Chapter Five: The Meng Family

When Madam Wu brought Gou Dan to the west room, Meng Yun was wiping her little chubby daughter's bottom. Little Lucky Girl was plump and fair, lying on the bed, waving her arms and kicking her legs, waiting for her mother to attend to her. Her eyes were round and bright—her first time opening her eyes had thrilled both Lin Sanlang and Meng Yun. Even the simple act of opening her eyes was adorable.

"Come here, Gou Dan, you haven't met your little sister yet! Come take a look at her." Seeing Madam Wu bring her son in, Meng felt genuinely pleased. Gou Dan had always been frail, and it was good for his health to get out and walk around a bit. She placed her daughter in the little crib that had been prepared days before, crafted by her second uncle Lin Erlang, who worked odd jobs in town. He was well-connected and agreed readily to make it, delivering it the very next day.

Little Lucky Girl was happily playing, but when she saw the new little face appear, her eyes widened as she stared at Gou Dan. "Sister is so tiny!" Gou Dan leaned over the crib, watching his little sister kicking her legs—she was so cute, so very cute that he could hardly contain himself. "Do you like your little sister, Gou Dan?" Seeing the joy in her son's eyes, Madam Wu was delighted. "I do, Mother—she's so small and soft!" As Lucky Girl smiled at him, Gou Dan reached out, wanting to touch her, but then hesitated, worried about his own health, and drew back his hand.

Meng noticed his gesture and couldn't help but feel tender. This child was too considerate, afraid that his illness might infect Lucky Girl, so he didn't dare even touch her.

"Gou Dan, come and touch your sister. See how happy she is to see her big brother—she's waving her arms and kicking her legs!" With that, Meng guided his hand to Little Lucky Girl, and together they touched her.

In that moment, Gou Dan's world seemed to blossom in spring. Perhaps that was why, when he grew up to be both a devoted brother and an overprotective brother-in-law, Lin Cen made things difficult for a certain someone more than once, making his pursuit of his wife a never-ending journey…

——

In the county town

At the Dining Treasure Pavilion, a young waiter was idling, for it wasn't yet noon and few customers had arrived, making the place relatively quiet. When Lin Sanlang arrived, Lin Erlang was helping the owner settle the accounts. The owner was hands-off, and it was thanks to Lin Erlang's honesty that things ran smoothly—anyone less upright might have taken advantage, but with powerful connections behind the owner, few would dare try.

The two brothers exchanged greetings, and Lin Sanlang explained his purpose. "Second Brother, this is the wild boar I hunted yesterday—it's a bit dark, though," he said, glancing sheepishly at the animal's color. It wasn't his fault; the boar had been struck by lightning.

Lin Erlang was momentarily speechless.

It was certainly odd, but he shrugged it off. "No matter, it's nothing serious. This is good meat—wild game from the mountains, top quality. But you must have worked hard, Third Brother." Looking at the cart piled high with wild boar, Lin Erlang couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for his younger brother, considering the distance from the village. He told the waiter to take the boar away and decided to treat his brother to a meal as a reward.

Lin Sanlang declined after a moment’s thought; he still had to deliver pork to his brother-in-law's shop and chat for a bit, or he'd get home late.

Lin Erlang understood—these mountain roads were dangerous if you returned after dark. He dropped the idea, instead loading up the carriage with the prepared goods for Lin Sanlang to take home. Since he was heading to his brother-in-law's place, Lin Sanlang only took the wild boar and a few other game meats they had readied, then set off.

"Ah, Master Son-in-law, please come in, Young Master is here—" called Meng Zhou, a servant of the Meng family, upon seeing him.

Meng Zhou was an old retainer, having watched Miss Meng grow up and cherishing her dearly, though he had felt pained when she insisted on marrying the country bumpkin Lin Sanlang. Still, as a servant, he could not oppose his master and could only show his care by helping out the Lin family in other ways. Though Miss Meng was not short of money—her two brothers and her father would often secretly send funds—this was his own gesture, hoping her days would be good.

Meng Zhou turned and spoke to the young servant beside him, who hurried off to the back courtyard.

Fine tea was served.

Meng Xuan spoke. "Brother-in-law, you’ve come unexpectedly—could it be that my little sister has given birth?" Seeing Lin Sanlang loaded down with packages, he guessed as much and felt a surge of joy.

"Second Brother, you’re as sharp as ever—Lucky Girl was born just yesterday," Lin Sanlang replied, admiring his brother-in-law's keen eye and attentiveness.

Now, the Meng family was under royal protection. The wealthy Meng Shengze had married Bai Yunyu, the younger sister of the current Prime Minister, Bai Yunguan. When she married Meng Shengze, it had shocked everyone. No matter how her brother threatened and pleaded, and despite her mother’s tears and drama, she insisted on marrying no one but Meng Shengze. Even when the old lady threatened to disown her, she remained resolute. Now, Madam Meng understood all too well what her brother and mother had felt back then.

Meng Xuan waved off the compliment. "No great insight, I just guessed from how brightly you’re smiling. Is Yun doing well? Childbirth is hard on a woman—she needs proper nourishment." Meng Xuan thought of his little sister, raised in comfort and perhaps now, in her vulnerability, secretly weeping. He sighed, thinking of their parents.

"Don’t worry, Second Brother, Yun is recovering well—she’s even put on some weight, and her color is good." Lin Sanlang recalled his wife holding Lucky Girl, refusing to let go, and his heart softened.

Seeing the tenderness in Lin Sanlang’s eyes, and hearing that his sister was well, Meng Xuan could finally relax. "Lucky Girl—so it’s a daughter! Sanlang, what about your mother…" He hesitated, worried that, since Lin Sanlang called her Lucky Girl, she must be a girl, and wondered if his mother might favor boys over girls.

"Second Brother, you needn’t worry. My parents aren’t like that—they dote on Lucky Girl. She’s my daughter, and if anyone tries to harm her, well—" His final words were delivered with a steely edge.

Satisfied with that answer, Meng Xuan sipped his tea in silence.