Chapter 3: The Fairy Descends to Earth

“Guanyin sending a child… so it was a fairy descending to the mortal world!”

A fairy that couldn't be summoned no matter how much one knelt and prayed had been sent to her home by Guanyin herself. Wang Cuilan’s mouth stretched into a grin that she couldn't close.

“Mom!” Zhou Zhaodi called out to her twice more. “Mom! What are you so happy about?”

Her eldest son was crying out for his parents in agony, yet her mother-in-law acted as if she hadn't heard a thing, holding the little girl and grinning so wide her eyes were mere slits. Zhou Zhaodi even worried that her mother-in-law had been driven mad by anger.

“It’s nothing.” Wang Cuilan waved a hand. “Take good care of Xiao Ni; you don’t need to worry about anything outside.”

Wang Cuilan handed Lin Xiangrong over to Zhou Zhaodi, then pushed the cart out with a burst of energy. As she walked with a brisk, wind-swept pace, she calculated that when she returned, she would definitely fry two eggs for her third daughter-in-law.

Her little granddaughter was as delicate and cute as carved jade, a tiny little bundle. She looked light as a feather, clearly showing she hadn't been well-nourished in the womb. She had to feed her third daughter-in-law more good food so she could produce plenty of milk and feed the granddaughter until she was plump and fair.

This was a fairy sent by Guanyin, here to repay a debt of gratitude!

It was worth all the incense she had burned on the first and fifteenth of every month, and the fruit offerings she had presented from time to time.

Before Zhou Zhaodi could even reply, she saw her mother-in-law rushing off in a hurry, leaving her to hold her daughter and head back into the room, feeling completely bewildered.

“Mom, you’re finally here!”

If she hadn't come, Fang Hongying would have had to carry Lin Yuandong to the town clinic herself!

“What’s the rush?”

The moment Wang Cuilan saw her eldest daughter-in-law, she scolded her first. Then, hearing her son wailing in pain, her chaotic mind suddenly cleared.

But what if that voice wasn't real?

If the eldest’s leg wasn't treated and ended up crippled, he wouldn't be able to work or earn money. With two big, chubby boys at home needing money for wives, it would be the end of them.

Thinking of this, cold sweat broke out on Wang Cuilan’s forehead.

Unable to decide whether to believe what she had heard, Wang Cuilan could only have Fang Hongying and Zhang Miao help lift Lin Yuandong onto the cart, then wait for Lin Dawei to return so they could discuss it.

“Eldest, how are you?” Wang Cuilan asked with concern. “Where does it hurt?”

“My knee hurts like someone smashed it with a hammer.” Lin Yuandong gasped for air. “Mom, why isn't Dad back yet?”

This was his leg. If it were crippled in the future, he wouldn't be able to work to earn money, and his two sons wouldn't have money for wives or to build a house…

Lin Yuandong felt a sudden sense of despair.

“Don’t worry, Mom is going out to find your dad.”

Wang Cuilan ran to the door, heavy with worry, and immediately saw Lin Dawei returning with a few acquaintances to help.

Wang Cuilan rushed over, pulled Lin Dawei aside, and whispered in his ear, “Husband, just now I heard…”

After telling him everything, Wang Cuilan stared at Lin Dawei and asked, “Tell me, could it be true?”

Lin Dawei’s eyes widened. “You didn't mishear, did you?”

“How could it be fake? I heard it clearly. That voice came from the granddaughter. The third daughter-in-law didn't hear it at all; only I did.” Wang Cuilan rubbed her hands together, acting mystical. “Tell me, could it be a fairy sent by Guanyin to repay a debt?”

Lin Dawei was in a dilemma. He took a piece of tobacco leaf and began to chew it, a strange feeling swirling in his heart. However, time waited for no one, and he finally gritted his teeth. “Let’s go. Send him to the village clinic and let Dr. Shen take a look first.”

Although Dr. Shen was a barefoot traditional Chinese doctor, he had been practicing in the village for decades, and his medical skills were praised by countless people.

If it really couldn't be treated, he wouldn't drag it out; he would provide some basic care and tell them to send him to the town.

“What?” When Fang Hongying heard Lin Dawei change his mind and decide to send him to Dr. Shen, she became anxious. “How can we send him to Dr. Shen? My husband’s leg is broken; can he set it?”

“A woman’s perspective!” Lin Dawei threw the tobacco leaf on the ground, spat, and said sternly, “If Dr. Shen can’t treat it, he’ll prescribe some painkillers. Or would you rather let the eldest suffer in pain all the way to town?”

“Dad is right.”

Zhang Miao, who was usually stingy and hated spending money, chimed in impatiently. Seeing a few clansmen nearby, she quickly suppressed her smile.

