After confirming to stay with the Qi Family and become a daughter of the fourth house, Yi Meng thought of something very important.
Manbao's household registration issue.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Qi immediately slapped her thigh: "Right, right, Meng Niang, you're absolutely right. Old man, hurry and take our fourth to find the village chief; we have to get Manbao's household registration sorted."
Mr. Qi Sr. stopped smoking at once, knocked the ash out of his pipe, stood up, and called on Qi Quanjin to go see the village chief.
Even though Qi Manman was only four years old, she was very well-behaved and didn't cry or fuss during her three days with the Qi Family.
Moreover, Mrs. Qi instructed the whole family to keep their mouths shut for these three days and not to say a word outside, so even the neighbors nearby didn't know that the Qi Family had another little baby.
When they arrived at the village chief's house, the village chief was dumbfounded: "What? Your family has a new child? Which daughter-in-law gave birth? How come I never heard you mention it before?"
"Hehe, Uncle, she's a distant relative from my wife's maternal family, who was adopted by us. Their family faced hardships and couldn't make a living, so they asked us to take Manbao in and raise her."
Qi Quanjin smiled sheepishly.
Beside him, Mr. Qi Sr. also said, "That's right, that's how it is. Old friend, we have to trouble you with this. Once it's done, I'll treat you to a drink."
Mr. Qi Sr. was all smiles, and anyone could see he was genuinely happy.
Seeing this father and son's cheerful demeanor, the village chief couldn't help but chuckle: "Alright, you have a house full of boys; it's good to have a girl now. What's her name? I'll note it down and take care of the registration in the county tomorrow morning."
"Her name is Manbao!"
Qi Quanjin hurriedly replied.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, he was kicked by his own father: "Fool, he's asking for Manbao's formal name!"
After scolding his son, Mr. Qi Sr. smiled and said to the village chief: "Qi Manman, as in full of blessings."
"Qi Manman? Hmm, good name."
The village chief took out the village records and noted down Qi Manman's name.
Having settled the issue of the household registration, the father and son left happily.
As they passed through the village, some curious villagers asked what they went to see the village chief for, and the father and son, with no intent to hide, proudly announced: Their Qi Family has a granddaughter now!
The Qi Family has a granddaughter!
This news sent ripples through the small village.
Everyone knew that the Qi Family seemed cursed when it came to having babies. One boy after another, and no girls in sight.
In the third generation, all Qi Family names ended with 'Lang,' and now they had ten 'Langs' from Dalang to Shilang, without a single girl in between.
"Tsk tsk, the old Qi Family is really something. Can't have their own, so they bring one back."
"Who doesn't say! Boys can enter the family register and get the land, but what's the point of having a girl? She can't farm or carry on the family name, and they're just acting like fools with joy."
"Sigh, you don't understand, the old Qi Family just wanted a girl. Now that they've got their wish, they're bound to be over the moon!"
The villagers chatted away, but the Qi father and son seemed oblivious, proudly making their way home.
Upon entering the courtyard, they saw their precious Manbao squatting on the ground, watching ants carrying food with the equally four-year-old Qi Shilang.
"Manbao, Daddy's home!"
Qi Quanjin, upon seeing his precious little daughter, beamed with joy, raising his voice more than usual.
Qi Manman turned her head, and when she saw her grandpa and dad returning, she immediately trotted over on her chubby legs.
Qi Quanjin, delighted, quickly opened his arms to pick up his daughter, but unexpectedly, the little one made a quick turn and directly hugged Mr. Qi Sr.'s leg.
"Grandpa, Manbao missed you so much!"
Qi Manman looked up, blinking at Mr. Qi Sr., looking so adorable.
Mr. Qi Sr. was initially unhappy that his fourth son had loudly garnered his granddaughter's attention, but now seeing his little granddaughter come straight to him, his heart melted entirely.
Holding his little granddaughter, Mr. Qi Sr. laughed and said: "Manbao missed Grandpa, huh? Grandpa missed Manbao too."
Qi Manman let the old man's big hands caress her face before saying: "Grandpa, the ants are moving house!"
"Uh-huh, the ants are moving house."
Mr. Qi Sr. laughed and concurred, not thinking there was anything odd about it.
Unexpectedly, Qi Manman frowned: "Grandpa, when ants move house, doesn't that mean it's going to rain?"
"What?"
Mr. Qi Sr. was bewildered.
Just then, Mrs. Qi, coming out of the kitchen, was equally stunned upon hearing this.
"Manbao, you can't say things like that. We're just about to harvest; if it rains, all our hard work for the year would be for nothing."
Mrs. Qi wiped her hands on her apron: "Quick, do like Grandma and spit on the ground a few times."
Saying that Mrs. Qi indeed spat on the ground several times.
After that, she clasped her hands together and prayed to the heavens: "Oh heavens, she's just a child, she's just a child. Please, don't take it to heart. Our farmer's hard work of the year rests on these few days; it can't afford to rain!"
Qi Zheng didn't stop his wife's antics but patiently asked Qi Manman: "Sweetie, tell Grandpa, is it really going to rain?"
Qi Manman scratched her head, glanced at the direction where the ants were moving, and then nodded: "Mm! When ants move house, it rains the next day, and it's a big rain."
"Oh my dear little one, please don't say that again!"
Mrs. Qi was almost in tears, lightly patting Qi Manman's little bottom: "Quick, spit a few more times!"
"Grandma, spitting won't help!"
Qi Manman pouted, looking all wronged: "Grandma, you don't like rain? If you don't, Manbao can ask Grandpa Dragon King to stop the rain."
As soon as she said this, the two elders and Qi Quanjin stood there stunned.
None of them expected a four-year-old to say something like this.
Talk to Grandpa Dragon King—why doesn't she say she's going to talk to the Jade Emperor up in heaven?
"Dad, Mom, Brother Jin, what are you all talking about?"
Yi Meng walked in carrying a wooden basin of clothes.
Having sweated in the sun, strands of hair stuck to her temples.
Her cheeks were flushed, but her eyes and eyebrows were full of smiles.
"Wife, wife, our Manbao, she, she…" seems like she might be slow.
Qi Quanjin restrained himself from finishing the sentence.
Can't say that; a daughter obtained so hard can't be called slow.
"What's with Manbao?"
Yi Meng was startled, quickly stepping in.
The wooden basin in her hand almost flew out.