Chapter 041 What to do if my mother is pregnant with twins
After this thought came to his mind, Chen Biao became worried.
He tried to find the answer in books, but finding specific books in this era was extremely difficult, relying on luck . Folk customs and traditions were rarely compiled into books. Chen Biao had no idea where to start.
Chen Guorui had been very busy recently, eating and sleeping either at the Marshal's residence or accompanying him on business trips to inspect the barracks. When he occasionally returned home, Chen Guorui was too tired to talk. He would take a bath and fall asleep with Chen Biao in his arms. After sucking his son, he would go back to work the next day.
Chen Biao guessed from the increasingly tense atmosphere in Yingtian City that Chen Youliang might be about to attack Yingtian.
Chen Biao didn't want to disturb his father because he was worried for no reason.
Yingtian was Marshal Zhu's base camp. Even if he was certain that Marshal Zhu would win, every victory came at a price. As a general, these prices were all his comrades.
Chen Biao told Chen Chong to be a good son to Chen Guorui and try his best not to burden Chen Guorui with family matters.
Chen Biao used to tell his father everything that was bothering him. He even told his father that Zhu Yuanzhang would go insane and that his son and wife would die young. This was the first time he had ever kept something to himself.
What you think about during the day will appear in your dreams at night. Chen Biao had nightmares for several nights and couldn't help but want to seek external help.
Chen Biao, claiming to have suddenly become interested in folk customs, asked his uncle Li Zhen for someone he could consult.
Merchants are the most informed. After Li Zhen became one of the Chen family's public representatives, she had access to a wide range of information.
He thought for a moment and said, "I've heard that Song Lian and Wang Xi are the most learned brothers. You can ask them."
Chen Biao hesitated: "They are all very busy now, right? How can I disturb them?"
Li Zhen smiled and said, "The Marshal said that even if there is a war, the wedding cannot be postponed. So Mr. Song is at home preparing for his daughter's wedding and is unwillingly sitting around."
Chen Biao said, "Marrying off a daughter must be very busy, right?"
Li Zhen said, "In troubled times, weddings are kept simple. We just go through the formalities and everything that needs to be prepared has already been done. How busy can it be? I heard that Mr. Song doesn't want to take a vacation at all. The Marshal sent two of his personal guards to guard him, and he kept calling the Marshal sick."
Li Zhen paused, then smiled and said, "Mr. Ye is the same."
Chen Biao was stunned.
After listening to Zhu Yuanzhang's actions, he also felt that Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to have some serious problems.
As they are about to engage in a full-scale confrontation with Chen Youliang, everyone is on edge. What is Marshal Zhu thinking?
Chen Biao scratched his head, not understanding Marshal Zhu's tricks.
The difference in thinking between him and Marshal Zhu is probably the difference between an ordinary person and a leader?
Chen Biao said, "Then shall I go and give Mr. Song a visiting card?"
Li Zhen said, "You go find Mr. Song. If you give him a visiting card in advance, he might be upset."
Chen Biao joked, "Etiquette cannot be abandoned. I'll take the visiting card myself and walk in at the same time. Mr. Song might throw my visiting card out, but he won't throw me out, right?"
Li Zhen bent down and scratched Chen Biao's nose: "I'll go with you. If he throws you out, I'll pick you up and hit you back with a net."
Chen Biao was furious: "Are you playing badminton through the door?"
Chen Biao replaced the rubber head of the badminton with a woven rattan head, making it similar to a feather shuttlecock. It was a little less elastic and more painful when hit, but it was still as fun as it was later.
Badminton can be played by simply sliding the strings, and the ball is cheap. It became popular in Yingtian City earlier than football and basketball.
Chen Biao dyed the feathers, chose names from poems, and made limited-edition blind boxes for collectors.
This collectible limited edition blind box not only has a gold paint number on the box, but each ball also has an anti-counterfeiting number, which is a lot of fancy.
Li Zhen couldn't understand why someone would pay such a high price for badminton. Anyone with hands could make this, right?
Badminton is not expensive, and the anti-counterfeiting mark is also like this. Chen Biao likes to sell it this way, and Li Zhen follows Chen Biao's temperament and plays along with him.
Then, the Chen family's collection-level limited edition badminton blind box was sold out before it was even put on the shelves.
According to Chen Biao's request , half of the badminton blind boxes are for pre-order and half are for sale. Only people with Yingtian household registration are allowed to purchase them, and each household can only buy one box.
