The second day.
It wasn't yet dawn, and the insects were still asleep, and dewdrops hadn't formed.
Jiang Mianmian's father, the second son of the Jiang family, Jiang Changtian, went to work.
Jiang Mianmian was wrapped up like a dumpling, staring at her father with sleepy eyes.
Though it was dark, she could see clearly.
It indicated that the spiritual spring water wasn't an illusion. Even though she was still half-asleep, her vision had improved.
No longer as if she had a layer of eye mucus, everything wasn't a bit blurry.
Too early.
She yawned and then her cheek was pinched.
"Mianmian, Dad is going to work. I'll bring you something delicious when I come back."
Jiang Mianmian cleverly responded with a "yiyayaya."
Jiang Changtian was surprised. This daughter is too smart, couldn't help but pinch her little face again.
Jiang Mianmian:...
Although you're pretty, pinching someone's face is not right.
After seeing off her father, she was fed by her mother, changed, and fell asleep again.
When she woke up again, it was already bright.
She lay in the familiar wooden basin, placed under the eaves, while her mother was chopping firewood.
She could clearly see her mother holding an axe, splitting that huge wooden stake into halves, then halves again, all the way until it was arm-thick, and piled up piece by piece, looking relieving.
She shouldn't have stress at such a young age, but thinking about the curse from the old lady yesterday...
This family is too poor.
She's so small; forget about doing anything, she can't even talk yet. But if she speaks now, it would be terrifying.
She could only lie in the wooden basin, watching her mother chop wood. After a while, she fell asleep again.
Just like that, drinking milk, sleeping, unconsciously urinating and defecating, watching her mother work until it was dark.
Her elder brother Jiang Feng returned first.
Then her sister Jiang Yu, and finally, her father.
Elder brother Jiang Feng didn't do serious work, spent the day fooling around.
Sister Jiang Yu went to help cook at Mr. Liu's house and brought back a small piece of meat today...
Surprisingly, Dad brought her a small jar of goat milk...
Even elder brother's hands were not idle, he brought back three red threads, one for Mom, one for sister, and one for her, placed on her cradle.
Jiang Mianmian saw the red thread and reached out to grab it. Unfortunately, her hands, like Doraemon's, were hard to grip when stretched out. If she managed to hold it, letting go made the red thread fall. She had a great time struggling with the red thread.
Seeing his sister enjoying it, Jiang Feng said happily, "Today, I went to the market to help people and got a thank-you gift."
Dad, Jiang Changtian, snorted and scolded, "Are you cheating customers again for the girls at Lichun Yard?"
Jiang Mianmian finally managed to grab the red thread and, upon hearing this, hesitated.
My big-eyed, thick-browed brother's business seems a bit beyond my comprehension.
Jiang Feng didn't joke around as usual but spoke seriously:
"Last time, Mother nearly beat me to death, so naturally I didn't dare to go again. But this time, it seems like something serious is going on. Sixth Aunt has always been one to seize any opportunity, looking down on us. Now, she's set her sights on Jiang Yu. I'm definitely going to find out what's going on. That's why I went to Lichun Yard again; the rumors there are always the most reliable."
As Aunt, holding her axe, set it down, Jiang Yu looked over, curious.
"In the city, Lord Wu has a mentally challenged son. He's usually fine, but once he loses control, he can't restrain himself. He ended up killing his previous maid. So, they're buying maids from our poor, remote village, claiming they want them to be alluring, offering fifty taels of silver."
"Smack!" Jiang Yu slammed the wooden mallet she was holding onto the clothes, making a loud sound.
"That old hag dares to swindle even when selling bodies! Fifty taels! Ahh! Next time I see her, I'll tear her apart."
Jiang Changtian looked at his eldest daughter speechlessly. Her mind seemed beyond repair. Is money the priority here? The real concern is that she might end up losing her life if she's deceived.
Furious, Jiang Yu pounded the wooden mallet several times, then suddenly stood up. "Today, A Cui boasted to me about going to the city to enjoy herself. Though she's selfish and annoying, she shouldn't be deceived like this. I'm going to talk to her!"
She started to leave.
"Bang!" Qin Luoxia's big axe split a large piece of wood, splinters flying.
Her forehead was sweaty, her round face flushed, but her eyes held traces of blood.
There was no shouting, no usual grumbling; just a calm statement: "Let's eat first. Don't go. If you do, she'll think you can't stand to see her doing well. Let's leave this matter alone."
Then, the family obediently began to prepare for dinner.
At this moment, Jiang Mianmian realized that her mother was not as she appeared. She had always thought that her handsome father was the one in charge at home, not the plain-looking mother.
Dinner wasn't as good as yesterday's; a pot of vegetables with a piece of meat floating in it, untouched by anyone, eventually ended up in Mother's bowl.
Jiang Mianmian felt a bit better now, with a clear spring in her step. But she still felt unsatisfied. The spring water couldn't replace milk. She felt so hungry.
In order to have a healthy and abundant source of milk, Jiang Mianmian planned to do something sneaky at night, but ended up falling asleep first.
Early the next morning, when Father got up and woke her up, she stared with wide eyes at her round-faced mother sleeping soundly, even snoring softly. She reached out and touched her mother's lips, imagining the flow of spring water, and indeed, she saw a trickle of water entering her mother's mouth, which she unconsciously swallowed.
Then she suddenly felt a warmth spreading through her body... Oh no, she had just imagined spring water flowing, and she wet the bed.
Her whole body, from buttocks to legs to back, was warm... She was soaking in her own fresh urine!
Jiang Mianmian started crying loudly: "Waaaah..."
