Tao Wan's mother noticed the dimness in Xiao Qiao'er's eyes, her eldest grandson Gouwa was still somewhat bewildered, and as for Huani'er, her innocent eyes looked around blankly, she had no idea what had happened.
"Mother, should we keep one and eat it later, or slaughter it together?" Ling Dahu asked, as he needed to boil water and still needed Tao Wan's mother to do it.
Tao Wan's mother rolled her eyes at her eldest son and retorted directly, "Raise him? What are you going to use to raise him? Do you have rice or bran?"
Startled by the rebuke, Ling Dahu's face stiffened, his brows furrowed, and he stammered somewhat nervously, "Mother, um... boil water... water..."
"What, you've drunk all the water in the kettle? Are you cows?"
Tao Wan's mother kept muttering to herself, but her hands moved quickly as she used her large water jug to pour water into her son's jug.
Suddenly, Tao Wanniang remembered something. Last time, she killed the wolf to save her own life, so she didn't have time to think about it. This time...
"Come on, let's start a fire. How can you have the energy to travel if you don't eat your fill in the morning? I'll make you some rabbit blood tofu!"
"Bleed the rabbit, bleed it first, the fur on its neck is gone, make a cut..."
Tao Wan's mother became interested and gestured for her son to do it. Soon, two bowls of rabbit blood were filled.
"Go and pluck the rabbit fur, then process it and hang it outside to dry. Let's have this tofu for breakfast."
Grandma Liang didn't let her granddaughter watch the rabbit being killed. She just curiously looked at Tao Wan's mother, wondering how this family had so much water, as if they could never run out.
But being a shrewd person who sees through things but doesn't say anything, Aunt Liang helped by boiling water.
"Ergou's mother, you are such a good child. It must be hard for such a young child."
Zhou Xiaoyun was boiling water, holding her six-month-old son, Er Gou, in her arms, wiping the sweat from her forehead from time to time.
"There's nothing I can do about it. We just haven't had good times. My child never drank milk as a baby, so he doesn't have the energy to make a fuss."
After being away for a few days, Zhou Xiaoyun was much quieter than her sister-in-law, Wang Hongyu.
The child was either being held by her or Ling Dapeng. Deep down, she was still wary of Tao Wanniang. Who knew if her mother-in-law would think of abandoning her youngest grandson one day when there was no food?
"Auntie, what does your son do in the provincial capital?" Zhou Xiaoyun asked in a low voice.
"My son is a constable. I think something must have delayed him this time!"
Aunt Liang said sadly that when the drought first occurred, every household had some stored grain, and her son had written to say that the government would provide disaster relief. However, there was no news for a long time, and the family had no surplus grain, so Aunt Liang brought her granddaughter out.
"Ergou's mother, your mother-in-law is quite formidable. I've seen it all along the way; she's been taking good care of you!"
Aunt Liang also noticed that this second daughter-in-law didn't seem to be very close to Tao Wan's mother, and intentionally gave her a hint.
Zhou Xiaoyun forced a smile, "Yes, thanks to Mother, my son Ergou is able to drink rice porridge."
Aunt Liang found these words somewhat off, but she didn't delve into it further.
Tao Wan's mother sprinkled some salt into the rabbit blood, so the rabbit blood coagulated quickly.
She boiled water over a large fire and poured in the congealed rabbit blood. Although there were no seasonings, she was content to be able to eat rabbit blood tofu on this journey of fleeing famine.
"Come on, everyone, bring your bowls. Don't worry about the fishy smell; you're lucky to have anything to eat!"
Tao Wan's mother called out, ladling rabbit blood tofu into everyone's bowl. It was a pity there were no scallions, otherwise, if she had poured chili oil on it, wouldn't it have been incredibly delicious?
Leaving aside the fishy smell, this rabbit blood tofu has a firm texture when you eat it, and it's also filling. No one dared to complain about it, especially the Ling brothers, who were almost moved to tears when they looked at their mother.
How come these days of fleeing famine are more enjoyable than when they were in the village?
"Mom, can Er Gou eat this rabbit blood tofu?" Zhou Xiaoyun asked timidly.
The child doesn't have teeth yet, and along the way, all he could eat was rice porridge and steamed buns soaked in water. Now that he can have some meat, Zhou Xiaoyun wants to give her son a good boost.
Is it safe for children to eat...? Tao Wan's mother was puzzled.
"Just make sure Er Gou doesn't choke."
Tao Wanniang paused before speaking, "In this day and age, it's hard to be meticulous in raising children. Surely this rabbit blood won't be poisonous."
Upon seeing this, Zhou Xiaoyun immediately mashed the rabbit blood tofu, mixed it with water, and fed it to Er Gou.
This delay meant that by the time they set off, the sun was already high in the sky.
With a bit of meat in their stomachs, the Ling brothers pushed the cart with considerable strength, and the two rabbits fed the group for several meals. After traveling for a few more days, they encountered some refugees.
Tao Wanniang looked at the group of emaciated refugees and felt a little wary.
They were all young adults, both men and women.
“Boss Luo, I recognize this old woman. Look, they have three little kids with them, they must have some food.”
The familiar yet abrupt voice sent alarm bells ringing in Tao Wanniang's heart. She squinted and looked at him. Wasn't this the man she had encountered before?
As the man spoke, the group of people looked at him with increasing malice.
"Who do you think I am? It turns out to be that bastard who's begging for mercy in front of me. What, you've found a new patron?"
Tao Wanniang said sarcastically, "I wonder if you'll trick someone again this time. Are you planning to kill someone and steal their clothes or shoes?"
Tao Wanniang estimated the number of the enemy; they were all skinny, while her side at least didn't look like starving ghosts.
Then, to catch the thief, first catch the leader. That guy called Boss Luo, she should be able to handle him with a kitchen knife! If all else fails, she can take on two with a kitchen knife, and her two sons are tall and strong, so they can take on three!
The kitchen knife gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and Tao Wanniang sneered.
"Come on, I'm not afraid of you. This world is tough, and everyone has to endure it. What, are you trying to push all the suffering onto others?"
Holding a kitchen knife, the Taowan woman stood on the cart, full of fighting spirit and brimming with vitality.
Luo Laoda was the leader of this group of refugees. Just as Tao Wanniang said, people like them had done a lot of things to cheat others in order to survive on the road of fleeing famine.
Looking at Tao Wanniang, who was resistant to gentle persuasion but not to force, and the two tall men, Boss Luo was also in a dilemma.
The dried wolf head hung high on the cart, looking quite ferocious.
The two intact rabbit skins still smelled good; these people still have meat to eat!
"Old woman. If you know what's good for you, take out the food. If you start fighting, you might hurt the little baby!"
Old Luo didn't care about an old woman at all; his desire to eat meat was greater than anything else!
"My children, grab whatever you need, and your mother will lead you out of here!"
Tao Wan's mother spoke with great enthusiasm, loudly urging her two sons to go up.
The Ling brothers were honest but not stupid. Especially when they saw the man from before, they immediately picked up the carrying pole.
"Wife, protect the child!"
Ling Dahu and Ling Dapeng exchanged a glance and stood with Tao Wanniang. Protecting their family was something a man had to do!
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