"Bai Jing, push harder!"
"Cousin-in-law, push harder!"
"Push!"
"Ahh—"
Bai Jing's heart-wrenching screams came from inside the room.
Xu Chuan heard it clearly in the kitchen, his heart filled with anxiety.
"Is the boiling water ready?"
Xu Yan stuck her head out the door and shouted loudly toward the kitchen.
"Coming, coming!"
"Almost, almost."
With that, she closed the door again with a "thud."
Time passed minute by minute.
"Bai Jing, the baby's head is out, push harder!"
"Cousin-in-law, it'll be over soon."
"Ahh—"
Suddenly, a loud cry of a newborn baby came from inside the room.
"Born!"
"Born!"
Xu Chuan's face broke into a smile, and his heart finally settled down.
"Brother Chuan, see, I told you sister-in-law would be fine. Listen to that voice, it's definitely another boy." Chen Ergou congratulated him.
Xu Chuan chuckled, "Can't compare to you though, with a son and a daughter, you have the perfect pair."
At this moment, the door opened and the midwife came out carrying a basin of bloody water. Looking somewhat tired, she said, "Mother and child are both safe. It's a boy. Go in and have a look."
Xu Chuan didn't say much. He nodded and immediately entered the room.
Arriving at the bedside, he saw the exhausted Bai Jing. His heart aching, he walked up to her, held her hand, and said softly, "Wife, you've worked hard."
"Not hard at all. Bearing children for the Xu family is what this concubine should do."
Hearing these words, Xu Chuan felt even more heartache, "Rest well."
Only then did Bai Jing slowly close her eyes.
"Cousin, hold him."
Xu Chuan took the child, his face full of smiles, making "goo goo" sounds to amuse the baby.
After a while, his father-in-law's family also arrived.
A group of people gathered around the child chatting.
"San Shu, have you thought of a name for the child?" His father-in-law, Bai Fu, asked with kind eyes.
"Mm." Xu Chuan nodded, his gaze falling on the child.
"Xu Mingxuan. Radiant and glorious, majestic in bearing."
"His nickname will be Tantou."
Xu Chuan rewarded the midwife, and she left.
After that came Chen Ergou's family, then his father-in-law's family.
Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan were brought over by Ergou after Tantou was born.
"Father, little brother's skin is all wrinkly, like a little old man." Shitou said with a bit of disdain.
"You were the same when you were just born."
Bai Jing smiled. Xu Chuan had given her the Qi and Blood Pill, and now her complexion was no longer deathly pale but had become much rosier. She even had the strength to get out of bed. However, Xu Chuan wouldn't allow it and insisted she rest peacefully in bed.
Xu Mingwei seemed somewhat shocked and doubtfully touched his own face.
"Ahyuan, Father will fulfill his promise today. Tell me which hen bothered you."
When Xu Mingyuan heard there would be chicken meat to eat and chicken soup to drink, his mouth immediately watered.
He quickly pulled Xu Chuan outside, "Father, I'll take you there."
"Shitou, take good care of your mother."
"Don't worry, Father." Xu Mingwei patted his chest.
Several days later, after finishing work in the rice paddies, it was time for the green jade pear harvest.
Basket after basket of green jade pears were carried home.
For rare fruits like green jade pears, selling them in Qingjiang County town was best. Even in the prefecture capital, they weren't too common a fruit. However, Dongxi Village was more than one hundred eighty li from Qingjiang County town.
Bandits occasionally appeared on the road and it wasn't very safe.
Even if the probability was low, Xu Chuan didn't want to gamble on it. Therefore, he contacted his old employer and sold the green jade pears to them.
Last year had been the same.
…
The Xu family courtyard.
"Master Xu San, these are this year's green jade fruits, a total of six thousand four hundred jin." Xu Chuan said respectfully.
Before him stood a slightly plump middle-aged man in his forties with a short beard.
"Four hundred jin more than last year?"
"The yield is about maxed out. Unless we expand the scale, but Master San, you also know that green jade pears aren't easy to cultivate."
Master Xu San nodded, "Let's use last year's price then."
"No problem."
"Start weighing. If there are no errors, the silver will be settled on the spot."
The Xu family's servants began continuously weighing, and it was over in no time.
