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

Standing in the courtyard, watching this scene, Yi Zhongding suddenly felt a pang of regret for everything he had experienced at sea that day.

Those serious faces, heavy entrustments, sophisticated instruments, and complex prescriptions have all become distant memories.

There are also important people and things here that he wants to protect.

Yi Zhongding stepped into the west room. Tan Xiulian looked up, saw him, and smiled slightly.

"You're back? The weather's nice today. Xiaoyu can't be exposed to the wind during her postpartum period, so we're taking the two little ones out for some sunshine."

Tan Xiulian said with a smile.

Then he lowered his head and smiled at Sijin, saying, "Baby, Daddy's home."

As she spoke, Tan Xiulian gently picked up Si Jin's small hand and waved it at him a few times.

But the little guy was very aloof, not even glancing at his father.

"Hmph, this kid has quite the temper, he doesn't even respect his own father."

Yi Zhongding walked over, squatted down in front of his two sons, and couldn't help but laugh when he saw Sijin's indifferent little face.

"Brother, what do you know? This is called having personality."

Yi Zhongyao replied with a cheerful laugh.

"As I say."

Yi Zhongmiao smiled and added a comment.

"Whatever? When have you ever ignored me?"

Yi Zhongding handed the briefcase to Yi Zhongren, then leaned over next to his sons, bending down to carefully examine the two chubby boys.

The two little ones closed their eyes and slept soundly.

"Okay, Miaomiao is right, the child does take after her, but also after you as the father. Look at your attitude at the hospital, and when you get home you're just as indifferent, aren't you?"

Tan Xiulian laughed so hard her shoulders shook.

"Sister-in-law, I'm innocent! When did I ever ignore you?"

Yi Zhongding cried out that he was innocent.

"Last month, you came home late at night, and when I called you for dinner, you said you'd already eaten, then went straight to your room and wrote until dawn. Tell me, isn't that ignoring me?"

Tan Xiulian laughed and started counting on her fingers, scolding him.

"That's because we're rushing to finish a report."

Yi Zhongding choked, scratched his head, and gave an embarrassed smile.

"Alright, alright, I know you're busy."

"Come here, let your dad give you a hug, let the child get used to your scent, so that when he grows up he only recognizes me as his aunt and not you as his dad."

Tan Xiulian didn't argue with him, handed the four jin to him, and said with a light laugh.

Yi Zhongding carefully took the four jin.

The little guy was transferred from his warm embrace to a pair of slightly unfamiliar arms, and he frowned a little uncomfortably.

But she didn't wake up; she just nestled her little face into his arms and fell into a deep sleep again.

Yi Zhongding looked down at the soft little thing in his arms, and a hard part of his heart suddenly collapsed.

His hands, which had never trembled when facing those important figures in the sea, were now trembling slightly.

"Be gentle, support the back of his head."

Seeing this, Tan Xiulian quickly said something.

"I know, I know."

Yi Zhongding adjusted his position to make Sijin more comfortable.

The little guy seemed to sense his father's presence; his brows gradually relaxed, and the corners of his mouth even curled up slightly, as if he were smiling in his dream.

"Hey, he smiled!"

Yi Zhongding looked up at his sister-in-law, younger brother, and younger sister with surprise.

"Brother, sister-in-law said that's just a dream. Newborns all do that; it's not a real smile."

Yi Zhongmiao suppressed a laugh and poured cold water on him.

Yi Zhongding didn't mind, and looked down at it for a while before reluctantly handing the four jin back to Tan Xiulian.

Then he walked over to Yi Zhongyao and looked at the two ounces in her arms.

Two ounces was much quieter than four pounds. It slept the whole time without changing its position, and its breathing was even and long, like a lazy kitten.

"Erliang is less troublesome than his brother. Sijin wakes up at the slightest noise, but Erliang won't even flinch during thunder."

Yi Zhongyao said softly.

"One is intellectual, the other is quiet; they complement each other perfectly."

Yi Zhongding reached out and gently touched Erliang's cheek. The little guy smacked his lips in his sleep and then fell silent again.

He stood in the yard for a while, looking at the large family in the sunlight.

The eldest sister-in-law was holding four jin, the younger sister was holding two liang, nine liang was still chasing the unlucky hen, six liang and three liang were studying ants, and three jin was sitting on the doorstep eating cornbread.

The younger brothers were either busy cooking or making toys for the children.

The tension that had been building up inside me all day finally eased completely.

"By the way, have you had lunch yet?"

Tan Xiulian suddenly asked.

"I ate, the food provided by Hai Li."

Yi Zhongding replied.

"Food served in the sea? Is it good?"

Tan Xiulian asked curiously.

"It's alright, but the portion was a bit small; I wasn't full."

Yi Zhongding said with a light laugh.

"Why didn't you say so earlier! There's some leftover cornmeal porridge in the kitchen from this morning, I'll heat it up for you."

Tan Xiulian rolled her eyes at him.

"Don't bother, sister-in-law, I can do it myself."

Yi Zhongding was about to get up as he spoke.

"Sit down! You're a hero today, how can I let you do it yourself? Xiaoyu is inside, I don't know if she's asleep, go in and check on her."

"These leaders are something else. They don't even let us eat our fill when they provide meals. I'll have to talk to Xiaoyu and ask her to pack a lunchbox for you to take with you."

Without saying a word, Tan Xiulian stuffed the four jin back into his arms, clapped her hands, and walked towards the kitchen, muttering to herself as she went.

Yi Zhongding, holding Si Jin in his arms, stood in the yard, listening to his sister-in-law's rambling voice, and suddenly felt that this was the most reassuring sound in the world.

Yi Zhongding stood in the yard for a while, holding Sijin in his arms, watching his sister-in-law go into the kitchen. The firelight from the stove shone on the window paper, making it feel warm and cozy.

He looked down at the little one sleeping soundly in his arms, then looked up at the closed door of the west room.

"Yaoyao, how long have the two little ones been in the sun?"

Yi Zhongding asked his younger sister.

"Half an hour is enough."

Yi Zhongyao raised his hand, glanced at his watch, and said.

Yi Zhongding nodded, his mind preoccupied with Bai Yushu, and then, carrying the child, he stepped into the house.

Yi Zhongyao also followed into the house carrying two liang (a unit of weight).

Pushing open the door, the room became dimmer.

Bai Yushu lay on her side on the bed, the blanket pulled up to her chin, her eyes closed, her breathing even.

The mother was already weak after giving birth, and she had to get up every one or two hours every night to breastfeed her two babies, which eventually exhausted her.

This kind of fatigue isn't physical.

After all, Yi Zhongding had been continuously replenishing his family's health with spiritual spring water, so they were all in very good health.

But mental exhaustion cannot be repaired by spiritual spring water.

Yi Zhongding gently placed the four jin on the kang (a heated brick bed), then took two liang (another unit of weight) from his sister and placed them side by side.

The two little ones lay side by side, in identical swaddling clothes, in identical sleeping positions, looking like a pair of cloned dough balls from a distance.

Yi Zhongyao put down two ounces and went out first.

Yi Zhongding pulled over a small stool, sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and quietly watched the mother and her two children.

Sunlight streamed through the window paper, casting a soft glow on the bed.

Dust particles floated slowly in the beam of light, and time seemed to freeze at that moment.