Chapter 77

The baby grunted and fussed, prompting Deputy Director Gu to reluctantly leave his soft, warm wife and roll up his sleeves to tend to the little one.

Despite being so tiny, Gu Doudou already displayed his mother’s traits. While other babies might simply need a diaper change, Gu Doudou fussed until his bottom was washed with warm water, cleaned thoroughly, and a fresh diaper was put on him. He needed a nighttime snack before he would settle down and sleep peacefully. Otherwise, he would continue to make a fuss.

Lin Yao was woken by the stench of her son’s mess. In a daze, her chubby son had already settled into her arms. Little Gu Doudou, with a fresh bottom, gave a few contented noises, signaling that it was time to eat.

Lin Yao mechanically pulled aside her clothing and began to nurse her son. Gu Doudou eagerly nestled into his mother’s embrace, munching on his late-night snack like a happy little piglet.

As for the golden-yellow mess left by Gu Doudou, it was left for his father to clean. The little one’s cheeks were puffing up as Lin Yao gently poked them, enjoying the soft, squishy feel. She couldn’t help but think, “Dragons have dragon offspring, and phoenixes have phoenix offspring. Our child is destined to be…”

Bah!

It’s true what they say: raising children makes you understand your parents’ hard work.

Lin Yao used to hear Zhang Cuilan complain about how hard it was to raise children. Hearing about it was one thing, but experiencing it firsthand was another matter entirely.

Since Gu Doudou arrived, Lin Yao barely had a full night’s sleep. The little one needed constant feeding and attention. During the day, he would sleep soundly, but at night, he required feeding every two or three hours. Whenever the baby cried, Lin Yao had to get up. Sometimes, she would even doze off while feeding him.

After Gu Doudou had his fill, he contentedly curled up and fell asleep.

Gu Shi’an finished washing the baby’s diapers and hung them on the clothesline in the yard. After carefully washing his hands with soap, he returned with an enamel basin. Lin Yao was meticulous about household chores. They had three enamel basins at home: one for washing face, one for washing feet, and one specifically for the baby’s diapers.

While some might consider this excessive, to Gu Shi’an, whatever Lin Yao said was right.

In the east wing, Lin Yao was trying to place Gu Doudou into the cradle. The little one woke up at the slightest disturbance.

“Yao Yao, let me do it.”

A deep, pleasant voice came from the doorway.

Lin Yao looked up to see Gu Shi’an returning after washing the diapers.

Gu Shi’an gently took the sleeping baby and expertly placed him into the cradle. With summer nights being filled with mosquitoes, Lin Yao had sewn a small mosquito net for the cradle using an old, coarse cloth net from Dongzi’s room. Dongzi, being an active sleeper, had kicked a big hole in his net. Lin Yao had repurposed it for the baby and also made a small pillow specifically for him.

As the baby was gently removed from his father’s warm embrace, he frowned slightly. Gu Shi’an’s rough hand gently patted him, and with his little pillow, Gu Doudou slept soundly, his tiny hands curled into little fists, his stomach rising and falling with each breath.

Finally, the little one was asleep, and the parents took the opportunity to rest as well, with tomorrow’s tasks awaiting them.

Gu Shi’an turned off the light, plunging the room into darkness. Only the bamboo forest outside the window swayed gently in the evening breeze.

Lin Yao, accustomed to snuggling into Gu Shi’an’s arms, yawned repeatedly. Gu Shi’an ran his fingers through her long hair and softly asked, “Tired?”

Lin Yao nodded, burying her face in his chest and murmuring, “Mm.”

How could she not be tired? The baby slept for seven or eight hours during the day, but come evening, he was full of energy—chatting with family, babbling, and moving his hands and feet.

The couple embraced each other as they slept, but soon, Lin Yao complained about the heat and rolled over to sleep alone.

She might have felt uncomfortable not hugging anything, as she clung to Gu Shi’an’s arm like an octopus, her fair face rubbing against him, mumbling in dissatisfaction.

“Comrade, this wild boar skin is too tough. Bring another dish.”

Gu Doudou in the cradle also gave a small grunt. Gu Shi’an chuckled softly and closed his eyes.

In the middle of the night, a cold wind blew in, and light rain began to fall, eventually turning into a torrential downpour. The rain beat against the courtyard, forming a trickling stream.