Li Zhen could not understand such harsh selling conditions and such rude sales attitude at all.
What he couldn't understand was that since dusk the previous day, a long line had formed outside the Chen family's badminton shop.
Those who bought it were beaming with joy, while those who didn’t were crying bitterly.
It’s just badminton!
Since then, Li Zhen has fallen in love with badminton and often plays badminton with others at home. Now he and Chen Biao also use badminton jokes when joking.
Li Zhen laughed and said, "It's not badminton, it's small ball."
Li Zhen lifted Chen Biao up and said, "Hey, why is there less fat on your belly? It's not round anymore?"
Chen Biao snorted coldly: "I am now practicing martial arts and standing still diligently every day!"
Li Zhen felt both anticipation and regret.
Although a strong Biaoer is nice, a soft and chubby Biaoer is also very cute. But unfortunately, there is only one Biaoer, so I can't have them all.
After Li Zhen came up with the idea, Chen Biao went to disturb Song Lian with a visiting card.
Chen Biao claimed to be a servant of the Chen family and wanted to deliver a visiting card on behalf of the eldest young master of the Chen family.
The servant guarding the Song family's gate looked down at the soft and adorable little boy and couldn't help but talk too much: "Master Biao, who hired you as a servant? Aren't you afraid that someone will rob you midway?"
Chen Biao puffed out his chest and said, "Don't be afraid! I have people with me!"
Chen Biao pointed to the two guards behind him.
The servant guarding the gate of the Song family smiled and welcomed Chen Biao into the main hall to sit down, and then he ran to the backyard to find Song Lian who was accompanying his daughter.
"Master! The eldest young master of the Chen family wants to visit you and has sent a servant to deliver a visiting card." The servant guarding the gate of the Song family was an old servant of the Song family. He was as close to Song Lian as a servant, and joked without any scruples.
Song Lian was puzzled: "If Biao'er wants to come, he can just come. Why does he need to send a visiting card?"
The old servant of the Song family laughed and said, "Young Master Biao said that etiquette cannot be abandoned. Now the servant is waiting in the main hall. Master, please go quickly, otherwise the servant will enter the master's study and rummage around."
Song Lian was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help but smile: "So it's that servant."
Song Lian's daughter was curious: "Is the Chen family's servant so rude? How could he go to Dad's study and rummage around?"
Song Lian tapped his daughter's forehead and said, "Biao'er's servant is probably just him. He's being naughty again."
Song Lian's daughter laughed: "I see. Dad, go quickly and don't keep Biao'er waiting for too long."
Song Lian nodded, then actually ran away, lifting the corner of his robe.
Song Lian's wife laughed and scolded, "He just can't bear to be here with us mother and daughter."
Song Lian's daughter said, "Maybe I just like Biao'er too much. I've only seen Biao'er from afar, and I'm fascinated by her. How could there be a child who looks so icy and adorable?"
Song Lian's wife nodded. "Indeed. Biao'er is not only well-behaved, but also very smart. He is so young, but he is already a young teacher in the academy. After you marry into the Chen family, you will have many opportunities to interact with Biao'er. I heard that your husband and Biao'er have a very good relationship. You should also treat Biao'er very well."
Song Lian's daughter said, "Don't worry, mother. Besides, he's such a good child, who would have the heart to treat him badly?"
Song Lian's wife laughed so hard that she couldn't straighten her back: "That's right."
Song Lian jogged all the way and soon arrived at the central hall.
The servants of the Song family gathered around Chen Biao, asking if he wanted more hot water, if the chair was comfortable, and if the pastries were delicious... as if Biao was their own young master.
When Song Lian ran to the door, he put down his robe, straightened his appearance, and walked in calmly: "Why are you still handing over a visiting card? I'm afraid my servants are closer to you than I am."
Chen Biao jumped down from his chair and said with a smile: "Mr. Song, I'll give you half of the cakes. Don't be jealous. The uncles and aunts of the Song family still love you the most."
Song Lian: "...slippery tongue!"
The Song family servants left with a smile.
Song Lian's family was not well off when he was young. Now that he was famous, he had few servants, all of whom had been with him since he was a teenager, for 10 to 20 years, so there was no restriction between them.
Chen Biao broke the pancake in half and handed it to Song Lian: "Mr. Song, your sesame pancake is really delicious! Sesame pancakes are only delicious when they are plain!"
Song Lian took the sesame cake handed to him by Chen Biao and said, "This sesame cake is filled with sesame filling, not without filling."
