Journey to the West: The Immortal Clan Begins by Feeding Monkeys at Five Elements Mountain

Chapter 12 A Daughter Arrives

It was rare to find such tranquility in the Jiang family's courtyard.

Even the old hens that crow all day seemed to know what was going on; they clucked a couple of times and then obediently went back to their nests.

Within just a few days, there was movement from Liu Xiulian's side.

First, my waist tightened in waves, then it slowly stretched down to my lower abdomen, feeling heavy and dull, and I felt like I was sinking down.

Jiang Yi glanced at it and knew it was time.

Even though this is my third pregnancy and I've seen all the kinds of situations that come with it, I still couldn't help but feel weak in the knees when the moment actually arrived.

He repeatedly said "Quickly," and told Jiang Ming to go to the end of the village to report the news.

As expected, Aunt Niu didn't keep anyone waiting. She arrived as fast as the wind, carrying the black wooden box used for childbirth.

Upon entering, he glanced at Liu Xiulian a few times and nodded, saying:
"I can feel the baby moving, it's coming soon. Your baby is coming on a steady schedule."

Despite her advanced age, she is still quite agile.

He is calm and efficient when directing people.

The first two boys were born smoothly, and this time there were no mishaps either.

Inside the room came Liu Xiulian's low panting, as if she was suppressing pain and couldn't bear to utter a single cry.

Then I heard Aunt Niu urging, "Just one more breath... Okay, just one more breath..."

Then, suddenly a clear cry rang out.

Like the first chick to hatch in the yard in early spring, its chirping is so crisp and clear that it brightens the sky by half.

Aunt Niu carried the tiny, rosy-cheeked baby out of the house.

A smile graced his face, and his brows and eyes relaxed.
"Mother and daughter are safe and sound. It's a girl, just like her mother. She's well-behaved and has a blessed appearance."

Jiang Yi stood at the door, looking at the wrinkled little bundle of flesh. The weight that had been hanging over his heart finally lifted with a thud.

I don't know if it was the warm wind or my heart that made me feel relaxed, but I felt a smile spread across my face.

When I first heard Aunt Niu say that this girl was lively and energetic, and would grow up to be healthy and free from illness and disaster, I was told that she would be strong and healthy.

Jiang Yi took it as the midwife's usual auspicious words, hoping for good luck.

He agreed outwardly, but didn't really take it seriously.

After all, the newborn baby was as soft as an uncooked steamed bun, and you couldn't tell how strong it was.

But when he actually took it, his arm felt heavy, and he was taken aback.

This little guy looks light and airy, but he actually has a lot of strength hidden in his body.

Her hands and feet were kicking very fast, her little fists were clenched tightly, and she was yelling all the while kicking.

Although the voice was soft, it had a clear and persistent quality.

Jiang Yi's heart stirred involuntarily.

This isn't his first time being a father; he can remember what his two sons looked like when they were first born, even with his eyes closed.

It was truly soft, truly weak, truly without any strength at all.

Now, a comparison reveals the difference.

His face still bore the calm and deep expression of an old father, but his heart was already pounding with anxiety.

This girl seems to have been reincarnated with incredible strength.

After careful consideration, I began to vaguely find some clues.

From the moment she became pregnant, Liu Xiulian practiced that breathing technique every day under her guidance.

At first, I only wanted to recuperate.

Unexpectedly, the more one practices this skill, the more amazing its effects become.

Liu Xiulian's body became stronger day by day, and she no longer had the weakness she used to have. Even her complexion became much rosier.

This time, the delivery was incredibly easy compared to the previous two.

It seems that while the child was in the mother's womb, it was influenced by its mother's every breath and breath, and the two became connected.

Being exposed to this kind of fumes day and night, one's bones become stronger even before the person is born.

As these thoughts swirled in and out of his mind, Jiang Yi's heart began to warm up.

If that breathing method is truly so profound, even infants in the womb can benefit from it and have their constitution altered.

If one practices from the time they begin to speak.

Whether it's muscles and bones or breath, wouldn't that solidify things from the very foundation?