Outside, thunder and lightning continued. In the Wang family’s front yard, the old woman tossed and turned, unable to sleep, muttering and cursing in the house, disturbing the quiet of the night.

Lin Yao, however, slept soundly, exhausted from the day. Even the sound of heavy rain against the window couldn’t wake her.

The next morning, the rain continued to fall lightly, drumming on the roof tiles. The banana leaves in the yard were washed green and glistening.

Lin Yao hadn’t slept so well in a long time. She rolled over in bed, then opened the curtain and went outside to freshen up.

In the kitchen, Zhang Cuilan was busy preparing breakfast, with Gu Mancang helping out.

As usual, Gu Shi’an left early for the police station. Before leaving, he filled the water tank and neatly stacked the firewood in the kitchen. The ground in the courtyard was damp, and the summer heat had dissipated somewhat. Dongzi, the mischievous boy, had already asked his brother to move the cradle into the main room. Now he was playing with a rattle drum, making Gu Doudou laugh non-stop.

The rattle drum’s face was made of cowhide, with colorful, vivid little dolls painted on both sides. The rhythmic noise of the drum made Gu Doudou giggle.

Zhang Cuilan laughed, saying, “He’s such a little rascal.”

Lin Yao wholeheartedly agreed, patting her chubby son’s face. “Did you hear Grandma? If you don’t behave when you grow up, you’ll get a spanking.”

Gu Doudou, with his little fists in his mouth and big eyes blinking, wiggled his chubby legs and gave a couple of “ah ah” sounds, with a look that seemed to say, “I’m so little and good, I don’t understand what Mommy is saying.” This made the whole family laugh.

*

The Gu family was filled with joy and laughter, but the Sun family in town was in turmoil. It seemed like they were having one misfortune after another for the past six months.

Lin Hongna’s premature baby was a weakling, yet he was the cherished treasure of the Sun family.

Father Sun named the child Sun Tianyou, meaning he prayed for the heavens to protect his grandson.

Sun Tianyou was born frail and sickly. Compared to other babies his age, he was smaller and even his cries were weak, barely audible like a kitten’s meow.

Lin Hongna’s body was left weakened after giving birth, and since she did not rest properly during the postpartum period, the doctor at the clinic said she should not have any more children in the coming years.

She had hoped to have more sons while she was still young to solidify her position in the Sun family.

Now, her dreams were shattered. Lin Hongna held her pale-faced son, Sun Tianyou, with no joy of motherhood. This was not the child she had envisioned!

In her ideal scenario, her son would be chubby and healthy, loved by everyone. In contrast, Lin Yao’s child from the previous generation was praised as a prodigy and a talented individual!

Lin Yao’s later years were marked by prosperity and success, largely due to having a good son.

Why should Lin Yao’s child be talented and exceptional, while hers turned out to be a sickly weakling?

Lin Hongna felt no maternal affection for this son and even harbored some resentment. To her, this useless child was nothing more than a burden.

On the other hand, Mother Sun cherished her grandson as if he were her precious gem. After all, blood is thicker than water. Apart from going to work, she spent her time comforting Sun Tianyou.

Sun Tianyou seemed to respond better to his grandmother. When held by others in the family, he would cry pitifully like a kitten, but in his grandmother’s arms, he would calm down immediately, nursing quietly and then sleeping soundly.

Mother Sun’s voice was as sweet as honey when she spoke, “Oh, my dear grandson, you know Grandma loves you, don’t you? Grandma will give you kisses.”

She would sway Sun Tianyou around the room. After Lin Hongna finished feeding her son, she forced a smile and said, “Dad, Mom, I’m going to rest. Please go to bed early.”

Mother Sun genuinely did not want to engage with Lin Hongna, and after Father Sun coughed softly, he barely acknowledged her before returning to his newspaper.

Lin Hongna, holding her breath, went back to her room, which was the new room for her and Sun Jialiang.

This bedroom was the best furnished one in the Sun family., with dark red wooden floors, a wall-mounted candle lamp, a small sofa by the bed, and a tidy, bright, and clean appearance.

When Lin Hongna first married into the Sun family, she was thrilled to live in such a high-quality home and naively believed that she would lead the life of her dreams.

However, reality gave her a harsh slap in the face.

