Chapter 3: Giving Little Nine a Prenatal Bath

“Is it solely my fault for not having a son? Don’t you think I want a son? Of course I do…” Liu Fangfang had always been gentle and timid. After giving birth to several daughters, she became even more withdrawn and insecure. She never dared to retort when scolded or defend herself when beaten. But today, for some unknown reason, she suddenly lost her temper and even snapped back at Yuan Yuezhú.

Perhaps she had simply endured too much and could no longer bear it, which caused this sudden change in her temperament.

Tang Jiancheng finally understood why Liu Fangfang in her previous life had taken her own life by drinking pesticide just two days after Little Nine’s death—it was unbearable pain, deep depression, utter despair that extinguished all hope.

“Oh, Liu Fangfang, look at you now—so bold, even talking back! If you can’t have a son, whose fault could it possibly be?” Yuan Yuezhú narrowed her eyes, hands on her hips, and started berating her fiercely. “You can’t have a son and you want to blame Jiancheng? I’ll tell you, if it weren’t for back then…”

Before Yuan Yuezhú could start dredging up old grievances again, Tang Jiancheng quickly pushed his mother out of the room.

“Jiancheng, why are you pushing me? I’m telling you, a wife needs to be disciplined; otherwise, she’ll just make a mess!” Yuan Yuezhú snapped, angrily shaking off his hands.

Listening to his mother’s words, Tang Jiancheng felt speechless.

She is also my father’s wife, after all.

Why must women make things difficult for other women?

If this were the old days, Tang Jiancheng would have wholeheartedly agreed with his mother. But after more than forty years of life’s twists and turns—especially on his seventieth birthday, when he spent it alone with a big yellow dog—he had undergone a profound transformation in his views.

“Mom, look, Dad really is back. Go back and cook, okay?”

Fortunately, at that moment, Tang Genshui and Tang Jianbing returned through the heavy snow.

Yuan Yuezhú stomped her foot in frustration and went back home.

Tang Jiancheng returned to his room and saw Liu Fangfang sitting on the edge of the bed, holding Little Nine and quietly crying. He quickly comforted her, “Don’t cry. You know how my mom is—she’s very biased toward sons and treats daughters unfairly. Don’t take it to heart.”

Hearing this, Liu Fangfang was surprised.

In the past, if she dared to talk back to his mother, Tang Jiancheng would have slapped her long ago.

But today, not only did he not hit her, he gently comforted her.

Was the sun really rising in the west?

But soon, Liu Fangfang recalled their earlier discussion about selling their daughters. Could it be that he was now trying to win her over so she would agree to let him sell their daughter?

Thinking this, Liu Fangfang’s tears grew even heavier.

What had been quiet sobbing became loud wailing as she clutched Little Nine.

The crying attracted Tang Genshui and Tang Jianbing, who had just come home.

Their two families lived next door, less than ten meters apart, so any noise was easily heard.

Tang Genshui stood at the door of Tang Jiancheng’s house but didn’t enter. After all, his daughter-in-law was still in confinement, and as father-in-law, it was inappropriate to intrude. He called out loudly, “What’s going on now? Can’t you be quiet for even one day? Crying and wailing every day makes you a laughingstock!”

“Hmph! That jinx can’t have a son herself and wants to blame Jiancheng! Does she want to defy heaven? We shouldn’t have married her in the first place! Our Jiancheng is talented and handsome; he could have married any woman he wanted. It’s all her fault for being cheap back then. Look at us now, a joke to everyone!”

Yuan Yuezhú was cooking in the kitchen and couldn’t help but retort loudly.

“Can you please say less?” Tang Genshui snapped.

He was equally frustrated. His fourth son had been married for over ten years and had many children, but all were daughters. He also endured plenty of gossip and ridicule from villagers.

“Dad, it’s fine. You’ve worked hard all day. Go back and eat; get some rest. We can handle our own matters,” Tang Jiancheng said as he stepped outside and persuaded Tang Genshui to return home. Then he closed his own door tightly to prevent any further disturbance.

He thought to himself that when they rebuilt their house early next year, they must make sure to live farther away from his parents.

His eldest, second, and third brothers had all chosen to live far away, which brought much peace—and largely because they each had several sons.

Tang Jiancheng returned to Liu Fangfang’s side and suddenly pulled her into his arms.

Liu Fangfang stiffened instantly.

This was still a very conservative era. Not only was physical contact like hugging taboo, even making eye contact and speaking to one another could cause embarrassment. Holding hands was considered improper behavior, yet Tang Jiancheng suddenly embraced her openly.

Though they had been married for over a decade, they only ever embraced at night under the covers, in the dark. To hold her in broad daylight, even inside their own room, made Liu Fangfang feel unbearably shy.

She wanted to push him away, but deep down, she longed for this embrace.

She was utterly exhausted and desperately needed a broad chest to lean on. At that moment, Tang Jiancheng held her tightly, pressing her head against his chest, giving her a sense of safety and solid support she had never known.

“Fangfang, I was wrong before. I shouldn’t have looked down on our daughters or you, nor should I have scolded or hit you. From now on, I’ll treat you all better!” Tang Jiancheng spoke softly. “Stop crying. I heard that crying too much during confinement can cause blindness and headaches!”

Liu Fangfang gradually stopped sobbing and shifted to quiet sniffles.

“All right, let’s give Little Nine her cleansing bath. Otherwise, the water will get cold.”

Tang Jiancheng released her and tested the water in the wooden tub. It was fine, so he brought it over to Liu Fangfang.

She looked up at him with surprise and confusion, but also a rare softness and joy. In her heart, she thought it was rare to feel such tenderness from this man—even if it was an act to deceive her, she was willing to accept it.

Even if he really intended to sell their daughter, she would just pretend not to know.

To be honest, in the deeply patriarchal village of Daping, Liu Fangfang harbored the same preference for sons. But since she had never given birth to a son, even if she wanted one, there was none to favor.

Liu Fangfang quickly undressed Little Nine and placed her in the wooden tub. One hand supported her head while the other gently washed her.

Tang Jiancheng sat nearby, peeling the shells off two boiled eggs and handing them to Liu Fangfang.

She rolled the smooth, white eggs over Little Nine’s body. Tang Jiancheng watched for a long time but saw no difference, so he asked, “Does this really work?”

Liu Fangfang replied, “Of course it does. Otherwise, how could our ancestors have passed this down?”

“I don’t see any difference at all,” Tang Jiancheng said.

“Peel the egg white off and look at the yolk,” Liu Fangfang instructed.

“What’s the explanation for that?”

Tang Jiancheng peeled away the egg white, and his eyes widened in shock. The yolk had turned black, covered with small protruding spikes!