CHAPTER 358: JUST WANT TO GIVE A KISS

So when it came to facing a small child, she was actually very scared deep down and lacked the courage.

Tian Sangsang listened as Xiaocui continued to talk.

Xiaocui pointed to a forest not far away, her face showing a trace of fear: "It’s best not to go in there. It’s dangerous. Even the men only go in to hunt. Also, my husband told me that we shouldn’t leave this settlement within a hundred miles on our own. There might be wild animals outside occasionally."

Suppressing her curiosity, Tian Sangsang nodded. She dared not venture too far, especially since Xiaocui was carrying a child—she worried the child might get cold in the snow and wind.

"So does this settlement include the forest?"

Xiaocui nodded: "Yes, it includes the forest. But women don’t dare to go in. If you accidentally run into a tiger or something, that’s the end of it. Even men can barely deal with a tiger, let alone women."

The two of them walked outside for over half an hour before returning to their respective homes.

Tian Sangsang had learned everything she needed to know.

Watching the time, Tian Sangsang took a plate of colorful pastries and warmed them up. Jiang Jinghuai liked sweet things—this she knew. A clever woman cannot cook without rice. She stared thoughtfully at the kitchen supplies. There weren’t many ingredients at home, but some neighbors had previously sent vegetables, lamb, and beef—just enough to cook some porridge and whip up a couple of simple dishes.

She crouched down and added a large piece of firewood. Watching the flickering flames, she rubbed her hands together for warmth. Just as she was lost in thought, she heard steady footsteps outside, crunching on the snow, and approaching the kitchen.

"Sangsang, here’s what you asked for."

Delighted, she turned toward the door. Snow dusted Jiang Jinghuai’s whole body, and he was carrying his hunt in both hands. Three dead rabbits, two pheasants, and a sack of fish—the fish inside were still hopping lively!

"Darling," Tian Sangsang hurried over in two steps, hugged his waist, and leaned against him briefly before stepping back, her eyes sparkling. "Did you go hunting?"

His voice was a little hoarse from the cold outside, but it was still deep and magnetic.

"Not through the woods. I saw these little guys outside the settlement and grabbed them. And some fish as a bonus."

Tian Sangsang touched him here and there. "Did you get hurt?"

Jiang Jinghuai’s dark eyes sank, as if he felt insulted. "You’re underestimating your man."

"Hm, you’re the most capable man I’ve ever met!" Tian Sangsang grinned and promptly took the hunt out of his hands.

Her words were so warm.

Jiang Jinghuai rarely heard compliments like that from her, and his heart melted. He even wanted to pull her in for a kiss. But before he could, someone tugged on his calf. Their son looked up at him with expectant black eyes. "Daddy, can you take me hunting next time?"

"You want to go hunting?" He picked up the little fellow and weighed him—about the same as the weight of the three rabbits. Though he encouraged his son to be self-reliant, taking him hunting now would be sending a lamb to slaughter.

"Yes, yes!" The little guy clenched his tiny fists. "I want to be like Dad, a man who hunts food for Mom to cook."

One sentence praising both parents put smiles on their faces. With a glint of amusement in his deep eyes, Jiang Jinghuai ruffled his son’s hair. "Tell Daddy, what do you want to hunt?"

Meng Shuyan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm... tigers."

"Tigers won’t do," Jiang Jinghuai replied. "Your mom wouldn’t be happy."

Why? Meng Shuyan blinked at him, confused.

Jiang Jinghuai solemnly tricked him: "Tigers are a protected species."

"But Daddy promised you," he continued. "I’ll take you fishing."

Meng Shuyan excitedly mistook fishing for hunting. "I can go hunting too!"

Watching the sly smirk at the edge of Jiang Jinghuai’s mouth, Tian Sangsang secretly complained: Son, you’re still too naive. Fishing and hunting are worlds apart—one is sitting quietly, and the other is sprinting through the wilderness. In terms of thrill, the latter wins hands down. Actually, she wanted to experience hunting herself, but she didn’t dare say it. The moment she mentioned it, Jiang Jinghuai would surely forbid her from going.

Tian Sangsang busied herself in the kitchen while Jiang Jinghuai leaned against the doorway idly.

Thinking he was hungry, she quickly began preparing the rabbits and casually said, "I warmed some pastries for you. If you’re hungry, go ahead and eat first."

He didn’t reply or show any sign of leaving.

Tian Sangsang glanced at him curiously, biting her lip. "Jiang Jinghuai, are you going to let me cook properly or not? The kitchen is too small—go wait outside. And stop staring at me like that; it feels indecent."

He chuckled lightly, about to say something, when suddenly, a fish jumped out from above, landed on the ground, and began flopping wildly.

"Ah!" She screamed, quickly retreating to the side and clutching her chest. Oh my god, it was so scary. The fish was still alive—how would she catch it? Clearly realizing its doomed fate, the fish struggled violently.

Jiang Jinghuai crouched down to grab the fish, giving her a calm look. "Hand me the knife."

Tian Sangsang froze and handed him the knife blankly, watching as he forcefully slammed the fish onto the cutting board. With swift, skilled movements that seemed straight out of a martial arts film, he gutted the fish cleanly in just a few cuts.

When he finished, he tossed the fish into a water basin. "Sangbao, the battlefield is yours now."

Tian Sangsang was still in a state of awe, holding the kitchen knife as she looked at him with admiration. "No wonder you’ve trained before. How come I never noticed how amazing you were..."

"Hmm?" He squinted dangerously.

"Hehe," Tian Sangsang immediately corrected herself, flashing a sycophantic smile. "How come I never noticed you’re so good at managing the household?"

He smirked slightly. "My wife is too good at managing the household—there’s no space for me to shine."

Complimenting him earned her a compliment in return.

Half the food was stored for the next day, while the rest was served at the dinner table. It included a big bowl of braised rabbit, a plate of steamed fish, and mushroom-stewed pheasant, accompanied by fluffy white rice and a few light vegetable dishes.

"Here, Yanyan, eat more," Tian Sangsang urged her son, then served a bowl of rice to Jiang Jinghuai. "You should eat more rice—I feel like you’ve lost weight. You don’t even look bulky, despite wearing so much."

Jiang Jinghuai was visibly touched, hurriedly eating two bites of hot rice, his eyes slightly red. Though he didn’t show much emotion, he picked out a piece of rabbit for her. "Here, you eat too."

After dinner, it was already pitch dark. There wasn’t a study room here, so reading or doing any leisure activities was inconvenient.

When it was nearing bedtime, Meng Shuyan brushed his teeth. Tian Sangsang then helped him wash his face, bathe him, and change him into soft, fragrant, fluffy pajamas.

The kang bed in the room had been heated earlier, making it warm and cozy.

"Yanyan, starting tonight, you’ll sleep alone," Tian Sangsang said reluctantly. "Can you handle it?"

Meng Shuyan’s big eyes immediately turned watery.

But he resisted the urge to cry and made an adorable determined expression. "Mom, I can do it!"

"I definitely can do it."

"Alright, Mom believes in you." She carried him to bed and tucked him in. She let out a sigh in her heart—how come her son didn’t show any panic? Did he really no longer need the comfort of her arms?