Spring plowing came to an end, and Wang Nuannuan had reached her full month. Old Madam Wang thought about holding a “full-month celebration” for her granddaughter. In reality, it wasn’t a grand feast—it simply meant inviting the families in the village they were close to for a meal and some lively company.
Most villagers brought baskets of eggs or a piece of printed cloth as gifts.
Old Madam Wang voiced her plan at the table, while Qian Jinping glanced at little Wang Nuannuan, cradled in her lap, feeling a soft warmth in her heart.
The full-month Nuannuan was even more adorable. Her little face was fair and plump, and her big black grape-like eyes sparkled. A delicate nose and a small, refined mouth hinted at the beauty she would grow into.
She poked Wang Tiezhu, who looked at his mother.
“Mother, these years haven’t been easy. Our harvests barely feed us. I discussed it with Jinping—we might as well skip the celebration for now. When things get better, we can hold it then.”
Old Madam Wang frowned slightly. Her clever and pretty little granddaughter deserved everything, yet she knew he was right. They still had a few taels of silver, but that money was for emergencies. With the hard times, not much could be saved each year.
Wang Nuannuan looked at her grandmother and protested:“No, no, no! Don’t skip it, don’t skip it! We can celebrate when things are better!”
Old Master Wang, looking at his little granddaughter, thought for a moment:“Nuannuan is sensible. She even comforts Grandma. Indeed, with hard times now, it isn’t appropriate to make a big fuss. When times are better, we’ll celebrate for her.”
“Our family only has ten acres of good land. Taxes have increased in the past two years. After paying them, we barely get through until the next autumn harvest. Even though I can go hunting with the eldest and second sons, we can’t catch something every time. We still need to think of a solution.”
Old Master Wang frowned slightly. Outside of the village chief’s family, the Wang family was considered relatively well-off.
Besides farm work, he often took his three sons into the mountains to hunt—keeping some for the family, selling the rest in town, and occasionally enjoying a feast of fresh meat.
But with taxes increased and the drought in recent years, crops barely yielded, and wild animals fled deeper into the mountains. Life was becoming more difficult.
“I have plenty of strength. I’ll go up the mountain and gather more firewood to sell in town,” Wang Dazhu said in his booming voice.
Old Master Wang didn’t nod. Firewood from the nearby mountains fetched only a few wen per bundle, and the village was far from town. It wasn’t a great solution, though it could be used if there was no other choice.
“Father, I think our family still needs to sell something. Farming alone won’t feed us,” Wang Erzhu said. “But we don’t really know what we can do.”
“Think it over carefully. This isn’t a problem we can solve immediately,” Old Master Wang decided.
After breakfast and tidying up, Zhang Xiuer planned to go forage for wild vegetables with her two sisters-in-law. Spring wild vegetables were popular not just with the villagers, but even wealthier town folks often came to buy them.
Wang Nuannuan also wanted to go up the mountain. Being on the mountain meant she could move things from her “space”! Sitting in her grandfather’s lap, she stretched out her small, fair hands toward the back mountain and shouted,“Ah! Ah! Ah! I want to go! I want to go!”
“Grandpa, sister wants to go too! Let’s go together!”
The three little rascals jumped around, jostling each other beside their grandfather. Normally, Grandpa was stern, but he was gentle when holding his granddaughter.
Old Madam Wang stopped them one by one.“Your little sister is too young. It’s easy to catch a chill up the mountain. Go with your mothers.”
Nuannuan immediately threw a fit:“Waa, waa, waa!” No coaxing worked, her face flushed red with crying.
Old Master Wang sighed and held her close:“Alright, alright. Grandpa will take Nuannuan. Don’t cry, don’t cry.”
Old Madam Wang shot him a sharp glance. Let him spoil her! This past month, no matter how busy spring plowing was, he would check on the little one in the morning and hold her at night. Everyone could see how much he cherished her.
Grandpa waved his big hand, holding Nuannuan, and together with his three little rascals, set off up the back mountain with his wife.
“Little sister, look! Big brother caught a rabbit for you! A little rabbit!”
Wang Shengyi dashed ahead, chattering excitedly. Shengli held Shengman, following behind. Wang Nuannuan giggled at her three brothers and casually moved a dozen eggs from her “space” into the grass beside Shengli and Shengman.
As Shengli led Shengman forward, he noticed a flash of white in the green grass.
“Grandpa! Grandpa! Wild eggs!” Shengli called, turning to Wang Laotou with a goofy smile.
Old Madam Wang quickly walked over, lowering her voice:“Oh, Grandfather, there are over ten eggs, and they’re not small!” She quickly layered some grass in a basket and collected the eggs.
Nuannuan smiled slightly, rolled her eyes mischievously, and placed a nest of little rabbits in front of Shengyi.
Shengyi ran forward, eyes lighting up, scooped up the rabbits, and ran back.“Grandpa! Grandpa! Look! Rabbits! Little sister, big brother got you rabbits!” he shouted happily.
Old Master Wang patted his grandson’s head, praising him, but a trace of doubt lingered in his mind.
Rabbits weren’t easy to catch, especially little ones that hid in secret places. How had they been so easily found?
He glanced at the bright-eyed little girl in his arms and shook his head.
Nuannuan saw his suspicious look and grinned foolishly. Not me, not me! she thought.
The group stopped halfway up the mountain, finding a flat spot to rest. Old Madam Wang washed the boys’ hands at a spring, then held Nuannuan so Wang Laotou could rest.
“Grandfather, today’s luck is really good. Not only did we find over ten eggs, but also a nest of rabbits! When have we ever had such luck going up the mountain?” Old Madam Wang said, smiling at him.
“All thanks to our little Nuannuan. She really is a lucky little girl.”
Old Master Wang squinted, lost in thought. Nuannuan found her grandfather sharp-minded, but she wasn’t afraid. He handled those goats well before, she thought, grinning.
She waved her little hands, placing a few big carp on the grass near the spring, then watched her three brothers playing nearby, smiling.
“Grandpa! Grandma! The fish are on land! The fish are silly, they jumped out themselves! Come see!”
Old Master Wang walked to his three grandsons, saw the three plump carp, and used a braided grass rope to lift them. He placed them near Old Madam Wang’s basket, removed his coat, and wrapped the rabbits in the basket for Shengli. Then he placed the fish inside.
Returning to Old Madam Wang and Nuannuan, he looked at her in surprise, then at his granddaughter. Nuannuan saw him staring, smiled innocently, and her grandfather sighed, tapping her tiny nose.
Holding Nuannuan, Old Master Wang called to Old Madam Wang and the three boys:“Let’s go down the mountain and head home.”
Leading the way, he said to Nuannuan:“Nuannuan, Grandpa knows whether it’s the goats or today’s eggs and rabbits, it’s all thanks to your blessing. Grandpa and Grandma are here for the family—you don’t have to worry.”
“In life, we only eat what we’re meant to. If you enjoy things that don’t belong to us, Grandpa worries it won’t be good for you.”
Nuannuan snuggled her little face against Grandpa’s, feeling warm inside. How wonderful to have this family in my life, she thought.