Cluck… Cluck…
Qin Yi heard sounds from the courtyard. He climbed onto the bedding, grabbed the windowsill, and peered toward the west side of the yard. Sure enough, his mother was mimicking the clucking of a hen, calling over scattered hens and chicks. She scooped a small handful of millet from a bowl and scattered it evenly on the ground.
"Through prolonged observation, the 'Farming LV1' skill has slightly improved."
Once his mother finished feeding the chickens, the game interface updated with a new message. Qin Yi then released the windowsill and flopped back onto the bed.
After a short while, Zhenniang entered the room. Qin Yi giggled and crawled toward her.
Zhenniang smiled, lifted Qin Yi into her arms, rubbing his smooth, soft little face, and praised gently:
"Big Head, you're such a good boy. Shall we go to the river to wash clothes?"
Qin Yi giggled again.
Zhenniang first helped him urinate and fed him, then carried him in a swaddled sling, holding a large wooden basin of dirty clothes. She closed the door and walked briskly toward a nearby stream south of the village.
Several women were already washing clothes by the stream.
"Zhenniang, you're here!"
"Xiu Niang, you too."
Zhenniang stopped beside Xiu Niang, set down the wooden basin, took the top piece of clothing, rinsed it in the water, and placed it on a smooth stone the size of a pumpkin. She rubbed it a bit, then picked up the wooden mallet and started rhythmically pounding.
Xiu Niang, a bit tired and resting, tried to tease Qin Yi, who peeked from Zhenniang's sling with only his arms and head visible. But he ignored her completely.
Xiu Niang chuckled:
"Your Big Head is really sensible. So young and already paying attention to chores—he'll grow up to be hardworking."
"Our Big Head has been sensible since birth," Zhenniang replied. While others might take it as a joke, she knew her words were serious. She had never seen a more obedient child.
"How many months old?"
"Six or seven months."
"Six or seven months… more than half a year. He should be speaking by now, right?"
"I haven't really noticed," Zhenniang said.
The older two had not been specially taught, yet they could speak—so why worry?
"Most children at six or seven months can call someone. If he hasn't, we should teach him, or it will be bad for his speech development."
Hearing "bad for his development," Zhenniang finally took it seriously.
"Okay, I'll remember," she said, planning to start teaching Big Head right away.
After about half an hour, Zhenniang finished washing the clothes. Qin Yi's Housekeeping LV1 skill also slightly improved.
Back home, she hung the clothes to dry, brought Qin Yi back to the bed, and began teaching him to speak.
"'Mama,' Big Head, say 'Mama.'"
"Ah~ Ma~"
Qin Yi could articulate clearly, but a full correct pronunciation would be too miraculous at this stage.
After a short session, Zhenniang noticed Qin Yi yawning. Knowing he was tired, she stopped, helped him urinate, tidied the bedding, and soon he fell asleep.
When he woke again, the rhythmic click-click of weaving reached him.
His mother never stayed idle; if there was no other work, she would weave.
"Ya~ Ya~" Qin Yi deliberately made baby growling sounds, announcing his awakening.
Zhenniang immediately stopped weaving, bent over the bed, picked him up, and went through the urination and feeding routine.
Having done this so often, Qin Yi's embarrassment had lessened.
Zhenniang resumed teaching him to speak:
"'Mama,' Big Head, say 'Mama.'"
"Ah~ Na~"
Qin Yi controlled himself, making slight progress.
"Ah, Big Head is clever! You learned to say 'Mama' so quickly!"
???
Qin Yi was confused. He had said "Na," not "Mama!" How had he been praised for learning?
Zhenniang happily teased him a few more times, then glanced at the sun and reminded:
"Big Head, Mama is cooking. Lie down properly, don't crawl around, okay?"
"Ah~ Na~" Qin Yi reached out, eyes full of longing.
Understanding her child, Zhenniang shook her head:
"Cooking smoke and heat isn't good for you. You'll help Mama when you're older."
After being denied again, Qin Yi sighed and muttered:
"Ah~ Na~… Ah~ Na~" twice.
"Our Big Head is truly sensible," Zhenniang chuckled, kissing his cheek, then busied herself with cooking.
Later, Qin Yong returned:
"Zhenniang, I'm home."
"The meal is almost ready. Wash your hands and rest inside," she called.
He fetched water, washed, and as he did, Zhenniang suddenly popped her head from the kitchen, excited:
"By the way, Big Head can speak! He just called me 'Mama.'"
Intrigued, Qin Yong hurried to see Qin Yi.
"Wipe your hands first," Zhenniang admonished.
Qin Yong chuckled awkwardly, wiped his hands on his clothes, and entered.
"Big Head, follow Daddy and say 'Daddy.'"
"Ah~ Da~"
"Yes, that's 'Daddy'! He's clever, learning so quickly!"
Qin Yi was speechless. He had tried to play it modestly, yet still received praise.
But from their perspective, as a baby, as long as the vowel was right, it counted. Fair enough.
Soon, his older brothers returned. Hearing Qin Yi could speak, they taught him to call "Brother."
"Ah~ Ga~"
"No, not 'Ga,' say 'Ge'."
"Ah~ Ga~"
"I said, not 'Ga,' 'Ge'."
"Ah~ Ga~"
"Big Head is silly, can't even say 'Ga' and 'Ge' properly."
"Ah~ Ga~" Qin Yi waved his tiny fists to show his frustration.
Finally, his modesty strategy worked, though he was secretly annoyed.
(End of Chapter)