Chapter 127

The nurse helped Zhenzhen get cleaned up. Xi Junjie pushed Zhenzhen out of the delivery room, and as soon as the family saw her, they immediately crowded around, all talking at once, asking how she was.

Thanks to the smooth delivery and the relief provided by the golden essence blood, Zhenzhen didn’t feel much pain—just a bit weak. Looking at the concerned faces of her family, she shook her head and said, “I feel much better. I’d like something light to eat.”

Ling Xiulan immediately replied, “We’ve got everything ready. Your Aunt Yang made seven or eight dishes, both meat and vegetarian. She should be here any minute.”

Wang Sufen took one of the babies from the nurse and said cheerfully, “Let’s head back to the room so Zhenzhen can lie down and rest.”

Ling Xiulan quickly stepped up to take the other baby. The group escorted Zhenzhen and the twins back to the hospital room.

The room had a layout with a bedroom, living area, and bathroom. Inside was a hospital bed, a companion’s bed, and a large crib placed between them. The outer room had a sofa, coffee table, TV, and dining table.

It was the first time Grandma Li and Wang Sufen had seen a VIP ward, and they were impressed by the setup. “This is better than most people’s homes—it even has a TV!”

Xi Junjie gently lifted Zhenzhen and placed her on the bed. As her back touched the mattress, she finally felt truly relaxed. She stretched a little, moved her arms, then reached out and said, “Mom, let me see the babies.”

The bed was large enough for both babies to lie side by side in her arms. Zhenzhen examined the twins closely. They looked very similar, but the girl’s eyes were slightly larger, and the boy looked more like Xi Junjie. The newborns were quite lively, their tiny hands and feet twitching. One of the babies, sensing Zhenzhen’s maternal scent, turned his head toward her and began making sucking motions with his little mouth.

“Oh, looks like someone wants milk!” Ling Xiulan said joyfully. The two fathers quickly stepped out to the living room. Xi Changbo even found a box of Chinese chess under the TV cabinet, and the two men eagerly set up for a game.

Zhenzhen unbuttoned her shirt and cradled the baby closest to her. Instinctively, the baby sniffed around, quickly located the target, and latched on accurately.

Though she hadn’t started lactating yet, Zhenzhen remembered from visiting a senior classmate after childbirth in her past life that it’s crucial to let the baby nurse within half an hour of birth to stimulate milk production.

The baby was strong. Even without milk, he sucked with his eyes closed and waved his tiny fists with determination. He nursed for fifteen minutes on each side without getting anything and finally fell asleep from exhaustion. Ling Xiulan gently picked him up, and Zhenzhen took the girl into her arms. Though she wasn’t as strong as her brother, after a short time nursing, Zhenzhen heard the sound of swallowing.

“She’s getting milk,” Zhenzhen said, gently stroking her daughter’s soft back, a delighted smile spreading across her face.

Wang Sufen leaned in to inspect the baby’s mouth and saw a trace of white milk, laughing, “This little girl takes after her mom, born with good fortune. When I had Mingnan and Mingbei, I didn’t have much milk. But when I had Zhenzhen, I had more than enough. Her grandmother even said she was born with her own rice bowl.”

Everyone laughed. The baby girl nursed from both sides, her belly full and round, and she quickly drifted off to sleep.

Aunt Yang and Aunt Li entered the room with several insulated containers. Ling Xiulan called Xi Changbo over to move a small table next to the bed and laid out the food. “You just gave birth, so you’re still weak. Eat in bed. Tell me what you want, and I’ll serve it.”

Xi Junjie adjusted the hospital bed to raise the backrest, propped a pillow behind Zhenzhen, helped her get comfortable, then wiped her hands and face with a warm towel. He unfolded the bed’s built-in table and placed a bowl of millet porridge in front of her.

Millet porridge is a must during postpartum recovery—considered highly nourishing by the elders. The meal also included fish, meat, eggs, and vegetables. The aroma and presentation made Zhenzhen’s appetite surge. She ate about half the dishes, then burped contentedly and lay back down.

Once full, sleepiness took over. She pulled the blanket up and soon fell asleep. When she woke again, it was to the strong cries of her babies. Ling Xiulan and Wang Sufen had changed their diapers and brought the clean babies back to her arms.

After feeding them and putting them back in the crib, Ling Xiulan opened the door with a smile and said, “She’s up—everyone can come in now.” A group of relatives poured into the room, nearly filling it to capacity. Zhenzhen looked around and saw that almost the entire extended family was there. Ling Xiulan looked around and gave instructions, “You’ll have to come in shifts. What if you scare the babies?”

