Meng Yunhan, however, declared aloud, "My son, Little Huzi, doesn't bring misfortune on his father. If he really did, why am I still fine?"
Then she picked up the wooden bucket, trudged back home, leaving the crowd behind in awkward silence.
Once inside, Meng Yunhan angrily hung the laundry out to dry before returning to her room.
"Little Huzi, Little Huzi, how could you possibly bring misfortune onto your father? All those people are mistaken. If anyone were to cause harm, it would be me, not you. You are mom's treasure, mom's treasure."
Then, bowing her head, she gave Little Huzi a gentle kiss before stepping out again. She still had to gather pigweed for a meal.
The two pigs at home needed feeding.
Zhang Cuihua and Zhao Fang, the sisters-in-law, also believed that Little Huzi had brought disaster onto his father. Otherwise, why would the third child have encountered an accident at the precise moment Meng Yunhan gave birth to Little Huzi?
