Chapter 70

Qingming Festival, also known as the Qingqing Festival, is at the turn of mid-spring and late spring, that is, the 108th day after the winter solstice. It is a traditional Chinese festival and one of the most important sacrificial festivals, which is a day to worship ancestors and sweep tombs.

The lunar calendar is February 17, and this day is also known as the Ghost Festival.

This day is a very important day for both the human world and the underworld. It is said that the gates of the ghost world will be opened, allowing the dead souls to return to their place where they were alive, and the living will pray for them.

In most areas, the old custom is still retained, that is, on the day of the Qingming Festival, everyone still goes to the grave to worship the ancestors, and burns paper and kowtows to set off firecrackers.

This custom is certainly neglected in the cities, but it is a matter of great importance in the countryside. The old people of the village absolutely do not allow the young people to be lazy on this day, and they must go to the grave and kowtow anyway.

Because they firmly believe that if they don't, they will be punished. This behavior is defined as disrespectful to the ancestors, with the exception of children and women.

When there were still a few days before Qingming, Xiao Yuandong had already prepared things to go to the grave. □□ bag was full of gold ingots made of paper. These gold ingots were stacked one by one by his wife who was about to give birth.

He rode up the hill in the old disrepair, the back seat of the motorcycle loaded with things. Looking at the towering mountain, he not only sighed. From here, the motorcycle can't get up, so you have to climb up on your own.

This mountain was once hired by a great immortal in the village to see it, and it is said to be a treasure of feng shui. Later, the village spent its own money and began to build a stone road, where everything was buried when the people of the village died.

At that time, after the development, the village stipulated that it was okay to bury, but it was necessary to take money. Therefore, Xiao Yuandong discussed with his daughter-in-law, took out all the family's savings, and bought a good position for his father and mother who died early in the middle of the mountain.

Looking at the things in the back seat of his motorcycle, Xiao Yuandong was a little helpless, he had to go up and down several times to get these things alone.

In normal years, he came with his daughter-in-law and son, and his daughter-in-law and son could help him get some without him having to work too hard. But this year, it didn't work, the daughter-in-law was pregnant and was about to give birth to a second child, and the old man said that pregnant women were not allowed to go to the grave, so he asked his son to take care of his daughter-in-law at home.

In desperation, Xiao Yuandong had no choice but to go up and down, up and down, and ran three or four times to carry all these things to the mountain.

After bringing everything up, Xiao Yuandong lit a fire and burned paper in front of his parents' graves. While burning his mouth, he chattered: "Daddy, my son is here to burn paper for you." Your daughter-in-law is about to give birth to a second child! These two children, please bless her to give me a big fat girl no matter what...... You must bless her to give you a great granddaughter......

At that time, the ideology of rural people was still patriarchal. However, because it is too far away from the city and there is not so much money to do B ultrasound, I don't know until the child is born whether it is a boy or a girl.

If anyone gave birth to a son, they would be happy to invite the whole village to dinner. If you give birth to a daughter, some people won't even say that the child in their wife's womb has been born.

But Xiao Yuandong is different from others, he likes girls, and they all say that girls are their parents' little padded jackets. He wanted his daughter-in-law to give him a cute and well-behaved little girl. Seeing that everyone has daughters, he is envious.

What's more, his daughter-in-law has already given birth to a son for him. Because they live in a rural area, they can have a second child, regardless of whether the first child is a boy or a girl.

When he learned that his daughter-in-law was pregnant with a second child, he even said to his daughter-in-law: If you give birth to a daughter, I will use you as a cow and a horse in the future. If you give birth to another daughter, I will strangle him on the spot. That's the case.

Therefore, he is full of only thinking about letting his wife give birth to a daughter as soon as possible. In this way, he can cook food for his daughter every day, and then dress her up beautifully. When she grows up in the future, she is looking for a wishful husband for her, and in this life, he will have no wishes.

And one more thing, because this is the Year of the Goat. The elders of the village say that children born in the Year of the Goat have a bad life. The boys are fine, not too particular, but the girls are not good.

There have been several girls in the village who were born in the Year of the Goat, but all of them died at a very young age. Some survived, but in the end, the fate was not too good.

Originally, it was said that giving birth to a child in the Year of the Goat was ten sheep and nine blessings, but as time went by, it was deduced little by little into ten sheep and nine blessings, and the word Buddha has a meaning of no, and people say that ten sheep and nine are not complete.

Of course, this is all superstition in the countryside, but everyone still holds the idea that they would rather believe it than believe it, and they are very reluctant to give birth to a girl in the Year of the Goat.

However, Xiao Yuandong doesn't believe in this evil! What is bad for giving birth to a daughter in the Year of the Goat, and what is not good for giving birth to a child on Qingming Day. According to this, no children have been born in the Year of the Goat and Qingming Festival!

Xiao Yuandong has been chattering, letting his dead father bless his daughter-in-law to give birth to a female doll. A large pile of paper gold ingots turned into ashes in front of him in a blink of an eye, and the smoke rose.

