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墨書 Inktalez
As the child's cries echoed, a rumble of thunder rolled across the sky, and suddenly, without any warning, torrential rain began to pour down.
The downpour came so abruptly that the thousands of refugees kneeling outside the door were caught completely off guard.
"Congratulations, Benefactor! Triplets—two boys and one girl."
"In all my years of assisting births, I've never encountered such a wonderful event."
"I've lived for over half a century and have never seen such beautiful babies."
"......"
However, as the wooden door swung open, three midwives appeared, each cradling an infant in their arms. Due to the lack of preparation for so many swaddlings, the last baby was wrapped in soft cotton cloth. Fortunately, the warm weather meant the child wouldn't catch a chill.
Three...
Aside from Shen Muhan, who had already stepped inside to see Xia Muxin, the Xia family stood frozen in shock, utterly dumbfounded, even petrified.
It wasn't until each midwife spoke in turn and they truly saw three tiny infants with their eyes still closed that Aunt Xia and Xia Jihua reacted first. They eagerly took the children from the midwives' hands and began to examine them closely.
"My daughter is alright, isn't she?"
At the same time, Aunt Xia did not forget to inquire about Xia Muxin's condition.
"She's fine, just a bit exhausted from the long wait. Hurry and prepare some egg soup to nourish the Benefactor."
Upon hearing the midwife's words, everyone felt relieved.
"Mother, which two are the nephews and which one is the niece?"
Songzi was nearly ten years old and had been in school for over a year. Gradually, he had become quite the big kid and was very curious about the triplets. He gently stroked the faces of the three infants and asked Aunt Xia.
Others also gathered closer, eager to get a better look.
"I don't know either, but this child is truly beautiful."
This question left Aunt Xia momentarily speechless as she watched the children with their eyes closed, waving their little hands. A cat-like sound escaped their lips, and her eyes were filled with affection.
"Muxin, thank you!"
Inside the room, after the midwife finished cleaning up for Xia Muxin, she stepped outside and kindly closed the door behind her, leaving the couple alone inside.
Shen Muhan's love for his wife was evident to all. Among the refugees, there wasn't a single person who didn't envy them. They admired how this family seemed free of conflicts. The elderly longed for a family that was united and harmonious, yet after living most of their lives, they rarely saw families like the Xia Family.
Thus, even though they were merely refugees and lived on just a bowl of porridge each day, everyone felt happy.
They believed they had encountered a living Bodhisattva; even under such difficult conditions, they could still provide everyone with a bowl of porridge. In truth, even just a sip of water would be met with immense gratitude.
"Whom does the child resemble?"
Xia Muxin's hair was already soaked, and beads of sweat still clung to her face. Having just given birth, her body felt weak and fragile; even hot water was off-limits, and she was tightly wrapped in a thin blanket. When Shen Muhan entered the room, her heart warmed at the sight of him. However, she had been in a semi-conscious state earlier and hadn't seen her child yet. It was only a surprise to learn that she had given birth to three.
"I don't know."
Shen Muhan gently wiped the sweat from her face with his fingertip, seemingly ignoring Xia Muxin's words. He awkwardly uttered three words but then leaned down to place a kiss on her damp forehead, his eyes filled with concern as they met hers. Noticing an unusual smile in her gaze, he turned his head away for a moment before saying:
"Close your eyes and rest for a while. Ermiao is going to make egg soup. You'll have something to eat soon, but remember not to fall asleep. I'll be right here and won't go anywhere."
He had heard the midwife's words clearly and knew that Ermiao had gone to the kitchen to prepare the soup. Xia Muxin had been calling out for an entire day and night without eating anything. Just thinking about it made his heart ache. After all the effort it took to bring their child into the world, exhaustion was inevitable. He worried that if she closed her eyes, she might drift off into a deep sleep, but he also felt pained by her struggles and urged her to rest.
"I can't sleep; I don't want to close my eyes. Stay and talk with me for a while."
