Chapter 153: The Culinary Tycoon

Silly Father, Silly Uncle, Silly Little Uncle

Chang Le was actually quite interested in practicing calligraphy. His temperament was naturally calm, and he could endure the repetitive and tedious practice.

He could sit still for a long time, which made Yu Qingze somewhat worried. So, approximately every forty-five minutes, Yu Qingze would come in to remind him to go outside, breathe some fresh air, and move around a bit to relieve eye and body fatigue.

Yu Qingze followed a standard monitoring approach based on the typical class time of his apprentices in his previous life, and it was quite scientific.

Since Yu Qingze presented his reasoning convincingly, Chang Le would listen to him. However, from time to time, he would still resist a little, but Yu Qingze would manage to persuade him.

Fortunately, after a few days, Brother Chang was allowed to go out for a walk.

Because the snack shop was always bustling with customers coming and going, Xue Baizhu and Brother Chang were worried about him going back to work and feared something might happen.

Brother Chang also felt that he had become very sleepy after getting pregnant and didn’t have as much energy as before. If he forcefully went back to the snack shop to work, it might distract others from taking care of him, so he agreed not to go back to work.

However, he still went to House of Prosperity with Chang Le to keep each other company, sharing their experiences of pregnancy. Chang Le would write, while Brother Chang would do some sewing. When they got tired, they would take a rest at the snack shop. With someone to accompany them, they didn’t feel bored anymore.

Chang Le gestured helplessly to Brother Chang, indicating that they didn’t let him do anything. He couldn’t even carry a bucket and couldn’t do any sewing, so he could only write.

“They do that out of love for you and to pamper the baby,” Brother Chang replied while sitting on the other side of the table, sewing baby clothes. He saw Chang Le’s gestures and responded.

In fact, he understood the mentality of Yu Qingze and the others. Chang Le’s body had finally been well taken care of, and it was not easy to have a baby. At this time, it was also the most dangerous time, so naturally, they had to take good care of him.

Chang Le smiled. He knew it well; he was just venting his frustrations. Seeing the red silk bellyband in Brother Chang’s hands, he walked over and gently touched it.

It was smooth and very comfortable.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

“What design do you think I should embroider? A tiger, a lion, or something like plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums? I feel like the Xue family is quite refined, so maybe plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums would suit their taste better, huh?” Brother Chang unfolded the small bellyband in his hand, a small piece of red fabric that was almost finished sewing, just lacking a design.

Chang Le looked at it and gestured, saying, “I think they usually embroider tigers in the village. Babies look good with tigers.”

Brother Chang nodded at his words and said, “I also like little tigers. Once the clothes are done, I’ll make a tiger hat and tiger shoes to match.”

Chang Le touched the small bellyband and suddenly gestured again, indicating that it might be better not to embroider a design on it.

Brother Chang asked, “Won’t it be too plain?”

Chang Le shook his head and gestured, “This is worn directly on the body. If we embroider a design, the back of it will touch the baby’s belly, and it might be uncomfortable.”

Brother Chang thought for a moment and said, “You’re right. Let’s not embroider on the bellyband then, but embroider on the outer clothes instead. This silk fabric feels really comfortable. What kind of fabric did you buy? Do you have any silk?”

Chang Le nodded and gestured, “Yes, I bought both silk fabric for the bellybands and undershirts. But for the outer clothes, we’ll use cotton fabric since the baby grows fast and won’t wear them for long.”

This was all the experience passed down to them by Uncle Mo. Babies change every day and grow rapidly. They don’t need too many clothes of the same size, or else they won’t have a chance to wear them before outgrowing them.

Now, both of them had improved their living conditions, and they had the means to prepare some comfortable and snug clothing for their baby. It was something they wouldn’t have dared to think of in the past.

Chang Le looked at Brother Chang sewing several bellybands and preparing two sets of undershirts, and he felt a mixture of envy and eagerness. Finally, he made it through the first trimester of pregnancy. The next day, he couldn’t wait to take out the sewing basket and fabrics, leaving aside his calligraphy practice, and started making clothes for the little baby together with Brother Chang.

They felt joyous and content.

Since they didn’t have older siblings or relatives, Chang Le relied on external sources for all the knowledge about pregnancy. It came from what Dr. Ye said, what Dr. Ye told Brother Chang and Uncle Mo, and the various uncles from the snack shop and restaurant who would occasionally chat with them.

“When the time comes for you to have your confinement, make sure you have Boss Yu arrange for an experienced person to take care of you. Otherwise, all the men are rough and don’t know how to take care of someone during confinement. They’re not attentive enough. How can they take good care of you and the baby?” Uncle Mo said.

Brother Chang also nodded and said, “Yes, yes, we need to arrange it in advance. And we should also buy the powdered milk rice in advance for the baby to drink and prepare.”

“Naimi is a special food here for babies to eat after they’re born. It’s also grown locally and resembles rice to some extent. It’s ground into powder and mixed with water for the baby to drink. They can continue drinking it until they’re two years old.