If this continues, when the youngest daughter grows up, gets married, and has a grandson, her abilities will be even better... Water drips from the eaves, passed down from generation to generation.

Following this logic, if we trace the family line down, wouldn't every child be burly and exceptionally gifted?

The idea seemed rather far-fetched at first glance.

But when it came to Jiang Yi's mind, he didn't find it absurd; instead, he felt a glimmer of hope.

Just as he was lost in thought about being 800 miles away, the little girl in his arms twisted and kicked with her little feet.

Aunt Niu, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it any longer, so she coughed and said:
"Don't just sit there grinning like an idiot. Now that you have a baby, it's time to name him. Don't call him something that doesn't sound familiar."

Jiang Yi was taken aback, then came to his senses.

Our family doesn't pay attention to generational names or naming conventions, nor do we bother with elaborate genealogies or ancestral hall names.

Just for the sake of a loud and auspicious sound.

Looking at the girl from left to right, she was born lively and energetic, and her cries were loud and cheerful.

Looking at her two older brothers, one bright and the other shrewd, she had an idea.

"Let's call her 'Jiang Xi'."

The name, consisting of three characters, is considered auspicious and carries a sense of glory.

With the name settled, a warm breeze caressed the face in the courtyard, chicks flapped their wings and jumped high in the corner, willow branches sprouted new leaves, and the mountain scenery softened a bit.

Jiang Yi looked down at the small, red, and wrinkled bundle in his arms.

But she kept kicking her legs, as if she was not convinced, whining and groaning, struggling and wriggling.

The corners of her eyes unconsciously curved into a smile, a smile rising from the bottom of her heart, even brightening the shadows in the room.

He pulled out an oil paper package from under the cabinet. It contained two hundred coins, a real sum of money prepared in advance, wrapped in red paper. It felt heavy and festive.

She stuffed the money into Aunt Niu's hand; it was a lucky money gift. The old midwife didn't refuse it and just accepted it with a smile.

He said a few more auspicious words like "Good fortune is coming to your door" and "May your family prosper," then shouldered the wooden box and left.

Once everyone leaves, only family members remain in the house.

Liu Xiulian was still in bed, leaning against the pillows, her face slightly pale, but her expression serene.

When she saw him looking at her, she smiled gently, like a spring breeze brushing against a peach branch, so tender and gentle.

Meanwhile, the baby was wrapped in swaddling clothes.

It kicks its calves, curls its fingers, and has a bit of milk foam on the corner of its mouth, looking both comical and pitiful.

When a new member joins the family, there are always some days to wait.

The two sons had worn Liu Xiulian down to her physique, and Jiang Yi himself had become as thin as a stick.

Fortunately, I've built up a stronger foundation now, so I can stay up all night.

I can't sleep soundly at night; someone has to stay with me.

When a child cries, before the roosters even crow, you have to get up and comfort them.

Jiang Yi looked at Xiulian, his mind only thinking that after she finished her postpartum confinement, he would have to pass on that skill to her.

Breathing exercises nourish the internal organs, while stance training cultivates the external.

One governs qi and blood, the other strengthens muscles and bones; only by training them together can you truly build a solid foundation for your body.

Go back to Doctor Li and get a prescription for a gentle, nourishing medicinal bath.

The whole family takes turns soaking in the water, which makes their muscles and bones relaxed, their internal organs in harmony, and prevents them from getting sick.

As the thought crossed his mind, Jiang Yi couldn't help but feel a sinking feeling in his heart.

The medicinal herbs used for medicinal baths and the supplementary foods for practicing standing meditation are all expensive.

The family's savings are running out.

Xiulian needed to take all sorts of nourishing soups and medicines during her postpartum confinement, including chicken, duck, fish, and meat. She couldn't skimp on any of them, because if she developed any health problems, it would be a lifelong issue.

Besides, there's this newborn baby girl; everything she eats, wears, and uses, from head to toe, costs money.

Jiang Yi touched the little head; it was soft and warm.

"To make money..."

He sighed softly.

Whether it's the past life or this life, we can't escape these two words in the end.

(End of this chapter)