The Third Born also came over and asked in a hurry, “Mommy, can you really cure snake venom?”
Lu Jiao nodded, “Yes, snake venom isn’t the most difficult poison to cure.”
The Second Born was in awe, “Mommy, once I grow up, I want to be as great as you.”
The Third and Fourth Born all nodded and the atmosphere in the room lightened up.
After Lu Jiao ate, she went to wash the dishes. While cleaning, she realized that their home didn’t even have a proper table and several chairs.
Lu Jiao couldn’t help but sigh. Once she comes back, she’ll have to get some tables and chairs made.
Though she was going to leave this place in two to three months, she needed a place to sit.
The four little ones had been eating while standing since there were no proper chairs or a table with an appropriate height.
After doing the dishes, Lu Jiao heated up Xie Yunjin’s medicine and went to feed it to him. While feeding, Xie Yunjin remembered to ask Lu Jiao about her morning trip up to the mountains.
“You went hunting this morning. Did you get anything?”
Lu Jiao suddenly remembered that she kept the deer and the deer’s blood in her space.
It would be difficult to secretly take it out now so she shook her head, “No. I didn’t get to hunt after running into Xu Doujin. It’s okay. Tomorrow morning, I’ll go up the mountain first and get something before I head home.”
Xie Yunjin cautioned, “Be careful.”
Lu Jiao nodded, “I will.”
After Xie Yunjin finished his medicine, he said, “Once you get home, I will teach you how to read and write.”
Lu Jiao was stunned. Teach her how to read and write? How great.
Was this guy really that great?
Lu Jiao narrowed her eyes at him and wondered what his intention was.
Before she could speak however, the Second, Third, and Fourth Born all came running.
“Mommy, you don’t need daddy to teach you. We can teach you.”
“Daddy’s already taught us how to read the Three Character Classic.”
The Fourth Born hogged onto Lu Jiao’s legs and refused to let go. His heart-shaped eyes were practically shooting out lights.
“Mommy, I know how to read, I know how. I will teach you.”
On the bed, Xie Yunjin’s face was dark as he stared at the three little ones. He had so few things to look forward to and his own sons stole them away from him. Was this fun for them?
Just then, the First Born walked over from the other side of the room and demanded, “You want to teach others just because you know Three Character Classic? Aren’t you ashamed? I think daddy should be the teacher. Once he’s done teaching the Three Character Classic, he’ll have to teach the Hundred Family Surnames, then the Thousand Character Classic.”
Xie Yunjin chimed in, “Exactly. Are you sure you are able to teach all that?”
The three babies wilted, “Fine, daddy can teach.”
They only knew the Three Character Classic.
Seeing how crestfallen they were, Lu Jiao giggled, “What if we all learn from daddy together?”
The three babies’ eyes lit up. This time, even the First Born perked up as everyone started to gawk at Xie Yunjin.
Xie Yunjin thought that was doable. Before, he went into the county daily to study and had no time to teach his sons. Now that he was stuck at home, he could focus on them. Though he couldn’t move much and was bed ridden, his lips worked well.
Xie Yunjin agreed immediately, “Okay, then it’s settled.”
Lu Jiao was happy about this. Once she learns how to read, she would be able to write her own prescription. Not bad at all.
“Once I come back from my mother’s, we can start studying.”
“Okay.”
After the family of six agreed on this, Lu Jiao took the four little ones out to get bathed.
After several days of recuperation, the four little ones were no longer as jaundiced. Though still slender, their skin and hair had brightened up and gotten smoother. Lu Jiao was very much in love as she stared at them.
She realized, after baths, that the four little ones were out of pants. For the summer, the children only had two sets of clothes. Ah no, more like one set of top and pants, then one simple shirt.
She had to think of a quick way to get them some clothes.
Lu Jiao put them in their clean shirts and asked them to sleep in the east bedroom.
She then washed up their dirty clothes so they would have something to change into tomorrow.
While washing the clothes, Xie Erzhu came over to help Xie Yunjin use the washroom.
By the time Lu Jiao finished washing, Xie Erzhu was also done.
Lu Jiao took out a bowl of pork and grabbed a handful of candy. She went to the east bedroom and shoved them to Xie Erzhu.
“Second brother, bring these back to your wife and daughters.”
Xie Erzhu refused and continued to wave around his hand, “There’s no need, no need! They ate last time and were pretty happy.”
Xie Yunjin said, “Take it, brother.”
Xie Erzhu wanted to argue more but Lu Jiao had put everything in his hands, “Alright. It’s late. Go home and rest.”
Xie Erzhu looked at Xie Yunjin then back at Lu Jiao. Since they both appeared genuine, he finally accepted.
“Then… then I will take these.”
His sister-in-law’s cooking was far too delicious. After his daughters ate her food last time, they mumbled for more.
Lu Jiao smiled, “No problem. Go home and rest. Ah right, how come Daya and Erya haven’t visited and played with the kids?”
Xie Erzhu sighed deeply, “We have pigs and chicken at home. Daya and Erya have to gather hay and feed the animals. They have no time.”
This topic dampened Xie Erzhu’s mood. He felt ashamed when it came to his daughters.
His own sister, Xie Lan, was so lazy that his eldest daughter, Daya, had to wash clothes for the whole family.
This depressed Xie Erzhu but he didn’t know how to say no to his parents.
Inside the room, Lu Jiao observed Xie Erzhu’s aging and stressed face. She felt bad for him and wondered if she could somehow help him.
Since it was late, Xie Erzhu carefully left with the pork and candy.
Behind him, Lu Jiao reminded him, “Second brother, be careful. Don’t be seen.”
If the family saw, another fight would break out.
Lu Jiao looked back at Xie Yunjin.
Xie Yunjin frowned deeply and the air around him was frigid. It was obvious that he was thinking about his ruthless parents.
Despite the evilness of his parents, as their children, there wasn’t much they could do to object.
Xie Yunjin calmed himself down and slowly revealed, “Honestly, I did suggest to Second Brother that he should go into town and start a business. I’ve even given him money to kick it off and told him to take his family.
My Second Brother, however, is far too honest and simple-minded. He’s not meant to start a business. My second sister-in-law is the same. They’re meant to be farmers.”
Lu Jiao suggested, “If he is fit to farm, then you can buy some land and ask him to take ownership of it. That would take care of him financially; he would have something to do everyday; and he would be able to grow independent and get away from your parents.”
Lu Jiao’s suggestion provided a very good direction for Xie Yunjin. He pondered deeply.
Lu jiao ignored him and went to get a blanket from the west bedroom so she could go to sleep.
The moment she came back and put down the blanket however, a weak and fragile voice suddenly spoke up.
“Mommy, I want candy too.”