1 Birth

"Argh…! Um… Husband, you must protect our child… and bring it safely into this world! Argh…!" In the dilapidated house, a pregnant woman was struggling on the verge of death. She gritted her teeth, using the last of her strength. She grabbed the bed frame, the veins on her hand popping from the effort. Under these circumstances, a tiny crying baby was born.

There were no other adults in the room where the baby was delivered, only a five-year-old girl next to the bed, looking lost.

Madam Tian Chen opened her eyes and looked at her daughter who was by the bed. "Juxiang, good girl, don't be afraid. Have a look, see if it's a younger brother or sister!"

Juxiang inched over slowly and took a peek, then exclaimed in surprise, "Mother, it's a little sister. She's not scary at all. Instead, she's very cute, beautiful, and rosy!"

Madam Chen was partly disappointed and partly resigned to fate. Ultimately, she had not managed to give her husband a descendant to carry on his name. She had let down Tian Tiejun, who had two months ago gone into the mountains catching pheasants to nourish her body and fallen off a cliff to his death. If there was a next lifetime, she would hope to be his wife again, and make up for what she had owed him in this lifetime.

Madam Chen's voice was weak as she instructed her elder daughter, "Juxiang, grab the pair of scissors on the table. There's a clean rag beside it. Use the rag to wipe the scissors clean."

Following her mother's instructions, Juxiang picked up the piece of rag and cleaned the scissors with it. "Mother, the scissors are now clean!"

"Hold on to the fine thread on the table. Then use the pair of scissors to sever the umbilical cord on your sister's belly!"

Juxiang was shocked. "Mother, how can I cut my little sister's belly!"

"Juxiang, sever the cord on your sister's navel and tie it down with the fine thread. Go on! It's okay, it was like this too, when you were born!" Having spoken this much, Madam Chen was left exhausted.

Juxiang did as her mother instructed. Then, she gently lifted her sister and took her to her mother. Madam Chen looked at the baby in Juxiang's arms and finally forced a smile. The baby, fair and unblemished, turned her rosy face towards Madam Chen and laughed. This made Madam Chen cry as she said, "Child, it's just your bad luck to have chosen me as your mother. You're destined to suffer."

"Mother, what's Little Sister's name?"

"Although she's destined to suffer, she ought to be free and unfettered. Let's name LIttle Sister Wunian (which means carefree). Juxiang, Little Sister will depend on you to raise her. You have to take good care of her, understand?"

Indeed, the children of poor families are plied with responsibilities early on in life. Juxiang seemed to know what was coming. She held her sister tightly and said to her mother, "Mother, I will take good care of Little Sister!"

Madam Chen's tears were stained with red as she looked at Juxiang holding Wunian in her arms. She roared at the skies overhead, "The heavens are unfair. How are these two girls going to survive!"

With that, Madam Chen took her last breath and passed on.

Juxiang wrapped her sister in a rag and carried her to the main residence. She knelt at the door and cried, "Please Grandpa, please Grandma, help me find a doctor to treat my mother! Please! I beg of you, take a look at my mother!"

Tian Zhuangzhu, who was seated at the head of the table eating, looked up and asked Madam Wang, who was seated next to him, "Old Lady, is that the daughter of the third son out there?"

Madam Wang was displeased at being interrupted in the middle of her meal. She replied unhappily, "Yes, I'll go take a look"

The second son, Tian Tieshan, remarked, "Mother, I was passing by their house just then and heard Third Sister-in-law shouting. Is she about to give birth?"

Madam Ma tugged at Tian Tieshan's sleeve and said, "Hey, what are you up to? Are you just being a busybody, or are you feeling sorry for Third Sister-in-law?"

"Aiya! How can that be? I'm only asking!"

The old man, Tian Zhuangzhu, glanced at Madam Wang and placed his bowl and chopsticks back on the table. "Old Lady, go take a look. She is part of our family after all."

"Fine! They're all troublesome." Madam Wang placed her bowl and chopsticks back on the table. She walked over to the door, and saw Juxiang holding a baby in her arms. She approached Juxiang and lifted the girl up by the collar of her clothes. "Your mother has given birth?"

"Yes, Grandma. My mother has given birth."

"Is it a boy or a girl?"

"It's a little sister."

"Your mother is such a loser, giving us yet another liability."

"Grandma, take a look at my mother! Please!"

"What is there to see? It's good that she died in there! Jinx, such ill luck."

Madam Wang made her way to the dilapidated house, cursing and swearing. Not long after, the woman ran out in shock, and into the dining hall in the main room. Tian Zhuangzhu saw that she was out of breath and asked what was wrong.