To Liu Xinxin’s surprise, the first sound she made was that of a baby crying. Immediately, she heard women laughing and offering congratulations. She wanted to open her eyes and look, but due to her newborn body, she couldn’t, no matter how hard she tried. Yet from the joy and chatter around her, she realized she had transmigrated—into a male infant, no less.
Why did Liu Xinxin recognize so quickly that she had transmigrated? Come on, with the internet being so developed, who hasn’t read online novels? Cultivation stories, “golden finger” plots… it wasn’t clear whose family she’d been reborn into. If it were a princess, a prince, or a child from a wealthy government family, she could have accepted that.
As Liu Xinxin pondered, she drifted back to sleep. She had no control over her tiny body yet. Liu Dahai, having finished changing, hurried over to see his newborn grandson. At that moment, Liu Xinxin—now a small baby—was carried out by Liu Sanzhuang. Fortunately, it was summer, so there was no worry about the cold.
Gently unwrapping the small cloth around Liu Yuwan (Liu Xinxin’s new baby identity), Liu Dahai’s face lit up with joy upon seeing his grandson. Liu Dazhuang and Liu Erzhuang stood beside him, grinning foolishly.
Even experienced as he was, Liu Dahai knew that even in summer, a newborn couldn’t be exposed to the wind. He quickly wrapped the little one again and held him carefully, saying with a smile, “My grandson is so handsome! Much better looking than you two were. You were black as coal when you were little.”
Hearing this, Mrs. Zhang couldn’t help but respond, “You have some nerve! Our three sons all took after you, but this fair-skinned grandson of ours clearly takes after me. Now, hand him over—I’ll take him inside so he doesn’t catch a chill.”
Obediently, Liu Dahai handed the baby to Mrs. Zhang, as no one’s care outweighed the baby’s well-being. She carefully returned the little grandson to Xiao Chen’s side.
Still asleep, Liu Xinxin had no idea that her body had been examined and fussed over while she slept.
News of the baby quickly spread through Liu family village. Those who had once mocked Liu Dahai’s family for only having daughters went silent. The eldest girls could now go out to gather wild vegetables without being laughed at.
As Liu Yuwan gradually woke and gained a bit of awareness, he started to understand the family he had been reborn into. His fate was not favorable. He hadn’t transmigrated into a royal household or the home of wealthy officials; instead, he was reborn into a poor farming family. How did Liu Yuwan realize so quickly that his new family was impoverished? The reason lay with his mother.
While Liu Yuwan regained consciousness, Xiao Chen sipped chicken soup and lamented to his new father, Liu Sanzhuang, “My mother was really generous—she even slaughtered one of the hens that laid eggs. Without that hen, we’ll have far fewer eggs, and the family’s income will drop.”
Liu Sanzhuang smiled and reassured her, “Don’t worry, wife. After a few days of fieldwork, I’ll go to town to see if I can find temporary work. I’ll earn more, buy you meat to nourish yourself, and help our son grow strong.” Then he looked at Liu Yuwan and chuckled foolishly.
Two days had passed since Liu Yuwan entered this world. Today, he could try to open his eyes. Hearing the conversation between his new parents, he wished he could go back to his old life.
In his previous life, Liu Yuwan wasn’t born into a wealthy family but lived a comfortable life. His father was a university professor of agricultural sciences, his mother a Chinese medicine practitioner, and his own career path was set: he would return from teaching in rural areas and remain at the school as a teacher. A devastating earthquake, however, transported him to this unknown era, into a poor farming family that could barely afford food. Thinking about it, Liu Yuwan felt heartbroken and couldn’t help crying.
“What’s wrong? Why is the boy crying? Is he hungry? Feed him quickly,” Liu Sanzhuang said anxiously to his wife.
Seeing her son cry, Xiao Chen felt her heart ache. She checked whether he had wet himself, then picked him up to feed him.
Although Liu Yuwan’s adult soul felt resistance toward nursing, his tiny body’s instinctual hunger left him no choice. He had to eat eagerly.
“What’s wrong with my grandson? Why is he crying?” Mrs. Zhang hurried to check.
“He’s fine, Mother. Liu Yuwan is just hungry; see, he’s okay now,” Xiao Chen reassured her mother-in-law.
“That’s good. Tonight, I’ll boil him two eggs—my grandson mustn’t go hungry,” Mrs. Zhang said, then went to fetch eggs from her room.
“I want eggs too!” Qi Ya exclaimed upon hearing that her mother would get eggs, smacking her lips.
Liu Ya quickly explained, “Qi Ya, these are for mother to nourish herself. Grandma said that if mother eats well, our little brother will have enough to grow.”
Though tempted, Qi Ya understood and said, “Mother, I won’t eat. Eat more so that our brother can grow faster.”
Xiao Chen, touched by her daughters’ thoughtfulness, said, “Liu Ya, Qi Ya, we’ll eat together in a little while.”
Though Liu Sanzhuang loved his son, he also felt for his daughters. “Soon, I’ll go to town to work and earn money to buy meat for you two,” he promised.
Liu Ya and Qi Ya were delighted, and Liu Ya said kindly, “Qi Ya, come on, I’ll take you out to play.”
Watching his sensible daughters, his wife, and his baby son, Liu Sanzhuang felt deeply content—and quietly resolved to earn more money.
The Liu family, a simple farming household, celebrated the baby’s third-day “washing” ceremony with a modest meal. Xiao Chen’s mother and elder brother’s family, happy about the birth of a grandson, also came to join.
