There was a massive stir in Liu Shan Village.
"The baby is born! Second Fu's wife has given birth to a daughter."
"Are you serious?"
"More serious than ever."
"Wow, it must have been a real challenge. Giving birth at this age is by no means a walk in the park. Mdm Fu finally got what she wished for."
"Indeed, the whole Fu family has been praying and yearning for a daughter for years. They will definitely spoil her."
"Now Mdm Fu will have no regrets in her life."
The news spread like wildfire among the villagers. Everyone was so excited, that it was as if they had a newborn themselves.
Normally, there wouldn't have been such a big commotion when a family gave birth to a daughter, but the Fu family was an exception.
For generations, the Fu Family had repeatedly birthed little rascals who peed while standing. Finally, they have given birth to a sweet little angel who does it while seated.
The Fu family's granddaughter-in-laws kept on giving birth to boys time and again, and this trend seemed unbreakable.
Yet Mdm Fu refused to accept her fate and was determined to make an exception.
With this mindset, Mdm Fu and Second Fu set out to try for a baby quietly when they were both nearing the age of 40.
Finally, their efforts bloomed.
At this moment, the Fu Family was in a state of euphoria. There was palpable joy ringing throughout the house.
In the central room.
Second Fu stood rooted to the ground, dazzled with excitement and joy. He grinned and smiled uncontrollably.
"Second Fu, why are you still standing there? Your wife has put in so much effort for the delivery. Hurry up and get someone to prepare food for her nourishment." the midwife called, seeing that he was stunned.
If not for his children and grandchildren who were running about, anyone would have thought that this was Second Fu's first time being a father.
Nobody has been this happy to have a daughter.
Second Fu came back to his senses as he smiled light-headedly, "Alright, alright, alright."
He inched out of the door slowly, his actions deliberately slow and careful.
Outside the door.
His sons, daughter-in-laws, and grandsons all stood around the house, each of them craning their necks and trying their best to look into the house.
"Dad, it's a baby sister, right? No mistake about it?" Fu Daxing asked, almost wanting to rush in to verify it for himself.
"Dad, are you sure you saw it correctly? Please don't tell me that it's a blunder later," Fu Erxing said, excited yet worried at the same time, as he could not see inside as well.
There had been several times when their hopes were gotten high only for them to be dashed, when it was revealed later that there was a blunder.
There were just too many boys at home, making everyone hesitant to try for another baby again.
It was not easy to get this baby girl.
They were more excited now than when they had ever been while giving birth to the boys in the past.
"Shush! Of course your mother gave birth to a little girl for me."
He had already verified it with the midwife three separate times.
Definitely a girl!
Worried that the chilly air outside might seep into the house and wake his precious baby girl, Second Fu closed the door hurriedly.
It was as if she was so fragile that she might be hurt by as much as a glance.
Suppressing the excitement within his heart, Second Fu instantly switched to the role as the Head of the family and began assigning tasks to everyone.
"Xinghua, you go to the village grocery store and buy some black glutinous rice and brown sugar home. These would help to nourish your Mother's body."
"Yes, Father. I will go now."
Jiang Xinghua, the elder daughter-in-law, responded quickly. She took a few steps and turned back, "Father, shall I head to Aunt Wang's house to borrow a few eggs later? They are rich in vitamins and would help to nurse Mother back to health."
This was how Mdm Fu had cared for Jiang Xinghua back then when Jiang Xinghua was in confinement.
Even if she had to sell everything, Mdm Fu had always made sure that all her daughter-in-laws were cared for and nourished properly during their confinement.
Similarly, Jiang Xinghua now wanted to help her mother-in-law go through a confinement with proper care and nourishment.
"Sure, sure. You can arrange it."
As a woman who had given birth before, she was definitely more thoughtful than an old man like him.
Second Fu was very satisfied with his elder daughter-in-law's actions.
"Guimei, you hurry up and boil a large bucket of wormwood ginger water. When it has cooled slightly, you could ask Mother to use it to wash up."
Second Fu explained and allocated every task in detail.
His wife was old, and giving birth to a child surely consumed a lot of energy at this age. She needed to recuperate.
"Yes Father, I understand." The second daughter-in-law, Liu Guimei, answered lukewarmly. Compared to the elaborate joy on the faces of every other member of the Fu Family, she lacked some enthusiasm.
