Xiaochen sat alone on the bed in her room, leaning against the pillow, looking out the window.

Her eyes were swollen from crying, and tears were still flowing.

She didn't wipe them away, letting the tears reach the corner of her mouth, tasting a bit bitter...

Someone once told her that the quality of the relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law starts from the postpartum period.

At that time, she disagreed.

Her relationship with her mother-in-law was very harmonious.

For two years, they cared for each other, and her mother-in-law would often cook various nourishing soups for her and even give her some extra money for living expenses, acknowledging her hard work.

Yet, she never expected that less than a week into her postpartum period, they would have a conflict over breastfeeding versus formula, leaving her in tears.

Was their years of harmony just superficial?

"Boo-hoo!"

Her son's small cry pulled Xiaochen out of her sorrowful thoughts. She turned her head to see her little one waving his tiny hands and crying.

Xiaochen gently lifted the blanket covering her son, carefully cradling him in her arms, supporting his back and small head delicately, while gently stroking his still soft and smooth hair. She softly comforted him, "Don't cry! It's okay, don't cry!"

However, cradled in Xiaochen's warm and soft arms, the little one cried even louder, "Waa-waaa!"

"Could he have pooped?"

Instinctively, she gently checked the diaper wrapped around his bottom.

It was clean!

"Ah! Seems like he's just woken up hungry..."

Watching her son cry loudly, she felt a mix of heartache and helplessness.

So she wiped her hands with a wet wipe, raised her shirt, and attempted breastfeeding for the first time.

The little guy, possibly because of extreme hunger...

started sucking frantically.

The pain made her let out an "Ah!"

Just then, there was a "knock knock knock" at the door.

Hearing it, she frowned and called out, "Come in."

The door slowly opened, and her mother-in-law entered, carrying a takeout bag.

She pursed her lips and said, "Ma, it's you!"

"Mm... Xiaochen, I just met Li in the neighborhood. She heard you weren't drinking milk, so she gave me a share of nourishing fish soup to bring back for you. She said it's made of bighead carp and is great for recovery and has lactation-inducing properties. It's still warm, would you like to try it?"

Mrs. Cheng smiled awkwardly yet politely as she spoke, placing the food bag on the bedside table and taking out the takeout box.

Concerned that her daughter-in-law might have no appetite but also worried her words might be misunderstood, she added, "It's okay if you don't want to drink it now. I can always heat it up later if you feel like it. If you don't have an appetite and want something lighter, I can make some light dishes for you tonight."

"Mm." Xiaochen nodded politely.

"You should rest. I'll take the little one out and make him some formula. Once the milk comes in, you can breastfeed again!"

Mrs. Cheng reminded her, taking the little one out.

Mrs. Cheng's words comforted Xiaochen a little.

She glanced at the takeout box on the bedside table.

In fact, she used to love fish.

But during her pregnancy, when her mother-in-law was cooking fish soup, the fishy smell hit her, and she couldn't stand it.

Ever since then, she had a physical aversion to the idea of fish.

She thought she'd improve after childbirth, but even now, she couldn't stand the slightest fishy smell, and it killed her appetite.

Yet, taking care of the baby had drained her energy significantly.

Feeling slightly hungry, she realized there was only fish soup at hand without anything else to eat, and she felt embarrassed to trouble her mother-in-law to cook.

"Hmm... Maybe I'll just try a bite? If it's not good, I won't drink it."

With a tentative mindset, she reached for the takeout box and opened the lid.

As soon as it opened, the rich aroma of fish soup filled the room!

The fragrance, like ethereal mist, wafted into her nostrils.

She couldn't help but twitch her delicate little nose.

Huh?

There wasn't even a trace of fishiness.

Instead, there was a fresh and sweet aroma.

Smelling it ignited a sudden desire to drink it all.

For the first time since her postpartum period, she felt the urge to eat!

As the delightful aroma of fish soup filled her senses, her stomach couldn't help but growl.

She picked up a spoon, scooped a bit, and tasted it lightly.

At the first sip of the fish soup, a hint of surprise flickered in her eyes.

This soup tasted too delicious!

The aroma was rich, and the taste was spectacular.

The warm fish soup slowly slid down her esophagus, and an inner warmth burst forth, instantly clearing her mind of any depression and frustration, melting away her weariness.

With her mood lifting, her appetite followed, and she began to devour the fish soup eagerly.

She also tried some of the fish meat inside.

She realized it was astonishingly tender.

With a light bite, it melted in her mouth.

Moreover, it was impeccably prepared with no bones.

This fish meat was definitely the most tender she'd ever eaten, bar none.

Hmm!

Delicious!

So delicious!

Joyfully savoring the tender fish meat and sipping the tasty fish soup, happiness spread across her entire being.

When Mrs. Cheng returned to the daughter-in-law's room holding her sleeping grandson, she was taken aback to see her daughter-in-law eagerly drinking the fish soup.

She rubbed her eyes, thinking she might be seeing things as an older person.

No mistake!

Her daughter-in-law was indeed drinking fish soup.

Oh my!

Wonderful!

Mrs. Cheng almost cried with joy!

Hearing the commotion, Xiaochen turned and saw it was her mother-in-law, her lips curving into a happy smile. "Ma, this fish soup is so good! It's fresh and not fishy at all!"

"Is it? Well, I'll go to the Delicious Restaurant and get you another bowl for dinner, how about that?" Mrs. Cheng said, placing her grandson back onto the bed and gently covering him with a blanket.

"Sure! Thanks, Ma!"

Xiaochen thanked her, considering how hard her mother-in-law had been working to help with the baby and the postpartum care. She thought for a moment and said, "Ma, why don't you get a bowl for yourself too? You've been taking care of me during the postpartum and lost some weight. You should nourish yourself too."

Hearing this, Mrs. Cheng felt a warmth in her heart.

"Okay, I will."

"Ma, earlier... I didn't mean to argue with you; I was just anxious. So... I'm sorry..." Xiaochen said softly.

Hearing this, Mrs. Cheng froze for a moment.

She didn't expect her daughter-in-law to apologize.

Sitting at the edge of the bed, holding Xiaochen's hands, she smiled, "Silly girl, how could I be mad at you? In my eyes, you're still a child. I know opening milk is painful. I've been through it myself. It won't hurt as much after a week."

"Ma, thank you. I'll keep trying to breastfeed."

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