Song Lian didn't mind Chen Biao using his cakes to please him.
He ate half of the cake and drank half of Chen Biao's tea, and said, "Tell me, you are too lazy to go out unless you have something to do. If you have anything to do, come to me."
Chen Biao tried to open his eyes wide and tried to get away with it: "If I'm fine, I can't come to see you, sir."
Song Lian pinched Chen Biao's soft little cheek. "I'd like you to come even if you have nothing to do, but I don't know who is so lazy that he just likes to stay at home and sleep every day. I want to hold a poetry and literature gathering so that we can meet more people, but you always think it's too much trouble."
Chen Biao muttered, "I'm still so young, why should I step into the world of fame and fortune of adults so early?"
"Vanity Fair..." Song Lian sighed, "You always say something that hits the nail on the head. That's all. At your age, you can't hang out with people who are too old. Well, is there anything I can help you with?"
Song Lian picked up Chen Biao and said, "You've become much stronger."
Chen Biao compared the muscles on his arms. Although his arms were too slender to show any muscles, Song Lian still praised him.
After chatting, Chen Biao leaned on Song Lian's shoulder and whispered to Song Lian about his inexplicable panic.
Chen Biao asked, "It's said that there are absolutely no records of twins in the royal family and aristocracy, especially twins. So, twins in the aristocratic and royal families were all dealt with. Is that true?"
Song Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Who told you?"
Chen Biao said, "It's just a folk legend. But in neighboring Japan and some European countries, twins are indeed a bad omen. It's said that if twins appear in the royal family, one will be killed or sent to prison. It's very cruel."
Song Lian said with a straight face, "Ignorant barbarians."
Chen Biao nodded vigorously: "That's right, ignorant barbarians. My mother's belly is so big, what if she gives birth to twins? If my father dares to say to send them away or kill them, I will... "
Song Lian covered Chen Biao's mouth and forced Chen Biao to swallow his unfilial words.
He was helpless. His lord doted on this child so much that he became disrespectful and outspoken.
However, Biao'er only spoke without restraint to his master, but was very reasonable with others. The master not only did not blame Biao'er, but also enjoyed it very much, saying that this was a manifestation of Biao'er's closeness to him.
I hope the Lord will never change.
"Who told you there's no record of this in ancient books?" Song Lian asked, "Whether it's aristocratic families or the royal family, there are records of twins."
"The reason there are so few records is that historical records don't record the birth and death dates of unimportant people. Even the birth and death dates that are recorded are conjectures by later generations."
"We Confucians discussed the question of who was the eldest of twins during the Han and Song dynasties. The fact that it needed to be discussed shows that it's not uncommon, but most people don't specifically talk about it."
Song Lian gave several examples.
When twins were born, people at the time called it a good omen and congratulated them.
Song Lian also cited a pair of particularly famous examples. Tang Taizong Li Shimin and his younger brother Li Xuanba were recorded in historical records as being born in the same year. Li Xuanba was frail and sickly from childhood, dying at the age of sixteen. It's highly likely they were twins.
Song Lian said, "Many alchemists in the world have fabricated rumors about twins being incompatible. This is based on the fact that it is difficult for twins to survive at the same time. I have traveled the world for many years. Twins are rare, and twins are even rarer. And I have almost never seen twins who both survive."
Chen Biao thought about the probability of twins and nodded: "So if the twins die young it's unlucky, and if both survive it's lucky?"
Song Lian nodded.
Chen Biao said, "Then the rumor that they look exactly the same and are difficult to tell apart, and that their family doesn't want twins, is also false?"
Song Lian laughed. "Even if they were born the same, if they're not raised the right way, they'll definitely look different when they grow up. Did you know that the Hu people have the habit of sleeping with their heads flat or sideways? One sleeps with their head flat and the other doesn't, isn't that different? And one practices martial arts and the other doesn't, their future physiques will definitely be very different."
"Even if they are girls, their upbringing is different, so their looks and temperaments are definitely very different. If the twins are exactly the same, then their family must have deliberately raised them to be alike." Song Lian said, "Are you relieved now?"
Chen Biao smiled bitterly. "Should I say I'm relieved or worried? Should I say I'm more worried? I finally understand why people say having more than three children is unlucky. Isn't it true that there are almost no precedents of triplets surviving, and even pregnant women are likely to have accidents?"
Song Lian sighed: "Don't think too much. Your mother is in very good health and has given birth to several children before, so there will be no problem."
Chen Biao remained silent.
