"Can’t you say sothing nice to cheer up? I’m so exhausted, yet you can’t even offer a few sweet words?"
She was clearly playing coy.
ng Yuhuai’s face showed a look of difficulty, a mix of embarrassnt and helplessness, his ears reddening as he scratched his head. Finally, bracing himself, he bowed his head and nuzzled her cheek, "Wife, my treasure, you..."
"Pfft!"
Before he could finish, Hua Xiaomai burst out laughing, spraying him with spit and waving her hands, "Oh my, just save it! Even I can’t stand it, let alone you!"
"Hua Xiaomai, can’t you just give a little face!" ng Yuhuai put on an angry face as a joke, but as they were laughing and talking, Nanny Liu Wen pushed the door open and entered.
"Yuhuai, you better leave for now. I need to stay with your wife for another hour to prevent any complications. The baby can stay with his grandma tonight. When it’s ti to feed him, we’ll bring him over, so Xiaomai can get a proper night’s sleep."
It was then that ng Yuhuai finally stood up straight and after giving Hua Xiaomai another look, he saw her smile at him.
"You go on, think about what to na your son in your spare ti. I’ll test you on it tomorrow."
He really wanted to say he had actually thought about it several tis in his heart, but in the end he didn’t say it aloud. He nodded and left the room.
...
That night, apart from Hua Xiaomai, both ng’s mother and ng Yuhuai hardly closed their eyes.
ng’s mother was busy taking care of the newborn grandson, while ng Yuhuai was too restless to sleep. Lying in the side room, he tossed and turned, getting up at every little noise. After several such interruptions and being scolded by his mother a few tis, he finally managed to catch a bit of sleep until the sky was faintly lit by dawn, and he woke up again.
The morning light was soft, and the morning in the courtyard of the ng family arrived with the hearty cries of the baby.
ng’s mother took the baby to Hua Xiaomai, then busied herself with preparing breakfast and set a pot of ginger vinegar and pig’s trotters to stew on the stove.
This thod was taught to her by Mrs. Feng, saying it was very nourishing for both adults and children. So she imdiately learned it and started preparing last month, stewing the ginger vinegar repeatedly every day. A week ago, she added the pig’s trotters, and this morning, she was eager to make it for Hua Xiaomai.
The sweet and sour fragrance wafted through the yard. ng’s mother stood there dyeing eggs red, her hands all red, and when there was a mont to spare, she turned to ask ng Yuhuai, who had just erged from the side room, "Have you thought of a na for your son?"
This was indeed a matter of great importance, attracting everyone’s concern. ng Yuhuai smiled at her and, without replying, turned back into the room.
After a night’s sleep, Hua Xiaomai woke up feeling much better this morning, even sneaking out of bed for a walk without telling Old Lady ng. She was currently feeding the baby when he ca in and, with a suppressed smile, said, "Wow, look at those big dark circles under your eyes. You didn’t sleep well last night, did you? Why didn’t you answer mom when she asked what the baby’s na is?"
"Isn’t it because I wanted to discuss it with you?" ng Yuhuai sat down beside her, and seeing that the baby had eaten his fill and was now sucking his fist contentedly, he found it amusing. So, he offered a finger, only to be surprised when the baby grabbed it firmly.
"He’s so strong!" ng expressed in surprise, eyes wide as he looked at Hua Xiaomai, "He must know I’m his dad, gripping on and not letting go!"
Hua Xiaomai rolled her eyes inwardly, thinking how strong could he possibly be? She was more worried about you accidentally hurting him! Then she poked him with her finger and asked, "Let’s hear it then, what na have you thought of?"
ng Yuhuai paused for a mont and smiled, "I’ve considered it myself, and what do you think about just the na ’Zhao’?"
"ng Zhao?" Hua Xiaomai mulled over these two characters for a while, then nodded in satisfaction, "It sounds smooth and has a good aning. If mom has no objections, let’s go with it — I’ve also co up with a nickna for him, do you want to hear it?"
"Tell ." ng Yuhuai said with interest, finally bold enough to take the little baby into his arms and cuddle him, his heart as soft as dough.
Hua Xiaomai then pointed outside the window at the walnut tree that hadn’t yet sprouted buds: "Seeing how wrinkly he is, how about we call him Little Walnut?"
"Stop joking, be serious!" ng Yuhuai frowned.
What newborn isn’t wrinkled? It makes no sense for a mother to mock her own child.
Unable to refrain from laughing, Hua Xiaomai cheerfully said, "I’m serious, I wasn’t joking. Isn’t it said that humble nas make for easier parenting? Little Walnut sounds much better than Tie Chui, doesn’t it? With that hard shell of a walnut, nobody will be able to hurt him easily. Praying for him to grow up safely and soundly, isn’t that great?"
"Hmm, the most important thing is, walnuts are also edible, and they suit your taste the most, right?" ng Yuhuai glanced at her, "You can’t stray far from your own business."
"Just tell if you agree or not." Hua Xiaomai, not wanting to waste words with him, asked directly.
Just then, Old Lady ng burst in from outside, her voice loud, "Little Walnut is very nice, easy to rember, and Yuhuai chose a nice formal na. Let’s settle on that. If either of you have any objections, let pick the nickna, I think... why not call him..."
Her gaze wandered aimlessly around the yard, and for so reason, it finally settled on the chicken coop in the corner and didn’t move away for a long ti.
Frightened half to death, Hua Xiaomai quickly tugged at ng Yuhuai’s sleeve, "Let’s decide now, or mom might just say sothing scary!"
ng Yuhuai couldn’t help but laugh, then stroked the baby’s face, "Little Walnut, your mom is a tough nut to crack. In the future, if you’re ever wronged, I’m afraid only your dad here can stand up for you..."
Little Walnut half-closed his eyes, as if he doubted he would genuinely stand up for him. He turned his face away, deciding not to pay any attention to him at all.(To be continued. If you like this work, we welco you to Qidian (qidian) to cast recomndation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian to read.)
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