Chapter 223: Chen Xiaolan Gives Birth to a Son

The morning sun rose.

A baby's cry pierced the morning light.

The Su household.

The midwife stepped out of the birthing room, beaming, "Congratulations, it's a boy—mother and child are both safe."

"Reward! Generous reward!" Chen Guanlou pushed past the Su family and shouted first, immediately untying a money bag from his waist—plump with copper coins—and handing it to the midwife.

The midwife took the bag and grinned so wide her teeth vanished.

Chen Guanlou was overjoyed—happier than if he'd become a father himself. Yesterday, when he learned his elder sister Chen Xiaolan was in labor and the child was about to be born, he'd taken silver to the money shop and exchanged it for several bags of copper coins, all meant for tipping and celebration.

With the younger brother taking the lead in rewarding, pressure instantly fell on the Su family.

Though the midwife smiled sweetly, her smile carried pressure. The younger brother had acted—now if the Su family didn't respond, word would spread and they'd lose face entirely. Let's see whether the Su family still had any pride left.

Su's husband: …

Overwhelmed with joy and excitement—he had a son! After years of marriage, he finally had a son! Seeing the midwife look his way, he snapped back to himself: Yes, yes, a reward must be given—generously!

"Give silver reward!" Su's husband moved quickly to pull out silver. But Su's mother let out a soft cough, making him freeze mid-reach, confused.

Su's mother was furious—her anger outweighed even the joy of a new grandson. What was Chen Guanlou playing at? With a few dirty coins, he dared to beat the Su family to rewarding the midwife. Rewarding was one thing—but why reward with a whole bag of copper coins? At least three or four taels of silver.

As the husband's family, the Sus couldn't give less than the bride's natal family—the reward had to exceed Chen Guanlou's.

To make her pay? Su's mother instantly felt her heart ache. All past fondness for Chen Guanlou vanished, replaced by loathing and irritation—what was he stirring up? This was the Su family gaining a son, not the Chen family. Why should a Chen step forward? Look at him, acting so high and mighty.

The midwife watched Su's husband's hand hovering over the silver, his delay making her smile fray at the edges.

Then Su Dacheng stepped forward decisively, preserving the Su family's dignity: "Reward! Generous reward! My second son's wife has brought a son into the Su household—this is great merit. The reward must be generous."

As head of the household, Su Dacheng's words left even Su's mother no room to oppose outright. She could only watch helplessly as her second son pulled out a handful of silver fragments—no less than three or four taels—and gave them to the midwife.

The midwife had earned nearly ten taels in tips—more than she made in a whole month—and grinned so wide her teeth vanished. Today was truly a fortune.

"Thank you, Master. May your household prosper and multiply. The new mother needs constant care—I'll go in now. Later, I'll bring the baby out for everyone to see."

"Take good care of my sister—no postpartum illness, nothing!" Chen Guanlou called out loudly.

"Young Master, rest assured—I'll take full responsibility. I'll see to the new mother's every need," the midwife replied, beaming. She knew today's windfall came entirely from Chen Guanlou. Without his lead reward, by custom she'd have gotten at most a few hundred cash.

With Su's mother's stinginess, even five hundred cash might've been doubtful.

It was Young Master Chen Guanlou who'd been generous—forcing the Sus to bleed silver.

Beside them, Su's eldest daughter-in-law watched with red eyes. When she gave birth to her son, she'd given the midwife only four hundred cash. Her sister-in-law's child wasn't any more precious—why was she rewarded three or four taels? The gap… no, she must be compensated.

Su's mother watched her own money leave her hands, her chest aching—three or four taels could buy ten full banquets, rich and filling.

She feigned a headache from staying up late and retreated to her room, cursing Chen Guanlou and Chen Xiaolan behind closed doors.

Did Chen Guanlou not know Su's mother's temper? He knew perfectly well!

He'd done it on purpose—to stand up for his elder sister, to defend her. Let Su's mother fume—she'd have to swallow it. This was the first shot in his counterattack for his sister.

With a son, his sister now had a brother as her backing—she had no weakness left. Why should she continue bowing, enduring humiliation as a mistreated daughter-in-law?

Su's husband clearly didn't grasp this—he was just grinning like an idiot, ecstatic as a two-hundred-pound fatty.

Su Dacheng, old and shrewd, gave Chen Guanlou a long look. "Lou-ge has stayed up with us all night—stay for dinner."

"Uncle Su, you're too kind! But today I must report to the yamen. I'll definitely come for the washing ceremony and the feast."

"Very well—then the washing ceremony. Lou-ge, you've come into your own now. Your sister is proud of you—you've finally made it."

"Uncle Su speaks truly. These years, I owe you much for your care."

"We're family—no need for formalities."

…

On the day of the washing ceremony, Chen Guanlou arrived early at the Su household.

He gave his newborn nephew a long-life lock—silver, with a pair of small copper bells made of pure gold. Besides the nephew, he'd prepared a gift for Yaya too: a pair of pure gold bangles.

He loved giving gold and silver. For a common household, jade, porcelain, or paintings were inappropriate—wrong tone, and they invited thieves. Gold and silver were different—hard currency, spendable anytime you needed cash. Unlike jade or porcelain or paintings, which would be exploited by pawnshops.

He also prepared for his sister Chen Xiaolan a variety of tonics—all top-grade herbs. He even shamelessly begged ten slices of century-old ginseng from the Hou Fu, owing a massive favor.

Ginseng was often spoken of but rarely seen. Ordinary herb shops couldn't sell it without connections—even with money, you'd get only twenty- or thirty-year-old stock. Any ginseng over fifty years was snapped up immediately by wealthy households. Besides buying land and property, the rich loved collecting rare medicinal herbs.

Top-grade ginseng rarely reached the common folk—even many herb shops had no stock. Monopolies on scarce resources permeated every trade.

Besides herbs, he gave his sister Chen Xiaolan a hundred taels in silver envelopes—leaving her utterly stunned.

Due to postpartum seclusion, she couldn't receive guests. Their conversation took place across a screen.

Chen Xiaolan sat propped against the bedhead, head wrapped tightly, her recovery progressing well.

"Why are you giving me silver? Take it back."

"Once a gift is given, it's not taken back. Sister, accept it without worry—I don't lack for silver. What matters is that you heal properly. If you crave anything, buy it. If money runs short, I'll bring another sack tomorrow."

"You've got money now and you're showing off. You'll bring me another sack tomorrow? I'm not some wealthy lady—I can't spend this much."

"Money is courage. With silver in hand, your heart won't tremble. Sister, you'll never have to endure anyone's abuse again."

Chen Xiaolan burst out laughing. "You—caring for someone means throwing silver at them. Don't worry—I'm not weak. I bowed before because we had no strength—we had only Yaya for all these years, so I felt insecure. Now I have a son—I stand taller than anyone. If anyone dares give me a cold look, I'll flip the table."

"Good! Sister, you should've done this long ago!" Chen Guanlou was thrilled—he'd feared she'd grown used to suffering and developed a habit of yielding.