Chapter 473 Ye Shenggge Gives Birth to a Little Daughter
That evening, Wei Jiu returned with several people carrying buckets. Ye Shenggge was curious to see. Each bucket was half full, but the fish weren't large, the biggest only weighing two jin.
However, under the skillful hands of chefs Wang Fengling and Aunt Zhen, slicing several of the largest fish into fillets allowed Ye Shenggge to eat the water-boiled fish slices she hadn't tasted in a long time.
The fish slices were covered with a generous amount of chili and Sichuan peppercorns. When the hot oil was poured over them, the aroma immediately filled the cave.
Chen Tangtang, a plump woman who had only recently finished her one-month confinement, rushed over at the scent, neglecting her young son.
"It smells so good, so good! I haven't eaten flavorful food in ages."
Xia Hong watched her daughter-in-law's ravenous expression and couldn't help but chuckle as she delivered a not-so-kind blow.
"Your meal is over here, clear fish soup with rice."
"Ah~~~~, Mom, I want something flavorful."
"Heh, impossible. You need to complete two months of confinement. Once you're out, I absolutely won't care how you eat."
Chen Tangtang looked to Ye Shenggge for help, but Ye Shenggge, the precious one, had already been served a portion of the water-boiled fish and was happily eating it with white rice.
"Shenggge, is it delicious?"
Chen Tangtang crouched beside Ye Shenggge like a puppy, her eyes shining as she stared at the water-boiled fish, her mouth watering.
"It's delicious, but you can't eat it."
Ye Shenggge quickly picked up a clean pair of chopsticks and put a piece of fish into Chen Tangtang's mouth. Chen Tangtang smiled widely, covering her mouth as she chewed quickly.
Actually, Ye Shenggge felt that during confinement, one could eat some flavorful food, as long as they ate less salt and tasted it. Anyway, Tangtang didn't have milk to feed the baby.
"I'm satisfied. Shenggge is still the best."
In fact, many people saw Ye Shenggge's actions but pretended not to.
Xia Hong also saw it and shook her head helplessly from the side. Looking at her daughter-in-law's physique, she was even fatter than her son. She worried that her son might dislike his wife in the future, as men were visual creatures, and being too fat was really not good.
Xia Hong was secretly thinking about controlling her daughter-in-law's weight from now on. At only twenty-two years old, she couldn't look like this. She only prayed that her son and daughter-in-law could love each other forever.
Luo Xueli was also drooling in the cave. She hadn't eaten fish in a long time. As she was thinking, Grandma Bai brought a large bowl of fish soup.
"Xueli, this fish soup is specially made for you and Tangtang. It also has some de-boned fish meat. Eat it with your fried egg pancake."
"Wuwuwu, thank you, Mom. I'm already salivating."
"What's there to thank? If you want to eat it, I'll have Chu Mo catch more for you tomorrow. Fish soup is good for milk production."
Her precious grandchild hadn't drunk breast milk yet. Tangtang also had no milk, and her daughter-in-law hadn't started lactating. Now, both babies were drinking formula. She was afraid the formula would run out and starve the children. Now, she could only hope her daughter-in-law would be more resourceful.
Little Youyou also drooled on his mother's lap. Ye Shenggge secretly looked around and found no one was paying attention, so she quickly fed her son a tiny piece of fish. She wanted to see if her son could eat spicy food.
However, Little Youyou first paused with a frown after tasting it, then chewed with great enthusiasm. After finishing, he opened his mouth waiting for his mother to feed him again.
Ye Shenggge really didn't dare to feed him anymore. Seeing her two masters also eating the water-boiled fish, she quietly said to her son.
"Little Youyou, go find your Grandmaster, let him feed you fish. Mom doesn't have much left. I need to leave enough for the baby in my belly to eat."
"Mm-hmm, feed baby."
"Yes, feed the baby in the belly. Little Youyou is truly the best big brother. Go quickly."
Little Youyou excitedly ran to Elder Fan, pointed at the water-boiled fish on the table, and said in a soft voice.
"Gong, fish."
Elder Fan smiled and hugged Little Youyou into his arms, pointing at the fish with his chopsticks and shaking his head.
"The fish is very spicy. Little Youyou can't eat it yet."
"Eat, Mom, eat."
Elder Fan turned to look at his young disciple and realized his young disciple dared not even lift her head. He understood everything.
"Did your mother just ask you to eat fish?"
"Mm, eat."
Immediately, Ye Shenggge felt several accusing glances directed at her. She continued to pretend not to see.
"Doesn't it bother you that it's spicy?"
"No, eat."
"Oh, such a little guy who can eat spicy food."
