Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Concealment

Ding Li Ren sincerely complimented, "My sister is so pretty, like the flowers outside."

Ding Zhuang was very pleased with his second grandson's comment, nodding in agreement.

Ding Li Chun boasted with pride, "She's even more beautiful than Wang Er's daughter in town. In the future, my sister will be the most beautiful woman in Gu'an Town."

Ding Zhuang scolded his eldest grandson, "What nonsense are you spouting! Comparing my granddaughter to the landlord Wang's daughter and calling her the beauty of Gu'an Town. Asking for a beating."

Ding Li Chun, realizing his flattery had backfired, pouted and stayed silent.

Ding Li Ren then praised, "My sister will be the most beautiful woman in Jiaodong Province."

Ding Zhuang was also not entirely pleased with this compliment, "She's so young, it’s not appropriate to call her a beauty yet."

Ding Li Ren quickly corrected himself, "My sister is a flower, the most beautiful flower in Jiaodong Province."

This finally pleased Ding Zhuang, "Heh, indeed."

Ding Xiang smiled with her little mouth, thinking her young brother was quite the expert at flattery.

The whole family was lively and amusing.

But the fun turned sour as she unexpectedly soiled herself. The diaper wasn’t secured properly, and a bit of yellowish poop leaked onto Ding Zhuang.

Ding Xiang pouted. It was embarrassing to soil herself in front of several men.

Ding Li Chun sniffed and announced, "Sister has pooped, it stinks."

His comment about the smell wasn't due to an actual odor but more out of habit to add "stinks" after mentioning poop.

Mrs. Zhang quickly took Ding Xiang aside to clean her and change the diaper.

Ding Zhuang, displeased, slapped Ding Li Chun and bellowed, "Baby poop doesn’t stink! Speak nonsense again, and I’ll whip you with my shoe."

He wiped the poop off his pants and brushed his clothes, ready to scold Ding Li Chun further, who, frightened, quickly stepped back.

Ding Li Ren quickly interjected, "My sister's poop doesn't stink, it's fragrant."

He had just climbed over his sister and actually smelled a faint fragrance, along with the aroma of the roasted chicken wrapped in lotus leaves in the large basket.

Ding Li Chun, angered, turned away and glared at his brother, silently threatening to beat him when no one was looking.

Ding Li Ren pretended not to notice. He was so pleasing today; surely his grandfather would reward him with an extra piece of chicken. Compared to a beating and more chicken, he preferred the latter.

Ding Zhuang added, "You are her brothers; you must treat her well in the future. Give her the best food, don’t bully or scare her. If anyone dares to bully her, fight back. If you can't, come to me."

Both brothers responded with an "Oh" and nodded seriously. Even without their grandfather's instructions, they would have done so, especially Ding Li Chun, who even shook his fist as a gesture.

An old man and two young boys eagerly watched Mrs. Zhang re-diaper Ding Xiang and place her back in Ding Zhuang's arms.

Ding Li Ren chuckled, "Hehe, sister doesn't have a pee-pee."

Ding Li Chun finally found a retort, looking down on him, "Silly. If she had a pee-pee, she wouldn't be a sister; she’d be a brother."

Ding Zhao frowned and said, "You’re boys, you shouldn't look at a girl peeing, let alone talk about it." He then said to Mrs. Zhang, "Be more careful with them around in the future."

Ding Xiang felt humiliated, seen by the boys and then discussed publicly.

Ding Zhuang, absorbed in his granddaughter, didn’t catch their conversation, his eyes glued to her. He muttered, "Big eyes, double eyelids, an oval face, a pointed chin, fair skin, she looks gentle and virtuous at first glance... She resembles An An in every way.

"I used to wonder why all my descendants looked so much like the Ding family, not very attractive. Now at last, there’s someone who looks like An An, so pretty. My daughter-in-law is capable, I’ll buy a gold hairpin for her from the county town with five taels of silver tomorrow."

