Chapter 209: Becoming A Father For The First Time
After the autumn grain was harvested, the weather grew colder day by day.
Da Qiao, with her big belly protruding, found walking increasingly inconvenient, but Gan Ning still returned every day to accompany her on a short walk.
“Walk slowly; there’s a small stone ahead. I’ll remove it first.”
Gan Ning supported his wife as they proceeded carefully; there was a stone in front of them, so Gan Ning kicked it away with his foot.
Two midwives and Doctor Liu followed at a distance behind. For wealthy families, the chance of difficult childbirth for women was slim; from the start of pregnancy, they were meticulously cared for, with experienced midwives hired and dedicated female physicians assigned to ensure that any risk of difficult childbirth was minimized. Of course, it couldn’t be entirely prevented, but a ninety percent success rate for delivery could generally be guaranteed.
“Husband, we probably won’t be able to go to the Mount Lu hot spring this year. I’m so sorry!”
The Mount Lu hot spring manor had already been built, but they had never had the chance to stay there. Winter was originally the best time, but Da Qiao was approaching her due date.
Da Qiao also knew her two younger sisters had always wanted to go to the hot spring, so she added, “Why don’t you take them there for a few days? I should be fine these days.”
“What are you saying!”
Gan Ning said somewhat displeased, “Is the hot spring more important than you? Don’t say such foolish things again!”
Da Qiao hurriedly hugged her husband’s arm and said apologetically, “I promise I won’t say it again!”
After walking a short distance, Da Qiao’s brows slowly furrowed, and pain appeared on her face. Gan Ning immediately noticed something was wrong and supported her as he asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Husband, my belly… it hurts a bit!”
Gan Ning quickly waved his hand. “Doctor Liu, come take a look!”
Doctor Liu hurried over and examined her carefully. She said urgently, “The amniotic fluid might have broken. Hurry and get the stretcher!”
A maidservant quickly ran to summon the stretcher; everything had been prepared in advance. Four sturdy women arrived carrying the stretcher, and Gan Ning carefully helped his wife onto it.
Two midwives supported the stretcher from both sides and rushed quickly toward the delivery room, while several maidservants ran to notify the housekeeper to boil hot water.
The entire household sprang into action, and Xu Wei and Xiao Qiao also came to help.
Gan Ning, on the other hand, suddenly had nothing to do, so he could only return to the study to wait.
He was truly worried in his heart, filled with anxiety. What he feared was not the child, but Da Qiao. This was Da Qiao’s first childbirth, and in ancient times without cesarean sections, giving birth was like passing through the gates of hell. He was very afraid something would go wrong.
Gan Ning paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. Xu Wei, ever perceptive, stayed by Gan Ning’s side, while Xiao Qiao kept watch at the delivery room and would run over immediately with any news.
Xu Wei warmed a pot of wine and poured a cup for Gan Ning, handing it to him as she said, “Husband, have a cup of wine to steady your nerves!”
The wine came at just the right moment. Gan Ning downed it in one gulp, and the tension in his heart eased slightly. But time had already passed the normal duration for a smooth delivery, making Gan Ning even more impatient.
After waiting a little longer, just as Gan Ning was about to lose patience, Xiao Qiao suddenly rushed in. “Husband, Older Sister has given birth! Older Sister has given birth!”
Gan Ning grabbed Xiao Qiao. “Is your older sister alright?”
“Mother and son are both safe!”
“Ah! She gave birth to a son?”
“Yes! A little boy.”
Tears of happiness welled up instantly. Gan Ning quickly wiped them away and asked, “Can I go see them now?”
“Doctor Liu said to wait a bit! I just came to bring you the good news, Husband.”
Xu Wei thoughtfully poured three full cups of wine and gave Xiao Qiao a look. Xiao Qiao immediately jumped up, raised her cup, and laughed, “To celebrate Older Sister giving birth to a little boy—let’s drink up!”
Gan Ning happily raised his cup as well.
By the time Gan Ning saw Da Qiao, night had fully fallen. In the warm room, Da Qiao was half-reclining on the bed, holding the swaddled infant in her arms and breastfeeding the child. She gazed at her baby, her beautiful eyes filled with boundless tenderness.
