“Oh my…”
When Old Madame Han saw the two children carrying a plump, heavy chicken, their robes cradling a clutch of eggs, and that they had even brought back fodder for the horse, a wide smile instantly bloomed across her face!
Zhao Shuangtao gasped in delight, “Han Si, Sister-in-law, you two are truly the lucky stars of our family! At a time like this, to still catch such a fat chicken!”
Zhao Shuangtao was blunt and outspoken by nature; seeing so much food, the words flew out of her mouth before she could think.
Hearing the commotion, the passersby on the road immediately turned their heads, their gazes locking onto the chicken in Han Yanqing’s hands!
Han Yanqing, mimicking his second brother, bared his teeth fiercely at those people, tucking the chicken behind his back.
Han Laoda and Han Er’er raised their knives even higher, glaring menacingly at the onlookers.
Seeing this, the strangers shrank their necks and hurried along on their way.
With the crisis averted, Old Madame Han smacked Zhao Shuangtao across the back of the head.
“Did a wolf make off with your brain?! Making such a ruckus at a time like this!”
“Mother, I was wrong!”
Knowing she was in the wrong, Zhao Shuangtao quickly scooped up Sibao to beg for mercy.
“I just thought that Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and Han Si were all hurt to some degree last night. Now that we found a chicken, they could eat some meat to build up their strength. I was just too happy and lost my head…”
Old Madame Han knew her third daughter-in-law harbored no ill intent, so she didn’t truly hold it against her. After rolling her eyes at her, she took Han Yanqing and Lin Yueru by the hand to speak with them.
“Children, tell Mother the truth—did you really find all these things in the woods?”
The two nodded in unison. “Yes, Mother, we found it all in the woods, the grass too!”
Old Madame Han looked them up and down suspiciously, still finding it hard to believe.
Just as her third daughter-in-law had said, what kind of times were these? Where could anyone casually pick up such a large wild chicken?
Could it be that someone had dropped it?
Or, even worse, could it be a trap?
The more Old Madame Han thought about it, the more frightened she became. What if someone was deliberately scheming to harm them!
She had Liu Qiumei feed the grass to the horse while she hid the chicken and eggs away securely.
Then, she quietly summoned the strong and sturdy Han Er’er, and taking up their knives, they slipped into the woods where Han Yanqing and Lin Yueru had gone earlier.
Lin Yueru watched their retreating backs without the slightest concern.
She had been extremely discreet when taking things from the Space; it was impossible to have left any traces behind.
At most, Old Madame Han would just find the whole thing rather uncanny!
Sure enough.
Before long, Old Madame Han returned, brow furrowed, followed by a thoroughly bewildered Han Er’er.
Upon returning, Old Madame Han looked once again at the plump wild chicken and the basket lined with eggs.
Strange, truly strange!
She and Er’er had indeed found the patch of grass Han Yanqing mentioned, but it was the only spot with fresh, ter grass—everything else around it had long withered away!
It was as if it had been specially planted just for them!
As for the chicken and eggs, they couldn’t find a single clue about where they had come from.
Could it be that the heavens had deliberately bestowed this upon Han Si and his wife?
Old Madame Han slapped her thigh, convinced she had finally found the root of it all!
Ever since Ru recovered, not only was she clever, but her luck had also been exceedingly good. She had to be blessed by an immortal!
The more she thought about it, the more certain she felt, and her gaze toward Lin Yueru grew increasingly fervent and excited!
Puzzled, Liu Qiumei asked in a low voice, “Mother, can we eat this chicken?”
Carrying such a chicken on the road drew far too much attention!
“Slaughter it!” Old Madame Han nodded decisively.
Something gifted by an immortal—it would be a waste not to eat it!
Having received Old Madame Han’s command, the whole family was overjoyed.
An Jun and An Xing were so thrilled that they were practically drooling.
Each carrying Sanbao and Sibao on their backs, the two boys circled happily around the adults. Though they didn’t dare speak, their delight was evident for all to see.
Ever since they had started fleeing famine, they couldn’t remember how long it had been since they last tasted meat!
