Xia Zheng also spotted it, and squinted his eyes, having been so agitated that he rolled his eyes exaggeratedly and paid him no mind anymore.

Lin Jiaxin, however, hadn’t caught on, and asked anxiously, "Divine Doctor, it’s a boy, no mistake there. I’m asking if he’s got any illness? How is his constitution?"

"Nothing serious, just a bit weak. Just needs to eat and sleep more, and he’ll be fine.

" Lao Fan strolled out of the room leisurely, but before leaving, he didn’t forget to take another glance at the little fellow kicking about on the kang.

The little thing was soft and playful like a sticky rice ball, and truly enjoyable to touch.

Hearing Lao Fan say there was nothing wrong, Lin Jiaxin finally settled down, tears of relief brimming in his eyes. He sat down on the edge of the kang, holding the tiny boy, and buried his head in front of the child, his shoulders shaking.

Aunt Wang saw his reaction and knew he was thinking of the child that had died young; tears involuntarily started streaming down her face too. After hoping for a boy for so long, who would have thought the child would pass away so young!

Lin Yuan and Xia Zheng exchanged a glance, both silently reflecting.

Although Lao Fan’s recent scare wasn’t the right thing to do, at least they could now be assured knowing the little brother was healthy and safe.

Their hearts were settled too, and once Lady Liu woke up, she could confidently tell her mother that her little brother was strong and had no ailments.

Aunt Wang wiped away her tears, patting Lin Jiaxin’s shoulder with a beaming smile, "Quickly dress the baby, lest he catches a cold later."

Lin Jiaxin then somberly nodded, looked up to wipe his eyes, and started to dress the little one. Lin Jiaxin had always doted on his children during their younger years and had even helped them get dressed, so dressing this little one was second nature to him.

Aunt Wang was delighted, laughing, "This child of yours surely has no ailment.

He was so loud when he was born, crying so mightily.

Holding him, he must be at least six jin; no wonder Xianshu had such a hard time giving birth this time.

Before, Lin Yuan and the others were only about five jin each. "

Xiao Linshuang, not knowing when she had appeared at the doorway, peeked her little head in, her eyes rolling curiously, "Auntie, I was only five jin when I was born? That means I was even smaller than my little brother?"

Aunt Wang chuckled, patting her head, "Yes, you were even smaller than your brother, just like a little kitten."

Xiao Linshuang giggled as she looked at the little one on the kang, "Little brother, from now on I’m your sister, you know. Even though I’m smaller than you, your sister will protect you, okay?"

Their laughter filled the room at Xiao Linshuang’s childlike words, and the little one on the kang started flailing his limbs even more.

Lady Liu had just given birth, and her milk hadn’t come in yet, so fortunately, the little one didn’t need to eat much and wouldn’t be hungry the first day, Aunt Wang just occasionally fed him some water.

Worried about her mother being hungry, Lin Yuan prepared brown sugar, millet, and eggs, not missing a single one. In order to help produce milk as soon as possible, Lady Liu drank a big bowl of brown sugar millet porridge and devoured four eggs after waking up that night.

The village watched closely over Lady Liu’s childbirth, not only because she had given birth to three daughters in a row and her only son had died young but also because the Lin family’s homestead was now, subtly, led by Lin Yuan’s house.

What once was a dilapidated thatched cottage had transformed into a red brick house, stirring envy in others.

Many longed for Lady Liu’s new baby to be another daughter so that they might find some solace in their own envious hearts. But fate had decided otherwise, and they were bound to be unsettled.

The next morning, bright and early, Lin Yuan posted prepared red paper on both sides of the main gate.

In the countryside, it was customary to put up red paper on the door whenever a child was born.

Back when they lived in the old residence, red paper was only put up when Lin Yuan was born, with Lin Jiaxin happily doing the honor.

But for the two daughters that followed, due to Lady Yang’s contempt, they weren’t even allowed to put up the red paper.

Table of Contents