Chapter 328 – Little Fish
When Xu Jinning remembered holding the baby for the first time and feeling the soft little hand tightly gripping her finger, her heart was instantly touched.
“Then, can I name her?”
“Yes, it’s up to you.”
“Alright, then let me, her aunt, name her. I’ll think carefully about it.”
Since it was decided to let her choose, Xu Jinning started thinking about a name from that moment on.
Half an hour later, after Wen Yulan had finished eating, Xu Jinning’s eyes lit up. “Dad, big brother, sister-in-law, what do you think of the name Yu for her?”
“Yu, meaning beautiful jade. I hope this little one will be as beautiful as jade, possess the moral qualities and gentleness of jade, and be cultured and refined.”
“Xu Yu, Xu Yu, yes, this name is wonderful.”
Not only did it sound pleasant, but it also carried good meaning.
Xu Xiangdong and Wen Yulan were both very pleased.
Xu Xiangdong took his daughter in his arms and gently played with her.
“Little one, you have a name now. Your auntie named you Yu. You’re our Xiao Yu.”
The baby seemed to sense something and extended her small hand, waving it gently.
“Look, she likes the name too.”
The whole room was filled with joy…
…
In the afternoon, Wen Yulan boarded the ox cart and was securely wrapped up for the journey back home.
Upon arriving home, not only was Zhang Ailian there with her two grandsons, but Song Yi and Xu Fanghua were also present.
Last night, when Wen Wen Yulant into labor, Xu Xiangbei was looking after their two sons, Xiaofeng and Xiaoji. The two boys had a close relationship with their uncle Xu Xiangbei.
During the later stages of Wen Yulan’s second pregnancy, she couldn’t sleep with them, so the two boys slept with their uncle Xu Xiangbei instead.
The children usually slept deeply, so last night they were unaware that their mother had gone to the hospital to give birth to their little sister.
Before leaving, Zhang Ailian instructed Xu Xiangbei to continue looking after the children and keep an eye on the house. It wasn’t until the morning when Xiaofeng and Xiaoji woke up and couldn’t find their parents that they learned their father was at the hospital with their mother, and they wouldn’t return until the afternoon.
They knew their mother had a baby sister in her belly.
Although they were just over a year old, they eagerly awaited a fair and tender little sister.
When Zhang Ailian returned, she coincidentally encountered Song Yi and Xu Fanghua arriving.
Xu Fanghua had just learned that her elder sister-in-law had gone to the hospital last night and given birth to a daughter.
Upon hearing the news, she initially planned to visit the hospital but was dissuaded by Zhang Ailian, who assured her that they would be back in the afternoon, and there was no rush to visit.
Furthermore, Zhang Ailian planned to prepare postpartum meals for Wen Yulan, and Xu Xiangbei needed to attend to his business today. Therefore, their two grandsons were temporarily entrusted to Xu Fanghua and Song Yi’s care.
Therefore, when Wen Yulan and the others returned, they saw everyone waiting at home.
“Mom, Dad!” Xiaofeng and Xiaoji saw Xu Xiangdong and Wen Yulan return and immediately called out. They wriggled out of Xu Fanghua and Song Yi’s arms and hurried over.
At that moment, Xu Aiguo was carrying Wen Yulan, securely wrapped up, intending to take her into the room.
Xu Jinning held Xiaoyu, while Xu Aiguo carried items.
The two little ones trotted over on their short legs, one on each side, and hugged Xu Xiangdong’s thighs, calling out to their parents incessantly.
Xu Xiangdong couldn’t move easily, so when Wen Yulan heard the children’s voices and wanted to go see them, Xu Xiangdong stopped her.
Wen Yulan couldn’t risk catching a cold breeze, so she needed to get back to the room quickly.
Fortunately, Xu Fanghua and Song Yi reacted quickly, picking up the two little ones.
Wen Yulan’s voice carried from inside the room.
“Xiaofeng, Xiaoji, mommy’s here. Come in with mommy and see your little sister, okay?”
Xiaofeng and Xiaoji were both very well-behaved and sensible children. Initially feeling a bit anxious because they couldn’t see their mother, they instantly felt relieved upon hearing her familiar voice and seeing a glimpse of her in daddy’s arms.
“Okay~” They obediently responded.
Xu Xiangdong wasted no time and quickly carried Wen Yulan into the room.
Xu Jinning followed with Xiaoyu in her arms, while Xu Fanghua held Xiaofeng’s hand on one side and Xiaoji’s on the other, leading them into the room.
As Wen Yulan lay on the bed, Xu Jinning placed Xiaoyu beside her.
Xiaofeng and Xiaoji, the two little ones, came in and immediately spotted the tiny figure lying next to their mother, even smaller than themselves.
“Mom, is this little sister?” Big brother Xiaofeng asked, curiously approaching and blinking his eyes.
“Yeah, this is your little sister, named Xiaoyu.”
“Xiaoyu? Is she the tasty little fish (xiaoyu)?” Xiaoji’s eyes lit up as he spoke.
Everyone burst into laughter at his remark.
Children, always thinking about either playing or eating.
And Xiaoji’s favorite food, just like her aunt, was grandma’s sweet and sour fish.
“Xiaoyu, super delicious.”
“And our little sister is also super nice,” Xiaoji praised in his childish voice.
“I think Xiaoyu is a good nickname. What do you think, Yulan?” Xu Xiangdong picked up his two sons, placing one on each of his thighs, and asked Wen Yulan who was lying in bed.
“Xiaoyu, Xiaoyu, sounds good. I think Xiaoyu is a cute nickname.”
So, the nickname for Xu Yu was decided—Xiaoyu (little fish).
“Mommy, Xiaoyu’s eyes are open!” At that moment, Xiaofeng, sitting on his dad’s lap, suddenly exclaimed and pointed to the swaddle.
Everyone followed his gaze.
Sure enough, Xiaoyu, who had kept her eyes closed since birth, had somehow opened them at some point.
She had very beautiful almond-shaped eyes, large and round, with distinct black and white colors, resembling exquisite glass beads.
They also looked like a clear spring, sparkling and exceptionally attractive.
“Xiaoyu’s eyes are so pretty!”
“And she’s looking at us!”
Both Xiaofeng and Xiaoji exclaimed.
Xu Jinning took a look and indeed, Xiaoyu’s eyes were beautiful, sparkling like they could speak.
Upon seeing Xiaoyu’s beautiful eyes and considering her big brother and sister-in-law’s good looks, Xu Jinning felt that Xiaoyu was definitely a beauty in the making.
Since Wen Yulan needed rest during her postpartum recovery, everyone refrained from disturbing her in the room.
After chatting for a while, they fed Xiaoyu with formula milk, then took Xiaofeng and Xiaoji out of the room.
Meanwhile, Wen Yulan began her one-month confinement period…
…
Back at home, Xu Jinning helped take care of Xiaofeng and Xiaoji. During her spare time, she also helped her younger brother sell clothes at the stall in the county town.
As the year came to an end, it was time to harvest the Tianqi and Fu Ling that Xu Xiangdong had planted earlier.
One day, the official buyers arrived for the harvest.
In less than half a day, all the Tianqi and Fu Ling were dug up and bought at a very high price.
It was because these two medicinal herbs were urgently needed and in short supply throughout the year, making them practically unavailable elsewhere. Therefore, being able to sell them at such high prices was indeed fortunate.