"Yes, yes! Daddy, you've all received it! You must be happy with so much money. If it's not enough, you're dreaming of me, and I'm here to burn it for you. So, you must bless Ah Qin to give me a female doll! ”

After burning paper, kowtowing, and setting off firecrackers, Xiao Yuandong went down the mountain in a good mood and rode his broken motorcycle home.

As soon as he rode to the entrance of the village, he saw Aunt Li from the same village riding a bicycle towards him. "Dongzi, have you come back from the grave? So fast? ”

"yes, there's nothing to do at home, so I'll go early and come back early. Moreover, I don't worry that Ah Qin and the kid are at home, and there is no one to take care of them. Xiao Yuandong stopped the car and talked to Aunt Li.

Aunt Li is a widow in their village, and just a few days after marrying her husband, her husband died in an accident and did not even have a child. For so many years, I have been living alone and widowed. Oh, by the way, I forgot to say, Aunt Li is a sheep.

"Speaking of which, your family Aqin is about to give birth. But don't be a girl. If it's a daughter, it's really going to break the hearts of the two of you in this life. Aunt Li said earnestly.

When she was young, she was originally unfaithful. The man she married was the one she loved. When I got married, I thought I could be very happy. Who would have thought that his man would die within a few days. Since then, Aunt Li has believed in her fate.

"Oh, Aunt Li, you, this is the old man's thoughts. When will we have a child, how can it be our decision, and everyone has their own fate, I don't believe that my daughter will have a bad life in the future. Xiao Yuandong looked up with a smile, thinking about his born child, and there was a hint of happiness on his face.

"Look at your stupidity, although I want your family to have another son, but it also depends on your liking. As long as you like it, sons and daughters are the same. Your parents died early, and I also watched you grow up and watch you and Ah Qin get married happily. Now, you are about to have a second child, and Aunt Li is also happy for you. ”

"Thank you, Aunt Li, if my family really gives birth to a daughter or something, I will definitely let her recognize you as a grandmother. Anyway, you don't have any children, my child is your granddaughter! ”

"Okay, good, good, Aunt Li is happier than anything else with your words! Not to mention anything else, when your child is born, your aunt will definitely give him a big red envelope! I still have a little golden lock for the child, all of them are given to her! ”

Aunt Li said,

Listening to Xiao Yuandong's words, she was very happy, and the smile on her face bloomed like a flower. This little golden lock was the dowry given by her mother's family when she married her man.

However, she didn't have any children, so she kept this little thing at home all the time. She originally thought that when Xiao Yuandong's child was born, she would give it to the child regardless of whether he was a boy or a girl.

"Ah, okay! Thank you so much, Aunt Li. Aunt Li, I'll go first. Ah Qin and the kid are at home, and I don't feel at ease. Xiao Yuandong stepped on the accelerator, and the motorcycle made a rumbling sound.

Aunt Li smiled and waved her hand at him, "Let's go, let's go, we all know that I love my daughter-in-law, Aqin is really happy." I have to go up the mountain to burn paper for your uncle, and I have to feed the pigs when I come back. ”

Xiao Yuandong also waved his hand at her, just sent the brakes, and when he walked forward, he heard Aunt Li shouting from behind, "Dongzi, today is Qingming Festival!" After you go back, don't take care of Aqin, don't let her move, lest she get angry. Originally, the children in the Year of the Goat were not good, and if they caught up with Qingming, it would be even worse! Be careful! This kind of thing must not be sloppy! ”

"Oh, Aunt Li, I know!"

When Xiao Yuandong returned home, as soon as he pushed open the wooden door, he saw his daughter-in-law busy cooking in front of the stove with a big belly, and his son cleaning up on the kang. He remembered what Aunt Li said, and quickly helped his daughter-in-law to the kang.

"Huh? Dongzi, what's wrong with you? What about my hot rice, why are you helping me to the kang? Looking at his man, Cai Guiqin asked puzzled.

"Ah Qin, don't move! I met Aunt Li at the entrance of the village just now, and Aunt Li said that you must pay attention today! Don't move the tire. She said that the children born on Halloween are not good! ”

"Oh, it's okay, what's so bad about that. What age is this, you are still so feudal and superstitious. Looking at his man's nervous face, Cai Guiqin scratched his nose funny.

"That's not going to work either! Superstition or not, you have to be careful! Originally, the Year of the Goat was not good enough, if this was born on Qingming Festival, if it really ruined my daughter's fate, then I would never forgive myself in my life! Xiao Yuandong gently stroked his daughter-in-law's big belly.

Then, he leaned his head on Cai Guiqin's stomach affectionately, "Daughter, did you hear that?" I'm your father. You must be obedient today, don't be born, or I'll kill you little girl. ”

"Hey, hey, hey, is there a daughter of yours, maybe it's still a son!" Cai Guiqin laughingly dictated her man-like words.

"Impossible! It's definitely a daughter! When I went to the grave, I begged my father and mother to bless me! It must be a daughter! If it's my son, I'll strangle him!" Xiao Yuandong's tone became a little unpleasant.

