Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 618: Chapter 618: Recalling Childhood
 

After nearly an hour of chaos, the child’s fever finally broke. The two adults were completely exhausted.

After a night of ups and downs like that, daylight was just around the corner!

The noise from early risers outside was already faintly discernible, accompanied by the occasional calls of horses and donkeys, which made people feel extremely sleepy.

As Di Yelei had to tend to his official duties during the day, he returned to his room for a short rest.

Liu Sisi stayed vigil until daybreak, seeing that the children were sleeping peacefully, and only after Ms. Gao and the nanny had woken up to take over, and she saw the little guy had been fed, did she roll back to the head of bed in her clothes to sleep deeply.

She thought she would be woken up quickly, but to her surprise, she slept until the afternoon sun was slanting, when she woke from her deep sleep.

Upon waking up, she was somewhat bewildered as she looked at the sun shining obliquely on the windowsill. She immediately rolled over, got up from the head of the bed, quickly put on her shoes, and ran out of the room.

“Ms. Gao, Ms. Gao! How is the child? Has the fever gone down? Didn’t I instruct you before that if Third Son is uncomfortable, you should call me? Why didn’t you wake me up?”

Liu Sisi was quite frantic.

Ms. Gao was full of joy, “Madam, don’t worry, Third Young Master hasn’t had a fever all day, he can eat and sleep well, it seems he’s recovered!”

“Not…feverish?”

Liu Sisi’s hustle and bustle stopped abruptly.

“Of course, even the doctor who revisited today marveled, saying it was a rare sight!” Ms. Gao was genuinely delighted.

Liu Sisi felt her legs go weak and she could no longer stand steady, she directly sat down at the head of the bed. She reached out and wiped her messy hair, rubbing her face, with only one thought in her mind.

The child is all right, that’s great! That’s great!

Isn’t it wonderful?

The little guy who’d stopped being feverish didn’t look unwell at all, instead, he was looking at Liu Sisi with his big eyes like black grapes, making her heart melt.

“You little stinker! If you dare scare me like this again, see if I don’t smack your little butt, let you know your old mother’s wrath!”

As Liu Sisi ferociously said this, her raised palm gently fell down, with no force at all.

The little guy, on the contrary, was vigorously waving his small arms, opening his little mouth “ah, oh——” incessantly talking to Liu Sisi, as if protesting against her words. Liu Sisi could no longer hold back, she hugged him and kept kissing him, unwilling to let go.

Good boy, you have to grow up fast!

Grow into a strong man, to protect your mother and family.

In the afternoon, Di Yelei also came back early. When he heard the child’s fever had broken, he let out a sigh of relief.

“It’s a good thing there’s nothing wrong, the three kids are too young. Once we get through three months, we won’t have to worry so much.”

“Isn’t it, though…”

Liu Sisi deftly wiped the child’s little butt, and quickly changed his diaper.

“Go on, let your father have a good hold of our little Chou Chou.” She gently patted the little guy’s butt.

“Oh! Is this little Chou Chou? Isn’t mother fond of our little Chou Chou? Come on, come to daddy, daddy loves you…”

Di Yelei happily took over the child, and leaned down to plant two big kisses.

Making the child giggle loudly.

Liu Sisi checked the diapers of the other two little fellows and curiously asked, “Speaking of which, didn’t we give this little fellow a full dose of soup medicine last night? It seems like Niuniu also cried for quite a while, didn’t she?”

“Yes, so what? Is there anything strange about that?”

While still teasing the little one in his arms, Di Yelei told him, “Oh——Our little Chou Chou is not being good, oh——Ah——Chou Chou is a little naughty boy…”in a cooing manner.

Liu Sisi gave him a look, “It’s not unusual for Niuniu to do this, but isn’t the smallest one usually the most restless? Yet last night, while Niuniu and Chou Chou were crying, he slept soundly without making a peep. Isn’t that strange?”

Di Yelei stopped playing with Chou Chou, and lifting his eyes to Liu Sisi, he then picked up the other child and walked over.

“Take a close look, does the forehead of this little one feel hot?”

“I checked, and apart from a round little belly, there seems to be no other problems.” Liu Sisi said earnestly.

“Is that so? Is he eating that much?”

Di Yelei laughed and shook his head, “Why not, next time when you bind his belly, do it a bit tighter, so he doesn’t grow into a potbelly, that would be unattractive.”

“In such hot weather, if we really bind his belly, wouldn’t that cause him to break out in heat rash? Let’s not.”

Liu Sisi carefully considered for a while before saying.

The current weather was unbearably hot, if they were to wrap cloth around his little tummy, who knew how hot it would get?

“That’s fine, as long as he can eat, let him be. Little children need to eat to grow.” Di Yelei said casually, then continued to tease the little guy in his arms.

Only after putting both children into the crib did Liu Sisi stand up straight, suddenly remembering another issue.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you when I returned yesterday, it’s about the academy.” She quickly relayed what the Chief of the Liu Family Clan had said.

“Once the academy is established, the positions for teachers and managers need to be filled. The Chief of the Liu Family Clan’s action is very much in line with my thoughts. However, if everyone is from the Liu family, I worry that it may appear nepotistic. So, I suggested that a certain number of places be reserved and then tested.”

Liu Sisi was somewhat apprehensive, as she had made this decision without discussing it with Di Yelei beforehand.

“However, if you think it’s not feasible, I can also go back and decline them!” She quickly added.

“Fool, it’s a good thing!”

Di Yelei tapped her forehead lightly,”Indeed, the Liu family has produced quite a number of renowned teachers over the years. Moreover, the Liu Family also has a good number of students and cultivated talents. If they really are capable and can support you, wouldn’t that be a win-win situation?”

“But…I am afraid outsiders will gossip.”

Liu Sisi was a bit distressed.

“Haven’t you mentioned the assessment? Let them all take it. If they don’t pass, you will have a reason to explain to the clan leader. If they pass, even if outsiders want to gossip, they won’t be able to, right?”

Liu Sisi was relieved and happy, only to become worried again, “But what should we assess?”

“We can gradually think about what the assessment will cover. The academy hasn’t even been completed yet. Isn’t it too early to discuss the content of the assessment?”

“Oh yes, hee hee hee!”

Liu Sisi was amused by herself! She then changed the topic again, “Speaking of which, Yelei, when you went west, did you see many locusts?”

Di Yelei, who had been playing with the child, paused and turned back. Holding the child, he went over and sat next to her.