The Happy Little Potato"

Warning Grandma

Just then, the little girl who had been drinking porridge walked over. "Daddy, is this little baby you're holding my sister? Mommy was in so much pain when she was giving birth to her, and she bled a lot."

The little girl looked at our father with innocent eyes. So, this little girl was my older sister! To think that my sister was dressed in such ragged clothes, without even a decent pair of shoes in the middle of winter. It was truly pitiful.

Father said to the little girl, "That's right, Xiao Ying Ying. She's your little sister. Daddy gave her a name, Xiao Tudou."

"Little Potato, what a nice name! The name Daddy chose is so lovely!" my sister exclaimed.

My heavens, what kind of taste does my sister have? How could she possibly think "Little Potato" is a nice name? Even if you want to suck up to Dad, you don't have to go that far!

Still, I suppose this was fine. Although the family wasn't well-off, my father wasn't a particularly bad person. He was probably just poor because he couldn't earn much money. With that thought, I drifted off to sleep again. Being a baby was great; all you did all day was sleep. You didn't have to worry about a thing, just wait to be fed.

In the middle of my sleep, it seemed I had made a mess again. The last time I pooped was... well, the last time. And because of that one time, I had to wail my head off several times before anyone noticed and cleaned me up.

It was happening again. What kind of challenge would I have to face this time to successfully get my parents to notice I'd pooped? Although I might have to endure the ritual of the black rag again, I still hoped they would find out.

Suddenly, I felt like I had peed a little too. My whole bottom was soaked, but my parents were sound asleep. Mom was exhausted from childbirth, so she was sleeping deeply. And Dad? He was probably tired from working outside and was also fast asleep.

I considered whether I should wail to wake them up, but I hesitated. I decided against it. As long as the stench of my poop was strong enough, it would surely get their attention. I just had to produce a few more turds. If I could just push out a few more, the smell would definitely be potent enough to capture their notice. Yes, yes, that's it! Let's go! I had to push out more, even if my butt got incredibly sticky. Push! Getting more and more excited, I sang a little song in my head: "Go, go, try, try, poop, poop, use your might, use your might!"

I used all my strength and emptied my bowels completely. I peed again at the same time. My whole body felt empty, as if only bones and flesh remained. I was terrified I might have pooped myself out of existence. How could my tiny body withstand such a massive output of energy?

Aaaah, aaah! What do I do? What do I do? My pants reeked now, and I couldn't stand it. It was so uncomfortable, but my parents were sleeping soundly, completely oblivious to my existence.

So, I had to unleash my ultimate move. I began to cry with all my might, pushing out the last dregs from my stomach as I wailed. The stench was so strong even I could smell it.

This time, my father finally heard me crying. He got up in a hurry. "Baby, baby, what's wrong? Eww, what's that smell? Did you make a poopy again? Let me clean you up." Mom must have been too tired; even my loud cries didn't wake her.

Hearing Dad say he would clean me, I knew the black rag was about to make its grand entrance. But I could only helplessly accept reality.

To my astonishment, Dad took a brand-new pack of tissues from the bedside cabinet. I was dumbfounded. There were actually tissues? I thought they only ever used that black rag.

Dad spoke. "Baby, when I went to buy potatoes today, the man who sold them saw my ragged clothes and gave me a pack of tissues. I decided to save them for my baby girl. A baby so small must have the best things, even if Daddy doesn't earn much. From now on, Daddy will always give you the best!"

Hearing his words, I was so moved that I started crying all over again. "Waaah, waaah..."

After Dad changed my pants and wiped me clean, he started walking around, rocking me gently. They were tears of gratitude, really. Since Dad was going through so much trouble to soothe me, I quickly stopped crying. I wanted him to get back to sleep.

I slept soundly and comfortably that night. Although I was a little hungry, the hunger went away once I fell asleep.

When I woke up the next day, Mom held me and fed me. I finally got to fill my tummy. Just then, she noticed the used tissues in the trash bin and asked my dad, "Hey, why is there so much paper in the trash? Did you use the tissues?"

