Goat's Milk
She couldn't bear to part with her youngest son, but in truth, what hurt her the most were Dafu and Erlu.
The youngest son had just been born, so there wasn't much emotional attachment yet, and there was no certainty he would survive. She worried more about Dafu and Erlu.
Now she understood that emotions truly need nurturing, not merely inherited through blood ties.
It was as if all three children were her own, yet the depth of their relationships varied depending on the time spent together. It was perhaps cruel, but it was the reality.
Qian Shi and Zhou Yin were like Xiao Qian Shi and Man Bao.
Their bond was even deeper than Xiao Qian Shi and Man Bao's because Qian Shi's mother passed away a few years after Zhou Yin was born, unlike with Man Bao. Qian Shi and Xiao Qian Shi had to express their feelings about their mother.
Seeing Mrs. Chen's spirits improve slightly, Qian Shi finally set the child down and adjusted the swaddle, saying, "Rice soup isn't enough to satisfy hunger." Later, we'll try to find some milk for him. When I return, I'll heat it up for him. In a few more days, we can try feeding him some rice porridge.
Mrs. Chen and her mother listened attentively.
Qian Shi was not the one who gave birth to the most children, but she had the most surviving children. Naturally, they listened earnestly.
Man Bao immediately said, "We could also use goat's milk."
Qian Shi glanced at her daughter, and Man Bao raised her bright eyes to look at her mother, saying, "Mother, goat's milk is also milk, and very nutritious."
While what she said was true, Qian Shi frowned slightly and said, "Goat's milk has a bit of a gamy taste."
"You can boil it with some tea leaves and add just a little." Then the nephew can drink it. "There's no need to go elsewhere to find it."
Currently, there were no newborns in Qili Village, so they would have to go to another village to find milk.
Even if they found another lactating woman, they might not necessarily be able to obtain milk. It would be best if they could buy a goat, although finding one that is currently lactating might not be easy.
Mrs. Chen hesitated for a moment and then nodded, without questioning Man Bao's words.
This was partly because Man Bao was educated, and partly because Qian Shi did not object.
Mrs. Chen noticed that they had finished their conversation and the child had calmed down, so she enthusiastically exclaimed, "The sweet wine is ready. Let's all go out for a bowl."
She also invited Man Bao and Baishan Bao, smiling and saying, "You two are children. Should I cook an egg in the sweet wine for you?"
This was a way of reciprocating, of course, not something every child had.
Baishan Bao didn't mind having an egg, and Man Bao, who ate eggs every day, asked, "Will it taste better with an egg?"
After receiving Mrs. Chen's nod, he eagerly agreed and followed her into the kitchen.
Zhou Hu was also in the kitchen. Although there were people from the village who came to help, he occasionally peeked inside the kitchen.
Mrs. Chen took the opportunity to suggest buying a lactating goat. She also glanced at Man Bao, who was waiting on the side, and whispered softly, "I think this idea is good." Goat's milk is also milk. What if we can really raise the third son?
Upon hearing this, Zhou Hu immediately said without thinking, "Then I'll have someone go and look for one." If there's a lactating one, we'll buy it.
Although a goat was expensive, Zhou Hu could afford it. In case they needed money urgently later, they could sell it.
However, finding a goat that was currently lactating was not easy.
Zhou Hu was somewhat worried. "Mother, what should we do during these days when we haven't bought the goat?"
Mrs. Chen sighed, "Let's feed him rice soup first, just a little bit, fed by your Aunt Qian."
Zhou Hu breathed a sigh of relief.
Baishan Bao listened beside them and held Man Bao's hand. Upon hearing the news, Man Bao contemplated whether to buy some powdered milk for emergencies. When Baishan Bao pulled her, she turned her head to look at him.
Baishan Bao whispered in her ear, and Man Bao's eyes lit up. After finishing the sweet wine and boiled eggs, the two of them ran out holding hands.
Mrs. Chen wanted to talk to and connect with them, but she had no opportunity.
Baishan Bao pulled Man Bao back to see his family's goats, then led it out of the fence and said happily, "Let's take it to them."
"We also need some tea leaves."
Baishan Bao gave her the rope and said, "You wait, I'll go get it."
Baishan Bao ran off and soon returned, followed by Mrs. Liu and a group of servants.
Mrs. Liu glanced at the goat they were holding and smiled, "A newborn child can't drink tea."
She said, "You're so big, you can't sleep after drinking tea, let alone a small baby like that."
Man Bao widened her eyes and asked, "What should we do then?"
"Simply boil the goat's milk and add a little vinegar if he can't drink it."
"Can vinegar work as well?"
Mrs. Liu looked at Man Bao's puzzled expression and nodded with a smile.
It does have some effect, just not as obvious as tea leaves.
The two children had an idea and were satisfied. They held hands with the goat and headed out to cross the river.
The servants of the Bai family were accustomed to this and did not intervene, proceeding to report directly to the old lady.
Only then did they realize that the old lady was already aware and even agreed.
The village's affairs were never secrets, Mrs. Liu thought. It was fortunate that the children had compassionate hearts. Just a goat, their family could afford it.
But for the people in the village, a goat was considered too precious.
When the two children appeared in Zhou Hu's yard with the goat, everyone was stunned.
Mrs. Chen's eyes lit up, and she wished she could kneel down to thank the two children. She hadn't paid much attention to Baishan Bao before, but now she couldn't help but notice him. She observed that his attire stood out from the rest, and he appeared remarkably handsome.
Zhou Hu also knew that this goat must belong to the Bai family because the old Zhou family did not have goats.
So he stared blankly at Baishan Bao.
Baishan Bao handed him the rope of the goat and waved his hand, "My family's goat is lactating." Use it before you find one.
Mrs. Chen repeatedly thanked him and urged Zhou Hu to accept it.
Zhou Hu hesitated for a moment but then accepted the gift, saying, "Master Bai, rest assured, when I purchase a goat, I will send it back to you."
Baishan Bao didn't care much about this; he was more curious about the little child and asked, "Is he still hungry?"
As soon as Mrs. Chen heard this, she immediately led the goat to the side to milk it, ready to try their method. However, only then did she remember that there were no tea leaves.
Man Bao awkwardly apologized, "Although tea leaves can remove the gamey taste, it seems that babies can't eat them." Should we try adding some vinegar instead?
Mrs. Chen didn't hesitate much and agreed. At this point, as long as they had goat's milk, she didn't think much about the taste.
The goat's milk was not available in the morning. The Bai family had already squeezed it once in the morning, but Mrs. Chen still squeezed a lot.
She put the ingredients in a clay pot and boiled them over the fire, carefully adding a few drops of vinegar. Then, she covered the pot with a lid to let it cook.
Man Bao reminded her to "use a low fire."
Mrs. Chen smiled at her and asked, "Young lady, does your family often cook with goat's milk?"
"No, we haven't cooked it at home," Man Bao also pointed to Baishan Bao, "His family has prepared it, and the cheese is very delicious."
"Yes," Baishan Bao regretted a little, "We won't have cheese to eat in the future."
Mrs. Chen immediately refrained from speaking, afraid that the young master of the Bai family would regret it. After all, he was still young and wanted to play with the children.
She didn't know what cheese was, but she understood it was made from milk as soon as she heard about it.