Ch 119 (Extra 1): Reborn to Raise My Husband

In the spring of the thirty-first year of Kaide, Xiao Yuanbao felt as though the whole season had slipped by within the walls of the residence. In the second month he had rarely gone out, waiting for childbirth; once the little one in his belly was finally delivered, he began his month of confinement at home.

“Look at this little fellow. He drinks some milk and falls asleep. When he wakes, he wriggles a bit, doesn’t fuss or cry, then quietly drifts back to sleep again.”

Qi Beinan stood by the small cradle, gazing at the baby’s round grape-like eyes as they stared straight back at him. The longer he looked, the more he adored him.

It had only been half a month since birth, yet the child already looked more radiant and lively than on the day he was born.

Everyone in the household said Qi Jingzhe resembled Qi Beinan more. Even at such a young age, one could already see it in the brows and the bridge of his nose.

Qi Beinan had insisted that such a tiny milk-fed infant could hardly resemble anyone yet. But now, looking closely, perhaps there was some truth to it.

“He’s still just a little bundle,” Xiao Yuanbao said. “Like a roll of cotton in your arms. He has only that much strength—eat, sleep, wake, eat again. That’s how he’ll grow quickly.”

He watched Qi Beinan, who seemed able to look at the child a hundred times a day without ever tiring of it. If anything, the more he looked, the deeper his affection grew.

And how could he not love him? Both the Xiao and Qi families had always been sparse in descendants. Now that they finally had an heir, how could they not treasure him?

Qi Beinan said, “Not every child is as well-behaved as our Jingzhe. I heard that Luo Tingfeng’s daughter cries through half the night. She won’t sleep in her cradle unless someone carries her around in circles.”

Xiao Yuanbao had heard from Bai Qiaogui that caring for an infant was no easy matter. He had even considered hiring a wet nurse to help with night care.

But such arrangements needed to be made before the birth; afterward, it was harder to find someone suitable.

Their own wet nurse had been found by Jiang Fulang. Before the baby was born, she had been brought to meet both Qi Beinan and Xiao Yuanbao. She had ample milk and a steady, quiet temperament.

It was by chance that Jiang Fulang came to know her. The woman often bought pickled vegetables from their shop and lived in the outer district of the capital. After several encounters, they had grown acquainted.

“I haven’t seen Bai Qiaogui in a few days,” Xiao Yuanbao said. “I wonder if they found a good wet nurse.”

“They did,” Qi Beinan replied. “The child’s already being cared for. Ming Guanxin has arrived in the capital to set up his silk shop, hasn’t he? She’s been helping him these past few days.”

Xiao Yuanbao nodded. “Since my belly grew heavy, I haven’t managed the affairs of Changchun Lou much. And now during confinement, I can’t go at all.”

“You,” Qi Beinan said with a smile, “are just like your father—restless and hardworking. The shop’s steady. I checked the accounts the other day. We’re bringing in one or two hundred guan a month.”

That eased Xiao Yuanbao’s mind.

He picked up a small rattle drum and gently shook it to amuse Qi Jingzhe.

“Time to eat,” Jiang Fulang called as he entered, finding the two fathers crouched side by side at the cradle, thoroughly absorbed in their son.

They cherished the child fiercely.

At noon, Xiao Yuanbao insisted on having Qi Jingzhe laid beside him on the bed when he napped. Qi Beinan was no better—returning from work like a gust of wind, he would rush straight to the child before even changing out of his official robes. If he didn’t spend a quarter of an hour gazing at him first, he could not bear to leave.

Not only the young couple doted on the baby; Jiang Fulang and Xiao Hu were just as smitten.

“What did you cook for me today, Teacher?” Xiao Yuanbao asked, rising to wash his hands.

“I made you winter melon and egg soup, steamed two yellow croakers, and stir-fried seasonal greens.”

Jiang Fulang and Wen Ge’er set the dishes on the small table by the couch. During confinement, Xiao Yuanbao ate separately.

The steamed yellow croaker gleamed white and tender. Xiao Yuanbao lifted a piece; the flesh separated like garlic cloves.

“This fish is fresh and thick. You must have gone to market early to get such fine ones.”

Jiang Fulang smiled. “After childbirth, the month of confinement is most important. If you don’t restore your health now and leave root ailments behind, that’s something you carry for life.”

Qi Beinan nodded. “Exactly. Endure these forty days and listen to Jiang Fulang. Don’t expose yourself to wind or cold. Eat what’s prepared. Once confinement ends, you may eat and drink as you please.”

Xiao Yuanbao laughed. “You make it sound as though I’m suffering. Teacher changes the dishes daily so I won’t grow tired of them. In half a month, I haven’t seen the same meal twice.”

“Yesterday was stir-fried yam with wood ear mushrooms, enoki with tofu, and cabbage soup. The day before was boiled shrimp, stir-fried greens, and pork bone broth…”

“There’s nothing uncomfortable about confinement food. I simply can’t go out—that’s the only dull part. Otherwise, I lack nothing. It’s the rest of you who are busy because of me.”

Jiang Fulang waved it off. “What is a little busyness? For you, it’s gladly done.”

Xiao Yuanbao felt warmth spread through him.

From pregnancy to birth, these had been the warmest days of all.

