Chapter 535

Qin Bi couldn't lift her eyelids: "Didn't get enough sleep."

"Sleep a bit more," Rong Juan said. "Rong Chi is very good; he didn't fuss."

Qin Bi, who was already drifting off, smiled and opened her eyes again: "If he didn't fuss, that would be strange."

Young Master Rong didn't want to admit the little milk bun was naughty. Waiting for Qin Bi to fall asleep, he fell silent. Qin Bi knew the child Young Master Rong had longed for was perfect in every way, so she closed her eyes to sleep.

Soon, Qin Bi fell asleep.

Rong Juan gazed at Qin Bi's sleeping face for a moment, then rose and left the bedroom.

In the courtyard, the children laughed gaily, filling the whole yard with joy. Everything Qin Bi had collected this time was exactly what children loved; how could Rong Yang and Rong Chi not be happy?

Even the little prince, who was following along and drinking soup, beamed with delight, his laughter carrying far away.

Rong Juan paused, his gaze settling on Rong Yang and Rong Chi rummaging through the basket. His brows and eyes softened. Such a tiny bundle; even if he held it in his palm, he feared it might melt. Lowering his eyes in thought, he decided he should pick out a few fine pelts from the flame beast.

Rong Juan said to the little prince, "Keep an eye on Rong Yang and Rong Chi."

The little prince nodded: "Okay."

Rong Juan stepped away.

Rong Yang and Rong Chi held the basket down, glanced at it, then turned to continue rummaging. This was what Rong Juan had instructed: he had left more than half a basket of spiritual-energy sweet potatoes and little sweet radishes for the little buns.

If they wanted to eat, they could rummage through the basket.

Just as Qin Bi had predicted, children indeed loved colorful, pretty things.

Rong Yang and Rong Chi especially loved rummaging through the basket. They'd eat a yellow little sweet radish, then find a red one. The texture wasn't much different, but the little buns felt it was distinct.

More than half the basket of spiritual-energy sweet potatoes and little sweet radishes had been rummaged clean by the little buns.

It didn't matter; it didn't stop the little buns from rummaging through it again.

Until nightfall, they didn't know how many times they'd rummage. Anything they hadn't liked the first time would surprise them the second time they saw it, even though it was actually the same one they'd overlooked before.

Rong Yang wasn't too affected, but the little milk bun was especially full of surprises.

"Eh?" Rong Chi grabbed a little sweet radish with his tiny hands: "Brother, this little sweet radish is delicious."

Rong Yang took a look: "That's the one you said was very small."

Rong Chi furrowed his tiny brows, stared at the little sweet radish in his hand several times, then tossed it back into the basket. He continued rummaging, found another one, and the little prince took it to wash for him. There were also the ones Rong Yang had picked out. The little prince guarded a basin of clear water, responsible for washing the ingredients.

When washing the little sweet radishes, he casually plucked off the greens.

Once a plate was ready, several children went inside to guard the stove and eat. Crisp and sweet, delicious. The children laughed gaily. After finishing one, Rong Yang got up and went to the bedroom. Seeing Qin Bi still asleep, the child went back.

When Rong Juan returned after selecting the flame beast pelts, the river snails had already been stir-fried.

Sizzling with fragrance, the moment he entered the courtyard, the smell of chili stir-fried river snails filled the air. The children couldn't wait any longer. The little milk bun had tried to eat several times, but the little prince stopped him; with the shells on, a six-month-old couldn't eat them.

Even if he could eat, he wouldn't be allowed to eat them himself.

As soon as Rong Juan arrived, the little milk bun said, "Father, eat."

Rong Juan served himself a portion of chili stir-fried river snails, then sat down. He picked up a bamboo skewer to pick out the snail meat and feed the children. The little milk bun, Rong Chi, was being naughty. The little prince picked out a piece of snail meat and gave it to the little milk bun.

The little milk bun opened his mouth and ate. He was very well-behaved; he wasn't well-behaved when he was being naughty.

No matter how sensible the little prince was, he was still a child and not very big. Rong Juan knew very well the potency of chili stir-fried river snails. He spoke: "These stir-fried spiritual-energy river snails are all for you, Rong Yang, and Rong Chi. You feed Rong Yang and Rong Chi first. There will be plenty for you."

