Chapter 4 Rebirth (4)_1

She carried Ruan Jiaojiao to the kitchen, coaxed her to sit on a small stool, and went back to her busy tasks.

In the countryside now, it was fashionable for stoves to have two pots, one big and one small. In the larger pot, the Ruanlin Family was frying a plate of green vegetables, while the smaller pot contained a pot of sweet potatoes interspersed with a few grains of rice, which was the meal for the family that day. On top there was a foreign porcelain bowl filled with fine white rice cooked in a minced meat broth, specially prepared for Ruan Jiaojiao.

The Ruan Family had not yet risen to wealth, so apart from the fine food that Ruan Jiaojiao ate, the other members of the Ruan Family could only eat enough to feel full. Still, even in such a state, they were considered wealthy in the entire village.

Ruan Jiaojiao, in her previous life, was a stray cat who had opened her "intelligence", so often she did not pick garbage to eat, leading to a life of full meals followed by hunger.

Now, seeing the bowl of meat and rice soup, her big eyes became shiny and unblinkingly fixed on it, and she unconsciously swallowed her saliva.

The Ruanlin Family ladled out the green vegetables and, seeing Ruan Jiaojiao's greedy appearance, laughed, "Are you hungry, Jiaojiao?"

Ruan Jiaojiao nodded her head somewhat embarrassedly.

The Ruanlin Family was amused by her adorable manner, leaned forward to peck her on the cheek, and then reached out to take the bowl of meat and rice soup.

Her hands, rough and calloused, handled the hot bowl directly without fear of being scalded, but she was afraid her delicate Jiaojiao would get burnt, so she called out to Tianyi, and saw a plump little boy of about eight or nine years old run in.

"Feed your sister, and don't scald her, you hear me?" the Ruanlin Family said, holding the bowl while she walked out into the yard, instructing as she went.

"Granny, I know," replied Little Fatty, following behind obediently. He was the youngest son of her third son, only eight years old this year, and he adored his tender, younger sister more than anything.

"Don't you sneak a taste," the Ruanlin Family never hid her partiality, fearing that Little Fatty's gluttony would get the better of him. After placing the bowl on the stool, she gave another strict warning.

Little Fatty, smelling the meaty aroma, swallowed his saliva but still obediently nodded; he knew his sister was frail and needed good food to nourish her. Although he wanted to eat it, he would never steal his sister's food.

After admonishing him several times, the Ruanlin Family finally patted Ruan Jiaojiao's little head and walked back to the kitchen, looking back every three steps, obviously reluctant to leave.

As soon as Little Fatty saw Granny was no longer there, he relaxed, first offering Ruan Jiaojiao a pleasing smile, then picking up a spoon to scoop up a spoonful of the meat soup with rice, which contained minced meat mixed with the rice, aromatic to the point of bliss. He wanted to blow on it to cool it for his sister, but the enticing smell made him nearly scoop it all into his own mouth. Fortunately, he retained his last bit of sense and brought the spoon to Ruan Jiaojiao's mouth instead.

"Sister, eat. Brother blew on it. It's not hot anymore."

Ruan Jiaojiao looked at Little Fatty, then at the spoon, suspecting it might be tainted with his saliva, but ultimately the craving in her belly won over, and she sucked on it, a few slurps and it was gone.

Little Fatty kept up the pace, and before Ruan Jiaojiao finished her last bite, the next spoon was already on its way.

Ruan Jiaojiao had not had such a comfortable meal in a long time, eating to her heart's content. Soon only half the bowl was left, and she was already full, her little belly rounded. As she watched Little Fatty, who was so envious that he couldn't stop swallowing his saliva, she was just about to generously offer him the rest when a commotion erupted outside.

Before she could react, two figures, one big and one small, burst into the room like a whirlwind, accompanied by a shrill voice of a woman cursing, "You damned little brat, still trying to hide? I think you want to die! Get out here to your mother!"