Chapter 61: Preparations in Spring and Silken Bonds

The morning sun filtered gently through the lace curtains as Jia Lan sat at her vanity, adjusting a pearl hairpin in her neatly coiled bun. The faint fragrance of camellia lingered in the air—her favorite scent of late. She wore a soft lilac wool qipao with a delicate embroidered plum blossom over the collar, paired with calf-length cream-colored boots, a light mauve overcoat, and her favorite gloves. A satin ribbon tied at her waist completed the graceful silhouette. She glanced at herself in the mirror, her smile polished and serene, but her mind already running through a checklist.

Today's outing was not for leisure but for purpose. Xu Li was due in just a few weeks, and the Jia family wanted everything ready to welcome the new life. Jia Lan's mother had suggested a quiet shopping trip to the State Department Store—one of the few places that still held dependable stock of baby essentials. Milk powder, baby blankets, feeding bottles, and postpartum supplies would be on the list. And of course, Jia Lan's system rewards from the morning had added a spring to her step: a warm energy tonic, a delicate silk handkerchief embroidered with roses, and a generous deposit of 800 yuan into her personal space.

As she finished preparing, Jia Lan gave herself one last look. She twirled slightly in the mirror. "Not bad," she whispered to herself with a grin. "Shopping mission: elegance mode, activated."

Downstairs, breakfast was already being set by the house aunt who served her grandparents. The table glowed with simple but nourishing offerings—soft tofu in soy sauce, spring onion pancakes, warm millet porridge, and pickled radish. Grandmother Jia sat sipping tea, while Grandfather Jia flipped through the newspaper.

"Going out today, Lan'er?" Grandfather Jia asked without looking up.

"Yes, Grandfather. Mama and I are getting supplies for Xu Li and the baby."

"Good, good," he said with a nod. "Best to prepare early. Spring may be gentle, but babies come when they please."

Mother Jia stepped into the room in her jade green shawl and beige trousers. "Are you ready, Lan'er?"

"Ready and well-fed," Jia Lan said, finishing her tea. "Let's go make Xu Li cry tears of joy with how thoughtful we are."

The city streets were still damp from the early spring rain, but the sidewalks bustled with quiet movement. With ration tickets in hand and cloth bags slung over their arms, Jia Lan and her mother made their way to the grand State Department Store. Inside, warm light gleamed off polished tile floors, and the glass counters reflected the orderly crowd of customers—some exchanging coupons, others debating fabric choices.

Their first stop was the infant goods section. Jia Lan picked up two imported feeding bottles and a box of German-made talcum powder. Her mother carefully inspected four tins of milk powder stacked behind the glass case, ensuring the seals were intact.

"We'll take four," Mother Jia said decisively, sliding over the ration slips.

Nearby, Jia Lan found a pile of soft cotton baby blankets, two in pale yellow, two in soft green. "Xu Li will need these for layering. Let's get all four."

Her mother nodded approvingly, smiling at Jia Lan's thoughtfulness. They added baby towels, swaddles, and knitted booties to their basket. Afterward, they moved to the women's care aisle, where they chose herbal bath sachets and a maternity waist binder.

"These will help Xu Li recover faster after delivery," Jia Lan noted.

"She's lucky to have you," her mother said, placing a hand gently on her arm. "You've grown into someone reliable and graceful."

Jia Lan blinked, her usual calm nearly breaking with emotion. "I just want her to feel at ease. She's carrying the next generation, after all."

Once they had finished at the State Department Store, they made their way to a nearby tailoring shop. Jia Lan insisted on buying a soft blue maternity jacket for Xu Li—hand-stitched and lightly padded. Her mother added a packet of red date tea to their bags, murmuring, "Strength for the new mother."

They passed a stall selling handmade toys and wooden rattles. Jia Lan paused, eyes lighting up at a simple but well-crafted rabbit rattle. "This one," she said, handing it to the shopkeeper. "A cheerful sound for a cheerful baby."

By the time they returned home, the sun had dipped low, painting golden streaks across the rooftops. The car door clicked shut, and Jia Lan carried two of the heavier bags while her mother insisted on holding the more delicate parcels.

"Let's unpack these in Xu Li's room," Jia Lan said. "She'll be delighted."

Xu Li, upon seeing the haul, was genuinely touched. "All this... you didn't have to."

"But we wanted to," Mother Jia said, patting her hand. "You're not just a daughter-in-law—you're our child now."

As Xu Li sorted through the items, she chuckled softly at the patterned baby booties. "These are so tiny. It's hard to believe…"

Jia Lan sat beside her and placed a hand gently on her swollen belly. "Soon. And when she arrives, she'll be wrapped in the best our family can give."

"I'm so glad it's here... this kind of life," Xu Li murmured. "Even when there's tension from my side of the family, here I feel... whole."

Mother Jia smiled warmly. "That's how it should be."

That evening, after a warm dinner of lotus root soup, pan-fried eggplant, and stir-fried greens, Jia Lan retreated to her room. She tucked away the silk handkerchief from the system reward into her keepsake drawer.

Before sitting to study, she opened the window for a breath of fresh air. The faint sound of crickets had returned, signaling that spring had settled in for good.

She brewed a light chrysanthemum tea and opened her study materials, flipping to the mock test papers gifted by her system. Her handwriting was neat, her desk orderly. She marked the date in the corner of the first page and began with a focused calm.

The baby's supplies were ready. Xu Li had smiled all day. Her family was thriving.

And Jia Lan? She was exactly where she was meant to be.