CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 50: BIG COUSIN GETS THINGS DONE

The aroma of the dishes filled the room, capturing everyone’s senses to the point where they couldn’t think of anything else.

Even Qiao Mingtang, who originally wanted to bring up a matter—his eldest had asked him to check on Little Mingyue’s hardships, knowing she was abandoned in the city and returned to the countryside, where it’s too poor to even have enough to eat. His eldest said he wanted to cover all expenses for the Third Branch of the Jiang Family whenever possible.

But now it seems he’ll never have the chance.

I heard Little Mingyue’s elder brothers are skilled hunters. Look at this... wild boar, wild chicken, wild rabbit—they have more than enough to eat. And if that’s not enough, their cousin has even more to offer.

With this? Eldest wants to be a financial backer? Maybe in the next lifetime.

Even the always calm Mrs. Jiang was stunned. Such a feast prepared by her Ming Yue was something she never dared to imagine before.

That night, the siblings went up the mountain to hunt and had a bountiful harvest, making life a bit easier for the family.

But having raised four children alone for so many years, she’s been through life and death struggles several times, so she has no problem figuring out the amount of food and meat needed.

The pork barely adds up, but as Ming Yue said before, the rice, flour, and oil they eat were exchanged for cured pork. Yet their appetite was astonishing, having eaten like this for so many days, it would’ve all been gone by now. Not to mention the chickens and rabbits—it was apparent there were too many extras...

Then, Jiang Ming’an served Mrs. Jiang some food, muttering quietly, and Ming Yue saw the worried frown on Mrs. Jiang’s forehead relax.

Indeed, the cousin takes the blame without fail.

Before the formal meal started, the second brother was sent by Mrs. Jiang to Granny Shi’s to borrow two bottles of corn liquor.

The aroma of the food and liquor filled the warm room, in stark contrast to the drizzling rain outside.

Jiang Mingyue was the first to finish eating. She told Xiao Ran to eat by himself, then quietly excused herself to bring the pre-prepared food to Granny Shi.

"Granny Shi, are you close with Uncle Niu?"

Granny Shi widened her eyes, "Who’s close with that cripple? Don’t talk nonsense!"

Come on! Isn’t your reaction just proving the saying, ’There’s no 300 taels of silver here’?

"Take the bowls from this morning and scram."

"Alright, it’s going to be chilly at night. Remember to put on an extra blanket, Granny Shi."

Granny Shi’s fingertip trembled slightly as she held the chopsticks: Wang Tiezhu said she was biased, well, have a look and he’ll know that there’s a reason for the bias.

After leaving Granny Shi’s house, Jiang Mingyue didn’t head straight back home. She turned in a different direction.

This was something she had discussed with Mrs. Jiang.

It was Jiang Mingyue’s first visit to Aunt Jiao’s house. Their family was just starting dinner. Luckily, she had eaten beforehand, otherwise, it really wouldn’t have been a good time to visit.

Before Jiang Mingyue could call out to anyone, Aunt Jiao had already exclaimed in surprise.

"Ming Yue?"

"Aunt Jiao, my brother caught two rabbits a few days ago. Fortunately, they turned out to be a male and a female. Now the female rabbit has given birth to six kits, so my mom asked me to bring two over for Xiao Meng to raise. They’re easy to care for, just need some wild grass and vegetables. Plus, they breed quickly, so you can eat rabbit meat more often."

Jiang Mingyue originally planned to bring Aunt Jiao some ham and spicy rabbit, but seeing the dinner of the little girl at the doorstep with just green veggies in corn porridge as clear as a mirror, she instantly changed her mind.

The meat in front of you is delicious, but it’s gone once you eat it. Live rabbits are different.

Although she could give everything, someone like Aunt Jiao wouldn’t accept it.

Undoubtedly, Aunt Jiao is a very kind person. Even when her own family doesn’t have enough to eat, she still manages to save up eggs to give to Mrs. Jiang for entertaining guests, which shows how genuine and decent she is.

Jiang Mingyue thought, if there’s any way she can help Aunt Jiao in the future, she’ll definitely do her best.

"Ming Yue, how can I accept this?"

"Why not? My elder brother and second brother often go hunting. Who knows, they might catch something even better next time. Xiao Meng, do you like them?"

The little girl is only two years older than Jiang Ran, just as delicate and obedient, but upon seeing the two cute little white rabbits, her eyes lit up instantly.

She timidly looked at Jiang Mingyue, "Can I have them?"

"So, does that mean Xiao Meng likes them? Then of course they’re for Xiao Meng. I was just worried you wouldn’t like them, and these rabbits would be left without someone to care for them, which would be very pitiful."

After hearing this, Xiao Meng immediately felt a sense of duty to take care of the rabbits and feed them well until they grow up.

"See, Aunt Jiao, just let her raise them."

Aunt Jiao smiled helplessly: Ming Yue, this girl, is delivering things in such a roundabout way! And indeed, this method made it impossible for her to refuse.

"Alright! Thank you, Ming Yue."

"Thank you for what? Didn’t you always help our family? By the way, Aunt Jiao, does Xiao Meng know how to read?"

Aunt Jiao shook her head, "We were going to send her to the elementary school in town, but things changed. I’ve heard all the schools are closed now. It’s really worrisome! A woman already has a tough life, and if she can’t even read a word, she’ll only suffer more in the future."

The worry came deep from Aunt Jiao’s heart, and Jiang Mingyue could feel it.

"Aunt Jiao, I’m planning to teach Xiao Ran, so if Xiao Meng wants to learn, she can come to my place whenever she has time starting tomorrow, and they can learn together."

"Really?" Both the mother and daughter spoke in unison.

This made Jiang Mingyue very gratified.

A mother’s hope and a daughter’s longing, it was nothing short of a perfect mutual journey.

Jiang Mingyue smiled, "Of course it’s true. Xiao Meng, see you tomorrow!"

Jiang Mingyue generally doesn’t like to take on trouble herself, but those 30 eggs compared to the small bowl of veggie corn juice brought tears to her eyes.

If someone with a mountain of gold gives you a leaf of gold, that’s nothing significant.

If someone picks only a single fruit, yet gives it to you while he’s willing to drink from the pond or the worms on the ground, then that kindness is incredibly precious.

Back home, Jiang Mingyue shared the explanation she had planned with Mrs. Jiang, finally putting her heart at ease.

"Thank you, our Yueyue."

"Mom, we’re family, there’s no need to thank."

Mrs. Jiang opened her mouth, as she had always wanted to say: I’m sorry, Little Yue, it was your mother who lost you back then. She also wanted to say thank you, Little Yue, thank you for still willing to come back and call me mom.

Who knows how their cousin manages it, being so efficient himself that others also match his pace.

The next day, the carpenter and mason both arrived.

The older one was the master, also the father-in-law, while the younger one was the son-in-law named He Lin, with long limbs, clearly built to be an excellent woodworker.

The mason was a true father-and-son duo, the father Xing Zong, and the son Xing Jiyuan. Both looked solid and honest, yet when they spoke, they were eloquent and spoke with precision.

They were introduced by their distant uncle, who had directly asked Yan Jinzhi to bring them over, probably still sleeping himself.

According to Mrs. Jiang’s plan, Jiang Mingyue and Jiang Zhenmei got up early in the morning to make a pot of buns so that everyone who came to work could have two buns each to stave off hunger.