CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 57: THE HEN LAID AN EGG

However, just as Jiang Hu was carrying the child out the door, Xiao Mi clutched his neck and shouted, "Ox, Dad, Ox!"

We need to rent an ox cart. Once we rent an ox cart, it’ll be much easier to come to town, and Dad won’t have to work so hard!

Jiang Hu understood, turned around to glance at Xiao Ding, who was already busy, and used his other hand to pat Xiao Mi’s head.

"Xiao Mi, don’t rush. Tomorrow morning, Daddy will ask again and let Uncle Xiao Ding talk to his father. They’re all busy right now, so we won’t disturb them."

Xiao Mi hesitated for a moment but eventually gave up.

They had just had some ice slush, and Da Wa and Er Ni were satisfied. Jiang Hu carried a basket on his back, held Xiao Mi, and took the iron egg. Er Niang held Er Ni’s hand and watched over Da Wa. The whole family of six felt well-rested.

Earlier at the restaurant, Er Niang didn’t talk much, but now she seemed much more relaxed.

The family of six walked down the road. Although the couple was young, they had four children, especially the two in their arms, who were fair and cuddly, unlike the typical farm kids, drawing frequent glances from others.

But at this moment, Er Niang didn’t mind the looks from others and spoke kindly, "Let’s check out the fabric shop and buy some thin cloth to make clothes for the kids. Xiao Mi and the iron egg also need new ones."

Because they signed an agreement to sell vegetables to the restaurant, they made quite a bit of money from selling produce. Er Niang wasn’t as ’stingy’ as she used to be. Moreover, this trip to town was rare, and they needed to buy what had to be bought.

Jiang Hu nodded, "Sure, let’s go to the fabric shop first. We came late today, so the meat is probably sold out. We won’t go today; tomorrow, I’ll come early and buy some ribs and fatty meat."

Fatty meat is mainly used for rendering oil, and the leftover bits can be used to fry vegetables, which tastes great.

As for pork lard, ordinary families can’t even think about it; it’s reserved before the pigs are slaughtered, and it’s more expensive than fatty meat.

They bought cloth and needles, then went to the grain shop. This time, Jiang Hu bought thirty pounds of grains. Er Niang also asked for a pound of polished rice to cook rice porridge for Xiao Mi and the iron egg.

Da Wa and Er Ni didn’t get the same treatment and would continue to eat coarse rice with their parents. However, Jiang Hu bought some snacks for them, the cheapest mung bean pastries, and that was enough to make the siblings happy.

After walking around, they saw some meat buns, and Jiang Hu bought a few to take with them. Then they found an ox cart to take them back to Fuan Village.

This time wasn’t as exhausting as last time. The couple sat in the ox cart and even had the energy to chat.

"Brother Hu, if we actually rent the ox cart, what if others in the village want to use it?"

After all, according to Xiao Ding, the Big Water Buffalo is a lifesaver for their family. They wouldn’t even want to use it themselves, let alone let others.

Jiang Hu hadn’t considered this issue before, but upon hearing it from Er Niang, he frowned slightly, "It’s indeed a problem. If someone from the village wants to use it, it would be hard to refuse."

After all, they’re all from the same village, and during busy farming seasons, the work that an ox cart can do exceeds that of a strong laborer.

But Jiang Hu thought about it, couldn’t figure out a solution, and gave up, "Let’s not worry about it for now; we’ll talk about it tomorrow. Renting it in the first place is still a question. It’s just a pity that an ox is too expensive, and we can’t afford one yet."

Buying two piglets is cheap, less than two hundred copper coins for two two-month-old piglets.

But even a just-weaned calf costs nearly ten taels of silver. Not to mention their family, even the entire Fu’an Village combined probably couldn’t afford one calf.

Er Niang nodded in agreement. If anyone could buy an ox, they’d be considered wealthy.

This time, Jiang Hu didn’t pretend. Instead, he let the ox cart take them directly to their doorstep. Of course, doing so drew the attention of the villagers.

Fortunately, by the time they returned to Fu’an Village, it was already noon. Everyone was busy preparing lunch. The weather was hot, so no one stopped the ox cart midway to talk to Jiang Hu and his family.

When they arrived home, everyone was sweating profusely. Jiang Hu quickly poured a bowl of water for the driver and gave him some copper coins before letting him go.

Er Niang took Xiao Mi and the iron egg to relieve themselves and then asked Er Ni to look after them while she organized the purchases.

She put the food in the kitchen and the items back in the bedroom. Jiang Hu had made some cabinets, and the house was gradually feeling more like home.

Then she started cooking.

"Er Niang, let’s make porridge for lunch and eat the meat buns. In this hot weather, they’ll spoil if left for too long."

After sending the driver away, Jiang Hu went straight into the kitchen to help Er Niang with the fire.

Er Niang added water, half a bowl of coarse rice, and used a small clay pot to wash a handful of polished rice, which she put in, adding half a pot of water and placing it on the stove.

"When the rice is done, put this in the flue to simmer. In the afternoon, we can feed some to Xiao Mi and the iron egg."

Jiang Hu nodded to show he understood, then asked, "The kids are only five months old; can they eat food?"

Before, although he helped care for the children, most of the time, he was busy in the fields, so he was a bit clueless about when children can start eating solid food.

"I added plenty of water. After simmering for one or two hours, the rice will be thoroughly cooked, and they can have a bit each day."

One handful of rice for two children should be enough. Recently, it was noticeable that the milk supply was slightly insufficient. Although the two didn’t eat much, they emptied the supply each time.

For Da Wa and Er Ni, since there was only one child, they waited until they were almost a year old before cooking soft porridge with coarse rice to feed them slowly.

Now, with the family doing better and the two children indeed lacking milk, they bought some polished rice. Still, Er Niang was reluctant to buy too much. She just got a pound, and when it’s finished, they’ll buy more.

Jiang Hu nodded to show he understood. What amazed him most about these two children was that despite eating little, they rarely seemed hungry and were quite sturdy.

Not to mention Xiao Mi, who was so plump and white that when carried outside, people thought she was seven or eight months old. Even the once-weak iron egg, soft like a kitten, was now comparable to an ordinary five-month-old and even more energetic and fair.

Er Niang picked some vegetable leaves, chopped them, added them to the porridge, and then went to the field to find two crooked cucumbers.

Ever since the vegetables in the field matured, they ate the old and crooked ones that didn’t look good, while anything with a bit of appearance and market value was sent to Tongfu Restaurant by Jiang Hu.

As soon as Da Wa got home, he went to tend to the chicks and rabbits. After a good nap on the ox cart ride back, everyone was full of energy.

The wild grass in the field was picked clean daily, so they used older leaves with yellow spots to feed the chickens and rabbits.

Just as Er Niang had the buns steaming, Da Wa came rushing in.

"Mom, an egg! The chick laid an egg!"