Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Dimension Three

At over five months old, Ding Xiang's vision has improved significantly. She can now clearly see objects within two to three meters and has developed three-dimensional and color vision.

Finally transitioning from a two-dimensional to a three-dimensional world, her view has shifted from black and white to color, making her surroundings more vibrant and diverse.

Her physical development has also surged forward. Never having been a mother in her previous life, Ding Xiang doesn't know the standard developmental milestones for babies but feels she's progressing faster than usual. She doesn't just wait for her body to develop naturally but actively exercises to enhance her growth.

Her daily routine includes "back massages" for Ding Zhuang with her feet while lying down. Ding Zhuang is delighted, believing his granddaughter, only half a year old, already knows how to show filial piety – far better than Ding Chi, whom he deems disappointing.

When alone, she secretly practices speaking. However, her tongue and throat haven't fully developed, making her words unclear except for "Daddy" and "Mommy."

Of course, she can't speak just yet. She aims to be seen as a bright prodigy, not an abnormality.

She has also clearly seen the faces of her family members.

Ding Qiu closely resembles Ding Zhuang – a round face, small eyes, a small upturned mouth, and a round nose, tall, strong, and dark. Ding Lichun is a child version of his father and grandfather. Ding Liren looks similar but has a slightly whiter complexion, a more prominent nose, and overall, a slightly more refined appearance.

The only difference between Ding Zhuang and his sons and grandsons is his noticeably red nose, a result of heavy drinking since his wife's death, as explained by Ding Qiu.

Zhang Shi is tall and robust with rough facial features and darker skin, but she's always smiling and has a gentle voice, making her approachable and kind.

She's the only woman in the house and works tirelessly from dawn till dusk. Her responsibilities range from cooking, laundry, feeding chickens, cleaning, tending the vegetable garden, sewing, caring for a baby, to finding time to knit for some extra income.

When no one else is around, Ding Xiang spends most of her time on Zhang Shi's back.

This reminds Ding Xiang of a saying her grandmother used to say, "Modern women have it easy but don't appreciate their fortune. Women in the past had endless work as long as they were awake..."

In her previous life, Ding Xiang didn't pay much attention to this saying, but seeing Zhang Shi's hard life, she feels empathetic and resolves to hire help once she's grown up and earning money.

The Ding family has a good habit of brushing their teeth daily, a practice established by Ding Xiang's grandmother.

Ding Xiang is very pleased with this good habit of brushing teeth.

Most villagers have yellow teeth with a noticeable odor.

Ding Qiu mentions that when his mother, Xue Shi, was alive, Ding Zhuang wouldn't even swear.

The Ding family lives in a four-sided courtyard with tile roofs and mud-brick walls. There's a bare apple tree in the front yard, and the backyard is used for growing vegetables.

Ding Zhuang resides in the east room of the main house, Ding Lichun and Ding Liren stay in the west room, and Xue Shi's memorial tablet is in the east side room. Ding Qiu and his family, along with Ding Xiang, live in the east wing. The west wing is left vacant for Ding Chi's family when they visit.

During winter, to save on firewood and stay warm, Ding Lichun and Ding Liren move to the east room to sleep with Ding Zhuang on the same heated brick bed. This room also serves as their living room, where they eat and play.

The courtyard is considered the second best in Bei Quan Village. The Ding family lives comfortably, eating well every day, with meat every two to three days, unlike others who struggle for basic sustenance.

Ding Xiang's diet is even more privileged, alternating between sheep's milk and cow's milk. When milk is unavailable, she gets thick rice porridge sweetened with sugar. Ding Zhuang plans to introduce her to egg steamed in bone broth as she gets older.

Ding Liren eagerly looks forward to his sister growing up. With her small appetite, he often gets to finish her tasty leftovers.

Ding Xiang too longs to grow up quickly, hoping to fulfill the family's dream of eating meat daily.

On the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, the cold wind howls outside, rattling the window paper, interspersed with occasional bird calls.

Wrapped in a floral padded jacket and pants, wearing a lotus leaf-shaped hat, and with a diaper between her legs, Ding Xiang sits cozily on the warm bed.

What's truly warm, though, is her heart.

Despite the scarcity of resources in this era and her limited mobility, she loves her family deeply.

Ding Liren sits in front of Ding Xiang, amusing her with a rattle drum.

Ding Xiang, playing along to entertain herself and alleviate boredom, enthusiastically responds to the toy, shouting and reaching out to grab it.

This delights the little boy, who feels charming and loved by his sister.

To Ding Xiang, the little boy is indeed charming. Chubby and cute, his upturned mouth and tiny eyes that disappear when he smiles add to his comedic appeal.

"Mrs. Zhang enters with a bowl of sheep's milk."

"Having bought a ewe that lambed last month, they no longer need to buy milk externally."

"To remove the gamey taste, almonds and sugar cane were added while cooking the sheep's milk."

"This family gave Ding Xiang the best of what they could offer."

"Enticed by the sweet aroma of the milk, Ding Li Ren salivated and pleaded, 'Mom, grandpa’s not here, can I have a sip, just a little one?'"

"The last time he asked for sheep’s milk, Ding Zhuang overheard and scolded him severely."

"Mrs. Zhang, smiling, fed Ding Li Ren two sips of milk before feeding Ding Xiang."

"Ding Li Ren blissfully squinted his eyes, feeling guilty for taking advantage of his sister, and smiled apologetically at her."

"After drinking a few sips, Ding Xiang pointed at Ding Li Ren, indicating that Mrs. Zhang should give him another sip."

The Ding family had all noticed Ding Xiang's extraordinary intelligence. Zhang smiled, lowered her head to kiss Ding Xiang, then fed Ding Liren half a spoonful.

Ding Liren, with his little pouty mouth, treated the half spoonful as if it were a full one.

Zhang was truly a good woman. Ding Zhuang showed unusual favoritism, for even though Ding Xiang had often scolded and hit Ding Lichun and Ding Liren, Zhang, though heartbroken, never blamed the pseudo-daughter for stealing her biological sons' affection.

She truly regarded Ding Xiang as her own daughter.

It's said that the psychological shadows cast by one's original family take a lifetime to heal. Having lived in this home for only a few months, her initial repulsion and distrust towards blood relatives had vanished. She was embracing their love and opening her heart to love them back, treating them as her true family.

Only the images of the princess's mother and another brother grew more indistinct. She feared that by the time she could hold a pen, capturing those blurred faces would be impossible.

The detestable face of Nanny Li remained clear in her mind. Ding Xiang feared forgetting, so she thought of it several times a day. She also firmly remembered several key names...

Just after finishing the goat milk, the courtyard door started knocking.

Zhang said with a smile, "Your father and the others are back from the county town."

Ding Liren slid off the kang and ran to open the door.

Footsteps echo into the room, and Ding Lichun announces loudly, "Grandpa bought a jadeite bracelet and silver lock for sister at the Fulai Silver Shop, and also got some braised pig's head meat."

Ding Zhuang pauses his steps, resisting the urge to go to his daughter-in-law's room to see his granddaughter. He instructs, "Bring Xiang Xiang to the main room."

Zhang Shi wraps Ding Xiang in a blanket and carries her to the eastern room of the main house.

The kang in the eastern room is exceptionally large, taking up half of the room.

In the afternoon, Zhang Shi heats the kang, and everyone sits on the warm and cozy bed-stove.

Expressing gratitude for the reward from Song Amei and the support and monthly tickets from readers. Following a reader's suggestion, the character Ding An's name has been corrected to Ding Chi as it was the same as his mother's. Apologies for the oversight.