Tang Xianling and Tieniu brought the two apprentices back in early February. The little boy, who was seven or eight years old, had a high fever that wouldn’t break; he was on the verge of death.

The feisty little girl looked perfectly fine, with bright, lively eyes, but the very next day after we brought her home, his second older sister told him that something seemed off about the child—she’d come down with a fever, too.

“……”

“……”

The little girl was still putting on a brave face, saying she didn’t have a fever—it was just hot in the room.

Tang Xianling could tell at a glance that the child was just putting on a brave face, afraid he wouldn’t take her in, so he said, “You’re my disciple; you have to listen to me. All right, I’ll have your Shigong take you to the pharmacy to see a doctor. While you’re there, pick up some medicine to ward off the cold early on. I’m worried about the flu—everyone should take a couple of doses in advance as a precaution.”

He had far too many children.

Every time Tieniu heard the words “Shigong,” he couldn’t help but chuckle. His husband was soft-hearted and said he didn’t want to “buy” anyone—it was against the law—and he grumbled under his breath. But after bringing the two young apprentices home, he took the younger one to the pharmacy that very day to be checked for a fever; he was still there and hadn’t returned yet.

That night, after they’d both gone to bed, his husband shifted in his sleep. In the darkness, he opened his eyes and gazed at him with a gleam in his eyes, and said, “I’ve got two apprentices now, heh!”

“Hmm, congratulations, Big Boss Tang, on taking on two apprentices,” Tieniu said, playing along.

Tang Xianling chuckled, “Don’t be jealous, Young Boss. My two apprentices call me ‘Master,’ so let me think—logically, they should call you ‘Shizang’… er, ‘Shigong.’”

From then on, Big Boss Tang took great delight in calling Little Boss “Shigong.” 

Tieniu: He was always happy to hear it.

He shared in his husband’s joy.

“That’s how it should be. You’re pregnant now; don’t let your health suffer.” Jiang Yun said to Wu-ger, then turned to look at Daya. 

“Your master isn’t abandoning you. He’s about to give birth, so he has more to worry about. You should take good care of yourself, and when your master has some free time, he’ll teach you his skills.”

Daya was the name of that feisty little girl. She was nine years old this year.

Daya’s surname is Cheng, and her given name is Daya—that’s what her whole family calls her. She had older and younger siblings. When the heavy snow collapsed their house, she crawled out on her own. Her entire family perished; she was the only one who survived by tagging along with the southbound caravan.

Cheng Daya tucked her chin in and looked at her master with a somewhat docile expression.

Tang Xianling: “You might as well keep your junior brother company. Your Shigong has already paid the apothecary over there, and he’s given you some extra money. If you want anything to eat or drink, just have the apothecary’s assistant buy it for you. Once he’s recovered, your Shigong will come and bring the two of you back.”

“Besides, there isn’t enough room at home anyway, so we’ll clear out a room for the two of you.”

Cheng Daya: “I understand, Master. I understand, Mistress. I understand, Shigong.” Just look at that—this is his eldest disciple, so polite and so quick-witted! Master Tang was beaming with pride.

Tieniu hitched the cart, and Master Tang packed two sets of clothes belonging to his eldest sister for Daya to take. “She’s tall, but a bit too thin—her build is about the same as Xiao Daniang’s.”

“Thank you, Second Sister.” Tieniu took the bundle.

It was Master Tang Xianling’s first time being a master, and he took his responsibilities very seriously. Knowing the little girl felt insecure, he packed a bag full of snacks for her, slipped in some pocket money, and gave her half a tael of silver—five hundred wen.

“Take all of this with you. Make sure you remember our address, okay?”

Cheng Daya’s eyes welled up with tears. “I’ll remember—Brother Tang’s Restaurant in Baxing District. My master is Brother Tang.”

“All right, as long as you remember. If anything comes up, you can bring your junior brother back by cart.” Tang Xianling raised his hand and ruffled the child’s hair; it was fuzzy and prickly to the touch. This little girl was truly resourceful and resilient—she’d managed to turn herself into a dirty, tomboyish girl on the run.

Smart.

Cheng Daya clutched the heavy money pouch and once again dropped to her knees with a thud, about to kowtow to her master.

She had never been to school and didn’t know the rules of etiquette or propriety; unable to find the right words, she could only express her overflowing gratitude by kneeling and banging her head on the ground.

