As soon as they heard that Jiao Niang had gone into labor, half a dozen women rushed in.
Tang Guiniang and Ye Aunty came, as did Aunt Zheng. Pei Li and Pei Jin also hurried back.
Everyone who had been busy in the front shop was worried about Jiao Niang. While they stretched their hands out from behind the counter to hand out food and goods to the customers, their ears were pricked up, listening intently to the commotion in the backyard.
Pei Xia could no longer see anyone else. He held tightly onto Qi Jiao's hand and refused to let go.
Qi Jiao lay on the couch, crying out in pain. The contractions were like tides, drowning her.
Pei Xia's presence was getting in the way. The midwives found it inconvenient to do their job.
Tang Guiniang and the others tried every means of persuasion and finally managed to drag Pei Xia out.
The others all waited in the corridor of the courtyard, praying to the gods and the Buddha. They waited from morning until dusk.
Pei Xia leaned against the corridor pillar outside the door. His body was outside, but his soul had stayed with Jiao Niang.
He heard Jiao Niang's increasingly shrill cries and almost lost his balance. His lips were trembling.
He felt that time was passing so slowly. Every moment seemed to be cutting at his life.
Childbirth was such a dangerous thing. Would Jiao Niang be all right?
He simply didn't dare to think about it. Finally, he couldn't hold himself back any longer and rushed into the delivery room regardless.
The room was filled with a strong smell of blood. As soon as Pei Xia stepped in with one foot, he heard a loud cry coming from behind the curtain.
The women's eyes lit up, and they exclaimed in delight, "It's born!"
There was a rustling sound of clothes. Ye Aunty came out holding Xia Jiao in her arms. Beaming, she said, "A Xia, come and have a look. Xia Jiao is a girl. Both mother and daughter are safe."
Pei Xia felt as if he were in a dream. He reached out his hands and took Xia Jiao in his arms. The wrinkled, red - faced little baby was his and Jiao Niang's daughter.
He went in to see Jiao Niang. She had exhausted all her strength and was lying with her eyes closed, extremely tired.
He had never resented himself so much for being unable to do anything. All he could do was lie on the bedside and kiss her forehead over and over again.
Tang Guiniang put the ginseng slices she had prepared earlier into Jiao Niang's mouth. She gradually regained her strength, but suddenly her abdomen started to churn.
The calm after childbirth was broken. The midwives were surprised, "Goodness, there's another one in the belly!"
They hurriedly got ready again. Pei Xia was a bit dazed, but this time he held tightly onto Jiao Niang's hand and stubbornly stayed by her side.
Seeing that Jiao Niang was sweating profusely from giving birth, Tang Guiniang was worried, but she deliberately tried to distract her. She said cheerfully, "There are twin lotus flowers blooming in the water tank in the courtyard. I was quite surprised. It turns out it's an auspicious omen for twins..."
Qi Jiao gave a weak smile, "Doctor Zou said when he examined me earlier that this pregnancy might result in twins. I've been keeping this to myself and didn't tell you. Now it seems there really are two."
The second baby was more impatient than Xia Jiao. It didn't take long before it was born.
The two babies were born, a boy and a girl. Such a great joy made everyone extremely happy.
Ye Aunty and Tang Guiniang immediately distributed lucky money to everyone, even passers - by on the street.
The babies were taken to the front. Pei Xia fetched hot water to wipe Jiao Niang's body.
He felt sorry for Jiao Niang for going through so much pain in giving birth, especially to two children, which meant double the pain.
Pei Xia's eyes were full of tenderness, and his movements were extremely gentle. "Jiao Niang, you've suffered."
Qi Jiao smiled faintly and soon fell asleep in his arms.
The nickname Xia Jiao for the elder one had been decided long ago, but they hadn't prepared a name for the younger one.
Qi Jiao's milk was not enough for the two children, so they hired a wet - nurse.
The wet - nurse was very kind to the children and fed them well, which saved Qi Jiao a lot of trouble.
Unlike the quiet Xia Jiao, the younger one was very active.
Qi Jiao saw his chubby and cute appearance and said, "Let's call him A Hu then."
As for their formal names, Pei Xia didn't decide until after Jiao Niang had finished her confinement.
