"Little Jiang is back. I saw you all heading to town this morning, but you were walking so fast I didn't get the chance to call you." It was the village chief, Li Mu.
The cloth and grain were bundled into a pack on Jiang Hu's back, and he was still holding Xiao Mi in his arms. This little fellow was heavy, and the journey was long, so Jiang Hu had to carry him.
"Village Chief, my second aunt has finished her confinement. I just wanted to take her to town for a visit, to relieve some stress and buy some things. As a man, I'm careless and forgot to buy many necessary items for home."
The village chief wasn't just someone casually selected by the villagers; he was officially registered at the town government office.
And Li Mu was familiar to everyone along the way, known for his fairness and literacy, and he helped resolve many small issues during their travels. So, when it was time to choose a village chief, Li Mu was selected.
"That's true, but the journey isn't short, and taking a child with you wouldn't have been easy."
The village chief let out a sigh as he spoke. Fuan Village was too remote, and it was only after other places were chosen that it ended up with them.
Jiang Hu smiled, "It wasn't so bad. We took breaks along the way, and now it's already afternoon."
The village chief nodded, "Alright then, you should hurry home and rest well. Based on the weather, it doesn't seem like it will rain anytime soon, so you'll have to continue watering the fields tomorrow."
The Jiang family's crops had only been half-watered yesterday, with more work still to be done.
"Then we'll head off now." After parting with the village chief, Jiang Hu hurriedly took his family home.
Fortunately, most people were working in the fields at this time. Even if they saw them, the distance was too great to consider coming over.
A little further along, Da Wa curiously asked, "Mom and Dad, why did Uncle Village Chief stop us? Was it just to have a few words?"
Second Aunt shifted how she was holding Iron Egg, "Not really. He wanted to see what we bought, but since your dad didn't go into the mountains yesterday afternoon, everyone knows there's no game at home, so they're not curious."
Da Wa, acting like a little adult, sighed, "Mom, why is everyone so interested in how much money our family earns and what we buy? When I go out to play, they like to ask me too."
"Well..." Second Aunt looked to Jiang Hu for help. She knew why but didn't know how to explain it to the children.
Jiang Hu wasn't concerned, "It's not just about interest; they're worried we might be earning too much money and living too well. After all, with more children and fewer workers at our house, people believe we should live more frugally."
Da Wa pouted, "Those people are mean! Why can't our family have a good life? Dad is awesome; he's good at working and catching game. He can obviously make a lot of money."
"Besides, Xiao Mi and Iron Egg are still part of our family. If Dad doesn't let them know, who else could catch so much game?"
Da Wa was young and didn't understand the complexities; he just felt those people were mean.
Jiang Hu also understood that explaining in detail wouldn't help Da Wa understand, so he just smiled, "You'll get it one day. Just do as I say for now, and don't worry about the rest. You'll understand when you grow a little older."
"Alright then, I'll listen to Dad." Da Wa reluctantly agreed, figuring that he would understand more when he got older.
Next to him, Second Aunt listened to Jiang Hu teaching the children and couldn't help but smile with happiness. Although the house wasn't as lively as before, life was much easier now.
Having endured the difficult early days, things could only get better now. She believed that as long as they lived earnestly, things would definitely improve!
Upon returning home, the couple hurried into the room to put Xiao Mi and Iron Egg to bed and change the diapers of the little ones.
Da Wa and Er Ni headed over to see their rabbits and chicks. Both were still kept inside the house, separated by a bamboo fence Jiang Hu had woven.
The five chicks had grown quite a bit, and the mother rabbit, caught right before giving birth, had delivered six bunnies the next afternoon. Now, they had seven rabbits at home.
The newborn bunnies were little pink balls of flesh, but they had grown furry and were quite cute now.
Er Ni loved these fluffy and cute little rabbits best, often catching one to show Xiao Mi, thinking Xiao Mi, being a girl, would definitely love them too.
Xiao Mi indeed loved them, but every time she saw the rabbits, her mind was filled with thoughts of spicy rabbit dishes like Malatang or spicy hot pot bunny, totally out of control!
Da Wa grabbed some wild grass he'd picked yesterday and fed the rabbits, before heading out to find his parents.
"Mom, it's so warm today. Can the chicks be let out?"
Second Aunt looked at the sky. It would be an hour or two before dark, "Let them out, but keep the yard gate closed so they don't run out."
"Alright." With that, he ran off joyfully.
After changing the babies' diapers, Jiang Hu went to heat some water to wash the babies' bottoms.
Before washing the diapers, he scattered the vegetable seeds they bought in the plot he tilled last night, and then used the wash water for watering.
Second Aunt organized the items and put Xiao Mi and Iron Egg in their little beds for a nap, "Da Wa and Er Ni, stop playing. Watch over your siblings. Dad and Mom need to go to the fields for a while."
"Okay!" Da Wa and Er Ni quickly trotted over.
After carefully instructing them, she left with Jiang Hu.
They planned to use the remaining daylight to water the crops a bit more. Jiang Hu carried a full bucket of manure water, while Second Aunt, wanting to help, was firmly refused and only allowed to carry half a bucket.
As they reached the field, Jiang Hu poured manure while Second Aunt watered. Even before reaching the field, she would go ahead to pull weeds and pick tender ones to take back to feed the rabbits.
Strangely, the rabbits were finicky eaters. In the garden, no matter young or old, they would eat the weeds that had been watered with diaper water. But when it came to the wild grasses picked outside, they lost their appetite, nibbling only the tenderest pieces occasionally.
As the sky grew dark, the couple wrapped up their work. With four children at home and living at the edge of the village, they worried about staying out too late.
Before heading home, they checked on the crops they'd watered yesterday.
"Hmm? Second Aunt, do you think the crops look more lively today?"
Second Aunt looked closely, "We just watered them yesterday, and with the sun all day, it's normal for a little change."
Jiang Hu realized, "Right, my bad. Lost track with all the busyness. Let's head home."
When they arrived home, they found Da Wa holding Xiao Mi by the rainwater tank, peering inside.
"Da Wa, Xiao Mi, where are Er Ni and Iron Egg?"
"Iron Egg fell asleep, and Er Ni is keeping an eye on him inside. Mom, Xiao Mi loves the little fish, she always wants to see them."
Da Wa carried Xiao Mi away from the tank, while Xiao Mi clapped her hands excitedly.
Finally, after waiting so long, Jiang Hu and his wife had found an opportunity. Now the little fish in the hidden space could definitely breed!