“Welcome, relatives. Come in and sit. You’re family, no need for formalities. What did you bring?” Mrs. Zhang said, accepting a five-pound slab of pork belly, a basket of eggs, and two chickens for Xiao Chen, feeling slightly embarrassed.
Xiao Chen’s mother laughed, “I’m just happy! I finally have a grandson. I came to share the joy with you today.”
“Yes, yes! You now have a grandson, and I have a great grandson! Haha! Our old Liu family can finally hold our heads high—no more gossiping about us. And it’s all thanks to Xiao Chen proving herself,” praised Mrs. Zhang happily.
The whole family joyfully celebrated the baby’s third-day “washing” ceremony. At one point, Liu Sanzhuang turned to the family patriarch and said, “Father, the little one has been born for three days now. You should give him a name.”
“Yes, indeed. He needs a proper name,” added Mrs. Zhang.
“Name… what should we call him? How about Tie Dan? Tough little guy, easy to raise,” Liu Dahai suggested after some thought.
“Waaah! Waaaah!” Hearing this, Liu Yuwan (the baby’s current identity) found the name Tie Dan horrid. In protest, he wailed loudly.
“Oh? Looks like my grandson doesn’t like that name. Then we’ll call him Liu An—may he grow up safe and sound,” Liu Dahai said thoughtfully.
“Oooh, ee-ya-aa,” Liu Yuwan responded immediately, stopping his crying. The new name, Liu An, was one character shorter than his original name, Liu Yuwan, but at least it was better than Tie Dan. Pleased, he cooed a few times at Liu Dahai, showing his approval.
“Hehe, see? My grandson likes the name! He’s a clever boy,” said the patriarch, delighted that his choice was well received.
Everyone present was surprised by the baby’s reaction and praised him as smart. Their compliments made Liu Dahai and Mrs. Zhang beam with pride. From now on, who would dare mock their family? Their little grandson was truly extraordinary.
“Liu An, my dear grandson, Grandma will take you back to your mother now. We can’t let you go hungry,” said Mrs. Zhang, carefully taking Liu An back to Xiao Chen. “Daughter-in-law, our grandson has a name now—your father-in-law named him Liu An. He might be hungry, so feed him quickly. I’ll bring you some chicken soup in a moment,” she added before heading to the kitchen, smiling and nodding politely to Xiao Chen’s mother.
After Mrs. Zhang left, Xiao Chen and her mother shared a smile. Her mother said, “Guìhua, now that you’ve given birth to a son, you can finally feel secure living in the Liu family.”
Xiao Chen sighed with relief, “Mother, you don’t know how anxious I was before An’er was born. I really feared having another daughter.”
Her mother nodded, “Don’t say you were worried. Your father, brothers, and I were all concerned. If no male children were born in the Liu family, even Liu Ya and Qi Ya would have trouble finding good husbands. Fortunately, An’er is considerate. Now you have a son, right, An’er?” She teased her grandson affectionately.
Xiao Chen smiled softly and said to her mother, “Mother, since An’er was born, my mother-in-law has been making me chicken soup. You know, when Xiao Cuihua, Xiao Sun and I had Liu Ya and Qi Ya, they never got soup like this.”
Her mother chuckled, “Times are hard for every household. Being able to eat well is already a blessing. Your mother-in-law treats you well, and your two sisters-in-law seem genuinely happy for you. Don’t let having a son make you jealous or cause tension. With so many sisters looking out for him, An’er will have a good life.”
“I know, Mother. You know me well. But since you brought so many gifts, is there enough at home? Will my sisters-in-law mind?” Xiao Chen asked, concerned.
Her mother reassured her, “There’s plenty of food at home, so don’t worry. These gifts are from your father and me. You just had a son, so it’s the right time. Your sisters-in-law won’t be displeased. When they had children, I treated them well, so there’s no need to worry. Eat well and help my great grandson grow strong.”
Hearing this, Xiao Chen relaxed. Soon after, her sister-in-law Xu Jingran came in with a bowl of chicken soup, saying, “Sister, your mother-in-law is busy entertaining guests. Let me bring this soup to you. Drink it while it’s hot.”
“Thank you, sister,” Xiao Chen said, smiling.
Xu Jingran laughed and said, “Guìhua, we’re family—no need for formalities.” She then placed a small silver lock and a pair of silver bracelets beside Liu An. “Here, my great nephew, these are gifts from your uncles and aunties.”
“These are too precious, sister. Please take them back,” Xiao Chen protested, seeing the silver lock.
Xu Jingran pretended to be annoyed. “These are tokens of love from his uncles and us. Your second sister-in-law is pregnant again and it’s inconvenient for her to come. Your second brother is out selling goods, so this time it’s just the three of us, pooling together. You mustn’t dislike them.”
Xiao Chen quickly reassured her, “I don’t dislike them—not at all. They’re just too valuable.”
Seeing her sister-in-law’s nervousness, Xu Jingran laughed, “Guìhua, you really are still the same as at home—so easily flustered. No matter how valuable these are, they can’t compare to my great nephew. Take them; don’t be shy.”
Xiao Chen’s mother was pleased with her daughter-in-law. She didn’t know they had prepared such thoughtful gifts and felt her care for them had been well-placed.
“Mother, why didn’t you tell me that my second sister-in-law is pregnant? How many months now?” Xiao Chen asked.
“I was just so excited today that I didn’t get a chance to tell you. She’s two months along. She really hoped for a daughter,” her mother explained.
Xiao Chen laughed, “She already has two sons; a daughter would be nice.”
His mother nodded, “If she doesn’t have a daughter this time, she might have taken your Liu Ya and Qi Ya back!”