Finally, she was going to take a shower and be very clean. Xiaomi was overjoyed. 40 days! She hadn't taken a bath for 40 days.
How did I get here!
Soon Erniang picked up Xiaomi and placed her in hot water at a suitable temperature. Jiang Hu picked up Bruiser.
"Xiaomi, be good. Take a bath and you won't get sick for a year."
Erniang scooped water using a gourd ladle and poured it down Xiaomi's neck. Then she did the same for Bruiser.
Then she covered her forehead with a wet handkerchief. This way, she could soften the fetal scabs on her head and make it easier to wash her.
Xiaomi and Bruiser were still unsteady on their feet. Jiang Hu and Erniang each held the back of their necks and let them lie half in the water. Their other hands carefully washed them.
As soon as Xiaomi entered the water, she started splashing. Water splashed everywhere, and Bruiser seemed to sense the joy of playing with the water. He imitated his sister's actions and started making a fuss.
Jiang Hu and Erniang's clothes were wet, but they were not angry at all. In fact, they were especially happy.
"Bruiser has finally woken up." Erniang heaved a sigh of relief. "That's great. He's been quiet for more than a month. I thought he's stupid."
Jiang Hu smiled and touched his son's little face. "How can that be? Our Bruiser and Sister are both obedient children. In order to let Mommy rest, well, they don't make a fuss."
Xiaomi babbled and bubbled. Bruiser drank a lot of spiritual spring water every day and was very comfortable. Of course he would not be naughty.
However, thinking of the spiritual spring water, Xiaomi secretly placed a lot of spiritual spring water in the bathtub while soaking in the water.
There was plenty of spiritual spring water. So what if it was wasted? Anyway, this bath water was used to water the vegetables and the ground.
"Dawa, the water is a little cold. Help scoop some hot water over."
"Okay."
"Hu, carry the child up first and then fill the tub with hot water…"
After soaking in the water for nearly half an hour, Xiaomi was finally satisfied and she was picked up. The two older children each held a small blanket and hurriedly wrapped them in it when their parents lifted their younger siblings out of the water.
Actually, there was a fire beside them. It was not cold at all, but everyone in the family was concerned.
"Erniang, I'll bring the hot water to the backyard for you. You should wash up later."
Jiang Hu took the children's bath water out and splashed it on the vegetable garden. Recently, there had been no water from washing diapers, and the vegetable garden had not grown so quickly.
However, it rained again two days ago. The seedlings had been washed. It was just right today that he could taste the vegetables he had planted.
Erniang helped the children to dress. Jiang Hu carried two buckets of hot water and a large basin to the back. Then he found a jar and filled it with the unfinished wood charcoal fire.
He placed this jar of charcoal fire in the bath shed. It was warm and he did not have to worry about a fire. He would not feel cold at all if he took a slow bath.
"I still have to boil water to kill the hare later. Xiaomi and Bruiser will be placed on the small bed beside the stove. Dawa and Erni will watch over them. They won't be cold. Er Ninag, take your time washing yourself at the back of the house. There's no hurry."
At the back of the house was a shed specially used for bathing and bowing. There was also a ready-made latrine pit below.
"Okay, Dawa, Erni, keep an eye on your younger siblings." Erniang took a clean set of clothes and soap and couldn't wait to go to the back.
The children were fine, but she was really uncomfortable. When she gave birth, she was covered in cold sweat.
She had at least wiped her body with hot water, but her hair was all wispy.
In the past, she was worried every day that there was not enough milk and the children would not be able to survive. Now she was worried every day that there would be lice on her head!
Fortunately, she could finally take a bath.
"Daddy, are we really going to eat hare meat today?" Compared to Erniang, who was in a hurry to wash her hair and bathe, Dawa was clearly more concerned about today's lunch.
Over the past few days, he had bumped into his village friends. A few of them said that they had eaten hares at home, but his family had never eaten one!
He had eaten pheasants a few times previously. His father had said that he should not tell anyone and had to do it quietly, so that he could not brag to others. It was very uncomfortable!
Besides, hares had more meat than pheasants! Previously, they had sold all the hares because they fetched more money than pheasants.
It would be a lie to say that he did not crave it. However, Dawa knew that his family was different from others. He had younger siblings. Others had parents and grandparents and they raised one, two or three children together. His father was the sole breadwinner who raised the four of them!
Therefore, even if Dawa was greedy, not once did he mention it at home. Anyway, his stomach had been full recently. Even his strength had increased a little. Besides, there were pheasants to eat. So what if he did not eat hare meat?
However, when he heard his father say that they would be eating hare meat today, he couldn't help but drool. That was a hare. A meaty hare!
Jiang Hu washed away the smell of wormwood in the pot and scooped up another pot of water. "Of course it's true. Today is the end of Mother, Xiaomi and Bruiser's confinement period. Let's celebrate as a family."
Dawa jumped up almost instantly. "Daddy is so awesome! When I grow up, I'll catch hares for Daddy to eat too!"
Jiang Hu grabbed his eldest son's head. "Alright, I'll wait for you to grow up. But for now, take good care of your younger siblings. Later, help me light the fire. Let's stew a large pot of hare meat for lunch!"
"Yes, yes." Dawa nodded repeatedly and came to the side of the small bed. He looked at his younger siblings, who had become even cuter after washing up, and touched their small faces.
"Xiaomi, Bruiser, you have to grow up quickly too. When you grow up, I'll catch hares for you to eat."
"Big Brother, what about me? Are you going to let me eat it?" Erni, who was lying beside the small bed, quickly asked.
Dawa waved his hand proudly. "Of course. Erni, Xiaomi and Bruiser will eat together!"
Erni immediately clapped her hands and jumped up. "Big Brother is awesome. Big Brother is amazing!"
Xiaomi babbled and praised Dawa. Even Bruiser, who was beside him, cried out.
Jiang Hu was also happy to hear the children's childish words. A family should love each other like this. That would be a real family.
The hare fur could also be sold for money. Although it was very cheap, Jiang Hu would put it aside. When the hare was dealt with, he would pack its fur and put it away.
Xiaomi and Bruiser were still young and it was not suitable to let them watch the hare being killed. Jiang Hu dealt with it outside the house. Then he asked Dawa to scoop hot water and wash it clean. He only brought back clean pink hare meat.
Xiaomi was instantly excited to see the hare.
Hare head, spicy hare head! Daddy, why did you throw away the hare head!
"Does Xiaomi want to eat the hare too? You're not ready. Xiaomi is still young. You can eat them when you grow up!"
Erni patted her sister's stomach, wanting to coax her.
I don't eat hares, I eat hare heads! Spicy hare head, Second Sister!
Xiaomi waved excitedly. Unfortunately, Erni didn't understand. Instead, she picked up Xiaomi.
"Does Xiaomi want to see the hare too? I'll take you there." Without the swaddling clothes, it was more convenient to carry her.
However, Xiaomi was afraid of falling and did not dare to move. Erni thought that Xiaomi did not scream or make a fuss because she could watch her father cook the hare, so she carried Xiaomi to the chopping board.
And when Xiaomi looked up and saw the water vat beside her father, she immediately became excited.
The vat! The vat!