After hanging the diapers under the eaves, I walked back inside and saw Second Wife tearing apart old clothes. It was then I remembered I forgot to buy cotton.
"Ah, I'm still not careful enough. Once Second Wife finishes her confinement, we'll take the children into town together. We'll bring some food and walk slowly, buying everything the family needs along the way."
Second Wife smiled and said, "It's okay, no rush. Anyway, the weather's getting warmer. We can wait until winter to buy it."
Jiang Hu nodded, "Alright. By the way, Big Wa, Er Ni, from now on, feed the insects from the garden to the chicks first. They'll grow faster that way."
The two little ones eagerly agreed, wanting to rush out and catch bugs immediately, but Jiang Hu stopped them, telling them to wait until the others had left.
After watching Second Wife work on the clothes for a while, Jiang Hu started teasing Xiaomi and Tiedan.
Tiedan was still sleeping most of the time, but he had just woken up, following his sister's chatter with babbling of his own.
Jiang Hu had no idea what the two kids were saying, but it didn't stop him from grinning foolishly.
"Dad is silly, but also very clever."
Xiaomi babbled to her dad while Tiedan heard his sister's voice, waving his hands and scooting closer to her.
Jiang Hu quickly pulled the siblings closer, holding both of them in his arms with great satisfaction.
After playing with them for a while, Jiang Hu put down Xiaomi and Tiedan, "Second Wife, I'll go make the meal now."
Unlike Jiang Hu's calm demeanor, Second Wife couldn't help but glance at the pile of straw nearby at the mention of food.
There was not only meat but also grains and snacks there!
But seeing Jiang Hu showing no intention of taking it, Second Wife didn't say anything, just nodded to indicate she understood.
Outside, people were still digging for bugs, overturning that patch of barren land with water again and again.
Seeing Jiang Hu heading to the kitchen, someone called out, "Brother Jiang, cooking already this early?"
Jiang Hu had left early today and returned early, too— it wasn't even noon yet.
"Yes, we ate early this morning. Second Wife is hungry; we'll eat a bit earlier. I also planned to check the fields."
Jiang Hu went into the kitchen, grabbed a vegetable knife and a wooden basin, and then fished a few fish out from the stone tank under the eaves.
Someone couldn't help but comment, "Brother Jiang, didn't you earn a good sum selling wild chickens and rabbits today? Why not buy some meat? Fish doesn't match up to meat."
Perhaps influenced by Liu Yang, ever since he called out "Brother Jiang" this morning, many of those around his age or younger started calling him Brother Jiang too.
In reality, Liu Yang was a few months older than Jiang Hu.
But Jiang Hu wasn't bothered by it— he merely kept his head down as he cleaned the fish.
"Just because I earned money doesn't mean I can spend it carelessly. I have four kids, big and small, at home. I have to prepare four portions for food and supplies. Looking at our situation, we still have to prepare cotton-padded clothes and other things for winter this year, don't we?"
The person nodded in deep understanding, "That's true. Raising four kids compared to one is a world of difference. But surely Liu Yang will bring back meat. That kid is greedier than his own son."
Jiang Hu chuckled, "He only has one son, and when settling down, he brought a lot of clothes with him. Unlike us, who don't even have extra sheets. You can't compare that."
While handling the fish, Jiang Hu chatted a bit more, and once he finished, he returned home to cook. It was fish soup again, but he simmered it thicker this time and cooked some wild vegetable porridge alongside.
After finishing the meal, he asked Big Wa to bring the meal into the room. Only then did the people digging for bugs gradually leave.
"Big Wa, Er Ni, in the afternoon come with Dad to the fields to work. We need to pull out all the weeds from the crop fields; otherwise, the crops won't grow well."
Jiang Hu first scooped a bowl of fish soup for Second Wife, mostly fish meat, then shared some fish meat and soup with Big Wa and Er Ni.
The fish had already fallen apart into the soup, and what he gave Big Wa and Er Ni were large chunks with almost no bones, so eating carefully wouldn't be a cause for concern.
The fish were small to begin with, and after cooking so long, Jiang Hu could chew and swallow the bones and fish heads whole, not wasting a single bit.
After drinking half a bowl of fish soup and eating half a bowl of wild vegetable porridge, his stomach was full. Though he'd soon be hungry again, it was still much better than not even knowing what it felt like to feel full before.
"Dad, let Er Ni stay home to take care of Mom. If we all leave, Mom will go out to work."
Big Wa glanced at Second Wife, pouting as he complained to Jiang Hu.
Er Ni nodded vigorously, Xiaomi blew a bubble, giving her big brother a thumbs up, while Tiedan remained clueless, as Second Wife looked resigned.
"Mom will make clothes for you in the afternoon. In a few days, your younger siblings can go out, so I must make the clothes early. I won't be going out."
Jiang Hu quickly asked for an explanation. He had heard Big Wa mention something when he returned earlier, but hadn't paid much attention at the time.
Before Second Wife could explain, Big Wa hurriedly relayed what happened in the morning when Mom wanted to go to the fields to weed.
After hearing this, Jiang Hu praised them: "Big Wa, Er Ni, you did the right thing. Mom needs to rest well now."
Then he looked at Second Wife: "Second Wife, I know you want to help, but what's most important now is to take care of yourself."
Jiang Hu studied Second Wife's face closely. Compared to the days immediately after childbirth, she looked a lot healthier, but still somewhat weak.
"You had strong reactions during your pregnancy, and on our way here, you didn't eat or rest well. If you don't rest now during confinement, you might have lingering health issues in the future. How will you watch the kids grow up?"
Jiang Hu's words were a bit severe, but indeed, many rural women who didn't rest well during confinement ended up with chronic illnesses and passed away early.
Second Wife, scared by Brother Hu's stern expression, nodded repeatedly: "I got it, Brother Hu. You see, I've been resting this whole time. I'll take care of myself."
Jiang Hu softened his expression: "Don't worry about the fields. It's just weeding; it's not too much for me. Besides, I'll head to the mountains again in a few days, so we won't lack food."
Jiang Hu didn't elaborate clearly on the latter point, but Second Wife understood. Though the children didn't know, she was aware of the family's finances.
Reminded by Brother Hu, Second Wife earnestly nodded: "I understand. I'll rest assured and wait for you with Big Wa and Er Ni at home while you go to the fields."
"Big Wa will come with me, and Er Ni will keep you company, so you have someone to talk to."
Jiang Hu decided, thinking that Er Ni was still too young to do much work in the fields, and might as well stay home.
He then instructed Er Ni: "By the way, Er Ni, if you see any bugs, catch them to feed the chickens in the evening."
Er Ni puffed out her small chest with pride and agreed: "Yes, Dad! Er Ni will feed the chickens and the bunnies!"
Jiang Hu couldn't help but laugh: "Alright then, I'll leave feeding the chickens and bunnies to Er Ni. When the chicks grow up, the first egg will be yours, okay?"
Er Ni shook her head: "No, give it to my younger siblings. Mom said when the chicks grow up, my younger siblings will grow up too, and they can eat eggs."
Jiang Hu replied: "When the time comes, we'll cook the egg, and Er Ni can eat it with your younger siblings. And Big Brother, you can all eat together, how about that?"
"And Mom and Dad too!" Big Wa quickly added, "The whole family eats together!"
"Okay, okay," Jiang Hu agreed with a laugh, "we'll all eat together then. But for now, Big Wa and Er Ni, hurry and eat. Afterward, Big Wa will come with me to the fields."
"Okay!"
The siblings replied in unison and happily drank their fish soup, with Second Wife constantly reminding them to slow down and watch out for fish bones.