Accompanying Song Ruqian for a chat, everyone knew that although she had given birth to a daughter, the Gu Family treated her as always, with complete service and food arrangements.
Song Ci also knew the foundation of the Gu Family and didn’t mention any nonsense about scientific postpartum practices. The so-called scientific Western postpartum care was all nonsense; for their kind of people, they had to follow tradition.
Of course, a balance of meat and vegetables was necessary. Eating only meat without vegetables could lead to the unfortunate problem of spending an hour in the restroom without any results, now that would be tragic.
The Gu Family was tactful, knowing that the family of the Young Madam was present, so they did not come to disturb them until the Madam came in to announce that the guests had arrived and the baby ceremony was about to begin.
Song Ci and her party moved to the outer room.
It was currently winter, and the weather was too cold to take the child outside. Fortunately, the courtyard of Song Ruqian was large enough, with several main rooms, and the baby ceremony was to be held in the outer hall.
In the outer hall, a bustling crowd gathered, including some relatives of the Gu Family and several noble friends from the capital, and Song Ci also recognized a few familiar faces.
The Gu Family was a big clan with many people, and a few pregnant women like Jiang were standing and talking quietly.
Song Ci looked around; the windows were tightly sealed, and the door was covered by thick curtains, preventing any wind from entering. The room was warm and cozy with spit basins inside, though the air felt a bit stale due to the crowd.
Not to mention that a fragrant altar was set up in the outer hall, with incense smoke swirling around the placed deities.
However, once the baby completed the ceremony, they would be taken back inside.
Song Ci had never witnessed a "washing ceremony" and was somewhat curious.
Tian Tian was held by the wet nurse, while the midwife, dressed in dark red clothes, held a cloth napkin. Before her was a red peachwood basin, surrounded by a cloth, filled with boiled cassia twig and mugwort water, soaking various items like longan, red dates, raw peanuts, chestnuts, and on the side, various items like flowers, locks, steelyards, scales, mirrors, etc.
At this point, the midwife took the child from the wet nurse, officially starting the washing ceremony.
Song Ci watched with keen interest.
The family members, according to their rank and seniority, led the process by adding a spoonful of clear water and some coins to the basin, known as "adding to the basin." She saw the Madam add a pair of golden locks.
Song Ci’s eyelid twitched; she seemed to have discovered the secret to getting rich in ancient times, which was becoming a midwife for wealthy families. Everyone knew that whatever was added to the basin, ended up belonging to the midwife.
It soon was her turn, and she added a pair of gold shells, while Song Madam added a gold ingot, and both Jiang and Lu added gold shells.
The midwife was benefiting greatly, Song Ci thought.
No wonder her mouth kept spouting auspicious words, smiling like an old chrysanthemum, even while the child cried and fussed.
The complicated ceremony concluded with much commotion, and while Song Ci thought how complex it was, she saw the midwife take an embroidery needle threaded with red silk from the small table and quickly pierced it into Tian Tian’s ear.
Song Ci screamed sharply, "What are you doing..."
Cries from the child overwhelmed Song Ci’s inquiry.
"Mother?" Song Madam looked at her in confusion.
Song Ci realized her overreaction, her hands trembling as she said, "This, is ear piercing also part of the birth ritual?"
Song Madam nodded inexplicably; didn’t Mother know?
If it’s a girl, an embroidery needle threaded with red silk would be soaked in sesame oil in a wine cup for three days, used to pierce the baby girl’s ears during the washing ceremony.
Song Ci nearly blacked out, "What kind of feudal ritual is this, with such a terrifying step? It scared me to death!" The source of thɪs content is NoveI-Fire.ɴet