It’s unclear whether it was because of the twin-boy pill Zhang Shuwan had taken earlier, which also had properties to ease childbirth, but just half an hour after entering the delivery room, she gave birth.
When the delivery room door opened, Gu Jianing saw the nurse carrying two swaddled bundles, while Zhang Shuwan was wheeled out. Perhaps because the delivery had gone smoothly, Zhang Shuwan’s spirits were relatively good, aside from her pale complexion.
“Mommy…”
Gu Jianing held Guoguo’s hand as they stepped forward. Guoguo’s nervous little eyes immediately fixed on her mother.
Zhang Shuwan was moved to the adjacent ward. Once settled, Guoguo rushed over and grasped her mother’s hand.
“Mommy, does it still hurt?”
The memory of her mother in such pain earlier was still fresh in Guoguo’s mind, and it had truly frightened her.
Hearing her daughter’s words, Zhang Shuwan’s heart instantly softened.
“Guoguo, don’t worry. Mommy doesn’t hurt anymore.” Truthfully, it still ached, but it was bearable.
Reassured, Guoguo’s curiosity shifted to the two tiny babies. “Mommy, are these my little brothers?” Her eyes sparkled with wonder.
“Yes, they’re your brothers.”
Gazing at the two newborns in their swaddling clothes, Zhang Shuwan’s eyes reddened slightly as she turned to Gu Jianing, her gaze filled with gratitude. “Jianing, thank you.”
“Really, thank you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have these two children. And back then, you also saved Guoguo.”
Zhang Shuwan truly believed Gu Jianing was their family’s great benefactor, a savior to her children. She knew that without the pill Gu Jianing had given her, she could never have conceived these two sons. And if not for Gu Jianing’s intervention, Guoguo would have been kidnapped long ago. Zhang Shuwan couldn’t even imagine what her life would be like without Gu Jianing.
“Sister Shuwan, we’re sisters, and I’m Guoguo’s godmother. There’s no need for thanks between us.”
“You’ve just given birth and need to recover. You mustn’t cry.”
“Ah, alright.”
Since Lin Xing wasn’t around and Zhang Shuwan had just delivered two babies, managing alone would have been impossible. Fortunately, they had hired a nanny in advance to help. Still, even with the nanny, there were moments when an extra pair of hands was needed, and Grandma Sang would step in when she had time.
During this period, Grandma Sang had grown closest to Zhang Shuwan among all the families in the compound.
As for Guoguo, while her mother was in confinement, she ate meals at Gu Jianing’s home.
As for sleeping at night…
Guoguo wanted to stay by her mother’s side. Luckily, there was an extra bed in Zhang Shuwan’s hospital room where she could sleep.
Though Lin Xing wasn’t present, with Gu Jianing, Grandma Sang, and the nanny around, Zhang Shuwan’s postpartum recovery was relatively comfortable.
News of Zhang Shuwan giving birth to twin boys had already spread throughout the compound, once again elevating Gu Jianing’s reputation.
After all, Zhang Shuwan had openly shared that after having Guoguo, she hadn’t conceived for years. It was Gu Jianing’s treatment that allowed her to get pregnant—and with twin boys, no less.
How could this not excite the families in the compound?
As a result, Gu Jianing noticed that recently, many of her patients were coming specifically for fertility treatments.
As long as they weren’t unreasonable, Gu Jianing didn’t refuse those seeking help with conception, doing her best to treat whoever she could.
After all, the “Childbirth System” she was bound to not only helped her have children but also tasked her with becoming a divine healer, enabling more infertile couples to conceive.
Lin Xing returned on the fourth day after Zhang Shuwan gave birth.
Zhang Shuwan had stayed in the hospital for three days before returning home.
The moment Lin Xing stepped inside, he saw his wife resting in bed, recovering from childbirth, and two tiny swaddled babies beside her.
He froze in shock.
It took him a long moment to regain his senses before he finally asked in a hoarse voice, “A-Wan, you’ve already given birth?”
Zhang Shuwan looked at his dumbfounded expression and couldn’t help but shoot him an exasperated glance. “Yes, I have.”
Lin Xing had known his wife was nearing her due date. He had wanted to stay by her side, waiting for the birth.
But he had been unavoidably sent on a mission.
This time, while away, his thoughts had been entirely focused on his heavily pregnant wife. He had rushed to complete the task, hoping to return in time for the delivery.
Yet, upon coming back, he was met with the sight of his wife having already given birth.
Just then, Guoguo came running over. “Daddy! The babies! Guoguo has two little brothers now!”
Brothers?
Two of them?!
Lin Xing had known his wife was carrying twins, but he hadn’t known their genders.
Of course, he had hoped for sons.
He had thought that with two babies, at least one being a boy would be nice.
But even if both had been girls, he would have loved them just the same.
Yet now, returning from his mission, he was met with this enormous surprise—twin boys.
Lin Xing immediately stepped forward, lifting one of the babies into his arms, his eyes reddening without him even realizing it.
Holding the child, he walked to Zhang Shuwan’s bedside. “A-Wan, you’ve worked hard.”
“And… thank you.”
Seeing his emotional state, Zhang Shuwan understood her husband’s feelings perfectly.
All these years, their hearts had carried the same longing.
And now, at last, there were no more regrets.
“If you know how hard it was for me, then you’d better cherish me and our three children even more from now on,” Zhang Shuwan said, pursing her lips slightly.
“I will. I absolutely will,” Lin Xing promised, gripping his wife’s hand with firm determination.
Once Lin Xing returned, he took on much of the responsibility of caring for Zhang Shuwan and the twins.
Though he was a man and might not be as meticulous as a woman in such tasks, he was learning earnestly.
Watching this, Gu Jianing thought Lin Xing wasn’t too bad—unlike some men who were domineering and failed to appreciate the hardships their wives endured during childbirth.
Of course, the best man was still her own Brother Xi.
…
That morning, just as Gu Jianing was about to leave for work, a soldier informed her that Qin Tian had come to see her.
After a moment’s thought, she remembered—today was the day Qin Tian had promised to deliver the medicinal herbs.
She headed toward the military compound’s gate and saw Qin Tian, now completely transformed from his previous state, standing beside a burlap sack—likely filled with the herbs.
Perhaps because he had been eating better and had some money now, Qin Tian was no longer as thin as before. He had filled out a bit and grown noticeably taller.
His clothes were no longer old, patched-up rags but new garments.
And ever since Gu Jianing had returned from the capital and delivered the letter from Qin Zhihong and his wife to the siblings, Qin Tian’s entire demeanor had visibly brightened.
The day after returning from Beijing, Gu Jianing had gone to the Qin household to hand over the letter.
Qin Tian was literate, having received some education, so both he and his sister Qin Qing could read it.
As the siblings read the letter from their parents, whom they hadn’t heard from in eight years, tears streamed down their faces.
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