Chapter 69: Chapter 69: The Wild Boar That Hits the Wall (6)_1 Chapter 69: Chapter 69: The Wild Boar That Hits the Wall (6)_1 After all, the family had long been divided, and their moving out would save a lot of trouble.
“Mom, so you’re going to live with us, right?”
“Of course, I’m going to live with Jiaojiao,” the Ruanlin Family matriarch glared at him: “What, you’re tired of this old lady now?”
“How could I?” Ruan Jianguo laughed: “I was worried you wouldn’t want to live with us.”
“Alright, alright, stop buttering me up. Take care of that pork, hang it up in the kitchen’s draft to cure it for a bit. Keep a few pounds for Jiaojiao to eat, and sell the rest. This meat sells better than the home-raised stuff.”
“Okay,” Ruan Jianguo complied, this time without any mental pressure from getting more than his fair share of the pork.
At this moment, Ruan Jiaojiao was oblivious that her grandmother and father had seen through her “golden finger.” Terrified, she dared not let her thoughts wander, fearing she might conjure up some Ferocious Beast.
At bedtime, she and the Ruanlin Family matriarch slept on Ruan Jie and Ruan Hao’s bed, with Ruan Jie having gone to sleep in the third room.
Ruan Jiaojiao nestled inside the Ruanlin Family matriarch’s embrace, not daring to close her eyes for fear of dreaming again, even more afraid she might inadvertently cry out in her sleep.
“Jiaojiao, are you not used to sleeping here tonight?” Seeing Ruan Jiaojiao tossing and turning under the covers, the Ruanlin Family matriarch touched her small hand and tucked in the blankets she had kicked aside.
“Grandma…” Ruan Jiaojiao, smelling the familiar scent of the Ruanlin Family matriarch, burrowed more pleadingly into her embrace: “Jiaojiao is scared.”
“Don’t be afraid, grandma’s here, nothing can hurt our Little Jiaojiao,” the Ruanlin Family matriarch comforted tenderly, and after a thought, opened up her own blanket and pulled her into it.
“There, there, go to sleep. Grandma’s watching over you,” her hand slipped under Ruan Jiaojiao’s clothes, gently stroking her back.
Ruan Jiaojiao looked up and murmured a sound of contentment, snuggling deeper into her embrace. Her restless heart gradually settled, and she soon fell asleep.
The Ruanlin Family matriarch didn’t stop the motion of stroking her back. Under the dim moonlight, she quietly watched the Ruan Jiaojiao in her arms, not knowing how long she had been looking, her gaze tender and affectionate…
The next day when Ruan Jiaojiao woke up, her first instinct was to sit up and look around the room. Seeing the walls intact, she instantly breathed a sigh of relief.
Outside the door, the Ruanlin Family matriarch was instructing Ruan Jianguo to head to town after selling the meat and to buy two cans of malted milk essence at the supply and marketing cooperative. She mentioned that Ruan Jiaojiao had probably been frightened the night before last, which was why she hadn’t slept well last night. Drinking two cans of malted milk essence might help her sleep better.
Nowadays, not only money was required to buy things, but also ration coupons, especially for the precious malted milk essence that ordinary people couldn’t get their hands on. You needed a doctor’s note to purchase it, and luckily they had gotten one the last time Ruan Jiaojiao was sick.
After giving her orders to Ruan Jianguo, the Ruanlin Family matriarch saw him out. Then, turning back, she saw Ruan Jiaojiao standing in the doorway and immediately softened her expression: “Jiaojiao, you’re up. Grandma made you meat and egg custard today, it’s really delicious.”
“Grandma…” Ruan Jiaojiao, looking at the Ruanlin Family matriarch coming towards her in the morning sunlight, felt incredibly warm inside, and stretched out her arms pleadingly: “Hug.”
“Eh, a hug, a hug for our sweet little one,” the Ruanlin Family matriarch moved forward and scooped her up, heading towards the back kitchen. She single-handedly poured hot water for her to wash, then wiped her face while Ruan Jiaojiao, seated on her knee with her little head held high, looked at the white hair by her temple and suddenly couldn’t help but ask, “Grandma, am I heavy?”
“Heavy? You’re as light as a kitten, barely a few pounds. Do you think grandma can’t carry you?” the Ruanlin Family matriarch said amusedly, pinched her little nose, placed her on a small stool, set up a little chair in front of her, and served the warm meat and egg custard she had been keeping hot for her to eat.