CHAPTER 168: CHAPTER 168: A DIFFERENT ATTITUDE

The rain came just like that; that night, it was thunder and lightning, and in a moment, a torrential downpour fell.

Xiaomi was drowsily woken up and felt herself being held a little tighter, with a gentle patting on her back.

It was her second elder sister, afraid that she would be awakened by the thunder or worried that she might be scared of the thunder, soothing her.

The door curtain was lifted, and the second mother walked in in the dark.

"Is Xiaoxue awake? Are you scared?"

Xiaoxue shook her head, "Not scared."

She felt something heavy on her body as the quilt was pulled over her: "It’s raining, the weather is a bit chilly, be careful not to catch a cold."

The second mother spoke softly, probably afraid of waking the still ’asleep’ Xiaomi.

Xiaoxue also whispered, "Okay, mother."

The second mother gently stroked Xiaoxue’s hair: "All right, continue sleeping, I’m going to check on your brother and younger brother."

Xiaomi drowsily fell back asleep, and vaguely, it seemed like she heard the second mother talking in the next room, followed by the sound of her father coming in through the door.

When Xiaomi woke up again, she got up full of energy; the sounds of rain and thunder were gone, replaced by the clear chirping of birds echoing in the forest.

Since autumn started, mornings and evenings had not been as hot. Last night there were thunderstorms and rain, and the second mother brought them thick quilts in the middle of the night, which they were now cozily wrapped in.

Really warm.

Xiaomi rolled around twice under the quilt.

It was still early. Although it wasn’t very cold, the air outside the quilt was chilly, not as comfortable as being under the quilt.

But Xiaoxue seemed to know Xiaomi was awake, appearing right on time by the bedside, pulling Xiaomi’s head out from the quilt.

"Xiaomi, get up quickly, after breakfast, we’re going with dad to the mountain to dig up bamboo shoots."

Xiaomi shrank back but couldn’t find the quilt, so she reluctantly got up to get dressed.

"Second sister, it’s so early, dad isn’t back yet."

"No, dad is home today; it was Uncle Qixi who came to deliver older brother and the vegetables."

Xiaoxue was already holding the clothes on the side, ready to help Xiaomi dress.

The second mother had found them a thicker jacket to wear in the morning, which could be easily taken off at noon if it got hot.

Xiaomi refused her second sister’s help and dressed herself.

Xiaoxue didn’t insist and continued, "Uncle Qixi not only delivered older brother and the vegetables today, but he will also go to Brother Ze’s house to bring back some thicker clothes for him. Today, the temperature suddenly dropped, and Brother Ze still doesn’t have any thick clothes."

When Xiaomi heard that her father didn’t go out, she quickly dressed because she loves to be active and run around.

It’s a rare chance that dad has time today and is willing to take them to the mountain; of course, Xiaomi wouldn’t miss it.

As she stepped out, she shivered, as the temperature dropped very suddenly.

In the yard, Liu Ze was reciting, wearing Jiang Yu’s thick clothes.

When he saw them come out, he stopped reading.

"Xiaomi is awake too; Uncle Jiang and Auntie went to the village chief’s house and asked us to eat by ourselves first."

He then looked at Xiaoxue, "Miss Xiaoxue, Tiedan was also taken by Uncle Jiang and the others. Should we eat first or wait?"

Xiaomi always felt that Liu Ze’s attitude towards her second sister was different from towards others.

It seemed overly polite, but sometimes, it didn’t seem like that was the case.

Xiaoxue, unaware of anything, nodded, "Let’s eat first, dad eats fast, and after he comes back to eat, we can leave."

Only then did Liu Ze put down the book in his hand, return from the yard, and walk to the kitchen to help Xiaoxue serve food.

He casually put the book on the dining table, not cherishing it at all.

Xiaomi pondered while touching her chin, this doesn’t look like he’s being overly polite to the second sister, huh?

"Xiaomi, what are you looking at? Why aren’t you coming over to eat?"

At the kitchen door, Xiaoxue was already calling her, and Xiaomi quickly put on a smile and trotted over, "Coming, coming."

Today’s breakfast was peanut coarse-grain porridge, paired with smashed cucumber and cold mixed crown daisy, with a boiled egg for each person.

Liu Ze was bringing over a small bamboo basket containing six eggs, which Jiang Yu and Qixi had eaten before setting out in the morning.

"Brother Ze, do you know why mom and dad went to the village chief’s house?"

Xiaoxue was puzzled; when she went into the room to wake Xiaomi, mom and dad were still working, and in the blink of an eye, while dressing, they disappeared.

Liu Ze nodded, "It was Uncle Liu who came to call them. It seems to be about the calf. Isn’t it the calf we talked about buying earlier? I guess it’s about that."

Xiaomi and Xiaoxue exchanged a surprised look, "So fast."

When dad mentioned buying a calf, it was just over a month ago, around the time Liu Ze had just arrived.

How long has it been, and it’s already delivered?

Liu Ze: "I’m not sure either, but I guess so."

At that time, he was reading in the yard when Uncle Liu came over. Uncle Jiang and Auntie were busy feeding pigs, chickens, and rabbits. Uncle Liu said a couple of words, and they hurriedly went to the village chief’s house together.

After the three of them finished eating, Xiaoxue washed the bowls and was hesitating whether to go to the village chief’s house to find their parents, when she saw them returning with Tiedan.

The happiness was visible on their faces.

Xiaomi jumped up and waved, "Dad, mom, is it true the calf is here?"

The second mother nodded with a smile: "Yes, the calf is here. We’ll arrange for someone to bring it from town the day after tomorrow."

Xiaomi was overjoyed, "Really? Then from now on, it will be much easier to do work at home."

Jiang Hu, holding Tiedan, walked over with big strides. By now they were at the courtyard gate, and Jiang Hu reached over to pat Xiaomi’s head.

"Not yet, the calf is too young to work."

Disappointment was evident on Xiaomi’s face: "When can it work then?"

Buying a cow was supposed to make household work easier, and now it can’t work?

Jiang Hu took Xiaomi’s hand and led her to the kitchen: "It will take until the calf is two or three years old; it’s too young right now."

The second mother was already serving food and asked if Xiaoxue had eaten, eventually just serving the three of them.

Knowing the little ones were eager to get to the mountain, the second mother urged Jiang Hu to eat quickly.

He was usually busy and spent two to three hours every day delivering vegetables, leaving him with little time.

The second mother, being a woman, had never gone to the mountains alone and didn’t dare to either, let alone take so many children.

With the rice just harvested and no rush to dig sweet potatoes, and the wheat and rapeseed can still wait a bit; this year, as they had some extra time, it was a good opportunity to take the children for a stroll up the hillside—without going too deep.

Jiang Hu finished his breakfast quickly, "Second mother, you and Tiedan come slowly, I’ll take the older kids first."

Xiaoxue and the others had long been ready, just waiting for Jiang Hu to give the word, and they could set off.