Xia Muxin insisted, unaware of how painful childbirth could be for those who had never experienced it. At this moment, even if she wanted to sleep, she couldn't.
Shen Muhan didn't press her further. He reached under the thin blanket and held her small hand, damp with sweat, gazing at her affectionately.
Soon, the egg soup arrived. It contained a few drops of oil and a small amount of salt; after all, there were many things a woman who had just given birth couldn't eat. Given the limited conditions of their time, Xia Muxin didn't dare take any chances with her health—after all, she still needed to nurse three children.
"I'll do it."
The egg soup was brought in by Ermiao, who had cracked four eggs into it, making it look rich and hearty. A faint aroma wafted through the steam as Shen Muhan took the bowl from Xia Muxin's hands and said softly three words. Ermiao smiled at Zhaoxia Muxin and gave Shen Muhan a thumbs-up before discreetly leaving the room.
Shen Muhan brought a cushion and placed it behind Xia Muxin's back, allowing her to drink the egg soup comfortably.
He fed Xia Muxin spoonful by spoonful, testing the temperature of each spoon before giving it to her, watching her swallow before offering the next one...
It took nearly half an hour to finish a bowl of thick egg soup. Once she was done, sleepiness washed over Xia Muxin; she yawned several times and fell into a deep slumber.
The rain had poured for three days and nights. The Donghe River, which had been dry, slowly began to fill with water. The fields overflowed, and worried about the harvest from their hundred acres of land, Xia Muxin instructed her family to dig ditches to divert the excess water. The corn was manageable, but the peanuts were in bloom at this time, and everything depended on this moment; she couldn't let all their efforts go to waste.
Moreover, although the rain had come, it was already past the season for harvesting rice, and most households had nothing to show for their efforts.
Many refugees knelt in gratitude to Xia Muxin's family as they returned home one by one the next day.
However, Xia Muxin had given birth to triplets, and news of this miraculous event spread like wildfire throughout Zhushan County. Many people even regarded their children as celestial beings sent down to aid the suffering populace.
Xia Muxin and Shen Muhan naturally did not believe such tales. However, the rumors posed a significant problem for them, especially concerning the children. The family was cautious, fearful that ill-intentioned individuals might try to take them away.
Meanwhile, work had already begun in the capital. Soon enough, it would stop raining in Zhushan County, but basic water sources would still be assured. As a result, every household started planting other crops. After all, with no harvest from this season's rice, they needed to fill their stomachs somehow.
Quickly, news spread through Town that grain prices had doubled; now one pound of grain could only buy what ten pounds used to. With their food supplies dwindling, Xia Muxin began thinking of ways to transport wheat and other goods from outside by boat.
At the same time, sweet potato leaves became crucial. Originally intended for making various chips, Xia Muxin abandoned that idea. After keeping a few hundred pounds for her family’s consumption, she started making sweet potato starch. However, producing sweet potato starch was a slow process; each batch took at least twenty days. During this time, Xia Muxin used her knowledge to teach everyone how to plant other filling crops.
For instance, they planted large quantities of taro and potatoes. The basics included pumpkins and winter melons—these were easy to grow and required little effort while providing good yields. Even when food was scarce, they could still fill their bellies with these crops.
Thus, the entire Daimiao Village sprang into action, planting the most affordable yet life-saving crops of this era.
On one hand, they began to cultivate the fields and plant the second crop of rice.
However, what troubled Xia Muxin the most was that the three children needed milk. This was a significant challenge for her. Although she had become fuller after giving birth, her milk supply was not abundant. One child could barely be satisfied, let alone three; it truly drove her to despair.
The little ones could eat, sleep, and make a fuss. When one cried, the other two followed suit. During those frustrating moments, Xia Muxin really wanted to throw the Three Babies away.
Shen Muhan, on the other hand, was both pained and helpless, becoming a full-time dad for ten hours a day.