(T/N: Naimi means milk rice or rice porridge).

“The grocery store also sells pre-ground powdered naimi. You can buy that directly when the time comes. Now that you have better conditions, you can buy the ones with better quality and finer grind. Babies absorb it faster…”

During the lunch break at the restaurant, several uncles gathered in the storage room to talk to Chang Le and Brother Chang about baby-related matters. They discussed everything from pregnancy to childbirth, from a child’s birth to their growth. When it came to talking about children, the uncles had plenty to say.

Coincidentally, Yu Qingze came in to get some ingredients and was spotted by Uncle Mo, who called him over.

“Boss Yu, we were just discussing how to take care of Brother Le during his confinement when he gives birth. Should we hire a nanny to help, someone with experience, to make it easier for you?”

Yu Qingze nodded and replied, “That’s exactly what I was thinking. We don’t know much about it, so we definitely need to hire someone. If the uncles have any good recommendations, please introduce them to us. There are many things to take care of, so I’m afraid of overlooking something.”

The uncles began to share with him what they had discussed earlier. They went over everything in detail.

After listening, Yu Qingze took notes on paper one by one. Since he had other things to attend to, he asked Chang Le to write down everything the uncles had said in a notebook, and they could discuss it together later in the evening.

As Chang Le was not yet proficient in calligraphy, Yu Qingze specially carved a wooden pencil-like pen for him, sharpened the tip, and dipped it in ink for writing. It was quite convenient.

***

Winter went away, and spring arrived once again.

The first time the baby moved in the womb was in mid-February of the following year. It happened to be in the evening when Chang Le and the others had just settled down and were about to fall asleep.

Due to Chang Le’s pregnancy, Yu Qingze was worried that he might have any discomfort at night and wouldn’t be able to see his hand gestures immediately. So, he kept the oil lamp burning all night, placed it a little further away from the bed, and lowered the bed curtains to create a dim light that wouldn’t disturb their rest. If Chang Le felt unwell, Yu Qingze could quickly open the curtains and assess the situation.

Chang Le was accustomed to sleeping on his right side, so Yu Qingze naturally held him from the right side, with his left hand gently resting on Chang Le’s slightly swollen belly under his inner shirt.

Yu Qingze’s hand had a warm temperature, and it felt very comforting to touch Chang Le’s abdomen.

Just as the two of them were about to drift off to sleep, suddenly, Yu Qingze felt a slight movement beneath his palm, as if something slippery had slid by.

He immediately opened his eyes.

This… fetal movement?!

Chang Le also felt it immediately, and it was even more apparent and intuitive to him than to Yu Qingze. Not only did he feel the baby squirming, but it seemed like the baby was blowing bubbles too?

He also immediately opened his eyes and placed his left hand above Yu Qingze’s palm.

“Wife! The baby, did it just move?!” Yu Qingze asked excitedly, then quickly lifted the bed curtains and swiftly placed his hand back on Chang Le’s abdomen, wanting to feel it again.

Chang Le dared not move at all now, afraid that any movement might startle the baby and make it stop moving. However, he nodded slightly and reached out to pat Yu Qingze’s hand to indicate yes.

“He moved, he’s greeting us!” Yu Qingze couldn’t conceal his excitement, leaning closer to Chang Le and smiling as he whispered in his ear.

Chang Le was also very happy. He slightly turned his body and rubbed his face against Yu Qingze’s, and the two of them exchanged a kiss with excitement.

Having felt the baby’s first fetal movement, both of them were thrilled and couldn’t fall asleep. They extended their hands and placed them on the abdomen, eagerly anticipating the baby’s second movement.

They waited and waited, until more than a moment had passed before they felt that slight movement again. It was very subtle, and if they hadn’t kept their hands there and remained attentive, they might not have noticed. Moreover, at the same time, they heard a gurgling sound.

Upon hearing that, Yu Qingze became uncertain. He didn’t know if it was the baby moving or simply Chang Le’s stomach making noise due to hunger.

He hesitated and asked, “Wife, are you hungry? Should I cook something for you?”

Chang Le smiled upon hearing that and gestured with his hand, indicating that he wasn’t hungry. It seemed like the baby was blowing bubbles.

Yu Qingze:…

“Will… it blow bubbles?” Yu Qingze asked in astonishment.

Chang Le nodded and thought for a moment. Then he gestured again, saying, “It seems like he’s… swimming?”

Yu Qingze blinked his eyes. Since the pregnant belly is filled with amniotic fluid, it’s not wrong to say swimming. However, he didn’t expect the baby to blow bubbles like a little fish.

“I’ll listen and see.” Curious, he slipped under the blanket.

Seeing this, Chang Le lay flat.

Yu Qingze pressed his ear against Chang Le’s belly, listening carefully to the sounds inside. He also said, “Hello, baby. I’m your father, Yu Qingze. Remember my voice, okay?”

Chang Le:…

“And this is your mother’s hand. Remember how it feels when he touches you,” Yu Qingze added, gently placing Chang Le’s hand on the belly and stroking it.

