Chapter 11 Wah… she peed her pants.

Time slipped by in a blink.

At last, the Su brothers were granted permission to see their little sister.

"Dad, she’s so pretty!"
"Dad, she’s so white!"
"Dad, her eyelashes are *so* long!"
...

Old Man Su beamed with pride, watching his sons and grandsons gather around the tiny newborn, marveling like they’d just discovered the sun. For the first time in his life, he felt completely, utterly fulfilled.

"Dad, she’s so *small*!"
Suddenly, Su Liuhu broke in with a voice that stood out from the chorus.

Old Man Su didn’t like it one bit.

"Cut the nonsense! When you were born, you were even smaller—looked like a little mouse!"

"Dad, that’s personal attack!"
Liuhu pouted, wounded.

"Hmph! I’ll say what I want. Got a problem? Suck it up."

Old Man Su tossed his head high, sticking to his role as undisputed patriarch with zero compromise.

"Dad, I’m your *real* son!"
Liuhu cried out, heartbroken.

"Now I’ve got a daughter—what do I need you lousy boys for?"

Old Man Su wrinkled his nose in mock disgust.

"Dad, just call him Little Six. Why drag everyone else into it?"
Su Erhu protested.

"Grandpa, I took a bath today—I’m not stinky!"
Er Pan piped up, his voice still soft and sweet, reminding Old Man Su not to play favorites.

...

Little Tangbao blinked her big, round eyes, utterly bewildered.

Who am I? Where am I? What on earth is going on?

She was stunned.

Wait… all of them are *men*?

Could it be… this whole family only had boys?

That’s… insane. How many kids can one family have?!

Tangbao was struck dumb—literally shocked.

Then her eyes darted around, taking in the scene.

These people… are *poor*.

Look at the clothes—patches piled on top of patches, new ones stitched over old ones, one after another like a patchwork quilt.

Tangbao shivered inwardly, already dreading the hard life ahead.

"Little sister," said Su Liuhu, leaning close to the bed, eyes sparkling. "I’m Six Brother."

Instantly, Tangbao’s gaze locked onto him.

"She looked at me! She looked at me!"
Liuhu squealed in delight.

Erhu saw it and instantly turned sour.

How could he forget to introduce himself first?!
Hadn’t he been the eldest brother?
And now this brat had stolen the spotlight!

"Little sister," Erhu quickly stepped in, lowering his deep voice as much as possible—afraid of scaring the fragile little thing. "I’m Two Brother."

Tangbao’s eyes shifted to him.

Erhu lit up.

Hee-hee. She looked at *me* too!

Big brother Su Dahua, though left behind by his younger siblings, didn’t show it. He was the eldest—he had to keep composure.

"Little sister," he said in his quiet, honest tone. "I’m the oldest. You’ve also got Three Brother, Four Brother, Five Brother."

Tangbao: ……

Where’s the *sister*?

Seriously—where is she?

Is she off scrubbing pots in the kitchen? Feeding pigs in the yard? Digging wild greens in the field?

In an instant, Tangbao’s mind painted a heartbreaking image—tiny, lonely girls, bent under the weight of hardship, soaked in rain and tears.

But then—just as quickly—the picture vanished.

Because Erhu spoke again.

"Sis," he said warmly, "you’re the one our parents waited *years* for. The only daughter our whole family’s ever had."

Sure, now he’d be just another grass blade in the field—but seeing her, his heart melted anyway.

Hearing that, Da Pan raised his small hand eagerly.

"I know! Grandpa named me Da Pan because he was *waiting* for a girl!"

He paused, then added, worried someone might not understand: "Dad told me—we haven’t had a daughter in *generations*."

Tangbao’s heart warmed.

So… maybe I *am* gonna be the favorite?

Newly crowned “favorite baby,” Tangbao wiggled slightly, trying to show off her joy.

Then—*oh no*—a sudden, urgent pressure.

A loud, full-throated cry erupted.

She peed herself.

"Oh no! My little treasure—why are you crying?!"
Old Mrs. Su rushed in, scooping Tangbao into her arms and rocking her gently, heart aching.

This was the first time her daughter had cried like this—and sweat already beaded on her forehead.

She couldn’t stand it. She was frantic. And worse—she was terrified.

After all, babies were so delicate.

Old Man Su, hearing the wail, felt his chest tighten.

"Out! All of you—get out! You’re scaring your sister!"

He shooed his sons and grandsons away like sheep.

Outside, Zhao Chunhua was hanging laundry when she heard the cry. She dropped her clothes and ran inside.

Qian Yuemai, who’d been helping hang clothes, watched her go and sneered.

"Hmph. Brown-noser. Anyone would think it was *her* kid."

With a flick of her wrist, she turned and followed, hips swaying.

"Mama, why’s the little niece crying?" Zhao Chunhua asked, flustered. "Is she hungry?"

Old Mrs. Su was getting on in years—her milk supply wasn’t strong. Zhao Chunhua had been worried about the baby going hungry since day one.

"Probably not," Old Mrs. Su shook her head. "She won’t take the breast."

"Kids cry sometimes—it’s normal," Qian Yuemai drawled, stepping through the curtain with a fake smile. "You two act like it’s the end of the world."

Old Mrs. Su lifted her eyes slowly, fixing Qian Yuemai with a look.

The younger woman froze.

*Right—this woman isn’t someone you mess with.*

"Uh… I just meant… nothing, Mama," Qian Yuemai stammered.

Old Mrs. Su ignored her and returned to soothing the baby.

"Maybe she’s wet?" Zhao Chunhua suggested.

Tangbao’s crying cut off mid-sob.

Then, blurry-eyed, she looked straight at Zhao Chunhua.

Zhao Chunhua: ……

Did she just… *confirm* it?

Could that really be true?

She exchanged a wide-eyed glance with Old Mrs. Su.

Old Mrs. Su set Tangbao down, unswaddled her, and checked—

Sure enough, the diaper was soaked through.

Tangbao stopped crying, but still sniffled, hiccupped, and pouted like a tiny, betrayed angel.

Between them, Old Mrs. Su and Zhao Chunhua quickly changed her into a fresh diaper.

"My little drama queen," Old Mrs. Su chuckled, shaking her head. "Just a little pee—why the big meltdown?"

She reached out and tapped Tangbao’s nose lightly.

Tangbao: ……

She puckered her lips.

Was she being *dramatic*?

No.
She was *embarrassed*.