163 Lin Ting
Guan Yuehe had just started eating when Guan Canghai brought the little monkey back.
"Oh dear, let Grandma take a look." Jiang Guiying touched the child's little hand to make sure it wasn't cold, then smiled and said, "We rushed as fast as we could, but we still made it to the tail end of the Year of the Monkey."
"Let your grandma see this too." Jiang Guiying made room for Aunt Fang to take a look.
Grandpa Lin, who rushed over after work, also squeezed in and just stood by watching. He had gone into the workshop that afternoon and his hands were covered in gasoline.
"Have you decided on a name for the baby yet?"
"These two parents are really something, not in a hurry at all. The baby is born, so it needs a name, right?" Jiang Guiying said, soothingly coaxing the baby with a soft "ouch," "Look how wronged the baby is."
Even in its sleep, its lips are pouting; it looks so pitiful.
The nurses who came over to explain the precautions were used to it.
Almost all children born in the last two or three years are only children, so having fewer children makes them seem more precious. It's not uncommon for the whole family to come out to see the baby like this.
On the other side, Guan Yuehe finished eating and realized that she couldn't remember what her daughter looked like.
Right after giving birth, the doctor showed her the baby for a few moments, but she was in so much pain that she couldn't see anything.
"Let me see her too. I didn't even have time to see what she looks like." Guan Yuehe didn't dare to move, as it hurt every time she moved. In her thirty years of life, she had suffered the most today.
Guan Yuehe looked at it carefully for a while, and then confirmed with Lin Yiku, who also leaned in, "Doesn't she look exactly like Gu Yu when she was little?"
They're all pretty ugly when they're first born.
Fortunately, she was experienced and had seen several of her nephews and nieces, as well as Gu Yu when she was just born. They were all ugly as they grew up, but they became beautiful as they grew.
She never complained about her nephews and nieces or Gu Yu being ugly, so she certainly couldn't complain about her own daughter now.
Lin Yiku rubbed her daughter's face with her fingertip and immediately got a wrinkled face from her daughter. She laughed, because her daughter did look like Gu Yu when she was little.
It's also a bit different; "She wasn't as chubby as Guyu was when she was little."
“I almost forgot, you haven’t seen what Gu Yu looked like when she was born.” Guan Yuehe insisted that the little monkey was now a carbon copy of Gu Yu when she was born.
When Gu Yu came over with Guan Yuehua, she overheard her aunt saying that the newborn baby looked like her. She excitedly squeezed over, took a look, and her eyebrows furrowed like caterpillars. She looked again, still not convinced, and began to doubt her aunt's eyesight.
Then I heard my grandmother say, "It's not surprising that she looks like Guyu. All babies look pretty much the same when they are first born. They will grow out after a month or two."
Gu Yu scratched her head, and the little girl sighed deeply: "Grandma's eyesight isn't very good either."
After making room for the adults, Gu Yu squeezed out to find her dad, who asked her, "Is it a younger brother or a younger sister?"
Stunned by the question, Gu Yu ran back to ask, got the answer, and then ran out to relay the message, "It's my sister."
Gu Yu couldn't keep it a secret any longer and gestured for Gu Mannian to come closer so she could whisper, "My little sister is a bit ugly, what should we do?"
She twisted her fingers into a pretzel shape and asked, puzzled, "My aunt and grandma said my little sister looks like me?"
Gu Mannian understood the meaning behind her daughter's words and laughed heartily, "The baby isn't very pretty when he first comes out, but he'll be pretty in a few days."
"How many days will it take?" Gu Yu asked worriedly. "For some reason, it took a long time for our puppy to become cute."
"Babies and puppies are different."
Gu Yu seemed to be convinced, but she still couldn't quite accept that she looked like this when she was a child.
The four-and-a-half-year-old child, half-believing and half-doubting, repeatedly asked himself if he really looked like that when he was a child.
Gu Mannian saw Guan Yuehua carefully picking up the baby among the crowd gathered in the ward, and then looked at Gu Yu frowning and sighing in front of him, and smiled.
After the one-child policy was implemented, Yuehua regretted that she had originally planned to have a daughter after graduation so that the two sisters could support each other.
