As Lady Zhang entered the room, she could feel the warmth. Even in the outer room, it was warmer than the Upper Room. Lady Zhang was very pleased, and her expression became even more gentle.

During this era, postpartum care for women was most concerned with avoiding drafts and maintaining warmth, especially in this season. The warmth of Zhang Caiyun’s room clearly showed the Lu Family’s care and affection for their daughter-in-law. As in-laws, nothing could be more satisfying.

"The room is quite warm," Lady Zhang remarked to Old Madam Lu and the Lu Family’s Eldest Daughter-in-law, who were accompanying her.

"There’s plenty of firewood, and we also bought coal and charcoal," Old Madam Lu replied with a smile, "I usually have them keep the room warm. Now that the child is in postpartum care, she can’t be allowed to catch a chill. The eldest daughter-in-law and I come by three times a day to keep the fire going. Bingwu also knows to care for his wife, and he tends the fire when he has time."

When Old Madam Lu finished speaking, everyone couldn’t help but laugh.

Amidst their laughter, they entered the room. Zhang Caiyun had long heard the commotion inside. However, since she had just given birth a few days prior and was advised against getting out of bed, she could only sit up from the bed. Seeing Lady Zhang and the others come in, she hurriedly sat upright to greet them.

"You should lie down if you need to; don’t exert yourself," Lady Zhang instructed, though she didn’t immediately rush over.

Everyone had just come in from outside and was worried that the cold air on their clothes might affect the mother and newborn. Therefore, they first sat in another room. Old Madam Lu accompanied them while the eldest daughter-in-law busied herself serving tea, snacks, and fruits to everyone.

Separated by a screen on the bed, Zhang Caiyun, who loved hustle and bustle, seemed to have recovered well from childbirth. In high spirits, she chatted with everyone beyond the screen.

"The baby is asleep, so let’s lower our voices," suggested Lady Zhang.

"It’s fine, he just woke up and fed," Zhang Caiyun quickly replied, "He spends most of the day sleeping."

"He’s a newborn, so of course, he’s sleeping. What else do you expect him to do?" Lady Zhang said with a smile.

With a cheeky smile, Zhang Caiyun fell silent.

Lady Zhang, Lady Li, Lady Zhang Wang, Old Madam Lu, and the others then started discussing whether Zhang Caiyun had enough breast milk.

Lian Manman, standing to the side, discreetly observed Zhang Caiyun. For fear of catching a cold, Zhang Caiyun was wrapped tightly from head to toe. She and her son each had their own bedding arranged neatly side by side. The little one’s bedding had an oval-shaped barrier made of a small quilt around it.

This was common among farmstead families. Although newborns were also wrapped tightly, there was concern that moving around the mother might bring drafts that could affect the baby; hence, such arrangements were made.

After a brief stay, Old Madam Lu and the Lu Family’s Eldest Daughter-in-law found an excuse to leave the room. Only then did Lady Zhang and the others move behind the screen to see Zhang Caiyun and the baby.

Since Lian Manman hadn’t seen Dabao for a while, as soon as she entered the room, she scooped him up into her arms. Now squeezed in the back of the crowd, she could only take in her surroundings first. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

The room was tidied up nicely, and all the furnishings were new. On the cupboards, bed, and tables, there were many gifts. These were the nourishing gifts brought by those who came to express their good wishes. The gifts brought earlier by Manman’s family had also been brought over, and the eldest daughter-in-law of the Lu Family had pointed them out to Zhang Caiyun.

"Manman," Zhang Caiyun called as Lian Manman was looking around.

Lian Manman hurriedly handed Dabao over to Lian Zhizhi, then walked over to Zhang Caiyun’s bed.

"Manman."

"Sister Caiyun."

Having not seen each other for a long time, the sisters greeted each other warmly. Zhang Caiyun again invited Lian Manman to see her child.

"Manman, look at your little nephew," Zhang Caiyun’s eyes sparkled as she leaned over the bundle of small bedding, "Little Tether, look who’s here to see you. It’s your Auntie Manman, Auntie Manman is here to see you."

Zhang Caiyun and Lu Bingwu’s son, upon being born, was given the nickname Xiaoshou by his grandfather. The meaning was self-evident: this child was born into our family and bound to stay; he won’t be going anywhere else. This was also a common farmsteading tradition, hoping the child would grow up healthy and live a long life.

In Liaodong Prefecture, you could walk into any village and easily find several people with the nickname Xiaoshou or locked-down, ranging from elders in their eighties to infants in their arms.