Gan Ning squatted beside her, and only then did Da Qiao notice her husband’s arrival. “Husband, I didn’t even notice you!” Da Qiao said apologetically.
“It’s fine!”
Gan Ning extended his finger and gently touched his son’s tender little cheek with the back of his finger. A profound father-son bond, connected by blood, welled up naturally. This was his own son, carrying his blood, the continuation of his life.
Gan Ning’s eyes suddenly reddened. He finally had his own descendant in the Three Kingdoms Period, and the most hidden door deep in his heart slowly cracked open.
Seeing the tears in her husband’s eyes, Da Qiao reached out and gently stroked his hair, her eyes full of affection. Only she understood the loneliness in her husband’s heart.
Gan Ning held his wife’s hand and sat beside her. Together, they gazed at the infant in the swaddling clothes.
“Husband, is the child’s name really Gan Yi?”
Gan Ning had long chosen names for his child: Gan Yi if a boy, Gan Wan if a girl.
Gan Ning had randomly selected eighty-one characters, written them on eighty-one lots. He bathed and changed clothes, then at the auspicious time calculated by Xu Wei, drew one lot—which was the character for Yi. He did the same for a girl, drawing the lot with Wan.
Gan Ning nodded. “His name is heaven’s will. Besides, a simple name is easy to remember.”
“Alright!”
Da Qiao lowered her head, kissed her son’s little cheek, and smiled. “From now on, Mother will call you Yi’er!”
Gan Ning put his arm around her shoulders and laughed. “Now that you’re a mother, do you like the feeling?”
“I love it!” Da Qiao nodded joyfully. “I’ve looked forward to this day for so long. With a husband who loves me and now my own child, I feel my life is perfect, with no regrets.”
Da Qiao suddenly remembered something and said to her husband, “Husband, Doctor Huang says I might not have enough milk, so we need to find a wet nurse for Yi’er!”
A wet nurse definitely needed to be found—not just for the milk issue, but because caring for a child was too exhausting. Someone had to share the burden, especially at night, so Da Qiao could rest.
Gan Ning nodded. “The wet nurse has already been found and will arrive tomorrow!”
At that moment, Xu Wei and Xiao Qiao slipped in quietly. They gathered around, gazing endlessly at the little one with joy.
Gan Ning stood up and smiled. “You all chat. I’ll head back to the study first and come see you mother and son tomorrow.”
Gan Ning returned to the study and slowly walked to the window, pushing it open. A cold, crisp night breeze hit his face. Late November weather was very cold; though a brazier was lit in the room, it didn’t warm the space much, so one could only sit by the brazier to warm up when it got really cold.
Gan Ning looked up at the clear night sky, filled with brilliant stars—cleaner and clearer than the skies of his previous life. The constellations appeared distinctly before his eyes. Tonight he had become a father, and he wondered which star his son had descended from.
A chubby little face appeared in Gan Ning’s mind, and the corners of his mouth curved into a slight smile.
At that moment, a coat was gently draped over him. Gan Ning turned around and was slightly startled—it was Xiao Qiao.
Xiao Qiao had changed a lot in the past six months. Though her personality was still lively and flamboyant, when quietness was needed, she became exceptionally gentle and demure. She had also gradually learned to be considerate and caring toward her husband.
Xiao Qiao was very tall—by modern standards, at least 175 centimeters. She was at least ten centimeters taller than Da Qiao and taller than Xu Wei as well. She had developed late; other girls had feminine curves by fourteen or fifteen, but not Xiao Qiao. Even at sixteen, at the beginning of the year, she had still been as thin as a bamboo pole.
As the saying goes, girls change greatly at eighteen. In the past six months, Xiao Qiao’s figure had transformed dramatically. Her body had gained fat; her chest began to rise prominently, and her lower back developed a distinct curve. No one laughed at her for being a bamboo pole anymore.
“Why aren’t you staying with your older sister?” Gan Ning asked with a smile.
“Yun Qing is with her! She’s cared for infants before and has experience. I don’t know anything, and Older Sister thinks I’m clumsy, so she sent me to serve Husband.”
Xiao Qiao lowered her head and said softly, a bit ill at ease.