Laughing, many of them stepped back out, leaving only four or five people inside. Roubao and Doubao were the first to rush in. Mingdong, Mingnan, and Mingbei also got to the front. The five of them stared at the babies for a while. Then Roubao grinned mischievously at Zhenzhen and asked, “Auntie, have you named the twins yet? Want me to help?”

Zhenzhen eyed him warily. “I don’t really trust your judgment.”

“Tch!” Roubao pouted. “Hey, I’m a college graduate, okay?”

Doubao chimed in with a laugh, “Auntie, I’m a college student too. I can help you think of names.”

“How about one’s called Sauerkraut and the other Vermicelli?” Roubao tilted his head like he was genuinely considering it. “Those two together? Perfect match!”

“No, no, too tacky,” Doubao shook his head. “What about Soymilk and Fried Dough? Clearly a sibling pair!”

Mingbei remembered all the food-related names in their family and laughed. “Back when you were naming your nephews all those dumpling and pancake names, did you ever think this day would come?”

Zhenzhen grinned, showing her white teeth. “Who said my twins’ nicknames would follow the Roubao theme?” She pointed at Xi Junjie. “My twins take the Xi surname.”

Feeling a bad premonition, Roubao asked Xi Junjie, “Uncle, what are the nicknames for the kids in your family’s generation?”

Xi Junjie thought for a moment. “We don’t really do nicknames. We usually just go by the last one or two characters of the given name.”

“No little names like Tangyuan or Wonton?” Roubao still wasn’t ready to give up.

Xi Junjie laughed and shook his head. “Sorry, we don’t have any playful aunts like Zhenzhen in our family.”

Seeing Roubao’s crushed expression, Zhenzhen burst out laughing. “Their family comes up with real names first. Ours took forever deciding on full names, so we used nicknames in the meantime. I remember you didn’t get your official name until your one-month registration.”

Roubao wiped his face, still trying to bond with Xi Junjie. “I still think nicknames are good. They make you feel close. If you think it’s too much trouble, I can give you some ideas.” He pulled a paper from his pocket and handed it over. “I made a list. Pick any two from it.”

Xi Junjie took the paper and laughed. “This is a full banquet menu!”

Roubao chuckled awkwardly. “Well, my aunt likes this kind of style. Look at all the food names in our family—she came up with them all.”

“All right, I’ll keep this,” Xi Junjie said, folding the paper and putting it in his bag.

Roubao’s eyes lit up, clearly proud, but just as he was basking in his success, Xi Junjie added lightly, “I’ve been wondering what to cook for your aunt during her recovery. This menu gives me a lot of options—should keep me going for a month without repeats.”

Roubao’s face fell, while Mingnan and Mingbei burst out laughing. They patted their much taller nephew, and Mingbei said, half-jokingly, “After all these years, you still can’t see reality clearly. Honestly, though, the names aren’t bad. Your sister, Sugar Bun, for instance—sounds sweet just saying it.”

Roubao gave him a sideways look. “Then you try being called Roubao. See if it doesn’t make you feel full all the time.”

Mingbei rubbed his belly with a smirk. “Nah, my first thought would be, ‘Give me five of those and some garlic.’”

Everyone roared with laughter. Grandma Li waved her hand. “All right, all of you, go have your fun. Next group, come on in.”

The two babies were very well-behaved, not crying or fussing even with so many people around. When they got tired, they simply closed their eyes and slept. Once the guests had left, Ling Xiulan noticed Grandma Li looking a bit tired and quickly offered, “Auntie, let Changbo drive you home. I’ll stay here and take care of Zhenzhen.”

Wang Sufen quickly said, “You’re already busy enough with work, and now you’re setting up a cosmetics factory. Just focus on your stuff. I’ve got Zhenzhen covered. We’ve lived in the same compound for so many years—you know what kind of people we are. No need to treat us like outsiders.”

The beauty salon business was booming, and Ling Xiulan had opened several branches in big cities like Ice City (Harbin), Magic City (Shanghai), and Flower City (Guangzhou). Despite the success, the salon still used skincare products from other brands, without their own private label. So creating their own cosmetics brand had become a priority for Ling Xiulan, and she’d been busy with that lately.

After years of staying home, Ling Xiulan actually preferred running her own business to looking after children and the household. It gave her a sense of fulfillment. Although she wanted to focus more on the salon, she was now a mother-in-law, and she didn’t want to leave everything to her co-mother-in-law for fear that it might make her daughter-in-law uncomfortable and strain their harmonious relationship. Wang Sufen, on the other hand, had spent her whole life tending to the kitchen and the kids. To her, happiness meant taking care of children, which gave her a sense of being needed.

Zhenzhen knew well the mindsets of both moms and could guess Ling Xiulan’s concerns. So she said, “Mom, the factory setup really needs you now. On my end, I’ve got my mom and Junjie. Just go ahead and focus on your work.”