To address this issue, they even got two ewes at home to provide milk specifically for the children.
Xia Muxin's meals consisted of pork trotters at least twice a day, as it was said that they could help with milk production. She didn't quite believe that; pork trotters might help with gaining weight, but she had gone from her previous slim figure to something else entirely. None of her old clothes fit anymore. Yet, she couldn't skip meals since the three little ones still needed to eat.
Finally, after enduring a month of confinement, she was able to wash up. During that month, she hadn't washed her hair or taken a bath; she felt that her body smelled unpleasantly of milk.
Today, she could finally enjoy a nice bath. As soon as dawn broke, she started asking Shen Muhan to prepare everything for her.
Knowing how much she had suffered over the past month, Shen Muhan had already brewed a large pot of mugwort water early in the morning. He filled the bathtub with more than half of it; this water couldn't be mixed with cold water. The weather was hot, and it took half an hour for the pot of water to cool down enough for her to use. Once the temperature was just right, Xia Muxin could no longer hold back and rushed into the bathroom.
In the end, however, it was still Shen Muhan who went in to help her wash. They spent over half an hour washing; Xia Muxin felt like she had transformed into a beggar monk—she could rub herself and produce a ball of dirt! Fortunately, Shen Muhan didn’t mind.
Her mother had said that she was lucky to give birth during good weather; it wasn't cold at all. If it had been winter, not only would she have been unable to wash herself but even washing her face would have been forbidden. Hearing this made Xia Muxin's mouth twitch.
The only thing she felt fortunate about was having given birth to three at once; that was enough for her. She considered herself lucky not to have to go through childbirth again.
After washing her hair and taking a shower, Xia Muxin felt much lighter, the faint scent of Mugwort enveloping her and revitalizing her spirit.
"You see, I told you! It's because I didn't wash up and was too dirty that I couldn't fit into this dress. Now that I've bathed, my face looks smaller."
She tried on an old outfit and was surprised to find it fit, although her chest seemed noticeably fuller. Compared to her previous modest size, she now resembled a much larger bun, which left her feeling somewhat dissatisfied.
However, it was still comforting that she could wear the dress, especially since she felt like she was being treated like livestock.
Moreover, no woman is indifferent to her figure, even if her husband dotes on her.
As a mother of three, she still had a childlike demeanor. Shen Muhan shook his head with a smile; he adored this side of her.
Unable to resist, he stepped forward, cradled her face in his hands, and leaned down to kiss her.
The kiss quickly escalated, his hands becoming restless.
Counting the months of abstinence during her pregnancy and postpartum recovery, Shen Muhan had been deprived for ten long months. Now that she had given birth and completed her confinement period, seeing his beloved lying in his arms every day made him yearn to take her fully.
And indeed, she had grown quite a bit; one hand could no longer encompass her fullness, which only heightened his desire.
"Muxin..."
Xia Muxin felt utterly disoriented by his teasing; it was impossible to deny wanting him. After all, they were normal people deeply in love.
Shen Muhan's voice was hoarse, as if he were struggling to contain himself. Xia Muxin responded with a dreamy hum as he pushed her against the wall, mindful of the three little carrot heads lying on the bed nearby.
Xia Muxin found it hard to resist his temptation, her small hands igniting a fire on his body. Shen Muhan let out a low growl, finally reaching his breaking point...
However, just as the two were being honest with each other and preparing for the final step, a series of loud cries erupted.
"Wow..."
"Wow wow..."
"Wow wow wow..."
The three children's cries rang out in perfect unison, almost in a rhythmic sequence of one, two, three. Strangely enough, it started with the eldest, then the second, and finally the youngest, as if they were counting.
Xia Muxin was startled and pushed Shen Muhan, but he had already reached the edge of his endurance. If he didn't succeed now, he feared he might suffocate from the tension.
"Muxin, what's wrong? Why are the children crying so sadly?"
- End of Chapter -
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