Tang Xianling helped her to her feet. Seeing the look on the young girl’s face, he set aside any thoughts of correction or refusal and spoke with a gentle smile: “There’s no rush right now. Once you and your junior brother have recovered, I’ll choose an auspicious day. Then the two of you can kowtow to me and formally become my disciples.”

Upon hearing this, Cheng Daya was overjoyed and felt a little more confident—the Master wanted her and her junior brother, and once they recovered from their illnesses, they would be able to return.

“All right, let’s head out.” Tang Xianling was a master who didn’t indulge in sentimentality. The Shigong set off with his husband’s eldest disciple.

The eldest disciple was named Cheng Daya; as for the younger one, he’d been so delirious from the fever that he’d never even woken up—no one knew his name at all. The official slave trader’s records listed him as what others called him “Skinny Monkey.”

That was just a nickname.

After treating his two apprentices in February—since both children were staying at the herbal pharmacy to recover—Tang Xianling feared they might feel uneasy, as if he had abandoned them, so he would occasionally ask Tieniu to go check on them.

Tieniu would return every few days to report on their condition.

“Daya’s condition was also serious; she was delirious from a high fever the very day she was brought in.”

“The doctor said the girl was clinging to life by a thread; if that last breath were to leave her now, she’d collapse—but she’s remarkably resilient.”

Tang Xianling grew worried upon hearing this.

After thinking it over for a while, he decided to convert the “staff lounge” at home into a room for his two apprentices. The room was about fifteen square meters in size, divided in the middle by a wardrobe; they would make do with it for a few years—after all, the two children were still very young.

Tang Xianling had originally planned to send the two children to the courtyard they rented on Second Alley, where there were still empty rooms, but now that he thought about it, the children were so young and had no one to rely on. Since he was now their legal guardian, he naturally had to take on that responsibility.

He told Mrs. Tong, A-Liang, and Xiao Mi that from now on, they would rest in the main hall during the afternoon.

By February, Tang Xianling’s belly had grown very large—it looked just like a balloon. Tieniu agreed to everything his husband said and carried it out immediately, not wanting him to have to worry about a thing.

“Don’t worry,” Tieniu assured him. “I’ll tidy up little by little, then go to the West Market to find a carpenter to build a cabinet.” Tang Xianling nodded.

In mid-February, the young apprentice returned first—the boy’s illness had come on suddenly but had passed just as quickly; he was thin to begin with, but now he’d lost even more weight. After Tieniu brought him home, Jiang Yun was moved to pity and fed the boy snacks every day.

The four children at Second Sister’s house were also doting on him.

Even Si-ger and Xiao Sanniang would first offer whatever tasty treats they had to the young apprentice.

Tang Xianling asked the young apprentice what his surname and name were, but the child seemed confused—perhaps from the fever, or perhaps because, being so young and having gone through such an ordeal, his brain had automatically shut down as a protective mechanism—he had forgotten everything and couldn’t answer a single question.

He wasn’t stupid, though—he ate and spoke with proper manners.

Everyone stood by, smiling. Tang Zhen teased his younger brother, “Now that Wu-ger has an apprentice, he’s clearly playing the part of the overprotective older brother.”

“That’s for sure—knowing how to eat is a sign of intelligence,” Jiang Yun said.

Tieniu could only smile; he didn’t dare say a word.

Master Tang snorted, “Any apprentice I, Tang Xianling, take under my wing can’t possibly be stupid.” 

“Right, right, right,” Tang Zhen said, finding it utterly amusing.

Master Tang looked at his young apprentice, his heart softening the more he looked at him, and said, “It’s okay if you can’t remember. Take my surname—I’ll give you a new name.” 

“Or maybe we should wait a little longer, until Daya comes back, and do it all together then,” Tieniu suggested.

Tang Xianling thought this made sense. Now that he had two apprentices, he had to treat them equally and couldn’t show favoritism toward either one.

By the end of the month, Cheng Daya had returned, and the rooms in the small courtyard had been tidied up. Cheng Daya and the younger apprentice shared a room, separated by a curtain in the middle; each had two cabinets against the wall, and each had a small table by the window.

Tang Xianling said, “Your junior disciple can’t remember his surname or given name. I was thinking of giving him a name—” 

“Master, I want one too.”

Tang Xianling: Tieniu was absolutely right.

Cheng Daya spoke quickly, but fearing her master might think she was being unreasonable or rude, she looked at him earnestly. “Even if it’s not allowed, I’ll still do whatever you say, Master.” 