Second Fu suddenly remembered, "oh right, go and buy some wine on credit from the wine seller. Water with wine could improve blood circulation in the body."
Liu Guimei stood in her spot silently.
"Guimei, Father is calling for you." Fu Erxing nudged her.
Liu Guimei said resentfully, "Father, we have been buying on credit from almost every villager around. They are unhappy with us."
Nowadays, whenever she walked out of the door, she would be greeted by one debtor after another, chasing her for debt.
There were a few times when she was chased around the village and almost lost her shoes while running away.
It was so annoying.
Even if Lady Luck comes by, she would be scared off by all these debtors.
When would such days end?
Second Fu's smile froze. He remained silent and threw a dampened glance at his second son.
Sensing his father's anger, Fu Erxing shot a fierce look at Liu Guimei. "You're so wishy-washy. If Father wants you to go, go. Did you forget that Mother also took care of you like this during your confinement?" he said.
If elder sister-in-law, Jiang Xinghua, could do it, then Liu Guimei should be able to do it too without complaints.
Liu Guimei jumped and felt her heart tightened.
She answered with a tone of suppressed discontentment, "Fine, I'll go!"
It's just a daughter who would eventually marry into another family anyway, why treat her like a precious piece of treasure?
Still full of resentment, she left.
Second Fu was in a good mood after the birth of his daughter, so he couldn't be bothered to argue further.
Of the two daughters-in-law, the second daughter-in-law was the petty one. She would be full of complaints especially when she was tasked to do something.
Though their family was poor, they had never starved her since her marrying into the family.
Moreover, by hook or by crook, they would find ways to return the things they bought on credit. Usually, their debtors were understanding and would not appear physically just to chase for debts. They would not make things so difficult for them.
It was all because of her wagging tongue and bad blood with others, that led to her nasty encounters.
Fortunately, her husband Fu Erxing was still able to contain her in her place. Otherwise, she would have caused chaos in the family.
"Daxing, Erxing, you two go up the mountain and cut some firewood. Then, sell them in town and buy a carp for your mother's nourishment."
Carps are good for lactation.
He could not let his precious daughter starve.
It was impossible to buy fish in the village. The villagers fished five or six times a day. The fishes would not have time to even lay eggs before they were caught.
To buy a fish successfully, one needs to head to the town.
"Yes, Father. Big Brother and I will go now." Fu Daxing and Fu Erxing headed off immediately. They grabbed two axes and set off in the direction of the mountain, their body bursting with enthusiasm.
They would work hard for their baby sister's nutrition.
A sense of responsibility like never before took over them.
Finally, every adult has been sent on their way with tasks. With great excitement, Second Fu was about to return to his room to see his daughter, when he was surrounded by his grandsons.
"Grandpa, we want to see Youngest Aunt," said Fu Xiaolong, the eldest son of Fu Daxing.
"You little brat, keep your voice down. If you wake your youngest aunt, I will beat you up." Second Fu carried his grandsons, one on each arm, and walked towards the courtyard.
They are asking for too much. Even I, the father, have not seen her yet.
They need to wait for their turn.
"Grandpa, I'm not leaving, I'm not leaving. I want to kiss Youngest Aunt." said Fu Xiaohu, the younger brother, in his kiddy voice. He made a kissing gesture.
Little rascal, thinking of such things at such a young age!
Don't even think about kissing his precious daughter!
Without thinking, he looked up and pushed Fu Xiaohu's pouted mouth to the side, like it was something gross. "If you dare kiss her, I will sew your mouth shut. Don't even think about it."
If anyone dared to lay as much as a finger on his precious daughter, he would be prepared to fight to his death.
His overwhelming protectiveness looked outright frightening to Fu Xiaolong and Fu Xiaohu. "Grandpa, you are so fierce!" they said,close to tears.
"No crying!" Second Fu put on a stern face.
A man does not cry.
Of course, most importantly, nobody shall wake his precious daughter up.
"Grandpa, you don't love us anymore, do you?" Fu Xiaoma, the son of Fu Erxing, asked.
All of them lowered their heads pitifully, feeling like unwanted weeds.
They felt like they could be plucked and discarded any time.
They shot several subtle glances at Second Fu, eyes still glimmering with a tiny trace of hope.