Chapter 335

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Protagonist:

Chai Mi

Chai Youqing returned to the room.

Chai Mi still watched the calf, occasionally going back to the room to warm up for a while.

Staying until the latter half of the night before coming out again, because she was too sleepy, she fell asleep in a daze.

When she woke with a start, she raised her head and looked?

Chai Youqing had come over at some unknown time, and was lightly, quietly draping a padded jacket over her.

Seeing Chai Mi awake, he was startled, his hand frozen in mid-air.

"It's cold at night, wear more." Chai Youqing said.

Chai Mi didn't speak, just silently pulled the padded jacket tighter around herself. An indescribable sour and astringent feeling, mixed with that trace of faint warmth, quietly welled up in her heart.

The old cow's pacing sounds gradually quieted down, the calf's breathing seemed to have become a bit steadier than before.

The night, still long.

But this while, her mindset was much better.

"Alright, you go back to the room. Wait for tomorrow you watch, I'm busy tomorrow daytime. How about you come at night, I won't set up stall daytime I watch?" Chai Mi said somewhat dissatisfied, but not angrily.

Chai Mi actually felt Chai Youqing was indeed just like that.

Can't distinguish reason.

It's very obvious he comes at night, tomorrow sets up stall not home, needs someone to feed medicine. But Chai Youqing insists he comes at night too.

If you say he's no good, that's indeed can't distinguish upside down generally.

If you say he's especially no good, he still pretends to care quite a bit about the cow.

Although it's all caused by Chai Youqing, Chai Mi indeed couldn't easily get angry anymore.

Finally endured until the sky slightly brightened, Su Wan got up to watch for Chai Mi for a while, Chai Mi returned to the room and dozed off.

At this time someone will definitely ask: Why Chai Youqing helps watch the cow, Chai Mi disagrees, but mother comes, Chai Mi agrees instead?

Because Su Wan does things relatively more carefully.

Chai Mi can't say to Chai Youqing's face: just you are nothing, big things can't do, small things can't do well, eat whatever not enough, stubborn mouth first place, foolish loyalty number one under heaven, talking nonsense could win championship right.

When Chai Mi woke up, Su Wan had already made breakfast, then came in and said to Chai Mi: "How about... today not set up stall?"

Chai Mi also wanted to, but these two days students already on break, income decreased a lot.

Speaking of setting up stall, the first two days, one thousand plus profit per day. But students on break, immediately halved.

After all, students' money, is truly easy to earn.

Cough cough... anyway compared to those hardworking laborers' money, much easier to earn. As long as Chai Mi posts the price, even if expensive, they also feel it's fair and reasonable.

Sometimes even help Chai Mi speak up for fairness: The price she writes is clear and plain, can't afford it, don't eat ah? Why complain about expensive...

"Still go ba, staying home also no meaning. Wait a bit Old Zhang finishes injection, I'll go again."

"Mm."

Then Chai Mi simply ate breakfast, just finished eating.

Old Zhang the veterinarian pedaled a bicycle over, medicine box clanging on the back seat.

"How is it girl?" Old Zhang got off the bike and headed straight for the cowshed.

Chai Mi rubbing her sore eyes: "Poured medicine three times, diarrhea lessened a bit, blood streaks still there, but can groan a couple times now." She pointed at the corner where the calf was curled up.

Old Zhang squatted down to examine carefully, pried open eyelids, felt ears: "Hey! Tough life! Dehydration eased a bit! One more shot, feed medicine on time, there's hope!" He skillfully prepared medicine and gave the shot.

Chai Youqing didn't know when he sidled over, holding a bowl of warm medicine water, timidly asking: "Old Zhang, this... this means it's fine?"

Old Zhang head not raised: "What called fine? Must carefully tend! Water grass feed all pay attention, don't randomly feed green grass again! Big cow eats, milk not good, will exceed bacteria standard, this all enteritis already, originally this calf stomach tender, random feed even more no good. This old cow too old, resistance itself weak, calf also weak. This old cow gives birth to a grass, that's how it's said."

Chai Youqing face reddened, hurriedly nodded: "Eh, eh, remembered remembered. I... I'll go make it some warm rice soup?"

Old Zhang waved hand: "Okay okay okay, go go go." Turned head to Chai Mi: "Your dad finally enlightened a bit?"

Chai Mi snorted: "Count on him? Better count on calf striving on its own."

Seeing off Old Zhang, Chai Youqing really brought a bowl of warm rice soup over, clumsily trying to feed the calf.

Chai Mi couldn't stand watching: "Move aside, aiya! They said give old cow hot drink, you giving calf what? This all can't understand? Calf can drink rice soup? Why don't you give calf a knife directly?"

Then Chai Mi fed the rice soup to Da Niu: "Xiu'er, you later get a few catties brown sugar, when time comes use hot water scald, feed old cow drink."

