Chapter Seven: The Baby Is Born

Since the matter was resolved, Tang Wei had thoroughly embraced the life of a layabout—after all, she now had the means to do so!

Last time, she took out a gemstone, and her eldest sister’s husband, He Jianjun, found a buyer through a classmate. With gems of such high quality, there was no shortage of eager buyers. He Jianjun spent tens of thousands in fees, discreetly sold the gem at a bargain, and received over ten million in cash. To the wealthy, this sum was barely a drop in the bucket, but for a family accustomed to a modest life, it was a fortune so immense it brought unease, fearful lest ill-intentioned people learn of it.

Thus, He Jianjun transferred the money several times and divided it among five accounts in different banks. Tang Wei agreed with her brother-in-law’s approach; now that they had money, safety was paramount—a little extra effort and expense was well worth it.

Tang Wei kept the funds from two accounts for herself, giving one each to her eldest sister, second sister, and younger brother. None was given to their parents, for Tang Wei knew that at their age, it was not money they sought but the well-being of their children, a thriving family, filial sons and grandsons, and harmony—the best gift she could offer them.

Tang Wei now lived at her eldest sister’s home; the apartment she once rented had been vacated. Mother Tang stayed to care for her, as the countryside was too remote and trips to the hospital were inconvenient. They would have to wait until the child was born before returning.

Pregnancy flew by, and in another month the child would arrive. At that moment, Tang Wei was gently caressing her unusually large belly, contentedly musing, “My sisters are doing what they always wanted, my brother has returned from Shenzhen, and the family can gather often. I’ve bought four adjoining units in the newly built Riverside Garden, already renovated—just waiting for us all to move in when we have time. With many people together, it’ll be lively.”

Tang Wei still dreamed of living in the mountains for long stretches, to spend more time with her parents. When bored, she could stay in the city for a few days; after all, she kept one apartment for herself. She planned to have a glasshouse built once the house in the village was finished, to grow flowers and perhaps display them—any rare flower could be cultivated in her space. The secondhand storefront she purchased was nearly renovated, and once the flower shop opened and she hired experienced staff to run it, she could indulge in her idle life. The thought made her chuckle.

Tang Wei’s greatest dream was simply to open her own flower shop—she neither aspired to be a powerful woman nor a tycoon. The life she led now was just to her liking.

During her pregnancy, she wandered about for leisure, and when home, browsed online shops for goods—flowers, fruits, snacks, anything sold online, she would buy, shamelessly asking sellers for more so she could broaden her horizons.

Tang Feng was at her wits’ end with Tang Wei, for now Tang Wei was the family’s treasure! In frustration, she would mutter, “You can’t spend money like this! If you keep it up, you’ll squander any fortune, and I really don’t know what use all these things are. Such a spendthrift!”

In truth, Tang Feng misunderstood her. Though Tang Wei’s space was small, time passed quickly there. She could harvest seeds and grow anything she wanted or craved at any time—so convenient! Over this period, all the fruits and vegetables at home came from her space.

A few days ago, Tian Meiling gave birth to a boy. She called, haughtily inviting Tang Wei to the full-month celebration. Tang Wei replied carelessly, “Some people are like horses unaware of their long faces, monkeys oblivious to their red behinds—so proud after picking up what others didn’t want!” The words infuriated Tian Meiling, who smashed her phone before even hanging up.

Clearly, Tang Wei had quite the potential for mischief. With her worries resolved, she grew cheerful. Facing Tang Feng’s unreasonable ways every day, it was hard not to change.

In the last month, Mother Tang took Tang Wei for daily walks, exhausting the lazybones. Tang Wei, who normally took taxis everywhere, now struggled to stand with her huge belly, yet was dragged along by her mother, her face perpetually reluctant, but powerless to resist. The walks continued!

One day, as mother and daughter strolled as usual, Tang Wei suddenly felt a sharp pain in her belly. Mother Tang hurriedly called her eldest son-in-law, and He Jianjun rushed over, carrying Tang Wei to the car and speeding her to the Maternal and Child Health Hospital.

After more than ten hours of turmoil in the hospital, the doctors finally, without hurry, sent Tang Wei into the delivery room. The entire family gathered, waiting anxiously for the arrival of new life. After two hours, the doctor emerged to congratulate them: “A boy and a girl—both healthy. Congratulations!”

“Come, let’s go see the babies first. The third girl probably hasn’t woken yet,” Mother Tang beamed, “No one in our family has ever had twins, and these are dragon-phoenix twins. Such good fortune!” They entered the room as a group.

The two babies looked alike—the older, the brother; the younger, the sister. As twins, they were both small, but unlike most newborns, their skin was smooth and only slightly red, looking beautiful. Everyone crowded to see, chattering about their features, until the nurse shooed them away—it was time to nurse the babies!

Tang Wei did not wake after delivery, and the family grew anxious, fearing something was wrong. They quickly called for the doctor, who examined her and reassured them, “It’s nothing. The mother is simply exhausted; let her rest and she’ll be fine.”

But after more than ten hours, Tang Wei was still unresponsive. No amount of calling could wake her, and the hospital grew alarmed, arranging a full-body examination. Yet nothing was found; no one knew what was happening. The earlier joy over the twins vanished, replaced by worry, as everyone surrounded Tang Wei, seeking solutions. They decided to wait a few more hours and, if she still did not awaken, to transfer her to the city hospital.

What had happened to Tang Wei?

Within the Violet Pearl space, the land around the vegetable patch and wooden cottage stretched into endless meadows, the horizon nowhere in sight. Where, after all, was Tang Wei?