At Noon

Qin Fang finally woke up slowly around noon, feeling rejuvenated after sleeping the entire morning.

As soon as he woke up, he washed his face and went to find his daughter and wife.

Unexpectedly, Yang Haiyan’s room was quite lively, with Grandma Qin, Mother Qin, and Third Aunt Qin all present.

Especially Grandma Qin, who was complaining in an agitated tone: “That old man doesn’t know how to choose a nickname but insists on taking over the naming. It’s infuriating!”

Yang Haiyan just laughed.

Upon hearing this, Qin Fang stepped in with big strides: “Yanyan gave birth to a girl. Isn’t it up to you to choose her nickname?”

This had been agreed upon beforehand: if it was a girl, Grandma would choose the nickname; if it was a boy, then Grandpa would.

Grandma Qin was instantly bewildered: “What? Isn’t Yanyan having a boy? The midwife said yesterday it was a boy! Did I hear wrong?”

Mother Qin said, “It’s a boy. I checked yesterday, and it’s definitely correct.”

Qin Fang looked at Yang Haiyan in confusion, hoping she would say she had given birth to a daughter.

Seeing Qin Fang like this, both Grandma Qin and Mother Qin were puzzled too.

What was going on?

Although Grandma Qin hadn’t seen her great-grandchild’s private parts, she had clearly heard what the midwife said.

And Mother Qin had seen for herself and confirmed it was a grandson.

Third Aunt Qin chimed in, “The person who came to report the good news also said Yanyan gave birth to a boy.”

Qin Fang couldn’t believe it; all the excitement from last night had turned into confusion.

To be honest, he had wanted to brag about having a daughter to Han Zhen.

Now… “Yanyan…”

Yang Haiyan laughed out loud: “Grandma, Mother, Aunt, you have no idea. When I was about to change the baby’s diaper this morning, he said that a big man like him can’t change a girl’s diaper. It was so funny I almost died laughing! It turns out everyone in the general’s household knows I gave birth to a boy, yet the baby’s father thinks I had a girl!”

Qin Fang said, “Yanyan, that joke isn’t funny.”

He walked to the bed, lifting the corner of the blanket to check the baby’s diaper.

Yang Haiyan pressed down on his hand: “What are you doing?”

Qin Fang said seriously, “I need to verify. You all say one thing, and then another, and I don’t know who is telling the truth anymore.”

Upon reflection, no one had explicitly said that Yanyan had given birth to a girl.

However, when he had mentioned a girl earlier, Yanyan hadn’t corrected him.

Yang Haiyan raised an eyebrow: “Didn’t you say that if it’s a girl, you would avoid seeing her?”

Qin Fang said earnestly, “I am her father.”

Though he said this, he withdrew his hand. If it really was a girl, he indeed shouldn’t look.

Thinking this, Qin Fang shot them a glare and left, deciding that if he couldn’t ask them, he could still ask someone else.

As soon as Qin Fang left, everyone in the room laughed.

Qin Fang could still hear their laughter; it was truly too much.

He felt embarrassed that he couldn’t even distinguish whether the baby was a boy or a girl.

Soon, Qin Fang adjusted his mindset.

He reached the door and saw Aunt Yu. An idea struck him: “Aunt Yu, let me test you. Guess correctly, and I’ll reward you with a month’s salary.”

Aunt Yu was somewhat puzzled, but since she was always honest and had no ulterior motives, she respectfully asked, “What does the general want to say?”

Qin Fang nodded: “Yesterday, my wife gave birth. Do you know if it was a boy or a girl?”

Aunt Yu: “…”

She thought the general might have been too happy and was asking her this question, but she still answered honestly, “It’s a young master.”

Qin Fang: “…”

His heart ached. “Okay.”

He nodded, leaving without any signs of joy.

Aunt Yu had her head down the entire time and, of course, didn’t notice that the main character showed no signs of happiness.

After leaving the inner courtyard, Qin Fang found himself unknowingly at Doctor Li’s place.

Seeing Doctor Li handling medicinal herbs, Qin Fang walked in: “Doctor Li.”

Doctor Li saw Qin Fang and hurriedly said, “Congratulations, General, on the arrival of your son.”

Qin Fang: “…”

He didn’t want to discuss anything anymore.

Even Doctor Li was saying this, so… his daughter really was gone, and he truly had a son.

Doctor Li wasn’t a servant of the general’s household, so he dared to look Qin Fang directly in the eye.

When he raised his head and saw that the general’s expression wasn’t good, he pondered: “General, did you overexert yourself yesterday? Should I prescribe some medicine for you?”

Otherwise, he couldn’t think of why the general’s expression was bad.

Isn’t it said that people are in good spirits when happy events occur?

The general, being high-ranking and in a joyous mood over the birth of a son, should surely be feeling great.

Qin Fang replied, “No need, I’ll just rest for a bit. Thank you for your concern. Please take care of my wife’s health; women need to recover after giving birth, right?”

