Chapter 21.3

She couldn’t understand why Xiao shu’s aunt-in-law could be so kind to him, while her own mother resented her for being a girl, even calling her a burden!

“Come here,” Xu Jiaojiao said after teasing Qin Jiashu, beckoning to the dazed Qin Jiedi.

Qin Jiedi took a few steps and stopped, her large eyes filled with a sorrow beyond her years.

“How old are you, Jiedi?” Xu Jiaojiao reached out and gently tilted the little girl’s chin, teasingly.

“…Four years old,” Qin Jiedi replied softly, clutching her left hand with her right.

“Wow, Jie Di’s four! That means you’re not a three-year-old anymore—you’re a big girl now!” Xu Jiaojiao chuckled, tapping Qin Jiashu’s forehead as she mentioned three-year-olds.

Qin Jiashu realized she was referring to him and pouted playfully. “Xiaoshu will grow up too!”

“Exactly! Xiaoshu will be four next year too!” Xu Jiaojiao laughed.

While the large pot cooled, Xu Jiaojiao entertained the children and chatted as she prepared ginger soup in a smaller pot.

After adding the shredded ginger to the pot, Xu Jiaojiao turned and lifted the lid of the large steamer.

“Wow!” Qin Jiashu grabbed Jie Di and leaned over the stove, exclaiming loudly at the plump meat buns inside.

Xu Jiaojiao’s dough had risen perfectly. Each bun was steamed to a fluffy, white perfection. She used chopsticks to transfer them into a bowl.

Qin Jiashu couldn’t wait and reached out his hand, but Xu Jiaojiao swiftly stopped him. “Silly boy, they’re too hot fresh out of the steamer. They need to cool down first.”

“Oh,” Qin Jiashu replied, not upset by the interruption, his eyes fixed on the steaming buns.

The meat buns smelled heavenly!

Qin Jiedi stood beside him, gazing longingly at the buns. She occasionally glanced at Qin Jiashu before looking back up at Xu Jiaojiao.

Xu Jiaojiao pinched a bun to test its temperature. The cold weather meant they cooled quickly.

“They’re ready to eat,” she announced, tucking a bun into each of the thin children’s hands.

Qin Jiashu immediately brought his bun to his mouth, taking a large bite. He closed his eyes in bliss, savoring the taste.

Qin Jiedi clutched her bun with her small, bony fingers, swallowing hard. She wanted to eat but hesitated. “For me?”

“Eat up, Jie Di! There’s meat inside!” Qin Jiashu encouraged her through a mouthful of bun, his voice muffled and childlike.

“Go ahead and eat. There are more in the steamer,” Xu Jiaojiao nodded.

Hungry herself, she took a satisfying bite of her own bun. The flavor seemed richer than any she’d tasted in her previous life.

Xu Jiaojiao mused that perhaps the meat and vegetables of this era were simply purer.

Qin Jiashu, thoroughly spoiled by Xu Jiaojiao, ate his steamed bun like a little tiger, chomping away with gusto.

“I’m done!” Qin Jiashu declared, his cheeks puffed out.

“Silly child, slow down and swallow what’s in your mouth first,” Xu Jiaojiao said with a shake of her head.

Qin Jiashu nodded and sidled up to her. Xu Jiaojiao turned and offered him another bun.

“Can you finish it? If not, should we split half with Jie Di?”

Though Xu Jiaojiao’s meat buns weren’t large, one was nearly enough to fill a child’s stomach, especially since the two had already eaten some bubu gao cake earlier.

Qin Jiedi was trying her first meat bun. The aroma was so heavenly she wondered if she was dreaming. She took tiny, precious bites, savoring every morsel. When Xu Jiaojiao offered her half of another bun, the little girl shook her head vigorously.

“I can finish it. Xiaoshu needs to grow big and strong,” Qin Jiashu insisted firmly.

Xu Jiaojiao didn’t believe him. She slipped her hand under his outer coat and felt his belly, already round and firm.

“You’ll feel sick if you overeat. Have you forgotten?” Xu Jiaojiao said, breaking off only half the bun for him.

“Hehe,” the little boy grinned, delighted with his share.

Xu Jiaojiao had a small appetite. One bun was enough to fill her up, and she didn’t give the remaining half to Qin Jiedi. After all, the little girl still needed a bowl of ginger soup to ward off the chill.

With everyone fed and watered, Xu Jiaojiao watched Qin Jiedi finish her ginger soup before calling the children to wash their hands and rest.

Qin Jiedi’s parents neglected her, and since Xu Jiaojiao had brought her home, she couldn’t possibly send the girl back out into the night.

After eating the bun, changing into clean clothes, and drinking the ginger soup under Xu Jiaojiao’s gentle gaze, Qin Jiedi stood awkwardly, her hands washed but her heart torn.

She knew she should go home, but her instincts urged her to stay.

Xu Jiaojiao’s room contained only one bed, a meter and a half wide, spacious enough for the two children and herself.

Xu Jiaojiao wasn’t old-fashioned. She understood that Qin Jiashu and Qin Jiedi were close friends. Still, after a moment’s thought, she decided to sleep between them.

