Chapter 6

“Mother, eat something.” Jiang Xinghua said as she brought in a small pot of black glutinous rice and brown sugar porridge.

That was especially good in helping to replenish the blood and energy of women who had just given birth.

She had also cooked a bowl of egg custard for her mother-in-law. This would help in nourishing her body so she could produce milk for her newborn sister-in-law.

“Grandma, have a bowl too.”

“Yes, Mother, please have some too.”

Jiang Xinghua filled the first bowl and handed it to Old Mrs Fu.

The fragrance of the glutinous rice filled the entire room. Old Mrs Fu swallowed.

She was indeed a little hungry.

However, knowing the financial situation at home, she waved her hand. “Don’t, don’t, don’t. There’s only so much food. Second Daughter-in-law, you can eat them yourself. You have to eat and drink well to take care of Sweetie.”

It was better for her to starve than to starve her Sweetie.

How could she, a daughter-in-law, eat while her mother-in-law was not eating?

Mdm Fu explained that she didn’t have much appetite after giving birth and insisted for Old Mrs Fu to eat.

Old Mrs Fu knew her intentions only all too well.

Their family was so poor and starved of food that they could easily gobble down a cow. How could it be possible for her to not have the appetite?

“All right, then.”

After that, Jiang Xinghua helped Mdm Fu to wash up. Thereafter, she prepared to make lunch.

“Wait, Xinghua. Where’s Guimei?”

There was no sign of her just now. Only Jiang Xinghua was busy with the chores around the house.

“She is feeling unwell from her period, and hence she has gone back to her room to lie down. It’s fine, Mother. I can handle the chores at home.” Jiang Xinghua smiled and went out of the room.

“What a lazy person.”

Mdm Fu’s expression hardened.

Of the two daughters-in-law, one was so diligent, whereas the other was so lazy and often found excuses to slack off.

Why can’t they balance out a little?

Old Mrs Fu said with experience, “Xinghua, you have to teach Guimei her place from time to time. Otherwise, she might get on top of you in the future and cause trouble.”

Mdm Fu knew what she meant.

Second Fu didn’t go anywhere and just stayed there, waiting for his daughter to wake up.

He was more nervous than anyone else at the slightest movement of his daughter.

Every once in a while, his face would break into a grin.

“By the way, we should give our Sweetie a name,” said Old Mrs Fu.

“Oh yes, what should we name her?” Mdm Fu asked Second Fu.

Second Fu was more knowledgeable about language than her.

“We must ensure that we give her a good name. Don’t do it carelessly.” Mdm Fu instructed.

It wasn’t a big deal for a boy to have a tacky name.

However, a girl’s maiden name would follow her for the rest of her life. They have to take more caution in ensuring that it’s a good one.

Especially since their Fu family only had one girl, this must be of a high standard.

Mdm Fu had the same thoughts.

“Definitely. Let me think about it.” Second Fu tilted his head and put on a serious look.

Not only should the name have a good meaning and be nice-sounding, but it also should leave a splendid impression.

“How about Ru Hua1?”

Beautiful, just like a flower.

As soon as he finished speaking, Old Mrs Fu and Mdm Fu shot him looks of disdain.

They had expected him to come up with something extraordinary after thinking for so long.

And that’s it?!

“Ruhua? You might as well call her Meihua1. This is such a common name in the village. How can my Sweetie share the same common, overused name as others?” Old Mrs Fu shot criticisms at him.

It was simply atrocious.

Second Fu lowered his head with shame upon the critics.

Mdm Fu added, “I don’t want any Mei1 or Zhaodi2 in her name. Those are all too common. We have to showcase our daughter’s uniqueness.”

This would be a difficult talk.

If he had known to expect this earlier, he would have studied for a few more years in the past.

Just as they were fretting over the perfect name, Second Fu had a eureka moment. “I know! Why don’t we name our daughter Fu Xing’er, nickname Fubao1? The Xing is not the Xing like our son Daxing2, but the Xing3 as in the starlight! Our daughter is as beautiful and dazzling as the stars in the sky, bringing us many blessings.

