The Beautiful Brother of the Orion’s Family (Wearing Book) - 117

 

| TBBOTOF | 117

The weather is gradually warming up, and the vegetables planted in the garden have already started growing. 

By mid-May, Tang Xu asked Wei Dong to take out the large bamboo frame used last year and begin setting up trellises for the climbing vines. 

The new house next door is almost finished, and Tang Erhu's house has also been repaired. He hasn't been idle since he could walk normally after his leg injury. 

Every day, he carries a hoe and goes to the field to work, saying that staying at home makes him feel uncomfortable. 

At first, Tang Xu tried to stop him, but after consulting with a doctor, they were told that some movement was fine as long as it didn't cause leg pain.

Tang Erhu himself said that in the past few months, he has gained some weight and that the clothes he used to wear no longer fit him. He felt he needed to get back to work in the fields to lose some weight.

He promised Tang Xu that he would not overwork himself and assured him that he would make himself exhausted.

"Look, I didn't leave much land, just five mu (about 0.82 acres). I rented out the rest. If this land is left uncultivated and becomes barren, it will be very difficult to farm it again. Weeding and other labor-intensive tasks are necessary."

Only then did Tang Xu relent, but he still insisted that he use the cow cart to get to and from the fields every day to avoid walking too far.

Tang Erhu agreed with a smile, feeling very happy.

Time quickly passed, and June arrived. 

Tang Li set up her food stall again, but this time she wasn't busy with her brother; she was working with Xu Ze. 

Tang Xu was already eight months pregnant, his belly very large, and he had gained some weight. Although he didn't have a large frame, just looking at his belly made her seem much heavier. 

Old doctor Xu checked his pulse daily and constantly reminded him not to eat too much, fearing the baby might be too big and cause complications during delivery.

"But I'm hungry," Tang Xu said, holding a bowl that Wei Dong had filled with cherries picked from the mountain. 

The cherries were sweet and sour. He grabbed seven or eight and put them all in his mouth. Then he pushed the cherries against his teeth with the tip of his tongue. The sour and sweet juice burst out instantly.

After swallowing, he looked at the old man with a stern expression and said, "I eat small meals frequently to control my weight!" 

Old doctor Xu shook his head, retorted, "Everyone knows you eat five or six times a day, and you still say you're controlling your weight! Can't you bear to eat a little less?"

"I can't," Tang Xu replied, finishing the bowl of cherries and wiping her mouth. "I don't eat that much at each meal, I just have a little snack."

"Yes, you ate three more just now." The old man sighed and pointed to the distant kang bed. 

"Lie down and let me check."

Tang Xu obediently lay flat, and as soon as he did, the baby in his belly started kicking, clearly visible through the thin shirt he was wearing. Old doctor Xu gently felt his belly, determined the position, and said, "Everything's normal."

"Normal is good," Tang Xu said, sitting up and touching the spot where the baby had been kicking. He muttered, "This one must be a troublemaker. It kicks so much that I can hardly sleep."

Usually, when a couple had several children without a son, people would say that the pulse indicated a boy to comfort them, but Tang Xu didn’t mind. 

Old doctor Xu was worried that he might get his hopes up too high, added, "Even if it’s not a boy, it’s okay. You two are still young and can have more children in the future."

Tang Xu responded with a smile, "I don’t have a preference. Whether it’s a boy or a girl, they are still my child. We’re not the type to favor sons over daughters."

Old doctor Xu nodded. "Alright, just don't overthink it."

"Don't worry," Tang Xu said as he sat up and shook his legs. He asked the old man, "Has Ze’er been helping you these past few days? Is he tired from selling skewers with Ah Li? I can't help much now, and they say I'm too slow at threading the skewers."

He felt a bit aggrieved, recalling how he tried to help boil spicy broth in the kitchen yesterday, only to be sternly asked by Xu Ze to leave and was banned from entering the kitchen again.

"I can't even cook a meal now!" Tang Xu complained cheerfully.

He was being deprived of the joy of cooking, he still found satisfaction in preparing meals for everyone.

The old doctor Xu gave him a stern look and walked away. "You're still busy even now, teaching those two children!"

Although the old man’s medical skills weren't at the level of a miracle doctor, he had navigated the upper class of society and managed to survive. He had been a seated physician in a reputable clinic for many years, proving his expertise. 

This differed greatly from Tang Xu's perception; the old man taught many things, and while Tang Yang often found it confusing and struggled to remember, Wei Xi was completely different. 

It might be due to having taken medicine since childhood, Wei Xi could recall the names and uses of various herbs without much effort. 

Even if the old doctor Xu taught something Wei Xi hadn't encountered, he could remember most of it after just one explanation. 

Old doctor Xu was particularly pleased with Wei Xi and clearly taught him more than Tang Yang. 

Tang Yang didn't mind, knowing that he wasn't cut out to learning medicine. He believed in focusing on his strengths and could double the yield of the fields instead.

When Tang Xu brought this up with Tang Yang, he was afraid that Tang Yang would lose interest in learning due to this. Unexpectedly, Tang Yang's great heart didn’t mind at all. He enjoyed learning with the old man and was particularly happy..

Tang Xu sat on the kang for a while and then put on his shoes to get down.

Outside in the courtyard, Tang Li and Xu Ze had been busy from morning until noon. Tang Li returned to make lunch, leaving Xu Ze to tidy up the stall. 