“Exactly, don’t be so formal with us,” Grandma Li said, taking Ling Xiulan’s hand. “We’ve got Xiao Yang and Xiao Li to bring meals. Zhenzhen’s mom is just holding the baby and changing diapers—nothing too tiring. Plus, the babies have been pooping in the diapers, so we’ve just been tossing them out—no need to wash. It’s not that much work. And after she’s discharged, we’ll have a nanny helping with laundry. So really, don’t worry.”

As everyone was talking back and forth, Xi Junjie came in after seeing off some guests. He smiled and said, “No need to argue. I’ll stay with Zhenzhen tonight. You all can go home.”

“That won’t do. You’re a man—how can you take care of a baby?” Grandma Li immediately said.

“I need to learn anyway. Besides, someone has to get up at night. If you older folks do that, you might not sleep well all night.” Seeing that Wang Sufen still looked hesitant, Xi Junjie added, “Tomorrow morning when Mom brings breakfast, I’ll go home and get some rest. We’ll take turns.”

That convinced Wang Sufen. After all, staying here all night meant no energy for the next day. “Alright, I’ll come early tomorrow.” Still, even though she knew how deeply Xi Junjie loved Zhenzhen, she couldn’t help but worry since he’d never taken care of anyone before. So she kept repeating instructions on how to look after a new mom and the babies until both Zhenzhen and Xi Junjie could recite them from memory. Only then did she finally leave.

Once the door was shut, the room became quiet. Xi Junjie moved the companion bed closer to the hospital bed. After changing into his pajamas, he gently wrapped Zhenzhen in his arms and let out a satisfied sigh. “I’ve been wanting to hold you all day, but there were too many people around, and I felt shy.”

Zhenzhen smiled and nestled into his chest, her cheek rubbing against his soft pajama top. “Me too. I really wanted to whisper with you.”

“What do you want to say?” Xi Junjie looked at her with a smile.

Zhenzhen played with the buttons on his pajamas, looking a little shy. “It just feels kind of unreal that we’re really parents now.”

Just as she finished speaking, a sudden wail broke the quiet of the room, followed by a second one. Xi Junjie chuckled. “Does it feel real now?”

“It does! It really does!” Zhenzhen nodded repeatedly. “Quick, bring the little ones over. How can such tiny humans cry so loudly?”

Xi Junjie brought the babies to the bed. Zhenzhen sat up and cradled one in each arm, while Xi Junjie carefully supported them from underneath, afraid of tiring or hurting her. But at that moment, the benefits of strength became clear. Zhenzhen held both babies to nurse as easily as if she were holding two apples.

Newborns were in the eat-sleep cycle. Once they were done, Xi Junjie returned them to their crib, changed their diapers, and finally cuddled Zhenzhen. “Alright, now that it’s quiet, let’s get some sleep.”

Zhenzhen had napped during the day and wasn’t sleepy yet. Looking at the babies in their stroller, she gently nudged Xi Junjie. “What do you think we should name our dragon-phoenix twins?”

They had been mulling over this for a while and had filled several sheets of paper with names, but nothing felt right.

Xi Junjie felt a bit of a headache coming on just thinking about it. He believed names were for life and should be the best possible. But now that the babies were here, they couldn’t keep calling them “the older one” and “the younger one.” He suggested, “How about we give them nicknames for now and think about real names later?”

Zhenzhen looked at the sleeping twins, then at the pile of fruit in the corner of the room, and got an idea. “The older one can be called Watermelon, and the younger one Grape!”

Xi Junjie’s eyes widened, but seeing how happy Zhenzhen looked, he swallowed his objections and sincerely praised her. “They sound great, really. Much better than names like Bun, Bean Bun, Flatbread, or Dumpling.”

Zhenzhen remembered the nicknames of her nephew and niece and guiltily touched her nose. “Well, times were tough back then. Those foods were rare treats. Giving those names was a blessing for a good future. Besides, Bun loves buns now—he can eat five or six in one go.”

Xi Junjie laughed. “You sure you didn’t just name them after your own childhood cravings?”

Zhenzhen remembered the juicy beef buns from the hydrolysis plant cafeteria—so delicious that she practically drooled at the memory.

Swallowing hard, she looked at Xi Junjie eagerly. “Tomorrow morning I want beef buns, the juicy kind.”

Xi Junjie burst out laughing and nodded. “There’s a state-run restaurant nearby—their buns are amazing. I’ll get some for you tomorrow morning.” Zhenzhen nodded and, with dreams of beef buns, quickly fell asleep.