Now things are much better. Yuehua doesn't have to suffer anymore, and Guyu has gained a younger sister.
A short while later, another woman who had just given birth entered the ward, accompanied by several family members.
The room was crowded, and most of the people had left.
Gu Mannian then remembered to ask, "Have you named the child yet?"
"No, they're not in a hurry. Let them think about it slowly."
—
"Guiying, I heard your Yuehe gave birth? Was it a boy or a girl?"
"She had a daughter."
"It's good to have a daughter. She'll be like Yuehe in the future, and no one will have to worry about her."
Jiang Guiying smiled and thanked her neighbor for the good wishes, hoping that the child would be as successful as Yuehe in the future.
However, some people secretly gloated, saying, "Old Guan and Jiang Guiying always brag about how successful their two daughters are, but in the end, they only have daughters and don't have a single son."
Aunt Xie was initially gossiping with them, but upon hearing this, she became upset. Both of her sons had daughters, and she didn't have a single son.
The son brought by Xie Zhenxing's wife doesn't count.
He immediately patted his butt and turned to leave, annoyed. "What's wrong with my daughter? She didn't eat your food, why are you meddling? Her parents are successful, you old folks are just worrying too much."
Watching Aunt Xie's retreating figure, the elderly men and women chuckled, puzzled. "She herself dislikes her daughter-in-law for not giving birth to a son, yet she has the nerve to criticize others?"
"Ignore her. She's destined to only have two granddaughters in her life, so she has to keep praising them, right?"
Just as they were about to continue, Zhou Baoyu, who had returned unnoticed, dropped a bombshell behind them: "When Sister Yuehe comes back, I'm going to tell her that you were secretly talking badly about her."
"......"
The elderly men and women who had been chatting and eating sunflower seeds at the entrance of Courtyard No. 4 immediately shut up, pretending nothing had happened, and went home.
He turned around and went home, saying that Luo Guifang's eldest daughter was really talkative.
No matter what the neighbors said in private, no one dared to say it to Guan Yuehe.
Lin Sitian was on duty that night, and she rushed over to see Guan Yuehe when she had a spare moment.
"A bunch of kids are rushing to come out before the New Year, I'm so busy I can't even leave." Lin Sitian then asked, "Can you go to the toilet by yourself now? Is there anything else that hurts particularly?"
"Don't ask anymore, it will only make it hurt more. I just hugged your brother and cried for a while before I felt a little better."
Lin Sitian couldn't imagine what it would be like for the two of them to hug and cry. "Let me see you two cry again next time."
"No, there can't be a next time. We must heed the national call and only have one child." She's had enough of this hardship once.
"This year, it's finally our turn to receive red envelopes for Chinese New Year. You and Chen Lizhong remember to prepare a big one. And Ding Xuewen and Xu Chengcai too."
Lin Sitian was truly impressed by her; even with her face pale, she couldn't resist cracking jokes.
He glanced at his watch. "I have to go now. If anything happens, have my brother call the doctor."
Before leaving, she glanced at the baby in her brother's arms. It was hard to tell who the baby resembled at first glance, but it was clear that the baby would grow up to be tall with long arms and legs, just like Yuehe and her brother.
After looking at the child, she glanced up and met her brother's gaze, and couldn't help but laugh with a hint of schadenfreude.
If she inherited her brother's old habit of tearing things down... then it would be her brother's turn to be furious.
"By the way, bro, are you really not considering getting your tubal ligation done at our hospital? We're quite well-known for that."
"......"
"Go about your business."
—
On the morning of Lunar New Year's Eve, while every household was busy putting up couplets and preparing the New Year's Eve dinner, Guan Yuehe, wrapped up like a big ball, left the hospital with her daughter, who was wrapped up like a small ball.
Chen Lizhong borrowed a car from his cousin to take them. The car was parked at the entrance of the alley. Before the neighbors who loved to watch the excitement came out, Lin Yiku first took the big ball back, and then went back to take the small ball.
Chen Lizhong also took the opportunity to deliver the prepared New Year's gifts to the Lin family.
As soon as she heard the car, Aunt Fang came running out. "Lunch is almost ready. Eat at home before you come back."
