Early the next morning, before the day had dawned, Liu Yusheng was picked up.
Wrapped in a diaper and swaddle, Liu Dalin hugged her out of the door. “Mother, the county is far away. I"ll go earlier to avoid coming home late at night.”
"Alright, I fried some pancakes and they are freshly out of the pan. Bring them on the road to eat. Also, don"t forget Nannan"s milk and porridge. I packed them in a water container so they won"t spill. Fortunately, the day is not too hot, so she should be fine for a day. You must come back at night, otherwise, Nannan will go hungry. Your father has already informed Li in the village to send you to town. Take his ox cart when you also come back. Don"t try to economize. I"ve already prepared the lucky bags. Hand them to the county men, thank them for their help…." Grandma Liu rambled in time with her hands packing a few necessities neatly.
Liu Dalin nodded attentively, feeling warm.
Chen Xiulan has also packed up and came out, “Mother, I"ll also take this time to rush back to my mother"s house, and come back before dinner. Zhixia is still asleep, I"ll trouble mother look after him.”
“Okay, there"s me at home. Don"t worry about anything. Be on your way, Here, take these two cakes. Don"t get hungry. The distance is not that close.”
“Thank you mother.”
Grandma Liu waved her hands, and embraced Liu Yusheng from Liu Dalin"s arms, then kissed her, “Our nannan is going to the county town, grandma can"t see you for a day, you have to be obedient, when you come back, grandma will simmer a sweet porridge for you, be good.”
She crooned, before handing the baby back to Liu Dalin reluctantly.
When Liu Dalin was about to reach out to take her back, his hands suddenly stiffened in the air and his eyes widened bit by bit, “Mother … Mother!”
A loud cry broke from behind.
The first reaction of Grandma Liu was to quickly withdraw her hands and protect the baby in her arms, then her other hand directly whacked her son on the head and scolded, “What are you shouting about, if you scare my granddaughter, I"ll kill you!”
“Mother, mother!” Liu Dalin exclaimed excitedly, raising his trembling hand and pointing at the little baby his mother"s arms, barely stringing his words together, "My daughter, my daughter just blinked at me, really, mother, my daughter looked at me a moment ago, she opened her eyes!”
Grandma Liu hurriedly bowed her head, facing a pair of big eyes like black grapes, clean, clear and innocent.
Chen Xiulan, who was separated by a distance, also came running back. “Really? Did my daughter really open her eyes?”
When she saw her daughter"s dark eyes, as if washed by water, Chen Xiulan covered her mouth and wept with joy.
"It"s true, our little baby, ow, she truly opened her eyes, our little darling, she"s looking straight at grandma! Aiyo, grandma"s little sweetie!" Grandma Liu"s eyes glistened, staring at the baby nestling in her arms, and for a moment, didn"t know what to do.
Quietly relaxing her tight little fist, Liu Yusheng strived hard to control her very short lotus-like hand, raised it, and gently stroked the old lady"s weathered face.
“Ah.” She opened her mouth and blew out a bubble.
The tears that the grandma was still holding back fell at once, her heart softened in a complete shamble, “Our nannan, call me grandma! Grandma"s sweetie, grandma"s darling~”
“Mother, mother, give me a hug!” Liu Dalin was awashed with excitement that he jumped up anxiously, “Nannan, I"m your father, I"m daddy, Nannan…”
Before he could express everything, the two women at the same time pushed him away. “Don"t upset her, hurry up and call everybody and your father back from Li"s, he"ll surely be happy.”
Liu Yusheng glanced at his stupid dad through her lids and turned a blind eye to his dejection.
When Liu Dalin was kicked out, two old and middle-aged women began to compete for Liu Yusheng"s attention.
“Mother, you must be tired of carrying her so long, why don"t you give her to me?”
"I"m not tired, how big is she, carrying her all day long won"t get me shouting tired!”
“… Mother, Nannan finally opened her eyes with great difficulty, let her smell the scent of her mother, otherwise, she won"t recognize me in the future.”
"Speaking of mother"s scent, they all say that grandchildren lie in between the next-generation relatives. You can"t compare with me. Let me carry her for a while, until they"re back. Go and eat something to pad your belly. You just came out of confinement, you still have to pay attention to your body." She turned around evading Chen Xiulan"s outstretched hands, as if she hadn"t seen them.
No matter what, this Grandma Liu isn"t about to let go, she hugged Yusheng tightly and crooned incessantly, teasing her wasn"t just enough.
Her aging mother completely lost the war.
Liu Yusheng grinned with a toothless smile, vomiting bubbles non-stop, while her little paws poked her grandma"s wrinkled face.
Her heart was completely warm and safe.
She finally took this step bravely. For the first time, she thought she could trust again.
Her family in this life is entirely different.
“Wife! Wife! Where"s Nannan, quick, show me!” Soon, a familiar booming voice came from the door.
As Grandma Liu turned, Liu Yusheng saw an old man rus.h.i.+ng inside at a glance.
His gray hair, his darkened face, and his simple features were carved by the years, but his eyes were bright, full of excitement and joy.
Liu Yusheng shook her hands in that direction and grinned, “Ah.”
"Nannan! Aiyo, my family"s Nannan is looking at me! You really opened your eyes, she really opened her eyes!" The rough big hands full of calluses trembled, swaying left and right, not daring to take over the baby girl for a while, for fear of accidentally hurting the baby in his excitement.
"Stop shouting huhu all day, don"t scare my Nannan, I"m carrying her, you just have to look, I"m not a.s.sured of you carrying her with your coa.r.s.e hands!"
The hands that were still trembling in the air, the old man, who was immersed in his excitement to hold his granddaughter, froze. Is that the case? Was he just going to watch helplessly on the side?
"What are you saying wife, really, can I still drop our precious Nannan? Look, Nannan is holding her hands out to me, I think she wants me to hug her!"
Grandma Liu caught Liu Yusheng"s hands together, "Nonsense, Nannan"s favorite is her grandma!"
Grandpa Liu, Liu Yusheng: "…"
Rolling her eyes at the old man, Grandma turned to her son and daughter-in-law, who were given the cold shoulder on the side, "Dalin, in a while, you still have to take Nannan to town, take the Li family"s cart and have her examined at the town hospital. Although Nannan has opened her eyes, we still don"t know if she"s perfectly fine, we"ll be more a.s.sured with a doctor"s consultation. The town is closer, so you"ll be home at noon at most. Xiulan, don"t go back to your parent"s for the time being, let"s put off the discussion later until Nannan comes back."
Grandma Liu ordered and arranged everything sprily, her spirits were splas.h.i.+ng with vigor and enthusiasm. With a few words, she laid out their next steps.
Grandpa Liu nodded, "Yes, you have to go for a check-up, of course it would be best if she"s perfectly fine. If there"s any problem, it can be treated promptly."
Everyone nodded unanimously. Only Liu Yusheng disagreed. She has the best understanding of her own fitness. Unfortunately, she has no way to speak, nor has the right to speak.
Our Score