Afraid that Lin Dawei might change his mind, she quickly added, “If Dr. Shen can’t see it, we’ll send him to town. We can’t let Big Brother suffer like this. At least get him some pain relief first, otherwise, what if he’s damaged by the pain?”

Seeing Lin Yuandong sweating from the pain, the clansmen offered their opinions, most agreeing that they should let Dr. Shen take a look, and if it really didn't work, they could get painkillers and then head to town.

The arm cannot twist the thigh.

Fang Hongying didn't have much say, so she could only follow the group to the clinic in silence.

Upon arriving at the clinic, Dr. Shen was called out.

“My eldest son fell and hurt his leg; he’s in so much pain he can’t move. Dr. Shen, please take a look.” Lin Dawei’s heart was hanging in the air.

Dr. Shen pushed up his reading glasses, leaned in to carefully press on Lin Yuandong’s leg, and after asking a few questions, he breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s not a big problem. The bone is dislocated; it’ll be fine once it’s set.”

Then, with a firm and skillful technique, he pressed on Lin Yuandong’s thigh and calf, snapping the dislocated bone back into place. “Doesn't it hurt as much now? Get up and walk a few steps.”

He had been crying out in agony as if the sky were falling, but now, hearing Dr. Shen say it was fixed, Lin Yuandong looked on in disbelief.

It was just a dislocation, and it was fixed?

Lin Yuandong was helped up and tentatively took two steps. Seeing that he was fine, he took a few more, ecstatic. “It really doesn't hurt much, and I can put weight on it!”

“Of course. It wasn't a big problem to begin with; it would only be a problem if you moved it around recklessly. If you went to the town, they would just set the bone the same way and charge you a fortune. It wouldn't be worth it.” Dr. Shen touched his cheek and chuckled.

“Dr. Shen, how much do I owe you?” Wang Cuilan smiled, her face full of wrinkles. Before Dr. Shen could speak, she stuffed some small change into his hand. “It’s not much, please take it. It’s all thanks to your great skills and experience. You don’t know how scared we were. As long as he’s fine, it’s all that matters.”

Her precious granddaughter was right.

If they had dragged him to the town clinic, the bumpy road might have caused serious damage to the eldest’s legs!

When she got back, she had to cook two more eggs for her third daughter-in-law. No, two eggs every day! And she had to cut up some of the cured meat. Her precious granddaughter was so tiny; she had to be raised with great care. This was the treasure of their family from now on!

“Husband, are you really okay?” Fang Hongying asked, stooping down to touch her husband’s leg.

“I’m fine, I’m fine.” Lin Yuandong was full of joy, the dark clouds over his head dispersed, and he was in an incredibly good mood.

The clansmen dispersed once they saw everything was fine.

The family walked back in high spirits. After all, they hadn't spent much money, the leg was healed, and they wouldn't be losing a laborer. Who wouldn't be happy?

As soon as Wang Cuilan returned, she went to the courtyard gate and picked a handful of crisp cabbage seedlings, washed them clean, and set them aside. She skillfully rolled out some noodles, lit the stove, and used chopsticks to scoop out a chunk of lard. Feeling it wasn't enough, she added another dab. She fried two eggs, boiled the water, added the noodles, and finally threw in the cabbage seedlings. Carrying the bowl, she knocked on the third son’s door.

“Third daughter-in-law, Mom made you noodles and fried two eggs. Eat them while they’re hot.”

“?? Thank you, Mom.” Zhou Zhaodi had just struggled to sit up and wrap herself in clothes when a large, fragrant bowl of noodles was thrust into her hands.

Fried eggs and handmade noodles? Looking at the thick layer of oil in the broth, Zhou Zhaodi felt the bowl was burning her hands.

Her mother-in-law treated that jar of lard like the apple of her eye; why was she willing to put so much in today?

What was going on?

“Eat up, why are you staring? After you finish, feed my precious granddaughter. Don’t you see the baby’s belly is still empty?” Wang Cuilan urged when she saw Zhou Zhaodi wasn't using her chopsticks.

Whatever, she’d just eat the food offered to her. Zhou Zhaodi began to eat the noodles in large mouthfuls. She hadn't eaten anything this delicious in a long time, and her appetite was whetted.

“This—”

Fang Hongying and Zhang Miao, who had regained their senses, couldn't care about their usual bickering. Seeing Wang Cuilan walk away after making noodles with fried eggs and a large spoonful of lard cracklings, they stared at the pit left in the cracklings jar.

What was going on?

Where did their mother-in-law take that bowl of oily, fragrant noodles?

Fang Hongying assumed the bowl of oily, fragrant noodles with two eggs was for her husband, and she immediately felt smug. “See that? The eldest son and the eldest grandson are the lifeblood of the old folks.”

“Heh.” Zhang Miao was furious, but then she thought of the two chubby boys Fang Hongying had given birth to—one sickly and one premature. It really fit the saying, ‘Giving birth is no skill; raising them is the real skill.’