Dad was fetching water to wash his face. He turned and replied, "Yes. The baby soiled herself last night, didn't she? I figured since the potato seller gave me a pack of tissues, we should obviously save them for the baby."

"How could you be so extravagant?" Mom said, displeased. "Using so many tissues is such a waste. Can't you be more frugal? Next time, after you use a tissue, fold it up and put it aside. You can still use it again, you hear me?"

Dad quickly replied, "How could we do that? Tissues are disposable. You throw them away after one use. How can you save them for next time? Cui Ying, don't worry. I'll work hard to make money from now on. I'll make sure our baby can use the best tissues."

But Mom stuck to her opinion. "No matter how much money you make in the future, we should still be frugal. It's not like your money grows on trees; you work very hard for it. Alright, that's enough. Just listen to me!"

Hearing her, Dad could only shake his head in resignation. "Fine, fine, I'll listen to you. Happy now? I'll go make you breakfast. You go wash up."

Then, Dad went to Grandma's room. Although I was far away, my hearing was very sharp. I could faintly hear his voice: "Ma, I want you to treat Cui Ying better from now on. If you don't take care of Cui Ying and my daughter now, we won't take care of you when you're old. I hope you'll think about that carefully. Also, make sure Cui Ying gets this food."

I couldn't hear what Grandma said after that, because I had pooped again. I focused, my face turning red as all my strength concentrated on my rear end. I didn't think too much about it and let it all out in one go. After all, this wasn't the first time. I was used to it. No need for anyone to be surprised; it's normal for a baby to not be able to control their bowels. Anyway, Dad had tissues for me now, so for the time being, I wouldn't have to endure the ritual of the black rag.

After serving Mom breakfast, Dad left for work, leaving me alone again with my weak mother. As for my grandmother, I just wouldn't consider her a person. Anyone who bullied my mom and me would face my revenge. For a gentleman, ten years is not too late for vengeance. Just you wait, Grandma.

Just then, Grandma entered the room. It seemed she could smell me. "You worthless girl, you have the nerve to poop again. You want me to clean you, is that it?" she glared at me fiercely and began to change my pants with rough hands. Although she disliked me, perhaps because of Dad's words, she had decided to look after Mom and me after all.

Seeing the mess, Grandma was utterly disgusted. I thought she would use the tissues Dad had used yesterday, but to my horror, she pulled out a rag that was even blacker than the last one. My heart filled with despair, and my mind went blank. I could only let her wipe my tender, red bottom.

Mom saw this and quickly reminded her, "There are tissues in that drawer. You can use those for Little Potato."

Grandma's face hardened. She said to my mother, "Where would we get the money to buy tissues for this stinking girl? What a waste. And giving her such an earthy name. I see she really is a little potato—a worthless little potato. Can't even sell her for a good price."

"We didn't buy the tissues. Her dad got them for free when he bought potatoes yesterday. It's a big pack, so don't think of it as a waste. You can fold it after each use and use it again next time," Mom said meekly.

"I was wondering where you'd get the money for such useless things. We don't even use tissues to wipe our own butts, and this money pit thinks she deserves it? Hmph!"

Grandma's words filled me with a murderous urge. A "worthless girl" this, a "money pit" that. Wasn't she a woman herself? Doesn't that make her a money pit too? Damn it, I really wanted to curse out loud, but I couldn't speak. I wished I could grow up faster.

Grandma ignored Mom. The even-blacker rag was already moving across my bottom. Mom shook her head, looking helpless. After Grandma roughly finished changing me, she tossed me back on the bed next to Mom and left with my soiled pants.

Mom gently held me in her arms, cooing, "My baby, there's nothing we can do right now. Wait a couple of days until Mommy's body is stronger, and I can take care of you myself. Then Grandma won't be able to bully you. It's all Mommy's fault. Mommy has no family, no one to lean on, making you suffer with me. And now, Grandma has sent your sister away too. My little Ying Ying, I wonder if you're doing okay in someone else's home."

What? I just saw my sister at home yesterday. How could she have been sent away today? I was only asleep for one night, and just like that, my sister was gone!

