Lin Lishan thought of the shouts of the onlookers when her daughter came out today, and laughed out loud, "From now on, if someone calls you Golden Baby, just say you are Mommy's darling baby. That's tacky. How about Jade Baby?"

Zhou Jiao thought about it and found it funny. "It's over. After I finish my confinement, I'll go out with you and Dad to hide and wait for this storm to die down."

Lin Lishan really thought about it, "Okay, your dad will come back soon and see what he says. Then our family will go from here to Beijing, then to Shanghai, and stop by Hangzhou and Suzhou to do some shopping. With your status, you can buy a sleeper berth, but the baby is too young, I don't know if I can take him out."

"Mom, if you have time, ask the doctors. I really want to go out for a walk, but can you arrange the time? And the New Year is almost here."

Lin Lishan stood up and prepared to unpack. "We only want to leave because of the Chinese New Year. Once you're done with your confinement and the Chinese New Year isn't far off, we'll go to Beijing for the New Year. After the fifth day, we'll go to Shanghai. We'll have some fun for a few days and then head back around the tenth, just in time for work. I'm just worried your dad won't have the time. We'll talk about it then. I don't want to spend the New Year here with your grandparents."

She cut it open with scissors and saw that it was all milk powder. She bought it specially at Friendship Mall. "This box is full of milk powder. Some I bought at Friendship Mall, some your grandma prepared, and some your aunt sent. They are all safe. Don't give them away. I checked the expiration date."

"There are five coats in this cloth bag. Your uncle-in-law collected two military coats, I also collected two, and Mom's new military coat was handed down, which is just right for you to wear. Here are five coats, which happened to be divided among your family. I originally wanted to give two to your grandfather and uncle, and two to your father-in-law and Guoqing. These things are too scarce and difficult to collect, so don't give them to others."

"These two boxes are filled with Ping'an's cotton-padded jackets and trousers, as well as sweaters and trousers for when he grows up, as well as clothes and pants for next year when it gets hot. He's too young to wear the sweaters and trousers now, so they were specially made bigger. There are also some hats and shoes. The cotton-padded jackets and trousers your aunt made are for when he's two years old.

Your aunt worked hard as a military doctor, so she was in charge of the cotton and fabric. Your grandma made the hat and shoes. I made them for a little girl like me, so I can wear them when I'm a year old. The little girls helped knit the sweater. Luckily, your grandma didn't let me send too much last time I mailed the package, otherwise I'd be furious. I can't give this to anyone else; it was given to him by his elders."

"This cardboard box is filled with diapers, bottles, and small toys from Friendship Mall. They're quite expensive, so don't give them away."

"This carton contains donkey hide gelatin, red dates, malted milk, and some other sundry items your grandma prepared for postpartum care. The brown sugar ticket is in the pile you just left with, so you can't give it away. You're going to eat it all yourself."

"There's some fabric at home that I didn't bring over, so I asked your grandma to put it away. You can find someone to make it when you get back to Beijing. We don't have any new styles here. I don't know if the size will be right for you. When you two get back to Beijing, I'll ask someone to take you there. Here are a few sets of women's military uniforms, as well as fabric and rubber shoes. Share them with your two sisters-in-law. Don't wear them anymore. They're ugly and glaring."

"The cloth and cotton in this bag are specially for your parents-in-law. If you don't know the size, let them make it themselves. Also, considering that we don't know how many children there are in the family, your grandmother prepared a few pieces of cloth, both for boys and girls. I just looked at several and I'm not sure if they're enough. Please share them with us."

"The remaining two boxes contain the special supply of wine, cigarettes, and some miscellaneous items prepared by your grandma. If you see any of the Zhang family elders who are worth visiting, give them a bottle. These are all rare items."

"This red paper is for Ping'an's third-day baptism ceremony. Your grandma told you not to take it out tomorrow as it would be too conspicuous. She took it out from her secret collection. Ping'an is the first great-grandson in our family, and she has prepared everything. Look at the gold bracelet, gold anklet, and this gold chain of wealth and glory. Do they look good? There are also 10 gold abacus and other things in total. Put them all away and don't let anyone see them. You can wear this pair of watches. They are very expensive. Don't give them to others." Lin Lishan took out the small box and brought it to the kang. She was about to let her see it, but she saw her crying foolishly.

"Why are you crying, silly girl? This should have been prepared by our family. Your birth gifts and first birthday gifts were also prepared by grandma. They are all hidden with her and your dowry. Don't cry. You can't cry during confinement. Be obedient."

Zhou Jiao took the handkerchief and thought of the neat stitches on the child's cotton-padded jacket, the deliberately exposed threads on his underwear, and the pile of small sweaters. She was truly resentful. If she hadn't figured it out with Zhang Guoqing later, and if he had still been hiding in the old man's lies, she could imagine how she would have hurt her mother.

"Don't cry. You can't cry during confinement. Mom knows you blamed me before, but you understand now. Mom and your uncles grew up in the homes of fellow villagers. I thought that at least you wouldn't be bullied at your own grandparents' home. I often send money and things to tell them that you don't have a father, I don't have time to accompany you, but I will not give up on you.

Even though I knew your grandfather loved money like his life, he thought that he could solve the problem with money. And your grandmother, I knew she was a good mother who could protect you, so I felt at ease. Who knew you would be abused like this by them?

Your grandpa was right. I was fostered with a fellow villager. That person's son worked as a orderly for grandpa and she didn't dare to offend your grandpa. My mother was still with your uncles, unlike you, who was all alone and bullied by them.

When you called me that year, Mom was worried about you and worried you weren't safe, so she called your grandma. At the time, the country had just been liberated and there was a lot going on, so they couldn't spare the time. When she had a little free time, your grandma sent someone to give your grandpa a letter, saying she wanted to take you back home. Since Mom wasn't around, your grandma wanted to keep you by her side.

But your grandfather said that you'd be alone if your mother wasn't around, and he had four other children at home with you. You were fine at home, with your own friends, and he wanted to take you with him since he didn't have his youngest son. Your grandmother thought about it, too. She went to the hospital every few days, and your aunt was so young, she had to take care of herself, so she really couldn't take good care of you.

We didn't mention it again. Two years later, when your aunt turned 18 and felt she could take care of you, she asked your grandmother to bring you in. Your grandfather said you were already in junior high school, and the environment here was familiar and bigger. If you went back in two years, you'd be ready for the university entrance exams in Beijing. By then, he'd be too old to take care of you.

Look, who knew you lived like this? Otherwise, I would have crawled back to pick you up. We were so touched. We felt that life was not easy for the old man in the countryside, and he didn't have many good things, so we sent him some.

Who knew he was that kind of person? Maybe your dad knew, otherwise why would he give the wooden box to your grandma and not tell anyone else? Okay, don't be sad. It's good to know he's that kind of person. You also have to think about it. What if you go back to the capital to live with your grandma, and someone catches you and threatens your dad? Wouldn't that be even worse?

During those years, I sent everything secretly, fearing that something might threaten you and your father. Now everything is over, we should think positively, and I'll tell you a secret, you'll definitely find it funny, do you know how your grandfather retired from the army?