Wei Xi and Tang Yang, when taking breaks from their studies, would help out. Initially, when the old doctor Xu and his great-grandson stayed at Wei Dong’s residence, people thought they were just friends who came to stay for a few days, they didn’t expect that the grandfather and grandson would end up staying indefinitely.

Many people initially gossiped, but later they realized that having the grandfather and grandson stay there had many benefits. 

At the very least, if someone had a minor injury, they could directly go to the residence to find the old doctor. Everyone who had visited the Huichun Hall in town for treatment or to buy medicine knew that the old doctor's medical skills were excellent. 

Any minor injuries would be cured without having too many taels. From that point on, everyone in the village, regardless of age, became very friendly towards the old doctor.

Tang Xu had a new room built in the backyard specifically for the old doctor to use for consultations. This allowed him to be there every day, and whenever someone came for a consultation, he  would be there to assist. 

There was a large copper bell hanging on the wall, and anyone needing a consultation could ring it. 

The bell could be heard from the front yard, so the old doctor would know when someone needed him. Because of their respect for the old doctor, the villagers also held Xu Ze, who was hardworking and adorable, in high regard.

Naturally, Xu Ze was highly cherished, and he studied literacy with great diligence. He didn't need to delve too deeply, but he ensured that he could recognize and remember commonly used characters.

The old man usually taught steadfastly and soon realized that his grandchild was indeed bright and quick-witted. He could learn everything taught to him, but unlike Wei Xi, he wasn’t particularly suited for medicine. 

While he could memorize things through rote learning, he struggled to infer and deduce. The old man accepted this, thinking it was perfectly fine for Wei Xi to pursue self-study.

After the food stall was set up, business was slow for the first couple of days, leaving Tang Li and Xu Ze somewhat disappointed. However, more and more customers started coming as the days passed, and despite the rising temperatures, the enthusiasm of the villagers remained undiminished. 

Tang Li had learned a lot from Tang Xu, knowing that taste and quality were important. So, even if they sold out of skewers and liangpi every day, they never made too much in advance.

Tang Xu knew that Tang Li had her own plans and didn’t interfere much, only helping with simple tasks.

On the 20th day of the lunar month, July 17th in the Gregorian calendar, Tang Xu was washing up in the morning when his belly suddenly began to hurt.

He had experienced stomach pains before, but this time it felt different.

The waves of pain were accompanied by a heavy downward pressure.

Tang Xu took a deep breath to calm himself, and after washing his face, he looked out the window and called out in a trembling voice, "Dong, Ah Dong~~"

Wei Dong was outside when he heard the call. He dropped the basin he was holding and rushed into the house. "What's wrong?"

"It's... it's coming!" Tang Xu wailed, his forehead covered in sweat.

Wei Dong froze for a moment, then quickly lifted him up and carried him into the house, placing him on the kang bed before running out to call for help.

The house was bustling with activity, and no one had the appetite for lunch. Hearing the screams from inside the house, everyone's faces turned pale.

Tang Li emerged from the kitchen with a bowl in her hands, knocked on the door. The midwife came out and asked, "Do you have any eggs?"

"Yes, yes. I just heard my brother say he wanted to eat some. I'll make them now." 

Tang Li handed over the large bowl and asked, "Auntie, how is my brother doing?"

"Go quickly. The first one always takes time," the midwife replied before returning to the room.

The front door was knocked on, and Tang Yang ran to open it. Wei Zhonghong rushed in, anxious and out of breath. "How is he? Has he given birth yet?"

"Not yet," Wei Dong turned and replied, "Auntie, why are you here?"

"Why wouldn't I come? You are really treating me as a stranger," Wei Zhonghong scolded, glaring at him. Without waiting for a response, she hurried into the house, muttering prayers for a safe delivery.

 Inside, she saw Tang Xu sitting on the kang bed, occasionally groaning in pain while stuffing noodles into his mouth with chopsticks. 

After swallowing, he would groan again. Seeing this, the worry in Wei Zhonghong's heart eased slightly.

Tang Xu managed to greet her, calling out, "Auntie."

Wei Zhonghong, both amused and exasperated, reached out to wipe Tang Xu sweat. "You still have a good appetite."

"I'm hungry, and I need strength," Tang Xu replied, feeling aggrieved. His belly ached in waves. 

At first, he felt embarrassed having the midwife help, but the pain soon made him indifferent to everything. He focused on giving birth, but just when he mustered some strength, he would feel weak again. Eating the noodles gave him a bit of energy.

About half an hour after Wei Zhonghong entered the room, a loud cry of a newborn filled the house. 

The family members, who had been anxiously waiting, finally let out sighs of relief.

Tang Xu was exhausted to death, but he couldn't sleep despite having given birth to a chubby baby.

The midwife helped clean up the baby. Wei Zhonghong carried the baby out to show Wei Dong, then brought the baby back.

Wei Dong took a step forward, but Wei Zhonghong stopped him, "Dongzi, let him rest. You can come in later."

Tang Erhu pulled Wei Dong's arm excitedly, his hand trembling. "Dongzi, Dongzi, quickly, quickly choose a name for your son!"

Wei Dong suddenly came to his senses. "My son... I have a son."

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TL: I'll be using the raws provided by chubbiestcheeks for chapters 119-130. Thank you chubbiestcheeks!