Chapter 109

An An’s vision was a blur—he couldn’t make out a single figure. But he could sense the disdain in this man’s voice, and instinctively raised his tiny foot, ready to kick him a couple of times.

“Oh? You’re mad now? Come on, let me see what you look like when you’re angry.”

Li Dazhuang reached out to pinch his son’s little nose, but before he could touch him, another set of footsteps approached. Sister-in-law Li came in carrying a bowl of water. Seeing what he was about to do, she frowned and warned:

“He’s still so little, not even fully developed yet. Don’t touch him.”

An An let out a few fake cries. Li Dazhuang, hearing his sister-in-law’s words, had no choice but to withdraw his hand, muttering with distaste:

“So delicate.”

This time, Xiao An’an wasn’t faking it—he cried for real, loud and sharp, so much that Sister-in-law Li, after setting down the hot water, turned and walked out again.

“Alright, alright, stop crying. I won’t tease you anymore.”

Sister-in-law Li had nearly reached the doorway when she heard Li Dazhuang’s words. She turned back to glance at the baby.

The tiny infant waved his hands as he cried, so small and fragile. She thought of her own children, and her heart softened.

“He’s probably hungry. He’s so little—give him some rice water.”

“Alright. Thanks, Sister-in-law.”

Li Dazhuang covered his son’s face with a blanket, wrapped him up, and carried him outside.

Sister-in-law Li was waiting with a bowl in her hands. She had ladled out half a bowl of freshly cooked rice water—clear and thin, not a single grain in sight.

The little one really was starving. The moment the spoon touched his lips, he started smacking eagerly, like a baby bird desperate to be fed.

Li Dazhuang fed him a spoonful, and seeing how the baby gulped it down, he couldn’t help but sneak a poke at his son’s cheek behind his sister-in-law’s back.

You know what? This little guy’s actually kind of fun.

After a few spoonfuls, An An finally stopped crying. But the earlier sobbing had been so intense that his tiny body still trembled with the aftershocks.

“Ugh… ah…”

Hearing the baby’s soft sounds, Li Dazhuang carried the little bundle back into the house.

Outside, Sister-in-law Li and Granny Li waited until he was inside before speaking in hushed tones.

“That baby’s so small… can he even survive?”

Granny Li, more experienced, shook her head and sighed.

“It’ll be tough.”

She had seen a few cases where babies this small had made it, but those were usually lucky—when there happened to be a woman in the village still nursing her own child, and they could trade something for a few mouthfuls of milk.

But times were hard now. Even with the Work Points they earned from the fields, most families couldn’t feed themselves properly, let alone offer anything decent in exchange.

In the whole village, only Old Wang’s wife had recently given birth to a son.

Their families didn’t get along—hadn’t for years—so there was no chance they’d offer help.

That child was born motherless. Who knew how many days he had left?

Sister-in-law Li couldn’t get the image of that tiny waving hand out of her mind. Her heart ached a little. Granny Li noticed her expression and began tidying up the items in her hands.

“Use the rest of the rice at home to make rice water. Keep feeding him for as long as we can.”

“Even if… even if it’s only for a few days, at least our hearts will be at ease.”

The youngest of the Li family had married just last year. His wife had fallen while pregnant and left behind a baby no bigger than a kitten.

They hadn’t dared to hold a proper funeral—just a simple, rushed affair.

Now the question of how to raise the child had become a real headache.

Sister-in-law Li thought of the small stash of fine grain they still had at home. Even though times were hard, she didn’t say anything harsh. She simply gave a soft “mm” in agreement.

The village walls weren’t exactly soundproof. Even though they were whispering, Li Dazhuang could still hear everything clearly.

The baby, now fed, lay quietly asleep, his breath faint and shallow.

Li Dazhuang sat by the bed, watching the gentle rise and fall of the baby’s chest. He stared for a long time before finally getting up and heading outside.

“Ma, can you keep an eye on the little one? I’m heading up the mountain.”

“Alright.”

Granny Li looked up and agreed. As she stepped out, she could only catch a glimpse of her youngest son’s back disappearing into the distance. She shook her head and went back inside.

What could he even do out there? They were poor, their lives worth little. She had given birth to seven children—only two had survived.

