Reborn with a Space: Building a Fortune Amidst Famine

Mrs. Zhou nodded. "Alright, we'll wait in the ward. This child must be well looked after."

But you can't let the daughter-in-law feel dissatisfied, thinking that the old couple only care about the grandson and not the adults.

Zhou Yongbing had been worried about his wife since the child was born.

He heard Xiao Li crying out in pain. He was actually quite scared.

After about half an hour, Zhao Yanli was finally wheeled out.

Seeing his wife looking exhausted and pale, Zhou Yongbing felt a pang of sadness.

He held Zhao Yanli's hand.

"I'm alright."

"You've worked hard."

"Where's the baby? I only got a glance."

Zhou Yongbing walked alongside the bed, "Mom and Dad are holding the baby, waiting for you in the ward."

By this time, they had arrived at the ward.

Mrs. Zhou hurried over, "Xiao Li, it's all over, it's all over."

"Mm, Mom, I'm fine now, don't worry."

Zhou Yongbing helped Zhao Yanli onto the bed, and the family showered the nurse with praise.

Mr. Zhou placed the baby beside Zhao Yanli.

She looked at her newborn, "Why does the baby look so ugly?"

Her words left everyone in the ward dumbfounded.

"Nonsense, not ugly at all." Zhao Yanping quickly glared at her thoughtless sister.

"Really, pretty ugly. Not as good-looking as Su Yuanyuan's three children."

Zhao Yanping really didn't know what to do.

Mrs. Zhou hurried over, "Xiao Li, newborns all look like this, it'll change in a few days."

Zhao Yanping also nodded beside her. "Yes, Yuanyuan's children looked like this at birth too, don't you remember? You saw them; they weren't as strong as our Xiao Lei."

"Is that so? I was too nervous then and didn't dare to look."

"That's exactly right, Jianhua looked the same at birth."

Zhao Yanli was convinced by her elder sister. She looked at her son and giggled foolishly.

Mrs. Zhou felt both amused and helpless with her daughter-in-law.

"Big Sis, you should go home. Xiao Bing is here with me."

"Yes, Big Sis, you should go home. There are elders and children at home."

"Alright then. I'll go back and make pig's trotter soup for you, it's already prepared."

Zhao Yanping hurried home.

Mrs. Zhang was quite worried at home. Seeing her daughter-in-law return...

"Mom, Xiao Li gave birth, to a seven-pound baby boy."

"Haha, that's great; the Zhou family has had only single sons for generations. Xiao Li's first baby is a son. The Zhou family must be so happy."

"Yes, Uncle and Aunt Zhou were so overjoyed."

"I'll stew the pig's trotter soup."

Mrs. Zhang made soup exceptionally well, so Zhao Yanping didn't contest this. She assisted on the side.

Hai Yan, on the side, asked about her little brother, "Mom, I want to go to the hospital too."

"Alright, Mom will take you to visit your little brother."

Hai Yan was delighted. She scrambled onto the bed to boast to her brother who was holding onto the bed's edge.

The pig's trotter soup requires a lot of heat, so it's slowly simmered on a honeycomb briquette stove.

Meanwhile, Mr. Zhou hurried home. The house had already been prepared with pig's trotters and carp. Since his sister-in-law had gone back to stew the pig's trotter soup, which takes time, he went back to make carp soup.

Mrs. Zhou just sat beside, smiling at her grandson.

Zhou Yongbing sat beside, holding his wife's hand.

Zhao Yanli was quite exhausted. Knowing the baby was fine, she drifted off to sleep.

In the evening, the three girls from the Zhou family also came by. It was when the eldest sister-in-law came to deliver items and saw just their father home making soup, she found out that the sister-in-law had given birth to a nephew.

She quickly rode her bicycle to inform her two younger sisters.

The three sisters were genuinely happy, aware that their parents longed for a grandson. It finally happened; their sister-in-law delivered a big healthy boy.

The three sisters had already discussed it. Today they'd give money, and tomorrow they'd search for nice gifts to present.

As they left, each gave their sister-in-law twenty yuan.

This was a joyous occasion, so Zhao Yanli didn't refuse.

She had been in the hospital for three days. The baby's eyes had already opened.

Zhou Yongbing had borrowed a truck. Home felt so much more comfortable with the big bed with warm bricks, and she lay flat down.

During these past days, lying on cold hospital beds was truly uncomfortable.

Zhou Yongbing took leave to care for his wife at home since Mom and Dad had to go to work.

The young couple watched the child change little by little, finding it truly fascinating.

The three sisters from the Zhou family rotated visits, coming every day to see the baby and bringing lots of good things.

The family had agreed to celebrate the child's full month. Though it would be the eighth day of the first lunar month, by then the baby would have grown stronger.

"Big Sis. Xiao Lei and Yuanyuan share the same birthday."

"You're lying in bed thinking about these things?" Zhao Yanping really was at her wit's end with her little sister.

"Your brother-in-law should be bringing Big Brother and the others over by now."

"Yes, brother-in-law's been away for ten days, he should be back soon."

"Just wait for Big Brother and them. Oh right, Big Brother intends to visit our old home while he's here."

"I would have gone to bring Mom and Dad over this year, but I had the baby."

"Big Brother's there. Second Brother should go too, while the three sisters wait at home."

Another week passed. While Zhou Yongbing was simmering soup, he heard voices outside. He quickly ran to open the door.

"Big Brother, Second Brother. You've all come?"

"Yes, Xiao Ping said Xiao Li gave birth. So we came to take a look." Sun Yun smiled as he spoke.

"Big Brother, Big Sis-in-law, come on in."

Zhao Yanli, lying in bed, also heard the commotion outside. She felt a bit excited; the whole family had come, how could she not be happy?

Zhao Yanping, Zhao Xiaojing, Sun Yun, and Qi Xue Mei, the four women came straight in. The other three men stayed with Zhou Yongbing.

"Let's unload the truck first."

Each family brought the same things, a sack of flour, a sack of cornstarch, five pounds of pork, and five pounds of cottonseed oil.

Of course, they couldn't go without two sacks of soybeans, winter melons, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and sweet potato chips, knowing Zhao Yanli was pregnant. They also gave pig's feet and cotton.

Zhou Yongbing, as he was unloading, thought what a lot of stuff they brought.

More was actually unloaded at Zhao Yanping's house, including locally sourced pork and some grain.

Zhang Fusheng sold them at a price higher than the farm's.

Xu Hongbing even brought down a basket from the driver's seat, filled with eggs and duck eggs saved by the three families for Zhao Yanli.

These weren't easy to buy in the city. Zhou Yongbing carefully carried them into the house.

The five women were now all gathered around the baby.

Zhao Yanli was breastfeeding well, and the baby seemed to change every day. Now, although still a bit red, the bright-eyed little one looked lively and adorable.