Extra Chapter: Daily Life of Raising a Child
(one)
The tranquility of the backyard of Sushan Market in Huzhou City was broken by a loud cry.
The crying sounded like a kitten's claws, scratching at everyone's heart.
"Oh dear, my little darling, is it hungry or has it wet itself?"
Qiantao was the first to rush out of the accounting room, still holding half a writing brush in her hand. She deftly lifted the lid of the copper basin warming beside the cradle and tested the temperature of the goat's milk with her fingertips.
In the cradle, Shi Dayong and Jinniang's youngest daughter was wrapped in a soft, bright red swaddle, with only her rosy, wrinkled little face showing.
This is the little girl cherished by everyone. Because she was born after the chaos of the world ended, she hoped to be blessed by the gods and Buddhas, so she was named Shenlian, and her nickname was Lianlian.
At this moment, she had her eyes closed, her little mouth pursed, and she was crying intensely.
"I'll do it, I'll do it," Pei Qingwu said quickly as he saw off a group of guests.
She gently picked up Lianlian and skillfully cradled her in her arms, patting her small back softly: "Lianlian, be good, don't cry, Auntie will hug you."
The voice was extremely gentle.
Yinlan brought in a small bowl of warmed rice milk: "Goat milk is too dry. Jinniang said that Lianlian gets bloated after eating it. Try this rice milk, cook it until it's thick."
As she spoke, she scooped up a tiny bit with a small silver spoon and carefully brought it to Lianlian's lips.
Lianlian seemed to smell a sweet fragrance, her crying gradually subsided, and her little mouth instinctively moved to find the spoon.
"Look at her little face, she looks exactly like her older sister when she wakes up and looks for water!"
Fifth Sister wiped her hands on her apron, leaned over to look, and her face lit up with a smile.
"Hey, feed her slowly, don't let her choke." Shi Dayong rubbed his hands together, standing nervously two steps away, wanting to get closer but afraid that his clumsy hands would hurt his daughter.
He watched as his daughter was held in Pei Qingwu's arms and surrounded by people, and his heart felt both warm and bittersweet.
Jinniang was recovering from childbirth and lacked energy, so she became the main caregiver for Lianlian, and before she knew it, she had become part of this large family.
Gu Heng emerged from the small workshop behind the shop, holding a small rattle drum in his hand.
He walked to the cradle and gently rocked it, producing a clear and melodious "thump thump thump" sound.
With a silver spoon in her mouth, Lianlian looked in the direction of the sound with her big, dark eyes. She forgot to suckle, and tears still clung to her little face, but she grinned and revealed a lovely smile.
"He laughed! He laughed! Ah Heng really does have a way!" Qian Tao exclaimed in surprise.
“She’s a lively person,” Pei Qingwu said, lowering his head and gently wiping away the tears from Lianlian’s eyes with his fingertips. “So good…”
Yu Yi and Ji Fanghua also ran over when they heard the noise. One of them made a funny face to amuse her, while the other waved a brightly colored rag doll in front of Lianlian's eyes.
Wen Baizhi was a step too late and could only peek through the crowd on tiptoe.
Little Lianlian became the center of attention in the entire courtyard.
If they're hungry, someone will comfort them; if they cry, someone will hold them; if they wet themselves, Yinlan or Qiantao, who are quickest to change and clean them.
As night deepened, while Lianlian was still nursing, Gu Heng nailed a flexible rattan fence around the cradle to prevent her from rolling off the bed.
As he was working, Pei Qingwu wiped the thin layer of sweat from his forehead and said softly, "Thank you for your hard work."
Gu Heng shook his head: "Sister, these are also our children, so it will be hard for them there."
The moonlight, like water, spilled into the quiet courtyard, blurring the figures of the people sitting around the cradle, yet exuding a deep warmth.
Lianlian's little snore brought a knowing smile to everyone's face.
The peace and new life gained after the chaos of war are like a newly blossoming flower bud, quietly growing under the care of everyone.
(two)
Time unfolds quietly, like the newly sprouted tender branches of the osmanthus tree in the corner of the courtyard.
Lianlian's newborn red wrinkles have faded, and her little face is becoming increasingly fair and round, like a freshly peeled egg.