After a while, Chen Biao said, "I'll think of a way. I have to make sure that mother is safe."
Song Lian asked, "Have you confirmed that your mother is pregnant with twins?"
Chen Biao nodded. "I asked the doctor if it was twins. Although he denied it, his words were too deliberate. I think it must be Mom who asked the doctor to keep it a secret from Dad and me."
He looked gloomy.
The chance of having twins is extremely low, so how did this happen to their family? I hope the younger brother or sister can be more well-behaved and not cause trouble for their mother.
No, he couldn't just sit there and wait, he had to do something for his mother.
After Chen Biao returned home, he racked his brains to think of props that might be needed for delivery.
But unfortunately, he is just an ordinary businessman, how could he know those things?
The only thing he could do was to find a midwife with a good reputation in advance, teach her how to disinfect, and arrange the delivery room as sterile as possible in advance to prevent the mother from getting infected after the operation.
Chen Biao's anxiety was discovered by Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang followed Chen Biao's anxiety and also noticed Ma Xiuying's abnormality.
He shook the doctor's shoulders and asked for a long time, and finally found out that Ma Xiuying was pregnant with twins.
Zhu Yuanzhang was so frightened that his face turned pale.
When he was a beggar, he heard about a woman giving birth to twins. It was as difficult as going through the gates of hell. In the end, there was a high probability that one of the children would not survive, or even both of them would not survive. It was also difficult for the woman to recover after giving birth.
Zhu Yuanzhang recalled Chen Biao's "prophecy" - Empress Ma might have left early because her health was damaged by giving birth to too many children.
Zhu Yuanzhang's face turned even paler with fright, and he quickly asked the doctor if he could not give birth to the baby.
The doctor looked at Zhu Yuanzhang as if he were a fool and said, "The fetus is already formed. You can choose not to raise it, but you cannot choose not to give birth to it."
Zhu Yuanzhang held the doctor's hand and said, "It doesn't matter what the child is, just keep Xiuying alive for me!"
The doctor asked, "Are you sure you want to save the emperor?"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded vigorously: "As long as Xiuying is okay!"
He already has Biao'er and two debt collectors, so he doesn't need so many children!
The doctor breathed a sigh of relief: "If you are sure to save Madam Ma, given her physical condition, I can assure you that she will be fine."
Zhu Yuanzhang stroked his chest and said, "That's good, that's good."
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately wrote a letter of guarantee to reassure the doctor and let him rest assured to protect the emperor.
He wiped away the tears of fear and felt a little resentful towards the baby in his wife's belly.
Can you guys come one by one? How can we squeeze in together?
If those two kids could survive, he would definitely spank them hard!
As her due date approached, Ma Xiuying ate well, slept well, played badminton every day, and her emotional and physical condition were very good.
Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Biao both lost weight and their eye circles became darker and darker.
The little brat Chen Chong didn't understand the pain of his father and elder brother. He jumped up and down and laughed at Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Biao for having bloodshot eyes, and was beaten up by Zhu Yuanzhang.
This time, Chen Biao did not help Chen Chong, but helped his father to hold Chen Chong down.
Beat him! Beat him hard! This stinky little brother is so infuriating!
Amidst the immense torment of both of them, Ma Xiuying finally broke down.
Ma Xiuying endured the pain and comforted her husband and son: "Don't worry, I've given birth to three children before, so this time will definitely be smooth."
Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Biao forced smiles and sent Ma Xiuying into the delivery room.
The midwife took a bath in advance and changed into clothes that had been boiled in water. When delivering the baby, her hands were washed with high-concentration distilled alcohol specially made by Chen Biao, and all delivery tools were disinfected.
Zhu Yuanzhang deliberately ignored the gender issue and asked the doctor to go in and wait.
Chen Biao glanced at his father and grabbed his father's sleeve.
His father could let the doctor into the delivery room, and he was not afraid of his mother's body being seen. In this respect, his father treated his mother better than most men of this era.
The doctor came in with a pair of large pliers.
Chen Biao thought the pliers looked familiar.
He stood in front of the delivery room with his arms folded, performing a duet with his father for a long time. Then a light bulb suddenly lit up in his head, and he remembered why the forceps looked familiar.
He seemed to have seen this old obstetric tool, forceps, which had been eliminated, in a museum!
Forceps once saved the lives of many women experiencing difficult births. However, because babies delivered with forceps can suffer injuries, particularly brain damage, they are rarely used now that more advanced methods of delivery have become available.