“I’ll give both of you formal names—I’ve already thought them through,” Master Tang said with an air of authority. “You’ll be called Cheng Yuchun, and he’ll be called Tang Huaji.”

“Master, I want to take the surname Tang, too.”

Master Tang:? He looked at his eldest disciple intently. “Are you sure?”

The eldest disciple nodded. Her own surname wasn’t particularly pleasant to the ear, but most importantly, Master and his family had saved her—they’d treated her illness, given her money, and even taken her on as a disciple. She wanted to take Master’s surname so that in the future, she could care for him in his old age, see him through to the end, and show him filial piety for the rest of her life.

Tang Xianling had no idea of his eldest disciple’s devotion.

“All right, then. You’ll be called Tang Yuchun.”

Tang Yuchun was overjoyed and knelt down to kowtow to her Master, but Tang Xianling quickly said, “Don’t kowtow. Wait until your younger brother joins you in the initiation ceremony, and after that, don’t go kowtowing to me at the drop of a hat.”

“Understood, Master.”

The eldest disciple had a strong, clear voice and was clever, quick-witted, and decisive, while the younger disciple, Huaji, had a quiet disposition—so quiet, in fact, that it was hard to discern any other personality traits at first glance. But that was all right; there was plenty of time to nurture him.

On the third day of the third lunar month, with spring in full bloom, the initiation ceremony was held in the Tang family courtyard.

Tang Yuchun and his younger brother Tang Huaji solemnly kowtowed to their master and presented him with tea. Tang Xianling, sitting there with his large belly, drank two cups of tea, and from that day forward, he had two disciples.

Later, Jiang Yun remarked with admiration, “You’ve given both of them such great names, and they all have their own stories behind them. And the name you gave Lala—” Tieniu quickly chimed in, saying, “Lala is a good name, too.”

In March, Tang Xianling had nothing to do in the courtyard, so he had his two apprentices learn about ingredients, spices, and how to prepare food. His belly was growing bigger and bigger; standing for even a short while made him uncomfortable, so he could only sit, but after sitting for a while, his back began to ache.

So Tieniu would support his husband’s arm as they walked in circles around the courtyard.

Day by day, the weather grew warmer, and the number of diners at the restaurant dwindled considerably. Mr. Tang wasn’t worried, but Xiao Mi was. Once he started worrying, Mr. Tang’s two apprentices began to worry as well. The senior apprentice, Tang Yuchun, propped his chin in his hand, racking his brain for solutions, while the junior apprentice, Tang Huaji, simply nodded in agreement with everything his senior sister said.

“What are you agreeing to? We don’t know how to do anything yet,” said Tang Yuchun, feeling she couldn’t be of much help to her master.

Listening to the two youngsters grumbling away—they’d clearly picked up Xiao Mi’s “deeply aggrieved” demeanor—Tang Xianling said, “Stop mumbling to yourselves. Move a table out into the sun. Have you practiced the characters your Shigong taught you yet?”

Upon hearing this, the two apprentices hurriedly and obediently moved the table, grabbed paper and brushes, and went out to the courtyard to practice writing.

Besides the two of them, the three girls from Second Sister’s family were all learning to read and write alongside them. Si-ger, being so young, had “escaped unscathed,” and Xiao Sanniang was so envious of her little brother—he didn’t have to learn to read and write, which was just too hard.

“Xiao Sanniang, be a good girl. If you finish writing four big characters today, Uncle will make you some pastries.” Tang Xianling tempted the child with pastries. Jiang Yun said, “Don’t pick up the knife.”

Tang Zhen added, “Don’t make any more—she’s already plump from eating so much.”

“Second Sister, that sounds like you’re jealous. Our Xiao Sanniang looks so cute with her chubby cheeks,” Tang Xianling said with a grin.

Flattered by the compliment, Xiao Sanniang sat up straight and began writing the large characters.

Seeing this, Tang Zhen reflected on her own words. Her younger brother was much more articulate than she was; if he hadn’t stepped in just now, might her earlier remark have hurt Sanniang’s feelings?

“A young lady simply mustn’t be plump; eating too much makes one less quick-witted.”

That’s what Mrs. Cui used to say all the time.

But when the baby boy turned one hundred days old, the mother-in-law would praise him to every visitor she met, saying that a plump baby was a sign of good fortune and that his chubby cheeks clearly marked him as a blessed child.

But when it came to her third daughter, why did she suddenly become “clumsy from eating too much”?

