Yin Su prepared the morning tea and made her way to the writing desk. A question had been nagging at her throughout the night. When the Traveler had sufficiently settled on the sitting mat and she was comfortable at the writing desk, she asked, “I understand the advice you give my Husband. Do you have advice for a woman?”

“Ah, Yin Su, my advice is for all. Let us proceed.”

>>>>><<<<< 

A slow rumble attracted Yin Su’s attention just seconds before the earth shook once again. She ran into the courtyard so that a falling roof would not hurt her. The shaking continued. Yin Su fell forward, landing on her swollen belly. The child inside protested and kicked with renewed vigor. Water flowed down Yin Su’s legs. Her child was ready to enter this world.

The Traveler offered aid. “Yin Su, I regret I am not a mid-wife, but I can summon the village women.”

“That is not necessary. I fear the neighbor women grow weary of birthing soon-to-be-dead children. It is best I face the pain alone.”

She allowed herself to be led back to the birthing hut after the shaking stopped. Pain hit her as she attempted to walk. The Traveler held her gently as he led her to the birthing hut. Yin Su thanked him and motioned for him to go. He would be of no help in birthing the child. She pulled out fresh cloth for birthing and welcoming the child. She inspected the straw for the birth. Stout pieces of wood stood about four feet high so she could lean on them and put her body in a position to let the child slip from her body. She would not need a neighbor woman to grab her about the waist. She would manage it herself.

From the beginning of each of her four previous pregnancies she had prepared mallow to make the fetus slippery. She had made saliva paste of ginseng, angelica and pepper in pig lard and had ingested it with a warm drink. She had boiled the heads of mole crickets and drunk the concoction to ensure an intelligent son. She had done the same for this one and hoped the herbs worked as well now.

The pains began in earnest. Another pain. And another. This child was eager to be born. Yin Su prepared herself. Pain. Then rest. Pain. The child could wait no more. Yin Su’s squatted with the wooden boards for support. Her body expelled the child into this world. Yin Su quickly wrapped the screaming child in fresh cloth. She wiped away the birth fluids and cooed comfort. She was exhausted, but could not rest. She delivered the placenta and placed it in the bowl for burial. The child calmed and Yin Su cleaned away all traces of the birth.

Only then did she allow herself to inspect the child. She pulled the fabric away to see the child’s defining parts. Once again, a girl-child. How could this be? She had done everything to have a man-child. She had carried the herbs and talisman to produce a male. She had given homage to the gods, even the Jade Emperor to ensure a man-child. What had she forgotten?

The cool air startled the child and she again cried. Yin Su’s eyes also filled with tears. What to do now? The gods are still angry. Her husband cannot see this child. Yin Su wrapped her daughter tightly and spoke soothing words to quiet her even as her own tears washed down her face. She must hide the child. But, how? Where?

The Traveler came to mind. All the things she had been recently writing flooded back. Be aware of your situation and manage your life. Be like water. Flow and change to suit the situation. Protect yourself by walking away. You are the leader in your own life. Be a wise leader.

She thought back to her life in the Great House. Her Mother would help her. Yes, she must return to the city. Her Mother will take her in. The kindly Great Lord of the house would allow her to stay. She would work in the kitchen and prepare wonderful feasts at her Mother’s side. She tried to remember how many days travel had brought her to the gate. Three? Four? More? Walking would be slow. Still, she could do it. She would take a little food and would harvest food from the wild along the way. The Traveler had come on foot. It could be done. She must not let her husband see this child.

She set to work to accomplish her escape. She cleaned herself and put on fresh clothes. She wrapped a sling of cloth around herself and placed the child within it, lashing it close to her body. It would comfort the child and allow her to move about. The cloth with the embroidered tiger beckoned her and swaddled the child in it. The tiger she had so carefully drawn, then embroidered would protect a female-child as well as a man-child. At least she hoped so.

She went to the kitchen to prepare a meal for her husband and the Traveler. There was still fresh meat from the slaughter of the pig and tonight’s meal would be the best of all.

Before she started the meal preparation, she took a few vegetables from the storage pot and put them in the folds of her clothing.

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