Becoming the Villain's Discarded Wife
Chapter 60 Dog... Zhiyu!_1

Chapter 60: Chapter 60 Dog... Zhiyu!_1

It was only the time it took to make breakfast when word of Gougou’s formal name had already spread throughout Lihua Village.

As Nanzhi was just bringing breakfast to the main room, she heard someone knocking at the door.

"Who is it?"

As soon as the courtyard door opened, there was already a crowd of people at the entrance.

"Madam, what’s all this?"

The visitors were not only the third-generation ladies of Liu’s family but also Aunt Guihua, Shen Miaomiao, Ms. Sun, and the women from Madame Qin’s household.

"Girl, what’s this all about?"

Seeing the worried look on Mrs. Liu’s face, Nanzhi was startled.

What’s wrong with me?

Should be nothing, right?

Before she could speak, a group of people had already entered the main room, each finding a comfortable spot in the territory to sit down.

"Girl, if you’re in any trouble, tell us, don’t do anything foolish."

"Exactly, you’re now the heroine of our Lihua Village, if there’s anything we can help with, just ask."

"Right, Sister Nanzhi, whatever it is, just tell me, don’t bear it all by yourself."

Nanzhi found Shen Miaomiao’s earnest concern a bit amusing—what excitement was this young girl joining in?

"Madam, what are you talking about?" Nanzhi asked as she poured water for the women.

"Girl, I heard from Gougou that you’ve given him a formal name?" Mrs. Liu was the first to speak up.

"Yes, there are too many kids named Gougou in the village, and I was worried that it would be hard to find him if he went off to play," Nanzhi felt a bit odd; how did everyone know that she had just named Gougou?

"What did you call him?"

"Shen Zhiyu."

The group of women all fell silent for a moment upon hearing the name. It was customary in the village for nicknames to be casually chosen by the family, and formal names were often things like Dashan or Wealth Guardian; or the child might simply be called ’Second’, ’Third’, according to their birth order in the family.

The name Nanzhi had chosen for Gougou was indeed lovely.

"The name does sound nice," Miaomiao nodded, only to be glared at by Aunt Guihua.

"It obviously sounds nice," the young girl pouted, daring not to say any more.

"Girl, while the name you picked is pretty, Gougou is still too young, and I’m afraid he might not be able to live up to such a big name," Mrs. Qin cautioned.

"Exactly, Sister Lin, Gougou isn’t even four years old yet. If he can’t live up to his formal name, it’s not good for the child," Ms. Sun said, looking at Nanzhi’s unconcerned demeanor and feeling worried.

There had been cases in the village where families named their barely three-year-old children formal names, only for those children to be unable to live up to the blessings and sadly passed away at the age of five.

Nanzhi, seeing them all looking towards her, chuckled awkwardly before saying, "With the state my household is in now, I’m afraid we don’t have any blessings to live up to."

Hearing Nanzhi’s words, they all exchanged glances — although her remark was a bit distasteful, it was the hard truth.

"Girl, don’t blame us for being nosy, we’re just worried about you," Mrs. Qin said and gently patted Nanzhi’s hand.

"Mom! I’m back!" Shen Zhiyu, the little kid, burst through the courtyard door, his snow-white Xiaomi teeth shining brightly.

As he pushed open the door and saw a group of people inside looking at him, Shen Zhiyu was stunned, and his smile suddenly froze on his face.

"Gougou... Zhiyu, you’re back?" Noticing the awkward atmosphere, Shen Miaomiao quickly stretched out her hand in greeting.

"Ah, Auntie, hello Auntie," Gougou brushed off the dirt from his clothes before shyly calling out to her.

"Good morning, Grandma Liu, Grandma Qin, Aunt Sun..." Once the little one had greeted everyone by name, their furrowed brows finally relaxed a bit.

"Girl, it’s not that we’re meddling and won’t let you give your child a formal name; it’s just that he’s still too young. There was a child in the village before, who got a formal name at three, and he passed away just as he turned five."

Aunt Guihua looked at the little one with eyes full of affection. Her grandkids were all as naughty as monkeys, but every time she saw Nanzhi’s child, she felt happy inside.

"Aunt Guihua, may I ask, how did that child pass away?" Nanzhi reached out to wipe the dust from Shen Zhiyu’s face.

"This..." Aunt Guihua hesitated and looked towards Ms. Qin, as she only heard the story and wasn’t clear about the details of the child’s death.

"I remember he died of typhoid fever," Ms. Qin said with a slight frown, carefully recalling what had happened to that family.

Nanzhi continued to inquire, "What month was it?"

"Let me think... I remember it was in September when he died."

Upon hearing Ms. Qin’s response, Nanzhi nodded in understanding. September marked the beginning of autumn, which was indeed a season prone to catching colds and fevers. Little children were especially vulnerable, and a chill could lead to colds and fevers. Those with stronger bodies might recover, but the weaker children were at risk of succumbing.

It wasn’t that a young child couldn’t bear the weight of a formal name; perhaps the child had just fallen ill and didn’t make it through, coincidentally after being given a formal name.

After Nanzhi’s series of questions, everyone in the room began to feel that something was amiss.

At the start of September, any child could easily catch a cold. Indeed, each year in the village, there were children who died from cold-related illnesses...

"Ms. Qin, I know you’re worried about me and Zhiyu, but I’ve always been someone who doesn’t believe in fate. Otherwise, after losing my husband and my in-laws, I would have feared that both my child and I would have left this world. I don’t believe in fate; I have to raise Zhiyu properly. Otherwise, I would be letting them down," Nanzhi said, her eyes gradually reddening. "I believe their spirits in heaven will also protect us, mother and son, from any harm."

Since Nanzhi had put it that way, what need was there for them to try to persuade her any further?

"If you need anything, just tell us," Grandma Liu said, holding Nanzhi’s hand before leaving.

"Eh, I will, I know," Nanzhi replied.

Watching the group leave, Shen Miaomiao trailed behind and quietly said to Nanzhi, "Sister Nanzhi, the formal name you chose for Gougou is really nice. Later on, pick one for my child too..."

Before she could finish, Aunt Guihua yanked her out by her ear.

"You silly girl, have you no shame!"

Listening to the commotion outside, Nanzhi smiled and wiped away her non-existent tears.

Grandma Liu and the others came to advise her because they cared for her. Who else would go out of their way to say anything?

Catching a glimpse of the little one preparing to sneak away, Nanzhi grabbed his collar in one swift move.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

Shen Zhiyu fiddled with his small hands and chuckled nervously.

"Mom, I was wrong."

"What did you do wrong?" Nanzhi asked.

The little one hesitated, stumbling over his words for a while before saying, "I... I shouldn’t have told everyone I have a formal name."

Patting his little head, Nanzhi smiled and said, "You’re wrong. The mistake you made wasn’t telling people; it’s that you didn’t tell me before you went out. That would make Mom worry."

Shen Zhiyu’s eyes brightened as he looked at his mother.

"So you’re not mad at me for telling everyone?"

Nanzhi tilted her head in confusion before asking, "Aren’t names meant to be known by others?"

"I love Mom the most!" The little one grinned, hugging and nuzzling against Nanzhi.

"Alright, enough of that. Go wash your hands and eat. After dinner, change your clothes; otherwise, I’m going to spank you!"

"Okay!"

After eating and changing into clean clothes, the little one once again happily bounded out the door.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.