Elder Dang took a pair of clean chopsticks, picked up a piece of fish, and carefully fed it to Little Youyou. Everyone watched. They saw that Little Youyou quickly finished eating and didn't even complain about the spiciness. He kept opening his mouth, waiting to be fed.
"Hahaha, not bad. I remember Zi Shao could eat spicy food, just like his father."
Ye Shenggge pouted. She could also eat spicy food, but she rarely did so to accommodate everyone.
"Little Youyou is still young. Let's have one more piece, and then no more, okay?"
"Mm-hmm."
"So obedient!"
After finishing, Little Youyou indeed stopped opening his mouth for more and obediently ran to his maternal grandmother to be fed.
Mother Ye felt that raising her precious grandson saved her so much trouble, much easier than raising her son when he was young.
Ye Mu'en sneezed vigorously far away, thinking his sister must be missing him. His heart filled with excitement, and he treated his teammates even better.
"Train harder, everyone. Add half an hour of extra training for each team. Strength is the key to victory."
Ye Shenggge, who was being nourished daily with soothing soups and liquids, still couldn't hold on until full term. She started bleeding at just nine months.
But her heart was relatively calm. She quietly waited for labor pains, not adding any burden to those around her.
Elder Fan and Elder Dang were both by their young disciple's side, discussing whether to let nature take its course or to take medicine to speed up labor like Luo Xueli.
Ye Shenggge felt no discomfort at the moment, so she wanted to wait for the time heaven arranged for the child. Seeing her precious granddaughter so calm, Grandma Bai disliked her granddaughter-in-law's lack of resilience even more.
"Sweetheart, what do you want to eat now? Waiting like this might take all day."
To appease her grandmother, Ye Shenggge ordered the simplest plain noodles, with a little chili added for flavor.
"Okay, Grandma will make it for you right away. How about adding some small green vegetables?"
"Okay, Grandma's cooking is the best."
Ye Shenggge lay down again. The two masters sat nearby, chatting idly.
Chen Tangtang also came with her young son. Oh, the baby finally had a name: Ouyang Xun, usually called Little Xun'er.
Luo Xueli was a bit apprehensive about childbirth scenes, but her husband kept urging her to go in and see. She had no choice but to steel herself and enter.
"Little Xun'er, today you'll see your sister. She'll definitely be the prettiest sister."
Little Youyou had been lying on his mother's lap, not speaking, just tugging at her hand. But as soon as he heard that his sister was about to become someone else's sister, he immediately got up.
"Me, sis, me!"
"Hahahaha, you know she's your own sister. Little rascal is already protecting her."
Actually, Ye Shenggge didn't know if it was a girl. She didn't want to know in advance because this was the last child she planned to have. Whether it was a boy or a girl, they wouldn't continue.
"Um, Shenggge, does it hurt? Actually, you just need to endure it, like I did."
"Pfft, you're the biggest coward. When you gave birth, you almost made the cave collapse. Shenggge is much stronger than you."
Chen Tangtang rolled her eyes. This girl was so bad that she could have been thrown out by the doctors even if she were giving birth in a hospital.
Luo Xueli wasn't angry and just smiled foolishly.
"Mm, when I have the next one, I won't be like this."
At this moment, Ye Shenggge suddenly felt labor pains. Estimating the time, they were fifteen minutes apart. It seemed she would give birth today.
"Everyone move aside, let my sweetheart eat something."
Luo Xueli watched her grandmother personally feed her little aunt, refusing any refusal. She more strongly desired to give birth to a grandson, and then her child would be the most precious.
Thus, Luo Xueli didn't leave, staying by her side to chat. Grandma always said she wasn't smart, so she would learn more.
Five hours passed. Ye Shenggge's pain finally intensified. After taking her pulse, the two masters left the cave.
"Girl Shenggge is truly resilient. She's already five centimeters dilated. I think she'll give birth in another hour."
Mother Ye wiped her daughter's sweat and poured her a cup of space water that had been prepared earlier.
"Good child, once we give birth, we won't suffer anymore."
Grandma Bai also listened from the side and nodded in agreement.
"Exactly, two children are enough. It's good for them to have each other. It's not good for women to have too many children."
Luo Xueli's eyes widened. This was too much favoritism. No one spoke to her like this. But Luo Xueli still felt that having more children was good.
"Mm, I think so too. I'm truly a bit afraid."
Actually, Ye Shenggge was scared now. Because she knew how much it hurt, she was very resistant in her heart. She no longer had the fearlessness of her first pregnancy.
"Don't be afraid. Second births are easier. Look at Tangtang, she could have given birth while eating."
