She was only in labor for a single, but it took longer than it took Shen Xiaoyan to deliver three children. By the time she gave birth, she was so exhausted she had no strength left.
Fortunately, as soon as her labor began, Zheng Wei had Huo Si rush to fetch the wet nurse. By the time the wet nurse arrived, the baby hadn't been born yet, so Yue Qingxin didn't need to be disturbed. When the baby was hungry, the wet nurse was there to feed her.
Shen Xiaoyan knew that Yue Qingxin had given birth to a son, and she was happy for her. It was a shame she couldn't visit her now.
The postpartum confinement period was incredibly boring. Every day, after eating and sleeping, all she had left to do was feed the baby and stare blankly at them.
As she watched the three babies grow day by day, Shen Xiaoyan's heart softened even more, as if it could melt with tenderness.
On the tenth day of March, Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei began discussing the full moon banquet for the three children.
In wealthy households, babies usually had a "three-day wash" ceremony, but this was a rural area, and the weather was still cold. Shen Xiaoyan also didn't want to trouble the children, so she hadn't held the ceremony.
However, now that the children were approaching their full moon, a banquet was in order. At the very least, they should invite their close friends for a meal.
Madam Pan, Madam Liang, and Bai Yonggui's wife, Madam Bai Zhang, had all heard about Shen Xiaoyan's childbirth from their own children. They had visited her on the third day after she gave birth, and Shen Xiaoyan was very pleased by this, knowing at least some people remembered them.
"For the full moon banquet, who should we invite?" Shen Xiaoyan asked Zheng Wei, leaning against the kang bed with the baby Ruanruan in her arms, coaxing a smile out of her. She didn't look up.
"Besides the families in the village, there's only Lu Taobao," Zheng Wei replied.
Shen Xiaoyan nodded. That was true. Thinking about it, their social circle was indeed pitifully small. After two years, they were still only familiar with these few families.
"Friendship is about quality, not quantity. Don't overthink it," Zheng Wei said, seemingly guessing Shen Xiaoyan's thoughts and offering comfort.
"I understand," Shen Xiaoyan smiled up at Zheng Wei, then handed Ruanruan to him. "You play with her. I'm going to sleep a little longer. This lazy time in bed won't last much longer, so I want to enjoy it to the fullest."
"If you'd like, you can lie in bed for another month," Zheng Wei suggested seriously.
"No, no, I was just saying," Shen Xiaoyan quickly waved her hand. She had been in bed for nearly a month already. She felt like she was growing moss all over. Another month in bed would be worse than torture.
Seeing this, Zheng Wei smiled and said no more, lowering his head to coo at Ruanruan.
Although Ruanruan was a girl, she was livelier than her two brothers.
While her two brothers slept most of the day, she was the only one who often opened her big, dark eyes, looking around curiously, as if interested in everything.
Shen Xiaoyan thought this was wonderful. A girl shouldn't be too quiet; being healthy and lively was the best.
Zheng Wei doted on her even more. He loved to play with Ruanruan whenever he had the chance, hoping she would smile soon.
After deciding to hold the full moon banquet, Zheng Wei personally went to invite people to the few families, arranging for them to come on the twelfth of March.
On March 12th, early in the morning, not long after breakfast, Madam Pan and Madam Liang had already arrived.
After exchanging pleasantries with Zheng Wei outside, Madam Pan, Madam Liang, and Madam Bai Zhang entered the inner room to see Shen Xiaoyan.
"Auntie Pan, Aunt Liang, Aunt Zhang, you're here?" Shen Xiaoyan greeted the three women as they entered the room, leaning against the kang bed.
"Yes, Xiaoyan, your complexion is good. You look like you've been recovering well this past month," Madam Pan said as she sat beside Shen Xiaoyan and examined her carefully.
"How could it not be good? Look how many more servants there are in the house now. Xiaoyan doesn't have to worry about anything. She can just lie down and rest well," Madam Liang added with a smile.
"Although your face looks rosy and you've gained some weight, I still think Xiaoyan should rest for another month. After all, giving birth to three children at once must have taken a toll on your body," Madam Bai Zhang advised.
"I know. Thank you, Aunt Zhang. I've really recovered well. I feel like I'm going to get moldy lying in bed this past month," Shen Xiaoyan joked.
As soon as Shen Xiaoyan finished speaking, the three women burst into laughter.
