Chapter 5: Finding Someone to Help During Confinement

Qiu Yinuo was stunned. The original owner had apparently gone into labor while searching for her mother-in-law on the road, which had triggered the contractions. A kind passerby had taken her to the hospital.

She hadn’t brought a single item for delivery. Even the small blanket wrapped around the baby had been borrowed from the hospital.

Seeing this, Auntie Cai immediately pulled off the wet cloth diaper. “Wait here, I’ll go get you a few of my grandson’s diapers.”

Feeling the dampness on her arm, Qiu Yinuo wanted to die.

Although she had raised Qiu Fuwen by herself, he had been eight years old at the time and could already take care of himself.

She had never had to worry about diapers and potty training. The thought of spending the better part of a year dealing with two babies’ excrement made her want to scream.

Whose ancestral grave had she dug up to deserve such “fortune”?

Soon, Auntie Cai returned carrying about a dozen cloth diapers. “Girl, these were used by my little grandson. Don’t mind them being secondhand.”

For a family to lend out so many diapers at once—it was clear the Cai family was quite well-off.

“Auntie Cai, just lend me two for now. I’ll return them later once I’ve gotten some from home.”

“Do you have someone to bring them to you from home?”

Qiu Yinuo shook her head.

Auntie Cai saw through her instantly—she clearly planned to go get them herself. She immediately disagreed. “Girl, you’re still in your confinement period. Don’t try to act strong. It’s just a few diapers, don’t take it to heart.” She then leaned in close and whispered, “Girl, my husband and daughter-in-law both work at the supply and marketing cooperative. It’s easy for us to get this kind of fabric. We’ve got plenty at home.”

Qiu Yinuo was grateful upon hearing that. “Auntie, I’ll pay for them.”

“Pay? What nonsense. You saved my grandson—you’re our family’s great benefactor. If you have any trouble, just tell me. I’ll help however I can.”

And indeed, Qiu Yinuo did have troubles.

But this era didn’t allow for such thoughts.

If she got labeled a capitalist, life would only get harder.

Qiu Yinuo bit her lip and stubbornly shook her head. “Thank you, Auntie Cai. I’m fine.”

Auntie Cai was chatty. She mentioned that her grandson’s father was a soldier who wouldn’t be home for a few more days, so he couldn’t personally thank her just yet.

“Auntie, it’s really okay. I believe anyone would’ve helped in a situation like that.”

But Auntie Cai had seen the crowd—most people had kept their distance. “My old man said he’ll come by after work to properly thank you.”

“No, Auntie Cai, that’s really not necessary.”

Auntie Cai was generous by nature and could tell that Qiu Yinuo didn’t want to trouble anyone. But she firmly believed in repaying kindness. “Don’t bother getting dinner tonight. I’ll bring it to you. Don’t worry, while you’re in the hospital, I’ll make sure you eat well.”

“How can I accept that?” She had heard her parents talk often about how precious food was in their time, how common it was to go hungry.

She didn’t dare casually accept someone else’s food and quickly waved her hands to refuse.

“What do you mean ‘how can you’? If you keep being polite, I really will get upset. Even if you don’t think of yourself, you should think of those two babies.”

Qiu Yinuo couldn’t resist Auntie Cai’s warmth and eventually gave in.

While changing the second baby’s diaper, Auntie Cai began teaching her how to wrap it properly. “Make sure the baby’s belly button is covered and kept warm.”

Curious, Qiu Yinuo glanced at the thing on the baby’s belly. “What’s this?”

“Don’t touch that—it’s the umbilical cord. It needs to fall off naturally. If you pull it off yourself, it could get infected.”

“Oh!”

“At first glance, it’s clear you’re a first-time mom.” Auntie Cai repeated all the advice she could think of. “If there’s anything else you don’t understand, just ask the nurse.”

“Thank you, Auntie Cai.”

After returning from Qiu Yinuo’s room, Auntie Cai’s daughter-in-law, Gao Xiulan, immediately asked, “Mom, how is Comrade Qiu?”

Auntie Cai sighed. “She’s pitiful. Young as she is, she’s lost her husband, her mother-in-law is missing, and her family doesn’t have anyone to help her. How can she manage her postpartum period?”

“Mom, she saved our Pangpang. I want to help her.” The Cai family was wealthy and well-off, so the money wasn’t an issue. After a discussion, the two women decided to find someone to help Qiu Yinuo get through her postpartum period.

When they thought about who could take care of her, they were stumped.

They didn’t have anyone suitable around, and the key was to find someone trustworthy. They couldn’t risk anyone asking too many questions and revealing something they shouldn’t.

In the end, Gao Xiulan thought of someone. “Mom, what do you think of He Ziqing?”

Thinking of that girl who could endure any hardship, Auntie Cai agreed that she was a good choice. “But, will she know how to take care of someone during their postpartum period?”

“No one is born knowing these things. Qingqing is smart and practical. I’ve heard that when she’s not busy, she helps her maternal aunt take care of kids.”

“You’re right. I’ll go find Qingqing now and ask her.”

Gao Xiulan, knowing that Qingqing was probably still mingling in the black market, whispered a reminder to her mother-in-law. “Mom, be careful. Once you find her, come straight back.”

“Don’t worry!”

Qiu Yinuo was about to have dinner when Auntie Cai arrived with a young girl and an older man.

As soon as the man entered, he enthusiastically introduced himself. “I’m Cai Zhong, your Auntie Cai’s husband. Comrade Qiu, thank you for saving our Pangpang.”

She smiled awkwardly. “Uncle Cai, you’re too kind.”

Auntie Cai pushed her husband aside and pulled the young girl forward. The girl was about seventeen or eighteen, with short hair that made her look very energetic.

“Girl, this is He Ziqing, a distant relative of ours. She happens to have time recently, so I’ve asked her to help take care of your child. Just feed her, and that’s enough.”

This was just the right opportunity for Qiu Yinuo.

She really needed help and wasn’t going to be picky. She readily accepted Auntie Cai’s offer.

After all, favors were meant to be returned.

But she made it clear that any money for He Ziqing’s work should come from her own pocket.

From what she remembered, her mother-in-law had said she had saved up some money for the childbirth. That should be enough to cover the cost of hiring someone.

After five days in the hospital, Qiu Yinuo decided it was time to leave.

Her hair felt so greasy she might go crazy if she didn’t wash it soon.

There was another reason she wanted to leave—during her hospital stay, she had caused Auntie Cai quite a bit of trouble. Every day, she brought her soup to help with lactation. Without even looking in the mirror, she felt like her face had become noticeably rounder.

On the day she was discharged, He Ziqing showed up pushing a three-wheeled cart.

Qiu Yinuo was very surprised. “Where did you get this from?”

“I borrowed it from a neighbor.”

The day after He Ziqing arrived, Qiu Yinuo gave her the keys to her house.

Not only did she bring back the maternity bag, but she also brought the gift money from the nearby neighbors.

She had even kept track of who had given how much and what they had given to eat, making it easier for her to reciprocate later.