Chapter 185

The next morning, Zhi Xia cooked millet porridge. The golden yellow color looked very appetizing. She also specifically made a bowl of steamed eggs.

It was probably because the fruits added to last night's meal that after Pei Meng ate and took a nap, she felt significantly better. Zhao Xin also became much more spirited. They attributed this to Zhi Xia's delicious food energizing them.

Zhao Xin specifically took a few days off to stay home and look after them. Zhi Xia was responsible for making three meals a day. After two days, Pei Meng recovered a lot.

Afraid the effects would be too obvious, Zhi Xia didn't dare give her too many good things, just mildly nursed her so she wouldn't feel so uncomfortable.

Two days later, Zhi Xia was talking with Pei Meng when Zhao Xin’s mother, who he had gone to pick up, came in the door.

As soon as she entered, Zhao Mother grabbed Zhi Xia’s hand. “This must be her auntie. I heard Zhao Xin talk about her on the road. Thank you for taking care of my daughter-in-law and granddaughter these past few days.”

"Sister-in-law, don't stand on ceremony. With my sister-in-law not around, it's only right for me as auntie to take care of my niece. Now that you're here to help keep watch, I can finally stop worrying." Zhi Xia said with a smile.

"Of course. Meng Meng brought our family a big granddaughter. She did a huge deed for our family. I will take good care of her." Zhao Mother laughed cheerfully. She seemed rather warm.

Zhi Xia interacted with ease. As she walked out, she glanced at Pei Meng still sitting there grinning foolishly and frowned.

Zhao Mother was still calling enthusiastically from inside, "Sister-in-law, I just got here and haven't even had a sip of water. I won't go out to send you off."

"Sister-in-law, don't stand on ceremony. My home is right next door, not far. If Meng Meng needs anything, yelling for me will allow me to hear it." Zhi Xia replied. Hearing Zhao Mother say she hadn't even drank water since coming in, Pei Meng happened to remember that to make drinking water accessible, Zhi Xia had left a warm water bottle by her bedside. She casually said, "Mom, I also can't get up right now. The hot water is over here. If you get thirsty, just go to the kitchen and pour yourself a bowl."

"Oh, okay. Let me go unpack first then. You rest for now." Zhao Mother said before heading out.

Pei Meng didn’t know if she was being too sensitive, but she felt Zhao Mother’s attitude just now was neither cold nor warm. She couldn’t detect any of the warmth Zhi Xia had mentioned.

Outside, Zhao Xin sent Zhi Xia off and politely thanked her for the past few days.

Zhi Xia thought for a moment before cautioning, "Don’t get negligent just because your mother is here now to help look after Meng Meng. After all, you and Meng Meng are husband and wife. Your child is both your responsibilities. Your mother coming to help shows her heartache for you, but you can’t think that with someone caring for her now, you can just let go."

Zhao Xin smiled and didn't get angry at Zhi Xia's nosiness. "Don't worry, auntie. I understand. Meng Meng had to lie down because she gave birth to my child. I know what’s going on.”

Hearing him say this, Zhi Xia felt a little more at ease.

When she returned home, Wanqing was asleep. Pei Jing was holding Chenye's little hand to make him toddle around the floor.

The little guy had a very sturdy body. His solid calves weren't any worse than a one-year-old's. Also, recently he had stopped wanting to take afternoon naps and acted quite energetic. He was a bit taxing on the parents though.

Having to lead him around by the hand and run all over the place the whole day. He also didn't want to stay home and kept trying to go outside. He wasn't afraid of the cold one bit.

"Is Meng Meng doing better?" Pei Jing happened to ask when seeing Zhi Xia return.

Zhi Xia walked over with a smile and kissed her son. "Much better. She ate well the past two days. Milk production is pretty good too. With her mother-in-law over now caring for her, she'll likely fully recover after the month long postpartum confinement. And the weather will be warmer then too which is much more comfortable than when I did it."

