Chapter 184: Early Production
Chapter 184
Everything in the kitchen needed to be replaced. Zhi Xia replaced them all with new ones. Pei Jing took coal briquettes next door to borrow fire, but did not cook. All the meals were taken from the space.
Knowing they had come back, Zhao Xin came over once, but by then they had already cleaned up.
It had just rained recently, and the ground outside was still a bit frosty. Pei Meng, with her big belly, basically did not go out anymore.
Zhi Xia went to see her the next day and saw that she was in good condition before she felt relieved.
The weather was still cold in January, and a few days later, there was another heavy snowfall. Fortunately, it melted before February, and when the warm sun came out, the ground also became dry.
Zhi Xia had just coaxed the two children to sleep inside when Shen Hongxing hurriedly came over, "Zhi Xia, Pei Meng is going to give birth! Your man and Zhao Xin just rushed to take her to the hospital and let me come tell you..."
"Isn\'t there still a few more days? How come she\'s in labor now?" Zhi Xia hurriedly asked.
"I heard that she squatted in the toilet for too long, and when she got up, her water broke." Shen Hongxing also heard it from others. She happened to be not far from Pei Meng\'s door chatting with a few sisters at that time. She was a gossipy person to begin with, even after returning to her original form.
"I see, thanks Hongxing sister for making this trip." Zhi Xia said hastily.
The military vehicle drove by the door, followed by a group of people talking about something, all about Pei Meng going into labor.
During Pei Meng\'s pregnancy, Zhi Xia had fed her many good things, sometimes added in soup and meals, and sometimes made into fruit juice.
Although there were still a few days before the expected date of delivery, membrane rupture was still a normal phenomenon, there shouldn\'t be anything wrong.
Although this was what she thought in her heart, the waiting time was long. Zhi Xia still could not help worrying.
It was not until night that Pei Jing came back.
Zhi Xia had not fallen asleep either. Seeing him come back, she hurriedly asked, "How is it?"
"Gave birth, it\'s a girl, quite chubby, Zhao Xin is so happy." When Pei Jing spoke, there was a smile on his face, "Oh yes, do you have any ready-made soup over there that I can bring Pei Meng? It’s the middle of the night and there is nothing much to eat in town. She is still hungry now."
"There is. Hongxing sister told me Pei Meng was going to give birth, so I cooked chicken soup in the space and kept it ready, just waiting for you guys to come back." Zhi Xia said while hurriedly preparing it, "You stay home and rest, I will deliver the soup and take the opportunity to see the baby."
Pei Jing did not argue with her and nodded, then went to clean himself up.
As a primipara, Pei Meng gave birth quite quickly, and the things Zhi Xia fed her during her pregnancy were also very helpful.
Zhi Xia added a little snow crystal fruit juice to the chicken soup. Fortunately, this fruit was pure white and tasteless, just very juicy. When added to the soup, it did not change the taste.
Zhao Xin probably did not eat it either. She left some meat and soup for Pei Jing, and also left him dinner. She put the rest in a thermos and took a bowl of rice, then went to Zhao Xin’s place.
Zhao Xin was boiling water in the kitchen. Pei Meng only washed up briefly after giving birth at the hospital in town, and wanted to take a good bath when she got home.
Seeing Zhi Xia come over, Zhao Xin quickly greeted her. His tired face was full of joy.
"I was worried that Mengmeng would come home hungry, so I\'ve been heating chicken soup for her on the stove. Is she asleep now?" Zhi Xia asked.
"Not yet. I was just wondering what I could make for her to eat. Thank you so much, auntie." Zhao Xin said hastily.
"Then I\'ll take it inside and see the baby too." Zhi Xia said, "I stewed a whole chicken, she can\'t finish it alone either, so come over and eat some too."
"Oh." Zhao Xin felt that although Pei Meng\'s aunt looked very young, she was actually a very capable and good elder.
When he was away, it was thanks to her taking care of Pei Meng that allowed him to be at ease outside.
Although Pei Jing was her uncle, men were still not as attentive as women. Pei Meng would prefer to talk to Zhi Xia if she had any issues.
Before she even entered the room, she heard Pei Meng\'s weak voice calling her, "Is that auntie?"
"It\'s me." Zhi Xia walked in and saw her lying on the bed. Her complexion was a little pale and she looked very weak.
Zhi Xia put the chicken soup and rice on the bedside table and asked her, "How are you feeling? Still uncomfortable?"
"Other things are fine, I\'m just very weak. Below is still a bit painful." Pei Meng said.
It could be heard from her voice that she was weak. Zhi Xia was not surprised and helped her sit up, "Have something to eat first, you will feel much better after a nap."
Zhao Xin brought in a bowl. Zhi Xia took it to scoop her soup and added a chicken leg.
Pei Meng was indeed starving and finished it cleanly, then had another half bowl of rice.
Zhao Xin only drank some soup, and gnawed on the chicken head and chicken neck, keeping the good meat for Pei Meng.
As the weather was still cold now, things would not spoil easily for two to three days either.
Still, Zhi Xia could not stand watching it and took the bowl back to fill more rice for him. Only then did he meekly walk out to eat, not wanting to embarrass her.
Pei Meng smiled and said, "Auntie, you must have used up all the rice at your home for this meal, right?"
Very little rice was eaten here, usually just steamed buns made from three parts wheat flour and one part rice. It was pretty good to be able to eat white steamed buns.
Furthermore, such delicate long grain rice was very rare even in Jincheng.
"Don\'t worry, with our status, having some finer grains occasionally is also possible. You have just given birth and shouldn\'t worry about these things. I have even specially set aside some for you during your confinement month." Zhi Xia said as she went to see the child inside. Sure enough, she was plump like the twins when they were born, her skin fair and flawless without any wrinkles, very good looking, "Have you decided on a name?"
"Zhao Xin thought of a few, but hasn\'t finalized it yet."
Zhi Xia also softly asked her, "So for your confinement this month, does your mother-in-law plan to come over?"
Pei Meng also whispered back, "Zhao Xin already told the family a few days ago that she would come over, just didn\'t expect the baby to come early. She should arrive in the next couple of days."
"That\'s good then. Don\'t worry about meals these two days. I will make some nutritious food for you to supplement, and get your uncle to bring it over or let Zhao Xin come collect it."
Outside the room, Zhao Xin heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing that, "It is really great, I’ll have to trouble auntie these two days. When my mom comes, there will be someone to cook."
Zhao Xin in the kitchen was half a cripple when it came to cooking. The meals he made were limited to being edible, clearly not enough for a lying-in woman.
He had also tried hard to learn, just lacked natural talent.
But Pei Meng was not picky anymore. Other than cooking, his performance in all other aspects was very good. Ever since her belly grew bigger and movements clumsier, he had been the one washing the clothes at home.
Pei Jing could not bear to see his niece suffer and had also reminded Zhao Xin of things to take note of.
Zhi Xia also did not disturb them for too long. After letting Pei Meng finish her food, she urged her to rest immediately while emptying her own thermal flask to hurry home.