7 – Not a Man
The little dumpling’s attention was immediately captured, her adorably large eyes fixed on her silly brother shaking the pellet drum.
With each rattle of the drum, she giggled gleefully. Every time she laughed, the teardrops welling in her eyes would spill over, making it impossible not to feel tender affection for her.
The little dumpling stretched out her chubby little hands, wanting the pellet drum from her eldest brother. Bai Laoda hurriedly handed it to her, taking the opportunity to gently stroke her plump little hand in the process.
His little sister’s hand was so soft, as if it had no bones at all. Such a delicate little sister must be cherished and protected.
After dinner, Cui Shi prepared a large wooden tub to bathe the little dumpling. The tiny thing was stripped completely naked, revealing chubby arms and legs that resembled segmented lotus roots.
“Mother, rest! Let me do it!” Seeing Cui Shi about to bathe her little sister-in-law, Li Zhenzhu scurried over in two quick steps.
“No, I’ll do it!” Tian E immediately dropped what she was doing and declared.
“I’m coming too! Mother, I’m most skilled at this task!” Zhao Ju refused to be left behind.
The three daughters-in-law rushed over competitively.
Anyone could see they weren’t actually trying to help their mother-in-law with work – they just wanted to take the opportunity to touch their little sister-in-law’s soft, pudgy skin.
The men also swarmed over like a gust of wind. How could they miss out on bathing their little sister (or little aunt)!
Cui Shi nearly rolled her eyes to the back of her head. “You men, get away from here! What are grown men doing crowding around a little girl’s bath time? Aren’t you ashamed?!”
Bai Dakeng immediately declared: “Grandma, I’m not a man.”
Bai Erkeng: “I’m not a man either…”
Bai Sankeng: “Me neither…”
Bai Sikeng: “I’m not…”
Bai Wukeng sniffled his runny nose, looking at his grandmother with pleading eyes: “I…”
Cui Shi waved her hand impatiently. “Fine, fine, all five pit-grandsons can stay. The rest of you go wash dishes and sweep the floor!”
Bai Renyi and his three sons exchanged helpless glances – this was just too unfair… They also wanted to say they weren’t men!
But when the Empress spoke, who dared disobey?
Bai Renyi reached out and slapped Bai Laosan, who was closest to him, scolding: “You brat! Didn’t you hear your mother tell you to get lost? Why are you still standing there!”
“Ouch!” Bai Laosan covered his head. “Dad! Mom said all of us should go, including you!”
Bai Renyi raised his hand and slapped him again. “I’m not deaf! I don’t need you to remind me!”
Having said that, he was the first to stomp away angrily.
Bai Laosan stood there bewildered. What had he done to deserve two hard slaps out of nowhere?
Before he could even move his feet, Bai Renyi returned and smacked his head again. “Can’t you see your two older brothers have already gone? Why are you still standing there dumbfounded!”
Bai Laosan: “…” Dad, could you give me a moment to process this!
Bai Renyi operated like an exploitation machine, assigning tasks to his sons: the eldest would wash dishes, the second would sweep the floor, and the third would stitch shoe soles.
“Dad, are you serious?!” Bai Laosan asked resentfully, holding his mother’s shoe sole.
“Do as you’re told! Stop with the nonsense!” Bai Renyi raised his hand to slap his head again.
Bai Laosan ducked in fear. “Dad, I’ll do it!”
Bai Laoda and Bai Laoer, well aware that trouble comes from speaking out, kept their mouths shut and obediently went about their work.
Ah, such was the low status of men in the Bai family!Under the attentive care of her three sisters-in-law and five nephews, the little dumpling enjoyed a comfortable hot bath. Cui Shi wrapped the naked little meatball in a soft green bedsheet. Fresh from her bath, the little dumpling’s cheeks were flushed pink, her large eyes glistening with moisture, and droplets of water dripped from her thick, dark hair. She looked like a steaming hot zongzi fresh out of the pot—so adorable that anyone who saw her would want to take a bite.
Early the next morning, Bai Renyi, as usual, prepared to take his three sons up the mountain to gather herbs.
Unexpectedly, the little dumpling had also woken up early. She stared with her bright, dark eyes, babbling and stretching out her chubby little arms, asking to be held.
Seeing his little daughter so attached to him, Bai Renyi quickly picked her up and gave her a kiss, speaking in a tone so tender it could give one goosebumps: “Daddy has to go dig herbs with your stinky brothers. Little Tigress, be good and stay home to sleep, alright?”
The three brothers collectively rolled their eyes. Dad, must you praise one and put down the others? How did we suddenly become “stinky brothers”? We’re your biological sons too, you know!
Bai Renyi pretended not to see his sons’ eye-rolling and continued to coax his little daughter gently: “Little Tigress, go to Mommy to be held. Daddy has to leave.”
But the little dumpling clutched tightly to the front of Bai Renyi’s clothes with her chubby little hands, refusing to let go.
“Daddy needs to dig herbs to earn money to buy nice things for my little treasure. Let go now, sweetheart.”
No matter what he said, the little dumpling wouldn’t release her grip. Bai Renyi sighed. With the family being poor, the only way to earn money was by gathering herbs in the mountains. Reluctantly, he handed the little dumpling over to Cui Shi.
The moment the little dumpling touched Cui Shi, she burst into loud wails as if she’d been pricked by a needle!
Tears streamed down her face as if they cost nothing, mixing with runny snot and creating a mess.
No matter how Cui Shi tried to soothe her, the little one only cried louder, stretching her arms toward Bai Renyi while sobbing, begging to be held again.
Bai Renyi’s heart ached terribly. His little daughter crying like this was breaking his heart!
Cui Shi spoke up: “Her father, Hu Niu is crying so hard. Why don’t you have breakfast before heading up the mountain?”
Although gathering herbs was important, nothing was more important than comforting their precious daughter!
Bai Renyi gave his little daughter a pained look and nodded: “Alright!”
With that, he took the little dumpling back from Cui Shi. The moment she was in her daddy’s arms, she immediately broke into a toothless grin, giggling happily.
After having breakfast at home, nearly an hour had passed. Bai Renyi hurriedly led his three sons out the door. This time, the little dumpling didn’t cry; instead, she waved her little hand to bid them farewell.
They had missed the best time for herb gathering, but fortunately, the Bai men were strong and healthy. They soon reached the mountainside. Catching their breath and about to continue climbing, they unexpectedly encountered two young men rushing down in a panic!
Bai Renyi recognized them—they were the two sons of the Liu family from the same village.
Bai Renyi quickly asked: “What happened? Why are you in such a panic?”
The Liu family’s eldest son cried out in fear: “Uncle Bai, a huge rock rolled down the mountain half an hour ago and crushed four people to death! We’re going back to the village to get help!”