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The day after, the third day of the New Year
Zhang Shanni felt as if she had just fallen asleep moments ago when she heard the wake-up bugle of the Rong District, which had been silent for three days, ring out loudly once again.
As soon as she moved, someone caressed her hair and she felt a kiss on her cheek, followed by the coaxing words, "Wife, be good and sleep a little longer. I’ll come back to wake you later."
Zhang Shanni, with half-closed almond eyes, saw through her hazy vision the silhouette of the man finishing his dress and leaving. Her eyes drifted towards the color of the sky outside the window... It was still dark.
Well, that was just the first bugle call; it was still early... It was only 4:40 AM. Better to keep sleeping... It’s too early.
Zhang Shanni slept comfortably. When the second bugle call sounded, she ’successfully’ rolled over twice in bed—not a tumble, which was impossible for someone of her size to achieve.
In the bedroom, there was a Flame Stone she had placed in the corner. The stone was odorless and inconspicuous, but within the enclosed room, it maintained a temperature of around 17 or 18 degrees Celsius. Once the temperature reached that level, the Flame Stone would automatically ’extinguish’ itself, which was extremely practical.
However, it was not easy to find Flame Stones of this quality. There were many special stones like the Flame Stone in her space, but very few could be effectively utilized without attracting attention.
The Flame Stone she was currently using was one that she had frequently used in her previous life. Valuing its rarity, she would carefully store it in her space after each use, so it would not benefit others.
As for why it’s called the ’Flame Stone’, its temperatures varied, typically above 30 degrees Celsius. But the one in her hands was the best and most practical, and it also happened to be her favorite in appearance, which was reason enough.
Thinking of the bugle call that would signal her husband’s return for breakfast, Zhang Shanni dared not laze around in bed any longer.
Ah—Zhang Shanni screamed inwardly!
Her pregnant belly! Recollecting it, she spontaneously made a movement.
She stiffly lowered her head to see her protruding belly and, with a jerky turning of her head resembling a mummy, revealed the turmoil within her heart!
Ah ah ah~~ Her pregnant belly has been seen!
She was so nervous that she forgot the fact that ever since she knew she was pregnant, she had been accustomed to sleeping naked under her nightgown! Because the room was warm, she did not feel any chill at all, and even leisurely took off her clothes, preparing to get dressed...
Obviously, the thought of her man coming home on time had crossed her mind, but she did not anticipate such an embarrassing moment!
It took only a confused two seconds, and before Zhang Shanni could react,
She felt herself enveloped in a warm quilt, wrapped tightly without exposing a hint of spring light.
"Wife, don’t be nervous. You are very beautiful, truly beautiful..." Xie Jingchen said in a hoarse voice, and hugged his visibly frightened wife, quilt and all, into his arms.
Since Dad’s complexion was indeed bad, Xie Jingzi inevitably worried about his health. While she looked after both parents, moments of distraction were inevitable. By the time she sensed something was wrong, Zhou Xiuhua had fallen back into a drowsy sleep.
Seeing that her mother was able to sleep, Xie Jingzi naturally felt somewhat relieved, thus missing the first signs of trouble.
Next door, the storeroom where Xie Tiesheng stored precious grains and seeds, after Fifth and the fifth family had a falling out, Xie Jingyang simply moved in to sleep there.
Last night, Xiao Si and Xiaoqi were indeed badly frightened. No matter how much they did not want to be close to their birth mother, seeing so much blood on her would naturally alarm them.
Whenever there was a small scare in the past, the children were well looked after by Zhou Xiuhua. A soothing decoction along with some comforting touches and they could sleep well through the night.
With Zhou Xiuhua ill, all the big and small chores in the house were handled by Xu Xiaofen and Xie Jingwei; Xie Jingzi took charge of caring for the parents. Even if Xie Jingyang was in a bad mood, he had to take care of the children first.
But he was used to simply taking care of the kids; how could he know how to comfort them in such a way? Xu Xiaofen thought of it, but despite her seemingly gentle nature, she was rather petty.
Worried that her own three children might be frightened, she rushed to give them some soothing decoction and even drank some herself—just forgetting to offer it to the two children of the fifth family.
She boiled the decoction in a small stove in her own courtyard, so Fifth had no idea at all.
Perhaps it was Xu Xiaofen’s naturally indifferent disposition that made Xie Tiesheng increasingly disappointed in his eldest daughter-in-law. She could not even handle basic responsibilities well, so how could she support Tie Dan in enhancing the glory of the Xie Family?
Tsk, might as well go wash up and sleep...
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