CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41: WHY DID CORN START GROWING HERE?

Jiang Hu had already washed his hands, and upon hearing the talk, he straightened his expression right away: "Each one is for one person. If the children want it, I’ll buy more later. The one I gave you is just for you to eat."

Second Mom was still reluctant: "But this bun, it’s quite expensive, isn’t it?"

"It’s indeed not cheap, two copper coins for one bun. But I’ve seen others eat them, with thin skin and lots of filling, quite delicious. Just eat it. We can earn money now, and I’m not spending wastefully, am I?"

Seeing Second Mom still hesitated, Jiang Hu came over after washing his hands, took a big bite of one bun, and fed the other to her mouth.

"Moreover, the kids are still young and will have even tastier things in the future. This one is for you. We mustn’t keep thinking only about the kids. Look at many parents who are reluctant to have anything for themselves and give everything to the kids. Ultimately, the kids get used to it, and raising ungrateful ones happens quite often."

Second Mom was speechless, but was eventually persuaded by Jiang Hu. She took the bun and bit into it. Sure enough, as Brother Hu described, the skin was thin with lots of filling. Oil flowed all over her mouth.

Suddenly, she felt like the two copper coins didn’t seem expensive at all.

Xiaomi was listening to her dad’s opinions nearby, casually giving a thumbs up. Dad is great, just like this.

Children are simple-minded. If they grow up learning to let parents suffer while they enjoy, it will be a significant issue in the future.

Moreover, the money is earned by the parents through hard work. Parents naturally have the right to enjoy it together, right?

Xiaomi blew a bubble, bored, waiting for parents to finish their meal so they could take her to the fields to play. Listening to Big Brother and Second Sister constantly praising the meat buns, Xiaomi felt like it was pure torture!

Speaking of which, she had quite a lot of mantou, buns, and roll cakes in her space, with all sorts of fillings. But they were all frozen. Sigh, she should find an opportunity to eat them or else they’ll be wasted sitting in space.

Each got a meat bun, then a bowl of vegetable porridge, and shared some cakes. Everyone ate till their bellies were bulging.

Especially Second Sister, she couldn’t finish the vegetable porridge, which Jiang Hu helped finish.

After the meal, Big Kid went to wash the dishes, Second Sister released the chicks, Second Mom picked up Iron Egg to nurse him, while Jiang Hu grabbed the small cloth bag.

"Second Mom, yesterday I only focused on the vegetable seeds and forgot about this. I was actually reminded by the village chief in town. It’s March already, and we can plant corn now. We didn’t have corn seeds before, so I bought some today."

Xiaomi, who was trying to turn over, froze instantly.

Wait, dad, what did you say? We didn’t have corn seeds before? Then what’s growing in the fields?

Unfortunately, Second Mom and Jiang Hu didn’t notice Xiaomi’s petrified state. Second Mom looked at Iron Egg who stopped feeding after a few sips, secured her clothes and put Iron Egg back in the little bed, then brought Xiaomi over.

Xiaomi instinctively drank a few sips, but soon filled up and stopped feeding.

"Brother Hu, what’s with these two kids? Why do they all eat just a bit? It’s already been a month and a half, and still, they don’t eat much."

Having given birth to twins, she occasionally felt engorged, which hadn’t happened when raising one before. There was only clear broth and water, and the child would be hungry soon after eating.

If this story went out, people might think she was boasting.

Jiang Hu was holding Iron Egg to burp him. After the burp, he put him back in the little bed.

"If they eat less, they eat less. Look, the two kids are still growing so strong and adorable, especially Iron Egg. His changes are huge compared to when he was born, looking like a kitten, and now he’s catching up to Xiaomi."

Though not quite catching up, there’s still a gap, but his size almost doubled—that’s true.

Xiaomi proudly puffed up her chest. Of course, she diligently gave Iron Egg formula, he drank more Spiritual Spring water than she did!

Second Mom saw Xiaomi’s cute little face and laughed: "Xiaomi is also happy to see brother growing up, right?"

Xiaomi quickly nodded twice, yes indeed, with Iron Egg healthy, he’s less likely to get sick and can grow up safely.

The house was tidied up quickly. Jiang Hu and Second Mom went back to store the copper coins safely, some in a lesser amount in the grassy nook in the corner of the wall where the children were aware.

The larger portion got buried under the bed, with a jar placed inside a hole dug by Jiang Hu, known only to the couple and Xiaomi.

Then the family went to the fields to work. They were busier, since watering their previous crops was needed and continued to clear new fields for planting corn.

No one came to help today since others were busy. Second Mom grabbed a hoe and sickle, clearing and turning the ground beside. Jiang Hu handled the manure, watering their crops alone.

Big Kid helped weed. Though it was already weeded once, new wild grass grew intermittently and must be cleared promptly.

Second Sister’s duty was to take care of the little ones in the small bed. Many mosquitoes and insects were around outdoors; the rising temperatures increased them in the fields. Second Sister primarily helped shoo them away.

Being so busy, over a month then passed, and Xiaomi and Iron Egg both turned three months.

The Jiang family selling vegetables had long spread in Fuan Village. Yet, due to the low prices and Jiang Hu selling only for a few days, then again after more than half a month, not drawing much attention.

Moreover, Jiang Hu kept his word, even while growing and selling his own vegetables, still helping others in town with their hunting, while scarcely going up the mountain himself, giving no reason for others to complain.

It was late April by then with increasingly warming weather. The thin cotton coats were replaced by thicker single clothes. Finally, Xiaomi and Iron Egg didn’t need to wear diapers. Parents would timely help them with their toilet needs.

Xiaomi as an infant was long used to it, knowing that as she grew older, her dad would eventually stop assisting.

The family had chicks for over two months, growing considerably and didn’t need Big Kid and Second Sister to catch bugs for them. Released every morning, they’d hunt bugs on their own in the fields and rarely spoil the crops.

By evening, they’d return on their own to the courtyard at the family’s call.

The rabbits were still raised alongside the chicks in the same place. All six baby bunnies survived, growing plump, showing no desire to escape.

Big Kid was industrious, daily pulling grass to feed the rabbits, carefully cleaning their droppings and chick manure every alternate day, disposing them in the latrine, as parents said it’d be good for crops.

"Second Mom, why are there a few corn stalks growing in the sorghum field, and they look so healthy."

The family was in the fields, under some intense sunlight. Jiang Hu made a little shade with straw and bamboo beside, specifically to shield Xiaomi and Iron Egg from the sun.

They were approaching May, the sun growing hotter. Adults were fine, but Xiaomi and Iron Egg had tender skin prone to sunburn.

Second Mom looked closely: "Yes, why are there corn here? I remember not bringing corn seeds to this side."

Though corn and sorghum seedlings look similar, being professional in farming, they could distinguish easily.