Click… Click…
In the dim room, the loom produced a rhythmic click-click.
A woman sat before it, her feet tapping in rhythm, her hands shaking in time. The shuttle flew swiftly between the warp and weft, weaving the threads like a bird in flight.
Not far away, in the middle of a large wooden bed about three meters wide, a swaddled infant opened his clear eyes, intently watching the woman weave.
When the woman stopped weaving and washed her hands, she came over to the bed, lifted the baby, checked if he had wet the bed, and, finding he hadn't, kissed him gently.
"You're really sensible, Big Head. Never wet the bed while Mama is weaving."
Perhaps it was because his soul was unusually strong, his head developed faster than his body.
Being a premature baby, his body was slightly smaller than other infants of his age, but his head was noticeably larger. This striking contrast naturally earned him the nickname "Big Head."
Later, Zhenniang retrieved a wooden basin from under the bed, helped him urinate, then lifted her shirt to feed him.
Though she had done this dozens of times before, Qin Yi still felt an inexplicable embarrassment, instinctively closing his eyes as he sucked at his mother's milk.
To distract himself, he focused on his broken game interface.
At this moment, no new functions had appeared; only the "Avatar," "Skill Bar," and "Personal Messages" remained. Yet, progress had been made during this time.
The Skill Bar, which previously held only one skill, "Language, LV1," now had a second skill: "Weaving, LV1."
Earlier, as Qin Yi watched his mother weave, the Personal Message area immediately updated:
"Through prolonged observation of mother weaving, Weaving skill LV1 has slightly improved."
He realized that his previous "pre-sleep summary" assumption was inaccurate; a more precise description would be: "Instant summary upon completing skill learning."
Moreover, with memories from his previous life, a short period of listening or observation was enough to upgrade a skill from LV0 to LV1.
However, after reaching LV1, further progress slowed considerably.
For instance, the Language skill had reached LV1 quickly, but now, despite all this time, it remained at LV1.
This time, during a conscious state, he upgraded the Weaving skill from LV0 to LV1, and Qin Yi discovered something new.
The moment a skill reached LV1, a subtle warm current surged from the top of his spine, slightly enhancing his entire body.
This warm current could effectively alleviate his disproportionate "big head, small body" condition, making his physique more balanced and healthy.
At that moment, the sound of the door opening reached them. Zhenniang teased Qin Yi while casually asking:
"Who's there?"
"Zhenniang, it's me."
"Big Aunt? How come you're here?" Zhenniang responded with surprise, got out of bed, and went to the door.
"You're still in confinement; you shouldn't be exposed to the wind. Go back!" The Big Aunt quickly closed the door behind her.
"Big Aunt, I'm not that fragile," Zhenniang replied. Seeing that the Big Aunt had come with a basket, she frowned.
"Every time you visit, you bring something. How will we dare ask for help next time?"
After the last childbirth, they had offered a precious bolt of cloth as thanks; the Big Aunt had returned a basket of eggs.
Later, noticing Qin Yi's "big head, small body" condition, she brought over their only rooster to check.
After giving some advice, the baby's condition gradually improved.
Today, she had come again with another basket.
If he guessed correctly, inside would be…
The Big Aunt laughed, lifting the cloth covering the basket to reveal seven or eight eggs.
"You know, I'm just an old woman. Eat these eggs while you can; I brought them for Big Head."
She placed the basket on the table and, as if at home, sat by the bed to play with the swaddled infant.
"If you ever need me, just speak up. That bolt of cloth… after so many years as a midwife, it's the first time I've received such a heavy gift. If you asked someone else, wouldn't they benefit?"
Zhenniang sighed.
"Not as exaggerated as you say," she replied. Though the cloth was valuable, it wasn't the most expensive; she'd heard someone once gave the Big Aunt ten taels of silver.
"If you're embarrassed to accept it, think of it as a gift for your Big Head," the Big Aunt said, continuing to play with the infant.
They chatted a while about village affairs before the Big Aunt left.
Shortly after, someone opened the courtyard gate.
"Zhenniang, I'm home." Qin Yong's voice called from outside.
Zhenniang, used to checking the covered windows, saw no sun and couldn't gauge the time. Still, with her husband home, it was nearly dinner.
Since she was in confinement, she couldn't cook, so he had been preparing meals these days.
"And the first two? Haven't returned?"
"When I got home, I shouted towards the east of the village…"
"Father, Mother, we're home!" Two lively voices rang through the yard.
"Hehe, aren't you back yet? You little rascals, come inside; your mother was just calling for you."
The door burst open, and the two mischievous little ones darted in.
"Mother, we're back!"
They rushed to the bed, peering over the edge at the swaddled infant.
"Third Brother's skin is so white!"
"Third Brother's hands are so tiny!"
"Third Brother's head is so big!"
"Why does Third Brother always turn away when he sees us? Strange."
Qin Yi thought: "Being examined and poked by others and yet ignoring them… sounds familiar."
Zhenniang laughed, stroking their hair.
"Your father works so hard and cooks too. Go help him watch the fire."
"Okay." The boys obediently nodded and ran out.
"Father, Mother asked us to help watch the fire."
(End of Chapter)