At the beginning, he took his seven younger siblings to join Yi Zhonghai.

"Sister-in-law, Zhongren just said that your mother got up early this morning and has been busy preparing chicken soup for you. You can drink it as soon as you get home. Your brother also went to find a few pounds of fresh pork ribs to stew for you at noon."

Yi Zhongyao then spoke up.

"Sister-in-law is going to spend too much... Jiu Liang and the others are at the age where they are growing."

Bai Yushu said, feeling somewhat apologetic.

"We're family, don't worry about the expense. Just focus on recovering after childbirth and getting better."

"Since those little guys, Jiu Liang, were born, I, as their uncle, have never mistreated them."

"So you don't need to worry about these things."

Yi Zhongding waved his hand and smiled as he reassured his wife.

He knew that postpartum emotional fluctuations were no less than those during pregnancy.

It's just that not many people cared about these things back then.

But as someone from later generations, he could not knowingly turn a blind eye.

As the car turned into the alley, the gate of the Yi Family Courtyard could be seen in the distance.

The area in front of the door was swept clean, and two new red papers were pasted on either side of the threshold.

Although no words were written on it, the red color stood out in the drab alley, exuding a festive atmosphere.

Li Zhanqing parked the car steadily at the door, turned off the engine, and jumped out to help open the door.

As soon as Yi Zhongding opened the car door.

A string of people rushed out of compound number 95.

Leading the group was Yan Bugui's family, followed by the deaf old lady, Liu Haizhong, Xu Wengui, and others.

It seems the neighbors in the courtyard all knew they were coming back today, so they were waiting here.

"Grandma, Brother Yan, Brother Liu, Brother Xu, why are you all out here? It's so cold so early in the morning."

Yi Zhongding was slightly taken aback when he saw this scene, then smiled and went to greet them.

As Yi Zhongding stepped forward, he also pulled out several packs of cigarettes.

"What's so cold! The Yi family has welcomed a new member; this is a joyous occasion for our No. 95 courtyard!"

"We'd planned this for ages; we absolutely had to come pick them up today and share in the joy!"

Yan Bugui rubbed his hands together, his eyes narrowing into slits as he smiled.

When he saw the Daqianmen cigarettes in Yi Zhongding's hand, his smile became even more genuine, and he couldn't help but rub them together like a fly.

"Zhongding, these are ten eggs my husband saved up. It's not many, but they're for your sister-in-law to help her recover. Please don't refuse."

Liu Haizhong nodded with a simple smile, handing over a small cloth bag he was carrying.

"Uncle Liu, I can't accept this... You're a blacksmith, this is physically demanding work, you need to nourish your body even more. Please take it home, you have some at home."

Yi Zhongding handed out cigarettes to everyone while smiling and saying this.

Just as Liu Haizhong was about to speak, Xu Wengui squeezed forward.

"This is some old rice wine I brought. It's used to cook chicken in this wine during postpartum confinement. Drinking this is good for lactation and warming the body. Keep it safe!"

Xu Wengui was holding a small jar in his hands.

Immediately afterwards, several aunties and older women also gathered around and peered through the car window at the two babies.

They kept asking the child a barrage of questions: how much does the child weigh? Who does the child look like? Does the child cry? Their enthusiasm made Bai Yushu a little embarrassed, and she could only hold the child and respond with a smile.

"Alright, alright, stop blocking the doorway. It's windy outside. Let the child go inside first! If you need to look after the child, you can do so after everything is settled!"

"Neither the new mother nor the baby should be exposed to wind or cold."

Seeing the chaos, the deaf old lady squeezed out of the crowd, grabbed Bai Yushu's arm, and addressed the group of neighbors.

"Yes, yes, let's go inside first. Honey, give this Dr. Bai a hand."

Yan Bugui, holding the cigarette given to him by Yi Zhongding, hurriedly called to his wife.

Liu Haizhong also followed suit and asked his wife to lend a hand.

The crowd then made way for them.

The wives of the Liu and Yan families helped Bai Yushu out of the car.

Then Yi Zhongding put his arm around her, wrapped her coat tightly around her, and walked into the courtyard.

The two younger sisters, carrying the child, finally made their way through the crowd and into the courtyard, returning to the Yi family's small courtyard, under the watchful eyes of the neighbors.

The door to the west room was wide open, and a wave of warmth rushed out.

Inside the room, the bed was covered with thick new bedding, and the stove was lit, even though the fire had been shut off.

