"Alright then, Iâll talk to your dad about it and get him to speak up," Ms. Wang replied.
However, before Ms. Wang and Yang Dachuan could say anything, Yang Xiaochuan came by himself, empty-handed, without bringing anything.
Old Yang, upon hearing that a daughter was born, didnât say much and simply acknowledged the news.
After Yang Xiaochuan left, Yang Dachuan asked, "Fourth, did you send someone to your mother-in-lawâs home to announce the good news? If you donât know how, ask your older sister for advice."
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiaochuanâs lips curled in disdain and he snorted coldly. "What good news? Itâs more like announcing a death. Whatâs there to celebrate about a girl?"
Yang Dachuan choked on his words due to his outburst and was just about to scold him when he saw him dart off like smoke.
In the following two days, several close-knit families noticed that they hadnât received any red eggs from the fourth branch of the family. Usually, for peasant families, there was no lavish baptism celebration; it was limited to the grandmotherâs and unclesâ homes and those of close relatives, where a few sets of shoes, socks, and clothes were made for the child, and they all gathered for a meal on the day of the baptism to consider it done.
But, even so, the fourth branch of the family was supposed to give them red eggs first. The Land Officerâs wife had been waiting at home for two days without receiving any red eggs, and Ms. Wang and others had the same experience.
Yang Chuxia, upon hearing Ms. Wangâs grumbling, wondered whether the fourth branch was actually skimping on the red eggs even at a time like this.
Well, this time Yang Chuxia had really misjudged Ms. Luo, it wasnât that she didnât let him, but Yang Xiaochuan simply hadnât gone to buy any. The eggs at home were the ones she bought herself before giving birth, intended for use during her confinement period, but after eating some, there werenât many left, only about twenty to thirty eggs, certainly not enough to distribute as baptism eggs.
She asked Yang Xiaochuan to go buy some, and he had bluntly thrown back, "Why send red eggs for a girl? It would just embarrass me." And then he left and hadnât come back even after two days.
As for Ms. Luoâs meals, it was Ms. Liu who couldnât stand by and came to help her prepare them.
On the day of the baptism, the Land Officerâs wife was the first to approach Ms. Wang.
"Are we still supposed to attend the baptism at Fourthâs home?" she asked.
"Auntie, I plan to go. Knowing about it, I canât just not show up." Ms. Wang had prepared two sets of baby clothes and two pairs of baby shoes.
Yang Chuxia herself did not attend, choosing to send a longevity lock with Ms. Wang instead. Ms. Luo had gifted her silver jewelry when she got married, so Yang Chuxia thought to send a pair of bracelets when the child turned one month old, and then a pair of anklets when the child turned one year old as a way to return the favor.
"Iâm going as well, but just making a token appearance, really. Iâve prepared some brown sugar and flour," the Land Officerâs wife muttered, "Could it be that Fourth is too stingy to give away those few red eggs?"
Upon hearing this, Ms. Wang shook her head. "I donât think thatâs it; he probably just dislikes that itâs a girl."
"How ridiculous, whatâs wrong with girls? Girls are very good," she said.
"Grandma, did I hear that the young aunt is a few months pregnant?" Yang Chuxia asked with a smile, listening to their conversation and interjecting from time to time.
"Yes, indeed, just three months along," replied the Land Officerâs wife with a laugh. "Iâm afraid your aunt might feel pressured, so I told her itâs best to have a girl, as weâre missing a granddaughter in the family."
"Grandma, you really sound like a loving mother. My mom, on the other hand, sounds like a mother-in-law, always nagging in my ear that it would be better to have a grandson," Yang Chuxia said.
The Land Officerâs wife laughed out loud upon hearing this.
"Dear child, donât listen to your mother. But with twins this time, isnât it likely for one to be a boy?"
Ms. Wang gave her a reproachful look. "Iâm just looking out for your best interest. Anyway, Iâll stop now. Remember to drink your soup later." She then picked up her basket and went to the old Yang residence with the Land Officerâs wife.