Her son was still young. Maybe, if there was a chance, they could ask around in nearby villages to see if any widows were looking to remarry. Maybe they could scrape together a life.

It was early spring, still chilly. The mountain was still brown and barren. Li Dazhuang headed straight up the slope.

On his way up, he happened to run into someone from the Wang family.

Wang Family’s second son was coming down the mountain with a hoe slung over his shoulder. When he saw Li Dazhuang, he called out mockingly:

“Hey, shouldn’t you be at home watching your kid? What are you doing up here? Don’t tell me the kid’s already dead and you’re looking for a place to bury him?”

Li Dazhuang was already in a foul mood. Hearing someone openly curse his son like that, he didn’t hesitate—his fist flew out.

“Say that again, you bastard. I dare you!”

Wang’s second son staggered from the blow, his vision swimming. He didn’t dare say another word.

Li Dazhuang found him pathetic. He let go and shoved the man aside, giving him a hard kick as he passed, voice dripping with contempt:

“Coward.”

The two families had always been at odds, so Li Dazhuang had never even considered asking the Wang family for help.

He stayed up the mountain for a while, and whether it was fate or sheer luck, he came across an injured ewe.

Li Dazhuang had spent a few years learning from the village hunters. He moved quickly and efficiently, capturing the ewe and examining her closely. She had clearly just given birth.

The signs nearby showed she had fought off some kind of predator—there were still bloodstains on the ground.

He searched the area but didn’t find any lamb. Most likely, it had already been eaten.

So he brought the still-lactating ewe down the mountain.

Leading a sheep along the village path drew plenty of attention.

Li Dazhuang didn’t waste time—he brought the ewe straight home.

Granny Li heard the noise and came out. Seeing the sheep, she froze, quickly wiping her hands dry and whispering:

“Where’d you get that? Did anyone see you?”

“Caught her on the mountain. Ma, this ewe’s still producing milk. Can she feed the baby?”

Granny Li crouched beside the ewe and examined her carefully. Sure enough! She clapped her hands in delight, joy lighting up her face.

“Good, good! Maybe we really can keep the little one alive!”

As long as there was milk, they could supplement with rice water and other things. Bit by bit, he’d grow.

But before Granny Li could enjoy the moment, a commotion erupted outside. A group of villagers barged in, led by the brigade leader.

“Li Dazhuang, I heard you brought a sheep down from the mountain? That mountain belongs to the state. So does everything on it. How could you be so reckless?”

The brigade leader had been skeptical when he first heard the news. He hadn’t believed Li Dazhuang would dare do such a thing.

But facts were facts—Li Dazhuang had really brought down a sheep.

“Return it to the mountain right now, and we’ll pretend this never happened.”

They were all neighbors. The brigade leader didn’t want to make things ugly.

His tone was conciliatory—if Li Dazhuang returned the sheep, they’d let it go.

Wang’s second son, still bitter about the punch he’d taken, was itching to stir things up. But with the brigade leader speaking, he didn’t dare protest—just watched with a glint of malice in his eyes.

He’d seen Li Dazhuang’s baby. Even the village cats looked healthier.

Once the sheep was returned to the mountain, there’d be no saving that child.

“Brigade Leader, you know my son’s condition. I brought the ewe home because she’s still producing milk.”

Li Dazhuang didn’t argue—he explained his reasons.

The brigade leader hesitated. After all, it was a matter of life and death.

“What, Brigade Leader? You thinking of breaking the rules?”

Wang’s second son couldn’t hold back anymore. He pushed through the crowd, his expression making his meaning clear: if the brigade leader didn’t follow the rules, he’d report him.

They were all from the same village, but his words were ruthless. Many in the crowd frowned at him.

His words were harsh, but not wrong. It was just a pity for the newborn—he might not last long without milk.

“Brigade Leader, the sheep belongs to the state, sure. But what if I just let her stay at my place for a few days? I’ll feed her, and in return, get a bit of milk for my son. That shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

Li Dazhuang had always been a bit of a scoundrel—one of the few idle types in a village full of hardworking folk.

If pushed too far, who knew what he might do? No one wanted to see that.

“Yeah, Brigade Leader, that sounds reasonable. It’s not a big deal.”

“That baby’s so little—how’s he supposed to survive without milk?”

