Song Shixue, like a little hamster, moved all the fabric into her room, her childish voice brimming with excitement.
"Big sister, I'll definitely finish making the clothes quickly."
Song Jinzhao affectionately patted her head. "No rush, I'll help you."
There was so much fabric; she couldn't possibly leave it all to a child. That would be exhausting.
Song Qiming suppressed his joy and asked, "Big sister, are we still going up the mountain to pick mushrooms today?"
Having money is wonderful; you can buy whatever you want.
Song Jinzhao shook her head. "Not today. I need to teach you both how to milk the goats at home."
Song Shixue, who had been admiring the fabric in her room, immediately ran out upon hearing this.
Once big sister and big brother went up the mountain, the task of caring for the second younger brother would fall to her. She had to learn this well.
The two goats, one large and one small, who had been grazing, shied away into a corner as someone approached.
The mother goat shielded her kid behind her, eyes wary, no longer showing the heartbroken grief from last night after losing her other kid.
Song Jinzhao firmly pulled the mother goat closer, making it tremble with fear, not daring to move.
Its trembling gaze seemed to say: this human before me can chop off a leopard's head with an axe; killing me would be effortless.
Placing an earthen pot beneath the udder, Song Jinzhao instructed as she milked, "Don't use too much force, or you'll hurt the mother goat, and she might kick you with her hooves."
Song Qiming and Song Shixue listened obediently, committing her words to heart.
After milking for a while, Song Jinzhao had them take turns trying.
The soft, yielding sensation made the two children a bit nervous, afraid to apply much pressure.
"Don't be afraid, use about half your strength."
Song Shixue mustered her courage. Her small, soft hands weren't very strong, and the milk flowed slower than before.
The mouth of the earthen pot was wide, so not a single drop was spilled.
The rich, pungent scent of milk hung around the three of them, somewhat unpleasant in the sweltering summer heat.
Seeing the pot was about one-third full, Song Jinzhao spoke up, "That's enough. In hot weather, it'll spoil easily if we can't finish it. Just a small half-pot each time is fine."
Song Shixue let go of the udder and shook her hand vigorously. Her fingers had been stiff from tension, and suddenly relaxing them made them ache.
"You can't drink it directly after milking. You must first boil it, add an equal amount of warm water, bring it to a boil again, then let it cool until lukewarm before feeding it."
Goat's milk is high in calcium and protein; drinking too much can cause lactose intolerance, so it must be diluted with warm water.
"Remember, you can't feed him only goat's milk. You need to alternate with rice water, otherwise his stomach won't be able to digest it."
Song Shixue looked at Song Jinzhao as if gazing at a star. "Big sister is so amazing, you know everything."
Song Jinzhao smiled and encouraged her, "If you remember everything I've said, Shixue, you'll become just as capable as me someday."
As noon approached, Song Jinzhao took the dead kid goat to the river to clean it, cut it in half, and on her way past the old house, gave one half to the eldest uncle's family.
Even though Oldest Song hadn't been much help last night, at least he had gone. She wouldn't give money, but she could share some meat.
Song Yongnian and Song Qiaoniang, seeing Song Jinzhao enter, put down the mud they were playing with and called out, "Sister Jinzhao."
The chicken they ate a few days ago was also sent by Sister Jinzhao. She was so good.
Song Jinzhao looked around but didn't see Old Man Song and the others. "Where are your parents and grandparents?"
Song Yongnian pointed toward the main gate. "Father and grandfather went to the fields to water the rice."
Song Jinzhao's expression froze. Since she had arrived in this world, she hadn't yet visited the family's ten acres of farmland. She wondered how the crops were doing.
When Old Man Song returned home, he found the two children blocking the kitchen doorway, peering inside at something.
"What's wrong? Are you hungry?" Old Lady Song put down her carrying pole and walked over.
Song Yongnian stepped aside to make room, pointing at the basket on the kitchen table. "Sister Jinzhao just brought some goat meat, said it was for father."
Oldest Song's eyebrows shot up, and he immediately barged into the kitchen.
Seeing the half of a cleaned kid goat in the basket, he chuckled happily.
He never expected to get half a goat without having done anything.
If it were him, he definitely wouldn't have shared.
Facing the admiring looks of his two children, Oldest Song puffed out his chest and boasted proudly, "I caught this with Jinzhao on the mountain last night. Isn't your dad impressive?"