Doctor Li quickly replied, “Yes, Madam’s health is currently very good. I checked on her this morning, and there’s no need for any tonics for now.” As a doctor, he was naturally pleased to see the husband caring for his wife, who had just given birth.

Qin Fang nodded. “Mm, I trust you with this. I’ll take my leave now.”

Doctor Li said, “I’ll escort the general.”

“No need,” Qin Fang replied.

After leaving Doctor Li, Qin Fang encountered guards and servants one after another.

Each person who saw him congratulated him, but he felt no joy at all.

Moreover…

Qin Fang suddenly remembered something important. If this wasn’t a daughter but a son, how could his son drink his wife’s milk?

With that thought, Qin Fang angrily went to find Doctor Li again. “Doctor Li…”

Seeing the general returning with a darker expression, Doctor Li wondered if he had fallen ill. “General?”

Qin Fang looked around to ensure no one was watching before saying to Doctor Li, “Let’s talk inside; I have some questions.”

Doctor Li followed him in, and while he was filled with curiosity, he maintained a calm demeanor.

Once inside, Qin Fang quietly asked, “If a woman who has just given birth doesn’t have milk, what’s the best way to feed the baby?”

Doctor Li immediately thought, the lady just gave birth and doesn’t have milk, so the general must be worried about the child.

After considering, he replied, “From my perspective, finding a wet nurse is the best solution for a newborn.”

Of course, in poor families where there’s no milk, some might feed the child rice soup.

But what could be better than mother’s milk?

Given the general’s circumstances, he naturally recommended a wet nurse.

If it were a poor family, he wouldn’t have made that suggestion, as they couldn’t afford one.

After hearing Doctor Li’s words, Qin Fang felt reassured.

Back in the courtyard, Third Qin family had already left since Yang Haiyan, being the new mother, needed to rest.

“General,” Granny Lian said as she saw Qin Fang enter and bowed.

She was waiting at the door, just in case the lady needed her.

Qin Fang nodded. “Has Yanyan fallen asleep?”

Granny Lian replied, “Indeed, she just fed…” She almost said “little master” but hesitated, remembering the lady’s instructions. “She just fed the baby and has fallen asleep with him.”

Qin Fang gave her a cold look.

This old fox still wanted to hide things from him?

Although he understood it was his wife’s intention, he was still angry.

Granny Lian swallowed hard.

Why did the general’s gaze seem so frightening?

Had she offended him somehow?

Thinking back, she had served the lady diligently and had intended to spend her old age in the general’s household, treating it as her own home.

Though she had no qualifications, she still served the lady as if she were family.

So why was the general acting this way today?

“General?” Granny Lian asked nervously.

Qin Fang beckoned her with a finger. “Come out; we need to talk.”

Granny Lian trembled as she followed him outside, her steps unsteady.

Since coming to the general’s residence and following the lady, she had always been composed; this was the first time she felt so anxious.

Once outside, Qin Fang said, “Go outside and find a few healthy wet nurses to come over so that… so that the little master can drink from them.”

The words “little master” were almost ground out through gritted teeth; Qin Fang felt as if his teeth were about to crack.

That little rascal dared to drink his wife’s milk? He couldn’t tolerate it.

“Ah?” Granny Lian was confused.

Why was he asking for wet nurses?

“The lady said the child should drink her milk. If the wet nurses’ milk isn’t clean, it could harm the baby.”

Qin Fang frowned.

He was annoyed and wanted to beat up that little rascal.

He had considered Doctor Li’s suggestion about finding wet nurses for the child, but now hearing Granny Lian’s words, he felt uneasy.

What if the wet nurses’ milk wasn’t clean? He was worried about his son.

So, he thought of another solution: “Can we express the milk into a bowl and feed it to the baby?”

Granny Lian felt like she had been struck by lightning.

What kind of problem was this?

Of course, she wouldn’t dare say that. “Well… the newborn might not know how to drink.”

Qin Fang was disgusted. “So useless?”

Granny Lian was struggling to keep up with the general’s line of thinking. “How about we wait for the lady to wake up, and I can ask her?”

If they waited for the lady to wake up, perhaps she would save the day.

Qin Fang waved his hand. “Fine.”

Saying this, he strode back toward the room.

He reached the bedside and saw Yang Haiyan sleeping soundly.

He quietly took the baby out from the covers.

Although Yang Haiyan and the baby were sleeping together, they were somewhat separated to avoid pressing on him.

As a result, when Qin Fang moved the baby, the sleeping Yang Haiyan didn’t wake up at all.

Qin Fang didn’t move the baby too much.

He only took off the baby’s diaper since he had confirmed from Aunt Yu and Doctor Li that the baby was a boy.

Therefore, he was no longer hesitant.

He just took one last look to put his mind at ease.

Sure enough, after taking off the diaper, he saw his son’s little tadpoles.

Qin Fang felt a mouthful of blood rise in his throat, wanting to wake the baby up, but he ultimately held back.

He gently and carefully put the baby’s diaper back on, then pulled the blanket over him to keep him warm.

Finally, he went to the training grounds.