The day she completed her postpartum confinement, after an early breakfast, Shen Mingzhu used the two largest pots in the house to boil water, ready to give herself a thorough wash from head to toe.
The water she boiled was all infused with mugwort.
Pei Yang had picked up some folk remedy from somewhere, saying that bathing with mugwort water on the day one finishes confinement could promote blood circulation and expel the cold and dampness from the body, so he had specially gone to the countryside to cut two big bundles and bring them back.
After the mugwort water was ready, she poured it into the bathtub and soaked comfortably for half an hour.
Once done, Shen Mingzhu felt as if she was several pounds lighter.
Although she had taken a few baths during her confinement, she was always worried about catching a cold. Every time she hurriedly wiped herself with a bathing cloth and then quickly dried off and dressed, it was never quite satisfying.
