Madam Cai and Madam Xi began visiting frequently, offering advice to Laifu and Ji Bo on caring for pregnant women, drawing from their own experiences.
They were more excited than the young couple themselves.
They were even sewing a hundred-patch quilt for the couple's baby, to ensure its safety.
The idea was to collect fabric scraps from auspicious families in the vicinity and send letters to other friends, asking them to contribute fabric as well, to "gather a hundred blessings."
Moreover, these individuals had all survived great calamities, making them the most capable of warding off misfortune.
Madam Cai and Madam Xi put a great deal of thought into this. Once all the fabric was collected, they would need to be uniformly washed and dried, ensuring everything was perfectly prepared for the young couple.
They were told not to worry about it.
Cheng Hao, on the other hand, had already begun having baby supplies prepared.
A crib, blankets, mattresses, and other items for the nursery. He could conveniently use his current overseas trade business as a cover.
This would allow them to pass unnoticed.
They just needed to be used normally, as no one would spread word of these things anyway.
Meanwhile, Cao Lisong, upon receiving the news, immediately stated that there was no need to worry about wooden items.
For the child's future rocking horses, rocking chairs, ride-on toys, and wooden dolls.
They would cover all of it.
Before the young couple's child was even born, it was already being doted upon by everyone.
Cheng Dazhuang and his brother, along with their wives, were also preparing gifts: small cloth dolls for the child to play with, tiger-head shoes and hats, and little outfits. These were made from expensive, fine fabrics, washed multiple times to make them softer and more comfortable, all prepared with great care.
Their families also helped by inquiring about good medicinal herbs in the area that could help with lactation or were beneficial for pregnant women, collecting them, drying them, and planning to send them to the young couple.
Cheng Xiaoxi made more dried meat, intending to give it to Su Miaomiao to pass the time. He focused on using less salt and seasoning, while ensuring there was no fishy smell.
He also prepared many of his own raised livestock, planning to make a personal trip.
To deliver these to her.
He fed them with good grains or natural insects, and the livestock grew exceptionally well. Wealthy households in the vicinity, if someone was pregnant or sick and needed significant nourishment, would buy from him, claiming the effect was good.
And they tasted delicious.
Cheng Xiaoxi was worried about the security escorts taking care of his livestock properly.
So he decided to drive his own cart alongside the escort team, to personally look after them.
Cheng Dazhuang and the others had no objections, thinking it was better for one of their own to deliver them. They could bring more things, and everyone was happily preparing.
This left the villagers who were close to them completely bewildered, asking, "Is this necessary?"
"Such a grand fuss for the birth of one child, what kind of young master is this?"
"Such a display even before the child is born!"
They also wondered why all the good things were being sent to the capital, saying it was too expensive.
"They are truly willing to spend."
And some of these things couldn't be bought with money; the sentiment was truly beyond words.
Cheng Dazhuang and the others just smiled foolishly and said, "We are doing this willingly. We are all happy about this child's birth!"
They were happy from the bottom of their hearts.
They had seen firsthand how difficult the journey had been for the young couple.
If it weren't for the two of them.
They wouldn't be standing here in the Northern Yan Kingdom right now.
This kindness was greater than heaven.
It was only right for them to serve them like oxen and horses, let alone prepare these things.
They were genuinely happy for the young couple.
Now that the two of them finally had their own child, it was truly moving.
The villagers sighed with emotion upon seeing this.
They envied their strong bond, and also joked that this child was truly extraordinary.
"They will surely have a life of great fortune in the future."
Cheng Dazhuang and the others smiled and said to the villagers, "We borrow your auspicious words."
Meanwhile, Gao Dashan and the other villagers from Shan Ao Village were also preparing gifts. Knowing that wild honey was good, they prepared a lot of it.
Little clothes and shoes were also prepared, the child would probably not be able to wear them all.
Gao Dashan's wife was clever. Knowing that everyone would likely make many small clothes for the child, she made them larger, for a two or three-year-old.
This way, the child wouldn't have too many small clothes that couldn't be worn, and these would be useful.
Gao Dashan praised her ingenuity.
"She really knows how to think!"
Madam He just smiled and continued with her preparations.
In addition,
Gao Dashan also made a small silver lock and small bracelets for the child, all with good meanings.
The other villagers also prepared various mountain products, all of the best quality.
When the young couple received them,
Her belly was already nearly five months along, and it was beginning to show.
Su Miaomiao's appetite started to improve.
However, she didn't dare to eat anything indiscriminately. Instead, she ate according to a well-balanced portion.
Therefore, her figure hadn't changed much.
Only her belly had grown a little.
Recently, she seemed to be feeling fetal movements, which made her feel both curious and touched.
Cheng Hao increasingly enjoyed listening to her belly.
Su Miaomiao's emotions were now somewhat more stable, and she occasionally felt a sense of happiness.
Ji Bo and the others, with the arrival of the carts full of gifts, also welcomed Cheng Xiaoxi.
Laifu and Xiao Douzi were very surprised to see him and quickly invited him to rest.
They then had a good catch-up.
The young couple also told them to treat Cheng Xiaoxi with good food and drink.
They themselves hadn't expected.
That Cheng Xiaoxi would personally deliver them, along with such a large group of livestock.
It was simply incredible.
He had even prepared the feed and written down how to raise them.
Ji Bo quickly made arrangements, having the livestock sent to Xihai Village and entrusted to Qingzhu and Liuxu to raise. They could be retrieved when needed later.
Cheng Xiaoxi did not complain about the effort; he was quite happy. Upon seeing Su Miaomiao, he became even more flustered. Knowing she was pregnant, he was particularly hesitant to get too close.
In his memory, his mother had been pregnant before her accident, but sadly, he hadn't even had the right to know if it was a brother or sister.
He had always felt a sense of both fear and affection towards children. Cheng Dazhuang and Cheng Dali's children were also very fond of him, and he adored them to the point of being at a loss. Now, facing Su Miaomiao's unborn child, he felt the same.
Su Miaomiao smiled and told him to relax, "It's okay, don't be afraid. It's not that fragile. Later on, after the pregnancy stabilizes, it's quite adaptable, and there's no discomfort."
The baby's condition was also very good.
Then she also shared a big piece of news with Cheng Xiaoxi: at four months, the sex of the baby and whether it was twins could be determined. The doctor had just left today.
It turned out Madam Cai had been right, and as incredible as it seemed, it was indeed a boy and a girl.
For this, Cheng Hao was speechless and immediately had gifts arranged and sent to Madam Cai and Madam Xi. This was indeed a double blessing.
This was also something the young couple had wished for, often mentioning how good it would be if they had twins directly, solving the matter and not having to undergo another pregnancy.
Cheng Hao was worried about Su Miaomiao's health, but if it truly happened, they had to be even more careful. The doctor said having twins was not uncommon nowadays.
Recently, in several houses on their street, babies had been born.
One family even had triplets.
Therefore, twins were not rare.
They just needed to be well taken care of.