Old Madame Han beamed as she looked at her grandchildren, gently reminding them, “You’re all basking in the good fortune of your Fourth Uncle and Young Auntie. If they hadn’t found this wild chicken, what would there be for you to eat?”
An Jun and An Xing nodded immediately. “Thank you, Fourth Uncle! Thank you, Young Auntie!”
Sanbao and Sibao followed suit, babbling in their childish voices, “Tank you, Fowf Uncle, Young Auntie!”
Seeing these sensible little ones, Lin Yueru took an immediate liking to them. “We’re all family, no need for thanks.”
Taking advantage of the sparse crowd on the road, the Han family quickly found a secluded, quiet patch of woods.
The men set up the pot and built a fire, while the women, led by Old Madame Han, butchered the chicken and cooked the grain. Everyone was swept up in a flurry of bustling activity!
Hurrying as fast as they could, just as the children’s bellies began to rumble, a fragrant lunch was finally ready!
Old Madame Han went all out, mixing sorghum with non-glutinous rice to boil a massive pot of grain!
Then she slaughtered the plump wild chicken, simmering a large pot of wonderfully fragrant chicken soup!
Without waiting for Old Madame Han’s instruction, Liu Qiumei habitually tore off the two drumsticks, giving one to Han Yanqing and the other to Old Madame Han.
The elderly and the ill had always been given preferential treatment in the family.
To everyone’s surprise, Old Madame Han lifted the drumstick from her bowl and placed it into Lin Yueru’s instead.
“These two children must have been terrified last night. Besides, Han Si and Ru were the ones who found the chicken in the first place. They ought to build up their strength.”
The others nodded in succession, without the slightest objection.
Since the drumstick was already in her bowl, Lin Yueru didn’t falsely play modest by giving it away again.
Besides, there was plenty of meat left in the pot—enough for every single person in this large family to have a share!
She spoke up, “Mother, one drumstick each is plenty for Yanqing and me. Eldest Brother and Second Brother were hurt last night, so they should eat more meat to heal up.”
Old Madame Han nodded at Lin Yueru with satisfaction and praise. “Ru is right. That’s just what I was thinking too.”
Looking at the large chunks of chicken in their bowls, Han Laoda and Han Er’er were so moved they didn’t know what to say.
Watching everyone look so touched that they couldn’t bear to eat, Lin Yueru felt both heartache and amusement.
She softly reminded them, “Mother, we should eat quickly and get back on the road. It won’t do if the travelers behind catch up and see us eating meat.”
“Right! That makes sense. Eat up, and eat your fill today!”
After all, it was a chicken brought out from the Space. The meat was ter, flavorful, and chewy, and even the broth was as rich and fragrant as ambrosia!
They mixed the chicken soup into their grain, cleaning their bowls down to the last grain.
The little ones went so far as to lick the rims completely clean!
Zhao Shuangtao teased the children with a laugh, “Look at you all, eating so clean we won’t even need to wash the bowls!”
“Hehehe…”
None of them had eaten their fill in a very long time.
Only with full bellies did they have the heart to laugh and joke. After chuckling along with Zhao Shuangtao’s remark, everyone got up briskly to pack their belongings.
By now, the refugees behind them were already moving along the road, yet the aroma of chicken soup still lingered in the air. Having eaten and drank their fill, hurrying away was the best course of action!
Old Madame Han held Sanbao and Sibao as she sat on the horse-drawn handcart. Following the stream of people, they kept their heads down and pushed forward, none of them daring to let their guard down.
Along the way, there were indeed nosy people who approached to ask where the Han family had gotten the horse.
Old Madame Han simply answered with a smile every time, “We met a benefactor on the road, and they gifted it to us!”
Hearing this, no one dared lay a hand on the horse to snatch it.
It was hard to tell whether Old Madame Han was telling the truth or not, but what if it was true?
What if they stole the horse one moment, only for that powerful benefactor to show up the next to avenge the Han family? Where could they possibly turn for mercy then?!
And so they traveled in relative peace.
It wasn’t until the next morning that, thanks to the horse, the Han family moved much faster than the others and gradually caught up to a large crowd.
Among them were Wang Cuiju and her maiden family, who had been driven away!