Chapter 2: This is My Younger Sister
"Child's Mother, are you alright?" When Song Dezhu rushed into the room, Wang Guifang was already lying down under the care of Second Grandma.
Having given birth to many children, she didn't think much of it. This birth had been especially smooth; it took only a little over two hours from the start of labor to a successful delivery.
"Shh, keep your voice down. The baby is sleeping." Wang Guifang looked at the child nestled against her arm, and her heart melted.
This child was truly beautiful, exactly like the one in her dream; this was meant to be her daughter.
Song Dezhu indeed tiptoed to the bedside. He leaned in cautiously to look at his little daughter, never expecting that this one look would leave him mesmerized.
"This child, this child..." She was too good-looking.
Unlike other babies who were all wrinkled at birth, this child was like a white, chubby glutinous rice ball.
The way she sucked her tiny mouth with her eyes closed became more endearing the longer he looked.
Song Dezhu, who originally only "loved the house and its crow", felt a surge of intense paternal love the moment he laid eyes on her.
*Love me, love my dog.
He cautiously reached out a hand wanting to touch the child, only to be slapped away by Wang Guifang: "Go, go, go! Your hands are so rough, don't go scratching the baby's face."
She cast a sidelong glance at Song Dezhu: "Don't think I don't know, you weren't that fond of having a daughter before. Why are you so anxious now?"
Song Dezhu rubbed his hands together. "I don't know why, but seeing this girl makes my heart turn to mush. Guifang, I finally know why you wanted a daughter so badly."
This was a completely different experience from having a son. She was a tiny little thing, so beautiful, fragrant, and soft; he felt like he wanted to hold her in his mouth to cherish her.
Wang Guifang gave a huff.
"Mom, where's Sister? Let me see her..."
The Song brothers had also entered the room by now.
Song Dezhu immediately glared at them, "Quiet down! Your sister is sleeping, don't wake her up."
The brothers instantly restrained their movements and walked softly to the bedside.
Five heads lined up in a row to observe their little sister, followed by several simultaneous gasps.
The third son, Song Zhixi, murmured with his mouth agape: "So a sister is this beautiful..."
The five brothers had originally felt that if their old lady wanted to give birth to a sister, they’d just go along with it. But seeing the newborn now, they were instantly captivated by her.
Song Zhizhong was the youngest. He stared unblinkingly at his little sister for a while and reached out a restless hand. With a smack, he was quickly stopped by the quick-eyed Wang Guifang.
"Go, go, go! Don't crowd around in this room; it's hot enough as it is. Father of my children, take the kids to boil some hot water. The clothes and diapers I made earlier need washing too. Also, regarding Second Aunt (Second Grandma), it was too busy just now; you need to take something over to thank her."
*Second Aunt/ Grandma - The aunt is a paternal one, second is like Song Dezhu's father's younger brother, his uncle is second in the family.
Song Dezhu agreed, but he took a few more lingering looks before leading his sons away reluctantly.
Song Zhidong led his younger brothers out of the room in a single file. He was fifteen this year and already a young adult. Though he had been short-tempered as a child, he was much more steady now.
He instructed his brothers: "Mom gave birth to Sister and needs to recover properly during her postpartum month. Mom needs to produce enough milk so Sister can grow well. You lot, starting today, look for more food so Mom can nourish her body."
The younger brothers nodded repeatedly. The fifth son, Song Zhizhong, said, "Right, right! Sister is so beautiful; we must raise her well. We can't let our little 'sweet treasure' grow up to look like those sallow-haired girls in the village."
From that day on, the five Song brothers began roaming the mountains, rivers, and trees, gathering bird eggs, catching fish and shrimp.
Their figures could be seen everywhere, from the fields to the treetops.
After two days like this, Wang Guifang remembered to ask Song Dezhu to give the child a name.
In fact, Song Dezhu had been thinking about it ever since he saw the baby. He thought it over and over, but felt no name was worthy of his precious daughter.
Names like "Chun" (Spring), "Hua" (Flower), or "Cao" (Grass) were all too mediocre.
His daughter was as precious as a pearl or a gem; she couldn't have one of those cheap names.
"Alas, how about calling her Baozhu? Baozhu, Mama's heart and soul, a bright little pearl." Wang Guifang’s eyes lit up as she made the suggestion.
Hearing this, Song Dezhu slapped his thigh. "Baozhu, Song Baozhu! This name is fantastic. Is she not exactly our 'Treasured Pearl'?"
And so, the name of the Song family's little daughter was settled: Song Baozhu, with the nickname Zhuzhu.
Soon it was time for the Third-Day Bath ceremony.
After discussing it, Song Dezhu and Wang Guifang invited well-connected families in the village to help organize it.
In this era, a single potato or a bowl of corn was a good thing; no family had surplus grain. Many people in the village didn't hold a ceremony at all when a child was born; at most, close friends would stop by for a look.
"I didn't expect Old Song the Second to hold a ceremony for a mere slip of a girl. His wife has gone mad wanting a daughter, and has he become muddled right along with her?"
"What do you care? I heard there will be corn porridge to eat at the ceremony. If his family is hosting, we'll go."
Corn porridge was a luxury. The famine had only just passed, and it wasn't long ago that people made do by boiling a few vegetable leaves in a large bowl of water to last the whole day.
On the day of the ceremony, many villagers of Xiangfu Village came to the door with gifts.
Some brought a handful of vegetables, some brought an egg, and others brought small fish and shrimp caught from the river.
This was the result of Song Dezhu and Wang Guifang's generous nature; these were already considered generous gifts.
"Guifang, I heard this little daughter of yours is exceptionally beautiful. Bring her out and let us have a look!"
It was no secret in Xiangfu Village that Wang Guifang wanted a daughter; now that they saw her wish had been fulfilled, several women who were on good terms with her teased her.
Wang Guifang was beaming: "Alright, I'll bring her out for you to see right now. But let's get this straight, once you've seen her, don't go thinking about stealing my daughter."
Everyone burst into laughter: "Don't you worry. It's not like our families don't have daughters."
If it were a son, families without children might truly find him precious, but who would find a baby girl that rare?
A moment later, Wang Guifang carried Song Baozhu out. It was hot out, so there was no need to worry about the child catching a chill, and Wang Guifang generously showed off the apple of her eye to the villagers with great pride.
Three days had passed, and Song Baozhu had grown even more beautiful. Her whole being was like a milky-white peanut, so cute you'd want to swallow her in one bite.
Initially, everyone thought Wang Guifang was bragging.
Who hadn't given birth to a child?
Newborns were usually all wrinkled with indistinguishable features, looking like little monkeys.
No matter how good-looking she was, how good-looking could she really be?
Unexpectedly, this little daughter of the Song family was truly different.
As she was held by Wang Guifang, Song Baozhu opened her eyes. Her eyes, like a pair of black pearls, stared fixedly at the uncles and aunties in the courtyard for a moment, and then she suddenly grinned and laughed.
"Oh my goodness! This child is too adorable. Guifang, you were right, I really do want to take this child home and raise her."
The woman who had just been so certain that Wang Guifang was bragging was now so charmed by Song Baozhu’s smile that she lost her head, truly wishing she could snatch her away and take her home to raise.
Before she could even get close, Old Fifth, Song Zhizhong, and Old Fourth, Song Zhibei, simultaneously blocked the way in front of Song Baozhu: "Auntie, this is our younger sister."
Author's Note:
Old Fifth and Old Fourth: Why do you want to steal our sister? Don't you have a sister in your own home?
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