Chapter 2: This Is Too Poor

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Jiang Hu dug the ground uneasily. The Yong’an Dynasty had just ended the war, and less than 10% of the surrounding towns were left. Fu’an Village was also filled with homeless people from all over who had been placed in the same village by the Imperial Court.

They had just settled down for less than half a month when his wife, Er Niang’s stomach was beginning to show movement. Er Niang was more than seven months pregnant and her stomach was very big, as if she was about to give birth.

The doctor said that Er Niang was very likely to have twins in her stomach. She would be pregnant for seven or eight months at most before she gave birth. Calculating the days, it would be soon.

Jiang Hu wanted to stay at home with his wife, but he could not. The Imperial Court had just distributed grain seeds. He had to plant them as soon as possible and dig up wild vegetables to ensure that the family would not starve to death.

The eldest son was only five years old and worked in the fields with him. Only his three-year-old daughter was left at home to watch over his mother. If his wife was due to give birth, his daughter would go to Granny Liu at the village. Granny Liu was a midwife and the only old woman in the village who had experience delivering babies.

“Dad, look at this. It’s a huge worm!”

The eldest son, Dawa, suddenly picked up a white worm from the ground in surprise. It was fat and had several pairs of small feet in the front of its body. It curled up together after being dug out.

However, not only was Dawa not afraid, he even held it in his hands happily.

Jiang Hu was also delighted. “Put it away. I’ll roast it for your mother when we get home.”

Having just settled down, their homes were bare. Even the place they lived in was left behind by the former villagers after they fled. Other than 20 catties of food distributed by the Imperial Court, there was nothing at home.

As for the 20 catties of food, their family of six might have to eat until the crops in the fields grew!

Although this worm was scary, it was still meat. His wife was pregnant with two. It was good to have a bite.

Dawa quickly found leaves and carefully wrapped the worm, tied it with fine grass, and placed it on the field.

The two of them busied themselves for a while more before Erni rushed up the mountain. “Father, Eldest Brother, Mother has given birth, a sister and a brother!”

When Jiang Hu heard this, he immediately stopped working. He picked up the hoe and ran down the mountain. “Dawa, come back slowly with your sister!”

When Dawa heard that his mother had given birth to a younger brother and sister, he also hurriedly wanted to go home. But he did not forget that he still had to bring the big fat worm and his younger sister with him.

Jiang Hu ran home quickly. When the others saw this, they probably knew what was going on and did not ask further, lest they delayed Jiang Hu.

When Jiang Hu reached home, the house was quiet. There was no sound of adults or children. He was shocked and hurriedly went to the bedroom. As soon as he pushed open the door, he could smell the strong smell of blood.

Er Niang was lying on the bed with two small swaddling clothes beside her. They were his two children.

Jiang Hu slowed down and walked quietly to the bed. He checked his breathing and heaved a sigh of relief when he knew that his wife and child were sleeping.

He did not disturb her. He just lifted the blanket and took a look. Er Niang’s lower body had only been cleaned up briefly. There was still a lot of blood.

After all, Granny Liu was old and Erni was young. She could not do these things at all. Jiang Hu was not in the mood to work, so he went to the kitchen to boil hot water and bathe Er Niang.

There was nothing to eat at home, not even a mouthful of meat or fish. In the previous war, all the pheasants and hares in the nearby mountains had been chased away and had yet to return. It was not easy to hunt for food up in the mountains.

Er Niang was much more energetic after a nap. When she woke up, she saw Jiang Hu helping to clean her up. She hurriedly said, “Why are you doing this? Stop doing it. You’ll be laughed at.”

Although Jiang Hu was tall and burly, his movements were very gentle. When he heard this, he only pretended to be angry. “I’m cleaning my wife’s body. Who dares to say anything?”

This was what Jiang Xiaomi heard when she woke up again.

So she had a father. That was good, that was good. Her chances of survival had increased again.

Moreover, it seemed that her parents were quite close. Her father was actually willing to help her mother clean up after childbirth.

Perhaps because the father sensed his daughter, Jiang Hu looked over and saw Jiang Xiaomi looking at him curiously with her big eyes.

