Chapter 71

The following day, it started to snow lightly again. Wang Yuan’er got up early and cooked a pot of rice porridge. She fed the thick porridge water to Xiao Baolai, but the little guy took a couple of sips and started crying, clearly not liking it.

“You may not like it, but there’s no choice. You need to fill your stomach. Be good!” Wang Yuan’er gently patted his bottom, her brows knitted with worry.

There was no other way. He was not even a month old yet, and besides porridge water and human milk, he couldn’t eat anything like rice paste. But where could she get human milk except by begging?

If only there were cow’s milk.

Xiao Baolai kicked his legs and cried his heart out, his cries echoing.

“Early in the morning, can’t people get some sleep? Crying all day long, and you don’t even try to soothe him,” Wang Min’er yawned as she walked out of the east room, glaring at Wang Yuan’er with disdain.

“Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to sleep in the future,” Wang Qing’er said, bringing out a basin of hot water from the kitchen, giving her a cold look and speaking harshly.

Wang Min’er’s eyes widened, “Who are you cursing?”

“Whoever it applies to,” Wang Qing’er snorted.

“You…”

“What’s all the noise about?” Grandma Wang came out of the main room, giving the two of them a cold look. Wang Min’er pouted and went back inside, slamming the curtain.

Wang Qing’er also went back into the east room with the water, mumbling under her breath.

Wang Yuan’er didn’t have the energy to deal with her. She held Xiao Baolai and walked around the room, trying to soothe him, but the little ancestor just kept crying.

“Why is he crying so much?” Grandma Wang came into the room, frowned, and reached out to take the baby.

Wang Yuan’er was at her wit’s end. “He won’t eat the porridge water, just cries.”

“Did he soil himself?” Grandma Wang glanced at her, told Wang Qing’er to close the door, and put Xiao Baolai on the kang to untie his swaddling clothes.

Sure enough, the little guy had soiled himself. Wang Yuan’er was a bit frustrated, feeling she still didn’t know how to take care of a baby.

Grandma Wang swiftly washed Xiao Baolai’s bottom, changed his diaper, and cleaned him up. The little guy immediately stopped crying, just smacking his lips and humming.

“He likes to be clean.” Grandma Wang’s heart softened at the sight, and she smiled, seeing the bowl of rice soup. She held him in one arm and picked up a spoon to feed him.

“Grandma, let me do it,” Wang Yuan’er hesitated.

Grandma Wang gave her a stern look. “What, do you think I can’t handle it? I’m not too old to feed a grandson.”

Her words were gruff and firm. Wang Yuan’er sheepishly stepped aside.

“Rice soup might not be enough. Should we ask for milk from Shugen’s wife again?” Grandma Wang looked at her grandson with pity.

Wang Yuan’er nodded.

“Shugen’s wife is kind. Don’t go empty-handed. There’s a jar of eggs in the kitchen; take it to her.”

Wang Yuan’er was stunned. “Those eggs were hard to save up. They should be for Grandpa and Grandma to nourish themselves. And Auntie won’t be happy.”

“Just take them. This is my house.” Grandma Wang tossed the spoon, put Xiao Baolai in her arms, and lifted the curtain to leave.

Seeing this, Wang Qing’er came over and asked, “Eldest sister, what’s with Grandma? When did she become so generous?”

Holding Xiao Baolai, Wang Yuan’er said, “Grandma has a sharp tongue but a soft heart!”

After two lifetimes, Grandma Wang hadn’t shown favoritism to the second house over theirs, but she had a protective side. She wasn’t as cold and heartless as imagined. She cared for her grandchildren in her own way.

Chapter 72

The next morning, Wang Yuan’er carried Xiao Baolai on her back and brought a small basket of eggs to Shugen’s house again. This time, she knocked on the door for a long time before Shugen’s wife finally opened it.

Seeing Shugen’s wife’s expression, Wang Yuan’er felt a pang in her heart but forced a smile. “Sister Shugen,” she said, offering the basket of eggs. “These days, we’ve troubled you a lot. Here are some eggs. If you don’t mind, you can make some egg drop soup for the children.”

Shugen’s wife glanced at the basket of eggs, a complex expression flashing in her eyes, but she didn’t take it.

Seeing this, Wang Yuan’er understood immediately. She pressed her lips together and asked, “Sister Shugen, is there a problem?”

Shugen’s wife looked embarrassed and said, “Yuan’er, your Uncle Shugen said our daughter doesn’t have enough milk, so…”

Wang Yuan’er bit her lip and forced a smile. “Of course, your daughter comes first.” She tightened her grip on the basket and said, “I’ll head back then.”

“Wait.”

As Wang Yuan’er turned to leave, Xiao Baolai, on her back, started crying loudly, as if unwilling to leave or perhaps already familiar with Shugen’s wife’s scent.

Wang Yuan’er had to turn back and gently soothe him, patting his back.

“Wait, Yuan’er,” Shugen’s wife stepped forward. “Since you’re here, one more feeding won’t hurt. I’ll nurse him one more time.”

“But…”

“It’s fine. One less feeding won’t starve her.” Shugen’s wife quickly untied the sling and took the baby. The little guy eagerly nuzzled into her chest like a little piglet.

Seeing this, Shugen’s wife felt both pity and affection. However, fearing rumors, she couldn’t argue with her husband over this child and could only do this much. Poor thing, never having tasted his mother’s milk since birth. How would he grow up like this?

These days, Wang Yuan’er had heard many rumors about Xiao Baolai’s tough fate and understood that Shugen’s family was avoiding trouble. She couldn’t blame them. But who would she ask for milk in the future?

In the end, Shugen’s wife didn’t take the basket of eggs. Wang Yuan’er carried it back, pondering which family’s daughter-in-law had given birth so she could ask for milk.

If only there were cow’s milk or goat’s milk!

Passing by the back alley of the Tang family, Wang Yuan’er heard a shout. She looked over and saw a steward-like person directing two sturdy maids carrying a bucket of something. One of the maids, perhaps out of fear, tilted the bucket, spilling a lot of milky white liquid.

“You clumsy girl! I just told you to be careful, and you mess up already. Are you trying to embarrass me?” The steward slapped the maid’s shoulder and scolded her harshly.

The maid quickly knelt and begged for forgiveness.

“Steward Zhou, why are you still dawdling? The young lady is waiting for this milk!” A well-dressed maid came out from the back door.

“Oh, Sister Cui, we’re on it,” Steward Zhou said, urging the maid, “Hurry up.”

The two maids quickly carried the bucket inside.

Steward Zhou looked at the spilled liquid, still cursing under his breath, feeling unlucky. Just as he was about to go inside, he heard a voice behind him.

“Excuse me, Steward, is this goat’s milk or cow’s milk?”