CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 58: THE STORM HAS ARRIVED

Since the chicks were brought home, it’s been less than five months. Generally, domestically raised chicks begin laying eggs gradually after six months.

When Jiang Hu bought them, the chicks were at most only a few days old!

Counting fully, it’s just five months, yet they started laying eggs a month earlier!

Just as Big Wa’s voice fell, Jiang Hu’s second wife was already at the kitchen door, and Er Ni, who was originally in the bedroom watching her siblings, also came out.

Big Wa hurriedly spread his hands: "Dad, Mom, look, two eggs!"

"Really, there are actually two. Doesn’t this mean that there are already two chickens laying eggs?" Second Wife quickly received them with both hands.

Last night when tidying up the chicken coop, it was still empty. This morning when they left, it was still dark, and they only had time to open the door before leaving, as it would be bright and the chicks could go out by themselves.

The eggs are still small; initial eggs are meant to be this way, several sizes smaller than regular eggs.

But even so, everyone is still very happy.

Er Ni came over, eagerly watching the eggs in Second Wife’s hands: "Mom, does this mean we’ll have eggs every day now?"

With chickens laying eggs, as they lay more, they can finally eat them.

Second Wife nodded: "Of course, there will be more eggs every day. Er Ni and Big Wa, you two have worked hard taking care of the chicks and rabbits. These two eggs can be boiled so each of you can have one."

Big Wa and Er Ni were suddenly surprised and delighted: "Thank you, Mom!"

They hadn’t eaten eggs for so long, and even though Dad once found a wild egg, it’s not quite the same as a chicken egg.

Second Wife patted their heads: "Quickly, go and watch over your siblings, be careful they don’t crawl off the bed. I’ll go boil the eggs for you."

"Okay," the siblings answered in unison and promptly turned back to the room.

When Second Wife allocated the eggs, Jiang Hu didn’t say much; he spoke only after they left: "Since the porridge isn’t ready yet, just boil the eggs directly in it."

However, Second Wife shook her head: "Didn’t they buy some sugar today? They bought refined rice for Xiao Mi and Tie Dan, Big Wa and Er Ni didn’t really say they wanted it. Let’s boil them sugar water eggs, they’ll taste better."

In the countryside, eggs and sugar are treasures, one for selling and the other quite costly to buy.

Jiang Hu continued to tend the fire: "Okay, when we have more eggs tomorrow, I’ll boil sugar water eggs for you too."

Second Wife laughed: "What do I need eggs for? Save them for the kids. Xiao Mi and Tie Dan can have egg custard soon too."

Jiang Hu earnestly said: "That won’t do, the kids eat, and so should you. You missed a lot during confinement, can’t keep missing out now. I’d say tomorrow I’ll go to the market to buy more chicks, too lazy to hatch them myself."

Second Wife chuckled: "The kids are already five months old, yet you still worry about the confinement period, afraid people will laugh at you."

Jiang Hu raised an eyebrow: "Who dares laugh when I’m treating my wife well?"

Second Wife giggled and shook her head, unwilling to say more. Despite having so many and such grown kids, he still acts like a young lad—unashamed.

But inside, she felt quite content. Which wife wouldn’t be happy when their husband treats them well?

Big Wa and Er Ni were so fond of the sugar water eggs they wanted to share half with their parents, but both Jiang Hu and Second Wife refused.

With the chicks now starting to lay eggs, they wouldn’t lack eggs anymore. The family could earn money selling vegetables now, and the eggs could be kept for themselves.

Steamed buns, sugar water eggs, mung bean cake, brown rice porridge, they ate until every belly was round.

After lunch it was barely noon, and it was still hot outside. Jiang Hu sat under the eaves, using a small wooden stick to teach Big Wa and Er Ni to recognize words.

He didn’t know a lot, but he could write the names of the family.

"We’ve already learned the word, ’Jiang,’ today I’ll teach you ’Yu,’ as in Jiang Yu, Big Wa’s name. The teacher said ’Yu’ represents abundance and proper provision."

"Er Ni’s full name is Jiang Xiaoxue, meaning clever as ice and snow. The teacher said Jiang Xue was too cold and hard, so he added a small character."

Jiang Hu used the stick to write Jiang Yu’s and Jiang Xiaoxue’s names one by one on the ground. While it wasn’t particularly pretty, the strokes were neat.

Big Wa nodded: "Dad, how do you write the names of Xiao Mi and Tie Dan?"

"This is Xiao Mi; since the elder sister is Xiaoxue, the younger sister is Xiao Mi, both have the little character. Besides, Xiao Mi is a very good and expensive type of rice, chosen by Dad."

Jiang Hu was especially proud.

"Tie Dan’s name is Jiang Wei. He’s not well, and Dad and Mom hope he’ll grow strong and robust, powerful and mighty, how about that?"

Xiao Mi was resting indoors, eyes half-closed as she listened to Dad teach her older brother and sister to write outside, casually using her hand to pat the arm Tie Dan was gnawing on.

As if he’s strong and mighty, all he knows is eating!

But her dad is really incredible, knowing words and striving to send Big Brother to school, teaching Second Sister literacy—none of that notion women should remain ignorant.

This way, she could follow Big Brother studying, and it’d surely be easier.

’Ah, ah’ Tie Dan gnawed for a long time but found nothing tasty, so he stopped biting and opened wide to cry at his older sister.

Xiao Mi sighed and fed him spiritual spring water.

When will Tie Dan grow out of this, though? When he’s older and starts talking, he might spill it out.

It’s not stinginess but some things really shouldn’t be revealed to too many people, not even family.

Knowing too much isn’t good for them, might even harm them.

Not to mention children, who don’t understand right from wrong. If bad people hear the news, the whole family will be in trouble.

After feeding him spiritual spring water, Tie Dan was content and quickly fell into sleep. Xiao Mi listened to Dad’s voice, slowly drifting off along with her own thoughts.

June skies are as changeable as a child’s face; the sun-soaked day turned into howling winds in less than half an hour, scaring the roaming chickens into running back.

Tie Dan was startled awake and started crying loudly. Xiao Mi also felt a bit flustered amidst the roaring winds—worried about their thatched roof house, which was not very sturdy.

Jiang Hu hurried Big Wa and Er Ni inside and shut all doors and windows tightly; in just a short while, heavy rain had started pouring down.

When Jiang Hu returned, he was drenched; Second Wife sat on the bed, holding a child in each arm, with Big Wa and Er Ni clung to her side, faces frightened.

"How did it suddenly rain so hard, Brother Hu, quickly change your clothes or you’ll catch cold."

The beams creaked, the roof swayed, making Second Wife’s heart pound.

Though it had rained before, spring rains were gentle and thread-like; even if it rained for days, at most it made the air damp and chilly.

Unlike now, where the storm was so fierce it seemed the house might collapse any moment.

Jiang Hu quickly changed into dry clothes and came over to hug his wife and children: "Don’t be afraid, the strong wind will pass soon."

With their husband’s/father’s reassurance, everyone indeed calmed down quickly—even Xiao Mi breathed a sigh of relief, feeling secure.