Early summer morning, the misty fog shrouded the sound of chickens and dogs in Lin He village.
Everyone from the Yuan family stayed in their courtyards far east of the village while most villagers were already busy working in the fields.
High-pitched screams of pain could be heard from one of their west rooms from time to time.
Old Yuan sat on the chair looking calm, but his trembling hands gave it all away, showing his anxious state. Next two him, three of his sons were squatting on the ground.
The eldest, Yuan Pan Di, the second, Yuan Wang Di, and the third, Yuan Lai Di, all had the same expression of anxiety.
Opposite the three brothers was a row of kids.
Old Yuan's family was indeed an oddball in the Lin He village.
While other families were all looking forward to having a son, the Yuan family only wanted a daughter.
Old Yuan had two brothers and no sisters. He then had five sons and, once again, no daughters. When four of his sons got married, they gave birth to only sons.
Oh, that's right, Old Yuan's two brothers, like him, were destined to have sons, and their sons also had sons.
This time around, Old Yuan's fourth daughter-in-law was about to give birth, and the whole family was looking forward to having a girl.
"Big brother, how is it? Has Zhao Di's wife given birth yet?"
Just as Old Yuan was anxiously waiting, two men of similar age as Old Yuan barged in one after another, their steps swift.
They were Old Yuan's two younger brothers, and a large group of people was behind them.
"Second uncle!"
"Third uncle!"
Yuan Pan Di, Yuan Wang Di, and Yuan Lai Yun hurriedly stood up and greeted the two old men.
In front of the three brothers, the kids called "Second Grandpa! Third Grandpa!" in unison.
After that, the group who followed behind the two old men also greeted Old Yuan.
The courtyard was filled with people in an instant, and it became very noisy.
Both of the old men's wives also came along. They stood in the courtyard for a while before heading straight to the room where Old Yuan's fourth daughter-in-law was in.
A loud cry came from the room before the two old ladies could open the door.
"Congratulations, congratulations, it's a boy!" The midwife's voice came from the room, quieting the people in the courtyard. At the same time, they could not hide the unwillingness on their faces. Why was it another boy?
"There's still one more!" In this silence, the midwife's voice rang out again.
As soon as the midwife said this, the two old ladies guarding outside the door became anxious and rushed into the room.
It was then that the wailing turned into a duet!
"Girl! It's a girl!"
When it was mentioned that a girl was born, a surprised shout came from the room.
It was not the voice of the midwife but the voice of Old Yuan's wife, Madame Zeng.
"Haha, good, good, you're born well!"
Hearing his wife's voice, Old Yuan jumped up and excitedly hugged his two younger brothers.
Then, Old Yuan turned to his eldest son, Yuan Pan Di, and said, "Why are you still standing there? Hurry up, go and kill the chicken!"
"Wang Di, go to the town and cut some meat back!"
"Lai Di, go to the river and get a few fishes!"
Old Yuan began to assign tasks to his sons without any hesitation.
At the same time, his two younger brothers also began to command their sons. Some had to get some meat, and some had to get some eggs.
The Yuan family finally had a girl!