Some of the women in the crowd softened, speaking up in support.

Seeing the tide turn, Wang’s second son’s face turned red with frustration. He pointed at the ewe in the yard and shouted:

“Li Dazhuang, since we’re all here, why don’t you ask the sheep if she agrees?”

“Go on, ask her if she’s willing! Didn’t know you could talk to animals. Why don’t you have a chat with that dog over there?”

Right then, a big yellow dog trotted by. Maybe it understood Li Dazhuang’s words, because it wagged its tail and ran straight at Wang’s second son.

“Woof! Woof!”

It barked like it was greeting him, then lifted its leg and peed right on his leg.

Afterward, it even pawed at him a couple of times—like it was marking its territory.

The crowd burst into laughter. Someone who didn’t get along with the Wang family stepped up to joke:

“Looks like the dog’s claiming you as a brother! With all of us here, why not go ahead and swear brotherhood?”

Wang’s second son tried to kick the dog, but it darted away. Furious, he chased after it.

With the troublemaker gone, the rest of the villagers were easy to deal with. The matter was settled.

“But let’s be clear—once the baby turns three months old, the ewe goes back to the mountain.”

“Deal.”

After seeing off the brigade leader and the curious villagers, Li Dazhuang picked up a basket, planning to gather some grass for the ewe.

He’d never raised a sheep before, but he knew animals were like people.

To produce milk, they had to eat well.

It was early spring—most grass and leaves hadn’t grown yet. Only a few types were available.

Sister-in-law Li saw what he was doing and called her two children over.

“Go help your uncle find some grass for the sheep.”

“Okay, Mama!”

An eight-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl ran off. To them, this wasn’t a chore—it was a rare chance to play outside.

“Thanks, Sister-in-law.”

Li Dazhuang could tell she was helping him on purpose.

“Don’t thank me. I’m not helping you. I just couldn’t stand the thought of that baby starving.”

With that, she dumped out a basin of water and went back inside, not even bothering with a second word.

Granny Li had only three children who lived to adulthood. The eldest was Sister-in-law Li’s husband. The second was a daughter, married off to the next village. The youngest was Li Dazhuang, their baby.

Back when times were good, every household had surplus grain after distribution. Even if the old couple favored their youngest, life was manageable.

But the past few years had been different. Drought after drought ruined the harvests. After paying their dues, there was barely enough to eat.

Li Dazhuang had been spoiled rotten. Even in these hard times, he refused to work.

He was clever, sure—but never used that cleverness for anything good.

With poverty came tension. Petty arguments flared up constantly. The house was always in chaos.

When Sister-in-law Li first married in, she’d had her doubts. But now, maybe because of the baby, her brother-in-law did seem more reliable.

In the past, if he’d seen a sheep, he’d have butchered it for meat. Feeding it to a baby? Not a chance.

There was nothing at home Li Dazhuang was willing to do, so he returned to his room.

The tiny baby still lay sleeping on the bed, just a little bundle.

Li Dazhuang stood there, staring for a long time. As the minutes passed, his expression grew serious.

Finally, he reached out a finger and checked the baby’s breath. Confirming he was still alive, he let out a deep sigh of relief.

The little one was so small, and he hadn’t gotten much nourishment in the womb. In times like these, just not starving was a blessing. Even pregnant women in their village were lucky to get one egg a week.

The baby had been born with a wrinkled little face, like a miniature old man.

If he weren’t his own flesh and blood, Li Dazhuang would’ve laughed at how ugly he was.

He moved closer, placing his finger in the baby’s palm.

Even in sleep, the little one instinctively tried to curl his fingers around it.

That tiny response stunned Li Dazhuang. He stood frozen for a long time before he finally came back to himself.

At dusk, Grandpa Li and Elder Brother Li came back carrying hoes. It wasn’t yet time for spring planting, so they were just handling odd jobs around the place.

When they saw the sheep in the courtyard, they asked Sister-in-law Li about it and found out that Li Dazhuang had brought it back.

The youngest son had once studied for several years under the only hunter in their village—a fact that wasn’t exactly a secret in their production team.

Unfortunately, the mountains had since become state-owned, and no matter how skilled he was, there was nowhere to use those abilities anymore.

