mtl008 Chapter 5 Starting a New Life
Chapter 5 Starting a New Life
"Is it in a thatched hut?" Lu Tao asked, somewhat dazed.
Why does it look like... something from the Tian family?
Tian Xiang nodded repeatedly, "Yes."
"Mother, we didn't bring anything with us when we left the Tian family. These things must be in this house."
Tian Xiang sighed deeply, "This is... there's always a way out, and life can be found even in the most desperate situations."
She was worried about what to cook for the wild vegetable soup that night.
Now everything is fine, I don't have to worry about anything anymore.
Seeing Tian Xiang tilting her head back like a scholar, Lu Tao couldn't help but chuckle, "You've really learned your third uncle's ways quite well."
Tian Xiang lowered her head and looked around at her family, her index finger twitching from side to side, "Sigh!"
She said, "From today onwards, I am no longer Uncle Three."
"It's the third son of the Tian family."
Tian Tian immediately nodded in agreement, "Big sister is right!"
This family of four—three widows and a mute child—was also said to be cursed as a jinx, a jinx, and a bad luck charm.
However, the family is united, loves each other, and has the right values!
The future is promising.
Lu Tao wasn't going to spoil the mood and nodded emphatically, "Yes."
"Mom is going to wash the vegetables. Sweetie, you help your older sister cook the rice porridge."
Tian Jinghe was sleeping in the corner of the room, where Tian Xiang had laid out some dry grass and blankets.
*
Tian Xiang had already set up the ceramic jar, but she was unsure how much rice to put in the bowl.
She wanted to add more rice and cook it until it was thick.
My younger sister fell into the water today, and my younger brother was terrified. They should be fed more.
But...
The family had just been kicked out of the village and only had this one bowl of rice. They couldn't just focus on what was in front of them; they also had to think about what would happen in the future.
Thinking of this, Tian Xiang scooped a piece of rice the size of half an egg into the pot.
Seeing that she was about to put the bowl down, Tian Tian suddenly reached out and poured the entire bowl of rice directly into the ceramic jar.
"Oh..." Tian Xiang exclaimed, reaching out to scoop out the rice, but the water had already boiled, and she couldn't bring herself to do it.
"Big sister!" Tian Tian quickly pulled her back. "Since it's already been poured in, let's just burn it."
"Let's eat a little more tonight, get a good night's sleep, and start a new life tomorrow!"
Looking at Tian Tian's dirty little face, Tian Xiang thought about how her younger sister had gone to the Cheng family in the next village early this morning and had only drunk that bowl of rice soup. She must be starving.
"Okay, listen sweetly."
Tian Tian knew that this family hadn't eaten anything since morning.
She at least drank a bowl of rice porridge to fill her stomach.
When Lu Tao returned and saw that a whole bowl of rice had been poured into the pot, she looked distressed, but after Tian Xiang said a few words to her, she didn't say anything more.
A bowl of rice, with dandelion added, makes a pot of thick dandelion porridge.
No seasonings were added, but it has a unique, fresh dandelion scent.
Tian Jinghe was awakened by this fragrance.
He rubbed his eyes as he walked out, and groggily snuggled into Tian Tian's arms.
Both bodies were very thin, and when Tian Tian hugged him, she even felt his bones digging into her skin.
Lu Tao served everyone porridge. The first bowl was full and she gave it to Tian Tian. The second bowl was a little less and she gave it to Tian Xiang. The third bowl was a little less and she gave it to Tian Jinghe. Finally, she only had half a bowl left and gave it to herself.
Seeing this, Tian Tian picked up her bowl and gave half of it to Lu Tao.
"Sweetie, what are you like today..."
"Mom, you're an adult, you should eat more," Tian Tian interrupted her. "This bowl is too much for me."
Tian Jinghe picked up his bowl and wanted to share Lu Tao's portion.
Tian Tian took his bowl down and pushed it back in front of him, saying, "Jinghe, you're at the age where you're growing, you have to finish this bowl today!"
The little guy is so sensible, he's so endearing.
