Chapter 553: Farming and Weaving Are Extremely Busy

That day, the Small Town was unusually peaceful; the threat brought by the Baiqi Tribe seemed to have been resolved overnight by Nan Qinghuan and the others.

The dusk hung low, and when Nan Qinghuan awoke again, she was roused by the scent of simmering meat broth.

Mother.

She woke, saw the two children still sleeping, stepped out cautiously, and when she saw Mother simmering soup, her stomach rumbled with hunger.

Mother, what are you cooking? It smells so good.

Qinghuan, you're awake. Did you sleep well?

Thank you, Mother. I slept very well. What's this…

It's bone broth. Ying kept saying you like soup, so here, let me ladle you a bowl to try.

Alright.

She saw that it was already dark outside, yawned, and the Tulou households began finishing their meals; each candle flame represented a family.

There are children at home, with parents—how wonderful.

This is the happiness she seeks.

Mother, has anyone come looking for me?

Yes, Ashu came, but left when he heard you were sleeping.

When Ashu looks for her, it's usually about something. "I'll go check in a bit."

Finish your meal first; you've been tired all day and should rest. Here, have a taste.

Mother, you eat too.

The mother‑in‑law relationship had always been good; Nan Qinghuan thought Mother was the most easy‑going mother‑in‑law in the world. Although in the past, because she couldn't conceive, Mother had told Ying she wanted to find a woman for him to have a child with, but fortunately her womb was resilient, and the matter passed that way.

Therefore, she understood: she raised Ying so well; if a woman couldn't bear children, how heartbreaking that would be— not to mention primitive people couldn't accept it; modern people are the same— which mother‑in‑law could accept her daughter‑in‑law being infertile? So she doesn't blame Mother.

Mother, knowing she was filial, ladled a bowl of meat broth onto the table herself, and said, "Qinghuan, Ying has been gone for several days; why hasn't he returned yet? Any news?"

Upon hearing this, Nan Qinghuan also wanted to know, since no news had come from that side, and said, "Mother, don't worry. After I finish eating, I'll go find Ashu to ask about the situation."

Ah, I hope everything's fine.

Don't worry; nothing will happen. Ying is who he is— allied with the Rongdi, no one above Jiuzhou can match him.

Hearing Nan Qinghuan, Mother finally relaxed, nodded, and said, "That's good, that's good."

After the meal, Mother washed dishes and tended the children, while Nan Qinghuan prepared to go out and ask Ashu about Ying's current situation. Yet as she stepped out, she saw Yao hurrying toward her.

Goddess.

Yao, why are you in such a hurry?

Yao, a bit nervous, said, "Come quickly with me to check; my child hasn't pooped."

What?

Nan Qinghuan thought something else was wrong, but it turned out the child hadn't pooped. "I'll go take a look; don't worry."

She had been very busy these days and hadn't had time to see Yao's child.

That wolf cub!

When she arrived, You ChaoJi was walking back and forth holding the child, saying, "Why hasn't it pooped? It must poop, otherwise it's uncomfortable."

Aji, the Goddess has arrived.

Nan Qinghuan arrived; You ChaoJi hurriedly looked at her pleadingly, "Goddess, you're finally here. Look at my daughter— she hasn't pooped all day and won't eat."

The wolf clan's genes are truly strong; this child is less than ten days old yet growing rapidly, with the fur on its hands beginning to recede.

The slower growth is that of a normal child!

Let me see— what have you been feeding it?

You ChaoJi was speechless, "Don't mention it; it's Yao's fault. I said the child should drink milk— our children there do that—but he gave the child beast blood, and now the child is ill."

What?

Drink beast blood? Nan Qinghuan stared at Yao in shock. Yao, realizing the misunderstanding, hurried to explain, "Goddess, it's like this: our Beastman children differ from human children. Soon after birth they must drink beast blood; only then will their bodies grow strong enough for Beast Transformation. Otherwise, when they reach adulthood, it becomes dangerous."

This was the first time Nan Qinghuan learned that Beastman children drink beast blood in infancy; could such a young child endure it? She lifted the child into her arms, and to her surprise, the child's teeth were already beginning to emerge, sharp as needles.

Like two Wolf Fangs.

She couldn't help admiring Yao's genes; although the child was born of a human, its wolf lineage was inescapable.

"Let me see what to do?"

She placed the child on the bedside cot; the tiny one already knew how to kick and grab, and its nails were sharp.

She inhaled a cold breath and took the child's pulse; indeed, the child was truly different from ordinary children. After a moment she thought, "I think the beast blood caused gastrointestinal discomfort. So, if you pause for a while and let the child recover before giving it more, it will improve a lot."

"Just pausing for a while will be enough?"

Nan Qinghuan thought, "I'll have Youchao Xuan bring you some Herbal Medicine later, and we'll brew some for the child to drink."

Hearing that it would be fine, You ChaoJi was delighted, "Thank you, Goddess. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known what to do."

"Silly, I'm a doctor. If anything, come to me. By the way, Yao, have any news about Ying and the others arrived?"

She thought of asking Yao the same, but Yao shook his head, "Not yet, but Ashu should have something."

"Then I'll go ask him."

"Shall I go with you?"

"No need. Stay with the child; I'll go first."

After Nan Qinghuan left, You ChaoJi kept berating Yao for giving the child beast blood. This time Yao said nothing; he only remembered that he was a Beastman and had ignored Aji.

"Sorry, Aji."

What could You ChaoJi say? The man she chose, no matter what, had to go on.

"Alright, I'll go fetch Youchao Xuan for some Herbal Medicine; you take care of the child."

"I'll go then; you watch the child."

After waiting for Yao to go out, suddenly his keen eyes spotted several skulking people inside the Forest.

"Who—stop?"

Here, Yao went after those people, while Nan Qinghuan went to the riverside Tulou to find Ashu; Ashu and his group live inside, in the fifth room on the second floor.

"Dong dong dong"

She had just knocked, and Ashu's voice came from inside, "Who?"

Hearing Ashu at home, she felt relieved.

It seems Ying and they are very safe; otherwise Ashu wouldn't be so composed.

"It's me, Nan Qinghuan—Ashu, open the door."

"Coming, coming."

When the door opened, Ashu, wearing only a pair of trousers, stepped out, naked above the waist; upon seeing Nan Qinghuan, he immediately bowed respectfully, "It's the Goddess, please sit."

"The Goddess has arrived, please sit."

The woman inside the house was the captive from last time, now Ashu's woman.

She also stepped in, and seeing the interior surprisingly orderly, she felt gratified; indeed, a house without a woman can't be called a home—naturally not.

Ashu used to be a rough brute who couldn't tidy a house, but with a woman in the home, the pigsty instantly turned into a cozy little room; the women from last time all stayed here, gradually getting used to life with a man, which is far better than being a man's plaything.

That woman was rather pretty, set out a stool for her to sit, but she seemed a bit restrained and shy, "Goddess, please sit."

The woman, knowing they had business to discuss, left; after she departed, Nan Qinghuan hurriedly asked, "Ashu, did you come to see me for a reason today?"

Ashu gave a simple, good‑natured smile, "Yes, Goddess, I wanted to ask you about the weaving business."

"Weaving?"

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