“That Dazhuang… he’s really grown up,” Grandpa Li said as he sat on the steps, repairing one of the household stools while chatting with his wife.

Granny Li was threading a needle, altering one of her younger daughter-in-law’s old garments into something a child could wear. She gave a soft “mm” in reply.

“Honestly, I never thought to go up the mountain. I was just thinking of rummaging through what’s left in the house—maybe we could find something to trade with the old Wang family.”

Sister-in-law Li, who was cooking inside, heard her mother-in-law’s words and felt a twinge of displeasure.

Her mother-in-law dictated exactly what they could eat at every meal. What could possibly be left to trade with the Wang family?

Spring Plowing was just days away. Every adult in the household—except for her younger brother-in-law—had to go out and earn Work Points!

It was one thing to work half-hungry, but they couldn’t go out starving.

Sister-in-law Li was upset but didn’t know where to vent her frustration. When she saw her husband walk in, she snapped at him with a cold face.

“Are you blind? Can’t you see there’s work to do?”

Elder Brother Li was a simple, honest man. Even when scolded by his wife, he didn’t dare talk back. He just quietly tidied up the scattered items and gave her a sheepish smile.

“Is this better?”

“Get out of my sight. Just looking at you annoys me.”

Granny Li and Grandpa Li exchanged a glance but said nothing.

They couldn’t blame their daughter-in-law. With empty stomachs and hard times, people were bound to be irritable. Even the smallest thing could set someone off.

Of course, Li Dazhuang heard everything from the side. If he didn’t have a thick skin, how could he have freeloaded off his parents for so many years?

Dinner was coarse grain porridge and a small plate of homemade pickles.

The grains were truly coarse. Even after drinking it for so long, it still scratched the throat going down.

Each person got one bowl. Not a drop more.

“There’s some rice water in the pot for the baby. Scoop some out and feed him,” Sister-in-law Li said to Li Dazhuang as she cleared the dishes.

“Okay, thanks, Sister-in-law.”

Li Dazhuang went into the kitchen, found a clean bowl and spoon, and ladled out the rice water from the pot.

He spotted a few grains of rice at the bottom and scooped them into a separate bowl. Then he brought it over to Elder Brother Li’s two kids.

“The baby can’t eat solids yet. You two can have these.”

It was just a few grains—nowhere near enough to fill a belly—but Elder Brother Li’s kids rarely got to eat anything this refined. As the aroma reached them, they swallowed hard.

They wanted to eat, badly, but instinctively looked to their mother.

“Go ahead,” she said, without any extra pleasantries.

As Li Dazhuang turned to head back to his room, he heard footsteps behind him.

He turned and saw his mother.

“Ma, what is it?”

“Do you even know how to feed a baby?”

Without waiting for an answer, Granny Li walked past him and picked up the baby, who was lying quietly in the dark room—they never lit lamps unless absolutely necessary.

She carried the baby outside. Since he hadn’t cried, she’d assumed he was still asleep.

But under the moonlight, she could see his beautiful eyes blinking up at her.

“Ma, you’re right. I don’t know anything about this. That’s why we need you. You’re the most knowledgeable person in the whole family!”

Li Dazhuang shamelessly flattered his mother. One of the main reasons both his parents doted on him was because of his glib tongue.

He always managed to coax a smile out of Granny Li, who would then turn a blind eye to his behavior.

“When you, your brother, and your sister were little, I didn’t have enough milk either. I raised you all on rice water, spoon by spoon.”

“Ma, you really are amazing!”

Granny Li spooned the rice water into the baby’s mouth. As soon as the spoon touched his lips, he opened his mouth and started swallowing—so well-behaved it was almost unbelievable.

“You know, of all the babies I’ve fed, yours is the most obedient.”

Other babies had to be force-fed rice water, often with Grandpa Li holding them down while she poured it in.

But this little one? He drank spoon after spoon without fuss.

“Tomorrow morning, after you wake up, milk the sheep. I’ll figure out how to get the baby to drink it.”

sheep milk wasn’t as good as a mother’s milk, of course. But given their situation, they couldn’t afford to be picky.

Any milk was better than none.

They were doing everything they could. Whether the child would survive now depended on his own fate.

