Little Walnut was a child determined to make his parents proud.
He was born all red and wrinkly, and was teased twice by his inexperienced and out-of-tune parents, as if deeply offended by this, he made a concerted effort to make himself more handso, and indeed, in just over ten days, the unpleasant redness and wrinkles faded, replaced by pale and plump skin. His arms and legs were as fresh as newly dug lotus roots from the pond, kicking with exceptional strength that delighted onlookers, making them want to grab him and take a bite before they could stop themselves.
As for his appearance, his nose and mouth looked as if they were carved from the sa mold as ng Yuhuai, but his eyes were the only exception, bright and lively. His eyeballs rolled around just like his mother’s when she was up to no good. ng Yuhuai didn’t believe it at first and watched him several tis before finally accepting the truth, secretly sighing that if this mother and son tead up against him in the future, he was bound to be in trouble.
Because Hua Xiaomai was too thin before she married, Old Madam ng was always worried she would have trouble nursing the baby, which caused quite a lot of concern. However, unexpectedly, it turned out not to be a problem at all - maybe it was because she had been well-nourished during her pregnancy. Little Walnut had never lacked for food since he ca into this world, was well-fed and fair-skinned, and his cries were loud enough to lift the roof off, obviously full of vitality. Before Hua Xiaomai, Madam ng had nothing to say, but in the kitchen, she spared no effort and continued to send good soups and drinks to their room every day.
Hua Xiaomai knew all too well that Madam ng disdained her for being "as flat as a plank," and she really wanted to burst out the door, confront her, and tell her proudly, "I’m a great chef myself; do you think I’d let my own son go hungry?" Then she’d watch smugly as Madam ng backed down.
But all she could do was think about it.
During her confinent, Madam ng strictly forbade her from stepping outside, fearing that the cold air would make her sick. She was confined to her room daily, almost to the point of needing to apply for permission just to go to the outhouse, let alone to wander around the kitchen or stroll through the village.
Stuck indoors all day, Hua Xiaomai got so irritable she wanted to pull her hair out. She could only play with Little Walnut like a toy, or find various ways to pester ng Yuhuai. Fortunately, Chun Xi, La i, and Zhou Yunyun ca to visit her every now and then to chat and keep her company, which made the days sowhat more bearable.
ng Yuhuai had temporarily moved into the ear chamber, which was small, and it was tough for him to turn around with his tall and sturdy figure, which sowhat wronged him. However, as a big man who had experienced all sorts of harsh conditions while on escort duty, he didn’t care about such minor inconveniences. Every evening when he ca ho, cuddling Little Walnut and joking around with Hua Xiaomai was enough to make his entire day cheerful, as if he had found a treasure.
Yet, Madam ng, seeing him living in such cramped conditions, couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity, and when she had free ti, she often caught hold of him to murmur about it.
"If only we had started building our new house two months earlier, we’d probably already be living in it by now. The house is spacious, and it wouldn’t be difficult at all to set up a comfortable place for you, instead of now, where you can’t even straighten your legs in bed."
"It’s almost ready," ng Yuhuai looked up at her and smiled, taking a sip from the tea offered to him.
That was indeed the truth. The new house on the east side of the village was nearing completion. This house was ant to last for decades, with every brick and tile chosen for their strength and durability. Although not yet finished, it looked like it would be a comfy place to live. Cheng Yong was overseeing the construction, and the workers were diligent. It was estimated that in about ten more days, the house could be finished.
Having officially taken over the Lianshun Escort Agency, the birth of his son going smoothly, and with the new house about to be completed, ng felt that there was nothing in this world that could not please him, his heart as broad as the earth and sky. Already a dashing young man, he now seed to walk with a breeze, from head to toe exuding joy. He smiled more than before whenever he t anyone, making the villagers exclaim how a man truly beams with spirit when good fortune cos, while also envying how the ng Family’s life flourished, genuinely beyond all jealousy.
The entire month of February passed in a blur of busyness and the baby’s cries, and when March ca with its warr weather and budding willows, Little Walnut had his full-moon celebration, becoming even more lively and adorable. Hua Xiaomai finally finished her month of confinent.
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