Perhaps Grandma overheard what Mom was saying. She threw the door open and yelled, "Cui Ying, you cheap wench! You have the nerve to say I sent Ying Ying away? I did it for your own good! We could barely afford one child, and you had to have another. It would've been one thing if you'd popped out a fat son, but no, your belly is useless. You gave our family another money pit. Ying Ying is doing very well now, so you don't need to worry about her."

Hearing Grandma shout, Mom was afraid it would scare me. She held me tighter and patted my back gently. She said to Grandma, "Ma, whose house did you send Ying Ying to? I'm not blaming you, I just miss my daughter. You're a mother too; you should understand how I feel right now." Tears welled up in Mom's eyes.

"You don't need to concern yourself with that. You can't even take care of yourself, and you go tattling to my son. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't even bother with you. Don't push your luck. Just manage yourself and this little money pit of yours," Grandma said, rolling her eyes, before slamming the door and leaving again.

The day passed amidst Grandma's shouting. As night fell, Dad finally came home. I felt a little safer again.

Dad smiled and took me from Mom's arms. "Baby, my little potato, you've grown another day older!" He turned to Mom and asked, "Was Little Potato a good girl today? Did Ma come over to take care of you?"

"Our Little Potato was very good today, no crying or fussing. And Ma did come to help. She even changed Little Potato's pants for me. She had a long face, but I'm already very satisfied. Jian Guo, don't say anything more to Ma," Mom replied.

I really didn't understand my mother. Grandma hadn't taken care of her at all. She only changed my pants once, and she was rough and mean to both of us. Why did Mom have to be so submissive?

"That's good. It seems my warning had some effect. I won't have to worry so much about you two anymore," Dad said happily, rocking me in his arms. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and turned to Mom again.

"Oh, right, Cui Ying. I earned quite a bit today, so I bought a pack of diapers for our Little Potato. All the other babies use these diapers, and our Little Potato should use them too. Right, my little potato?" Dad said, talking to Mom but cooing at me from time to time.

I never expected Dad to be so good to me. My earlier thoughts of running away from this family suddenly began to change. I felt that when I grew up, I should give my parents a better life and repay them for raising me.

Grandma suddenly pushed the door open. She must have heard what Dad said. She shot a murderous glare at Mom and me, then said to my father, "You spendthrift! You just keep spoiling them. Buying such an expensive foreign thing for a worthless girl, what a waste. It's not like she's a son. Why raise her so delicately?"

"Ma, what are you saying? What's wrong with a girl? She's my own daughter! A piece of flesh that Cui Ying carried for ten months! Boy or girl, I will treat her well and love her. And Cui Ying, she's my wife, the woman who will spend the rest of her life with me. When you get old, you will need Cui Ying to take care of you. You should be nicer to her now," Dad said with a sigh.

"A girl will eventually be married off and become part of someone else's family. A son is different; he stays with his own family. You don't even understand that. You're a fool! Why would I need Cui Ying to take care of me? When I'm old, you can take care of me. You're my son; it's your duty," Grandma retorted defiantly.

"Oh, my dear mother! Why can't you understand what I'm saying? Yes, I'm your son, and it's my duty to care for you. But have you considered the reality of the situation? In the future, when you're old and paralyzed in bed, when you need to use the toilet and it's inconvenient, should I be the one to help you or not? Should I be the one to bathe you, or should Cui Ying? You think about it yourself!" Dad was completely exasperated with her now.

I fully supported what Dad was saying. I was proud to have a father with such sound values.

After hearing my father's words, Grandma seemed to think they made some sense, but she was too stubborn to admit it. "Pah, pah, pah! You son of mine, what nonsense are you spouting? How could I become paralyzed? Can't you say something nice instead of all this unlucky talk!"

"Ma, life is long. Who can say what will happen in the future? It's better to be safe than sorry. Anyway, I've said my piece. If you don't listen, there's nothing I can do. If you don't take care of Cui Ying, then my only choice is to stop working and stay home to care for her myself. Then our whole family can just wait to starve!" After saying this, Dad ignored the look on Grandma's face and pushed her out of the room.

I was back in my mother's arms. She thought I was hungry and began to feed me.