Da Sheng quickly brought his mother over. When Granny Hong Yun heard that a grandson had been born, she was so unsteady on her feet stepping down from the ox-cart that Da Sheng had to support her. Once inside Hong Yun’s room, she took the baby, seeming almost disbelieving, and touched the child’s crotch with her hand. Once she confirmed it was a boy, the sheer joy on her face defied any description.

Zhao Shi smiled from the side, "In-law, congratulations! Finally, a grandson. Our Hong Yun has suffered quite a bit these past few years. Now she’s risked everything to give birth to a boy," Zhao Shi’s words carried a layer of meaning.

Granny Hong Yun understood the undertone but deliberately played dumb, chuckling, "Indeed, in-law. This is your maternal grandson too; we should all be happy. Hong Yun is a great contributor to our Li family this time. We will certainly not treat her poorly, in-law, rest assured."

Zhao Shi smiled contentedly upon hearing this. Seeing the happy smiles of her mother-in-law and mother, regardless of how guilty Hong Yun felt internally or what the future might hold, in this moment, Hong Yun felt she had done the right thing; at least her family was happy right now.

After chatting for a while in the room, Granny Hong Yun announced they needed to take Hong Yun and the baby back, as they had to prepare for the baby's Xi San Li (third-day celebration) in a few days. Zhao Shi suggested Hong Yun rest one more day since she had just given birth, and they could send them back tomorrow. However, Hong Yun insisted on returning herself, saying that since a banquet would be held at their home in a few days, she needed to be there to help with preparations.

With that decided, Zhao Shi and Da Sheng started packing things up, telling Hong Yun to go with them. Hong Yun returned by way of Er Niu’s house. Everyone in that household, except Hong Xia who was confined to bed, came out to see Hong Yun off. Da Sheng also announced that the Xi San Li would be held in three days and that everyone was invited to the feast.

After Hong Yun left, Huang Shi told Lin He to gather some things at home to send over to Hong Xia, as Hong Xia’s situation was different—her child was said to have died, while Hong Yun’s birth was joyous news. Therefore, they kept the news quiet; for now, only a few people in the immediate family knew. They would tell others after Hong Yun had returned. Huang Shi thought about the nourishing medicinal herbs they had at home, packed some, and brought five hundred large coins to send over. Regardless of whether Hong Xia’s child had survived or not, Huang Shi and the others knew that for Hong Yun’s upcoming Xi San Li, the gift money from Huang Shi would be five hundred large coins, so they gave the same amount for Hong Xia.

On the day of Hong Yun’s child’s Xi San Li, Huang Shi, being heavily pregnant, did not attend from Lin He's home. Er Niu took the younger children, along with Zhao Shi and Old Man Lin, while Zhou Shi’s entire family was also preparing to go. They hadn't anticipated that the Elder Uncle’s family would also be coming over. They had planned to take the ox-cart in one trip.

However, He Shi’s entire family, except Da Jiang, were all going, and even Song Yue Mei, heavily pregnant, was going along. Da Jiang said he had no time to go, as with Da Sheng absent, the fishpond and ducks relied on him for watching.

Zhao Shi noticed Song Yue Mei’s swollen belly and spoke up, "Da Jiang’s wife, what is going on with your family? Attending a feast isn't a major event. Yue Mei is so big with child; why must she go? If she goes into labor on the road, what then?"

He Shi replied, "Mother, it’s fine. The midwife said Yue Mei still has several days before giving birth; she definitely won't go into labor these few days. Hong Yun gave birth to a boy, and we left before we could see him. Letting Yue Mei go now is to soak up some of the good fortune, which might help our Old Lin family have a boy too."

Zhao Shi fell silent after hearing He Shi’s words. Such beliefs existed at this time. Since He Shi herself claimed it was fine, there shouldn't be any issue, and Zhao Shi tacitly agreed to let them go.

Lin He, however, sneered inwardly. He Shi’s family must be desperately obsessed with having a son. Even in her past life with all its high technology, pinpointing an exact due date was impossible. To rely solely on the midwife's glance to be so certain that Song Yue Mei would give birth in a few days—considering Song Yue Mei likely conceived around the same time as Hong Xia—was risky just to gain some auspicious energy. If she went into labor on the road, Lin He wondered how they would cope.

But this was He Shi’s family business. Lin He decided not to voice her concerns; saying anything would surely displease He Shi’s family. She left them to their choices. Since He Shi’s family was also coming, the ox-cart wouldn't fit everyone. Er Niu had no choice but to make two trips. He Shi’s family acted as if they had never visited relatives before; upon seeing Er Niu arrive with the ox-cart, they immediately piled on, and Zhao Shi told them to go ahead, and they would pick up the rest on the next trip.

By the time Lin He and her group arrived at Hong Yun’s house, it was already late morning. This was Lin He’s first time visiting Hong Yun’s home. The house was similar to her grandmother’s—built with mud-brick and topped with tile roofing; most houses were like this at the time.

The courtyard was lively. Many women were busy around the stove area. Several tables were set up inside and outside the courtyard, totaling nearly a dozen tables. Lin He hadn't realized a Xi San Li could be this grand; it must be because Hong Yun had given birth to a son. If it had been a daughter, Granny Hong Yun likely wouldn't have organized such a celebration.

Upon arrival, the priority was naturally seeing Hong Yun and the baby. In Hong Yun’s room, she sat by the bed, her face radiant with joy. The baby was in her mother-in-law’s arms, while several women nearby offered pleasant words. Hearing that Hong Yun’s maternal family had arrived, the women filed out.

Lin He looked at the sheer joy on her paternal aunt’s face, feeling a mixture of bittersweet emotions—some sorrow, some happiness. The sorrow stemmed from realizing the vast difference a son made for women in this era, a difference perfectly exemplified in Hong Yun's experience. The happiness came from seeing Hong Yun genuinely joyful today, and everyone in the room chatting happily. Regardless of anything else, at this precise moment, everyone in the room was sincerely happy for Hong Yun, and Lin He decided not to dwell on the complexities.

The group chatted happily in the room for a while until someone called out that the feast was starting, and everyone moved out. Hong Yun’s maternal relatives naturally sat at one table. Lin He observed the dishes on the table; for that time, the spread was quite good, featuring several types of staple foods and a good mix of meat and vegetable dishes. It seemed Da Sheng and his mother were very pleased and had spent generously on the banquet so everyone could enjoy themselves.

Everyone was happily eating the feast when Song Yue Mei, sitting opposite Lin He, suddenly cried out. Qing Shan quickly asked what was wrong. Song Yue Mei complained of stomach pains. Zhao Shi exclaimed, "Not good, it looks like she’s about to give birth! Er Niu, hurry and bring the cart back! We need to get her home, or the baby will be born on the road!"

For more novels, visit storyread.net.