Chapter 3: You Truly Are Mother’s Little Fu Bao!

The wild pheasant that dropped from the sky filled the entire Ye Family with excitement.

But Old Madam Ye calmly issued instructions: “Keep your voices down. While everyone else is still asleep, hurry and stew it quietly.

“Only what’s in your belly truly belongs to you. If someone sees it, it could bring trouble!”

Seizing the opportunity, Madam Ye carried Qingtian over to her mother-in-law, trying to please her. “Mother, look, this is Qingtian.

“Isn’t it amazing? We just brought the child back, and our family caught a big wild pheasant.”

Old Madam Ye raised her eyes to look at Qingtian, then took the girl’s hand and patted it twice before nodding. “She’s a pitiful child. As long as you two like her, I have no objections.

“But let me say the unpleasant part first: since you’ve decided to keep her, you must treat her as your own.

“If you’re going to mistreat her later, then it’s better not to raise her at all.

“Otherwise, you won’t be raising a child—you’ll be making an enemy for yourself!”

Big Brother Ye quickly stepped forward and assured her, “Mother, don’t worry. From today onward, Qingtian is my own daughter.”

Just as the matter of adopting Qingtian was settled, the other three brothers had already worked together to move the stove and cooking pot to a downwind spot, far from where others were gathered.

The sisters-in-law all pitched in and quickly cleaned the wild pheasant. Then they came to fetch Madam Ye to take charge of the cooking.

Second Sister-in-law of the Ye Family gently took Qingtian from her arms and said, “Good girl, I’m your Second Aunt. Let me hold you for a while for your mother.

“It’s not every day we get to eat meat—we’ve got to let your mother, the head chef, handle the cooking. Otherwise, it would be such a waste.”

The young boys in the family weren’t running wild anymore. Each of them held a bowl and gathered eagerly around the pot.

It was Qingtian’s first time smelling something so fragrant. Even the meat stewed by Madam Shan back then had never smelled this good.

But she didn’t dare show it. She just quietly swallowed her drool in secret.

Once the pheasant was ready, Big Brother Ye helped Old Madam Ye over to the pot.

The rest of the Ye Family quickly stepped aside, even the rowdy boys standing properly to the side.

“You little ones caught the pheasant today, so each of you gets three pieces of meat.

“That’s enough now—don’t crowd around here. Go eat somewhere else!”

Though Old Madam Ye’s hair had already turned white, her hands were steady and precise as she served the meat from the pot. For the five children, she carefully scooped out the best parts—more meat, less bone.

The five rascals, practically intoxicated by the aroma, each found a spot to sit and immediately began wolfing down their food.

Watching her brothers devour their meal, Qingtian couldn’t help but cast a longing glance their way.

Madam Ye noticed and asked, “Qingtian, are you craving some?”

But Qingtian trembled in fear and shook her head repeatedly. “Qingtian’s not craving it. Qingtian doesn’t want to eat. Don’t—don’t hit me…”

“Good girl, don’t be afraid. No one will ever hit you again. In a moment, Grandma will serve you some chicken.”

Madam Ye’s heart nearly shattered from the sight. She wished she could give Qingtian everything good in the world.

Madam Guo took her bowl from Old Madam Ye’s hands, but her eyes were still fixed on the pot. “Mother, there’s still that big chicken leg left—can I have a little more?”

“You’ve been sitting on your backside all day, haven’t even set foot on the ground. You’re lucky to have any meat at all, and now you want a drumstick? The way I see it, you look more like a drumstick yourself!”

After scolding her, Old Madam Ye added, “Laoda, go add another handful of firewood. Let that chicken leg cook a little longer until it’s nice and soft—then we’ll give it to Qingtian.”

“What for?!” Madam Guo exploded the moment she heard that. Ignoring Fourth Brother Ye’s frantic attempts to pull her back, she stomped her foot and shouted, “We already gave up a whole sack of corn for her! Why should she still get the drumstick?!”

Old Madam Ye’s expression darkened instantly. She slammed her chopsticks down. “Because that’s what your Big Brother and Sister-in-law saved from their own mouths! What’s it got to do with you?”

Fourth Brother Ye quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Mother, she just talks without thinking. Don’t stoop to her level.”

He pulled Madam Guo aside and placed the two pieces of chicken from his own bowl into hers. “I saved these for you—hurry and eat them while they’re still hot!”

Seeing the chicken in her bowl, Madam Guo forgot her anger. She devoured it in just a few bites, but still unwilling to give up, she lingered near the pot with her bowl, reluctant to move away.

Meanwhile, Madam Ye ladled out a small bowl of chicken soup. She blew on it gently while stirring it to cool it down.

The rich aroma wafted from the bowl, making Qingtian swallow hard, unable to stop herself.

As soon as the soup was cool enough, Madam Ye hurried to feed it to her.

“Drink a little soup first to warm your belly. We’ll eat some meat later.”

A spoonful of warm, fragrant soup was gently brought to her lips.

Qingtian’s eyes flew wide open—
Was something this delicious really meant for her?

Was something this delicious… actually being fed to her?

This Auntie really seemed to be treating her well…

She gulped down the chicken soup that Madam Ye fed her, trying to swallow as fast as she could.

As she fed her, Madam Ye couldn’t help but sigh, “It’s a pity we’re on the run. We don’t even have proper seasonings—this is the best we can do for now.

“When we get a chance later, I’ll make my specialty for you—braised chicken with mushrooms. It’s so good you’ll want to swallow your tongue along with it!”