During her time at her parents’ home, Tang Zhen gradually regained her clarity of mind and her sight. Comparing her life there to her days at the Cui household, she realized: how could her previous life with the Cui family—the way they treated her and her child—ever have been considered a good life?

On the twenty-seventh day of the third month, Tang Xianling took action.

That day, a fine misty rain fell from the sky, and the ground was a bit damp. In the evening, Tang Xianling craved something sweet. Since his belly was so big, he couldn’t stand at the stove, so Lu Sanniang came over and baked a tray of peach cookies. Tang Xianling took a few bites, crunching away, when suddenly his hand paused, as if he’d sensed something. He grinned at Tieniu and said, “‘Lala wants some peach cookies too—he just kicked me.’”

“Hey, he’s got quite a kick to him.”

Tieniu brought over a hot drink and handed it to his husband—peach cookies alone were a bit too dry. “Careful, it’s hot. Take a sip to moisten your throat.” 

“Okay, okay.” Tang Xianling cupped the cup and blew on it, took two sips, then paused again.

Tieniu noticed something was off, so he crouched down and asked his husband, “Are you feeling unwell?” 

“No, he’s been kicking me a lot today.” Tang Xianling was tagging him out.

To be honest, throughout the entire pregnancy with Tang Lala, Tang Xianling hadn’t experienced much discomfort. He had a hearty appetite, slept well, and even during the last three months of pregnancy, aside from getting up a few more times at night—though he could fall right back asleep after using the restroom—his legs and feet didn’t swell at all.

This was in stark contrast to what Sun Douzi had said about all the discomforts he experienced while carrying Cui Xiaoyuan. Tang Lala was already an angel baby.

But today the baby has been moving around a lot. Tang Xianling found it a bit strange, while Tieniu frowned and looked a little nervous. “Could it be time to give birth?” 

“Huh? The doctor said April,” Tang Xianling replied, thinking the due date hadn’t arrived yet.

Tieniu: “Not necessarily. I’ll go get the midwife.” 

“I don’t think that’s necessary.”

Tieniu said to his mother and second sister, “Lala’s been moving around a lot today. I want to have the midwife come over—just to be on the safe side, even if she ends up coming for nothing.”

There was a midwife in the neighborhood—he’d already given her a heads-up—the very one who’d delivered Sun Douzi.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun grew anxious and hurriedly said, “Go ahead, then.” Tang Zhen also asked her mother to take her younger sister and Si-ger out to play, while she stayed in the courtyard to watch over her little brother. Tang Xianling had originally wanted to say there was no need to make such a big deal out of it—

“No, I’m going to see Doctor Zhao at the West Market one more time.”

Tang Xianling now had something to say: “No need. It’s only the 27th of the third month; the due date hasn’t arrived yet, and I’m not having any contractions. At this hour, if you make a trip to the West Market, the doctor won’t be able to make it back before curfew.”

“Go ask for the midwife instead.” He compromised and backed down a bit. Upon hearing this, Tieniu realized it made sense, so he went to find the midwife first.

But no sooner had Tieniu left than—in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea—Tang Xianling’s stomach began to ache. At first, it was just a mild, cramping pain, and he stubbornly brushed it off, continuing to eat his peach cookies. Later, he couldn’t stomach the cookies anymore, but not wanting to worry his mother and second sister, he pretended nothing was wrong, standing up and walking around while holding his waist.

“Haha, I’m just taking a walk—my legs went numb from sitting too long.”

Tang Zhen supported her younger brother. “Are you really okay?”

“Yes—” Tang Xianling furrowed his brow as a sudden, excruciating pain struck him. “No, no, something’s wrong. It hurts so much.”

In the courtyard, Lu Sanniang was cleaning up the oven, with Tang Yuchun and Tang Huaji helping her. Upon hearing the commotion, they all rushed over. Xiao Daniang had originally taken her younger sisters and younger brother inside, but when they heard their uncle cry out in pain, they came out as well.

They all gathered around Tang Xianling. Tang Xianling: …

The master had his pride.

“Sanniang, you go back first. Yuchun and Huaji, you two go back to your room. I’m about to give birth. Auntie, please take my younger sister and Si-ger back inside too…” Jiang Yun and Tang Zhen were both frantic with worry. “At a time like this, why are you still worrying about these things?”

“How bad is the pain? Is it coming in waves?” “Yes, Second Sister.” Tang Xianling clutched Second Sister’s wrist tightly. “Here it comes again!!!”

It hurts so much.