Second Fu felt that he had used up all the knowledge he had in his entire life on giving his daughter a perfect name.

“Fu Xing’er. It’s really nice-sounding. The nickname, Fubao, has a good meaning too.” Mdm Fu repeated the name a few times and took a liking to it. “Mother, what do you think?”

“Sweetie is indeed a blessing to us. Let’s go with this name.”

Seeing that both of them were satisfied, Second Fu finally heaved a sigh of relief.

“Fubao, our little Fubao.”

On the roadside.

Fu Daxing and Fu Erxing were out with an ax each. Ever since the addition of a sister at home, the two brothers had been walking with great strides.

They had a smug expression on them, as if saying: I have a sister, hence I’ll never be tired.

Of course, no matter where they went, they would be questioned by curious villagers.

“Daxing, Erxing, did your mother really give birth to a daughter? It’s not a blunder?” The villagers could not help but tease.

They were worried that their happiness would be dashed if it was indeed a blunder.

No matter what outsiders said, they were sure about it.

How could this be fake!

Fu Daxing answered, “Yes, really, I have a sister now.”

Fu Erxing also said, “Yes, I have a sister too.”

At the mention of their sister, both brothers turned extremely proud and straightened their backs.

People used to wonder if the ancestors of the Fu Family might have offended women in the past.

All the women who married into the Fu Family had only sons.

Others couldn’t have sons even if they wanted them. Yet the Fu family could not stop having sons.

Everyone was so envious of them.

By right, with the increasing number of boys, the wealth of the family should rise as well.

However, that did not happen.

Instead, it went the opposite way.

The more boys they had, the poorer the family became. They became so poor that the only things they had left were their heads.

Unlucky and strange occurrences also followed.

Every few steps, they encountered the same question.

“Daxing, did your mother give birth to a sister?”

“Are you sure it’s a sister?”

It couldn’t be helped. It was too unbelievable for the Fu family to have a girl, hence it had caused much gossip everywhere.

“Yes, yes, I have a sister,” Fu Daxing replied with a smile.

He didn’t feel annoyed at all by the constant questions. Instead, he was overjoyed.

They turned a corner, almost reaching the foot of the mountain.

Each time he saw that someone was walking towards them, Fu Erxing would answer extremely quickly, “Yes, we have a sister.”

Fu Daxing repeated, “We have a sister. The only little girl in our family.”

“I haven’t even asked, and you already know.”

The brothers smiled gleefully.

Of course they know!

They had already been asked countless times on their way back.

As a result, whenever they saw someone approaching them later, they took the initiative to inform them that they had a sister, before anyone asked.

This news spread not only in the village, but also in several neighboring villages.

It was very widespread.

Their ears finally got to enjoy some peace after they walked up the mountain.

“Big Brother, Little Sister will definitely receive the most attention in the village in the future. We must protect her well and ensure that no harm will come to her.”

A rare trace of roughness appeared on Fu Daxing’s gentle face. “Of course! I won’t let anyone off if they dare to hurt my little sister.”

The two brothers began to chop firewood with all their might.

They visualized the trees in front of them to be money that could be exchanged for their sister’s food and clothes. This gave them energy and made them chop the trees faster and with more zest.

One stack after another.

They were extremely efficient.

In the blink of an eye, noon arrived.

“Big Brother, let’s go back and eat first. After eating, we’ll sell them in town and buy some carps.” Fu Erxing said as he wiped his sweat. Both their faces were scorched red from the sun. Their clothes were so drenched that sweat could be wrung out of them easily.

“Okay.”

Both tied as much firewood as they could on their backs and were about to walk down the mountain.

Suddenly, they heard a cracking sound, like something falling.

Alarmed, they took a few steps back.

Something continued to fall continuously in front of them with a few thuds.

Fu Erxing took a closer look and couldn’t suppress the excitement in his voice. “Pigeons, they are pigeons.”