Chapter 103

 After the Cannon-Fodder 'Top' Turns to Farming, He Gets a Happy Ending with the Aloof Male Lead (Transmigration)

He-shi and Jiang Zhuzhu had barely arrived from Xuanhe Prefecture when they saw Lu Lizhi collapse, his face pale; Changsui hurriedly scooped him up and carried him back to his room.

"What happened? What's wrong with Lizhi?"

Granny Li didn't have time to explain; she simply lowered her voice and said, "Just get ready to hold a grandbaby!"

"Huh?" What did that have to do with Lizhi feeling unwell?

Wait a minute—

"Changsui kept urging us to come over—wasn't it just to spend the New Year here?"

He-shi was a bit sharper; she recalled how Lizhi looked just moments ago—wrapped in a loose, warm cloak that made him appear a size rounder. That wasn't the main thing, though; the real clue was the curve of his belly visible during his movements!

Of course, it could have been her imagination; Lizhi was naturally so slender that it was hard to spot any physical changes.

"Good heavens, this looks exactly like the time you were carrying Changsui," Jiang Zhuzhu said, dumbfounded.

Although Jiang Baiye wanted nothing more than to shout the news to the whole world, business at the estate was booming and there were many eyes and ears around. He had arranged a secluded delivery room for Lizhi, and the only people allowed near were those they trusted implicitly. "Don't panic—stay calm!" Granny Li lived up to her experience as a former midwife; even when faced with an unprecedented situation, she quickly composed herself.

"I told you Li-zhi's body was developing too fast; the baby likely won't make it to full term—labor is starting."

At these words, Jiang Baiye’s fingertips began to tremble. "What do we do? Why is this happening? Will they be alright?"

Under normal circumstances, a baby needs at least seven months of gestation to be sufficiently developed for a good chance of survival, yet Li-zhi had barely reached the six-month mark!

Lu Li-zhi, his brow beaded with sweat, grasped Jiang Baiye’s hand. "It’s alright; I feel okay. The pains come in waves—you should step outside for now."

Jiang Baiye was reluctant to leave, yet there was so much to attend to outside; he dared not imagine the consequences if something went wrong at any stage. Watching him walk out, looking back at every step with evident reluctance, Lu Lizhi breathed a sigh of relief; he did not want the other man to see him in such an undignified state. "Granny Li, you should step out too."

Granny Li, who was in the middle of adjusting the baby's position, widened her eyes. "What nonsense are you spouting? Stop fooling around—save your strength for the delivery!"

"I mean it." Lu Lizhi spoke clearly and calmly. "Physician Pang said the baby isn't too big and the delivery should go smoothly. I can sense the baby's condition; she’s being very well-behaved."

Soon after, Physician Pang arrived in a rush and confirmed that labor had indeed begun. "He’s been well-nourished; there’s no danger, and the baby is in the correct position."

Once satisfied that Lu Lizhi faced no major risks, Physician Pang prescribed a tonic to replenish his energy and some postpartum recovery medicine, then stepped outside to comfort Jiang Baiye, who looked even more of a wreck than Lu Lizhi.

Jiang Baiye had somehow managed to carry over a snow-white, clean ewe; his eyes held the same dazed look as the sheep's, clearly showing he was gripped by sheer terror.

He Shi and the others grabbed him and asked repeatedly, "Is that the ewe for the milk?"

"There’s a dairy cow, too—I specifically had someone bring it from a distant land." Of course, Jiang Baiye certainly couldn't carry a cow. He thought this numbly as he hugged the ewe tighter, as if doing so could grant him an endless supply of strength. Jiang Jingzhu and his wife felt their throats go dry; they wanted to say something, yet the situation seemed too absurd to be true. However, the sight of servants bustling in and out—heating water, handing over supplies, and brewing medicine—made one thing undeniable:

They were *really* about to welcome a grandchild!

Overjoyed, Madam He suddenly slapped her forehead. "I need to go in and check; it’s too dangerous for Lizhi to give birth like this!"

But just as she reached the doorway, she ran into Granny Li, who emerged with a grim expression and pulled the door shut behind her. "He wants to deliver the baby himself."

"What?!" Jiang Baiye instantly exploded; clutching the lamb, he made to barge right in. Madam He was frantic, too. "That child is being far too reckless!"

Granny Li stopped them. "He said he’s learned how to deliver a baby and knows what to do. He promised to call us if things truly go wrong, but he’s very self-conscious about having us there—he likely wouldn't be able to give birth at all if we were watching."

Madam He froze in her tracks. Jiang Baiye pursed his lips but forced his way inside anyway. As he pulled the door shut, he saw Lu Lizhi startle—clearly, he was deeply uncomfortable with the idea of ​​anyone witnessing this moment. His eyes instantly reddened. "It's me."