Chai Xiu yawning came out: "Know Sister, calf can live?"

"Vet said recovered, depends on fate." Chai Mi head not raised, "Mom where?"

"Mom early morning carried basket went to fields, said want look at corn." Chai Xiu stretched lazily.

Just speaking, Su Wan hurried back, complexion not too good: "Chai Mi! Our corn... really less!"

Chai Mi hand paused: "What? Really stolen? How much stolen?"

"East side those two furrows, sparse, cobs taken by people not a little!" Su Wan slapped thigh, "I said last night heart uneasy! Your dad still said impossible..."

Chai Youqing hearing, anxious: "Can't be! I yesterday afternoon still looked, fine fine!"

Chai Xiu mouth fast: "Dad, you looked? You looked what? You see corn stalks not fallen call 'fine fine'? People steal corn is break off cobs, stalks still standing!"

Chai Youqing mouth opened, wilted: "I... I how know really someone steal this..."

Chai Mi stuffed empty bowl to Chai Youqing, displeased: "Alright! Now say what all late! Xiu'er says right, everyone definitely first guess is Second Uncle did! Just stole chickens, now steal corn, 'thief' name set!"

Chai Xiu eyes rolled: "Sister, then what we do? Report case?"

Chai Mi waved hand: "Report what case? Worth it? Still not enough trouble. Just count as feeding rats."

"What report?" Song Qiushui's voice came from the doorway as she pushed the Inverted Donkey in, "What's wrong, Chai Mi?"

"The calf is sick, but it's a bit better now. Last night it nearly died, now the calf has rallied a bit." Chai Mi pointed toward the cornfield, "Also... quite a bit of our family's corn was taken by someone."

"What?!" Song Qiushui's eyes widened, "Who did it? It's definitely your Second Uncle again, right? His leg is lame but his hands aren't!"

Chai Youqing defended quietly: "Can't be... You Fu is still lying in the hospital..."

Song Qiushui rolled her eyes: "Uncle, why are you still speaking for him? If it's not him, who else could the thief be? Specifically targeting your family?"

Chai Mi interrupted them: "Alright alright, guessing is useless. Qiu Shui, you came at just the right time. The two of us will just sell a bit less today, I didn't make much yesterday afternoon either. Once we're done, let's go stroll around the county."

Song Qiushui's eyes lit up: "Stroll the county? Great! I've wanted to go see for ages! Heard the county's Department Store is really lively! By the way... look for any tasty food to learn?"

"I meant find a better veterinary shop, buy some good medicine! I feel Old Zhang's medicine is a bit off the mark." Chai Mi made the final call, "Dad, you stay home and watch the calf properly, feed the medicine on time, don't make any more trouble! Mom, you keep an eye on him. Xiu'er, you behave too!"

Chai Youqing hurriedly nodded: "Aye, aye, rest assured! This time I'll definitely be careful! Won't leave its side!"

Su Wan also nodded: "I'll watch."

Chai Xiu raised her hand: "Sister, can I go to the county with you guys?"

Chai Mi poked her forehead: "Dream on! Stay home and help Mom with chores! Let's go, Qiu Shui!"

Song Qiushui nimbly helped turn the cart around: "Go go go! Chai Mi, what good stuff do you say we eat in the county at noon?"

"All you think about is eating. Buying medicine, then going to look around and buy a proper deep fryer is the real business." Chai Mi said while instructing Su Wan: "Mom, later go check our other fields. This year the season is generally bad, only our family has corn, so originally there were many people eyeing it. When the cow's fine, stroll around more, keep watch. Thieves are many these days, hard to deal with."

This year the drought was severe, once the dog days began, it hardly rained at all.

The whole village, only Chai Mi and a few other families' corn was irrigated and grew okay, the rest were all very poor. At this time there being corn thieves was also unavoidable.

Watch more carefully.

Su Wan agreed.

Afterwards Chai Mi left the courtyard, mounted the Inverted Donkey, looked back at Song Qiushui: "You sit properly, don't fall off."

"No problem no problem, I've got good balance! Right, this time why don't we also replace the pot for boiling dumplings, that pot's a bit small." Song Qiushui patted the cart bed, "Best to get it all done in one trip........ ay right, Chai Mi, the calf really rallied?"

Chai Mi said: "Mm, Old Zhang said it rallied a bit. Have to see its own fortune. My mom and dad are watching, should be no problem."

Song Qiushui sat in the cart bed swinging her legs: "Good good. You said your dad last night... ah, forget it, not mentioning it. Today after we buy medicine and the pot, can we really eat a meal in the county? I've never eaten at a restaurant in the county!"

Chai Mi smiled: "Okay, what do you want to eat?"

"Meat!" Song Qiushui's eyes shone, "Big meat slices! Sweet and sour pork! Stir-fried pork strips! Anything works!"

