Chapter 6

No one spoke, all with speechless expressions, looking at Old Madam/Mrs. Zhou. Of course, no one believed her.

A few sons also thought their mother was overly delighted, maybe even hallucinating. Except for Song Futian, who heard the little daughter speak with his own ears, no one else believed it.

However, Old Madam Zhou had absolute status in the Song family. Even though everyone thought she might be a bit mentally unwell, no one dared to say anything.

Madam Zhang thought to herself, “Hmph, this is really exaggerated. Even if she loves the little girl, it’s no reason to talk nonsense like this.”

Seeing that no one said anything, Old Madam Zhou assumed everyone believed her. She gave more instructions and was very pleased inside, smiling all night long.

“Second son’s wife, it’s your turn to cook these days. Every day, keep the kang stove in the east wing warm. It’s still cold these days. Tomorrow morning, make some millet porridge and boil a few eggs for the fourth son’s wife. Also, add a meal of white noodles in the morning,” Old Madam Zhou ordered.

Zhang felt a pang of jealousy. Not only did she have to serve during the confinement period, but this was treatment that they themselves never had—eggs and white flour.

“Mother, the white flour is almost used up. This stuff is precious; I’m afraid we don’t have enough left for many more meals,” Zhang said.

White flour was indeed precious; usually, it was only mixed with other flours during festivals to make dumplings. On ordinary days, it was too costly to waste. One dou (a traditional measure) cost over thirty wen.

(For currency conversion in this story: 1 tael of gold = 10 taels of silver; 1 tael of silver = 10 qian of silver; 1 qian of silver = 100 wen.)

Zhou said, “My little granddaughter was born lucky with the ability to earn money. Everything in the house is abundant. Tomorrow, we’ll sell some fish and buy white flour. The fourth son’s wife must eat well so she can produce plenty of milk. Only then can my little granddaughter grow plump and fair.”

Zhang was left speechless by these words, and could only nod in agreement.

—-

The next day.

Early in the morning, Zhang first heated the big kang stove in the east wing and cooked millet porridge in a pot. Then she heated the kang stove in the main room to prepare food for the family.

The Song family was large. The main house had three rooms: the old master and old madam lived in the east room, the kitchen was in the middle, and the fifth son and boys over fifteen lived in the west room.

The east wing had three rooms: the north room was for the third son’s family, the kitchen was in the middle, and the south room was for the fourth son’s family.

The west wing had three rooms as well, where the first and second sons’ families lived. The courtyard was spacious, with a cowshed, chicken coop, and vegetable garden.

After the food was ready and the day gradually brightened, Zhang first took the meal to Liu. Although jealous of Liu’s treatment, she dared not disobey her mother-in-law.

Song Tian’er stretched and opened her eyes, starting a beautiful day.

Liu looked at her little daughter happily. Other children often cried at night, but her little daughter slept soundly until dawn, like a little grown-up.

Actually, Song Tian’er had comfortably slept all night on the big bed in the space.

Liu picked up the child, changed her diaper, and softly said, “Tian’er, from now on you’ll be called Song Tian’er. You’re my little sweet treasure, the whole family’s little sweet treasure.”

Song Tian’er smiled too. Her mother was gentle, and the maternal warmth made her feel comfortable. The name was nice, close to the one she had in her previous life, so she liked it very much.

“Fourth brother’s wife, time to eat.”

At that moment, the second son’s wife, Zhang, entered with millet porridge and eggs.

Liu quickly sat up straight and said, “Ah, it’s really troublesome for second sister-in-law to take care of me.”

Zhang smiled with a forced smile and said, “No problem. It’s your luck to have a daughter. These are all what mother told me to do. I’m just worried the food I make won’t suit your taste. You’re the heroine of our family now, so you must be treated well.”

Though said with a smile, the words sounded a bit sour. But Liu pretended not to notice.

“Second sister-in-law cooks the best food; I’m used to it,” Liu said with a smile.

Hearing this, Zhang felt a bit better. She set the table and placed the millet porridge and eggs on it.

Song Tian’er naturally heard all this and knew that second sister-in-law was somewhat jealous.

Song Tian’er thought, “So this is second aunt, such a great beauty, with shiny black hair that looks like she’s twenty. And the millet porridge smells really good, the whole room filled with fragrance, thick and oily. Second aunt is really skillful.”

Song Tian’er knew everyone liked compliments. Under one roof, it’s better to get along well, so she would try to be kind.

If she gave someone a chance but they didn’t respond, then she would treat them the same way they treated her.

After saying this, Zhang was stunned and momentarily blank before realizing the old madam’s words were true—the little girl really could talk.

Her voice was soft and sweet, a baby’s gentle tone, much better than her own sons’ noisy quacking.

Wait, what did she say just now? She called her a great beauty, said her hair was nice and the cooking was good.

This kid, really! Saying such honest things. She was a great beauty when young, too. As for cooking, who in the Song family could compare to her?

Zhang glanced at Liu, smiling completely differently than before, and softly said, “Ah, this child is really nice.”

Liu hurriedly said, “Little sweet treasure likes her second aunt.”

Zhang touched her hair and said softly, “Once the fourth sister-in-law finishes confinement, I’ll teach you how to take care of your hair.”

Liu nodded, “Okay.”

Zhang’s smile could no longer be hidden. This little sweet treasure was so adorable, pretty, and spoke so nicely. Her sons never complimented her.

She couldn’t let the little sweet treasure go hungry. Zhang said, “During confinement, you need to eat several meals a day. Whatever you want to eat, second sister-in-law will make it for you. Don’t worry about trouble.”

Originally reluctant to serve during Liu’s confinement, now hearing such praise from little sweet treasure, Zhang was happy and wanted to show off her cooking skills.

Though her cooking was average, with little sweet treasure’s compliments, she felt extraordinary.

From childhood, her parents favored boys over girls, her husband was dull, her mother-in-law domineering, her sons indifferent—no one had praised Zhang like this before. Now she was very fond of little sweet treasure.

Liu nodded and thanked Zhang again. Only then did Zhang happily leave, thinking about what delicious food to prepare next.

Millet porridge and eggs were quite good food for a farming family in this era, and Liu ate happily.

Before the main room had eaten, Old Madam Zhou came to check on her little granddaughter, afraid Liu wasn’t taking good care and that her little granddaughter might be wronged.