Xia Jiao was named Qi Jiayan, and A Hu was named Pei Yixing.
Jiayan and Yixing, just like wearing precious jade in one's bosom.
As for why Xia Jiao took her mother's surname, there was a reason.
Qi Jiao originally wasn't very interested in children, but as she watched Xia Jiao and A Hu grow day by day, her maternal instinct was greatly aroused.
On the one hand, she simply wanted her daughter to take her surname. On the other hand, there was no one left in the Qi family. All her fateful encounters in this world were due to the former Qi Jiao.
Jiao Niang wanted to continue her surname.
When Xia Jiao grew up in the future, her daughter would also take the mother's surname.
Qi Jiao told Pei Xia her thoughts.
She thought Pei Xia might have some objections. In a patriarchal society, it seemed almost impossible for a child to take the mother's surname.
But Pei Xia just stroked Qi Jiao's face and said with a smile, "You carried the baby for ten months and endured the pain of childbirth. As long as the children are mine, it doesn't matter whose surname they take. After Empress Wu Zetian ascended the throne, her Li - surname descendants all quickly changed their surnames. Li Dan was the first to change his surname to Wu Dan..."
Qi Jiao couldn't help laughing, "Our A Xia has really made progress. He even knows about this."
As for his mother, Tang Guiniang, Pei Xia didn't even let Qi Jiao worry about it. He convinced Tang Guiniang himself.
In short, this matter was settled harmoniously.
Pei Xia took care of Qi Jiao during her confinement. Their relationship was very deep, and with careful recuperation, Qi Jiao recovered very well.
On the day of the full - moon banquet, Qi Jiao dressed in a gorgeous outfit. She and Pei Xia each carried a child out, which attracted everyone's exclamations. Everyone praised the twins for inheriting all their parents' good looks. They were extremely beautiful.
The elder sister, Xia Jiao, wore a golden lock, and the younger brother, A Hu, wore a jade pendant.
They were like cute New - Year picture dolls, with fair skin and rosy lips. They were even more delicate and fairy - like than the dolls in the pictures.
Fang Yunxin and other close friends came to offer their congratulations.
Just on this day, the gifts and money they received were enough to support the two children for ten or eight years.
Their relatives also gave various gifts. Represented by Zheng Huier and Leng Yao, each person carefully prepared gifts for Qi Jiao and the two children.
With the dazzling array of food and wine, the full - moon banquet was extremely lively.
Time passed quickly. After the hot summer, there were several consecutive heavy rains, indicating the arrival of autumn.
Pei Jin and Pei Li's birthdays were in autumn.
Most importantly, this year was Pei Jin's coming - of - age ceremony.
Tang Guiniang and Mrs. Fu had already discussed that after Pei Jin's coming - of - age ceremony, her wedding could be arranged.
After a year of special training, Pei Jin had grown rapidly.
She had learned how to make all kinds of snacks from Qi Jiao. In the first half of the year, she organized two cooking competitions in Lingle County, which were very successful and made the name of the Pei family's young lady well - known.
On the day of Pei Jin's coming - of - age ceremony, Qi Jiao got up very early and made a three - layer fruit cake for her.
Due to the limited technology, it was difficult to whip the cream, so Qi Jiao simply decorated it with various fruits and fresh flowers layer by layer. It was colorful, sweet, elegant, and beautiful, looking like a work of art.
In addition, Qi Jiao prepared a gold - inlaid butterfly hairpin for Pei Jin.
After Pei Jin put on her makeup and inserted the hairpin, the butterfly on it looked so lifelike that it seemed to be about to flap its wings and fly away in the sunlight. It was extremely eye - catching.
But what was even more eye - catching was Pei Jin's grace. Every gesture of hers was more dignified and beautiful than that of a noble lady.
Fu Chengyi, who had been missing for a long time, came early.
Fu Chengyi was obviously dressed up today. He was wearing a dark purple round - collar robe with faint patterns on it. He had a jade flute on his left side and a sachet on his right. With his black hair and golden crown, he was a charming and handsome young man.
Qi Jiao smiled and patted Pei Jin's hand, then asked someone to invite Fu Chengyi into the small courtyard, leaving enough private space for the young unmarried couple.