“Ma, where will the baby sleep tonight?”

Li Dazhuang hadn’t been sleeping properly for days while dealing with his wife’s funeral. Letting the baby sleep in his bed had been fine then.

But now that he was going back to sleep himself, he couldn’t risk it. He had no idea what kind of sleeper he was—what if he rolled over in the night?

The baby was so tiny. One careless move and it could be fatal.

“He’ll sleep with me and your father. When you were little, you used to kick your brother in your sleep. He’d always come tattling to me.”

Even if Li Dazhuang hadn’t brought it up, Granny Li wouldn’t have let him sleep with the baby.

“Alright, thanks, Ma. I knew you were the best. Everyone in the village envies me for having such a great mother!”

An An, full enough to be content, started yawning in Granny Li’s arms. She waved her son away.

“Get up early tomorrow and figure out how to milk that sheep.”

“Got it.”

The next morning, just as the sky began to lighten, Li Dazhuang stumbled out of his room yawning.

The courtyard gate was ajar—Sister-in-law Li had probably gone to the river to do laundry.

He found a chipped bowl in the kitchen and squatted beside the sheep.

Yesterday, he’d left the house because he felt too stifled. Seeing the baby look like he might stop breathing at any moment had made him anxious and helpless, so he went out to clear his head.

He ended up near the mountain and suddenly remembered—maybe it didn’t have to be human milk.

His godfather had once told him that most animals bred during this season, so it was best not to venture into the mountains.

But he’d also shared a story: a friend of his had been abandoned in the mountains as a child and raised on wolf’s milk until he was three years old before being found by people.

That memory had sparked an idea in Li Dazhuang, and he’d gone to the mountain to catch a sheep.

He’d gotten lucky and found a mother sheep that had just given birth.

Now, squatting beside it, he stared at the sheep for a long time but still couldn’t figure out how to milk it.

Just then, Granny Li came out. Li Dazhuang instinctively stood up to greet her, but his legs had gone numb from squatting too long. He stumbled back a few steps and nearly fell.

The sight nearly gave Granny Li a heart attack. She rushed over to steady him.

“Forget it. Just watch me.”

“Okay.”

Granny Li moved slowly so her son could see clearly.

If things stayed like this, she could manage to milk the sheep each morning, though it would be tiring.

But Spring Plowing was coming soon, and that was a matter of survival for the whole family.

For once, Li Dazhuang didn’t slack off and watched attentively.

When he felt confident enough, he gave it a try himself.

“This sheep’s got a lot of milk,” he marveled after filling half a bowl, and eventually managed to get a full one.

Back before she got married, Granny Li had heard of people raising children on animal milk. She remembered being told the milk had to be boiled first.

She went into the kitchen. Seeing her intention, Li Dazhuang quickly came over to help with the fire.

As they worked, they chatted. When the sheep milk began to smell fragrant, Li Dazhuang couldn’t help but say:

“If I’d known it’d work, I would’ve brought back a few more.”

Granny Li shot him a glare, tempted to smack him with the spatula.

“Don’t even think about it. The team leader only let you keep this one because your baby’s so small.”

It was all for the child’s sake. One sheep could be explained as baby food. Any more, and the villagers would start complaining.

“I know, Ma.”

Li Dazhuang had only been joking, but now he was almost scolded again. He grinned sheepishly, hoping to appease her.

“This year, you *must* come with us to the fields for Spring Plowing!”

In the past, she’d let him slack off. She and Grandpa Li weren’t too old yet and could still manage.

But starting last year, they’d begun to feel the strain. Many people their age had already passed.

Her eldest son and daughter-in-law were hardworking, and their two kids were old enough to help at home.

Her second daughter had married into a poor family, but her husband treated her well, and she herself was strong-willed.

The two villages weren’t far apart. If her daughter ever got mistreated, she could run home.

Of her three children, Granny Li worried most about her youngest son. He was already grown and still hadn’t achieved anything, always complaining about being tired.

That was fine when he was on his own. But now there was a child to raise. They didn’t know how long the baby would survive, but they had to plan ahead.

“But what about my son, Ma?”

The baby was too small to be left alone. And honestly, Li Dazhuang couldn’t bear to leave him.