"I think the three little ones are sleeping soundly outside. They've gotten chubby and are so adorable," Madam Pan added.
This was not Madam Pan flattering them. The triplets had each weighed only 4 jin when they were born. After a month, each of them weighed around 8 jin. Their skin had become fair, tender, and smooth, making them naturally incredibly cute.
Shen Xiaoyan had no resistance to the faces of the three babies. Every time she saw them, she couldn't help but want to rub, pinch, and kiss them, causing the three little ones to cry out in protest.
Shen Xiaoyan was still enjoying herself. In her previous life, before the apocalypse, she often saw mothers holding their babies, kissing and rubbing them, and she found it very hard to understand. But now that she had her own children, she understood that it was a way of expressing love.
"Yes, they're growing so fast. It's all thanks to the milk from the three wet nurses. If I had to feed them myself, I don't know how thin they would have become," Shen Xiaoyan said with a smile.
This was the truth. In the countryside, it was common to have children but be unable to afford to raise them.
"Your Shen family was planning to come to your full moon banquet today, but your father stopped them," Madam Pan suddenly said.
Father Shen?
Shen Xiaoyan blinked in confusion, then realized that Father Shen was Shen Fazhu.
"Is it Madam Xu who wants to come?"
"No, it's your father," Madam Pan replied.
Shen Cheng? Why would he want to come?
Didn't he always disregard her and Shen Xiaoming?
She suspected that in Shen Cheng's heart, only Shen He, Shen Bing, and his youngest daughter were his children.
Even that burden, Xu Xiao'e, was more important to Shen Cheng than she and her brother.
He had even disowned her for Xu Xiao'e before. Why would he want to come now?
"I heard him and Father Shen say that there's no grudge between father and daughter that lasts overnight. Besides, you don't have any grudges with each other; it's just some misunderstandings. Now that Xu Xiao'e is married off, it's time to reconcile," Madam Pan sighed.
"Thick-skinned."
Before Shen Xiaoyan could speak, Madam Bai Zhang said with a frown.
She knew all about the affairs between the Shen family and Shen Xiaoyan. For Shen Cheng to say such a thing now showed how shameless he was.
"Why bring that up? You should eat more at the banquet later. The feast today was prepared by a chef from the town's restaurant," Shen Xiaoyan said, changing the subject with a smile.
The three women were not insensitive. Seeing that Shen Xiaoyan didn't want to continue the conversation, they also started talking about other things.
Unfortunately, the full moon banquet would not be peaceful after all.
Before long, Huo Fen hurried in.
"Madam, Xu Xiao'e and her son are here."
...
Shen Xiaoyan was stunned. Xu Xiao'e had only been married for less than half a year; where did she get a son?
"It's Yu Lufa, the son of that Boss Yu," Huo Fen explained.
Only then did Shen Xiaoyan realize. Xu Xiao'e did have a son, but it was a stepson who was older than her.
"What is she doing here?" Madam Pan asked with a frown.
Shen Xiaoyan noticed Madam Pan's unfriendly tone and the look of disgust on her face. She knew that something must have happened in the past few months that she was unaware of.
"She said she came to congratulate the young masters and mistresses on their full moon and brought gifts," Huo Fen replied.
"How did your Master Zheng handle it?"
"Master ordered the door to be blocked and didn't let them in. But they haven't left either."
"You may go. Tell them to wait outside. Whether they leave or not is up to them."
"Yes," Huo Fen agreed and withdrew.
Shen Xiaoyan then looked at Madam Pan, asking curiously, "Auntie, why do you detest Xu Xiao'e so much?"
Madam Pan's face immediately showed a look of disdain, and Madam Liang and Madam Bai Zhang on the side also had the same expression.
"We didn't tell you before because you were about to give birth. I can't believe she still has the nerve to show up. I must tell you, you absolutely cannot let her in. It's best to drive her far away, lest she tarnish the ground in front of your door," Madam Pan said indignantly.
Seeing Madam Pan's reaction, Shen Xiaoyan felt something was wrong. What heinous thing had Xu Xiao'e done?
After Madam Pan's explanation and the additions from Madam Liang and Madam Bai Zhang, Shen Xiaoyan understood the whole story. At this point, Shen Xiaoyan had to exclaim that Xu Xiao'e was truly ahead of her time. She, who had experienced the 21st century and the apocalypse, had to admire her.