Elder Aunt Song blinked. That wasn't what he had said when he came back last night.
He had been trembling terribly, had nightmares, and talked nonsense in his sleep, yelling "help" and "run" dozens of times.
Old Man Song snorted coldly. "If you really could catch one, go up the mountain this afternoon and catch another."
Oldest Song's expression stiffened. Just thinking about last night's events made his legs go weak.
They had encountered a leopard before even reaching the deep mountains. The wild beasts on the mountain must be especially numerous this year.
Without Jinzhao, going alone would be suicide.
"We already have meat, don't we? Salt it and it'll last for months. No need to go up the mountain."
The three adults present pursed their lips in speechless disdain, too lazy to look at him any further.
Second Aunt Song went to the old house intending to 'borrow' a pumpkin, but found them eating meat. Returning home, she immediately threw down her basket and vented her anger at Second Song.
"Jinzhao must have given meat to the old house again."
It wasn't a festival, so the eldest branch wouldn't have bought meat. Where else could their meat have come from?
There was no other source but Song Jinzhao.
Second Song's face darkened. He put down his fan and stood up. "I'll go take a look at the third brother's house."
Second Aunt Song stepped forward. "I'm coming too."
Just as they reached the gate, the aroma of roasted goat meat wafted over.
Their faces grew even darker.
Entering the yard, Second Aunt Song saw the three children sitting around a whole roasted kid. A sense of injustice welled up in her heart.
She raised her voice shrilly, "My, my! Catching a goat and not even sending a bit for your second uncle to taste? Just hiding away and keeping it all for yourselves."
Song Jinzhao frowned, the smile on her face instantly replaced by displeasure.
In her memories, Second Aunt Song had never been kind to her, always ordering her to work during holiday meals at the old house.
In this couple's minds, daughters existed to be worn down and to lift up their sons.
Just look at the names Song Laidi and Song Pandi to see how much they favored boys over girls.
Song Jinzhao retorted without hesitation, "There isn't enough meat at home for Qiming, Shixue, and me. We really can't spare any for second uncle."
Second Song, hearing this, angrily questioned her, "Then how does the old house have some? Didn't you give it to them?"
Song Jinzhao gave a cold laugh. So that was it. No wonder they had come knocking.
She stood up to confront them. "That was what eldest uncle deserved. He went up the mountain with me last night to catch the goat. How could I not share it with him?"
Second Song and Second Aunt Song were stunned. Last night?
His voice grew smaller. "What were you doing going up the mountain at night for no good reason? It's so dangerous."
Song Qiming spoke up before Song Jinzhao could explain. "The baby brother had no milk to drink. Big sister had no choice but to catch a mother goat to feed him goat's milk."
Just then, the kid goat in the corner of the yard let out a bleat. Hearing the sound, the Second Song couple turned to look and saw the two wild goats, one large and one small, resting in the pen.
Second Aunt Song's eyes lit up. She hurried over and pointed at the kid. "Isn't there still a small one here?"
Song Qiming's pupils dilated in alarm. He dashed in front of the little goat to block Second Aunt Song from getting closer.
"It's still too young. You have to wait until it grows up before it can be eaten."
Song Jinzhao stared at the greedy couple. "That day at the old house, you both said my siblings and I were burdens. You'd rather marry us off or give us away for a 'lucky marriage' than spare us a bite to eat."
"All these days, you've never once come to check on us, let alone offer any help. I never imagined your first visit would be to come asking for things."
Second Song rubbed his nose, pulling Second Aunt Song to his side. He wished he'd asked for more details before coming.
"Your second uncle doesn't mean it like that. Your aunt here just misunderstood, thinking you were sending meat to Oldest Song but not to us. That's why she was upset."
"It's precisely because your aunt and I care about you all that seeing you favor your eldest uncle makes us sad."
Song Jinzhao gave him a light, dismissive glance. She had never seen elders so shameless.
A pack of lies, spouted without a second thought.
"Oldest Song helps us fetch water every single day. Who else should I favor if not him?"
"Second Uncle, you say you care about us, but you've never once come to ask if we have enough to eat or how my younger brothers and sisters are faring. You haven't even shown your face. I'm afraid you'd long since forgotten all about your nieces and nephews."
Second Song and his wife were left speechless, awkwardly rooted to the spot, wanting nothing more than to leave immediately.