If he weren’t afraid of being laughed at, he’d admit that he often reached out to check if the baby was still breathing—just to be sure he was alive.

“Use your sister-in-law’s basket. After the baby’s full month, take him to the fields. Until then, your sister-in-law’s kids can help watch him.”

“No matter what, you’re going to the fields this year!”

Once Granny Li made up her mind, not even Li Dazhuang could change it.

His brother’s kids weren’t exactly big, but as long as they didn’t get too playful, they should be able to manage.

As for how his sister-in-law would feel, Granny Li didn’t even consider it.

Aside from her and Grandpa Li, the only one hoping Li Dazhuang would shape up and work the fields was his sister-in-law.

There was a big age gap between the eldest and youngest sons. When the youngest was born, the eldest was already in his teens.

They’d been too busy back then, so the older kids had helped raise the younger ones. That bond still lingered.

Elder Brother Li usually listened to his wife in everything—except this.

Sometimes, they even argued about it.

At breakfast, Granny Li brought it up with her daughter-in-law. Sister-in-law Li glanced at her two children and agreed without much hesitation.

She did hope her brother-in-law would earn some Work Points. Once the old folks were gone, he’d have to fend for himself.

Her own kids barely had enough to eat or wear. She couldn’t keep supporting a freeloading brother-in-law.

Oh, and now his kid too.

They ate quickly. Afterward, Li Dazhuang carried the cooled sheep milk to check on the baby.

The little one lay quietly on the bed, not crying or fussing. Even when awake, he just stared off into space.

Li Dazhuang held the bowl while Granny Li picked up the baby. She checked his diaper—no need to change—then carried him outside.

She brought the spoon to his lips. Expecting him to drink obediently like before, she was surprised to see a look of resistance on his face.

She sniffed the milk—there was a definite gamey smell.

“Come on, little one. Be good. You have to drink if you want to live.”

She didn’t expect the baby to understand, but if he really refused, they’d have to force it in.

Before resorting to that, Granny Li tried again.

The baby frowned and squinted, still looking unhappy, but at least he didn’t resist as much.

Spoon by spoon, she fed him. When there was only a little left, he let out a tiny milk burp.

Granny Li held him against her shoulder, gently patting his back.

Li Dazhuang took the leftover milk outside and saw his brother’s two kids. He waved them over to try it.

The kids, always hungry, sniffed cautiously—then drank it all.

Sister-in-law Li saw this from the doorway. Her expression wasn’t as sour as before. She told her son to bring the bowl over so she could wash it.

After drinking, the baby didn’t fall asleep.

The weather was nice—warm sunlight bathed the courtyard—so Granny Li sat outside with An An in her arms.

Ever since her youngest daughter-in-law went into labor, everything that followed had caught her completely off guard.

It wasn’t until now that she finally had a chance to take a good look at the child.

Those beautiful eyes must have come from his mother—long, curling lashes that fluttered with a natural charm.

His skin was still wrinkled and slightly flushed, as newborns often are.

Granny Li, clearly more experienced than Li Dazhuang, didn’t mind that the little one wasn’t much to look at just yet.

Newborns all looked like this. When Li Dazhuang was born, she hadn’t even wanted to hold him. But after a few months, as he grew, he started looking better and better.

Li Dazhuang finished what he was doing and came inside, setting his things down before crouching beside his mother to gaze at the baby.

Just earlier, when he’d held his son in his arms, the child had seemed so tiny—like a little lump, barely even breathing.

But now, cradled in his mother’s arms, the baby looked lively and full of spirit.

“Ma, do you think he’ll make it?”

Granny Li shot her youngest son a look. Raising a child was never that simple. She had lost one of her own at five years old—until a child reached ten, there was no such thing as peace of mind.

But with the baby right in front of her, and her son looking at her with such hope and joy in his eyes, those words didn’t seem right to say.

“Of course he will. Look at those little hands—so strong already. He’s bound to grow up safe and sound.”

Just then, Grandpa Li stepped out of the house. The child’s name hadn’t been decided yet, but after hearing what his wife had just said, an idea came to him.

“How about we name him An An?”

“Sounds good—Xiao An’an.”

Li Dazhuang reached out and gently shook the baby’s tiny hand. The little one pouted, then gave a soft tug and pulled his hand back.