The Sun family was still dominated by the elderly matriarch, and they looked down on her rural origins. Her own family was no better; her mother, Li Aifeng, was sent to a farm for theft, damaging the Sun family’s reputation.

Lin Daguo and his son in the countryside were lazy and unreliable, often begging Lin Hongna for food.

Recently, when Lin Hongna visited her hometown, she heard from the gossiping villagers about the grand life in Yunshui County and about Lin Yao’s husband, who was now the deputy director of the county public security bureau.

“You don’t know, but Lin Yao from the Lin family is really lucky. On the day my daughter-in-law gave birth, Lin Yao was also in the clinic giving birth. My daughter-in-law had a daughter, but Lin Yao gave birth to a big healthy boy. That boy was robust and strong. Guess how much that child weighed when he was born.”

“How much can a baby from the city weigh that much? It’s not like they have good nutrition there. Maybe about five or six pound.”

“Even so, my niece’s baby only weighed a bit over five pound.”

“Oh, five pound is quite a lot.”

“You really don’t know, Lin Yao’s baby weighed six pound seven ounces!”

“Oh my goodness, that’s almost seven pound!”

“There’s no lack of food in the city. They must be eating well.”

“Who knows? Her husband is a deputy director of the public security bureau, so he must have money and can get whatever he wants.”

“That makes sense. The Lin family’s ancestors must be happy with how well their daughters have done.”

“Forget it, Lin Hongna might seem to have married well, but she’s not living comfortably. Remember how Lin Daguo’s wife caused a scene in the town and almost lost the eldest grandchild?”

“Didn’t Lin Hongna give birth too?”

“Yes, she did, and it was also a boy.”

“Well, that’s good. A son is better than a daughter.”

“She gave birth to a sickly child. Even though it’s a boy, it’s of no use. She’ll have to spend a lot on medicine, and it’s a disappointment.”

“Everyone has their own fate.”

“Lin Hongna is like a fool who ends up losing a watermelon while picking up a sesame seed.”

“True.”

The villagers chatted and laughed happily.

Lin Hongna, overhearing this, felt deeply frustrated. She couldn’t understand why, despite having stolen Lin Yao’s man and marrying into the Sun family, she hadn’t achieved her dream life but rather faced continuous troubles.

After enduring twenty days in the clinic to give birth to her useless son, she was met with ridicule from the villagers.

What was Lin Yao doing at that time?

Was she proudly holding her six pound seven ounce son or being surrounded by admirers receiving compliments?

Gu Shi’an was the deputy director of the public security bureau. Surely there were many people trying to ingratiate themselves with him.

Lin Hongna couldn’t help but fantasize about what might have been if she had married Gu Shi’an instead.

Would she be the deputy director’s wife now?

Lin Hongna longed for such a life but suddenly remembered something and slapped herself.

No, she couldn’t be blinded by these minor gains. Although Lin Yao was currently enjoying some prominence, it was nothing compared to the great fortune that awaited her in the future.

In the future, Lin Hongna would live in a villa in Hong Kong, surrounded by servants and drivers, enjoying the luxurious life of a high society lady.

Lin Yao’s greatest achievement would be just a family member of a small county official. Gu Shi’an earned only a modest salary each month, supporting an entire family including the elderly Zhang Cuilan and Gu Mancang. As they aged, they could no longer earn money, and any illnesses or disasters would quickly drain their resources.

Gu Shidong, the rebellious child, had connections with people from Pigeon Market at a young age. He secretly befriended an older brother in Pigeon Market, becoming a lackey for small gains. At fourteen, he was caught by the inspection team and sent to a juvenile detention center. After his release, his behavior became increasingly erratic and rebellious. He fell into a life of crime during the 1980s and 1990s and ended up in prison, living a miserable life akin to a dog.

As for Gu Chunmei, she married Xu Xiangqian. After Xu Xiangqian died during a mission, Gu Chunmei was devastated and went mad, becoming a lunatic. She lost her job at the supply and marketing cooperative and nearly lost her son as well.

I wonder what will happen to Lin Yao, this good sister-in-law, in the future.

When Lin Hongna thought about the fact that Lin Yao would have to work like a slave for the Gu family for the rest of her life and rot in the mud, she felt very happy.

God let her be reborn again, and he must let her live a good life.

As for Lin Yao, just cry in the mud of Gu’s family!