A pair of big, dark eyes darted around, filled with boundless curiosity about this little courtyard.
She began to feel dissatisfied with being held or lying in the cradle all day.
"Ah! Ah!" Lianlian sat on the thick felt and called out urgently to Wu Niang, who was kneading dough, stretching her little hands forward as if trying to reach the round dough on the cutting board.
"Oh dear, you little glutton, you can't play with this!" Fifth Sister laughed, her hands moving non-stop, the dough changing shape in her hands.
"Lianlian, look here!"
To attract her attention, Ji Fanghua held a colorful cloth ball and gently patted it a few steps away.
Sure enough, Lianlian was immediately drawn in and tried to prop herself up with her hands and feet, making "hmm! hmm!" sounds as she strained.
"Come on, come to Aunt Fanghua!" Ji Fanghua encouraged.
Lianlian blushed, stuck out her little bottom, and actually used her hands to support herself on the ground, wobbling as she stood up.
Although he only stood there for a brief moment before his legs gave way and he sat back down, it was enough to elicit a burst of joyful cheers from the onlookers.
"She's standing up! My Lianlian can stand up!" Shi Dayong's voice trembled with excitement.
From then on, Lianlian's enthusiasm for learning to walk became unstoppable.
Pei Qingwu drew up the blueprints and had Gu Heng find the best pine wood to make a modern-style baby walker.
Lianlian held onto the railing, her little feet tentatively shuffling on the ground, making soft "tap tap" sounds.
She stumbled and staggered, like a clumsy yet adorable little duck, from one side of the yard to the other.
Accompanying the learning to walk is the budding of language.
"Ah... Ah..." Lianlian called out indistinctly to Gu Heng.
“It’s Uncle ‘Aheng’,” Gu Heng patiently corrected, squatting down to look her in the eye: “A…Heng…”
"Ah... Heng!" Lianlian finally uttered the two words clearly, and Gu Heng's eyes instantly shone like stars.
"Mother!"
Seeing Jinniang carrying a bowl of soup, Lianlian immediately opened her little arms and rushed over, calling out sweetly and clearly. Jinniang's eyes instantly reddened.
She called out again, "Grandpa!"
Upon hearing the call, Shi Dayong dropped what he was holding and rushed over, lifting his daughter high in the air, which made Lianlian giggle.
The most interesting thing is how she addresses Pei Qingwu.
Perhaps she liked her, for when Lianlian looked at her, her little mouth opened slightly, and she uttered a clear word: "Mother?"
Everyone was taken aback.
Pei Qingwu was also stunned, then couldn't help but laugh, and bent down to pinch Lianlian's little face: "Silly Lianlian, I am 'Aunt Pei,' not 'Mother.'"
Lianlian seemed to understand but not quite, tilting her head and calling out again, "Auntie...?"
"Pfft—" Qiantao was the first to burst out laughing: "The boss has become an aunt!"
Pei Qingwu had no choice but to smile and agree, "Alright, alright, Auntie it is then."
From then on, "Aunt Pei" became Lianlian's unique nickname for Pei Qingwu.
Whenever she toddled towards Pei Qingwu with her short legs, calling out indistinctly, "Aunt Pei, hug me!", a warm feeling would well up in Pei Qingwu's heart, as if she had truly gained another caring daughter.
(three)
When Lianlian was three or four years old, she was like a sapling that had absorbed plenty of sunshine and rain, full of vitality and inexhaustible energy.
She can already run and jump, speaks fluently, and is the undisputed "little boss" of the Sushan Market backyard, as well as the darling of everyone's hearts.
She especially liked to sneak into the shops.
For this reason, Pei Qingwu specially arranged a small corner behind the counter for her, with soft cushions and her precious toys: a wooden bird that nods made by Gu Heng, a rag doll sewn by Yin Lan, a small dough figurine made by Wu Niang, and colorful pebbles given to her by Sister Nianci...
Whenever there were many customers in the shop, she would sit there quietly, curiously observing the people coming and going, without making a fuss, her big, dark eyes full of curiosity.
However, her obedience comes with a condition.
"Aunt Pei! Osmanthus cake!"
Lianlian pointed to the neatly arranged, exquisite pastries in the counter, her little finger sticking out, looking quite self-righteous.
