Chapter 227: Lifesaving Grace

The Northwest Army was preparing for battle; even those left behind at the main camp couldn't be idle.

Who has the time to arrange any happy occasion?

Seeing their doubt, Lin Danniang laughed and said, "It's not a wedding kind of happy event; Zao Hua gave birth to dragon-and-phoenix twins, and the babies are celebrating their full month today."

"If you two are good at picking dates, it's perfect to come with me to stir up some good luck."

Zao Hua? Gu Xixi recalled the woman's appearance: fair skin, a slightly plump round face, eyes like crescent moons when she smiled, very likable.

I remember when we were harvesting sheep's madness grass, Zao Hua wore a loose overgarment, her belly slightly bulging.

Gu Xixi smiled sincerely, "Fortunate to meet Zao Hua's great joy; we naturally should come to congratulate her."

Lin Danniang said, "Speaking of which… those two children, you are the one who ought to see them."

Gu Xixi didn't think elsewhere, only saying, "Dragon-and-phoenix twins are indeed rare; they must be very cute."

He Jinglan said, "I've never seen dragon-and-phoenix twins either; would a boy and a girl look as alike as identical twins?"

Lin Danniang smiled pursing her lips, "Whether they look alike or not, you'll see them after a few steps."

Gu Xixi had He Jinglan and Lin Danniang wait here a moment, then went inside to rummage through her bundle.

Because Gu Xixi had once helped deliver a baby in the village, she, who usually paid no attention to such matters, had prepared in advance before coming this time.

Her bundle contained five small hollow silver locks, all bought from Meng Dangni zi.

The silver locks bear "Longevity of a Hundred Years" on the front and "Wealth and Prosperity Everlasting" on the back; though the wording is commonplace, the craftsmanship is exquisite—overall lock-shaped, with bat motifs at the four corners, front entwined-branch gourds, back a auspicious peony.

All the motifs are delicate and fine, vividly lifelike.

These silver locks are only walnut-sized, and feel light when lifted.

Yet they were the result of Gu Xixi's careful consideration.

She is not related to the military dependents.

For a baby's full-month gift, something too casual would be embarrassing to give, while something too costly would put pressure on others and seem like charity.

These little longevity locks are just right.

Equality, trust.

Since that night when everyone went together to fight the fire and shared hardship, the way Gu Xixi cooperated with the Dependents Village was established.

At Zao Hua's home, the courtyard was already bustling.

Nowadays everyone's husbands are absent, and outsiders cannot be invited in.

Thus the village women have to manage everything themselves.

Washing vegetables, slaughtering chickens, cutting meat, moving tables and stools, lighting fires to cook noodles…

As Gu Xixi and her companions stepped over the threshold, they immediately drew everyone's attention.

Everyone's reaction was much like Lin Danniang's—surprised and delighted, they all greeted and welcomed them.

Gu Xixi and He Jinglan smiled and responded in turn, truly like travelers returning home.

Someone pressed a freshly boiled red egg into their hands, still warm.

Soon after came two bowls of noodle soup.

He Jinglan quickly waved her hands, "I ate breakfast before coming, so I'll skip the noodles—I really can't eat any."

Gu Xixi also said, "We'll each eat one red egg; that's enough to convey the sentiment."

Around here in the Northwest, when a family holds a celebration, they start before dawn, at least covering two meals; the morning meal is simple, usually bone broth poured over long noodles, the broth sour, with a floating layer of scallions, very smooth and appetizing.

Only in the afternoon does the formal banquet begin.

He Jinglan peeled her egg shell in a flash; glancing at Gu Xixi, who had only peeled half, she couldn't help feeling a bit smug.

"Shall I help you peel it?"

Gu Xixi continued peeling her egg, lightly saying, "Do you want everyone to see that you only learned, not long ago while staying at my house, that boiled eggs must be peeled before eating?"

He Jinglan choked, then snapped, "Gu Xixi, don't you feel you're becoming more and more like a certain person?"

The curve of Gu Xixi's mouth froze.

"No, I don't."

"Just eat your egg."

Lin Danniang had just stepped inside when she walked away, saying she was going to call Zao Hua.

After Gu Xixi finished her egg, Lin Danniang and Zao Hua each came out holding a child.

The two walked straight up to Gu Xixi.

Gu Xixi first exchanged a few pleasantries with Zao Hua.

Driven by curiosity, her attention quickly fell on the two swaddled bundles.

Before she could see the babies' little faces, the person in her field of vision suddenly slumped.

Gu Xixi looked down in astonishment—she saw Zao Hua, holding a child, already kneeling before her.

Lin Danniang also passed the other child into Zao Hua's arms.

Gu Xixi, a modern person, suddenly being kowtowed to, naturally felt at a loss.

She panicked, bending to help Zao Hua up, "Zao Hua sister, what are you doing? Get up quickly."

He Jinglan also stepped over, curiously observing.

But Zao Hua insisted on staying kneeling, refusing to rise.

Lin Danniang said, "Boss Gu, you have the lifesaving grace toward Zao Hua and her two children; you ought to receive their threefold bow."

"Lifesaving grace?" Gu Xixi puzzled, "When Zao Hua gave birth, I wasn't in the village and didn't help at all."

Zao Hua's face bore a smile, but her eyes held tears: "I only discovered I was carrying twins when I went into labor, and then suffered a difficult delivery."

"I endured that for a day and night; at the time I had resigned myself, thinking I would die."

"Fortunately Lin Danniang recalled the pills she had brought back from the army, prepared them according to the written instructions, and gave me a bowl to drink."

I originally thought, what use could a pill have? Who knew that after drinking it not long later it would actually have a miraculous effect!

I quickly regained some strength, then gritted my teeth and exerted myself, and the baby actually slipped out!

In the courtyard, the other dependents all paused their work.

Being women themselves, they felt the same; someone even wiped tears moved.

Gu Xixi was moved and said, "Sister Zao Hua has endured so much hardship; it's truly not easy."

Although the pill was sent by someone I entrusted, it wasn't made by me; it was my teacher, Doctor Jiang, who heard that the women of Dependents Village had difficult childbirths and worked day and night to produce it.

"So it's a divine doctor's gift," Madam Lin sighed and nodded, "truly the benevolence of a healer."

Zao Hua looked at the child in her arms, then smiled at Gu Xixi and said, "Doctor Jiang's kindness is something we should always remember, but if it weren't for Boss Gu thinking of us and specially sending the miraculous medicine to the village, we—one adult and two children, three lives—would have been lost that day."

She solemnly said, "So today, please accept three kowtows from me and my child."

If you refuse to accept it, when the child grows a bit older, I'll come to your house and make them kowtow three times to you!

That last joke actually made everyone present laugh.

Gu Xixi looked helplessly at the crowd, and everyone also smiled at her.

Forget it; letting the two little ones kowtow would make me ache, so I'll let the mother bear the grievance instead, temporarily taking their place.

Upon hearing that, everyone couldn't help but laugh.

Zao Hua also smiled, holding the dragon-and-phoenix twins upright as she performed the three kowtows to Gu Xixi.

Gu Xixi quickly helped her up, took out two gifts wrapped in red cloth, and said, "These are longevity locks for the two children."

If you refuse to accept it, you'll be making the children grow distant from me.

Zao Hua then swallowed her words of refusal, and in front of everyone hung the longevity lock on the child.

Beautiful, truly beautiful.

Just then the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

A woman rushed in, panting, "There's movement over at the military camp!"