Seeing no one outside, Pei Jing walked over and gave her a quick kiss by the corner of her lips. He whispered, "It's good you can properly rest too. After some time when it gets warmer out, I'll take all of you into town to walk around. Having to watch the two kids at home all day without being able to go out must get tiring. I know it's been tough on you, Zhi Xia."

"Not tough at all. They are also my kids. Staying with them makes me happy too." Zhi Xia said blissfully. Although seeing her son in her arms, she complained a little unsatisfied, "But this little stinker getting cooped up at home is driving him crazy. I can barely keep up with him."

Seeing his mom smile while looking at him, Pei Chenye gleefully lifted his little legs.

Wanqing was already able to clearly call out mama and papa. This little guy for now still only knew how to call mama and not papa.

Pei Jing teased him, "Son, call papa... pa-pa......" "Scared..." Chenye would copy by making simple syllables, but was unable to enunciate clearly.

"That reminds me, I don't know if I'm overthinking things, but I keep feeling like Zhao Xin's mother doesn't really like Meng Meng and the baby that much." Zhi Xia sighed. She was still somewhat worried.

"What happened?" Since Zhi Xia and Pei Meng had a good relationship, this concern from her made Pei Jing instantly furrow his brows wondering if Zhao Mother had done something obviously problematic.

"Don't get mad first. I may be overthinking things." Zhi Xia quickly explained. "I just feel she travelled a long way to come attend to her daughter-in-law after childbirth which isn't easy. But from the moment she entered, she didn't care about asking about Meng Meng's condition let alone look at her grandchild. She just grabbed my hand and rambled on and on. The whole time until I left, she wasn't in a hurry at all to check on the baby even once."

This was the part that made Zhi Xia feel something was off. Even when neighbors came to see Pei Meng, they would at least ask something about her condition upon entering or think to take a look at the child—if nothing else than for politeness' sake. That would still be better than not asking at all.

But Zhao Mother hadn't done anything too specific. He could only subtly make inferences based on what his wife said. It wasn't appropriate to openly talk about this with others.

Who knows. Maybe the woman was just too exhausted from rushing over and neglected to consider things.

But Pei Jing still kept these words in mind. Their places were close by with just a short few steps between. He could conveniently go check things from time to time so there was no need to worry too excessively.

Zhi Xia received another letter from An ZhiAng. The letter mentioned the meat Zhi Xia had left for An ZhiAng was delicious. He also recovered a lot physically. During assessments, he performed exceptionally and was praised by superiors.

Although the letter was written very vaguely, Zhi Xia could still understand the actual meaning.

Only after seeing another 15 yuan had been included caused Zhi Xia to sigh helplessly.

It was An ZhiAng's second year in the army. His monthly allowance was only 8 yuan. He had virtually no living expenses in the barracks so would send all his extra money to Zhi Xia.

She had clearly told him last year when visiting to not do this, but it appeared the talk didn’t have any effect.

Zhi Xia borrowed the military's phone to call him. After informing she wanted to speak with An ZhiAng, she hung up and waited a bit before An ZhiAng called back. His voice still sounded bright. Having rushed over, he was still slightly panting.

Phone fees were expensive so Zhi Xia could only be blunt. "Fourth brother, didn't I already tell you last time to stop sending me money? I'm not lacking money to spend. Why did you do it again..."

"I know you aren't lacking money, but I just want to give some to you." There was a brief moment of dejection in An ZhiAng's voice, but he quickly rebounded. "Little sister, you know that I eat and drink everything provided by the army. And there's no place for me to spend money. If I just keep it on me, who knows when I might lose it. So I might as well just give it to you for you to hold onto. I'm your big brother. Giving you some pocket change is only natural!"

Zhi Xia wanted to try persuading him again but got cut off by An ZhiAng. "An ZhiXia, if you keep talking like this, does it mean next time when you send me delicious things you want me to pay you back for them too?"