Sunlight streamed through the window paper, making the whole room bright and warm.

The vase of wild chrysanthemums on the windowsill was still blooming, their bright yellow color adding a touch of brightness to the room.

Yi Zhongding helped Bai Yushu sit down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and then quickly helped settle the two children in.

"When my elder brother and sister-in-law left, they made sure to have the underfloor heating done. The bedding is all warm, and there's hot water on the stove. You can have whatever you want to drink anytime."

Yi Zhongding looked at the things in the room and said with a smile.

"My sister-in-law instructed that the chicken soup is simmering on the stove. Sister-in-law, you rest, I'll go get you a bowl, drink it first to warm yourself up."

Yi Zhongyao put the four-pound baby he was holding on the bed, said something crisply, and then went out again.

"You've really worked hard, sister-in-law."

Bai Yushu sat on the warm bed, watching all this, her eyes welling up with tears.

"No need for hard work, we're family, no need for formalities."

Yi Zhongding covered her with the blanket and then put it away for his two sons.

Then he said, "You take a break. Brother Li is still outside. I'll go and greet him."

"Okay, I can do it. Miaomiao is still here. Go ahead."

Bai Yushu said with a smile.

Yi Zhongding nodded, then turned and left.

However, by the time he reached the door, Li Zhanqing had already driven the car to the entrance of the alley.

Just as Yi Zhongding was about to catch up and say a few words, he saw Li Zhanqing stretch out an arm and wave a few times towards the back, indicating that he didn't need to see him off.

Yi Zhongding had no choice but to stop.

At this moment, Yi Zhonghai also rode his bicycle, carrying Tan Xiulian back to the courtyard house.

"Comrade Li, why are you leaving so soon? Come on in, sit down for a while, have a glass of water to warm yourself up."

Yi Zhonghai stopped his bicycle and said as he watched the car drive away.

"No, Brother Yi, your family is very busy right now. You go ahead with your business. I'll come again when the baby is a month old."

Li Zhanqing poked his head out and said with a smile.

"I won't take up any more of your time. Take care, and remember to come when your baby turns one month old."

Yi Zhonghai shook his hand.

"I'll definitely come."

Li Zhanqing smiled and replied, then started the car and drove away.

"Big brother, sister-in-law, you're back so quickly."

Yi Zhongding waited at the door for them to ride up to him.

"Your sister-in-law keeps urging me, so I have to work my butt off like crazy. Xiaoyu, have you made all the arrangements?"

Yi Zhonghai said with a light laugh.

"They're inside. The old lady and the others are home too. They brought some things, but I don't know how to handle them. You've come back just in time."

Yi Zhongding said with a smile.

"Don't worry about that, I'll handle it."

Yi Zhonghai waved his hand and said.

"There's chicken soup in the kitchen. I told Yaoyao and Miaomiao to give it to Xiaoyu. Did you give it to her?"

Tan Xiulian ignored what the two brothers were saying and was only thinking about her chicken soup.

"Yaoyao went to make it, and I bet she's drinking it now."

Yi Zhongding said with a smile.

"That's good, that's good. I'll go check on Xiaoyu first. You two brothers can chat slowly."

Tan Xiulian was relieved, jumped off her bicycle, untied her headscarf, and shook off the dust.

Before she finished speaking, she rushed into the courtyard and headed straight for the west room.

"Your sister-in-law is even more attentive than when she gave birth herself."

"Alright, let's not stand here at the door anymore, let's go in. By the way, what did Lao Liu give us? I'd like to know so I can remember what he gave us in return."

Yi Zhonghai watched her retreating figure, then smiled and shook his head.

"Liu Haizhong's family sent ten eggs, Xu Wengui's family sent a jar of old rice wine, Yan Bugui's family... I haven't even seen what they sent yet, and the old lady also brought something over, but I haven't had a chance to look at it yet."

Yi Zhongding said as he followed his elder brother inside.

"That old man Yan will probably send two eggs."

"He's a shrewd man; he always values ​​face over substance when it comes to small gifts. But no matter how much or how little he gives, it's the thought that counts, and we should remember it."

Yi Zhonghai chuckled and said softly.

The two brothers talked as they passed through the moon gate and entered the inner courtyard.

From the west room came Tan Xiulian's hearty laughter and Bai Yushu's low reply, mixed with the chattering of Yaoyao and Miaomiao, creating a lively and peaceful atmosphere.

Yi Zhongding stood in the courtyard, listening to the sounds coming from inside the house, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up.