CHAPTER 446: CHAPTER 446: POOR CHILD

"Daya..." Daya’s mother held her daughter’s hand nervously looking at the midwife.

"Don’t worry, it’s alright. She’s just exhausted from childbirth, a nap will help," she said while cleaning up the second child, noting the weight and handing the baby to Mrs. Qi, then swiftly going back to tend to Daya.

She’s delivered at least hundreds of babies; she can estimate the baby’s weight by feel. Both of these babies have a satisfying weight; some families with single births might not even have babies this heavy.

Midwife Li pressed down on Daya’s stomach from top to bottom to fully expel the placenta.

On the other side, Old Lady Hua and her daughter-in-law had also tidied up the two babies, wrapping them in carefully prepared swaddling clothes. Seeing the chubby babies made both of them smile joyously, their hearts melting.

Leaving the grandson with his grandmother, Mrs. Qi hurried to check on her daughter-in-law. Knowing she was only asleep from exhaustion, she relaxed, and then, along with Daya’s mother and the midwife, they changed the soiled bed linens. They gently wiped Daya with warm water and changed her into clean clothes. Once done, they opened the windows to let the room air out, clearing it of the smell of blood.

There was no need to worry about catching a cold; although the temperature had dropped significantly, it was still the peak of summer—one might not catch a cold even taking a cold water bath.

Once everything was set, another incense stick worth of time had passed. Outside, Hua Yunao by the door, or Old Man Hua downstairs, along with Daya’s father Meng Cai, were nervously pacing back and forth.

Luckily, hearing the loud cries of the two babies assured them of the children’s safe arrival, easing their anxious hearts.

Upon hearing the second baby’s cries, Hua Yunao couldn’t hold back anymore. He rushed to the door, clawing at the door with both hands, desperately trying to see inside. Unfortunately, the doors were made too well, with hardly any gaps. Anxious and restless, he paced back and forth outside, barely holding on when the door was suddenly opened from the inside. In his haste, Hua Yunao instinctively tried to rush in, only to be swiftly pulled back by Hua Jin.

His brother was just too eager; he didn’t even notice Grandma and Granny Li standing in front, each holding the babies.

Indeed, concern often leads to rashness. His brother was so worried that he saw nothing but his sister-in-law on the bed.

"Ao Ge’er," Old Lady Hua shot a glare at her eldest grandson. If it weren’t for her nimble legs dodging sideways, she would’ve been bumped into by this reckless child. Not that it mattered if he hit her, but the issue was he was holding her great-grandchild.

She knew he was worried about Daya, so she simply gave him a look and didn’t say more.

"Grandma, I..." Hua Yunao’s eyes were red with anxiety.

Old Lady Hua: "Alright, alright, I know you’re anxious. Don’t worry, your wife is fine. She’s just asleep from exhaustion. Go have a look."

No sooner had she spoken did her grandson disappear in a flash, without even sparing a glance at the baby in her arms.

Old Lady Hua: "..."

Poor child, your father only has your mother in his heart. Luckily, you still have a great-grandmother and great-grandfather, Old Lady Hua thought as she gazed at the little ones in her arms.

"Grandma..." Hua Yunao was not as enchanted as Hua Jin, craning his neck to peek at the little baby in Grandma’s arms. After looking at one, he glanced at the other. The two little red and wrinkly babies, being twins, looked identical—even Hua Jin couldn’t tell them apart, though... they looked quite ugly, like toothless old men.

"Grandma, are they boys or girls? Who’s the eldest?" Hua Jin was so excited, she couldn’t take her eyes off the two babies, asking without lifting her head.

"I’m holding the older brother, and your grandma is holding the younger brother. The older has a mole on his ear, and the younger has a mole on his hand," Granny Li said with a kind smile.

"They’re both boys..." Watching her nephews, a trace of disappointment flashed through Hua Jin’s heart. She had hoped for a little niece to play with, not expecting her sister-in-law to be so capable and have two boys.

But it was just a thought; it didn’t stop her from fondly gazing at her nephews, wanting to touch but not daring to.

So small a lump, both were asleep with their eyes closed. Hua Jin feared that touching them might painfully poke them.

"Alright, let Grandma take them downstairs so your grandpa and dad, as well as your Uncle Meng, can see them. They must be anxious too."

Saying so, Old Lady Hua carried the babies downstairs, with Hua Jin hesitating a moment before following.

The eldest sister-in-law was already asleep; with the brother in the room, along with the sister-in-law’s mother, she really wasn’t needed there, so she might as well spend more time with her nephews.

Downstairs, Old Man Hua, Hua Chengtian, and Daya’s father were truly anxious. Although they heard the babies crying, no one had come down for quite some time. Being men, it wasn’t convenient to go upstairs, and they were nearly trampling the wooden floor of the main hall.

As soon as they heard sounds from upstairs, they couldn’t hold back anymore. Seeing Old Lady Hua and Granny Li each carrying a swaddled baby, they rushed over. Hua Chengtian even wanted to go upstairs to help his mother carry one, only to receive a disdainful glance from Old Lady Hua.

"Auntie, how’s Daya?" Meng Cai squeezed to the front, asking worriedly.

"Daya is fine, already asleep," Old Lady Hua quickly replied, knowing Daya’s father was concerned. Then she looked at Dr. Sun, "Dr. Sun, would you mind going upstairs to check on Daya?" She then gave her granddaughter a look.

"Of course, I’ll go right away," Dr. Sun nodded to everyone, picked up his medicine box, and followed Hua Jin upstairs.

Old Man Hua, Hua Chengtian, and Hua Yunxiang couldn’t help but crowd around, staring at the identical swaddles and identical babies, feeling like their eyes weren’t enough, unsure of which baby to look at.

"Are they girls?" Hua Chengtian asked excitedly, assuming at least one of the babies had to be a granddaughter.

Old Lady Hua gave her son a sideways glance: "Both are boys."

"Good, good, good," Old Man Hua was quite happy, saying that having two grandsons first was nice; they could have granddaughters later. He eagerly glanced from one baby to another.

Knowing his daughter was alright, and with Dr. Sun having gone upstairs, Daya’s father also felt completely relieved. Hearing that his daughter had given birth to two sons delighted him beyond words, unable to tear his eyes away from the babies, his hands itching to reach out, yet fearing his rough hands might accidentally hurt them.

He kept saying, "Good, good, good," feeling assured that with these two sons, his daughter no longer had to worry about anything.

Granny Li passed the baby in her arms to Old Man Hua, allowing him to closely cuddle and scent the baby. Seeing the fondness in Daya’s father’s eyes, Old Lady Hua smilingly handed over the baby she held as well.

Instantly, turned into a wooden statue, Daya’s father holding the baby couldn’t move, his arms stiff, yet the smile on his face was irrepressible as he warmly gazed at his grandson, loving everything he saw.

Old Man Hua was the same, joyously holding his great-grandson, completely ignoring his impatient son pestering him at the side.

"Dad, let me hold him..."