As soon as he heard that his man's tone was not quite right, Cai Guiqin quickly shut up and stopped saying anything. At this time, don't make him angry. Even if she really gave birth to a son by then, she didn't believe that he wouldn't be close.

Cai Guiqin touched the boy's head, hoping that she would not feel uncomfortable because of her father's preference for daughters over men. The boy leaned on his mother very well-behaved, as if to say that he didn't care at all.

At noon, Xiao Yuandong heated up the dish, and the three of them ate a few bites. In the afternoon, the kid went out to play, and Cai Guiqin also kept lying on the kang, and Xiao Yuandong screamed with her when he moved a little.

Cai Guiqin was lying on the kang and watched Xiao Yuandong busy inside and out, she also knew that he couldn't settle down in his heart, so she didn't care about him, and let him wander around his home, yard, yard, and home.

I don't know how long I slept, Cai Guiqin suddenly felt that her stomach was falling, and there was a labor pain similar to menstrual cramps, and then her waist was sore, and there seemed to be liquid left between her legs.

Although this was the first child, Cai Guiqin immediately realized that the child was about to be born, and she quickly opened her eyes and called out to Xiao Yuandong, "Dong, Dongzi!" Child, child looks like it's about to be born! Dong, Dongzi! ”。

Hearing Cai Guiqin's shout, Xiao Yuandong, who was feeding pigs in the yard, was startled. He didn't dare to think about it, so he quickly ran outside and went to find the third aunt next door for help.

The third aunt gave birth to 6 children in this life, and 5 of them were sons. At the same time, she is also the midwife of the village. If anyone wants to have a child or something, it's right to look for her.

Xiao Yuandong ran outside, thinking to himself: What the fuck are you afraid of! His mouth was still shouting, "Ah Qin! You hold on! I'm going to call the third aunt! ”

"Three aunts! Three aunts! My family Aqin is about to give birth! You—Hurry up and take a look! ”

Calling the third aunt, Xiao Yuandong paced back and forth in the courtyard, listening to Aqin's painful voice coming from home, his whole heart was pinched together.

"Aqin! Come on! Hold on! I'm right outside! Xiao Yuandong shouted at the room from time to time.

He paced, his hands clasped together, and prayed. Daddy, you must bless Ah Qin and the child safely! I must bless Ah Qin to give birth to a daughter, and if I have another son, I can't afford to raise it! We've all said yes! It must be a daughter!

I don't know if Xiao Yuandong's prayer touched God, and it didn't take long for him to hear the clear cry of the little doll coming from the house, the voice was so intense, as if it was a baptism of being born into this world.

Xiao Yuandong wanted to rush in immediately, but the third aunt in the house seemed to know his thoughts, and shouted for Xiao Yuandong not to go in first.

The third aunt held the little doll with blood in her hand, and gently put her in a basin of warm water to wash her body. Then, dress the little doll in the prepared little clothes.

These little clothes were all made by Cai Guiqin for the child during pregnancy, and now the child is born and can be worn by her. After getting dressed, he put the little doll next to his mother, and then helped Cai Guiqin clean it up.

"Alright, Dongzi, you can come in." The third aunt walked out of the room and let Shen Yuandong in.

Hearing the permission, he was so happy that he hurriedly rushed into the house, "Third aunt! How's that? How's the kid? How's Ah Qin? ”

The third aunt washed her hands, and then patted Shen Yuandong on the shoulder, "Don't worry!" The child and Aqin are fine, the mother and child are safe! ”

"Mother, mother and child are safe? Third aunt, you're right? Our family Ah Qin is obviously pregnant with a daughter! How can it be that the mother and child are safe! Hearing the words of the third aunt, Xiao Yuandong's smile froze on his face.

"Who said that your Aqin is pregnant with a daughter? Go in and see your son!" Little baby, she looks so handsome! In the future, he must be a handsome guy! On the contrary, with Xiao Yuandong, the third aunt was full of smiles.

She has delivered so many children, male and female, fat and thin. She also saw it, and the little boy of the old Xiao family looked the best! He doesn't look like a boy at all, and his nose and eyes are better than that of a female doll

Xiao Yuandong walked into the back room slowly, and Cai Guiqin was holding the child to breastfeed her. Looking at the little baby in his daughter-in-law's arms, Xiao Yuandong couldn't open his mouth a little: "Belt, belt?" ”

"It's a boy......" Looking at his man's sad face, Cai Guiqin really didn't want to hit him. However, what is is what it is, and there is no way to change it.

It's a boy...... It's a boy...... It's a boy...... Boy...... Child...... Child......

Xiao Yuandong squatted on the ground all of a sudden, no, it shouldn't be like this! Isn't it a daughter! He told his dead father and mother that he was okay! It's obviously my daughter's!

The third aunt also finished washing her hands and walked in, with a smile on her face, "Dongzi, I'll just say, you see how handsome your baby looks!" Have you thought of a name for your child? What is it called? ”

Facing the smiling face of the third aunt, Xiao Yuandong had a cold face and said, "Xiao dog." 166 Reading Network