After the New Year's Eve dinner, Song Cheng, with Ting in tow, made his way to Madam Tong's room.
Madam Tong had become pregnant in March of the previous year, and if all went normally, she was expected to give birth in about a month.
However, at this time last year, Miss An had suffered a brutal and near-fatal childbirth.
Therefore, Song Cheng was understandably worried that Madam Tong might face the same ordeal.
At the moment, he sat on a wooden chair by the window, lifting Ting onto his lap, while Madam Tong busied herself on the side with a concoction of strange incenses, claiming they could warm the body and fend off the cold, beneficial for a pregnant woman...
Song Cheng leaned forward slightly, letting Ting touch Madam Tong's swollen belly, and whispered softly, "Inside is your little sister, or perhaps, your little brother."
Ting curiously poked around from left to right.