Just as Chen Lizhong was about to refuse, he heard his mother-in-law say, "Sitian is on duty until nine o'clock today and won't be able to make it for the New Year's Eve dinner. You can bring her some food later too. By the way, are your parents also spending the New Year at your little courtyard tonight?"
"Okay. They're having a family reunion dinner at my uncle's house at noon, and then they'll come over to our place in the afternoon. Mom, where should we put all this stuff?"
"Put it in an empty room inside."
When Chen Lizhong looked around, he saw that the empty room was decorated with festive paper-cuts, and a new quilt was placed on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Thinking that guests were coming to stay, I heard my mother-in-law, who was busy making noodles outside, say, "If you come back on the second day of the Lunar New Year, stay an extra night. By the way, the newly made quilt is for you. Please put it in the closet so it doesn't get dusty."
They rarely come back to stay overnight, but the house is still reserved for Lin Sitian.
"Mom, Sitian and I will come back on the evening of the first day of the Lunar New Year, stay for two nights, and go back to work on the morning of the third day."
"Then I'll make more dumplings. Sitian and Yuehe love the wood ear mushroom filling, so I'll use the ones that were sent from the place where you and Xuewen went to the countryside. Ah Xiu across the street even asked me if I could share some with her... Oh, by the way, when you come back for dinner on the second day of the Lunar New Year, invite Xuewen along too."
"good."
—
When Guan Yuehe arrived home, she found that the kang (a heated brick bed) in the house had already been lit. After a while, she was finally able to take off her layers of clothes.
Lin Yiku placed the large bag she had brought back in the living room outside. Just as she unwrapped the small blanket covering Lin Ting, Lin Ting woke up, her eyes darting around as if surveying the conditions of the house.
After looking him over, he grinned and fell asleep again.
"It seems our daughter is quite satisfied with the family's conditions," Guan Yuehe joked, not missing her daughter's expression.
Lin Yiku nodded seriously, "They must have burned incense for us, otherwise it would have been impossible for our family to receive it."
Guan Yuehe chuckled twice, then quickly covered her mouth, afraid of waking Lin Ting.
When this child cries, her voice is soft and weak, more heartbreaking than those who howl at the top of their lungs. Guan Yuehe and Lin Yiku are most afraid of her sobbing with her lips pursed.
I thought I'd be born a naughty little monkey, but I was surprised to find out I'm a well-behaved one.
But Jiang Guiying said that this child, just like her when she was a child, cries very gently.
The implication was that the couple shouldn't make a judgment too early, as the child could change over time.
Lin Yiku had only one thought: he hoped his child wouldn't grow up to be like him when he was young.
Seeing that Lin Ting was fast asleep, Guan Yuehe ordered Lin Yiku to do the work.
"Bring the camera over here and take a picture of Lin Ting so she'll know that it's normal for newborns to look like this."
Yesterday, Gu Yu went to the hospital to visit her younger sister with Guan Yuehua, who was on holiday. Guan Yuehua saw Gu Yu and Lin Yuehua whispering to each other and asked her what they were talking about.
Gu Yu was also honest, saying, "Let my little sister eat more and grow up quickly, so she'll be pretty when she grows up."
They didn't explicitly say that their younger sister was ugly, but the implication was that they thought she was.
No matter how the adults explained, Gu Yu was still worried. When she was about to leave, she reminded Guan Yuehe not to forget to feed her younger sister.
Guan Yuehe gave up trying to explain; Gu Yu didn't even know that newborn babies can't eat.
But after Gu Yu left yesterday, Guan Yuehe found her reaction increasingly amusing.
Just now, I suddenly remembered that I should take a picture of Lin Ting as a memento, so that when Lin Ting hears about the newborn baby in the future, she won't believe that the baby can be raised to be good-looking.
Lin Yiku took the camera, but instead of taking pictures of her daughter, she first confirmed with Guan Yuehe, "Is the name really Lin Ting? Won't you reconsider?"
Instead of answering, Guan Yuehe asked, "Do you have a better option?"
"No."
"Then let's call him Lin Ting." Guan Yuehe read "Lin Ting" a few more times. It was easy to pronounce, the name was not repetitive, and it had few characters and strokes, making it easy to write.
