Chapter 7
Chapter 7: Getting Water with Brisk Steps
With that, Qin Xiaoyao turned around to get the water buckets.
Then, under Song Yun’s shocked gaze, she zipped nimbly out of the kitchen with the buckets.
There was no well near the Song family’s premises, but there was a stream not far from the thatched house.
In ancient times, there was no pollution, and the stream water was clean, so the Song family always used the water from the stream.
Qin Xiaoyao soon arrived at the stream.
Seeing that the stream water was clear, she first cupped some water to wash her face, then drank a few mouthfuls.
She was very happy to find that the stream water was actually a little sweet.
Qin Xiaoyao’s burning heart quickly cooled down when she heard the intermittent chirping of birds from the mountains.
After that, she quickly fetched two buckets of water.
Then she picked them up and walked home.
Along the way, Qin Xiaoyao carried the water back to the courtyard without even panting.
Song Yun, who was talking to Madam Liu, was shocked again.
Sister-in-law’s speed was too fast.
Qin Xiaoyao glanced at the three of them, but she didn’t stop there. She took the two buckets of water and headed for the kitchen.
Song Yun heaved a sigh of relief, but she did not dare to talk to her mother about her Sister-in-law anymore.
She quickly took the big bowl to the bamboo backpack and helped her Sister-in-law pick up the pheasant eggs.
Yes, she was helping her sister-in-law pick the eggs.
The thought that the four of them would have a share of the pheasant eggs never once crossed her mind.
At this moment, Madam Liu was still in shock.
She didn’t know where her daughter-in-law had brought back so many good things from.
Moreover, her daughter had just told her that her daughter-in-law had even volunteered to take on the task of fetching water for their home in the future…
Just as Madam Liu was feeling terrified, she saw Qin Xiaoyao walk out with the two empty water buckets.
Meanwhile, Song Yun had already picked up the twelve pheasant eggs from the bamboo backpack.
Although the pheasant eggs were small, the twelve eggs filled up a big bowl.
Even though she knew there was no share for her, the little girl couldn’t help but smile when she saw so many eggs.
Song Ye, who was at her side, was also staring fixedly at the big bowl in his sister’s hands.
“Mom! There were twelve of them in total! There are also eight birds in the basket!” In the end, she was still a little girl. She couldn’t hold back the joy in her heart and blurted out to Madam Liu.
“There are birds too?” Before Madam Liu could react, Song Ye’s eyes lit up.
Then, he rushed to Song Yun’s side and peered into Qin Xiaoyao’s bamboo backpack.
Seeing the bird’s feathers, Song Ye couldn’t resist reaching out for them.
“Mom, what a big bird!” A moment later, he took out a bird from the bamboo backpack.
A seven-year-old child’s palm wasn’t big, and the bird that Qin Xiaoyao had shot was the larger kind. In the hands of the child, it looked even bigger.
“Another one! This one is even bigger!” Before Madam Liu could reply, her youngest son spoke again.
Then, she saw her youngest son take out yet another bird from the bamboo backpack.
It was indeed bigger than the previous one.
“Sister-in-law is so amazing, even more amazing than Brother Shuisheng’s father!” Song Ye suddenly exclaimed.
Hu Shuisheng was Song Ye’s playmate in the village. He was one year older than Song Ye.
Although Hu Shuisheng’s father was not a hunter, he had once learned from a hunter for some time. Therefore, he would occasionally go into the mountains to hunt some wild animals.
It was because of this that Hu Shuisheng was the envy of many of his peers.
The little child’s words rocked both Madam Liu and Song Yun.
Before she could ask the little child to put down the two birds, she heard him prattle again.
“If only Sister-in-law could give me a bird to eat later…” he muttered listlessly.
It was obvious that little Song Ye knew his sister-in-law’s personality well.
He understood that even though his sister-in-law had brought back so many good things, they had no share.
However, he really wasn’t greedy. He only wanted to eat a bird.
Brother Shuisheng had said that roasted birds were very delicious.
Madam Liu’s expression changed. She was about to reprimand her youngest son and tell him not to speak nonsense.
Out of the blue, Qin Xiaoyao’s voice could be heard from outside the courtyard.
“You’re satisfied with just one bird?” While he was talking, Qin Xiaoyao had already entered the house with two large buckets of water.
When the mother and children saw Qin Xiaoyao appear, their expressions turned into one of terror.
The smile on Qin Xiaoyao’s face instantly turned awkward.
After that, she composed herself and gave Song Ye a smile.
“Ye’er can eat as much as he wants later. If you want to eat birds, Sister-in-law will help you roast them later!” As she spoke, she didn’t stop walking and went into the kitchen with the water buckets.
Song Ye was frightened out of his wits.
He looked at his mother in disbelief.
“Mom, is Sister-in-law telling the truth?” His expression seemed to be asking.
Madam Liu was also very surprised.
Song Yun, on the other hand, was the first to recover.
She quickly followed her into the kitchen.
Her home’s water tank wasn’t big, and four large buckets of water were enough to fill it.
Sister-in-law had asked her to boil the water, but she had delayed it.
Song Yun entered the kitchen, fully prepared to be scolded.
However, Qin Xiaoyao only glanced at her before she picked up a wooden bucket and poured water into the pot.
Song Yun quickly placed the bowl of eggs on the table and ran to the stove to start the fire.
She did her work seriously and did not dare to say a word.
Qin Xiaoyao looked at this unsmiling little girl and wanted to say something to improve her relationship with this tiny sister-in-law.
However, she had no experience dealing with children, so she held back as she couldn’t think of anything appropriate to say.
After thinking for a while, she gave up.
“Yun’er, call me when the water’s boiling. I’ll go wash the wild vegetables,” she instructed.
“Alright, Sister-in-law,” Song Yun quickly replied.
When she saw Qin Xiaoyao walking out with a bamboo pan basket, she heaved a sigh of relief.
In the yard, little Song Ye had already placed the two birds back into the bamboo backpack.
At this moment, he was standing obediently beside Madam Liu.
When he saw Qin Xiaoyao come out, there was a moment of excitement in the little child’s eyes.
Then, as if he had thought of something, he quickly looked away with a face full of fear.
Madam Liu also didn’t dare to look at Qin Xiaoyao.
She lowered her head as if she didn’t know where to look.
A look of helplessness flashed across Qin Xiaoyao’s face.
“Ye’er, come with me to the stream to wash the wild vegetables,” she then said to Song Ye.
In the entire family, only her little brother-in-law was the least guarded against her because of his young age.
Therefore, she decided to start with the youngest.
Song Ye was overjoyed and was about to agree when Madam Liu tugged at his arm.
Then, Qin Xiaoyao saw her mother-in-law flashed her a very awkward smile that looked uglier than crying.
“Ye’er is still young and will only add to your troubles if he goes. I’ll go with you.” As she spoke, she put down the basket with the needle and thread in her hands and prepared to get up.
Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows.
“I didn’t pay attention when fetching the water just now and got the path wet. The ground is slippery, so it’s not safe for you to go.”
“Forget it. All of you stay at home. I’ll go by myself,” Qin Xiaoyao said.
Then, without looking at the mother and son again, she went to the bamboo backpack, took a large amount of wild vegetables and some Chinese yam before leaving.
Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao had left, Madam Liu heaved a sigh of relief.
“Ye’er, help me pick up the birds from the bamboo backpack. I’ll make you a roasted bird later.” At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao’s hearty voice suddenly rang out from outside the courtyard.