Chapter 7: 007 Goodies

Chapter 7: 007. Good Things

Seeing them insist, Bai Suihe said no more. The maidservants had long since prepared everything, and after a quick wash, Bai Suihe sent them away.

As night fell, Bai Suihe silently reviewed her plans in her mind, wondering how she could arrange things to ensure there were no slip-ups.

"Mother," a milky, childish voice came to her ears again.

Bai Suihe immediately said with delight, "Baby, are you doing alright now?"

"Mother, I am fine. I know what you are worried about. Hurry to the courtyard now; there is something good."

"...Baby, you might not know this, but it is already dark outside. Aside from the old women on night watch, our courtyard has already been locked."

In this backyard of hers, where the maids and matrons worked diligently every day, what could there possibly be that was "good"?

"Mother, I’m really not lying to you. You’ll know once you go out. Hurry, there’s no time left." The baby’s voice was urgent, even carrying a hint of a sob.

This was a treasure she had worked so hard to beg for her mother; she couldn't let it slip away.

Hearing this, Bai Suihe’s heart softened. She stood up without hesitation, holding a candlestick. "Mother is going out now, don't worry."

She really didn't know how to coax a child, and if it cried, there was no "Du Niang" she could ask for a solution.

"Mother, walk a little slower, there is still some time." Feeling the violent swaying, the baby reminded her anxiously. It was still in her womb; surely Mother wouldn't forget about it, would she?

Such a mother was truly worrying. It seemed it would have to prepare more.

Although Bai Suihe didn't know why the baby wanted her in the courtyard, there were only a few lanterns hanging there now, and the gatekeeper was already starting to doze off.

Because the Gu family had a rule against taking concubines, maids did not stay in the courtyard unless there were special circumstances.

"Third Young Mistress, is there something you need?" The old woman, hearing the movement, hurriedly opened her eyes in fright. Seeing Bai Suihe standing in the courtyard with a candlestick, she asked respectfully.

"Mother, send her away..."

"I suddenly feel a bit hungry. Go to the main kitchen and see if there is anything left to eat."

Bai Suihe rubbed her belly; the excuse was ready-made. She was a pregnant woman, so it was normal to get hungry quickly.

The old woman glanced at her belly and nodded quickly. "This old servant will go to the kitchen at once. Third Young Mistress, please go back to your room and wait."

Bai Suihe nodded at her and pointed to the other old woman who hadn't spoken. "You two go together. Try to bring back as much as you can; I am very hungry."

The old woman found it strange but didn't ask further. This was the inner residence; besides the gate they were at, there were several other gates, so nothing could go wrong.

As the two old women left, they pulled the gate shut behind them.

Bai Suihe asked, "Baby, they’ve left. Now what?"

"Wait..." The milky voice spoke with a cold, detached tone. Bai Suihe chuckled and patted her belly lightly. "Waiting for pie to fall from the sky?"

As she said this, Bai Suihe looked up at the sky, only to see a shooting star...

Watching the shooting star get closer and closer, Bai Suihe was so frightened she clutched her chest and stumbled back several steps.

"Bang!" A crater suddenly smashed into the ground in front of her. The shooting star was still glowing, flickering at her from within the pit.

Was this a meteorite? Bai Suihe had only ever seen them in museums, and today one had almost hit her.

"Baby, is this what you meant? It almost cost your mother her life." Bai Suihe felt she needed a moment to recover. So this was the "good thing" the baby spoke of.

"Mother, that’s it! Hurry and take it!" the baby urged anxiously. The treasure was right there; why was Mother still hesitating?

One had to know that whenever a treasure appeared, everyone would swarm it; she couldn't let this good thing fly away.

Bai Suihe squatted down and stared at the meteorite. Finally, unable to resist her curiosity, she reached out to touch it.

Feeling no danger, she used her fingers to pry it out. It was strange; having fallen from such a height, it hadn't buried itself deep in the soil, and it came loose with a light tug.

Holding the meteorite in her palm, it was gray and dusty, not even the size of her hand. Just as she was about to take it inside to wash it with water, the meteorite shot straight toward her forehead. Before she could react, it vanished directly into her body.

If you asked how Bai Suihe felt now? She was stunned. Then, her face turned pale, and she sighed in her heart: *My life is over!*

"Mother... Mother..." It was the baby’s voice that woke her up.

Bai Suihe touched her forehead; there was no hole. "Baby, what is going on?"

"This is the treasure I found for you. Focus your mind and look." The baby’s voice sounded exhausted. "Baby is going to sleep again, Mother..."

As the voice faded, Bai Suihe hurriedly stroked her belly. "Sleep well, baby, and grow up strong."

The commotion just now had been quite loud, yet strangely, it hadn't attracted anyone else in the manor.

Bai Suihe held her belly, squatted down, picked up the candlestick again, and slowly returned to her room.

She needed to sort this out. A meteorite falling from the sky and then suddenly rushing into her body and disappearing—this was truly mystical.

The baby had told her to focus her mind. As soon as she placed the candlestick on the table, she sat down and did as instructed.

This...

She actually saw a small farmhouse courtyard. Not only were there fields in the front and back, but there was also an orchard on the hill.

Was this the "golden finger" she had been longing for, falling from the sky just like that? Why did it feel so unreal?

She wanted to go in and see what it was like, but she held back because she heard movement. The courtyard gate outside had opened; it must be the two old women returning from the kitchen.

"Third Young Mistress," the two women appeared at the door, each carrying a food box. "There was still some food in the kitchen, so we brought it all for you."

"Put it on the table. You’ve worked hard all day; go ahead and rest."

Bai Suihe wanted to dismiss them, but the two women were stubborn, saying they would keep watch outside for the Third Young Mistress and that she should call them if she needed anything.

Bai Suihe knew the rules of the manor, so she waited until they left before bolting the door.

In this private space, she clutched her chest, feeling a sense of unreality.

She whispered, "I want to go in."

Her entire person stood within the space. It was right in front of the house. It didn't feel much different from the outside, except for the scent of fresh grass, which likely had to do with the crops in the fields.

She had spent time in the countryside as a child; the crops in the field were rice, though they hadn't yet sprouted ears.

She turned to look at the farmhouse. It was a large courtyard with six rooms lined up, all currently shut tight.

She pushed open the slightly ajar gate and walked into the courtyard.

On both sides of the yard were two jujube trees, already laden with fruit.

She really wanted to ask the baby where this space came from, but she held back.

The child was still small and needed to grow; it had already worried too much for her sake, and she needed to be considerate.

(End of chapter)