Beside Master Xu San stood a young man in fine clothes. Looking at the green jade pears, his eyes burned with desire, then he glanced at Xu Chuan, his face showing disdain.
"Master, the weight is correct."
Master Xu San nodded slightly and immediately paid Xu Chuan three thousand two hundred taels.
"Xu Chuan, your skill is truly excellent. Are you interested in selling the secret method for growing green jade pears to the Xu family? The Xu family is willing to purchase it at a high price."
"Master San, I do have some experience, but I truly have no secret method."
"If Master San needs it, Xu Chuan will tell you everything, but I'm just somewhat lucky. I have no confidence I could make the green jade pear trees survive next time."
"Spending six or seven years or even longer, only to end up with nothing, would not only let Master Xu San down but also my deceased father."
Master Xu San lowered his head in thought for a moment, then smiled, "I was just asking."
"Alright, since the matter is concluded, I still have other business, so I'll take my leave."
"Safe travels, Master San."
Xu Chuan saw the Xu family group out the door. Only after they had gone far did he sigh in relief and return inside.
After leaving the Xu household, the young man in fine clothes finally couldn't hold back, "Father, why are you so polite to an ordinary commoner!"
"He was just a long-term worker who relied on our family for meals."
"Green jade pears are good things. Can't we just seize the secret method? Would he dare refuse?"
"Do you really think the Xu family is the sky over Dongxi Village?"
Master Xu San glared at the young man in fine clothes. Hearing him say such things, his eyes were filled with disappointment.
"Forget about whether the secret method is real or not, green jade pears are indeed difficult to grow. I've only heard that some aristocratic families in the prefecture capital have mastered the cultivation method. Do you think he could figure it out in just a few years?"
"Xu Chuan had one thing right. Spending seven or eight years and investing massive amounts of manpower, material, and financial resources, only to end up with nothing, would be too unworthy."
"Right now, we have ready-made goods to purchase and can turn around and sell them in the county town, directly earning eight hundred to one thousand taels in profit. Is there anything easier to make money from than this?"
"Father speaks reason."
Seeing his eldest son was still somewhat unconvinced, Master Xu San said, "Don't look down on Xu Chuan. He once appeared before your great-grandfather."
"The Xu family has today because of reputation and fame."
"Don't ruin the Xu family's reputation over mere green jade pears, or I won't be polite with you."
Since Old Master Xu passed away, the Xu family hadn't produced an excellent head of household and could only barely maintain what they had.
Now some extravagant and pleasure-seeking descendants had appeared in the clan, and they were beginning to decline.
…
The Xu household.
"Husband, how did selling the green jade pears go?"
"Three thousand two hundred taels."
Xu Chuan took out the bank notes. Bai Jing patted her chest, "Then I'm relieved. I was really afraid the Xu family would just forcibly seize them."
"That won't happen, but in the future, who knows."
"What does husband mean?"
"I noticed that Master Xu San's eldest son, Xu Tao, seemed to have developed some ideas."
"Then what do we do?" Bai Jing's heart rose in suspense again, worry appearing on her face.
"Don't worry. Master Xu San is wise." Xu Chuan held her hand, "He won't ruin the reputation and credibility the Xu family has built up over many years for mere profit."
"Husband is still the capable one." Seeing her man possess such insight, Bai Jing couldn't help but praise, "With husband here, the Xu family will also become a gentry clan like the Xu family in the future."
Both boys had gone outside to play.
They were still young. Xu Chuan didn't want to restrain their nature, so he let them be.
With no one around and seeing Bai Jing's full figure, Xu Chuan's hands began to misbehave.
"Husband, it's broad daylight. It's not appropriate."
"What's inappropriate? Shitou and Ahyuan aren't here either."
"Tantou is here."
Xu Chuan turned to look and saw that the youngest in Bai Jing's arms had somehow woken up. His dark eyes were open, looking at Xu Chuan.
Big eyes staring at small eyes.
Xu Chuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He touched the baby's little face, "He really is."
"Forget it. I'll go to Ergou's place. That Qi and Blood Pill was quite valuable. I need to repay this debt."
As soon as Xu Chuan left, Tantou slowly closed his eyes again, as if the show was over.