"I don't mind at all. Li-zhi, do we really need to draw such a line between us?"

"Mm... so please, go outside." Lu Li-zhi was managing for the moment—the pain hadn't yet reached its peak—but he knew the worst was still to come. "Hurry and leave; let me give birth in peace, on my own."

Jiang Bai-ye kissed his forehead. "I'm not leaving. I'll stay here and look after you. What if something went wrong while you were in here alone?"

Lu Li-zhi glanced at the ewe Jiang Bai-ye was holding—an animal he seemed to have momentarily forgotten about. It, too, was gazing at him with watery eyes, just like Jiang Bai-ye; he realized then just how tense the other man was.

A wave of tenderness washed over him in return. Lu Li-zhi propped himself up and kissed the corner of Jiang Bai-ye's mouth.

"Jiang Bai-ye, I love you..."

Jiang Bai-ye deepened the kiss for a fleeting moment before pulling away abruptly and standing up.

Yet, Lu Li-zhi tasted a single salty drop that had landed on his lips. His heart surged with a searing, powerful emotion.

Hearing the door close, he drank the medicine nearby and bit down on the wooden stick prepared beforehand; beads of sweat instantly poured down...

Not a single cry was heard—not even the faintest whimper. Outside, pacing back and forth in the corridor, the wait felt endless.

After a long while, Lu Li-zhi...

Every time he looked over, the other man was still there, huddled in the corner holding the sheep, his eyes redder than ever. As dusk fell, Physician Pang made a judgment call and said in a grave voice, "Go and check on the situation."

A stir ran through the crowd; Granny Li, too, feared the worst. Yet, before she could push the door open, another figure stepped in front of her even faster.

At that very moment—just as the door swung open—a loud, lusty cry from a newborn pierced the heavy atmosphere...

It sent a powerful jolt through everyone's hearts!

An overwhelming wave of emotion swept over them; the brief silence was born of awe at the new life, followed immediately by heartfelt joy and excitement!

"The baby is here! The baby is born!"

"Thank goodness... *sob*..."

"Quick, hurry and check on Lizhi—it’s been such an ordeal!"

After cutting the umbilical cord and confirming the baby was safe, Lu Lizhi finally allowed himself to drift into unconsciousness, his mind at ease.

As he slumped over, he felt himself caught in an embrace that was broad and strong, yet trembling slightly.

Jiang Baiye, catching the heavy scent of blood filling the room, felt a lump rise in his throat. He wanted to pull Lu Lizhi close but was terrified of hurting him, so he hurriedly called out, "Physician Pang! Physician Pang!"

After a flurry of chaotic activity, it was determined that Lu Lizhi was merely suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, and some blood loss; restorative herbal decoctions were quickly administered.

By late at night, Lu Lizhi had woken up and regained some of his strength and color; the first thing he saw beside him was a small, warm bundle. "It’s a girl, isn't it?" His voice was incredibly gentle—Jiang Baiye was terrified that raising his voice might wake the baby. "Mm-hmm!"

He was filled with pride and joy.

"Lizhi, you did an amazing job!"

"She looks a bit ugly."

Jiang Baiye: "?"

"My parents said the baby’s eyes and brows look just like mine—exactly like I did when I was little. Say that again?"

"Mm." Lu Lizhi couldn't help but smile. "Did I really give birth to her? Why doesn't she look like me at all?"

"Her nose and mouth look like yours, but her eyes look like mine—dark and deep."

Lu Lizhi’s eyes were a lighter shade—a pale coffee color that gave him a distant, aloof air, yet they were also exceptionally clear. Looking at the baby now, she truly hadn't inherited that trait from him at all.

"If people see her, they might mistake her for a child you had with someone else."

The baby immediately let out a dissatisfied wail; her voice was crisp, loud, and full of vigor. Lu Lizhi hurriedly picked her up to soothe her, and as he gazed at the miniature "Jiang Baiye" in his arms, his expression radiated a profound, indescribable paternal love.

"I have a feeling she’s going to be just as rambunctious as you."

As if she understood, the baby energetically waved her tiny fists. Both fathers were instantly overcome with affection; after playing with her for a while, she was carried off by Madam He and Granny Li, who simply couldn't get enough of her. "Lizhi, you’re worn out today; get some rest quickly—don't ruin your health by staying up!"

Jiang Baiye fed him some more nourishing liquid food. Indeed, Lu Lizhi was utterly exhausted; as soon as he finished eating, he found a comfortable spot in Jiang Baiye’s arms and drifted off to sleep almost immediately.

Heated walls lined the room, keeping it cozy and warm. Jiang Baiye felt this was the most fulfilling and happiest day of his life; a smile remained fixed on his lips, unable to fade.

