When Jiang Jianhua carried the freshly cooked millet porridge into the room, he saw Song Yushuang squatting by the cradle, gently tucking Nian'an in.
The baby's tiny body was wrapped in a small blanket, with only a rosy little face showing, making him look especially adorable.
"You got up so early?" Jiang Jianhua placed the bowl of porridge on the table. "I cooked millet porridge and added some red dates. You and Yinyin should try it."
Song Yushuang straightened up and said with a smile, "I woke up early and thought I'd come and check on Nian'an, afraid he'd kick off the blankets and catch a cold."
She walked to the table, picked up the bowl, and took a sip of porridge. The warm porridge slid into her stomach, making her squint her eyes in comfort. "It's so delicious, Jianhua. Your cooking skills are getting better and better."
Jiang Jianhua smiled sheepishly: "I learned it all from Aunt Zhang. She taught me to simmer the porridge over low heat so that it would be fragrant."
At this moment, Yun Tangyin also woke up. Fu Yucheng helped her sit up and handed her a glass of warm water: "Drink slowly, don't drink anything too cold right after waking up."
Yun Tangyin took the water glass, took a sip, and looked at Nian'an in the cradle: "Mom, was Nian'an good last night? Did she make a fuss?"
Song Yushuang nodded: "He's been very well-behaved. He didn't wake up all night, except he kicked off the blanket twice this morning. He seems to be a very active child."
After breakfast, Fu Yucheng was going to town to buy cotton. Song Yushuang specifically instructed him: "Remember to pick some freshly fluffed cotton, soft and fluffy. Don't buy old cotton, it's hard and uncomfortable to use as a blanket."
Fu Yucheng smiled and agreed: "Don't worry, I'll buy it from the old cotton shop in town. Their cotton is all freshly fluffed. I bought some for Yinyin last time, and it was especially soft."
He then looked at Jiang Jianhua, "Second sister-in-law, is there anything you need to bring back? I'll buy it while I'm at it."
Jiang Jianhua thought for a moment and said, "If it's convenient, could you help me buy some fine cotton thread? I want to embroider a little bib for Nian'an."
Fu Yucheng nodded: "Okay, I got it. Buy some red and blue ones, they'll look nice when embroidered."
After saying that, he carried the bamboo basket on his back and went out the door.
After Fu Yucheng left, Song Yushuang held Nian'an and sat under the eaves to bask in the sun, while Jiang Jianhua sat beside her embroidering a bellyband.
The warm sunshine felt wonderful on her skin. Nian'an lay in Song Yushuang's arms, her little eyes wide open, looking at the locust tree in the yard, making "ee-ya" sounds.
“Look at this child, he’s curious about everything,” Song Yushuang teased him with a smile. “When you grow up, Grandma will take you to pick strawberries in the back hill and to see the ducklings by the stream, okay?”
Jiang Jianhua stopped her needlework and said with a smile, "You are so good to Nian Anke, even more so than when you were taking care of Acheng."
Song Yushuang lowered her head and touched Nian'an's little face, her eyes full of tenderness: "Grandparents love their grandchildren more. When Acheng was little, I was busy with work and didn't spend much time with him. Now that I have Nian'an, I want to spend more time with him and make up for the regrets I had before."
Just then, Aunt Zhang came over carrying a basket of fresh green vegetables: "These are green vegetables I picked from the garden. They're just ripe. I brought some for you."
She walked to the cradle, looked at Nian'an, and said with a smile, "This child's face has gotten even rounder, so cute."
Song Yushuang took the vegetables and said with a smile, "Aunt Zhang, thank you for your hard work, bringing us this and that every day."
Aunt Zhang waved her hand: "Don't mention it, we're all family, it's only right to help each other out."
Around noon, Fu Yucheng returned from town, his bamboo basket filled with things.
He handed the cotton to Song Yushuang: "Look at this cotton, it's freshly fluffed and very soft."
Song Yushuang took the cotton, touched it, and said with a smile, "Good, good, this cotton is really soft, the quilt made from it will definitely be comfortable."
Fu Yucheng then handed the fine cotton thread to Jiang Jianhua: "Second sister-in-law, I bought red and blue cotton thread, and some gold thread too, it will make the embroidery even brighter."
Jiang Jianhua took the cotton thread and said with a smile, "Thank you, this thread is really beautiful. It's just right to embroider a longevity lock pattern for Nian'an."
Fu Yucheng nodded with a smile: "That's perfect. Once it's finished, it will be festive for Nian'an to wear."
In the afternoon, Song Yushuang began making a small quilt for Nian'an. She spread cotton on the light pink fabric, gently smoothed it with her hands, and then picked up a needle and thread to sew it stitch by stitch.
Jiang Jianhua sat beside them embroidering a bellyband, while Yun Tangyin leaned back in a rocking chair, watching them busy themselves and occasionally teasing Nian'an. The courtyard was filled with a warm atmosphere.
When Fu Yuanshan returned from the fields and saw the scene in the yard, he smiled and said, "It's always better to be at home. Now that Nian'an is here, it's lively every day."
He walked over to Song Yushuang and watched her sew the quilt: "You sewed this quilt so beautifully. When it gets cold in winter, Nian'an will definitely feel warm under it."
Song Yushuang smiled and said, "Yes, when winter comes, we'll light the stove, and the whole family can gather around the house, eat hot pot, and watch Nian'an play. How comfortable that would be."
As evening approached, the quilt was finally sewn on. Song Yushuang laid the quilt in the cradle and carefully placed Nian'an inside.
Nian'an was wrapped in a light pink quilt, looking like a tiny pink dumpling, which was exceptionally cute.
“It’s so beautiful,” Yun Tangyin said with a smile. “Your craftsmanship is excellent; it’s even more beautiful than the quilts I buy in the city.”
Song Yushuang said proudly, "That's right, I spent the whole afternoon sewing it."
For dinner, Fu Yucheng made braised pork, stir-fried greens, and a pot of corn and pork rib soup.
Everyone sat around the table, eating and chatting, their laughter filling the entire courtyard.
Nian'an lay in the cradle, looking at everyone, making "ee-ya" sounds, as if she was laughing with everyone.
At night, after Nian'an fell asleep, Song Yushuang sat under the oil lamp and began embroidering little shoes for Nian'an again.
She held a fine cotton thread and embroidered stitch by stitch, creating a lifelike small tiger pattern on the shoe.
Yun Tangyin leaned against the headboard, looking at her, and said with a smile, "Mother, don't stay up too late. You can embroider tomorrow."
Song Yushuang smiled and said, "It's alright, I'm so happy, I don't feel tired at all. Once the little shoes are embroidered, Nian'an can wear them, and they'll definitely look beautiful."
The moonlight streamed into the room through the window, falling on Song Yushuang and on the face of the sleeping Nian'an.
The courtyard was quiet, with only the occasional crackling of the oil lamp and the soft sound of needle and thread passing through the fabric in Song Yu's hands.
Such nights are ordinary yet warm, like a soothing melody, gently telling of the happiness and well-being in Huaiyuan.
As the days went by, Nian'an grew up, transforming from a baby who could only babble into a cute little girl who could crawl and laugh.
Song Yushuang spent every day with Nian'an, teaching him to recognize things, telling him stories, and watching him grow up little by little, her heart was filled with joy.
Jiang Jianhua also embroidered a little bib for Nian'an. The golden longevity lock pattern on the red fabric was particularly eye-catching. Wearing it, Nian'an looked like a little lucky baby.
Fu Yucheng and Fu Yuanshan were busy with farm work, but in their spare time they would play with Nian'an, teach him about the crops in the fields, and make him small toys.
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