The little prince's eyes lit up. Young Master Rong doted on the children. Today, he had stir-fried nearly ten jin of river snails in one go. Even after setting aside a large portion, there was still quite a lot. He could eat quite a bit.

From then on, the little prince was even more eager to help feed the little milk bun.

Having received Young Master Rong's words, the little prince gave the snail meat to the little milk bun, Rong Chi. The little prince sucked the broth from the shell. The chili river snails were stir-fried with sauce, and the broth carried a fresh, savory flavor.

The little milk bun saw this, grabbed a river snail, and sucked on it. The children's eyes lit up.

Good heavens, they were all so capable of making a living! Eating the snail meat and even sucking the broth. After feeding the children full, Young Master Rong got up and went to the bedroom. With the little prince watching, Young Master Rong felt reassured.

He was just going to the bedroom to check if Qin Bi had woken up; he would return in a moment. He wouldn't leave the children for too long, lest he miss something and Rong Chi chew on the river snail shells.

Qin Bi was still asleep, not yet awake. Rong Juan tucked her blanket in for her, then went back.

Rong Juan sat down, watching the children suck on the chili stir-fried river snails from the side.

On this day, not only was Xue Wang Fu happy; Su He Shizi's group and Qin Tan from Qin Yan Hou Fu all returned with full loads. Every household was joyful. Qin Yan Hou and Old Qin Yan Hou asked how the collection had gone.

In the main hall, Qin Tan said, "The harvest was decent. Let's wait until Qin Yan's group returns to discuss further."

Old Qin Yan Hou and Qin Yan Hou exchanged a glance. Qin Yan Hou said, "That works too. Qin Yan should be back within the next day or two."

Old Qin Yan Hou knew the small space in the beast realm was extremely dangerous and rest was poor. He said, "Everyone should go back and rest well. As long as no one is injured, that's what matters. I heard several families returned with injuries."

Qin Di stood up: "No one was injured."

Old Qin Yan Hou nodded. With no injuries, the harvest was merely average. Entering the small space in the beast realm, if one didn't take risks, it was nearly impossible to collect anything substantial, let alone kill beasts.

Qin Tan and Qin Di both returned. On the way back, Qin Tan said, "Wait until Qin Yan returns to see what they collected."

Qin Di invited Qin Tan to sit in his courtyard. Qin Tan said, "No need. Don't be too stingy with what you collected; share some with He Shi. If she treats Qin Bi better, that's better than anything else."

The Third and Fourth Branches both relied on Qin Bi and her children. If He Shi, the legitimate mother, treated Qin Bi well and supported her, that would be ideal. Having someone to care for you naturally raises your fortune value.

Qin Di nodded: "I know."

Qin Tan didn't offer further advice and parted ways with Qin Di.

Qin Di returned to the Fourth Branch's courtyard and shared some of the collected items with He Shi. He Shi was naturally satisfied. Qin Tang and Qin Xun also had a good harvest. They wanted to celebrate, but couldn't, for fear Qin He would hear about it upon returning from the beast realm's small space and feel envious.

At noon, they boiled spiritual-energy sweet potatoes; at night, they ate wild pheasant.

The children of Qin Tang and Qin Xun ate the little sweet radishes and were incredibly surprised. Qin Su said, "Spiritual-energy ingredients are truly delicious, crisp and sweet. And the spiritual-energy sweet potatoes; I can't get enough."

Watching Jiang Shi and the children happily eat the spiritual food, Qin Tang was in a good mood, but he didn't forget to instruct his legitimate eldest son: "Qin Su, remember this: as long as your fortune is strong, things can go very smoothly."

"How smooth?" Qin Su asked.

Jiang Shi and the children all looked at Qin Tang. Qin Tang said, "So lucky you'd doubt life itself."

Qin Su believed him completely. He nodded: "We've already dug up so many spiritual-energy sweet potatoes, plus the little sweet radishes. I heard from several children that the small space in the beast realm is extremely dangerous; finding spiritual-energy ingredients is very difficult."