Jiang Hu simply took the group back home, since it's just that big a place, they could dig however they liked.
However, Jiang Hu didn't let them into his courtyard, as the vegetable seedlings had just been replanted. He was hoping to wait a bit longer, and soon they could start eating fresh vegetables.
Although the wild vegetables could be eaten, they always had a bitter taste, and eating too much could cause heartburn.
After pointing everyone to the right spot, Jiang Hu headed home first.
The wild grass in the garden had been completely pulled out, not a single one left, and the first-born son and second daughter came out of the house upon hearing the noise. Seeing Jiang Hu, they ran over cheerfully.
"Dad, you're back!"
"Dad, mom wanted to pull the weeds this morning, but my sister and I didn't agree. Half of the grass in the garden was pulled by me, and the rest was pulled by Liu Hai's mother and me. She even took some weeds to catch rabbits."
The second daughter directly hugged her father's leg, while the first-born son was a bit calmer, explaining his morning activities.
Jiang Hu freed a hand to pat his son's head, then pulled up his daughter, "You're both so great, let's go, Dad bought fabric and sewing needles, let's go home and let Mom make you some clothes."
The siblings nodded repeatedly, happily following their dad home, not noticing the little chicks in the basket yet.
Wang Xiang heard the commotion outside and came to the door but remembered not to go out, just leaving the door half-open and standing behind it.
Jiang Hu strode home, laid the burlap from his arms onto the bed, and set the basket down.
"Oh, by the way, I bought some chicks, take them to the empty room next door with your sister, and when they grow up, they'll lay eggs for you to eat."
"Chicks!" His son became excited, "Chicks that can lay eggs!"
He remembered having eggs once on his fourth birthday, they were delicious!
"Wow, so small, so cute." The second daughter had hardly any memory of chickens; after all, she was too young to remember.
Jiang Hu signaled the siblings to move the basket to the next room and placed the rabbit basket at the door, letting his son drag it over.
While the siblings were busy, little Mi started babbling on the bed, feeling her dad had ulterior motives, deliberately sending her brother and sister away!
And it was highly possible! After all, it happened once yesterday!
Sure enough, once the siblings left, Jiang Hu promptly opened the burlap package to reveal its contents.
Wang Xiang gasped, quickly covering her mouth, "Brother Hu, why did you buy so many things?"
Jiang Hu chuckled, "I sold quite a few wild chickens and rabbits today, but there are many people outside. Let's not show off too much. Once more people catch wild chickens in a few days, everyone will earn some money, and it won't matter then."
Wang Xiang nodded repeatedly, while Jiang Hu quickly stashed the items into the haystack nearby.
"Once the bug diggers leave, I'll take them to the kitchen. You stay home and make clothes for the kids this afternoon, while I go check the fields."
"By the way, did Liu Yang's wife come this morning? Liu Yang caught a wild chicken too and went to town, saying he'd help us weed the fields in the afternoon."
Wang Xiang calmed down even faster than yesterday, counting the copper coins Jiang Hu took out, beaming with satisfaction.
"Wang Xiang did come, caught bugs, and helped tidy up our garden before she left."
The copper coins were tucked under the pillow, "Brother Hu, could you find a jar to specifically keep the copper coins?"
Jiang Hu had already picked up the wooden basin for dirty diapers, "No problem, I'll wash the diapers first, and then I'll look for one."
Just as Jiang Hu exited, someone beside the courtyard spoke to him and quickly asked what he was up to when they saw him carrying a basin.
Jiang Hu paused, "There's still a big vacant area by the river, I'm going there to wash the diapers, the water can be poured there. In the future, if anyone wants to find bugs, they can go there too, it's more convenient."
After all, his wife and kids needed to rest, and there were so many people outside the courtyard, it was too noisy.
"Jiang Hu, you're too generous, no wonder fortune falls on your family. If it were someone else, they'd surely keep it a secret, afraid others might find out."
Someone remarked with a sigh, and although it was true, Jiang Hu didn't mind and just smiled.
"If there's too much fortune, you can't enjoy it all. Besides, this is also for little Mi and brother Iron Egg's good karma."
After saying this, he called out to his first son and second daughter who were still watching the chicks, asking them to go back and accompany mom and their siblings, and let mom make them new clothes.
Hearing about new clothes, everyone couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy, even putting more energy into digging bugs.
When Jiang Hu went out, Wang Xiang used straw as a ruler to measure the children, then glanced at little Mi, whose big eyes were curiously watching her actions.
"Little Mi, honey, mom will make clothes for your brother and sister first, their clothes are too short and I can alter some for you and your brother."
Wang Xiang patted little Mi and then Iron Egg, who was still sleeping, unlike his sister, who stayed alert most of the time.
Little Mi responded with babbling, thanking mom!
The first-born son wrinkled his nose, "Mom, I don't need new clothes, just make them for my siblings, mine are still wearable."
Hearing this, the second daughter hurriedly added, "I don't need them either, make clothes for little Mi and Iron Egg."
Little Mi quickly spoke up, I and Iron Egg don't need new clothes; the old ones are too small, so altering them is enough for us to wear!
Unfortunately, no one understood.
Wang Xiang gently touched little Mi's face, "Little Mi wants to wear new clothes too, right? But you're still young, wearing new clothes can chafe your skin, so you'll wear your brother's and sister's clothes for now."
Then she turned to the first-born son and second daughter, "You two are very kind to your siblings, which makes mommy very happy. But, the fabric dad bought is coarse, too rough for the little ones."
"In contrast, your worn clothes have been washed many times, becoming softer, just right to make clothes for your siblings."
Children were supposed to wear cotton clothes, but she had forgotten to mention it to Jiang Hu that morning, and he probably hadn't realized it either.
The first-born son accepted with disappointment, "Oh, then when they grow up, they'll get to wear new clothes."
The second daughter nodded vigorously, "Uh-huh, dad is amazing, they'll wear new clothes when they grow up."
Wang Xiang laughed, "Good kids."
Then she began to cut the fabric to make the clothes, the material was quite thick, though a bit chilly for now. She took the old winter clothes of her first son and the second daughter, removed the cotton inside, and made them thinner, suitable for this time of year.
This way, the leftover cotton could be used to make two outfits for little Mi and Iron Egg.
Outside the yard, people continued to dig for bugs, but since Wang Xiang had already dug through once in the morning, everyone's effort was proving fruitless.
Finally, a few people discussed it, deciding that since each person had only found a few bugs, not enough to set traps, they'd give them all to one person this time and to another the next.
When Jiang Hu finished washing the diapers and returned, he heard the group discussing who to give them to first, but he didn't comment because he wasn't going up the mountain in the coming days, needing to take care of the fields instead, so he didn't get involved.