Reborn in the 80s: My Whole Family Secretly Hears My Thoughts and Goes Wild with Success! - Chapter 12

“You child! Such a big thing as premature birth, and you didn’t tell us? Not even a word about the baby’s xisān? If Xiao Yue hadn’t called us, we’d still be in the dark!” Li Shuying’s eyes reddened as she scolded Shen Zhiqiu.

“Second Uncle, Auntie, I’m sorry.” Zhiqiu’s nose stung with unshed tears.

She had wanted to tell them—but she feared worrying them. And the journey here would’ve been exhausting for them.

“Don’t blame her.”

Ye Yunlin, a man of few words, stepped forward and patted Zhiqiu’s shoulder. “What matters is she’s safe now.”

“But this is serious!” Li Shuying insisted. “Do you take us for outsiders? Keeping all your hardships to yourself—how would we know if you don’t speak up?”

She understood Zhiqiu’s stubbornness too well. Her sternness was laced with heartache.

“Mom, come see the baby first! She’s gorgeous—I’ve never seen such a beautiful newborn.” Ye Jiawen deftly defused the tension.

At twenty-six and unmarried, Jiawen had been hovering near Yue Guohuai with her younger brother Jiawu, both utterly smitten with their tiny niece.

“Let me have a look.”

Li Shuying softened at once, lifting Yaya from Yue Guohuai’s arms. Her face melted into tenderness. “Oh, what a precious doll!”

“She’s the spitting image of Zhiqiu as a baby. Look at these eyes, this little mouth…”

Her voice thickened with nostalgia. “Time flies. Feels like yesterday I was holding Zhiqiu, and now here’s her daughter.”

Ye Yunlin nodded, blinking rapidly at the infant in his wife’s arms.

After the families exchanged greetings, Li Shuying finally noticed the absence. “Where’s Shen Daqiang?”

“How could he miss his granddaughter’s xisān?”

“Second Uncle, Auntie, having you here is enough.” Zhiqiu meant it. She’d long stopped expecting anything from her nominal father.

The man had ceased being “Dad” the moment he moved Wang Fengqin and Shen Liya into their home—before her mother’s hundred-day mourning period ended.

Her only regret was realizing it too late, nearly mistaking that venomous woman for family.

Mom, I failed you.

[Grandpa hasn’t visited Mom once!]

[That old witch even tried poisoning Mom’s congee with harmful herbs!]

[She also cut up Grandma’s clothes, claiming she’d sew them into outfits for me—Mom was furious!]

[Grandpa and that witch are evil! Always bullying Mom!]

Yaya’s tiny fists shook with rage, as if she could will herself into a superhero to vanquish every villain hurting her mother.

Li Shuying and Ye Yunlin exchanged stunned glances, silently confirming they’d both heard the baby’s thoughts.

Then came the fury.

They’d known stepfamilies bred neglect—but this was monstrous!

And Shen Daqiang allowed it?!

Suppressing their anger for now, they focused on the ceremony.

“No point waiting for him,” Ye Yunlin declared. Though reserved, he wielded quiet authority when it mattered.

“Let’s begin.” Yue Guohuai rose, the family following in order of seniority.

One by one, they added spoonfuls of water to the basin—the “tianpen” (adding basin) ritual. Traditionally, gold trinkets, coins, or auspicious fruits like dates and lychees would be included for blessings.

Wan Jiayin stirred the water with a wooden pestle, chanting well-wishes.

Then came Yaya’s bath.

As the baby was a girl, the men withdrew, leaving only the women.

Wan Jiayin held Yaya while Li Shuying undressed her.

The moment cool air—and colder water—touched her skin, Yaya wailed.

The room erupted in smiles. A crying baby wasn’t taboo; it was lucky, symbolizing a “resounding basin” (xiangpen).

Next, they lit an artemisia leaf bundle, placed it on a ginger slice, and hovered it above Yaya’s forehead for a mock moxibustion.

A comb glided through nonexistent hair before an egg rolled over her cheeks for purity.

Once swaddled, Wan Jiayin lightly tapped Yaya’s bundle three times with a scallion stalk:

First tap for wisdom,
Second for cleverness,

Later, she’d toss this scallion onto their rooftop—a wish for Yaya to grow “brilliant beyond measure” (congming jue ding).

Finally, gold and silver trinkets were tucked into the swaddle, invoking future prosperity.

…

Post-ceremony, the Yue family tactfully excused themselves, leaving Zhiqiu with her maternal relatives.

They’d barely begun talking when the door banged open.

Shen Daqiang and Wang Fengqin barged in, trailed by Shen Liya and her brother Shen Xiang.

“Well, well! Second Brother, Sister-in-Law! When’d you arrive?”

Shen Daqiang’s slurred words reeked of alcohol. He swayed, barely able to stand.

“You should’ve come to our home first! I’d have hosted you properly!” He collapsed onto the sofa with a thud.

Wang Fengqin simpered, “Yes, we’d have arranged a welcome—”

Li Shuying sidestepped her advance, icy. “Unnecessary. We’re Xiaoshuang’s family. With her gone, we’ve no ties to your household.”

“We’re here for Zhiqiu and Yaya. The rest of you?” She paused. “Irrelevant.“

“Mom, why grovel to these peasants?” Shen Liya yanked Wang Fengqin back, sneering at the Ye family.

“Backwater nobodies. Even breathing the same air as them is disgusting.”

“Out.” Zhiqiu pointed to the door, her voice steel. “How dare you speak to my family like that!”

“Who do you think you are?!” Liya shrieked. “You popped out a girl and suddenly you’re royalty?”

“Mark my words—Yue Mingyuan will dump you like Chen Can did once the novelty wears off!”

CRACK!

Ye Jiawen’s palm struck Liya’s cheek before anyone could blink.

“You—!” Liya clutched her face, stunned. No one had ever dared hit her.

“Oh, we know you sabotaged Zhiqiu and Chen Can!” Jiawen hissed.