Ch 124: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

Children change quickly day by day, and after some time, their features become more distinct. The delicate, soft skin no longer appeared as wrinkled and red as it did at birth, but turned into a soft, white complexion, with chubby cheeks like little milk buns.

Though two wet nurses took turns caring for the baby, at least half the time, Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque cared for the child themselves, with Qin Xia taking the lead. Since it was their first child, they worried that if the baby spent too much time with the wet nurses, he wouldn’t bond as closely with his fathers.

That day, Yu Jiuque was reclining on a couch, eating with Qin Xia from a small table. The dishes were part of the postpartum meal plan that Qin Xia had carefully arranged for him. Each day’s meals were listed out in advance, with the kitchen preparing everything the day before. Most dishes were light but nutritionally balanced, with little oil or salt.

Yu Jiuque’s postpartum meals were difficult to prepare, as he was still on medication to recover his strength and had many dietary restrictions, like avoiding fish and shrimp. Qin Xia had put a great deal of thought into the month’s meal plan, balancing nutrition and food therapy.

Concerned that the bland flavors might not stimulate Yu Jiuque’s appetite, Qin Xia paid extra attention to the presentation and color combinations. The meal before them consisted of rose-colored rice, steamed chicken breast, mushroom-stuffed meat, scrambled eggs with cucumber and wood ear mushrooms, green onion tofu skins, and a pumpkin almond soup. The colors were pleasing to the eye.

Yu Jiuque was now following Qin Xia’s plan, eating five meals a day: three main meals and two light snacks. Each portion was small, especially the snacks, which were just enough for a taste—enough to prevent hunger but not overfill.

Of course, this “small portion” was only relative to Yu Jiuque’s usual appetite. For a regular person, if they ate using a small bowl, they would probably need eight meals a day at this rate.

Qin Xia, not wanting to bother the kitchen with extra work, simply ate the same meals as Yu Jiuque. For someone who usually preferred stronger flavors, this kind of food was almost ascetic, but over time, he got used to it.

The two of them were quietly finishing their meal when the baby in the small bed began to cry. Qin Xia called for someone to clear the dishes and quickly went over to the crib. After a brief check, he realized it was time for a diaper change.

Even right after finishing his meal, Qin Xia handled the task without missing a beat. With swift hands, he removed the soiled diaper, cleaned the baby, applied some moisturizing cream to the little bottom, and made sure everything was dry and fresh. He then took the clean diaper handed to him by a maid, secured it, and had the baby wrapped snugly in a hundred-family quilt.

A servant brought in a harmless herbal scent to dispel the faint smell from the room. The baby, no longer crying, looked up at Qin Xia with tear-filled eyes. The baby had inherited the best of both Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque’s looks, with large, double-lidded eyes.

Seeing the baby calm down, Qin Xia wrapped him up snugly and brought him to Yu Jiuque.

“An’an, come, keep your little father company.”

An’an was the nickname the two of them gave their little boy. In Dayong, many families only gave their children a nickname before their first birthday, sometimes even a deliberately “lowly” name in hopes of ensuring the child’s survival. The name “An’an” was chosen for its meaning of “peace” and safety.

Nicknames were only used by family members, so they didn’t need much thought, just something easy to say. However, when it came time to give the child a proper name, it would require more consideration.

Yu Jiuque reached out a finger to play with the little boy. His confinement period was pleasant, consisting mostly of sleeping, eating, and spending time with the child, while everything else was taken care of. Qin Xia looked after him as if he were a fragile porcelain vase, treating him with utmost care.

In fact, since giving birth, Yu Jiuque had experienced intermittent bleeding for days. The imperial physician explained that this was due to post-partum blood deficiency, gently warning that without proper care, it might affect future fertility. While the physician spoke in cautious terms, Yu Jiuque knew this was the usual way of delivering bad news softly. The reality was clear, even if they left room for hope.

Upon realizing this, Yu Jiuque felt downcast for half a day. However, Qin Xia comforted him by saying that they already had one child, and even if they couldn’t have another, there was no regret in that. After two days of such reassurances, Yu Jiuque finally let go of the matter, deciding not to dwell on it.

He had already faced life and death twice, so there was no point in getting caught up in such concerns. Qin Xia was right—whether it was just the three of them, it would still be a kind of completeness.

Yu Jiuque smiled as he looked at the baby in his arms. “This child was so restless when he was in my belly, I thought he’d be a handful. But he’s actually quite well-behaved.”

As he spoke, he gently smoothed the little boy’s fine hair with his palm, marveling at its soft, fluffy texture. Qin Xia had mentioned earlier that when it came time to shave the baby’s first hair, they could save it to make a brush as a keepsake.

“At this age, babies just eat and sleep. He hasn’t reached the fussy stage yet,” Qin Xia, who was now practically an expert in childcare, remarked. In these matters, he was more knowledgeable than Yu Jiuque.

The little boy’s arms were like chubby lotus root segments, and he smelled sweet like milk. Yu Jiuque couldn’t bear to put him down, even though the baby felt so soft, like a bag of cotton, that Yu Jiuque was afraid to move too much for fear of hurting him.

After holding him for a while, Qin Xia took the baby, soothing him for a bit before handing him to the waiting wet nurse.

Yu Jiuque sat up straighter in bed, clutching the blanket around him. His face was still pale, showing how worn and weak he was. Qin Xia noticed that his collar was slightly loose and gently reached over to adjust it, pulling it closed.

