The three walked home in the setting sun. By the time they arrived home, it was getting dark, and the temperature had dropped considerably compared to the daytime.
When the three of them arrived home, Xu Han saw Mu'er looking aggrieved as soon as she entered the courtyard. Mu'er's big eyes were filled with tears, and she was looking at Grandpa Zhao with a look of unease, as if she was about to cry!
As soon as Xu Han entered, Mu'er immediately saw her.
The tears I had been holding back all day suddenly streamed down my face.
Mu'er burst into tears and reached out her little hands to Xu Han for a hug.
Her eyes were full of grievance, as if she were asking Xu Han why she abandoned her.
Xu Han took Mu'er from Grandpa Zhao's arms, turned around and kissed Mu'er's face, and whispered coaxingly, "Mu'er, be good. Mommy has something to do today and has to go out. It's too sunny outside, so I can't take you."
"Oh dear, poor thing, who made you cry?" the Taoist priest teased in a low voice.
Having just been calmed down by her mother, Mu'er completely ignored the Taoist priest, only holding onto Xu Han's clothes with her little hands, refusing to let go no matter what she was told.
Mu'er was unusually clingy today, wanting Xu Han to hold her all night, and refusing to let go even when Xu Han wanted to go to the bathroom.
Xu Han, who had never been a mother before, fully understood the difficulties of being a mother.
Lu Chuan had been out all day, and Mu'er hadn't seen him. Besides, Mu'er often asked Lu Chuan to take care of her, so why did she insist on looking for Xu Han instead of Lu Chuan?
Perhaps this is what makes mothers different! Babies tend to be more attached to their mothers during infancy.
Since Mu'er wouldn't let anyone hold her all day, Xu Han simply took out the food she had prepared from her spatial storage, and everyone ate together.
After resting at home for two days, the group set off again early on the third day to fetch water from the valley.
Even though Mu'er would make a fuss at home, we still didn't take him out because the sun outside was too strong, and it was impossible for anyone to stand still.
The baby, who was just over five months old, couldn't stand the scorching heat.
In May, the three of them made several trips back and forth through the valley to fetch water and filled the space in their home with it.
The three of them stopped going there when the water source in the valley gradually diminished.
During this period, as summer approached and temperatures rose, it became impossible to go out during the day; one could only stay indoors and sleep.
The weather only cooled down a bit in the evening, but it was still very muggy and there wasn't a breath of wind.
It's already July, and there's not a drop of water left in the valley.
The water supply at home was almost gone. Although the group was being extremely careful with water, they would only wipe themselves with a damp cloth when the weather was hot, and had never taken a proper bath.
However, the water supply at home is almost depleted, so we have no choice but to be even more frugal.
They even try not to wash their clothes; if they get soaked with sweat, they just put them out in the sun to dry.
They would only wash their clothes with dirty water when there was only bathwater or laundry water left.
Otherwise, clothes that are soaked in sweat for a long time will easily become rotten.
But the adults made do and never wronged Mu'er.
At the very least, Mu'er can wipe her body with water every day to prevent her delicate skin from becoming mushy and rotten, which would be troublesome.
For this reason, Grandpa Zhao specially prepared baby powder for Mu'er, and the adults would sometimes apply some as well.
Because there was no water, they couldn't wash clothes often, so the Taoist priest and Lu Chuan shaved their heads. The Taoist priest shaved his head completely, while Lu Chuan and Grandpa Zhao shaved their heads into modern-style buzz cuts.
Xu Han's hair was also cut short, so short that it couldn't be tied up.
Xu Han can still remember that when Mu'er first got her hair cut, she looked at everyone with a blank expression. She felt that Xu Han and the others were strangers, but she would cry loudly every time she saw the Taoist priest.
It was as if she had encountered someone particularly frightening, and this state lasted for a long time before Mu'er gradually got used to it.
Not only was Mu'er uncomfortable, but everyone else felt awkward seeing the Taoist priest's bald head. Because the sun was strong and the ultraviolet rays were intense, the Taoist priest was much darker than before, looking like a hard-boiled egg, which was particularly funny.
The Taoist priest himself was completely unaware of this, and even thought he was exceptionally handsome.
Since the valley ran out of water, everyone's quality of life has dropped significantly. Now, they really avoid using any water other than their daily drinking water.
The water in Xu Han's space is just enough for the daily drinking of the family, the dogs, and Yumi.
This is still within the controllable range; it only ensures that they won't die of thirst. As for wanting to drink water to their heart's content, that's completely impossible.
Because of the hot weather, everyone sweats a lot and is prone to dehydration.
Fortunately, there was plenty of ice stored in available spaces, and the ice made from saltpeter later helped alleviate some of the summer heat.
And so everyone persevered through those difficult days, finally making it through the summer.
September has arrived in the blink of an eye. With the last of the stored water used up, all that's left in the space are some ice blocks and the water that would normally be refreshed.
Mu'er, who is ten months old, is now learning to walk.
Every evening when it was cool, Lu Chuan would take Mu'er for a walk in the yard.
One minute they'd go bother the Taoist priest, the next they'd wander around Grandpa Zhao's room.
When the Taoist priest had nothing else to do, he would grab Mu'er, hold him in his arms, and start reading him primers like the Three Character Classic, the Standards for Being a Good Student and Child, and the Hundred Family Surnames.
Strangely enough, a normal child would definitely be unable to sit still upon hearing this, but Mu'er is different. Every time the Taoist priest or Grandpa Zhao tells him these things, he will sit obediently in his lap, without moving, listening attentively.
We don't know if he can understand it, but he always listens quite attentively.
After the Taoist priest and Grandpa Zhao discovered Mu'er's unique characteristic, they taught him even more diligently, telling him stories almost every day whenever they had time. They not only told him these stories but also some idioms and tales.
As a modern person, Xu Han naturally didn't want to fall behind, so she took out her dusty books and started telling Mu'er these stories as well.
No matter who was speaking, Mu'er cooperated fully. In the end, Grandpa Zhao even started reading medical books to Mu'er and introducing various herbs.
After some time, it was discovered that Mu'er was more interested in medical books and herbs, which greatly angered the Taoist priest.
While some are angry, others are happy; Grandpa Zhao, for one, was overjoyed.
And so, whenever anyone had free time, they would read books with Mu'er.
Just like in modern times, very young babies start reading picture books; good reading habits are cultivated from a young age.
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