In early spring, the weather is still chilly despite the change in temperature, and the spring wind blows wildly, making people feel uneasy.
In Tangjiagou at the foot of Dayanshan Mountain, in a dilapidated courtyard, a woman was screaming in agony.
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Standing next to her was a woman in her fifties named Wang, who frowned and said, "Why are you still being so dramatic? This is your seventh pregnancy. It's just like taking a dump. Stop making a fuss!"
Upon hearing this, the woman in labor on the bed glanced timidly at her mother-in-law, shrank her neck, and although waves of pain came her way, she dared not shout out loud anymore, only groaning softly with her face contorted.
Standing next to the old woman was her eldest daughter, Tang Chunya, who looked at her mother ingratiatingly and said, "Mother, Lanzhi's pregnancy has been so difficult this time, unlike before, it must be a boy!"
The old woman's expression softened slightly, and she said with a solemn look, "That would be best!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Lanzhi, lying on the bed, disregarded her pain and gently patted her belly, silently saying in her heart, "Child, you must be strong, your mother really can't give birth anymore!"
Then an indescribable pain spread throughout her body. Xu Lanzhi gripped the tattered quilt tightly with both hands, sweat pouring down her face.
Finally, the body relaxed, and a loud baby cry resounded through the sky.
Outside the dilapidated house, six little girls of varying ages looked expectantly into the house, each with a worried expression.
Before long, Wang came out with a long face and a face full of anger.
Tang Chunya followed along, grumbling, "Mother, Fourth Brother's wife is really useless. She gave birth to seven girls in a row. Our family can no longer hold our heads up in this village!"
Wang remained silent, but her face betrayed her deep disappointment.
At this moment, the gate to the dilapidated courtyard was pushed open, and two village women who looked similar to Tang Chunya but were slightly younger than her rushed into the courtyard.
These are Wang's second and third daughters, Tang Xiahe and Tang Qiumei. Upon hearing that their younger brother and sister-in-law were about to give birth, they rushed back without stopping.
As soon as Tang Xiahe entered the door, she asked, "Mother, has Lanzhi given birth? Is it a boy this time?"
Tang Chunya said with a pained expression, "What boy? He's just a little girl."
After saying that, he turned to his mother, Wang, and said, “Mother, I told you long ago that you can’t be soft-hearted. This time, we absolutely cannot let this one live. If you can’t bring yourself to do it, I will.”
After saying that, he went into the dilapidated house where Xu Lanzhi had given birth, took out the baby who was only wrapped in a tattered cloth, and went straight to the outhouse.
She muttered to herself, "Girl, it's not that your aunt is heartless, it's just that you were born in the wrong place. I'm sending you on your way now. Next time you're reincarnated, be more careful."
After saying that, he was about to throw the child into the chamber pot.
Despite her weakness, Xu Lanzhi stumbled out and leaned over the chamber pot, crying and pleading, "Big sister, the child is innocent! She's Dongsheng's child! You can't do this!"
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It turns out that Tang Chunya wanted to drown the newborn baby in the chamber pot!
Xu Lanzhi cried her heart out, and the six young girls were terrified. They cried and shouted as they tried to pull Tang Chunya away.
Tang Xiahe rushed over, snatched the baby from her, and yelled, "Big sister, is your brain made of mush? This is such a small child, you've really lost all your conscience!"
Tang Chunya was not convinced and retorted: "Anyone can be a good person. Look at the litter of girls Xu Lanzhi gave birth to. I have helped them a lot. Now that the harvest is bad, they are all struggling to take care of themselves. Dongsheng's life is uncertain. Are you going to take this baby and those six girls back to raise them?"
Tang Xiahe was speechless after being rebuked, and Tang Qiumei behind her moved her lips but ultimately remained silent.
Seeing this, Tang Chunya felt even more confident. With a dark face, she pulled Xu Lanzhi, who was lying on the chamber pot, away: "Get off me! This child is too young to understand. Send her away to avoid suffering!"
Xu Lanzhi couldn't bear to part with it; it was flesh of her own flesh.
She looked up at her indifferent mother-in-law and pleaded, "Mother, please have mercy and let the child stay! Otherwise, how will I explain it to Dongsheng when he comes back!"
Upon hearing her son's name, a look of worry flashed across Wang's face.
Xu Lanzhi's six maids also rushed to Wang Shi, crying and begging her: "Grandma, please keep the little sister, we will take care of her!"
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Wang was filled with mixed emotions. She was also a mother of four, and this baby might be the last child her son Dongsheng would have left in the world, but given the current situation at home…
Wang's expression was inscrutable, and everyone in the courtyard stared at her, waiting for her decision. It was unusually quiet.
At this moment, the baby in Tang Xiahe's arms, who had been very quiet, suddenly burst into tears. For some reason, the crying seemed to contain endless grievances, and everyone present couldn't help but feel saddened.
Wang was brought back to reality by the crying. In the end, she couldn't bear it and softened her tone, saying to Xia He, "Second girl, give me the child!"
When the child was in Wang's arms, the crying stopped abruptly, and Wang clearly saw her smile at her.
She was puzzled. How could a newborn baby be smiling, even though she clearly saw it?
She handed the child to Xu Lanzhi and said calmly, "Take the child back. Otherwise, if the mother and child get sick from the cold, it will only be a torment for this old woman!"
Xu Lanzhi was stunned for a moment, then realized that her mother-in-law was going to spare the child's life. She quickly kowtowed to her mother-in-law, then held the little girl in her arms and hid inside the house.
The newborn baby in her arms let out a long sigh of relief.
The six little maids behind her also kowtowed to their grandmother, just like her, and quietly followed Xu Lanzhi back into the house.
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Tang Chunya looked at her mother, Wang Shi, with a pained expression and said, "Mother, Dongsheng has been gone for more than half a year without any news. The family is in such a state. If this child stays, he will starve to death. To tell you the truth, my husband has already said that if I bring anything back to my parents' home, he will divorce me. I can't take care of you anymore. That child is a burden!"
Wang said with a stern face, "Go back. It's none of your business, as a married daughter, to interfere in the affairs of the Tang family!"
Tang Chunya was furious. She stormed out, but soon returned, opened her coat pocket, poured out a handful of millet, put it in the yard, and left again in a huff.
Wang felt a pang of sorrow in her heart. This damned world truly leaves no way for people to survive.
Xiahe and Qiumei comforted their mother and gave her the small amount of food they had brought from home.
Madam Wang instructed her two daughters: "Live your lives well, your mother will take care of things at home."
The two daughters left in tears. With this natural disaster and man-made calamity, they feared they would never be able to take care of this family again.
At this moment, six skinny little girls inside the room stared curiously at the baby in swaddling clothes.
The baby's brow was furrowed; he hadn't yet recovered from this earth-shattering change.
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