The governor's mansion welcomed a new grandson, and congratulatory invitations poured in from all directions. (txt novel download 80)
On the third-day celebration when relatives and friends gather to bless the baby, the number of invited guests is countless. Early in the morning, the open space between the outer gate and the main gate of the Governor's Mansion, which is large enough to host a polo match, is completely filled with horses and vehicles, leaving no room to even squeeze in. Those who arrive a little later have to retreat to Wutoumen Outer Street to park their cars and tie up their horses.
Most of these people came because of Yang Xi and his son-in-law Jun Shu. The men were naturally entertained by them personally, but the women, since Yang was still in confinement and unable to get out of bed, had to be served by Madam Yang and her daughter-in-law Zhao.
Among them was Shen, the wife of Wang Siqi, the Director of the Maritime Trade Office in Hangzhou, who was Yang's close friend before her marriage.
Because of their close relationship, Zhao took her to Yingliu Residence to meet Yang.
Having not seen each other for many years, the two inevitably wiped away tears and expressed their longing for each other.
“His Majesty has been giving a lot of pointers to the Maritime Trade Office these days. My husband is accompanying the Emperor and has to be available whenever he calls. He leaves all the household chores to me and also helps with the trivial matters when His Majesty comes to the Maritime Trade Office. I’ve been thinking about you the whole time, but I just couldn’t get away. Luckily, I finally got to see you today.”
Ms. Shen looked apologetic. Although she knew that Ms. Yang was straightforward and did not care about trivial matters, she felt guilty because her friend had been back in Hangzhou for a long time and she had not been able to come and visit her.
Madam Yang sat back on the canopy bed, her head wrapped in a red headband, a large pillow behind her back, and a brocade quilt covering her body. She had taken good care of herself after childbirth, and her face was fair and rosy, and she looked very healthy. Upon hearing this, she said, "Who said only you can come to see me? I could have come to see you, but it's inconvenient for me to go out with my big belly, and my husband is very strict, so it has been delayed."
Zhao, knowing the deep affection between the two, couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing their conversation. She said, "Look at what you two are saying! The two of you can't bear to be apart once you see each other. You practically live in each other's houses for half the year, sharing a bed and a blanket, exchanging your beautiful clothes. With such affection, do you need to be so polite? Let me check you out. Have you been switched inside out? Are you two no longer the same people?"
Her joke dispelled the awkwardness, and the atmosphere became more relaxed. They spoke more freely, as if they had returned to their teenage years. [Novel txt download: http://W/]
The newborn was lying next to Yang. The boy was strong and healthy, and the weather was hot. He was only wearing a red bib embroidered with koi fish, with a thin blanket on his belly. He was sleeping soundly with his eyes closed, completely unaware that the banquet was held for him.
"Look at this child, he's so handsome, just like your lord," Madam Shen praised, then touched the little chubby arms and legs that were sticking out. "He's so sturdy, he must have weighed seven or eight pounds when he was born, right?"
Madam Yang proudly said, "She weighed eight pounds and six ounces, and was almost twice the size of her two older sisters. Giving birth to her was such a tiring experience for me."
"Have you named it yet? What's it called?" Madam Shen asked again.
“The given name is Yu, with the character Yu (瑀) on the side of the jade radical and the character Yu (禹) in the name of Yu the Great,” Yang replied.
“Bo-ge’er, come over and say hello to Yu-ge’er.” Madam Shen pushed her only son, Wang Hongbo, to the bedside. “This child has no brothers or sisters. Ever since he heard me talk about him, he has been eagerly looking forward to visiting his little brothers and sisters. But now that he sees people, he’s become shy again.”
Wang Hongbo just turned seven this March. He has a chubby face, big, bright eyes, and is especially lovable.
Because he was the only child in the family, he had few companions and mostly played alone. Unlike the Yang brothers, he was not lively and outgoing and was a little shy around strangers.
He stood on the footstool by the bed, smiled shyly at Madam Yang, and then looked down at the baby.