Guan Yuehe added, "Dad also said that the name Lin Meijuan sounds nice. There are already two Meijuan in our alley."
Lin Yiku immediately changed her mind, saying, "Lin Ting is a good name."
He called out his daughter's name twice more, and finally got it right.
After shouting, I took two pictures of Lin Tinggege.
This is the first photo Lin Ting left behind in this world. Guan Yuehe said she would develop the photo and put it in her little room later.
Just as she finished speaking, someone knocked on the door. "Yuehe? Didn't you say you were back from the hospital? Why didn't I hear you?"
Judging from the voice, it sounds like Aunt Bai.
Lin Yiku went out to open the door and received a string of congratulations. Then, several neighbors stuffed her with homemade roasted melon seeds, fried meatballs, and other New Year's treats.
This has been an essential part of the Lunar New Year celebrations for many years.
But his family didn't have time to make fried food this year, so they couldn't give gifts back to their neighbors.
"Your parents have already delivered it for you."
Aunt Bai and the others didn't go inside. They chatted with Lin Yiku and delivered New Year's goods for less than three minutes before rushing home to continue preparing the New Year's Eve dinner.
Guan Yuehe heard everything clearly in the room. She sighed, leaned down and kissed Lin Ting's still wrinkled hand. "We're so pitiful. We can't eat and drink well this year for the New Year."
But this year's New Year's Eve dinner had so many dishes that I didn't get to eat anything spicy, but I did get to eat some delicious food.
The two families got together for New Year's Eve dinner this year. To accommodate Guan Yuehe, the food was prepared in Courtyard No. 3 and then brought to Guan Yuehe's house.
"Steamed fish is quite delicious too." Guan Yuehe deliberately asked Guan Canghai, "Father, did you and Uncle Ming go fishing?"
The others laughed.
Since opening his barbershop, Guan Canghai has been too busy to go fishing with his old friends. He didn't care about saving face at the moment and said directly, "I bought it. They caught it this morning. It's fresh."
"Eat more, you've lost weight since giving birth."
Another bowl of chicken soup appeared in front of Guan Yuehe, piled high with chicken meat.
She should eat more nourishing foods. Lin Tingsheng's birth was like a piece of flesh falling from her body, weighing a full six pounds.
"Lin Ting, Lin Ting, it does sound quite nice." Guan Canghai no longer insisted that "Lin Meijuan" sounded better.
The main reason is that Guan Yuehe had already made up her mind to name the child Lin Ting, so who could argue with her?
Upon hearing this, Yangyang, who is already a second-grade elementary school student, said enviously, "My sister's name is easy to write."
His full name is Guan Zhengyang. When he first started elementary school, he felt that his name was difficult to write. His deskmate's name was Wang Yi, which only had five strokes, all horizontal and vertical. Compared to that, his name seemed to have a lot of strokes.
Aunt Fang laughed, "When Sitian first started elementary school, she also said that her name had many strokes. Everyone else had already started their homework, but she hadn't finished writing her name yet."
Guan Yuehe laughed sheepishly. Back then, she, Sitian, and Xu Chengcai were all equally good at practicing writing their names.
Lin Ting was sleeping inside, so no one dared to speak or laugh loudly. After finishing their meal, the dishes and chopsticks were cleared away, and the others went back to Courtyard No. 3 to chat loudly with their neighbors, leaving only Guan Yuehe and her family of three.
Guan Yuehe wasn't idle either; wrapped in a blanket, she and Lin Yiku watched TV in the living room.
It wasn't until firecrackers went off outside that Lin Ting was so frightened that she started crying loudly, and they hurriedly went back inside to comfort her.
"She has a really loud voice." Guan Yuehe looked at Lin Yiku carrying Lin Ting and walked back and forth, gesturing for Lin Yiku to look, "Look, you can even see her throat."
The difference between a child wailing loudly and one whimpering with a pout is huge; just by listening to their voices, they sound like completely different children.
Lin Yiku looked at the two of them, one crying loudly and the other laughing heartily, and didn't know what to say for a moment.
Author's Note: [Cat's paw]
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