CHAPTER 60: CHAPTER 60: TRADING GIRLS FOR FOOD

The village chief saw that although Jiang Hu was brooding and not too pleased, because Liu Yang spoke for him and Liu Da Bo scolded his own old lady, he didn’t say much more.

Thinking, Jiang Hu isn’t as temperless as everyone thinks; he just doesn’t show it usually.

Then he lightly coughed to draw everyone’s attention.

"We’re all neighbors here, this is something we should help with. Fortunately, building this thatched house isn’t too difficult; find a few suitable beams, we should be able to finish it by this afternoon."

Liu Da Bo repeatedly thanked them, "Thank you, everyone. Once this is finished, I’ll definitely personally visit to express my gratitude."

Liu Da Bo’s family also has three sons; on the road of fleeing, they lost two granddaughters and a child from their third son’s pregnant wife.

Now the family had finally calmed down a bit, only to face this situation, leaving the sons and daughters-in-law a bit gloomy.

Liu Da Bo, after all, is an experienced elder, more quick to react than his sons.

"It’s fine. Let’s just get the house built first, elder brother. I have two beams at my place left by the previous owner, they should be just right."

The first to speak up was an old man who bore some resemblance to Liu Yang.

Jiang Hu glanced at him, then at Liu Da Bo, then at Liu Yang.

The one who spoke was Liu Yang’s father, who was Liu Da Bo’s brother; that much he knew. The brothers got along well, but Liu Yang had always been at odds with his big uncle.

Once the first person stepped forward, others quickly followed suit with offers of beams, and everyone started to work.

Jiang Hu didn’t participate in the beam assembly, he just did other tasks like handing over tools, helping where needed.

He knew how to build houses too; most farmers did, as someone in the village is always building a new house for a wedding every year or so.

During such times, as long as relations aren’t too bad, everyone helps out, much better than hiring craftsmen specifically.

However, Liu Yang’s aunt’s earlier attitude discouraged him from helping; he didn’t leave outright, mostly out of respect for the village chief.

He didn’t want future issues pinned on his own family’s little featherhead.

With many hands to help, work progressed smoothly; it was only a thatched house after all, with pre-prepared sod and grass mats, and before nightfall, the main structure was completed.

Jiang Hu excused himself, saying he was worried about his wife and children at home, and hurried back, leaving the rest to handle the remaining tasks.

From afar, he saw smoke rising from home, and the previous discontent in his heart instantly vanished, bringing a smile to his face.

The oldest son stood in the yard, happily calling the chickens home with clucking sounds.

Seeing Jiang Hu, he quickly pointed in one direction, "Dad, help me quickly, one chicken ran far, into someone else’s field."

Jiang Hu turned his steps and went to gather the chicken, avoiding stepping into the neighbor’s field; he threw a couple of mud clods to scare the chicken out.

Finally managing to herd the large rooster back home, the oldest son breathed a sigh of relief, "This rooster always runs, it’s the last to come home every day."

Jiang Hu hadn’t noticed, "Really? What’s up with that? Could it be hungry and scavenging for food outside?"

Currently at home, there wasn’t much to feed the chickens; they’d been feeding insects before, now the chickens scratched around for food themselves.

We’ll wait until the corn and sorghum are harvested, then feed them chopped vegetable leaves mixed with crushed corn and sorghum.

"Is that so? Then I’ll keep catching bugs for it tomorrow to see if it eats." Ever since letting the chickens roam, the eldest and the second kid rarely caught insects, as the chickens fended for themselves.

Jiang Hu rubbed the mud off his hands, "It’s getting dark, let’s head to the kitchen; your mom should have almost finished cooking."

The oldest followed his father, "Dad, I came looking for you this afternoon and saw you helping build the house for Liu Hai grand-uncle."

Jiang Hu nodded, "Yes, what about it?"

The eldest sniffed, "Dad, I heard Liu Hai say that his dad claimed their grand-uncle traded their two granddaughters for food."

That’s why he doesn’t like Liu Hai’s grand-uncle, which is the family his dad helped build a house for today.

Jiang Hu paused, now understanding why Liu Yang had that attitude toward his uncle.

Reflecting on Fu’an Village, there weren’t many girls, almost all were boys.

Jiang Hu sighed, patting the eldest son’s head, "Let’s not meddle in others’ affairs too much; just keep our own family well."

The eldest nodded firmly, "Okay."

Jiang Hu smiled, "Make sure not to tell this to the sisters."

The eldest son pounded his chest, "Rest assured, Dad, I know. I already warned Liu Hai not to mention such things at our home."

Lest the sisters hear about it; then they would surely be scared!

"Well done!" Jiang Hu gave the eldest a thumbs up, "Let’s go, time to eat."

The wife had rendered lard in the afternoon and stir-fried vegetables in it for dinner, along with eggplant, and was just putting the dishes on the table.

"What have you two been up to? I saw you came back a while ago but aren’t over yet."

The father and son exchanged a smile, Jiang Hu said, "Nothing much, I was helping the eldest with the chickens."

The wife could tell they were hiding something but didn’t press further, scooping a ladle of water, "Quickly wash your hands and eat. The eldest said you were helping with the house-building this afternoon, how did it go?"

"By the time I left, the beams were in place. There were plenty of helpers, so I came home early."

Hands washed, he glanced at the jar on the stove, asking, "Did you feed porridge to Xiaomi and Tiedan this afternoon? How did they do?"

Talking about the kids, the wife’s face lit up, "They ate, especially Xiaomi; ate heartily. She had more than half of it by herself."

When cooking, she placed the small bed in the kitchen; Xiaomi was sitting up, amusing Tiedan who was lying down.

After catching her parents’ conversation, she perked up, "Eat! Tasty!"

Delicious! Tasty!

She nodded vigorously to convey her meaning.

The wife chuckled, "Alright, alright, I’ll cook more for you tonight, okay?"

"Okay!" So good, isn’t it!

Using the leftover stove fire, she’d simmer porridge for a couple of hours; the rice was soft and sticky, with a toasted aroma, irresistibly delicious.

The wife shook her head, washing another handful of rice, adding water, placing it into the stove.

The afternoon cooking fire hadn’t expired yet, conveniently simmering porridge to feed the kids at midnight.

Jiang Hu, having washed his hands, pinched Xiaomi’s nose, "Why is Xiaomi so greedy, not afraid of becoming a chubby little one?"

Xiaomi sniffed and turned her head away.

Daddy doesn’t get it, only drinking formula and not eating makes one weak; besides, she’s at the age for complementary foods, Tiedan had porridge this afternoon and was fine, so even more so she’d be.

Jiang Hu stifled a laugh, "Angry already, such a bad temper, don’t know whom you got it from."

Xiaomi turned back, stuck her tongue out at her dad, not bad at all!