Jiang Hu simply brought a group of people home. Anyway, the place was only that big. They could dig however they wanted.
However, Jiang Hu did not let them go to his courtyard. The vegetable seedlings had just been planted again. He was still hoping that he would be able to eat fresh vegetables after a period of time.
Although wild vegetables were edible, they always had a bitter taste. Eating too much of it would burn one's heart.
After showing everyone the place, Jiang Hu headed home.
The weeds in the vegetable garden in the courtyard had been plucked clean, and there was not a single stalk left. When Dawa and Erni heard the commotion, they came out of the house and ran over happily when they saw Jiang Hu.
"Dad, you're back!"
"Dad, Mom wanted to pull the weeds this morning. Erni and I didn't agree. I pulled half the weeds in the vegetable garden myself. Liu Hai's mother pulled the rest with me. She took some of the weeds to catch hares."
Erni hugged her father's leg immediately. Dawa was calmer and reported his schedule for the morning.
Jiang Hu freed one hand to touch the top of Dawa's head and pulled Erni up. "Dawa, Erni, you're awesome. Let's go. I bought cloth and thread. Let's go home first and let Mother make clothes for you."
The siblings nodded repeatedly and happily followed their father back to the house. They had yet to notice the little chicks in the basket.
Erniang heard the commotion outside and reached the door of the room, but remembered not to go out. She just left the door ajar and stood behind it.
Jiang Hu strode home, placed the sackcloth in his arms on the bed, and put down the basket.
"By the way, Dawa, I bought a few chicks. Take them to the empty room beside you with your sister and let them out. When the chicks grow up, they'll lay eggs for you to eat."
"Chicks!" Dawa became excited. "Chicks that can lay eggs!"
He knew about eggs. He had eaten them once on his fourth birthday. They were delicious!
"Wow, they're so small and cute." Erni had very few, almost no, memories of chicks. After all, she was too young to remember.
Jiang Hu gestured for the siblings to move the back basket to the next room. He also placed the bamboo basket with the hare at the door and let Dawa drag it over.
While the siblings were busy, Xiaomi, who was on the bed, babbled. She had a feeling that her father had an ulterior motive and was deliberately trying to send her eldest brother and second sister away!
And this possibility was very high! After all, it had already happened the day before!
As expected, after Dawa and Erni went out, Jiang Hu hurriedly opened the linen bag and took out the things inside.
Erniang exclaimed softly and covered her mouth in time. "Hu, why did you buy so many things?"
Jiang Hu smiled. "The pheasants and hares were sold for a lot of money today. But there are many people outside, so let's not be too conspicuous. In a few days, when more people catch the pheasants and everyone earns money, we'll be fine."
Erniang nodded repeatedly while Jiang Hu quickly placed the things in the straw pile beside him.
"I'll take them to the kitchen after the worm diggers leave. You can stay at home this afternoon and make clothes for the children. I'll check the fields.
"By the way, did Liu Yang's wife come this morning? Liu Yang also caught a pheasant and went to town. He even said that he would help us weed the fields in the afternoon."
Erniang calmed down faster than yesterday and counted the copper coins Jiang Hu took out, feeling very happy.
"Wang Xiang was here. She caught the worms and helped us tidy up the vegetable garden before leaving."
The copper coins were placed under the pillow. "Hu, can you look for a jar specially for keeping the copper coins?"
Jiang Hu had already picked up the wooden basin that was specially used to store dirty diapers. "No problem. I'll go wash the diapers first and look for one later."
Jiang Hu had just gone out when someone talked to him at the side of the courtyard. Seeing him go out with a wooden basin, they hurriedly asked him what he wanted to do.
Jiang Hu stopped. "Isn't there a huge empty land by the river? I'll go to the river to wash the diapers. The water is splashed on that land. In the future, if everyone wants to find insects, go there. It's more convenient."
After all, his wife and children needed to rest. There were so many people outside the courtyard. It was too noisy.
"Jiang Hu, you're so generous. No wonder this lucky star landed in your family. If it were anyone else, they would have hidden it, afraid that others would find out."
Someone said with emotion. This was true, but Jiang Hu smiled indifferently.
"If one is too blessed, one is unable to enjoy it. Besides, doing good deeds is accumulating merits for Xiaomi and Bruiser."
With that, he called for Dawa and Erni who were still looking at the chicks, and asked them to go back and keep their mother and younger siblings company. At the same time, he asked their mother to make new clothes for them.
Hearing about the new clothes, everyone couldn't help but feel envious again. They began to dig for worms excitedly.
When Jiang Hu left, Erniang used thatch as a ruler and measured the size of Dawa and Erni. She turned around and saw Xiaomi rolling her eyes and looking curiously at what she was doing.
"Xiaomi, be good. Mommy will make clothes for Elder Brother and Sister first. Their clothes are too short. I can alter some clothes for you and Bruiser."
Erniang began to stroke Xiaomi and then Bruiser. Bruiser was still sleeping, unlike his sister, who was in high spirits.
Xiaomi replied, "Ahh, Ahh." Thank you, Mother!
Dawa wrinkled his nose. "Mother, I don't want new clothes. Just make them for my younger siblings. I can still wear mine."
Hearing her brother's words, Erni quickly said, "Erni doesn't want them either. Make clothes for Xiaomi and Bruiser."
Xiaomi quickly shouted, Bruiser and I don't need new clothes. Your old clothes are too small and not fitting. Alter them for us to wear!
Unfortunately, no one understood.
Erniang touched Xiaomi's face. "Xiaomi also wants to wear new clothes, right? But Xiaomi is still young. Wearing new clothes will abrase your skin. Wear your older brother and sister's clothes first."
Then she looked at Dawa and Erni. "I'm very happy that you're good to your younger siblings. However, Dad bought coarse cloth. It's too rough for your younger siblings to wear.
"On the other hand, the clothes you've worn have been washed many times and become very soft. They can be used to make clothes for your younger siblings."
Children were supposed to wear cotton clothes, but she had forgotten to tell Hu this morning. Hu probably hadn't thought of this himself.
When Dawa heard this, he agreed dejectedly. "I see. Alright then. When my younger siblings grow up, let them wear new clothes."
Erni nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes. Daddy is very awesome. My younger siblings will wear new clothes when they grow up."
Erniang smiled. "Good girl."
Then she began to cut the cloth and make clothes. The material of the cloth was very thick, but one would still feel a little cold wearing it in this cold weather. She took the old winter clothes of the two children and removed the cotton inside to make them thinner. It was perfect for this period of time.
This way, the saved cotton could be used to make two sets of clothes for Xiaomi and Bruiser.
The people outside the courtyard were still digging for insects, but after all, Wang Xiang had already dug them up in the morning. Everyone was busy for a long time, but they had not gained anything.
In the end, a few of them had a discussion. One person had found a few insects. This little bit was not enough to make a trap. They might as well give it all to one person first and give it to another next time.
When Jiang Hu returned from washing the diapers, he happened to hear everyone discussing who to give the insects to first. He did not say anything. Anyway, he would not go up the mountain the next few days and had to take care of the crops in the field, so he would not get involved.