Hard work after winning the lottery

Hua An sat on the stool by the bed, watching without moving.

He looked at his sister, whose face was as pale as paper and who had difficulty even speaking.

Looking at those three tiny nephews, who were as small as kittens and needed to be carefully cared for.

Thinking back to just a few hours earlier, outside the operating room, the terror of feeling as if my heart was being crushed...

The boy was forced to grow up overnight.

He used to think he was still a child and could take it for granted that he could enjoy the protection of his parents and sister.

He even imagined that when his nephews were born, he would be the most powerful and playful uncle, taking them up the mountain to raid bird nests and down the river to catch small fish.

But now, as the cruel reality is laid bare, he realizes how naive and ridiculous he was.

Protect?

He can't even protect himself, so how can he protect this family?

When his sister was on the verge of death, all he could do was cry and beg like a fool.

That feeling of powerlessness was like an awl, piercing his pride.

Hua An's gaze slowly shifted from his sister's weak face to the three sleeping babies.

These three tiny, wrinkled lives, like three giant magnets, firmly attracted the attention and energy of everyone in the ward.

Days passed by in this bittersweet chaos.

I was transferred from the intensive care unit to a regular double room and stayed there for another full week.

Hua Yun's body, like a seedling ravaged by a torrential rain, finally straightened up again, albeit tremblingly, thanks to the tireless and meticulous care of her family day and night.

The dull pain from the wound is still there, but I can barely get out of bed and walk a few steps while holding onto the wall.

Her complexion gradually warmed up from its initial paleness, revealing a faint pink hue.

She began trying to breastfeed her children.

This is her most instinctive desire as a mother.

But reality dealt her a heavy blow.

Three hungry stomachs, like three bottomless pits that can never be filled.

Her body had just gone through a catastrophe, leaving her weak and bloodless, resulting in very thin breast milk.

Often, after the eldest child is fed, the second child is already crying loudly from hunger. After the second child is comforted, the third child also joins in the chorus at the top of their lungs.

That feeling of helplessness and frustration was like fine needles, pricking Hua Yun's heart with pain.

She was so anxious that tears streamed down her face. Li Guifen felt sorry for her and comforted her while quickly picking up the baby bottle.

"Silly child, why are you crying? We have milk powder!"

"If one isn't enough to feed, the three of us will work together! Many hands make light work!"

So, Hua Yun took charge of feeding one baby herself, while Li Guifen and her grandmother each fed one baby, carefully feeding them formula while holding the little ones in their arms.

Fortunately, the three little ones weren't picky eaters. Their three little heads huddled together, and the sounds of them gulping down their food rose and fell.

I just finished feeding one diaper, and the other one is already wet.

The diaper change was only halfway done when the other little one started whimpering without warning, his face turning red, clearly upset by an upset stomach.

Feeding, changing diapers, soothing crying...

A never-ending symphony composed of three parts is played on a loop in the ward 24 hours a day.

Li Guifen and Grandma Hua worked almost non-stop. When they were tired, they would lean back in their chairs and take a nap. Their eyes were bloodshot, and the dark circles under their eyes were almost drooping to their cheekbones.

Hua Shu, this silent man, took on all the errands and odd jobs: fetching water, buying meals, washing diapers and clothes, making trips back and forth between the ward and the water room. His broad back seemed to be slightly hunched from exhaustion.

Hua An, too, was busy. He picked up the milk powder can and carefully read every word on it.

Add 45-degree warm water first, then add the milk powder. Shake gently by hand, do not shake vigorously up and down...

He remembered every single step clearly.

The first time he made formula, he clumsily spilled water everywhere, and Li Guifen laughed at him for a long time.

The second time, he was able to accurately control the amount of water and the number of scoops of milk powder.

By the third day, his speed and accuracy in preparing formula were comparable to those of an experienced postpartum nanny.

He learned how to properly hold a baby who was as soft as if he had no bones.

He held his nephew's soft neck and back firmly with one hand, and protected his little bottom with the other. His whole body was as stiff as a board, and he even deliberately kept his breathing light.

The little one in his arms seemed to sense his careful and cherished care. Instead of crying, the little one smacked his lips, snuggled against him, found a comfortable position, and fell asleep peacefully.

At that moment, a strange and unprecedented emotion, like an electric current, struck Hua An's heart instantly.

It's a sense of responsibility.

It's the throbbing of blood ties.

He looked down at his sleeping nephew's profile in his arms, his long eyelashes like two small brushes, his breathing even and long.

These are his family members.

It was a treasure his sister had risked her life to save.

He held his little nephew and, imitating his grandmother, gently patted him to help him burp.

The movements went from stiff and awkward at the beginning to gentle and skillful later on.

This sight made another new mother in the same ward extremely envious.

That woman only had one daughter. Her husband had to work during the day and could only come over at night. Her mother-in-law was old and would occasionally come over to help out, but most of the time she had to manage everything on her own.

"Oh my, girl, you're so lucky."

The older sister was frantically changing her own crying daughter's diaper when she leaned over, her eyes full of envy.

"Look at your whole family, your mother, grandmother, father, and brother, they all dote on you like precious treasures and take excellent care of the children."

"Look at me, it looks like I'm in a war."

Hua Yun smiled weakly, a warm feeling welling up inside her.

Yes, she is so fortunate to have the support, help, and confidence of her family.

The woman who gave birth to triplets quickly became a celebrity in the entire obstetrics and gynecology department.

Every day during their rounds, the doctors and nurses would linger a little longer to look at these three identical little ones.

"How are you feeling today, Huayun in bed number 3?"

"The babies were very well-behaved, didn't they? They didn't cause you much trouble, did they?"

Doctors and nurses began making rounds and asking questions daily.