The Fallen Medicine Woman: The Daily Life of Chun Nuan-Chapter 420 - 242: Confinement and Matchmaking

Chun Nuan’s postpartum recovery was different from that of others.

She was not in a hurry to eat foods typically thought to be nourishing.

"I’m always in good health. I’ll eat as usual."

Though she had hired a wet nurse, Chun Nuan also decided to breastfeed, planning to take milk-reducing medicine three months later.

As a medical practitioner, she understood the many benefits of breastfeeding for women.

Chun Nuan meticulously recorded everything, so there would be documentation to refer to, and she felt that experiencing things gave one the right to speak about them.

A healthy body doesn’t need excessive nourishment; a mix of coarse and refined grains, along with moderate movement, aids recovery.

Zhu Lingling was quite surprised when she visited Chun Nuan.

"Second Sister, how do you do it?"

It was truly unbelievable.

Despite eating poorly during her pregnancy with Yang, she gained a lot of weight.

After giving birth, her waist had expanded by a whole ring, and her body was never the same as when she was a young woman.

But Chun Nuan was different, having had a child less than half a month ago and appearing as if she hadn’t been pregnant at all.

Her overall energy was excellent, with a rosy complexion.

Truly enviable.

"Our young mistress spends little time lying in bed, getting up every hour to walk for the time it takes incense to burn; her diet is balanced, including coarse grains."

Bai Zhi had a say in this, feeling that the young mistress didn’t view herself as a postpartum woman.

Her lifestyle before and after pregnancy remained the same.

"Second Sister really knows how to take care of herself."

Zhu Lingling once again felt that learning piano, chess, books, and painting was useless back then; Chun Nuan’s medical skills, knowing how to cure people, could even help earn a living in times of difficulty.

Hence, it’s true that having multiple skills is never a burden.

When the child was brought out, Zhu Lingling was full of admiration.

"Wasn’t he just over six pounds at birth?"

In just half a month, he had grown plump, his little hands resembling lotus roots. Zhu Lingling couldn’t resist holding them.

"The boy can eat and sleep, both the wet nurse and Nuannuan are feeding him," Bai Zhi said. "Our boy is truly blessed."

"What’s the boy’s name?"

Zhu Lingling wanted to hold him but suddenly found herself a bit unfamiliar with holding a child again after a few years.

The wet nurse quickly wrapped him in a small quilt and placed him in her arms.

"Zhao Yongchang," Chun Nuan felt the name wasn’t that impressive, but there was nothing she could do: "The child’s grandfather named him, his nickname is Yuanyuan."

In the Zhao family’s genealogy, this generation’s names all start with Yong.

Chang means prosperity, flourishing, and development. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Because the child was born on the day his second uncle set off for the capital to take the examination, Zhao Chengxun thought it was surely a good omen, hence naming his grandson Zhao Yongchang.

"Yuanyuan?"

"Yes, it means rounded and full." Chun Nuan personally chose the nickname, really, she couldn’t call her son Achang, could she?

"That’s quite a good meaning."

Chun Nuan and Zhu Lingling chatted.

"Recently, matchmakers have been visiting; mother, second aunt, and third aunt are quite busy."

Zhu Lingling came with a task this time: the Zhou family had come with a marriage proposal, wanting to marry Chun Shu.

"The Zhou family?"

"It’s the Zhou family from Mrs. Zhao’s maternal side. Mother asked and found out it’s the second legitimate son of the main family, ranking fourth in the clan."

Mrs. Zhao, from the Zhou family, was part of the second branch, so Chun Nuan was unfamiliar with the main branch of the Zhou family.

"Sister-in-law, wait a moment; I’ll go ask mother."

No matter what, Mrs. Zhou was a very kind person, certainly not one to lie.

When Mrs. Zhao saw Zhu Lingling arrive, after exchanging a few greetings, she deliberately left space for them to chat conveniently as sisters-in-law.

Unexpectedly, she was approached again; what matter could it be?

"Are you talking about the fourth-ranking son of the main branch, named Zhou Qinglin?"

"I think it’s that name."

Zhu Lingling couldn’t quite remember, mainly because the matchmaker continually referred to him as Young Master Zhou Fourth; she remembered only this title.

"The main branch is quite good." Mrs. Zhou nodded. "Lady Yu, the main wife, has a nice personality, knowledgeable and reasonable, not someone who is sharp and mean. But..."

It seems there might be a problem.

"The Zhou family is not like the Zhao family; the Zhou family has many people, almost all having concubines."

Mrs. Zhou advised Zhu Lingling of this, as neither the Zhao family nor the Xiao family had instances of taking concubines, fearing the Xiao family’s girl could suffer grievance. Discovering this issue only after entering the Zhou family would lead to later regrets.

"Zhou Qinglin has studied at private schools for several years and even tried to take the Scholar exam but failed. Later, he followed the elder master in business ventures."

He may lack other skills, but he can support a family.

"The young man looks proper, and overall, he has no major problems."

"Thank you, Mrs. Zhao, for the information."

"No need to thank me; we’re all relatives," said Mrs. Zhou. "The union between two families is meant to strengthen relations, not to become enemies. Open discussions about what can be accepted are better than discovering upsetting matters later."

That’s reasonable.

Zhu Lingling didn’t know what Chun Shu thought about it.

Anyway, she was clear on her standpoint; high-status families in the capital each have their issues. Men who don’t take concubines are very few.

Whatever she heard at the Zhao family, she relayed precisely to her mother-in-law, Mrs. Xu, after returning to the Xiao family.

"Shu’er, did you hear what your sister-in-law found out? Do you think there’s room to discuss further?"

Mrs. Xu was quite helpless too; currently, both Chun Shu and Chunyan were at the age to discuss marriage, but finding an ideal groom in Changzhou was really challenging.

To find a suitable husband truly required searching extensively.

Among the families proposing, the Zhou family seemed genuinely sincere.

Furthermore, the Zhou family counted as a distinguished family in Changzhou.

"Mother, may I meet him?"

Chun Shu thought, regardless, it’s better to meet him, check how he looks.

Moreover, exchange a few words to probe the situation; she didn’t want a blind marriage.

"Then I must ask Chun Nuan to help."

It’s inappropriate for unmarried men and women to meet privately, but with Chun Nuan in the Zhao family, asking Mrs. Zhao, from the Zhou family, for assistance was probably doable.

Chun Nuan received the message from Mrs. Xu and asked her mother-in-law, Mrs. Zhao, for help.

"No problem; on your full-month celebration, I’ll invite Lady Yu and Zhou Qinglin to come over. Then Miss Shu’er can meet him."

"Thank you, mother."

"There’s no need to thank me; you call me mother, don’t you? It’s just a wave of the hand."

Mrs. Zhou commented, "Honestly, Zhou Qinglin is quite presentable, handsome, articulate, and capable of supporting a family."

The only concern is he might take concubines.

This is something many women can’t tolerate.

Back then, Xiao Chunyu was dismissed because she didn’t permit her husband to take concubines.

Of course, Mrs. Zhou also understood the underlying reasons, aware that crossing this line poses challenges for every woman.