"Heh heh, I was scared by Shenggge at the time, and with one push, I gave birth."
Amidst everyone deliberately diverting her attention, Ye Shenggge reached the moment of birth. This time, Wang Fengling would also be the one to deliver the baby.
"Shenggge, come on, push with me as I say."
Ye Shenggge didn't exert herself for long. With her single cry, the baby was born.
"Hahahaha, Shenggge, you're amazing! You gave birth to a daughter. Although she's not very chubby, she'll be fine after some nourishment."
Ye Shenggge turned to look at her daughter, who was pale and soft from being soaked in water. She finally had a daughter.
Mother Ye happily wiped her granddaughter clean. Then, Grandma Bai carried the scale, and many hands were ready to receive.
"Five jin and eight liang. She's a chubby girl too."
After wrapping the baby, she was immediately handed to Grandma Bai.
"Oh my, this little face is much prettier than you were when you were little. I just regret not seeing what Shenggge looked like when she was born."
Mother Ye knew what her daughter looked like when she was young. Looking at her granddaughter, she wasn't as beautiful as her daughter was at birth, but not far off.
"They are both beautiful, my little darling."
Luo Xueli had been observing Ye Shenggge's childbirth process. She had decided that next time she would be able to endure it. However, she hadn't expected Ye Shenggge to give birth to a girl first. She felt a bit disappointed. She had hoped to be the one to give birth to the first girl, because she understood very well how precious a favored granddaughter was in the Bai family.
"She's really beautiful. Shenggge is good at giving birth. I also want to have a daughter. Grandma will definitely like her very much then."
"Of course. The most beautiful child in our family must be born to my sweetheart, and I only like beautiful ones."
Grandma Bai's mouth couldn't close. But she knew very well what her granddaughter-in-law was thinking. In fact, she was overthinking. Not everyone in the Bai family had to be the eldest son or grandson to lead. It was about who was capable.
Moreover, the reason why the Bai brothers had such good relationships was that their elders were fair. No matter who took the lead, everyone received the same amount, and everyone had to contribute to the Bai family together. No one could freeload.
This granddaughter-in-law's thinking needed to be properly addressed. She wondered who had given her this idea, starting to compete so early.
Luo Xueli was slightly taken aback by Grandma Bai's words. It seemed she couldn't have a child more beautiful than this little girl.
Grandma Bai gave Aunt Bai a deliberate look. Just that one look startled Aunt Bai. Heaven and earth bear witness, she had never known her daughter-in-law had such thoughts.
"It's your responsibility if you haven't taught your daughter-in-law well."
"Yes, Mom. I will teach her well."
Aunt Bai breathed a sigh of relief. So it was her fault for not teaching well. Wasn't it? There had never been a divorce in their Bai family. Even if a daughter-in-law was not good, they would teach her slowly, ensuring she didn't harm family relations, and at least not be a troublemaker.
Luo Xueli was still confused. She felt like they were talking about her, but she couldn't understand what she had done wrong.
Mother Ye and her daughter exchanged glances. Even as a daughter of the Bai family, she couldn't interfere too much at this moment.
Ye Shenggge was just congratulating herself on her eldest cousin having a sensible father-in-law, but now there was a daughter-in-law who wanted to be first in everything.
However, Ye Shenggge wasn't worried. Her grandmother and eldest cousin were not easy people to deal with. When it came down to it, they would not be soft-hearted.
Ye Shenggge finally had a chance to see her daughter. She was tiny, her eyes not even open, sleeping soundly.
Before Ye Shenggge could even look at her for a few more moments, the little girl was carried out because everyone outside was waiting to see the Bai family's first girl of the third generation.
Aunt Bai saw her eldest son looking at the little girl and called him aside, looking at him sternly.
"What's wrong, Mom? Did I do something to make you angry?"
Aunt Bai told her son about Luo Xueli's recent behavior and words, especially Grandma Bai's warning.
Elder Bai Chu Fan's forehead throbbed with pain. No wonder he had been hearing his wife constantly telling their son things like "You must grow up well. You are the eldest grandson of the Bai family. You will be as capable as your father in the future."
"Heh, Mom, don't be angry. I'll explain to Grandma myself. And I've never said such things to Luo Xueli. I'll tell her our family's rules later."
"Mm, your grandmother is angry today. You know how rarely the old lady actively criticizes anyone. Hurry up and correct her, otherwise, I don't mind being a strict mother-in-law."
"Don't worry. If Luo Xueli has such thoughts, it must be something I've instilled in her. I can give it and I can take it back, so Mom, don't worry or get angry."