About ten days into Lin Xiuqing's postpartum confinement, Father Lin and Lin Mother came to visit, bringing the baby clothes they had prepared in advance, along with chickens, eggs, longevity noodles, red dates, dried longans, and other foods for a mother recovering from childbirth.
This was no longer her first child, so they had been in no great rush. They finished their work at home and got everything ready before coming over.
Lin Mother held the baby with a smile. "Good thing this was your third. The birth was quick, and all that matters is that you're both safe. I thought A-Dong would bring you back after the New Year."
"He thought that once spring came, our family would be busy picking tea again, so we shouldn't add to your trouble. Besides, we're in an out-of-the-way spot right by the beach. If anything happens, it's easy to get on a boat and go to town or somewhere else for a day or two before coming back."
Father Lin nodded too. "True. We spent all of last month up in the hills, heading out at four in the morning before daylight and only coming back in the evening. Even if you'd come, there wouldn't have been anyone to look after you."
"Let's not talk about that. All that matters is that the baby's here."
"What's my little cousin's name? Her cheeks are so chubby they're practically sagging..." Her eldest nephew, Lin Guangyuan, had come along to play today, and he craned his neck to look.
Lin Mother shot him a reproachful look. "Don't say that."
"Her name's Ye Xiaoxi," Ye Chenghu shouted from the side.
"She's Little Nine!" Ye Chengyang shouted, refusing to be outdone.
Lin Xiuqing smiled. "The fortune-teller said she lacked nothing, so we could name her anything. A-Dong