“Phew.” Xu Jiaojiao blew out the candle, lay down, and tucked the corners of the quilt in on both sides.

Qin Jiedi lay quietly in the warm bed, not daring to move, just like Qin Jiashu had on his first night sleeping with Xu Jiaojiao.

Qin Jiashu, on the other hand, could now snuggle into Xu Jiaojiao’s arms on his own, relaxed and affectionate.

“Tell a story.”

“Alright, what should I tell today?” Xu Jiaojiao racked her brain. “How about the Frog Prince?”

“Okay!”

Neither of them had ever heard the bedtime stories Aunt told anyway.

On that winter night, Xu Jiaojiao’s soft voice wove tales, creating a tranquil and soothing atmosphere.

As the two children listened, they gradually drifted into sleep.

Xu Jiaojiao, exhausted from a long day, listened to their soft breathing and finally fell into a peaceful slumber herself.

—

The next morning, Xu Jiaojiao woke up feeling overheated.

Usually, hugging Qin Jiashu while sleeping felt just right. But last night, sandwiched between two children, she woke up sweating for the first time. Kids really were like little furnaces!

Xu Jiaojiao got up, and the two children, having slept their fill, woke up too.

Xu Jiaojiao woke up, put the remaining steamed buns in the pot to warm, and grabbed her enamel mug as she headed out.

In those days, enamel mugs were truly invaluable. They could hold lard, store food, and serve tea—they were incredibly versatile.

“You two stay home and watch the stove fire. I’m going to the Qin family to buy some goat’s milk.”

“Little lamb!” Qin Jiashu perked up at the mention of “lamb.”

“Want to see the little lamb?” Xu Jiaojiao chuckled.

Why does this little rascal love lambs so much?

“Mhm, mhm!” His small head bobbed eagerly.

“What about you, Jie Di? Want to come too?” Since Qin Jiashu wanted to go, Xu Jiaojiao turned to Jie Di, who was sitting on a low stool by the stove.

“Auntie, I’ll stay and watch the fire,” Qin Jiedi replied. She didn’t want to go, her house was very close to Qin Jiu’er’s.

Qin Jiedi looked well-rested. Xu Jiaojiao had worried she might catch a fever or cold overnight, but despite her thin frame, the girl seemed to have a sturdy constitution.

“Alright, then. Jiashu and I will run over and be right back.” Seeing Qin Jie Di’s rosy cheeks, Xu Jiaojiao didn’t press the matter.

—

Hand in hand, the pair set off for Qin Jiu’er’s house. With its large family, the place was already bustling with activity early in the morning.

Xu Jiaojiao politely explained her request to Liu Xiaoye, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Qin family.

“Go ahead and milk the sheep yourself,” Liu Xiaoye said generously. “The milk has a strong, gamey taste. No need to waste money buying it.”

“I insist on paying,” Xu Jiaojiao replied. “I’ll be coming every day.”

“Besides,” she added sheepishly, “I don’t know how to milk sheep.”

“Don’t worry about that!” Liu Xiaoye chuckled. “It’s easy. You’ll learn in a minute. If you really can’t figure it out, just call for help. Someone from our family will show you.”

Liu Xiaoye took Xu Jiaojiao’s enamel mug, strode into the sheep pen, and crouched beside a ewe to begin milking.

“You’re so skilled, Auntie!” Xu Jiaojiao called from outside the pen.

“This is my first time milking sheep too!” Liu Xiaoye laughed.

In rural areas, people had no fear of livestock like cattle and sheep, handling them with ease.

“Baa…”

Qin Jiashu stood curiously outside the pen, watching a lamb bleat anxiously as it darted beneath its mother’s belly to nurse, as if afraid its meal would be snatched away.

Qin Jiashu clenched his tiny fist in excitement.

“Is this enough?” Liu Xiaoye asked, having filled half an enamel basin with sheep’s milk.

“It’s plenty,” Xu Jiaojiao nodded, accepting the milk and thanking her. “Auntie, I’ll pay your family two yuan a month. Can I come every day for half a basin of sheep’s milk?”

Xu Jiaojiao disliked taking advantage of others. Although sheep’s milk wasn’t popular and she could occasionally get half a basin for free, daily visits warranted proper payment.

“You’re too polite,” Liu Xiaoye replied, not refusing. “Just come whenever you need it. I’ll milk it fresh for you every morning.” She then turned to Qin Jiashu with a smile. “Want to take the little lamb out for a walk?”

“Really?” Qin Jiashu looked at Xu Jiaojiao with eager anticipation.

Xu Jiaojiao couldn’t possibly refuse. In the end, she carried the half-basin of milk while Qin Jiashu held the lamb’s thin rope, strolling leisurely home.

The little lamb showed no signs of missing its mother, trotting happily along the road. Qin Jiashu jogged beside it, grinning foolishly.

“This way!” Qin Jiashu tugged on the lamb’s rope to change its direction.

“Xiao Shu…” At the fork in the road, a man in a green military uniform rounded the corner.