CHAPTER 174: CHAPTER 175: MUMU

"My adoptive mother’s hometown is in Blackwood, where there’s a Blackwood Mountain. The climatic and soil conditions there are similar to those on Eastminster Mountain. After my recent return from Blackwood, I had the water and soil tested. The soil composition of both mountains is very similar. Since Eastminster Mountain can grow those particular herbs, in theory, Blackwood Mountain can too."

"Two months ago, I sought the help of an expert in planting Oriental herbal medicine and initiated an experimental project on Blackwood Mountain. If it’s successful, we can abandon Eastminster Mountain."

"..."

"People have been making a fuss over that mountain every other day. I don’t have the leisure to waste time arguing with them over this matter."

Madam Johnson looked at Sienna with satisfaction. "You’re doing very well. Eastminster Mountain has always been unprofitable. Moreover, after years of planting herbs there, the soil quality is declining, and the growth of the herbs is poor. Your father has also been on the lookout for alternatives all these years."

"I didn’t expect that you would think ahead. I didn’t remind you about it, yet you found a solution."

"..."

"Sienna, you’ve done very well."

"Indeed, even if they didn’t demand Eastminster Mountain, I had planned to move the planting location anyway. After so many years of planting Oriental herbal medicines on Eastminster Mountain, the soil’s organic content has declined, and the quality of the herbs is not as good as before."

"Indeed, the quality of the herbs grown on Eastminster Mountain has been declining over the years."

"Grandma, I’m still worried. I plan to go to Blackwood Mountain again in the next few days to check on the planting situation."

"HMM."

Sienna looked extremely tired; even forcing a smile seemed to drain her energy. "Grandma, I’m a little tired. I’ll go rest first. I’ll keep you company when I have time."

"Go ahead."

Madam Johnson also instructed the kitchen to prepare nutritious meals for Sienna to help her replenish her strength.

...

The first thing Sienna did every day when she came back was to see Curly Baby.

Children grow incredibly fast. Curly Baby could now turn over but was not yet able to walk. However, she was eager to try, and when someone supported her by her arms, she would attempt to stand, bouncing her chubby legs happily.

"Curly Baby, Mommy is back." Sienna had taken a bath, changed into clean clothes, and smelled pleasant. Curly Baby giggled when she saw her.

"Did you eat a lot again today? Look at this little tummy." Sienna picked up her daughter and patted her round belly.

It was always Kiki who helped Sienna with the baby. Kiki was even more dedicated than she was as the mother. Sienna really didn’t know what she had done to earn such loyalty from Kiki and Lucas Robertson.

"She had three bottles of milk today, plus an egg custard. I also fed her some mashed potatoes and half a banana... And she’s still not full; she just gnawed on my hand," Kiki laughed.

"You little chubby one, if you keep eating like this, you’ll get even fatter."

"HEE HEE..." Curly Baby’s expressions were particularly varied. Hugging Sienna, she started to gnaw on her, leaving Sienna torn between amusement and exasperation. "Kiki, give her a little more. Look how hungry she is..."

"She can’t eat any more. She’s already had too much."

"MUMUM..."

Curly Baby suddenly made an indistinct sound. Kiki, who spent every day with Curly Baby, was naturally familiar with her "language."

Laughing, Kiki said, "Sienna, Curly Baby is calling you ’Mom’."

"HUH?"

Kiki said, "Curly Baby, say it again..."

Curly Baby showed her little rice-grain-like teeth and giggled but didn’t call out again. Sienna rubbed her forehead against her little one’s forehead. "You little rascal."

"MUMUM..." Curly Baby suddenly called again.

This time Sienna heard it clearly. "Baby, say it again..."

"MUMUM..."

Sienna’s eyes moistened. She had never imagined that one day a little one would actually call her "Mom."

She had become a mother!

"Curly Baby..." Sienna, deeply moved, said excitedly, "Kiki, she’s calling me ’Mommy’..."

Laughing, Kiki said, "She’s so much fun now. She’s even started to love looking at herself in the mirror. And she has started to choose her clothes. If she doesn’t like a piece of clothing, she’ll pull and tug at it, refusing to wear it."

"..."

"Little Curly Baby, right?" She rubbed Curly Baby’s curly hair. She looks just like a pretty doll.

"Sienna, come out. I have something to say to you." Mother Johnson suddenly appeared, breaking the peaceful and beautiful atmosphere.

Sienna handed the baby to Kiki, walked out of the nursery, and closed the door. Turning to Mother Johnson, she asked, "What’s the matter?"

"I heard that you returned Eastminster Mountain to them?"

"Yes."

Mother Johnson retorted angrily, "Why did you give Eastminster Mountain to them?"

"Because Grandpa originally agreed that if the Johnson Family couldn’t produce a son, Eastminster Mountain would be returned to the clan."

Grandpa’s generation placed great importance on bloodline and family inheritance. A robust family is like fertile soil; only with such soil can a tree grow tall. However, the Johnson Family now is not the same as it was in Grandpa’s time. Their hearts are no longer united.

"Aren’t you the heir of the Johnson Family? Isn’t Samara? What era is this to still insist on having a son? Even your father, when he was alive, never demanded that I bear him a son!" Mother Johnson said angrily.

"So, Madam, what do you plan to do?" Sienna asked calmly.

Sienna was now observing Pauline Briggs from a bystander’s perspective. She realized this woman truly hadn’t grown up. She acted on her whims but was fortunate that everyone doted on her—something Sienna couldn’t even dream of.

"When Dexter was alive, he devoted so much effort to Eastminster Mountain. They’ve done nothing, yet they want to reap the benefits. Why should they? Get it back for me! That mountain is your father’s property, not theirs!"

Sienna wasn’t as obsessed as Pauline Briggs. To her, it was merely an ordinary mountain; she didn’t really attach much importance to it.

"I’m very busy, and they’ve been harassing me every few days about the ownership of Eastminster Mountain. I don’t have the time to deal with them. Madam, since you are confident you can handle them, then I’ll leave the matter of Eastminster Mountain to you."

"I’ve only signed the contract to lease Eastminster Mountain. As for the ownership of Eastminster Mountain, it hasn’t been transferred yet. If you can get Eastminster Mountain back, I’ll pay the 900,000 dollars for the lease from my personal account."

"Sienna, you’ve become quite the big spender. Back in the day, you couldn’t even bear to buy a 1,500-dollar T-shirt. Now you casually toss around 750,000 dollars."

"..."

"How much money did that man give you for you to willingly debase yourself, sell your body, and even bring back an illegitimate child!"

If the other party weren’t her biological mother, Sienna would have slapped her on the spot. Her chest ached with anger, yet she was utterly helpless when it came to Pauline Briggs.

She couldn’t scold her, and hitting her was even more out of the question.

And yet, this Pauline Briggs always seemed to find ways to make her miserable.