Chang Le:…

He couldn’t help but laugh and cry, feeling somewhat moved in his heart.

It was their first conversation as father and son.

However, after the little interaction just now, the baby seemed to be resting again. Yu Qingze listened for a while but didn’t hear any movement. The oxygen inside the blanket was running low, so he quickly emerged from it.

The two of them waited for a while longer and noticed that the baby still wasn’t moving. Yu Qingze suggested, “Maybe the baby fell asleep?”

Chang Le nodded.

“Then you should sleep too. They say that after the baby starts moving, they will do it frequently, and it will disturb the sleep of the expectant father at night. Take advantage of the baby being asleep and get some rest yourself,” Yu Qingze advised.

Little did he know, right after Yu Qingze finished speaking, the baby moved slightly again.

Yu Qingze and Chang Le:…

Chang Le gently shook his head with a light smile. He was still in an excited state and couldn’t fall asleep just yet.

The two of them continued to chat softly for a while. Yu Qingze even crawled back under the blanket to talk to the baby a couple more times. When the night grew darker, Chang Le couldn’t hold on any longer and finally fell asleep.

The next morning, when Chang Grandpa, Chang Hao, and Jiabao heard that the baby had started moving, they were surprised and thrilled.

Chang Grandpa was delighted, while Chang Hao focused on his brother’s belly and eagerly asked, “Brother, is the baby moving now? Can I feel it?”

Chang Le gestured, saying, “Not moving right now. Let’s go to the snack shop for breakfast first.”

The group then took a carriage and arrived at the snack shop.

Throughout the journey, Chang Hao’s eyes never left Chang Le’s belly, and he would ask every now and then if the baby had moved.

Jiabao was more reserved. Although he was curious too, he maintained his politeness and only glanced at it occasionally.

Seeing their expressions, Chang Le smiled and gestured, saying, “Not moving yet, or at least not very noticeably. I’ll let you know when I feel it.”

“Okay, okay, definitely,” Chang Hao replied.

Chang Le nodded.

During breakfast, the family intentionally sat in a small corner booth. Chang Hao specifically sat on his brother’s left side, just so he could listen when the baby moved.

Due to the noisy environment and the baby’s movements being quite subtle, Chang Le couldn’t always focus on his belly. Sometimes he couldn’t accurately sense it.

Until he finished his breakfast, he suddenly felt a more noticeable movement. He immediately pulled Chang Hao’s sleeve.

Chang Hao hadn’t even swallowed his food yet, but he immediately leaned down, pressing his ear against his brother’s belly and placing his hand on it.

Jiabao watched eagerly, his eyes fixed on Chang Hao.

He also wanted to listen.

However, he was already fifteen years old, and it was his brother-in-law’s belly. It wouldn’t be appropriate for him to listen like Chang Hao did.

Unfortunately, the temperature wasn’t high at the moment, and Chang Le was wearing thick clothing. Chang Hao couldn’t hear anything or feel any movement.

Chang Hao complained, “I can’t hear anything, and I can’t feel anything…”

Chang Le comforted him, saying, “Wait for a while, we’ll try again later.”

Yu Qingze added, “Right now, the baby is still small and doesn’t have much strength. Wait for another two months, and you’ll be able to see them kicking and punching. Don’t worry too much.”

“It can only be like this…” Chang Hao sighed, then crawled down again and spoke to Chang Le’s belly, “Baby, I’m your uncle. Grow up quickly! When you’re born, I’ll take you to play, like playing with slingshots, catching sparrows, and exploring bird nests… Oh, by the way, do you like slingshots? I’ll make you one as a gift…”

“And me, I’m the little uncle!” Jiabao suddenly interjected.

Yu Qingze, Chang Le, and Grandpa Chang laughed and sighed at the same time.

“That’s right, just now that was your little uncle’s voice. You should remember it. And also remember Grandpa’s voice. Let me have him talk to you.” Chang Hao looked up and said to Grandpa Chang, “Grandpa, quickly, say something to the baby.”

Grandpa Chang:…

“Come on, Grandpa, this is the first time the baby is meeting you, say something quickly.”

Helpless, Grandpa Chang cleared his throat and said, “Good baby, be well-behaved, don’t trouble your mother too much, and sleep well at night, okay?”

Truly an experienced person, knowing that the baby is active at night and it affects the pregnant father’s sleep.

Chang Hao had a long conversation with Baobao, then he looked up at Yu Qingze and said, “I envy Brother Yu so much, being able to feel Baobao’s first fetal movement.”

After speaking, he also bit into the steamed bun in his hand with a resentful expression.

Jiabao nodded silently.

Yu Qingze raised his chin proudly and said, “Of course, I am his father!”

Chang Hao: …

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Author’s note:

Baobao: Spinning, jumping, I close my eyes…

Chang Hao: Baobao is having a concert, I want to listen, I want to listen!

Baobao: If you listen, then I won’t! ╭(╯^╰)╮