Jiang Baiye had kept Lu Lizhi confined to the bed, tending to him closely without leaving his side for a moment. After several days, Lu Lizhi was finally allowed out of bed, and he immediately hurried to see the baby—whom he had only been able to visit briefly each day.

In just a few days, the baby—who had initially looked a bit homely—seemed completely transformed. Her eyes were round, bright, and sparkling; she was truly a sight to behold. Despite being an infant who usually wouldn't have much hair yet, she possessed a pair of eyelashes so thick and lush they resembled tiny fans.

"Those eyelashes look just like mine," Lu Lizhi noted with delight. He watched the little one in the cradle blowing bubbles; her bright eyes followed his every movement, and she waved her tiny hands while making eager "ah-ah-ah" sounds.

She was absolutely adorable!

Lu Lizhi carefully picked her up and noticed her skin was fair and rosy-pink. It seemed more and more of her features resembled his own—was this what it felt like to hold the crystallization of their love?

Every detail of her appearance seemed to blend the best traits of both himself and Jiang Baiye. "Jiaojiao has really grown beautifully—she’s inherited the best features from both of you!" Madam He’s face was still stiff from days of non-stop smiling; she hadn't quite recovered yet, and dark circles from sleepless nights spent caring for the baby lingered under her eyes.

Yet, she was brimming with energy; the moment she looked at the little one, that excitement bubbled up again, and she doted on the baby endlessly.

She was also incredibly gentle with Lu Lizhi, speaking softly as if afraid a slightly raised voice might blow him away: "Don't overexert yourself. You’ve just recovered; holding the baby puts a strain on your body."

Lu Lizhi felt fine. Though he appeared frail enough to be blown over by the wind, he was a man, after all—and the baby was tiny, no bigger than a kitten at birth.

He asked Granny Li, who confirmed the details: "She was barely four jin—much lighter than other babies. But Physician Pang checked her over and said she’s perfectly healthy. She’s been growing rapidly these past two days, too; her little face has already filled out, and she’s eating heartily..."

As they spoke, the newly minted "nursing dad" arrived with fresh cow's milk and goat's milk. Being cautious, he insisted on boiling them before feeding the baby and Lu Lizhi.

The baby drank goat's milk, while Lu Lizhi drank cow's milk. They used a specially crafted bottle—fitted with a nipple—that allowed the baby to suckle on her own.

"Oh my, our Jiaojiao is just so clever!" The new grandmother turned into a fountain of praise, lavishing compliments on everything the baby did; her words made the little one—who was waving her tiny hands while clutching the bottle—beam with delight, her eyes crinkling into happy crescents. The whole family gathered around the little one, beaming with delight and chattering away as they gazed at her—

"She has the nickname 'Jiaojiao,' but what should her formal name be?"

Jiang Baye and his wife had already been informed by Jiang Baiye that the child would take Lu Lizhi's surname, so they didn't mind the matter much; the very fact that Lizhi had given birth was already a shock and a surprise they were still processing—after all, a baby had actually been created, so what more could they ask for?

"Should we go to the temple and ask a high monk for an auspicious name?"

Jiang Baiye was considering names inspired by medicinal herbs, while Lu Lizhi was thinking of lines from poetry and literature to find something meaningful.

The family debated the issue without reaching a consensus. Then, Shen Feng—who hadn't appeared in a long while—dropped by, hoping for a meal. He was surprised to find a tiny infant there—one who showed no fear of strangers—and took a closer look.

"Wow, what round eyes!" He couldn't resist taking the baby into his arms; the more he looked at her, the more he took a liking to her, and then he suddenly blurted out something astonishing:

"I want to take her on as my apprentice!"

Lu Lizhi was taken aback, thinking to himself that this man was truly unpredictable. Knowing how much Shen Feng disliked trouble—to the point where even Lu Lizhi found it difficult to get him to teach anything—it was shocking to see him being so proactive. While the others were still bewildered, Jiang Baiye’s eyes lit up, and he hurriedly agreed, "That’s a great idea. There is a concept called 'early childhood education'—meaning instruction begins at a very young age. If the little one grows up immersed in such an environment, he’s sure to become exceptionally bright."

Shen Feng nodded. "That makes sense!"

"But the child certainly needs to stay with his father; it would be too pitiful for him to miss out on a father's love."

"Exactly." Shen Feng was overcome with affection; how could such an adorable little tot bear to be away from his family for long?

"So, you might as well teach the child's father while you're at it."

Lu Lizhi: "?"

Shen Feng: "..."

Far away in Jiangyi, Master Lu seemed to hear the faint sound of someone calculating on an abacus...