The Whole Village Thrives After Adopting a Lucky Girl

“Chu Man had a miscarriage?”

That woman had been married not long ago and was already pregnant?

Yingbao found it hard to believe, but she still went to Chu Man’s house with Chuchu.

Upon entering, she saw Feng’s stern face standing inside the door. Chu Man was lying on a bamboo bed, with Wu Sishu examining her.

“Indeed, she has miscarried.” Wu Sishu said to Feng: “There isn’t much else to do, let her rest at home for a couple of days to recuperate.”

Feng looked at Chu Man with annoyance and said: “Didn’t you know you were pregnant? Your fourth aunt has said there’s nothing much to worry about, get up quickly and go home!”

Chu Man did not have any specific feelings about the miscarriage, but remembered that Chen Zhao had bumped into her. She cried out loud: “It was that wretched woman who hit me! Whimper! You blame me instead of her! You are all bullying me…whimper! I want to go home…”

Feng rolled her eyes: “Go home if you want to, nobody is stopping you!”

After saying that, she turned around and left the room to look for Chen Zhao.

Chuchu hugged her little daughter, glanced at Chu Man, and whispered to Yingbao: “Earlier, Cousin Chu Man came to my house, saying that her stomach hurt badly and that she was bleeding. So, I called Grandma Chen and Grandma Wu, and…and I also called for you…”

Yingbao didn’t mind: “It’s okay, I’ve already had my meal.”

She leaned over to look at the little girl, tickled her a bit, and asked, “Have you named her yet?”

Chuchu smiled: “Not yet, my husband said we will wait until her first birthday to give her a formal name. For now we just call her Niuniu.”

Three days after Jiang Cheng’s wedding, his bride returned home, and the Jiang family went to the county town again to meet their in-laws. This was to familiarize with each other’s main relatives, such as uncles and aunts from both sides.

The men can represent this matter, while the women stay home preparing food for the New Year.

Yingbao and Jiang Quan also went along. However, they’re not there to meet relatives; instead, they’re preparing for the tombola business.

On the 26th of the twelfth lunar month, it’s a common saying to slaughter pigs and cut New Year meat. The market in the county town was bustling with people, and various stalls filled the streets on both sides.

Jiang Quan walked past these stalls with his younger cousin, buying anything that looked good or fun.

The prices of these items were not high, ranging from a few coins to a dozen coins, making them ideal for tombola prizes.

Yingbao remembered the flowers and melons in her grotto, and she wanted to bring them out, so she deliberately separated from Jiang Quan.

She carried a small bamboo basket on her back, which had a lid. As long as she walked around on her own, she could put the things into the basket and bring them back.

At this time, Jiang Quan saw another stall selling small porcelain dolls. He squatted down to make a selection, intending to buy more to take back.

These playthings only cost a few coins each, did not fade or rot, and could be kept as prizes for the tombola, so he decided to buy more.

Yingbao took this opportunity to quietly step back a few steps and slipped to the back of a lantern shop. There was a high wall at the back where there were no passersby.

She took off the basket from her back, reached into the basket, and magically took out some apples and melons from the grotto and put them in the basket.

When the basket was almost full, she took out some fresh flowers and put them on top.

Such as magnolias, also known as gardenias, peonies, chrysanthemums, etc.

After arranging the items, Yingbao realized that she couldn’t lift the basket on her own.

Just when she didn’t know what to do, a kid crawled out from under the lantern shelf and stood in front of her.

“Yingbao, what are you doing?” The person who came was Jin Tong, Jiang Cheng’s youngest uncle, and Chou Rong’s seven-year-old brother.

Yingbao: “Nothing, why are you alone?” She looked around and did not see anyone else.

Jin Tong wiped his nose: “I’m just alone.” He glanced at the basket, blinked, and exclaimed: “It’s so beautiful, is this for my older sister?”

Some time ago, Jiang Cheng sent many gifts to his bride, including jewelry and hair flowers. Jin Tong thought these beautiful flowers were also for his eldest sister.

Yingbao: “These are for business.” They’re not free.

Fearing the toddler might misquote her, she picked out a few magnolias and a couple of peonies to give to him. “Give these to your eldest sister.”

But Jin Tong declined, “I’m not going home right now. Please deliver them to her yourself.”

His home was filled with guests and both his parents and elder sister were busy entertaining. He seized the chance to slip out and play, without any intentions of returning home at that moment.

Yingbao put the peony back, handed him a big apple and a couple of magnolias to stash into his pockets, before she got on her feet with her basket, calling her second cousin from the street side.

Jiang Quan, who was mere yards away, heard his young cousin’s call and ran over. “Where have you been?”

Pointing to her basket, Yingbao responded, “I bought a bunch of goodies, but can’t carry them all.”

Horrified at the flowers and apples in her basket, Jiang Quan was unable to close his agape mouth. “Where did you get them? These apples are even bigger than ours!”

This was the first time he had ever laid eyes on such large, red apples, its luscious scent hit his nostrils as he picked one up to smell. He couldn’t help but marvel,

“How much per fruit?” Such large apples should be sold individually. If the price was right, he could buy some to resell.

Yingbao gave it a thought before answering, “Fifty coins each.” Each apple was about a pound, so fifty coins per apple was not expensive, she reasoned.

“That’s not pricey.” However, profit from reselling these would be meager.

Jiang Quan lifted the basket; it was rather heavy.

“Let’s get these items home first and come back for more.”

Yingbao nodded before glancing around again, only to notice Jin Tong was nowhere in sight.

The sly young thing had mysteriously disappeared again, just after giving her a fright.

The two siblings returned home to drop off the purchases before setting out to the market once more.

Xiaohei rushed towards them, barking and tagging along as he wagged his tail.

Seeing the robust stature of Xiaohei, comparable to that of a wolf-dog, Yingbao had a brain-wave, fetching a cloth for it to wear.

She wouldn’t have to carry the items and Xiaohei could do it — an excellent utilization of resources.

Concerned that their large dog might harm others, Jiang Quan tied a rope around Xiaohei before they continued their journey.

Halfway there, they noticed a few children fighting nearby. Upon closer inspection, they recognized Jin Tong in the scuffle with two other kids his age.

Yingbao yelled and rushed over, shoving one kid aside and pulling Jin Tong away.

Several scratch marks could be seen on Jin Tong’s face as he blubbered, pointing towards the other two children through his tears, “Wah wah wah… They stole my apple!”

Yingbao’s fury ignited upon hearing this. She dashed towards the two culprits, fists clenched and ready to brawl.

But she froze with her fist in the air.

A dirty, scrawny child hugged an apple, half-eaten by Jin Tong. He was huddled against the wall, munching on it and occasionally offering a bite to the other child.

Were these beggars?

Yingbao was intrigued as to why the two kids didn’t flee after grabbing the apple, choosing instead to squat against the wall and eat. So, she cast her gaze around.

Then, she spotted a motionless figure lying at the foot of the wall. Shut eyes hidden under a shabby hemp sheet which barely provided coverage.

No wonder the children didn’t run away; the lifeless figure was probably a relative.”

Yingbao asked the two children, “Hey! Where do you come from?”

It was unusual to see the town’s regular beggars sleeping against a wall in such weather. Usually, they would huddle in ramshackle temples or under bridges, otherwise they might freeze to death.