“Er Niang, look, the child is awake. He’s so obedient. He’s fair and fat. Is this your younger brother?” Jiang Hu leaned closer happily, his honest face imprinted in Jiang Xiaomi’s eyes.

You’re the younger brother. Your entire family are younger brothers! Jiang Xiaomi tried her best to retort, but unfortunately, all she said was “Ahh!”

Jiang Hu was even happier. “Er Niang, look. Baby is looking at me. He must like me very much.”

Then he looked at the other one. “Why is his sister still sleeping? So tiny. Why is she so tiny?”

With that, he picked up the little guy with heartache.

Jiang Xiaomi almost rolled her eyes.

Er Niang remembered Auntie Liu’s words. She turned slightly and touched Xiaomi’s face. “This is the elder sister. The one you’re carrying is the younger brother. Auntie Liu said that there’s a bruise on the younger brother’s waist. He is very small.”

Usually for newborn children the boys were stronger than girls. No wonder Jiang Hu was mistaken.

“Really? Let me see?” Jiang Hu was extremely surprised. He quickly opened the swaddling clothes and took a look. Then he quickly wrapped him up. “It’s really the younger brother. The mark on his waist looks like a footprint.”

Xiaomi was a little embarrassed. It was fine if her brother was a little difficult to raise, but she had even kicked him before he was born.

“Mother, Mother!” At this moment, Dawa rushed in with his hands cupped. “Mother, eat this. I roasted a worm. It’s very fat. Eat the worm so that you can raise my younger siblings.”

Dawa had been back for a while. He roasted the fat worms in the kitchen with a charcoal fire before hurriedly bringing it to his mother.

There were three fat worms. They were roasted until they were brown and smelled good. Erni, who had followed her brother into the room, couldn’t help but swallow her saliva.

Although Er Niang was hungry, her heart still ached for the children. “Mother won’t eat. Dawa, eat with your sister.”

“Mother, eat. Grandma Liu said that you have to eat well so that your younger siblings can live.” The three-year-old Erni was very sensible. She remembered everything Grandma Liu said.

Coincidentally, her little brother woke up at this moment. Perhaps he was hungry and started to cry, but his voice was very weak, making Jiang Hu’s heart clench.

“Er Niang, eat quickly. If you don’t eat, how can you have milk? My younger siblings must be hungry.”

Er Niang was also anxious when she heard her youngest son’s kitten-like cries, but she did not feel like she was breastfeeding yet. This made her panic.

“Okay, I’ll eat.” Er Niang quickly fed the three roasted fat worms into her mouth. Although they smelled good, they did not taste good. But it was already rare to have a bite at this time, how could she be picky about the taste?

After eating, Jiang Hu helped her sit up and carried his crying youngest son over for his wife to feed him. After that, Jiang Hu then carried Xiaomi.

“Sanni, wait a moment. Your younger brother is too thin. After he finishes, it’ll be your turn. Don’t worry, Daddy will definitely make you all fat and fair.”

Jiang Hu’s heart ached. He was useless. He could not find anything delicious, causing the two newborn children to be in danger of starving at any time.

Xiaomi uttered “Ahh” twice, indicating that it was fine. She had kicked her younger brother. She probably had her reasons for being so thin. It was only right for her younger brother to eat first.

“Er Niang, look, Sanni is smiling. Her smile is so beautiful.” Jiang Hu felt his heart melting.

Dawa and Erni also came over and Dawa reminded them, “Sanni, be good. I’ll find worms for Mother to eat. Sanni and little brother will drink milk and grow up together.”

Xiaomi looked at the two siblings, who were so thin that their eyes were bulging. She was shocked. Was this family too poor?

No, no. How could one who raises a child be eating only worms? Thinking of the mountain of supplies in her space, she had to think of a way to not let everyone starve to death.

Xiaomi felt stifled at the thought of having to worry about the survival of her family as soon as she was born.

Sigh, who asked her to have a cheat sheet? Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. With the space in hand, I have the world. It’s just raising a family. There’s no problem at all!