"Lianlian, you've already had some snacks, you can't eat anymore."
Pei Qingwu was exchanging pleasantries with a regular customer when she gently but firmly declined.
Lianlian's little mouth immediately pursed, and her big eyes instantly filled with tears. She looked at Pei Qingwu with a pitiful expression, as if she was about to cry.
Seeing this, not only Pei Qingwu, but even the customers waiting to pack their leftovers felt sorry for her.
"Shopkeeper, if the child wants to eat, just give her a small piece. Look how pitiful she looks..." a customer couldn't help but say.
Helpless, Pei Qingwu had no choice but to ask Qian Tao to cut a small piece of pastry for her.
Lianlian immediately stopped crying and started laughing, eating the food in small, precious bites, as if she had received the most precious treasure in the world.
Her destructive power is equally astonishing.
The flower arrangement that Zheng Youning taught Nianci to do was ruined by Nianci's "help" and the branches and leaves flew everywhere;
The firewood stack that the worker had painstakingly chopped and neatly arranged was destroyed by her crawling around like a fortress, causing half of it to collapse.
The most dangerous time was when she tried to reach the oil bottle on the stove by standing on tiptoe, just like Wu Niang did, and almost knocked it over.
Shi Dayong was so frightened that he was scared out of his wits and from then on kept a close watch on her at the kitchen door.
But she brought more joy.
She liked to follow Gu Heng around calling him "Uncle Heng," and when he was busy, she would follow him like a little tail, picking up the wood shavings he shaved off to play with.
Gu Heng then specially made many small toys for her, such as a rolling toy car and a small xylophone that could produce different sounds...
She loved it most in the evening when Pei Qingwu would finish his business and tell her stories under the osmanthus tree in the courtyard.
She listened intently to stories like Chang'e flying to the moon and Wu Gang chopping down the cassia tree, her eyes never blinking.
After listening, she pointed at the moon with a serious expression and said, "Aunt Pei, is the fairy Chang'e making snacks for Lianlian on the osmanthus tree?"
Nianci has grown into a graceful young woman and has become Lianlian's little teacher.
She taught Lianlian to recite simple poems and recognize the flowers and plants in the yard. Lianlian had a good memory and often said surprising things.
"Father is a strongman!"
"Aunt Yinlan is a fairy (because Yinlan always styles her hair in beautiful buns)!"
"Fifth Sister's pancakes are the most delicious in the world!"
"Aunt Pei is the most impressive! More impressive than the stone lions at the gate!"
Their innocent and childlike remarks always make everyone laugh.
Once, Lianlian was drawing randomly in the sand with a small wooden spoon, muttering to herself, "Lianlian draws Sushan Market!"
She drew several crooked circles to represent houses, and many skewed lines to represent people. Finally, next to a particularly large circle, she forcefully pointed to several dots and loudly announced, "This is Aunt Pei's shop! It's amazing!"
Pei Qingwu happened to hear this, and his heart warmed. He squatted down and hugged her soft little body.
(Four)
Lianlian is five years old.
After discussion, everyone decided it was time for her to begin her formal education.
There is no doubt that Zheng Youning will be chosen as the mentor.
On a clear spring morning, in the quiet little study specially set aside in the backyard of Sushan Xiaoji, Lianlian's enlightenment ceremony began.
It lacks formalities, yet it conveys solemnity and expectation.
Pei Qingwu lit a stick of incense, and as the smoke curled upwards, Gu Heng spread out a brand new sheet of white hemp paper.
Shi Dayong and Jinniang stood to the side, both nervous and excited.
Qiantao, Yinlan, Wuniang, Yuyi, Ji Fanghua and others quietly crowded around the door and window, watching intently.
Zheng Youning sat upright behind his desk, picked up a thin primer called "Jijiupian", and said gently, "Lianlian, from today onwards, I will teach you to recognize characters and read books, understand principles, and distinguish right from wrong. Reading and learning characters is like planting a tree; it needs to be watered every day and cannot be neglected. Are you willing to study diligently?"
Wearing the new clothes specially sewn by Yin Lan, Lianlian nodded vigorously with an unusual seriousness on her little face, her voice clear and crisp: "Lianlian is willing! Lianlian wants to be as capable as Aunt Pei! And as knowledgeable as big sister!"
