The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 104

Tian Xiaoman struggled on the bed for a long time and finally gave birth to the child before midnight on the fifteenth day of the eighth month. As for how the birth went, he did not want to recall it. In short, if the child turned out unfilial in the future, he will be beaten without mercy.

Although Tian Xiaoman gave birth prematurely, it was only about ten days early, so the swaddle and other items were prepared in advance.

Li Amu smiled from ear to ear as he held the baby. 

The baby’s little face was red and wrinkled, with sparse eyebrows and a pouting mouth, looking very dissatisfied.

Tian Xiaoman was still awake after the birth but only slightly opened his eyes to look at Li Amu and the baby in his arms. He was too exhausted to speak, let alone hold the baby.

The midwife quickly dealt with the quilt, replacing it with a fresh one. Then, he tied a piece of red cloth around Tian Xiaoman’s forehead.

Li Wenxuan had been anxiously waiting outside. When he heard the baby crying, his excitement surged. He has become a father! 

He didn’t know whether it was a little boy or ger, but both he and Xiaoman had hoped for a well-behaved little ger first!

But the door wasn’t open yet, and there was nothing he could do. 

Fortunately, the midwife had delivered many babies and was quite skilled. He soon opened the door and allowed Li Wenxuan to enter.

Li Wenxuan rushed in, squatting beside Tian Xiaoman. 

He held Tian Xiaoman’s slightly cold hand and gently said, “Xiaoman, you’ve worked hard! Are you tired? Rest well, and when you wake up, you’ll see our—” Li Wenxuan suddenly stopped, realizing that he didn’t know what to say! “Amu, is it a boy or a ger?”

Li Amu smiled and said, “It’s a big fat boy!” Their family was now blessed with a healthy boy.

“Oh,” Li Wenxuan heard that it was a boy and immediately looked at Tian Xiaoman. 

Their thoughtful little padded jacket had gone up in smoke…

“Xiaoman, go to sleep. When you wake up, you can meet our little rascal.”

“Name…,” Tian Xiaoman said weakly.

“I haven’t thought of a full name yet, why don’t you give him a nickname first?”

Tian Xiaoman thought for a moment. “How about… Tuanzi?”

(Translator’s Note: Tuanzi (团子) — Literally “round dumpling.” A general term for small, round glutinous-rice snacks. )

Li Wenxuan thought it over. The child was born on the Moon Festival, when everyone ate mooncakes, and he was born early because his Amu ate too many mooncakes. Calling him Tuanzi fit perfectly.

“Okay, we’ll call him Tuanzi!”

Tian Xiaoman, seeing that the child’s name was decided, fell asleep with peace of mind.

When Li Amu heard the name, he thought it sounded nice. Looking at this tiny little bundle, was he not exactly a tuanzi? 

“Tuanzi, Tuanzi, grand-amu’s little Tuanzi, grow up quickly!”

It wasn’t easy for Father Li to come in, so he had to wait in the main room for them to come out. The midwife had already taken the celebratory money and left. Coming out in the middle of the night was no easy thing, so they gave him extra. Fortunately, his home was not far, otherwise they would have had to keep him overnight.

Li Wenxuan had some time to look at his freshly born big fat boy. Although the child was premature, his weight was almost the same as that of a full-term baby.

Li Wenxuan looked at his little head and then at his face. He turned to Li Amu and asked, “Amu, who do you think this child looks like?”

“This child has a round face, so I think he looks more like Xiaoman.”

“Don’t say that to Xiaoman later. If you tell him this child looks like him, he’ll definitely get angry!”

Li Amu chuckled. “This child is so good-looking, how could he be ugly?”

“Not ugly…” Li Wenxuan muttered, then said to Li Amu, “Father hasn’t seen Tuanzi yet. Amu, can you take him out to show him?”

“Okay, I’ll take him out to show him. He must be anxious!” Li Amu wrapped the baby in a blanket and then went to find Father Li.

“This child looks really good.” Father Li looked at little Tuanzi, his eyes full of love.

“Of course, how could our family’s children be ugly?” Li Amu was very proud.

“By the way, have you decided on a name for the child? How about the nickname ‘Er Gouzi’?” Father Li teased. “A cheap name is easier to raise!”

“It’s decided, we’re calling him Xiao Tuanzi!” Li Amu gave him a wary look.

“…Haha, Xiao Tuanzi sounds good, better than ‘Er Gouzi’, haha.” Father Li laughed awkwardly.

Suddenly, the baby in Li Amu’s arms burst into tears. Though small, his voice was high-pitched, making Father Li want to cover his ears.

“It seems he’s hungry…” Li Amu, experienced in child-rearing, knew the baby needed to eat. However, Tian Xiaoman gave birth early, and they hadn’t bought any milk fruit to help Xiaoman. What should they do?

The little dumpling in Li Amu’s arms cried even louder, his tiny fists clenched tightly, his little face scrunched up, and his mouth wide open, his tender red throat visible.

Li Amu rocked him gently, but it was no use. The baby’s fat tears kept rolling down, making Li Amu and Father Li  feel distressed.

Li Wenxuan heard the crying and, afraid it would wake Xiaoman, gently closed the door behind him and went outside.

“Amu, what’s wrong with him?” Li Wenxuan asked anxiously as he saw the baby crying hoarsely.

“He’s hungry, he hasn’t eaten yet!” Li Amu thought for a moment and then decided to cook some sugar water for him. 

He handed the little bundle to Li Wenxuan and went to the kitchen.

Li Wenxuan stood stiffly, feeling how fragile the baby was in his arms. He was afraid that even the gentlest movement would hurt him.

“Father…” Li Wenxuan called out for help.

Father Li, understanding the distress, fled quickly, leaving only a faint, “I’ll help your Amu!”

Li Wenxuan stood there, holding the baby, and found a spot to sit down. 

Looking at the baby crying non-stop, a strange sense of humor welled up inside him. He couldn’t help but think, this really looks like how Xiaoman looks when he’s angry!

The baby was clearly dissatisfied. What’s wrong with the adults in this family? He’d been crying for so long and still hadn’t been fed! So, he cried even louder.

“Hey, here you go, grand-amu’s little dumpling!” Li Amu hurriedly brought a small bowl of sugar water.

“Amu, come and hold him! I’ll feed him!” Li Wenxuan said quickly. 

His arms were sore from holding the baby, and it felt more tiring than standing in horse stance all day.

“You know how to feed him? Behave and just hold him properly,” Li Amu said, adjusting the way he held the baby, then picked up a small spoon, scooped some sugar water, and gently touched it to the baby’s mouth.

When the baby tasted the sugar water, his crying stopped. His little mouth moved, and he drank eagerly. 

Li Amu scooped another spoonful and offered it before the baby could cry again.

After feeding more than ten spoonfuls, the little ball finally tilted his head, signaling that he didn’t want any more.

“Wenxuan, go to the county town tomorrow morning to buy milk fruit and then bring your  Amu-in-law and others. Let them stay here for a few days.” Li Amu instructed.

“Okay,” Li Wenxuan nodded, then asked, “Amu, can you take him now?”

Li Amu looked at his face, which seemed like he was facing a great enemy, and couldn’t help but laugh. 

His son was fearless, but today, he was defeated by his own son.