Chapter 192: Chapter 179: Wanwan Speaks, Naming the Baby (2)
When Granny Song asked, Second Lang’s wife was also a bit stunned, glancing towards the birthing room, mumbling, "Is it the third sister-in-law who..."
Granny Song, being impatient, couldn’t wait any longer and rushed in directly.
The child had already had the umbilical cord cut and the body washed, wrapped in a swaddle by the midwife.
Seeing the mother-in-law come in, the midwife hurriedly explained, "It’s a big, chubby boy. Look at those little arms and legs full of meat. No wonder he couldn’t come out earlier."
Granny Song took the swaddle, and the little guy had cried for a while and had already fallen asleep.
Upon reaching the threshold, Second Lang’s wife heard it was a son, her heart immediately heavy, she withdrew her forward foot and turned around to leave.
The midwife from her maiden family was still standing in the courtyard, no longer needed but couldn’t be dismissed casually, feeling uncomfortable inside, Second Lang’s wife didn’t say much, went inside and grabbed a bunch of celebratory fruits and candies prepared for the third sister-in-law to give to the midwife, sending her away.
At this moment, Granny Song had her eyes full of the chubby boy of the Third Lang’s family, caring little about Second Lang’s wife’s feelings, she sat by the canopy bed holding her little grandson.
On the bed, Wen Wan had already fallen asleep.
Granny Song recalled the sound she heard earlier and asked the midwife, "Did our third daughter-in-law make a sound just now?"
The midwife had known before coming that the daughter-in-law of the Song family could not speak, but earlier, all her focus was on delivering the baby, and she hadn’t thought much about it.
Now with Granny Song’s mention, the midwife immediately recalled that in Wen’s last push, she indeed called out, and only then did the child come out like a ripe melon.
Seeing the midwife nodding, Granny Song became excited, "So, our third daughter-in-law can speak now?"
The midwife pulled a corner of her mouth, "I just deliver babies, how would I know about that? Maybe, old sister, you should go to town to invite a doctor to have a look?"
"Invite! We must invite one!" Granny Song glanced at the daughter-in-law sleeping peacefully on the bed, thinking if she indeed recovered, it would be a doubly joyous event. At that time, they should find a way to write a letter to the capital to tell Third Lang, if he knew his little wife could speak, he would probably be overjoyed... Oh no, Third Lang is in an exam, writing him would distract him, better let him see for himself when he comes back.
In the blink of an eye, Granny Song had transitioned from excitement to calmness, gently placing the child beside Wen Wan, uncovering the quilt to cover the little grandson, handed out the celebratory money and fruits to see the midwife off, and upon turning back, saw Second Lang’s wife sitting dejectedly under the eaves, asked her, "Did you send the midwife you brought away?"
Second Lang’s wife dared not hide anything, truthfully said: "Although she didn’t help much, she made a trip after all, and what’s more, she encountered a joyous event as soon as she entered the door, I went in and grabbed a big handful of celebratory candies and fruits to send her away."
The matter was handled quite thoroughly, Granny Song didn’t pick her fault, for when she was miserly, no one could take a single hair from her, and when she was not, she generously let others enjoy good food and drink.
On such a festive day as today, Granny Song was quite generous.
"You follow along to town to invite a doctor."
Hearing the mother-in-law’s instruction, Second Lang’s wife roughly understood what was going on, came closer to ask, "Can the third sister-in-law really speak?"
Granny Song looked at her, "If I knew, why would I have you invite a doctor?"
Second Lang’s wife didn’t continue the conversation, fearing being rebuffed by her mother-in-law if she said more, she went home and tidied herself up briefly, quickly heading to town.
Seeing that Song Wei was not at home, and Song Erlang was, Granny Song told him to run to the county and inform Father Wen and Mrs. Zhou.
——
The shout from Wen Wan before she fell asleep seemed to have resonated with Song Wei, who was taking the exam in Baohe Hall, causing him to shiver.
It was as if, after a brief ’amnesia’, all his rationality and thoughts were grasped back by a pair of large hands.
Song Wei’s mind began to flow with ideas, no longer confused like before, he stopped grinding ink, picked up the brush and began to write.
He started answering questions after the other candidates, yet finished before anyone else.
Emperor Guangxi saw him sitting idly with nothing to do, and took a stroll.
Among the candidates, some were not very strong emotionally, and seeing the Emperor approach, they panicked so much they forgot what to write next.
Emperor Guangxi only glanced casually at the answer sheets of those candidates, finally stopping beside Song Wei, peeking at Song Wei’s paper.
Song Wei was still in a daze, unawares of Emperor Guangxi’s approach.
What was he doing?
He was calculating the days, estimating the due date of his young wife; if nothing unexpected happened, it should be these days.
Thinking about finishing the exam and being able to become a father, Song Wei couldn’t help but feel jubilant, which showed on his face.