Junyu's moist little mouth opened slightly, and his lips moved occasionally. Wang Hongbo carefully poked his chubby cheek, then turned around and asked in puzzlement, "Mother, when the Emperor came to our yamen that day, I saw Uncle Jun. His eyes were big and bright, but Yu'er's were just a line. How could they be the same?"
Sitting on the drum stool at the table, Wushuang swung her little feet, covering her mouth and giggling. She also thought that her father's eyes were big and bright, unlike her younger brother's slit eyes. However, since Shen was a guest, she was too embarrassed to refute her.
Shen felt wronged. Whose child isn't born with eyes that are just slits? But everyone says the child looks like this or that. Besides, she was referring to the whole face, not just the eyes.
Madam Yang suppressed a laugh and said softly, "Bo-ge'er has never seen a baby before, has he? All newborn babies look like this. They'll open up in a while. Then Bo-ge'er can come and see if Yu-ge'er looks like your Uncle Jun or like me, okay?"
Wang Hongbo nodded earnestly and said yes.
He adored Junyu. After asking him questions, he lay down by the bed, pinching his little hands and feet, occasionally letting out a few exclamations of surprise.
"Mom, Yu-ge'er's hands are so small! He can fill my fist with just one of my fingers!"
"Mother, Yu-ge'er's feet are so soft and smell so good!"
Wushuang also loves the baby's little hands and feet, and couldn't help but jump off the drum stool and run to the bedside to play with her little brother with Wang Hongbo.
They poked and pinched here and there, scratched at the top and patted at the bottom, and with their combined efforts, Junyu was finally woken up.
He still kept his eyes half-closed, his little face pouting, and he opened his mouth to cry.
The wet nurse quickly stepped forward, picked up Junyu, and patted and comforted him.
The two mothers simultaneously ushered Wushuang and Wang Hongbo to the daybed by the window to talk.
Just a few days ago, she was the apple of everyone's eye, but now that her little brother is here, she's fallen out of favor!
Wu Shuang puffed out her cheeks and pouted, angrily propping herself up on her arms and using both hands and feet to climb onto the daybed. Wang Hongbo reached out and supported her from behind. Boys are strong, and with his help, Wu Shuang climbed onto the daybed with almost no effort.
"Brother Bo, you're so kind." The first thing Wushuang did after sitting down was to sweetly thank Wang Hongbo.
Wang Hongbo climbed up and sat down next to Wushuang, pulling out a small rectangular ebony box from his sleeve: "Shuangshuang, this is for you."
Wushuang took it, opened the box, and saw that it contained black and white sesame candies. She immediately picked up a piece with a big smile and put it in her mouth.
"Is it good?" Wang Hongbo asked, pursing his lips. "I brought it especially for you, only you have it."
Wushuang was even happier to hear this. She nodded as she chewed, then took another piece from the box and offered it to Wang Hongbo's mouth: "Brother Bo, you should eat too."
The black sesame candy is filled with diced lard, offering a sweet and slightly salty flavor. The white sesame candy is filled with white sugar rose petals, filling the mouth with a delicate fragrance.
The two fed each other, taking turns feeding each other, eating happily, and chatting occasionally, quickly becoming acquainted.
Wang Hongbo is not naughty or troublesome, and he is also very good at taking care of people. He will use a handkerchief to wipe the sugar residue on Wushuang's lips, and he will carefully touch the cup before Wushuang picks up the teacup to test the temperature for her.
Faced with such a considerate and handsome young man, Wushuang's heart melted.
Before coming here, wasn't she hoping to find a childhood sweetheart? Her cousins were too enthusiastic, which most people couldn't handle, but Wang Hongbo was just the right amount of enthusiasm.
Yang and Shen also noticed that they got along well and coincidentally recalled their whispered conversations from their teenage years.
"Do you remember we said that after we got married, we would match our children with our children?" Madam Shen asked.
Madam Yang nodded and said, "Yes, they are two years apart, which is just right."
"Then let's settle on this," Madam Shen said happily, "while you're all in Hangzhou."
"Why don't you go back and ask your husband for his opinion?" Madam Yang reminded her.