The small pregnancy birthmark on Yu Jiuque’s neck briefly flashed into view, its color now noticeably duller than before he had given birth.

“Husband, I have something to discuss with you,” Yu Jiuque suddenly spoke.

“I’ve thought about it for a long time, and I still want to enter the palace to request a favor, asking the Emperor to grant An’an a proper name.”

Qin Xia was somewhat surprised. He knew that if Yu Jiuque made the request, it would certainly be granted. But…

“Why did you suddenly think of this?”

They had discussed many possible names for An’an before, but since they couldn’t settle on one, they had set it aside temporarily. At that time, Yu Jiuque had never mentioned this idea.

Yu Jiuque lowered his gaze and revealed the thoughts he had been turning over in his mind during these past restless nights.

“I may hold a high position, seemingly favored by the Emperor, but in reality, I bear the weight of both the inner palace and the court. I often feel overwhelmed, as if walking on thin ice.”

“The Emperor is a wise and benevolent ruler, a true dragon. If An’an were to receive a name from him, it would serve as protection for An’an in the future.”

There was no need for him to say more; Qin Xia already understood. The political landscape was treacherous. Yu Jiuque, who had once faced it all alone, now had a family and a child to think about. He had to be more cautious and forward-thinking.

He was preparing for the worst, laying down a path of protection for his child.

Qin Xia took his hand, noticing that unlike the warmth during his pregnancy, it had now turned cold again, difficult to warm up.

“If you think it’s the right thing to do, then go ahead,” he said.

When it came to matters like these, Yu Jiuque’s judgment was certainly more reliable than his own. He wouldn’t let his own opinions interfere with his husband’s decision.

Yu Jiuque sighed softly, leaned forward, wrapped his arms around Qin Xia’s waist, and rested his head on Qin Xia’s shoulder. After a brief silence, he said, “You understand me.”

Qin Xia’s response was a gentle kiss on Yu Jiuque’s earlobe, causing it to flutter slightly like a butterfly’s wing.

Qin Xia stayed with Yu Jiuque and their child for seven days before finally returning to Heguang Pavilion. Not only did he come back in person, but he also brought a large cart of red eggs from their home, all carefully packed in straw baskets. Each basket held six eggs, with red paper on the handles, along with a large box of red-paper-wrapped lucky money.

The moment Yu Jiuque successfully gave birth, the staff at Heguang Pavilion had already heard the good news and received the reward money Qin Xia had sent. Now, seeing all these red eggs, they knew it was related to the little young master of the head manager’s household.

“Starting today, with every meal served, give out a share of these lucky eggs and money,” Qin Xia ordered.

Sharing lucky eggs during a family celebration is a sign of blessing and good fortune, bringing happiness to the family and helping to ward off bad luck.

Qiu Chuan immediately called Ah Jian to help set up a table in the main hall, piling all the red eggs on top, making the scene even more festive.

Qin Xia saw how well they were handling everything and praised them before calling Gao Yang to head upstairs with him.

“Thank you for your hard work these past few days.”

Before Yu Jiuque’s illness and the dangerous delivery, Qin Xia had spent almost half a month with his attention away from managing Heguang Pavilion. If it hadn’t been for Gao Yang, who could manage the kitchen, the restaurant might have had to close its doors.

Gao Yang stretched his back and responded, “You’re too kind, Boss Qin. It’s all part of my duties. However… I must admit that many of the dishes I sent out were noted by diners to taste different from yours. They said the difference in craftsmanship was quite apparent.”

Qin Xia smiled. “They know I’m not in the kitchen, yet they still come to dine here. That means they don’t mind the difference that much. You don’t need to worry too much about it.”

Aside from true food connoisseurs, most people aren’t that particular about the taste. Whether Qin Xia made the dish or Gao Yang did wasn’t really that important. People came to Heguang Pavilion because the dishes here couldn’t be found elsewhere.

“I’ve discussed this with your little boss. You’re capable of handling things on your own now, so from next month, your wages will be increased by two taels.”

That meant more than twenty taels added each year—enough to support an entire family back home for a year.

“Thank you for your generosity, Boss Qin,” Gao Yang said, barely able to hide his joy, bowing deeply to Qin Xia. “I will continue to improve my culinary skills and do my best to ease your burdens.”

Qin Xia took the opportunity to express his expectations for Gao Yang.

“You have one month to come up with three new dishes for me. These dishes cannot be ones you’ve learned from me, nor can they be any that are currently on the restaurant’s menu.”

A well-established restaurant shouldn’t depend on just one renowned chef. Ideally, the head chef would lead a team of chefs, each with their own signature dishes. Qin Xia hoped Gao Yang could develop his own unique style rather than constantly recreating Qin Xia’s recipes, inviting comparisons about consistency.

Gao Yang immediately understood the significance of this task and was deeply moved.

“I understand, Boss Qin. I will not disappoint you.”

He realized that if he could create those three successful dishes, he would carve out a name for himself in the prestigious culinary scene of Shengjing, something he had never dared dream of before.

Qin Xia nodded with satisfaction and then added, “One more thing. In just over two weeks, we will be celebrating my son’s full moon banquet. Aside from the banquet held at home, I’m also thinking of setting up a flowing feast outside the restaurant. Help me think it through and draft a menu.”