Tang Lala, your dad’s never going to call you an “angel baby” again. That was just empty praise!

Despite the pain, Tang Xianling still managed to complain inwardly. When he saw the circle of terrified children around him, their faces pale with concern, he quickly told his mother and Second Sister to send the kids back inside.

“You two, are you going to listen to your master? Hurry back inside.” Master Tang said sternly, his face contorted with pain.

Tang Yuchun dragged her junior brother into the room, but the two kept looking back every few steps. Seeing their master in such agony, one turned pale with fear while the other was on the verge of tears.

Once inside, without even lighting a candle, Tang Yuchun knelt on the ground and kowtowed toward the heavens, muttering to herself, “Heaven, please protect my master. May my master live to be a hundred years old. I’ll give half my life to my master.”

“Then I’ll give half of mine to my master, too—and some to my senior sister as well,” said Tang Huaji, kneeling beside him.

Tang Yuchun: “Why would you give it to me? Do you want to die?”

“If my master passes away, I won’t live either.”

“Pah, pah, pah! What kind of talk is that?”

The two disciples were inside the room, praying to Heaven for protection.

Tang Xianling was helped into the room by his mother and second older sister. As his second older sister tried to pull down his pants, Tang Xianling clutched the waistband, and despite the pain, managed to say, “What are you doing, Second Sister? Don’t take my pants off.”

“We have to take off your pants before you get under the covers, or the baby might get stuck on them later.” Tang Zhen was quite experienced. 

Tang Xianling: …Oh, oh, oh, that makes sense.

But he was too embarrassed.

“You and Mom don’t have to worry about my pants—I’ll take them off myself.”

Jiang Yun scolded anxiously, “It’s already this late, and you’re still worrying about that?” But with her hand, she pulled the blanket over Wu-ger’s lower body. “You…”

“Get undressed and hand it to me.”

“Got it, Mom.”

“We need hot water—I’ll go boil some.” Tang Zhen headed to the kitchen; fortunately, there was still a fire burning in the hearth.

By the time Tieniu arrived, dragging the midwife along with him, the loud wail of a newborn could be heard from their own courtyard. Tieniu froze for a moment, then realized what was happening and ran into the house, with the midwife close behind. Inside, Tang Zhen had just finished cutting the umbilical cord with a pair of scissors; she had wrapped the baby up and wiped the lower half of Wu-ger’s body.

Tang Xianling lay on the bed, still half-asleep, thinking to himself: “How humiliating, how humiliating! I’ll never have another child!”

He saw a figure before him; looking again, he realized it was his own Tieniu.

“No more children,” Tang Xianling muttered.

Tieniu thought his husband was in pain, so she nodded repeatedly and said, “No more, no more. We won’t have any more children.” 

Tang Xianling: “What are you mumbling about?”

“Where’s Lala?”

Tieniu was also confused; he’d been so preoccupied with his husband that he’d forgotten where the baby was. Tang Zhen had just finished tending to the little infant and handed him over, still swaddled in his blanket, saying in a soft, gentle voice, “Lala is a little boy.”

“Did you check him thoroughly?” Jiang Yun blurted out, then added, “As long as the baby is healthy and his arms and legs are fine, that’s all that matters.”

Tang Zhen: “Everything’s fine, Mother. Lala is doing just fine.”

The midwife’s trip hadn’t been in vain. Mr. Tang and his wife were overjoyed to have a son, so they paid her half of the agreed-upon fee—which was already a windfall. The midwife was delighted, offering repeated congratulations and tidying up after Mr. Tang.

Tang Zhen wasn’t a professional, after all, and the midwife’s techniques for washing and tending to the baby were far more skilled. After all that hustle and bustle, it was already completely dark.

Only when Lu Sanniang heard the baby’s cry did she dare to come over. She’d been afraid that if she’d come into the courtyard earlier, she wouldn’t have been able to help and might have just gotten in the way. Now that she’d arrived with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, and heard that the boss and Lala were both healthy and safe, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Tang Lala was born on the 27th day of the third month.

Afterward, Tang Xianling mentioned to Tieniu, “Apart from my second older sister trying to pull down my pants to look at my butt, everything else was actually fine. It hurt, but not terribly. Oh my, my second older sister really got a good look at my butt.”

Big Boss Tang was mostly just shy.

Tang Zhen always found it funny whenever she heard this—what was there to be embarrassed about between a brother and sister?

