"That's fine. Nian Nian can stay in the hospital for these few days. With the doctors taking care of her, I’ll feel more at ease. What mother would willingly part with her newborn child? If you can get in touch with Nian Nian, please comfort her as much as possible."
"I have a student with a camera. I’ll ask him to come take photos of Nian Nian and the babies. We can have them developed and sent to her later."
"That would be wonderful."
After discussing, the two entered the hospital room.
"I’ll go home and pack a few things. Nian Nian, you rest and chat with your teacher’s wife. I’ll be back soon."
Yang Yufen finished feeding Qin Nian and put away the lunchbox.
"Mom, be careful on your way back."
Yang Yufen nodded and was already out the door.
"They’re so ugly."
With her mother-in-law gone, Qin Nian couldn’t help but blurt it out.
Professor Wen, who had just brought the babies over to Qin Nian, chuckled in exasperation.
"What kind of mother dislikes her own children like this? They’ve just been born and still have vernix on them. In a few days, they’ll grow into their looks. Look how thick their hair is—your mother-in-law has taken excellent care of all of you."
Qin Nian smiled at that.
"Rest well for these three days. Your mother-in-law asked the doctor to prescribe medicine to stop your milk flow, so you won’t suffer as much. In three days, someone from above will come to take you away directly."
"So soon?"
Qin Nian was taken aback. Though she had prepared herself, a sudden wave of reluctance washed over her.
"I understand."
When she looked at the babies again, they didn’t seem so ugly anymore.
When Yang Yufen returned, Professor Wen had to hurry back.
"Mom, the babies will be in your care from now on. It’ll be hard on you."
"It’s no trouble. But you—take care of your health. I’ve packed all your clothes and bedding. Stay in the hospital these few days and recover. If anything comes up, call the doctor right away."
In those days, very few women gave birth in hospitals, and even fewer stayed for days afterward. But Qin Nian’s situation was special—she had twins, and Yang Yufen was willing to spend the money, so Qin Nian stayed for the full three days.
On the third day, Dean Hu also came.
Yang Yufen and Professor Wen took the twins back to the family compound, while Yang Yufen loaded all of Qin Nian’s belongings into the car—bundles large and small, along with a suitcase.
"These are all for Nian Nian’s recovery. Thank you for delivering them. Here are some red eggs—take them for good luck."
Yang Yufen handed the pre-prepared red eggs to the comrade who had come to pick Qin Nian up.
A pot of hot chicken soup, steaming rice—it was as if she wanted to move the entire house along with her.
Yang Yufen knew she couldn’t pack any more.
She had to stay with the babies and couldn’t accompany her daughter-in-law back to the hospital, so she could only watch as the car drove away.
Qin Nian, bundled in thick clothes with a hat and gloves, got into the car and was stunned to see it filled to the brim.
"Comrade Qin, if you’re hungry, you can eat something now. Aunt Yang prepared a lot of food. The trunk couldn’t hold everything, so some had to go in the back seat."
"Thank you for your trouble."
Qin Nian held back her tears.
"No trouble at all. Aunt Yang even gave us red eggs. The real hardship is yours, Comrade Qin."
The people picking her up were well aware of her situation.
Thanks to Yang Yufen’s prepared meals, they arrived a day early.
Qin Nian was assigned a small but adequate single dormitory.
She was given a day to rest. When she opened one package after another, the tears she had been holding back finally fell.
From hair ties to every daily necessity imaginable, her mother-in-law had thought of everything—even an electric stove, as if worried she might go hungry at night.
The basket of eggs she had seen at home had been brought along, and even the most personal items had been thoughtfully packed. Finally, Qin Nian found three hundred yuan tucked inside.
As she was organizing her things, someone arrived. Seeing the mountain of supplies, they couldn’t help but remark on how thoroughly prepared she was—but would someone so pampered really endure the hardships here?
"Comrade Qin, your superiors have explained your situation. Since you arrived a day early, you’ve been given this day to rest. But we hope you’ll familiarize yourself with things soon. I’m here to take you to the canteen."
"Alright, give me five minutes."
Qin Nian wiped her tears and, in five minutes, emerged with her lunchbox.
The conditions here were indeed harsh. Far more people worked here than at their research institute, each buried in their tasks. Even while eating, no one let their free hand idle.
For the first few days, Qin Nian struggled to keep up. But within a week, she improved daily, gradually moving from the periphery to the center of activity.
With two new grandchildren, Yang Yufen was kept busy. But as the weather warmed, Aunt Wang and Aunt Liu often came by to dote on the twins.
"Sister Yang, what are you doing with all this bamboo?"
"It’s getting hotter. I’m weaving a bamboo bed—it’ll keep the babies from getting rashes in summer."
"The babies aren’t even a month old, and you’re already thinking about summer! Then again, formula-fed babies do grow faster."
Aunt Liu dropped by for a visit.
"Absolutely. I see them every day, and Yufen takes such meticulous care of them. They’re so plump and fair—just makes you want to kiss their little cheeks!"
Aunt Wang helped with the babies—they were practically family now.
"These two take after Nian Nian—so well-behaved."
Yang Yufen was full of praise. Newborns mostly ate, slept, and dirtied their diapers. As long as they were fed, clean, and comfortable, they rarely fussed.
Yang Yufen had worried they might be frail, but the doctor confirmed they were perfectly healthy, putting her mind at ease.
"Will you hold a full-month celebration for them?"
Aunt Liu asked.
"No. They’re still too small, and Nian Nian isn’t here. We’ll just have a meal together when they turn one. Once they’re a month old, I’ll take them for photos so Nian Nian can see how they’ve grown when she returns."
Yang Yufen had it all planned out, never pausing as she split bamboo strips.
With Nian Nian away, household expenses had dropped. Aside from buying formula, Yang Yufen barely spent anything.
She had another plan—once the twins turned a month old, she would tidy up Nian Nian’s old house and rent it out. The income would cover daily expenses for the three of them.
"Oh dear, it’s time—I need to go cook for Yaoyao."
Aunt Wang checked the clock and stood up.
"Go on, don’t let the child go hungry."
"I should get back to feed my two rascals too."
After working a while longer, Yang Yufen checked the time. She washed her hands, brushed off the dust, and prepared formula for the twins.
The babies stirred awake, beginning to whimper—just as their bottles reached their mouths.
