t be able to help you.” Seeing the poached egg by his bedside had a few bites left uneaten, Tian Yao conveniently picked it up and had him finish it. “But what exactly happened yesterday?”
Only then, as he forced down that bite of egg, did Liu Zhi’s face fill with indignation and resentment.
Because of the pregnancy, on the second day of the New Year—the customary day for returning to one’s maiden home—Chen Xu, mindful of the bad, snowy roads, had gone alone with the gifts to Liu Zhi’s family home.
Liu Zhi’s family home was in Liu Family Village, about an hour’s journey from Huailing Village. Liu Zhi was the youngest Ger in the family. He had two older brothers and an older sister ahead of him. He had been quite cherished since childhood. Both older brothers were capable earners, and his sisters-in-law were also easygoing.
For this New Year’s visit, they also knew Liu Zhi was pregnant and had specifically sent word telling him not to travel back. Although Liu Zhi didn’t go, the Liu family had Chen Xu bring back some very substantial gifts.
On the second day of the New Year, all married women and Gers were expected to return to their maiden homes. This naturally included the Chen family’s Chen Li. She had arrived home early in the morning, empty-handed. Her husband, Zhao Ming, had not come back with her.
On this day, families usually didn’t mistreat their returning daughters or Gers too harshly. So that day, Father and Mother Chen had hosted her with good food and drink, not even bringing up the matter of Zhao Ming.
In the afternoon, she said she hadn’t seen Chen Xu yet and that she’d wait for him to return before leaving. Just then, Chen Xu came back, carrying the things the Liu family had given Liu Zhi.
Chen Li’s eyes immediately fixed on them. She then began wailing about how difficult her life was in her husband’s family—how her in-laws persecuted her, how poorly Zhao Ming treated her, and how she’d constantly wanted Chen Xu to come and assert his authority for her, but he’d never gone.
Finally, her gaze locked greedily onto the items in Chen Xu’s hands. She outright said she should take these things back—that way, she could also hold her head high in her husband’s family.
Liu Zhi had originally not wanted to get involved in her business. But upon hearing her set her sights on the gifts from his own family, he found it hard to sit still. Her usual banging and clanging over was one thing, but to even covet his own family’s home-visit gifts… he wasn’t made of clay either.
Liu Zhi, having also been spoiled growing up, usually tolerated her for Chen Xu’s sake. His parents-in-law also treated him very well, so he chose not to bicker. But today, the abacus beads of her schemes were clattering right in his face. If he didn’t say something, Chen Li would only think he was even easier to bully.
And so they began to argue. Chen Xu grabbed Liu Zhi, while Father and Mother Chen blocked Chen Li.
Seeing Liu Zhi’s attitude, Chen Li knew she wouldn’t get any advantage. She snorted and said she was going home.
Liu Zhi’s expression was grim as he stood to the side. In the end, the old couple didn’t let Chen Li leave completely empty-handed; they prepared some candied fruits and pastries for her. Liu Zhi just pretended not to see.
But Chen Li had seen the things the Liu family had sent—wild ginseng and Ejiao. In comparison, what her own parents gave her was far too cheap. Yet Liu Zhi was so stingy, unwilling to even share the good things with her. He had simply never regarded her, his older sister-in-law!
So, storming out in anger, she walked right past Liu Zhi and, venting her spite, slammed into his side. She knew Liu Zhi was pregnant and didn’t dare use too much force. But Liu Zhi still failed to stand firm, his lower back hitting against the wall.
This terrified Father and Mother Chen and Chen Xu. After calming Liu Zhi down, Chen Xu directly took back the things his parents had prepared for Chen Li and slammed the front door shut. Chen Li stood outside cursing for a good long while before finally leaving.
What followed… was what happened that night.
“She’s truly a family-wrecker! If the child were harmed in any way, I would go to Zhao Family Village and fight her to the death,” Liu Zhi finished recounting yesterday’s events with bitter anger. Even now, thinking back on it filled him with lingering fear.
Having vented it all, the knot of resentment in his chest finally eased. It was New Year’s, after all; he didn’t want Tian Yao to be unhappy too. So, looking at Tian Yao’s stomach, he changed the subject. “And you? You’ve been married so long now. Still no sign at all?”
“It’s not like blowing air into a balloon! You don’t just get it the moment you want it?” Tian Yao’s ear tips were red, causing Liu Zhi to reach out and pinch his ear.
“No is no. Why are you blushing?” A thought struck Liu Zhi. Tian Yao’s reaction was so shy… could it be that they still hadn’t consummated the marriage? Or was Yu Nian’s leg injury such that… that part was also injured? That wouldn’t be good.
He was always someone who spoke his mind, so naturally, he recalled Tian Yao’s confident demeanor at the very beginning.
“Wait, you haven’t consummated yet? His leg is hurt, so he… can’t?”
Tian Yao suddenly had much to say on this topic! He immediately retorted, “He’s perfectly capable! I’ve felt it!”
Liu Zhi’s face was full of teasing mischief. “Playing quite the game, are we? Seems like what you said last time about ‘doing it yourself’ might not be unfounded.”
Tian Yao’s face flushed crimson. “Have you no shame? Not afraid the baby will hear and think you’re a wicked Little Dad?”
Liu Zhi still wanted to tease him further, but just then, Chen Xu returned with the physician. Tian Yao yielded the bedside spot so the physician could take Liu Zhi’s pulse.
The physician closed his eyes and felt the pulse for a good while before saying that it was indeed the bump that had caused some instability in the pregnancy. A close call. It was fortunate that they had taken the qi and blood replenishing medicine last night. Things were much better now. The physician also prescribed bedrest and wrote a new prescription for Chen Xu to go fill.
Only then did they truly feel relieved. Chen Xu hurried off toward town again. Tian Yao stayed with Liu Zhi, chatting for quite a while longer before heading home.
“Yu Nian, I’m back.” After arriving home, Tian Yao first rubbed Little Gray’s dog head, then went into the bedroom to find Yu Nian.
Because of the cold weather, Yu Nian hadn’t gotten out of bed. The handwritten notes in his hands were nearly worn out from being flipped through so much. Only then did Tian Yao remember—if Yu Nian didn’t want to go to town to study medicine, he could just buy him some medical books to study on his own. After all, he was so intelligent; he’d definitely understand them.
Tian Yao silently noted this down in his heart. Next trip to town, he could buy him books.
“Has the physician come and gone?” Yu Nian put down the notes. Over the past two days, he’d finished looking at everything Little Dad had drawn. The handbook he was reading now was from that chest. He wasn’t just reading, either—he was also compiling some of the characters he could decipher.
“Yes, it was just as you said. A few ingredients in the prescription were exactly what you mentioned,” Tian Yao said, looking proud as if Yu Nian’s achievement was his own. “I told you, you’re amazing.”
Yu Nian’s lips curved slightly, but that hint of a smile soon faded. “I know how to handle it because my mother had a similar incident once. But… in the end, the child still couldn’t be saved.”
Hearing this, Tian Yao’s expression faltered. He had been smiling, but his mouth promptly drooped. He looked conflicted—wanting to comfort him, but not knowing how.
Yu Nian reached out and pinched the corner of his lips into a smile again. “It’s something that happened long ago.” He changed the subject. “Little Gray kept barking just now. It’s probably hungry.”
Tian Yao collected his expression and busied himself in the kitchen. His cooking skills were now at a level where he no longer needed to consult the booklet; everything he casually made tasted good.
In the afternoon, Yu Nian kept Tian Yao confined, making him write two full pages of characters. Tian Yao’s entire palm was stained with ink, and he stealthily smeared several marks onto Yu Nian’s clothes.