"Look at your lack of ambition." Chai Mi teased, "All you know is meat. Okay, find a cleaner small restaurant."

"Hehe, Chai Mi is the best!" Song Qiushui was happy, "Right, our fried chicken business, when the new pot comes back, can it prop up properly again? Yesterday couldn't sell, my heart feels empty."

Chai Mi nodded: "Mm, marinate anew."

The two chatting, the cart drove past the village entrance. Song Qiushui looked at the withered yellow fields by the road, sighed: "Ah, this land is so dry... corn cobs are all shriveled."

Chai Mi also glanced: "Mm, the year is bad. Ours... lost is lost, just treat it as feeding unseen rats. Don't think about it."

"Not thinking not thinking." Song Qiushui shook her head, perked up again, "Still better think what meat is fragrant at noon! Chai Mi, does the county really have that... Department Store you mentioned?"

"Yes, stuff is quite complete, pots and pans everything. We'll go to the Veterinary Station first to see if there's better medicine, then go."

"Deal!" Song Qiushui sat straight in the cart bed, "Buy new pot, buy good medicine, eat big meat! This life, has prospects!"

Chai Mi listening to her excited voice, corners of her mouth curved up: "Sit tight, road's not good."

"Got it!" Song Qiushui's voice drifted in the wind, "Chai Mi, you say if our business gets big later, can we also open a small shop in the county?"

Chai Mi looked at the dirt road stretching ahead, voice carrying a hint of laughter: "Why think so far. First eat today's meat into your belly, serve the calf well, steady the fried chicken stall, then talk."

"Right!" Song Qiushui agreed cheerfully, "Step by step! Let's go!"

Song Qiushui and Chai Mi pushed the Inverted Donkey out of the village, onto the highway leading to the county town.

The sun had just climbed up not long ago, the air still carried the night's coolness, but the crop leaves on both sides of the road were all yellowed, in a few more days they'd be done for.

Chai Mi sighed: This drought is beyond shape, this year every family will have a hard time.

"Chai Mi, you say our family's corn really wasn't stolen by your Second Uncle?" Song Qiushui asked: "Then who else could it be? At this critical juncture, everyone definitely thinks of him first!"

Chai Mi shook her head: "Hard to say. His leg is lame and he's still in the hospital, however long his hands they can't reach our fields. But everyone thinking this way, just right gives the real thief cover." Her brows furrowed, "This thing is disgusting right where it's disgusting. Losing a bit of corn isn't worth much, but eating this silent loss is stifling."

"Then what to do? Really not investigate?" Song Qiushui was a bit unwilling.

"Investigate? Where to go investigate? Footprints? Ground full of footprints, can you tell whose is whose? Report? Not worth the trouble and money." Chai Mi helpless: "Just treat it as losing money to avoid disaster. When we get to the Veterinary Station later, you be sweet-tongued, ask if there's special effective medicine for calf dysentery, imported works too, not afraid of expensive."

"Okay! On me!" Song Qiushui patted her chest, "But Chai Mi, we really buying a proper deep fryer? That thing's old expensive, right?"

"Expensive also must buy." Chai Mi's tone firm, "Yesterday's matter gave me a wake-up. Relying on firewood and gas tanks, heat control unstable, troublesome not to mention, fried stuff texture also lacks a bit. Want to last long, want to do well, money that should be invested can't be saved. Besides," she paused, "this fried chicken business, I think it'll work. Students on break, our dumpling stall income down by half, have to rely on fried chicken to prop it up."

"Hehe, listening to you!" Song Qiushui got excited, "Then after buying the pot, we go stroll the Department Store? Heard new Di Qing Liang skirts arrived..."

"Buy medicine, buy pot, hurry back. It's autumn already, what skirt are you wearing?" Chai Mi cut her off, "Calf still half-dead, house full of chores, where's the leisure to stroll? Wait for calf to recover, fried chicken business stable, then you stroll as you like."

She had the family's cow on her mind, and that stolen corn, really had no mood.

The two hurried slowly arrived at the county.

After setting up stall, went straight to the veterinary medicine shop.

The county's Veterinary Station was much more proper than the town's, medicine also complete.

Song Qiushui exerted her natural familiarity skill, pulling an old veterinarian asking this and that, and actually asked out a newly arrived, supposedly good for calf dysentery sulfonamide medicine, combined with ordinary anti-diarrhea medicine, effect should be good.

Only this type of medicine dosage not easy to control well, must be reasonable, according to calf weight, inject too much and it likes to convulse, likes to poison.

Chai Mi didn't say another word, bought two vials, also matched some anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhea oral medicine.

Buying the deep fryer took some twists and turns. They ran several places selling kitchenware, either no specialized deep fryer, or those pitifully small household models.