This was the largest reward Mrs. Zhang had received since marrying into the Ding family. She became even more anxious, exchanging a guilty look with Ding Zhao and then lowering her head.

She worried about how disappointed her father-in-law would be once he learned Xiang Xiang wasn’t his biological granddaughter.

Ding Xiang thought it impossible to resemble her grandmother An An. What were the odds? Her grandfather's description of her was a generic description of a beauty. Both she and her grandmother An An were considered beautiful, and in this family of rugged looks, that resemblance was enough.

After his initial joy, Ding Zhuang smelled the medicine on Ding Xiang and became displeased.

Frowning in displeasure, Ding Zhuang reprimanded, "Is the child sick? Letting such a small baby fall ill, how do you care for a child!"

His mood turned sour immediately.

Ding Zhao gave Mrs. Zhang a signal, indicating he needed to speak privately with his father.

Mrs. Zhang smiled, "I'll go cook in the kitchen."

Ding Li Chun said, "Aunt Xia Liu has already come and prepared dinner – cornbread and spinach egg-drop soup."

With Mrs. Zhang away and no one to do the household chores, the Ding family paid Aunt Xia Liu to cook dinner every day and wash clothes every ten days. During the day, Ding Li Chun was at school in town, and Ding Li Ren played with Ding Zhuang at the forge.

Mrs. Zhang replied, "I'll go fry some eggs and dried tofu, and we bought roasted chicken for you and grandpa to enjoy with your drinks."

As she spoke, she stuffed a piece of candied fruit into each child’s mouth and pulled them outside.

Left alone in the room with his grandfather and daughter, Ding Zhao thought for a moment and then said, "Before Zhi Niang gave birth, she dreamed of a courtyard full of blooming flowers with an intoxicating fragrance. Soon after, she fell ill, and when the child was born, she carried the same fragrance as in her dream. That’s why I named her Ding Xiang."

Seeing his father’s fondness for Xiang Xiang and the endless longing for his mother, he decided to bury the secret forever. Let his elderly father find happiness again; Xiang Xiang would be happier in this family too.

Ding Xiang was startled, thinking Ding Zhao was going to reveal to the old man that the child was found.

She had felt some regret previously; it was rare to see a grandfather so doting on his granddaughter, but she thought she wasn’t fortunate enough to have it. She also felt sorry for the old man, knowing he would be heartbroken and disappointed if he learned she wasn’t his biological granddaughter and that her resemblance to An An was just his imagination.

Ding Zhao must have decided to hide the truth, seeing how much his father adored her.

"Xiang Xiang naturally has a fragrance?"

Ding Zhuang’s eyes widened in shock, his mouth gaping wide enough to fit an egg, and his beard trembled along with his facial muscles.

Ding Zhao nodded, unwrapped Ding Xiang from her blanket, and removed the small sachet tied to her clothes.

"I was worried that Xiang Xiang's unique trait might attract unwanted attention, so I made these medicinal pills and hung them on her to suppress the fragrance."

Ding Zhuang leaned down to sniff Ding Xiang, indeed detecting a faint fragrance.

His heart filled with both bitterness and joy, Ding Zhuang took a long time before raising his head.

He murmured, "Xiang Xiang is like An An, both extraordinary women. I failed An An; she never enjoyed a day of happiness with me and died so young. You must treat Xiang Xiang well, be gentle and caring, ensuring she doesn't fall sick or feel wronged."

Ding Zhao smiled, "Of course, we won't let her be wronged. Remember, Dad, for Xiang Xiang's sake, we mustn’t let anyone know about her fragrance. We’ll keep the medicinal pills on her every day. If anyone with a keen sense of smell detects the fragrance, we’ll say it's from the pills..."

Ding Zhuang retorted, "Nonsense, do you think I'm stupid? Of course, I won't tell anyone."

Thank you to Song A Mei, sienachan, and Shui Zhong De Fu Ping for the rewards, and thank you to Ning Jing, Xue Xia Feng Shu, 20190504095204590, and Wen Shu Xie Yi for the monthly tickets. Thank you all for your support.