“Is Dafu sick again?” Zhang Miao played with her fingers nonchalantly. “You really need to keep a close eye on Dafu. There are plenty of children who caught a cold and passed away overnight.”

With that, she hurried to the backyard.

This remark drove Fang Hongying mad. She grabbed a rolling pin and chased after Zhang Miao. The two ran all the way to the backyard, only to see the third son’s door open, with the sound of their mother-in-law Wang Cuilan’s uncontrollable laughter coming from inside.

“A daughter is good, she’s a blessing. Look at how fair and cute Xiao Ni is.”

The two were stunned, stretching their necks to look into the room.

The room was filled with the rich smell of fried eggs, and the fragrance was overwhelming; one could tell a lot of lard had been used.

Looking closer, they saw Zhou Zhaodi eating the large eggs bite by bite, while their mother-in-law, Wang Cuilan, had a face wrinkled with smiles, holding the “money-losing goods” that had been so unwelcome just yesterday.

Zhang Miao laughed. “Oh my, I thought she was so precious, but it turns out it was all for show.”

“Mom!”

Having just boasted, she was slapped in the face. When Fang Hongying gave birth to her first and second children, she only got one egg as per custom, and she hadn't seen a single strand of thick noodles afterward.

Now, seeing the usually weak Zhou Zhaodi eating large eggs and drinking noodle soup in big gulps, she was green with envy.

“What’s going on? Why are you giving the third daughter-in-law thick noodles?”

Those were the thick noodles her brother-in-law had brought back from town. Although not as precious as fine flour, Wang Cuilan usually hid them away, only taking a little out when the grandsons were craving them.

Wang Cuilan glared at her. “So what if they’re thick noodles? The third daughter-in-law can eat them!”

Never mind thick noodles; to ensure Zhou Zhaodi had enough milk and didn't starve her precious granddaughter, she could afford two eggs a day.

“But…”

But they didn't get any when they gave birth.

Wang Cuilan rocked Lin Xiangrong in her arms, ignoring Fang Hongying’s words, and only said to Zhang Miao, “Second daughter-in-law, go to the front yard, open the largest chest, and bring the cotton cloth Lili brought back.”

“What for, Mom?” Zhang Miao felt something was wrong and asked, “Are you making clothes, Mom? Are you making them for the kids?”

That was new cotton cloth her sister-in-law had brought back for Wang Cuilan to make winter clothes.

“This swaddling cloth is old and torn. Xiao Ni is so fair and tender, that cotton cloth is just right.” Wang Cuilan beamed, feeling that even her granddaughter’s farts were fragrant.

Zhang Miao gasped. After being urged by Wang Cuilan twice, she went to get the cloth. Seeing Wang Cuilan making a swaddling cloth, her eyes turned green with jealousy.

Fang Hongying was no different; this level of favoritism was unbearable.

Her eyes darted around. She remembered her sister-in-law mentioning yesterday that the Cui family at the east end of the village wanted a child bride, and she turned and walked out.

“Go, go.” Seeing that Zhou Zhaodi had only a few bites left, Wang Cuilan handed Lin Xiangrong to her and shooed Zhang Miao away. “Go do your chores, don’t stand there and be an eyesore.”

Zhang Miao snorted inwardly and turned to leave the room reluctantly.

Zhou Zhaodi finished the noodles in a few bites and took Lin Xiangrong to feed her.

Lin Xiangrong had been hungry for a long time, and the smell of the fried eggs made her drool.

Finally being held by Zhou Zhaodi to be fed, Lin Xiangrong couldn't help but cry out from the bottom of her heart.

【Mom, hungry, so hungry, so hungry.】

Zhou Zhaodi suddenly heard an ethereal voice, but when she listened carefully, it was gone. It must have been an auditory hallucination. She looked down at the daughter in her arms, who was staring at her, waiting to be fed, and without further thought, she quickly unbuttoned her clothes.

Seeing the small Lin Xiangrong nursing happily, her tiny hands clutching her clothes tightly, Zhou Zhaodi’s heart softened for some reason, and she adjusted to a more comfortable position to make it easier for Lin Xiangrong to nurse.

Although she was a girl—which brought disappointment, anger, and resentment—she was still a piece of flesh that had fallen from her own body. After ten months of pregnancy, how could she truly bear to mistreat her?

Wang Cuilan sat on a stool, watching Lin Xiangrong’s little mouth move as she nursed. She felt it was more fragrant than any delicacy she had ever eaten, and the more she watched, the happier she became.

If Lin Xiangrong hadn't been nursing, she would have snatched her into her arms to cuddle and kiss her.

“My precious granddaughter, you’re eating so happily. Being able to eat well is a blessing.”