Tian Xiang reached out and rubbed Tian Jinghe's little head. "Jinghe, listen to your second sister, be good, eat all of these."
Tian Jinghe then lowered his head and began to drink his porridge.
This is the thickest porridge he's ever had in his life, it smells so good.
And... no one scolded him even though he drank it all.
Tian Tian finished a bowl of porridge and put it down contentedly.
"Mom, these wild vegetables look pretty good. I dug up quite a few today, so how about..."
"Tomorrow I'll take these wild vegetables to the county and see if I can exchange them for some copper coins."
Lu Tao put down her bowl and took Tian Tian's bowl away. "Wild vegetables don't sell for much. The ones we dug up today will only fetch two or three copper coins at most."
Tian Tian was taken aback. She later dug up another two jin (1 kg), and the amount of walnuts she dug up was more than what she had dug up in the two previous times, probably at least six jin (3 catties).
In other words, eight catties of wild vegetables can only be exchanged for two or three copper coins.
This price... is much cheaper than in the system.
Selling eight catties to the system would cost sixty-four coins.
But she needed to get the money through legitimate channels, so she had to go to the county town to "sell" it.
"Mother, these wild vegetables are not only edible, but can also be used as medicinal herbs."
"Selling it to a pharmacy will definitely be more expensive."
Lu Tao didn't understand. "Really?"
If there's a way to make money, we should always try it. "Then Mom will go with you tomorrow."
She looked at Tian Xiang, who had seemed a little dazed, and said, "Xiang'er, you stay at home."
Tian Tian then remembered that Tian Xiang's husband's family lived in the county.
The Chu family owns a restaurant in the county.
Three years ago, Chu Xing, the eldest son of the Chu family, ran into Tian Xiang, who was accompanying Lu Tao to sell eggs in the county.
Although Tian Xiang was dressed as a peasant girl at that time, her face was inherited from Lu Tao, and she was very gentle and beautiful.
Chu Xing had already frequented brothels and had his way with all sorts of women by then.
Beautiful farm girls like Tian Xiang have never tried it.
Therefore, Chu Xing came to the Tian family in a grand manner to propose marriage.
Tian Xiang was unwilling. She had just come of age at that time, and if she got married, Tian Tian would have to do all the housework, which she couldn't bear.
But the family couldn't go against the wishes of others, so Tian Xiang married him.
Life wasn't easy even after arriving at the Chu family.
Her father-in-law looked down on her, her mother-in-law made things difficult for her, and her husband frequented brothels. The only thing that comforted her was her two children, but unfortunately... now her children have been left behind by the Chu family.
With both her children still young, how could Tian Xiang not miss them?
Lu Tao didn't want her to go to the county because she was afraid she wouldn't be able to resist going.
When the Chu family divorced her, they said they would not allow her to see the child again.
If Tian Xiang goes to the Chu family, she will definitely suffer humiliation, and in the end... she won't even see her child.
Lu Tao couldn't bear to part with Tian Xiang.
Of course, as the maternal grandmother, she also missed those two children.
But... the Chu family is the ancestral home of the two children, and they won't mistreat them.
As long as the two children are well...
Their suffering of longing is worthwhile.
The mother and daughter looked at each other, tears welling up inside.
Tian Tian glanced at Tian Jinghe, whose cheeks were smeared with porridge, and had a new idea. "Mom, you stay home and help my eldest sister repair the house. Jinghe and I will go to the county together."
Tian Jinghe looked up, his eyes sparkling. He had never been to the county before.
He wants to go.
Lu Tao sternly refused, "No way!"
It's not safe for a 15-year-old girl or a 5-year-old child to go anywhere.
"Mom..." Tian Tian continued to persuade, "From now on, it will be just the four of us living together. We can't rely on you and my older sister for everything. I'm all grown up now."
"Jinghe has grown up too."
Tian Jinghe puffed out his little chest and nodded his little head.
Yes, yes, he's grown up!
"Mother, let them go." Tian Xiang pinched Tian Jinghe's little face. "A new magistrate has come to the county. The county is strict. Nothing will happen."