Zheng Youning smiled with satisfaction, took Lianlian's little hand, held a specially made small calligraphy brush, and dipped it in a little ink.
On the laid-out hemp paper, she slowly wrote a clear and neat character – “人” (person).
“This is the character for ‘person.’ It’s a left-falling stroke and a right-falling stroke, standing tall and upright. To be a person, one must be upright and kind.” Zheng Youning held Lianlian’s hand and guided her small fingers to move: “Come on, Lianlian, let’s write it together.”
Lianlian's little hands trembled slightly, both nervous and excited.
The tip of the brush landed on the paper, leaving a crooked, ink-blot-like mark.
She frowned slightly, looking somewhat annoyed.
Zheng Youning smiled and encouraged, "It's alright, everything is difficult at the beginning. Let's try again."
The hearts of those peeking through the window also rose with the urge to see the tiny pen tip.
Shi Dayong was so nervous that his palms were sweating.
In the beginning, Lianlian found it novel, but she also suffered a lot.
Her pen-holding posture had to be corrected countless times, her wrist ached so much she could barely lift it, and those straight strokes always looked like earthworms crawling in her hand.
Once, she couldn't write the character "上" (shàng) properly no matter what she tried, and she was so upset that tears streamed down her face, staining her little face with ink mixed with her tears, making her look like a little kitten.
"I'm not writing anymore! You silly Lianlian!" She threw down her pen and tried to run away.
“Lianlian,” Zheng Youning did not scold her, but carefully wiped the ink stains off her face with a handkerchief and said softly, “Look at how I wrote the character ‘上’ (shàng, meaning ‘up’). Doesn’t it look like a little person trying to climb a hill?”
"Is climbing uphill tiring? But once you get to the top, you'll see a better view. Lianlian has only just started climbing. Take a break when you're tired, but don't give up."
"Aunt Pei's business was difficult at first, but she persevered, didn't she?"
Lianlian sobbed, then, remembering Pei Qingwu's composure behind the counter, she slowly stopped crying.
"Lianlian wants to climb the hill!" She picked up her pen again, her little face unusually determined.
Pei Qingwu would check Lianlian's "homework" every night when he had free time.
She patiently pointed out the stroke order or demonstrated it on the sand table, and then explained the concepts of "filial piety," "friendship," "trust," and "righteousness" to her in the little things of daily life.
“When Lianlian massages her mother’s back, that is ‘filial piety’.”
“Lianlian shared the snacks with her older sister and older brother, that’s what ‘friendship’ means.”
“Lianlian promised Aunt Pei she wouldn’t run around, and she kept her promise; that’s ‘trust’.”
Lianlian listened with a mixture of understanding and confusion, but looking at Pei Qingwu's gentle and earnest expression, she vaguely realized that these words written on the paper, like the aroma of pastries in the shop, the sweet fragrance of osmanthus in the courtyard, the embrace of her parents, the teachings of her teachers, and the smiles of so many people who loved her, were all things that made her feel safe and happy.
(five)
It's that time of year again when the sweet osmanthus blossoms fill the air. Five years have passed since that autumn when the war ended and Lianlian was born, a time of double joy.
The osmanthus tree in the backyard of Sushan Xiaoji is becoming increasingly lush, with golden blossoms adorning the branches and an intensely sweet fragrance that permeates the entire courtyard and shop.
Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and all the shops in Sushan Market closed half a day early, with the staff going home early to reunite with their families.
The backyard, however, was brightly lit and bustling with activity.
Several large square tables were put together and covered with a sumptuous family feast carefully prepared by Wu Niang and her cooks.
Plump lake crabs steaming hot, freshly steamed osmanthus rice cakes soft and sweet, braised pork hock glistening and tempting, steamed sea bass tender and fresh, a dazzling array of seasonal vegetables and fruits, and of course, the exquisite desserts from Sushan Market, famous throughout Huzhou.
Several jars of fine Xinfeng wine, their clay seals broken, release an aroma that mingles with the fragrance of flowers and vegetables, tantalizing the taste buds.
