Today was truly terrible for Meng Shuyan.
Why was it terrible?
Early in the morning, his little stomach was growling with hunger. Yesterday, he only had a bowl of watery porridge, and his mom hadn't made any food again. Apparently, she had gone to his grandma's house to ask for something to eat. Unable to stand the hunger any longer, he remembered seeing the villagers often dig up wild greens, so he went to gather some himself, intending to cook them for his mom. Grandma Zhong gave him a steamed bun—a soft, white bun, though slightly hard—and Meng Shuyan was profoundly moved. He tore it in half, saving one piece for later, and started eating the other half. Just as he took his first bite, his mom came back. She looked furious, her whole body blocking the door, shaking the ground as she walked. When she saw the bun in his hand, her eyes lit up. Summoning his courage, he gave her half, but she swallowed it in one gulp. Trapped by the shadow his mom's behavior cast over him, his other half of the bun was also snatched away. After eating, his mom went out again. He wanted to cry, but his great-grandmother had told him, "A real man doesn't shed tears easily." So he held back his tears. However, a while later, his mom was carried back home. He watched her lying motionless on the bed, just like his great-grandmother had been before. But his great-grandmother never woke up after she had gone to sleep. He walked to the corner of the room, sat down, glanced around to ensure no one was watching, and quietly wiped his tears away. No one saw him cry—he was still a little man.
After sleeping for a while, he woke up from hunger, but his mom was still unconscious. He walked closer, calling her softly and stretching out his little hand to touch her. His mom was different today—she wasn't snoring, her body felt a bit cold, and there was even the smell of blood. Fear and helplessness surged inside him; he didn't know what to do, so he curled up in the corner. He knew his mom didn't like him. Truth be told, he didn't like his mom very much either, because she was like a dark and towering creature, so different from other people's mothers. His mom always glared at him and took his things away. On the day his great-grandmother passed, he flung himself into his mom's arms, but she only gave him a disgusted glance and said, "You little bastard, get away from me."
But his great-grandmother had told him, "She's your mom. Your mom loves you, so you must love her back." So, he worked hard to love his mom.
Meng Shuyan picked up the small handful of wild greens he had gathered in the morning and waddled on his short little legs toward the bed. The light in her eyes seemed familiar to him, but he still walked closer to her, deliberately keeping a serious expression on his cute little face.
Tian Sangsang looked at the cautious little dumpling and couldn't help feeling a pang of sadness. She had already decided: Since she was here, she might as well make the best of it. If she was destined to be reborn through this body, she would do her best to live, and live better than anyone else. As a twenty-first-century citizen, failing to thrive after transmigrating would be a disgrace. At least she now had an angelic-looking son, ready-made, without having to go through ten months of pregnancy and childbirth—what a bargain! Thinking about this pitiful little dumpling, Sangsang couldn't help but feel distressed. Previously, when he lived with her grandmother, he was well cared for and mostly ignored by his mom. Then, within just a short span of time, his grandmother had passed away, leaving him with this unreliable original host mother. He only got to eat one meal a day, and today, even his food was stolen by his mom. This child was only three and a half years old, yet he didn't cry or throw tantrums as other children his age might—that alone made him outstanding.
Tian Sangsang couldn't resist reaching out her, uh… salty pig hands, squeezing out a chrysanthemum-shaped smile: "Son, come to Mom." She thought she was being gentle and kind, but she didn't realize her current appearance featured squinting eyes and facial flesh gathered like snowdrifts.
Meng Shuyan's tiny body trembled slightly, working hard not to show any fear, as he reached out to offer the wild greens. The greens weren't taken, but instead, he found himself lifted onto the bed by a pair of large hands.
Tian Sangsang kissed his soft little cheeks several times, holding the little dumpling tightly in her arms. Her hands encircled his small body, tender and fluffy, as if she might accidentally crush him—this tactile sensation was unbelievably wonderful… She reached up and touched his natural curls, fluffy and bouncy, soft and springy. It was such a delight!
Being a mother for the first time in two lifetimes really was blissful. So this was what having a child felt like—her entire being seemed to be soaking in a vat of sweet honey. Thinking back to her previous life, her early-married classmates loved showing off their adorable kids in social media posts; whenever she saw one she liked, Tian Sangsang would give it a like. Let them flaunt—a feeling of triumph rose within her—now she had her own son too…
"M-Mama…" Meng Shuyan was stunned, his big, glossy eyes wide open. His mom's body was so soft, and though she had a strange greasy smell, he wasn't repulsed—he actually liked it very much. But still, his heart ached, his mouth pouting as he held back his tears. No matter how hard he tried, he was only a three-and-a-half-year-old child; tears streamed down his face in an instant.
This was the first time his mom had ever held him.
Feeling the trembling of the little dumpling's body, Tian Sangsang let her son go, setting him in front of her.
Meng Shuyan wiped his tears with his little hands, nervously watching Tian Sangsang. "Mom, these are the wild greens I picked. If you eat them, you won't be hungry anymore."
"Wild greens?" The sight of a few soft, greenish leaves in his little hands—barely enough to fill both hands—made Tian Sangsang's eyes sting. She gently wiped away his tears. "Alright! Thank you, son. You're amazing! Mom loves you!" Knowing that her son desperately needed affection right now, Tian Sangsang said the sweetest words she could.
Meng Shuyan's cheeks flushed red for the first time after being praised. Holding his serious expression, his tear-filled eyes sparkled with a hint of joy. "You're welcome, Mom."
"Why not thank you? When I was your age, I wasn't half as good as you." Tian Sangsang set the wild greens aside and pulled his soft little body into her embrace. "But you don't need to go next time. Mom will go instead."
Meng Shuyan opened his mouth in surprise, nodding hesitantly, and said, "I'll go with Mom."
Was he dreaming? Why had Mom become so different after just one nap? Was this really his mom?
"Good boy!" Just as she said this, Tian Sangsang heard a growling noise and saw Meng Shuyan lower his fluffy little head in embarrassment. She couldn't resist reaching out to touch his curly hair again. Children's hair really had the best texture! She kissed his cheek and said, "Come on, Mom will cook for you!"
Tian Sangsang carried the little dumpling off the bed effortlessly. For her, lifting his weight was as easy as lifting a feather.
Stretching out her legs, Tian Sangsang's eyes caught sight of something—Wait, Tian Sangsang, stay calm! Just two elephant legs, that's all. Just two elephant legs attached to her body. One day she would lose the weight.