Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity
Chapter 21 - 18: Washing Three

Chapter 21: Chapter 18: Washing Three

At this hour, most of the guests had already arrived, and Midwife Zhang just arrived, so the newborn ceremony began.

As it was a rural family, the process was not very complicated. Without any deities in the rural areas, Midwife Zhang simply bowed three times symbolically towards the east. Then, she placed a copper basin filled with liquid boiled from locust twigs and wormwood leaves and all the ceremonial items in the yard. Next, she took Gu Chengyu from Mr. Gu’s hands, and the prelude to the "washing the third day" ceremony began.

Starting with Mr. Gu, the Gu Family led the way by adding a small spoonful of clean water into the basin, followed by adding some money, known as "adding to the basin." Mr. Gu threw ten copper coins in. Then, it was Boss Gu’s turn. Mrs. Gu Fang represented the eldest family, adding five copper coins, all provided by Mr. Gu in advance. Each of the families of the eldest and second sons threw five copper coins when it was time to add to the basin.

Next, He stepped forward and threw two copper coins into the water. Mr. Gu’s eyelid twitched; he had given five copper coins to the second son’s family, yet she only added two and kept back three. This was truly being penny-pinching to a fault, even when it came to such money.

After the family was done adding, it was the turn of close clan members. The collateral branches of the Gu Family did not come, except for Gu Changqing’s elder brother. The wife of the Clan Leader, Gu Changsong, who was also Mr. Gu’s sister-in-law, stepped forward and added eight copper coins. Eldest Sister-in-law Gu’s eldest daughter-in-law, Mrs. Zeng, added five coins, and her second daughter-in-law added five coins too. Thus, the clan relations were done, and it was time for close relatives and neighbors.

"Oh, Changqing! You’ve become quite generous after having a child in your later years! Who would’ve thought your in-law is still scraping by!" A women with slanted eyes, rolling up her sleeves, stood beside He. As it turns out, the woman was He’s mother, also Mr. Gu’s maternal cousin.

Mr. Gu looked towards the speaking woman, "Cousin, you know our family has never been well-off; now, with this being a boy, how much won’t future marriages and children cost? Nevertheless, today’s the child’s third-day washing, an important event, and we can’t be stingy with the silver coin."

Your daughter took five copper coins and only gave two; I haven’t even mentioned it. Yet, as an in-law, you come here pointing fingers. It’s clear Mr. Gu believed the second daughter-in-law and her mother were cut from the same cloth.

"Changqing! Sister-in-law knows you’re willing to spend on the child, but I truly have no money. Our family’s Shan Gen lost money in business some days ago, and all the savings went to fix that. Bear with it for now. Once we have money later, I’d definitely give more to the child’s Little Uncle." It was time for relatives to add to the basin, yet Mrs. Wang quickly moved to the back.

Originally, as an in-law, one ought to put in something. If you don’t add, others might not say much upfront, but what’s said behind your back may differ. Yet, if you not only don’t add but also speak cynically, isn’t that inappropriate? Besides, the eldest family’s mother-in-law, everyone knew they lived tightly yet she also added three copper coins! People began whispering among themselves.

"On such a rare joyful occasion, someone is always trying to make a fuss, at least save some face for your daughter’s husband!" Yang, the wife of Gu Changsong, disliked Mrs. Wang’s perpetual attempts to take advantage, especially on a happy day like today by disrupting things.

Mrs. Wang was indignant, wanting to retort, but on seeing her son-in-law frowning at her, she held back. Her daughter still lived in another’s household, though she resented Mr. Gu’s favoritism, she couldn’t spoil such a day for others.

Once Mrs. Wang quieted down, everyone else began adding to the basin. As rural families are not wealthy, not much money was thrown. Closer kin might throw one or two copper coins, neighbors would throw in peanuts, dates, or chestnuts.

Midwife Zhang was uninterested in disputes; whatever was thrown in the basin belonged to her. The more, the better, right? Even if you only threw that Guoguo’s, she had something to say, phrases like "early likelihood of sons", "consecutive noble sons born", even if you poured clean water, she’d say, "long flowing water, sharp and clever."

Gu Chengyu listened to the ongoing side conversations and Midwife Zhang’s auspicious words, knowing that the main event was coming. Gu Chengyu, in his past life, had an understanding of these rituals since he liked reading novels; the next part was typically about holding the baby for a bit.

Sure enough, after "adding to the basin," Midwife Zhang took a mallet and stirred the basin, saying, "A stir, two stirs, three stirs, elder brother leads younger brother to run. Seventy, eighty, crooked hairs, mischievous ones, all come here!" With that, she started bathing Gu Chengyu. Gu Chengyu shivered as soon as he hit the cold water, immediately crying out.

Seeing the little infant "responding in the basin," Midwife Zhang washed while chanting blessings, "Wash the head, become a noble; wash the waist, one generation higher than the next; wash the egg, become a county magistrate; wash the groove, become a prefect." Afterwards, lighting a ball of wormwood with ginger slices as a base, she symbolically hovered it over Gu Chengyu’s forehead. Then, she combed his hair and dressed him up, "Three combs, two brush-strokes, when grown, wear a red top; left eyebrows painted, right temples done, surely a wife from four villages; brush teeth, rinse mouth, speak without embarrassing." Rolling a chicken egg over Gu Chengyu’s face, "Roll the egg across the face, face like an eggshell, like willow red by white, truly admirable." After the wash, they bundled Gu Chengyu again, gently tapping his body with a scallion three times, "One hit clever, two hits sharp." Then, someone threw the scallion onto the rooftop. Picking up a weight, she measured, "Though small, it carries a thousand pounds". Picking up three locks, "Grow up with a tight head, feet, and hands."

Then, placing Gu Chengyu on a tea tray, she tucked the copper coins Mr. Gu had prepared into him, saying, "Left tuck gold, right tuck silver, enough for rewards." Finally, using a small mirror to shine on his backside, "Use the treasure mirror to brighten, clean bowel movements in the day."

With that, the third-day wash was complete. Everyone surrounded Gu Chengyu, praising his good looks. Especially with his mother dressing him in red today, he looked even more adorable.

Midwife Zhang handed Gu Chengyu back to Mr. Gu, busy tidying up while grinning widely. The Gu Family was rather generous, roughly forty copper coins! Along with all those fruits, this trip was worth it, even more than delivering a baby, this midwife job is a good gig. While cleaning up, she thought of the baby she held just moments ago; he was truly handsome, never seen such a well-featured child! Then she remembered Mrs. Lv’s beautiful face and felt it was no surprise, the son undoubtedly took after his mother.

Mrs. Wang, initially the one scoffing, now approached, looking at Gu Chengyu in Mr. Gu’s arms. The child had Lv’s eyes like peach blossoms, black, bright pupils, a straight nose, rosy small lips, and skin so fair, he didn’t look like a newborn or a child born in rural surroundings. She felt a wave of resentment; her poor sister was gone, allowing that ’vixen’ to take her place. Secretly, she spat a curse; what good is being born fair? Still stuck in this poverty-stricken village forever.

Meanwhile, Gu Chengyu, a little exhausted from the fuss, was carried by Mr. Gu back to his room to rest.

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