“I’ll take Jingzhe for a walk. He shouldn’t lie there all the time.”

Qi Beinan carefully lifted the baby and handed him to Jiang Fulang, who carried him out to the corridor. Only then did Qi Beinan return to sit beside Xiao Yuanbao.

“Have a bite,” Xiao Yuanbao said, lifting a piece of fish toward him.

Qi Beinan hesitated but finally leaned forward and tasted it. The flesh was delicate and sweet.

“It’s good,” he admitted. “But don’t feed me your confinement meals again.”

Xiao Yuanbao laughed. “Vice Minister Qi sneaking bites of his husband’s confinement food—if that spreads, it’ll be quite a joke.”

“So now you hold something over me,” Qi Beinan said lightly.

“I’m not one to use such leverage for mischief.”

Then Xiao Yuanbao grew thoughtful. “Just now Teacher said confinement is critical. If one doesn’t care for the body properly, lingering illness may last a lifetime.”

Qi Beinan nodded. “That’s true.”

Xiao Yuanbao’s eyes lit up. “Since this is also about restoring the body, I think it can be tied to Changchun Lou. There are so many people in the world, and women and ge’er make up more than half. Most of them will give birth at some point. And after childbirth, they must sit their month.”

“Why don’t we prepare a set of confinement meals at the restaurant—twenty days without repeating a dish, nourishing and restorative. Over the full forty days of confinement, dishes would only repeat once, to keep things fresh. And we’ll tailor the meals carefully to postpartum weakness—matching ingredients to specific needs.”

“Not every woman or ge’er can afford such meals, of course. But surely there are some who would need them.”

Qi Beinan fell silent for a moment. “There are countless eateries in the market, offering all sorts of novelties. Yet I truly haven’t seen one that specializes in postpartum confinement meals.”

“If Changchun Lou were to offer them, it would not only be novel—it would also be doing good.”

He had always respected mothers and xiao die, knowing childbirth was difficult. But until he had seen Xiao Yuanbao carry a child for ten months and labor for so many hours, he had never truly understood how arduous it was.

And yet, despite such hardship, there were so few things made specifically to care for those who had just given birth.

“So you think it’s feasible!” Xiao Yuanbao’s delight deepened when he saw no objection in Qi Beinan’s expression.

“Yes,” Qi Beinan agreed. Then he added, “But for now, you must not go to Changchun Lou.”

“I know. During confinement I won’t go out and make everyone worry.”

“I’ll work on the recipes at home. Once my confinement ends, I’ll see it through.”

What had been a dull confinement suddenly gained purpose. Xiao Yuanbao brightened and seemed far more spirited.

He invited Bai Qiaogui over, and together with Jiang Fulang they studied how to make confinement meals that balanced true nourishment with genuine flavor.

Fortunately, both Xiao Yuanbao and Bai Qiaogui were deeply interested in the project. Having so recently endured childbirth themselves, they wished to do something meaningful for others in the same position.

By the time Xiao Yuanbao finished his confinement, they had developed a complete set of confinement meal plans.

The recipes were immediately sent to Changchun Lou.

By now, Changchun Lou had established a respectable name in the capital. Though daily dine-in traffic was still modest, business was far better than in the first few months after opening.

This time, promoting the new offering was far easier than before. The same group of idle runners who once helped advertise summer iced teas and winter warming soups were called upon again.

For the price of a jin of dried fruits, they were invited to spread the word while going about their errands.

The runners were more than willing. They made their living in part off Changchun Lou’s success; the better the restaurant did, the more work they had.

Within just a few days, households across the city had heard that Changchun Lou now offered specialized confinement meals for postpartum women and ge’er.

Different ingredients, different price tiers—several sets available for selection.

Even ordinary families could afford at least one of the options.

After a full year of steady operation and a solid reputation, this new addition found ready acceptance among diners.

Business rose another level.

In the latter half of the year, when Xiao Yuanbao reviewed the accounts, he discovered that monthly revenue had reached over four hundred guan.

Even after subtracting costs, there were still three hundred guan in profit.

Since Changchun Lou was co-owned by him and Bai Qiaogui, that meant each of them received over a hundred guan a month.

It was no small sum.

Yet Xiao Yuanbao was puzzled.

When the confinement meals were first introduced, business had improved somewhat—but confinement meals were not something people ordered every month. Only a small number of customers truly required them.

In the first half of the year, revenue had hovered around three hundred guan. Why had it climbed so sharply in the second half?

After carefully reviewing the books, he discovered that more customers were ordering other therapeutic dishes.

“The customers who eat confinement meals are few,” Qi Beinan said with a smile, “but the customers they bring are countless.”

“Since Changchun Lou introduced confinement meals, praise has spread everywhere. The restaurant’s reputation has risen sharply, and many diners now come out of admiration.”

“So that’s it,” Xiao Yuanbao said.

“You’re becoming quite the businessman. You kept the confinement meals affordable, but raised the restaurant’s prestige.”

Xiao Yuanbao lifted his chin with playful pride. “I didn’t scheme so much. Perhaps it was simply doing good with a good heart. I kept prices reasonable to care for postpartum women and ge’er. I never expected it to have such an effect.”

Qi Beinan took his hand. “In any case, you’ve grown more capable by the day.”

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