The next morning, Zhenzhen happily ate millet porridge and greens from home, and munched on the juicy beef buns Xi Junjie brought back. While she was still wiping grease from her mouth, Bun strolled in. As soon as he opened the door, the delicious smell of buns hit him. Seeing Zhenzhen at the coffee table enjoying porridge and buns, he clicked his tongue in surprise. “Auntie, your appetite’s amazing. Most women are weak and wrapped in towels after childbirth. But you? You’re chowing down on buns like it’s a food contest!”

Zhenzhen stuffed the last juicy bite of bun into her mouth and picked up another. “Honestly, it’s your fault. Last night before bed, your uncle and I talked about how we named you. The more we said ‘Bun,’ the hungrier I got. So this morning, I just had to eat buns.”

Bun was momentarily speechless and avoided looking at the table full of buns. Xi Junjie was putting food on Zhenzhen’s plate and, seeing Bun looking bored, said, “Go grab some fruit from the room.”

Bun went into the room, checked on the sleeping twins, then came back with a watermelon. After washing it and slicing it up with a fruit knife, he started munching and asked, mouth full, “You two decide on names for the twins yet?”

“Picking names is so hard.” Zhenzhen bit into a bun in frustration. “I’ve realized I’m totally talentless at naming.”

“Just go with nicknames for now,” Bun said with a mischievous grin. “Millet porridge, egg—those sound nice.”

“Lame.” Zhenzhen rolled her eyes at him. Even though she knew she’d be laughed at, she still shared the babies’ nicknames. “The older one is Watermelon, the younger one is Grape.”

“Pfft…” Bun spit out a mouthful of watermelon. Zhenzhen shot him a disgusted look. “Clean that up right now or I’ll tell your mom.”

Bun grabbed a napkin and wiped the table, laughing. “Auntie, I no longer resent my nickname at all. Really. If you can name your own kids like this, I’ve got nothing to complain about.”

Zhenzhen took a moody bite of her bun and swore, “Before the full month is up, I will come up with proper names for the twins.”

Zhenzhen had a natural delivery, and three days after giving birth to the twins, she was discharged from the hospital and returned home. Back in her cozy little room, although she still couldn’t take a shower, she had Xi Junjie use a large towel to wipe her body, which instantly made her feel refreshed and revitalized. Each of the two families originally had two maids—one responsible for cooking and the other for cleaning. It couldn’t be helped; there were just too many rooms, and one person simply couldn’t handle it all. Now that Zhenzhen had given birth to twins, relying solely on the young couple would be too exhausting. Even Wang Sufen could only lend a hand by holding the babies; washing diapers and clothes still required someone else to help out.

When Sister Yang, the cook at the Xi household, heard that Ling Xiulan was looking for someone, she quickly recommended her sister-in-law: “She’s really honest and hardworking, quick with her hands and feet, and has taken care of several kids before—she’ll definitely be reliable.”

Aunt Yang had worked in Ling Xiulan’s home for several years and had always gotten along well with the family, so since Ling Xiulan didn’t have time to look for someone herself, she agreed to let the sister-in-law come over and try it out first.

Aunt Yang’s sister-in-law’s surname was Zhao. She looked to be in her forties and seemed quite neat and tidy. Upon entering the house, she introduced herself, then carried a basin of soiled diapers outside.

The weather was nice and sunny. Aunt Zhao fetched a large basin of water from the side room, sat on a small stool in the courtyard, and began scrubbing. Newborns go through diapers quickly and they’re hard to clean, but after vigorous scrubbing, Aunt Zhao made them look brand new—no yellow stains at all. Aunt Yang helped her light a small stove in the courtyard with a big iron basin on top. After boiling the water, they soaked the washed diapers in it for a few minutes before taking them off the stove. Once the water cooled, they were ready to be hung out to dry. Watching from inside, Wang Sufen nodded in satisfaction. “This Xiao Zhao is really good at her work.”

With someone taking care of the laundry and cleaning, Xi Junjie felt much more relaxed. At the time, there was no official paternity leave, so after taking a week off, he had to return to work. But with Grandma Li and Wang Sufen at home, he had nothing to worry about.

Now that Grandma Li finally had her precious granddaughter, she would wash up in the morning and head next door to see the chubby twins, never getting tired of looking at them. Watermelon, the boy, ate a lot and grew chubbier, while Grape, the girl, looked more delicate in comparison. After a bit over ten days, the two babies were visibly different just by looking at them. Fortunately, Zhenzhen produced plenty of milk and could feed both babies’ ten-plus feedings a day without issue.

Finally, the one-month celebration arrived. The Xi and Li families set up over a dozen tables in the courtyard to celebrate the twins’ full month. Roubao came with his parents and younger siblings, carrying a pile of gifts. As soon as he put the things down, he couldn’t wait to ask, “Auntie, have you finally picked names for the babies?”