Qingtian quickly raised her hand to cover her mouth and mumbled, “T-Tongues can’t be eaten. Mine’s still got work to do!”

Madam Ye burst into laughter and bent down to kiss her on the cheek. “You little thing, how can you be so lovable?”

Qingtian froze in place, stunned by the kiss.

As far back as she could remember, no one had ever kissed her before.

When Madam Shan used to kiss her own son, Qingtian could only hide in a corner and watch enviously.

Now, she lowered her head, but couldn’t resist stealing a glance at Madam Ye from the corner of her eye.

Could this Auntie truly like her? Could she really want to be her mother?

Madam Ye stopped after feeding Qingtian half a bowl of chicken soup. Seeing the little girl still gazing at her longingly, she quickly explained, “Just a few sips for now. If you drink too much, you won’t have room for meat later.”

She then lifted the remaining half bowl and drank it in one go, smacking her lips.

“This wild pheasant soup is really something. If we had some potatoes to stew in it, it’d be even more fragrant.”

“Even more fragrant than chicken soup?” Qingtian couldn’t imagine anything tasting better than what she’d just had.

“Even more!” Madam Ye replied casually, coaxing her. “Too bad the crops were all eaten by locusts this year. We can’t even get those cheap, mushy potatoes from past years.”

Before the words had even faded, a cold voice came from behind.

“What do you think you’re doing?” It was Big Brother Ye.

“I—I’m just getting some soup!” Madam Guo snapped back, both flustered and angry. “Let go of me! You’re the elder brother-in-law, yet you’re putting your hands on your sister-in-law. Shameless!”

“That drumstick is for my daughter!”

Seeing what was happening, Madam Ye shot up and rushed over, snatching the ladle straight from Madam Guo’s hands.

She fished the drumstick out and dropped it into her own bowl before retorting, “A grown woman fighting a child over food—who’s the shameless one here?”

Watching the drumstick that was just within reach end up in someone else’s bowl, Madam Guo’s face darkened instantly—black as the bottom of a pot.

Madam Ye didn’t care one bit whether Madam Guo was upset. She picked up a piece of meat, blew on it a few times, and brought it to Qingtian’s mouth.

The drumstick was always the tastiest part of the chicken, and the meat from a wild pheasant was even firmer and more flavorful.

The meat had been stewed to perfection—tender, juicy, and rich with flavor. The moment it entered her mouth, it slid smoothly down Qingtian’s throat before she could even savor it.

Qingtian blinked in shock—before she’d even had a chance to properly taste it, the meat was gone.

Madam Ye quickly fed her another piece, chuckling. “Don’t rush. Chew it a bit before you swallow.”

Mmm… the meat was just too delicious!

Qingtian had thought the chicken soup was already the pinnacle of flavor.

Only now did she realize the meat was even better.

While she ate slowly, savoring every bite, the rest of the family had already finished and were tidying up, getting ready to rest for the night.

Ye Changrui held up a torch and, as part of the nightly routine, led a few of his younger brothers to go relieve themselves before bed.

Ye Changzhao, remembering Big Brother Ye’s earlier instructions, immediately came over to Qingtian, took her hand, and said, “Meimei, come on, Third Brother will take you to pee. If you wet your pants tonight, Grandma will spank your butt!”

Madam Ye couldn’t help but laugh and gave him a gentle smack.

“Go, go, go! Little boys can’t pee together with little girls,” Madam Ye scolded with a laugh.

“Oh! Meimei, then I’ll go first!” Ye Changzhao shouted back before dashing off to catch up with the others.

Moments later, a loud yell echoed through the night.

“Ahhh! What is this?!”

Second Brother Ye and Second Sister-in-law thought their son was in danger and rushed over at top speed.

The whole family tensed up instinctively.

The three Ye brothers stood up at once, eyes fixed in that direction, ready to jump in and help if needed.

But then—

“Hahahaha—!”

Instead of a cry for help, it was Second Brother Ye’s booming laughter that rang out.

“Come quick! Look what my son just found!”

The three brothers hurried over together. Under the torchlight, they looked down at the ground.

There, right where Ye Changzhao had peed, a small hole had been made in the dirt—exposing a yellow-brown, round object that looked strangely familiar.

Second Brother Ye didn’t hesitate in the slightest. He reached right into the dirt and started digging. Before long, he unearthed more than a dozen large potatoes from the soil.

When the brothers returned, each carrying several potatoes in their arms, Madam Ye stared in disbelief.

In places where refugees had passed, not even grass roots or tree bark were left—people were no better than locusts. And yet they had found this many potatoes?

Her thoughts stirred. She looked down at Qingtian, who was nestled in her arms and starting to doze off, and asked gently, “Qingtian, do you want to eat potatoes?”

Half-asleep, Qingtian mumbled dreamily, “Stewed in chicken soup… yummy…”

Madam Ye recalled how Qingtian had just asked if meat tasted good, and then a wild pheasant dropped from the sky.

And now, right after Ye Changzhao held her hand, he found all these potatoes…

Was this really just a coincidence?

Madam Ye glanced around, making sure no one was listening, then lowered her voice and asked, “When Qingtian first came to our home… was there anything else you wished for?”

“Father and Mother wanted a little brother… Qingtian also… also wants a little brother…”

Madam Ye’s heart pounded wildly, beyond her control. She hugged Qingtian tightly and planted a big kiss on her chubby cheek.

“You really are Mother’s little Fu Bao(Lucky Baby)!”