The weight on his heart lifted instantly. Although the financial burden seemed to increase, he felt he could bear this pressure and was willing to accept it.
Xie Xinlian recovered well. After staying in the hospital for three days, she was discharged. Zhu Shunyao specially borrowed a handcart. Xie Xinlian and her baby were wrapped tightly, and Zhu Shunyao pulled them home with a smile.
When Xie Xinlian returned home, Qi Qiaoer brought Zhu Yanyi and Zhu Yanli back. Qi Qiaoer came to help Xie Xinlian during her confinement. Since there was no one else in the third branch, it was natural for her natal family to help. The other Zhu family branches were grateful for the Xie family’s kindness. After Zhu Shunyao reported the good news to the Qi family, Luo Wenhua also came quickly. The two women took turns caring for Xie Xinlian, ensuring she was looked after perfectly.
Of course, with Zhu Yanyi there, Xie Xinlian’s confinement was much more comfortable. She didn’t have to worry about lacking milk. Zhu Yanyi gave her a slice of Ruzhi (meat fungus) obtained from Old Man Yao every day. Not only did she have plenty of milk, but her body also recovered very quickly. Later, when Zhu Yanyi started school, she made Ruzhi soup for her mother every night after returning home.
Xie Xinlian had suffered from stomach issues during her previous confinements because she hadn’t eaten well or enough. This time, through Zhu Yanyi’s medicinal diet, her stomach problem was cured. It was true that confinement was a woman’s second rebirth. Moreover, when Zhu Yanyi was home, she cooked all the meals. Qi Qiaoer and Luo Wenhua were amazed. They never expected Zhu Yanyi to have such culinary skills.
Three days after Xie Xinlian returned home, it was time for Zhu Yanyi and Zhu Yanli to start school. The town primary school opened.
Zhu Yanyi became a primary school student. To care for and help Xie Xinlian recover, Zhu Yanyi and Zhu Yanli still went home every evening. The walk from the town school to their home took only about twenty minutes. The sisters walked together, so there was no worry about getting lost.
For lunch, they brought steamed rice and dishes. They could have gone home for lunch, but the round trip was too troublesome, and Xie Xinlian was still in confinement. So, the sisters brought their own food and used the school’s steaming service. This way, they could enjoy a warm meal at noon. The steaming fee for a semester was only one yuan. Zhu Shunyao was happy to spend this money so his daughters could eat hot meals.
The primary school curriculum was extremely simple for Zhu Yanyi. She planned to be a top student and aimed to get first place in every exam. She had no intention of giving up the top spot to anyone else.
Teacher Zhou, the homeroom teacher, and Teacher Sun, the main math teacher, knew Zhu Yanyi’s situation well. Before she arrived, they had informed the other subject teachers. They told them not to interfere with what books Zhu Yanyi read, as long as her exam scores remained in the top three. If her rank dropped, they would make her attend classes properly then.
Initially, the other teachers thought Zhu Yanyi was a troublemaker upon hearing this. However, they soon discovered she was a top student. But that was a story for later.
The first-grade curriculum was simple, with no deep knowledge. Chinese class focused on learning pinyin, and math involved learning a few numbers. While other students listened to the lesson, Zhu Yanyi opened her high school sophomore textbooks.