Transmigrated as a Peasant Baby Who is Pampered by All

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: This Is Just Too Poor

Jiang Hu uneasily dug the ground. The chaos in Yong’an had just ended, and only one-tenth of the surrounding towns remained. Fu’an Village was populated by homeless people from various regions, placed in the same village by the government.

They had only settled for less than half a month, yet his wife, Er Niang, showed signs of labor. She was over seven months pregnant, and her belly was so big that it seemed as if she was about to give birth soon.

The doctor had said that Er Niang was likely carrying twins and wouldn’t be able to reach full term. She would probably give birth in seven to eight months, which means very soon.

Jiang Hu really wanted to stay home with his wife, but he couldn’t. The government had just distributed grain seeds. He had to plant them quickly and also dig for wild vegetables to ensure his family wouldn’t starve.

His eldest son was only five, but he followed Jiang Hu to work in the fields, leaving his three-year-old daughter at home to watch over her mother. If Er Niang showed any signs, she was to fetch Grandma Liu from the village entrance, the only midwife with delivery experience in the village.

”Dad, look at this, such a big worm!”

His eldest son suddenly shouted with delight, picking up a chubby white worm with several pairs of small feet curling up as it was unearthed.

Not only was the boy unafraid, but he was also exceptionally happy to cradle it in his hands.

Jiang Hu was equally joyful: ”Keep it, we’ll roast it for your mother when we get home.”

Having just settled, their home was barren; even their dwelling was left behind by villagers who fled. Apart from the twenty pounds of grain distributed by the government, there was nothing else at home.

And twenty pounds of grain for a family of four, soon to be six, would need to last until the crops in the field could mature!

Though the worm was repulsive, at least it was a bite of meat. His pregnant wife was carrying twins, and even a mouthful would be beneficial.

The boy quickly found a leaf, carefully wrapped the worm, tied it with a thin straw, and then placed it on the edge of the field.

After working for a while longer, San Ni hurriedly came running up the mountain: ”Dad, brother, mom has given birth to a sister and a brother!”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Hu dropped his work immediately, grabbed his hoe, and ran down the mountain: ”Big boy, you take your sister and come back slowly!”

The eldest boy, learning that his mother had given birth to siblings, was eager to rush home but didn’t forget the fat worm they had caught nor his little sister.

Jiang Hu sprinted home, taking large strides. Others saw him and mostly knew what was happening, so they didn’t ask to avoid delaying him.

When Jiang Hu arrived home, it was silent—no sound from adults or children. Alarmed, he hurried to the bedroom. Upon opening the door, he was met with a strong smell of blood.

Er Niang lay in bed, next to two small bundles, his children.

He approached cautiously, checked their breathing to ensure both wife and children were asleep, and felt relief.

He didn’t disturb them and quietly lifted the quilt to peek. Beneath Er Niang, things were hastily cleaned, but there was still much blood.

Old Grandma Liu was indeed getting on in years, and San Ni was too young to manage this. Jiang Hu abandoned any thought of work and instead went to the kitchen to boil hot water to clean up Er Niang.

There was practically nothing to eat at home, not even a scrap of meat. Since the war, the wild chickens and rabbits in the nearby mountains had been driven away, and none had returned, making it difficult to catch anything.

Er Niang felt much better after a nap. Waking up, she saw Jiang Hu cleaning her, and quickly said, ”Why are you doing this? Quickly stop, or people will laugh.”

Despite Jiang Hu’s tall and burly appearance, his actions were gentle. Hearing her words, he pretended to scold: ”I’m cleaning up my wife; who dares to say anything?”

Jiang Xiaomiao woke again, hearing this very sentence.

So she had a father, and that was good, increasing her chance of survival.

Moreover, from the looks of it, her parents had a good relationship, with her dad willing to help clean up her mother’s postpartum mess.

Perhaps feeling a father-daughter connection, Jiang Hu looked over and met the curious gaze of Jiang Xiaomiao.

”Er Niang, look, the child is awake. So well-behaved, fair, and chubby. Is this the brother?” Jiang Hu beamed as he approached a little closer, his honest and sincere face imprinting itself in Jiang Xiaomiao’s eyes.

You are the brother. Your whole family is brothers! Jiang Xiaomiao resisted strongly, but all that came out was ’ah ah’ sounds.

Jiang Hu was even more amused: ”Er Niang, look, the baby is looking at me. He must really like me.”

Then he looked at the other one: ”Why is the sister still sleeping? So tiny, why so small.”

He lovingly picked up the little one while speaking.

Jiang Xiaomiao almost rolled her eyes.

Er Niang remembered Aunt Liu’s words and gently turned, touching Xiaomiao’s cheek: ”This is the sister. You’re holding the brother. Aunt Liu said he has a bruise on his waist and is very small.”

Typically, newborn boys are stronger than girls, which is why Jiang Hu made the mistake.

”Really? Let me see.” Jiang Hu was extremely surprised, hurriedly unwrapped the swaddle for a look, then quickly wrapped it up again: ”It’s really a brother. The mark on his waist looks like a footprint.”

Xiaomiao was slightly embarrassed; not only was her brother small and fragile, but she had even kicked him before they were born.

”Mom, mom!” The eldest boy rushed in, cupping his hands: ”Mom, eat this; I roasted a worm. It’s plump. Eating it will nourish brother and sister.”

The eldest had been back for a while, roasting the fat worm in the kitchen and hurrying to bring it to his mother.

The roasted fat worms, three in total, were golden brown and emitted a tempting aroma. As Second Sister followed her brother in, she couldn’t help but swallow.

Though Er Niang was hungry, she put her children first: ”Mom won’t eat; Eldest boy and sister eat together.”

”Mom, eat. Grandma Liu said mom needs to eat well for the siblings to live.” Three-year-old Er Niang was very sensible, remembering everything Grandma Liu had said.

Just then, the little brother woke up and began making ’wah wah’ sounds as if hungry, although very weak. Jiang Hu’s heart clenched.

”Er Niang, eat quickly. If you don’t, how will you have milk for the babies? They must both be hungry.”

Hearing her youngest son’s kitten-like cries, Er Niang grew anxious too, but she still hadn’t felt the milk come in, which worried her.

”Alright, I’ll eat.” Er Niang hurriedly put the three roasted fat worms into her mouth. While they smelled fragrant, they didn’t taste good. But at a time like this, just having something to eat was rare; flavor could not be a concern.

After eating, supported by Jiang Hu to sit up, she took the still-crying son to nurse while Jiang Hu held Xiaomiao.

”San Ni, wait for a while, alright? Your brother is too thin. Let him eat first; then it’s your turn. Don’t worry, with father here, you’ll both grow up round and chubby.”

Jiang Hu was full of remorse; it was his failure to find good food that left the newly born faced with hunger.

Xiaomiao babbled twice to indicate it was okay. Her brother was frail, probably partly because of her. It was only right to let him eat first.

”Er Niang, look, San Ni is smiling; what a lovely smile.” Jiang Hu felt his heart melting.

The eldest and second sister also crowded around, with the eldest giving grown-up advice: ”San Ni, be good. Brother will find bugs for mom to eat, and you’ll both drink milk and grow up together.”

Looking at her brother and sister, emaciated with their eyes bulging, Xiaomiao was quite shocked. Was the family this poor?

This wouldn’t do; you can’t raise children on bugs alone. Thinking of the massive supplies in her space, she needed to devise a way to prevent everyone from starving.

To think she had to worry about the family’s survival right after being born, Xiaomiao was a bit sublet down.

Well, since she had the golden finger, she wasn’t afraid. With space at her disposal, she could conquer the world. Feeding her family was no problem at all!