In April, during the Qingming Festival, there were a few light rains, and the weather was quite cool, so the Tang family restaurant simply closed its doors—business had been slow anyway, and once Qingming passed, the weather would heat up; people wouldn’t be in the mood for hot pot anymore. Without Boss Tang, the restaurant simply couldn’t stay open.

So they closed up shop, citing the reason that Boss Tang and Little Boss had welcomed a son.

Tang Xianling paid everyone their base salary, and then everyone went home. He stayed at home for the postpartum confinement period; the weather was cool—neither too cold nor too hot—which was actually quite pleasant.

When his two young apprentices saw him the next day, their eyes were all puffy—it was obvious they’d been crying their hearts out the night before.

Tang Xianling: “What are you two crying about? I’m fine, nothing’s wrong.”  

“Master, Master.”

The two young apprentices cried out for their master. Hearing this, Tang Xianling felt a pang of sadness. These two children were orphans he had taken in and raised. It had only been a month—they’d been living at the herbal shop for just over half a month—but emotionally speaking, the two children truly depended on him.

It was as if, in this world, he was their only family. They still hadn’t recovered from the trauma of the snowstorm.

“All right, stop crying. I have to observe my postpartum confinement. Once I’m fully recovered, I’ll check your homework and teach you how to cook properly,” Tang Xianling said.

Tang Yuchun and Tang Huaji were incredibly well-behaved; they wiped away their tears and said, “Okay, we’ll do as Master says.” Later, according to Tieniu, the two studied hard and worked diligently to learn to read and write.

Tang Yuchun was openly stubborn, while Tang Huaji was secretly so; though they started learning to read a bit late, once they got into it, they were incredibly diligent and hardworking. Their dedication to their studies unwittingly inspired the three sisters—Xiao Danniang and her two sisters—to follow suit.

Xiao Sanniang never slacked off or complained once; day after day, she furrowed her brow as she grappled with her homework. 

Tang Xianling: …

That’s great—our courtyard has a strong atmosphere of learning, which is a good thing.

The weather’s going to be a bit colder this year. Uncle Zhang came by to discuss planting chili peppers after the Qingming Festival, once it warms up. Almost everyone in the village wants to plant them this year too. He checked with the village chief, but the chief decided not to come, so he asked him to check with them.

They definitely have more than enough chili seeds this year.

Zhang Huai had come to discuss business, but as soon as he saw the children in the courtyard all hunched over, learning to read and write, and with Tieniu and his mother-in-law beaming with joy, he immediately realized, “Xianling has given birth, hasn’t he?”

“Yes, he gave birth on the 27th of March,” Tieniu said.

Jiang Yun invited Zhang Huai to sit in the main room. Zhang Huai’s furrowed brow smoothed out, and he smiled warmly as he offered his congratulations. “Since Xianling is in his postpartum confinement, I won’t go inside. Where’s the baby? Never mind—it’s a bit chilly out here. Don’t bring the baby out. When the weather warms up, I’ll bring Hainiu over to take a look.”

Tieniu nodded, discussed the matter at hand with Uncle Zhang, and then went next door to relay the news to Xianling.

A moment later, Tieniu came out holding a swaddled baby—after being scolded by Tang Xianling, who’d said, “Uncle Zhang has come all the way to our house; let him just take a quick look at the baby. It’s already April—it’s not winter anymore. If Tang Lala is that delicate, he wouldn’t be my, Tang Xianling’s, son!”

“Hurry up and let our Uncle take a look.” 

“What’s so precious about a boy?”

Big Boss Tang’s voice was loud and resonant; Tang Zhen, standing outside the door, heard it too and was a bit dazed—could this really be true?

Zhang Huai heard it too and couldn’t stop laughing. He carefully took the swaddled baby, lifted the blanket, and froze the moment he saw him. “What a handsome little boy,” he said. “His nose is just like Tieniu’s, and his eyebrows and eyes are just like Xianling’s. He’s so good-looking.”

He’d never seen a newborn with such a high bridge of the nose, such lively eyes, and such beautiful, jet-black pupils. The baby, only about ten days old, opened his eyes, didn’t cry or fuss, and lay there quietly.

Zhang Huai marveled at him for quite a while, then said, “He’s just a bit too quiet—he takes after Tieniu.” 

That’s not so good.

If the baby had taken after Xianling, things would have been lively and fun.

If Tang Xianling knew this, he’d surely say: “Having one little screamer in the family is enough. If Tang Lala turns out to be a screamer too, wailing all day long, then I’ll be the one crying.”