The protagonist, Lianlian, wore a pale yellow ruqun embroidered with a jade rabbit pounding medicine, and her hair was styled in cute double buns. Like a busy little butterfly, she shuttled through the crowd.
"Grandpa! Eat crab! Aunt Junjun said crab roe is the most nutritious!" She skillfully scooped out a piece of orange-red crab roe with a small spoon, stood on tiptoe, and insisted on feeding it to Shi Dayong.
Shi Dayong grinned from ear to ear, bent down and took a big bite, exclaiming, "Delicious! The ones Lianlian gave me are the best!"
She ran to Gu Heng's side and tugged at his sleeve: "Uncle Heng, can you help me peel the crab legs?"
Gu Heng smiled and agreed, his hands moving swiftly as he placed the peeled, whole crab meat into her small dish.
When it was Pei Qingwu's turn, Lianlian magically produced a small dish from behind her, containing crab meat that she had scraped off bit by bit with a spoon, already piled up like a small mountain.
"Aunt Pei, you've worked so hard. Lianlian is here to show her respect!" She looked up, her little face full of expectation, "Praise me!"
Pei Qingwu's heart softened instantly. He took the plate, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her forehead deeply: "Our Lianlian is so sensible. Auntie's love for her wasn't in vain."
Seeing this, everyone smiled kindly.
Jinniang's eyes were filled with tears, but they were tears of joy—her Lianlian had grown up so well under the care of so many people.
After several rounds of drinks, the moonlight grew brighter, its clear glow spreading across the courtyard and gilding it with a silvery edge.
At this moment, Gu Heng got up and took out a lacquered wooden food box from inside the house.
He placed it in the center of the table and, amidst the curious gazes of everyone, gently opened the box.
Inside was a moon-shaped pastry with a slightly yellow crust decorated with intricate and exquisite patterns of osmanthus trees and jade rabbits.
The pastry is thick and has a wonderful aroma.
“This is…” Pei Qingwu was somewhat surprised.
“Sister,” Gu Heng explained, “this is a reunion cake I tried to make. I used top-quality wheat flour, sesame oil and honey. The filling is roasted walnuts, almonds, melon seeds and osmanthus sugar from our shop. I was thinking that in the future, in addition to ice cream and desserts, our Sushan Market might also add this reunion cake to our Mid-Autumn Festival offerings.”
"Great! What a wonderful reunion cake!" Shi Dayong was the first to cheer.
Zheng Youning nodded and smiled: "It is shaped like a full moon, symbolizing reunion, with generous filling, and the name is also very good."
"Quickly cut it open and try it!" Qian Tao couldn't wait.
Gu Heng took a specially made long knife and carefully cut the cake along the lines pressed into it.
The crust is crispy, the filling is substantial and rich in nuts, and each piece is almost the same size.
Lianlian received her small piece, held it in both hands, took a small bite, and her eyes immediately narrowed with happiness: "So fragrant and sweet! Uncle Heng is the best!"
Pei Qingwu savored it carefully.
The aroma of the pastry, the sweetness of the honey, the crunch of the dried fruit, and the fragrance of the osmanthus blossom in your mouth, creating a truly exquisite flavor.
"Aheng, this cake is excellent. Next Mid-Autumn Festival, it will be the main gift for our market." Pei Qingwu made the final decision.
Gu Heng smiled and nodded, then added a small piece for her and Lianlian respectively.
Nianci picked up a piece of cake, examined it closely in the moonlight, and said softly, "This cake seems to have contained the fragrance of the osmanthus in our courtyard and tonight's moon."
Yu Yi laughed heartily upon hearing this: "Nianci, that's a brilliant remark! It's exactly like eating the moon!"
Laughter and cheerful conversation, along with the aromas of osmanthus, wine, and pastries, lingered in the air above the courtyard.
As night deepened, Lianlian finally succumbed to sleepiness and leaned against Pei Qingwu's chest, nodding her head slightly, still clutching the half-eaten reunion cake in her hand.
Pei Qingwu gently patted her back, looked at the peaceful sleeping face of the child in his arms, and then looked around.
A few osmanthus blossoms quietly fell, landing on Lianlian's hair and on everyone's shoulders.
At this moment, life is peaceful and the world is serene.
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