HBBMAWH Chapter 41

Yan Cai took a bite of the spicy chicken wings with great emotion. Ugh! hot! Tasty enough! Even the bones are fragrant and crispy! Overwhelmed with tears, he finally tasted the chili.

He tore off a piece of rabbit leg, removed the chili, and stuffed it into Jiang Manyue's mouth, who was holding the baby. Uncertain whether Jiang Manyue could handle the spice, Yan Cai hesitated.

"You try; the first time might be a bit overwhelming."

Jiang Manyue took a small bite, and the domineering spiciness immediately took over every part of his mouth. It was a different kind of heat, distinct from the numbing spiciness of Sichuan peppercorns and the pungency of ginger, with a subtle bitterness from cloves.

Pure, spicy flavor without any impurities.

Jiang Manyue hissed; it was a bit too spicy for him. Perhaps using the term "a bit" was too mild. However, when Yan Cai asked, he gave a different answer.

"How is it?"

"Very delicious," Jiang Manyue said in a low voice, but his throat was noticeably hoarse. Yan Cai handed him a water flask, silently gauging Jiang Manyue's tolerance for spiciness. He estimated that Jiang Manyue had about one-tenth of Yan Cai's spice tolerance.

In short, he couldn't handle spice.

Both Lu and the carriage driver were fortunate to enjoy the chili-seasoned barbecue and hot pot dishes. In this cold weather, a pot of bubbling hot and spicy vegetables with chili was truly refreshing. 

The driver was originally from Qiuyang Town, where red peppers were used as wall decorations, never consumed like this. After this trip, he vowed to try it! The Young Master was indeed broad-minded, unlike them country folks.

The baby stretched out its tongue, wanting to lick the meat Yan Cai held in his mouth. Jiang Manyue quickly carried the baby away, waving his hands towards the baby. The baby gently bit his soft meaty hand, leaving a few faint marks that would soon disappear.

Teeth haven't even grown yet, and already so fond of eating.

The baby giggled, and Jiang Manyue was stunned. Handing Qingke to Yan Cai, he went to wash his hands and then gently examined the baby's mouth.

Teeth... front teeth?

​They are really two incisors as big as grains of rice. The baby's mouth was not closed, drool dripped all over his face, Yan Cai slapped Jiang Manyue's hand off accusingly and wiped the drool.

"You're so careless."

"No, look carefully at KeKe's mouth."

"What are you looking at...huh???" Yan Cai leaned close to the baby's face, observed carefully, and then gasped, covering his chest with his hand. He confirmed that the teeth had indeed grown. Baby, please don't keep surprising your father like this. Look at your father, who has never seen the world, and he is terrified.

However, Yan Cai had seen more of the world—there were plenty of weird and gifted individuals in the apocalyptic world. He took a deep breath and reassured his partner. In critical moments, he needed to provide an explanation.

"Our baby is more... how should I put it, gifted."

Jiang Manyue accepted Yan Cai's explanation without any burden. The baby was extraordinary from birth, and now it was just one more strange thing.

However, with such a special son, extra protection was necessary. Jiang Manyue kissed his son's face, smelling the faint fragrance of grass and wood on Yan Cai. Both his son and Yan Cai should be protected.

The baby's small hand gripped Jiang Manyue's thumb. Its black grape-like eyes sparkled, as if saying that it would also protect Father!

On the return journey, there was no snow, so they took a shortcut, significantly shortening the distance. They finally arrived home before the New Year. Hong Yu eagerly awaited, standing at the door every morning, counting the days.

"Is the Young Master coming back today? I learned a new dish and the Young Master hasn't tasted it yet," Hong Yu sighed while peeling radishes. "It's almost New Year."

Even the couplets and the "Fu" characters were already posted, the house cleaned spotlessly with newly sun-dried quilts. Everything was in order, just waiting for the master of the house to return.

Suddenly, they heard Zhu happily exclaiming, "

" They're back! The Young Master and madam are back!"

Hong Yu abandoned the radish and dashed outside, creating a gust of wind. Just as she reached the door, she saw Yan Cai getting off the carriage. He was wearing a fiery red hooded cloak, holding something in his arms, which was covered tightly with a blanket.

Lu was busy moving things, and everyone hurried over to help. They lifted a sheep, and the sheep bleated while they also carried down several sacks of unknown items.

Yan Cai stared intently, cautioning, "These are all very important things! Don't let them spill on the ground." After all, these were his treasures.

"Young Master, you're back!" Hong Yu joyfully approached, saying, "What are you holding? Let me help you."

"No need, no need," Yan Cai whispered, "Shh, keep your voice down, don't wake him up."

Hong Yu peeked inside the blanket and saw a small, fair face with a fat mouth unconsciously opening and closing, as if he was sucking milk.

Ah! Hong Yu covered her mouth, silently screaming in excitement. What a cute baby! Is it the Young Master's child? When did this happen? There's actually a baby!

The Young Master's child is so adorable. The facial features resemble the Young Master's, delicate and beautiful, but the nose is somewhat like the Young Master Manyue. Hong Yu chose not to think too much, regardless of whose child it is; it's none of her business.

In short, Qingke brought back is now the Young Master and Young Master Manyue's child.

"Is it the Little Master?" Hong Yu's voice was very low, afraid of waking the sleeping baby.

Yan Cai, without any burden, admitted openly, "Yes, my child with Manyue."

Upon hearing this statement, Hong Yu became even more certain of the child's identity. Regardless of what he was before, from now on, he could only be the little master.

Hong Yu felt happy in her heart and really wanted to hug the child. Yan Cai , unable to resist Hong Yu’s hopeful looks, handed him over. Anyway, he couldn't always carry the baby. At first, the baby was thinner than other babies, but not long after, he became plump. In contrast, the wet nurse sheep has been drained to the point of being emaciated.

"Manyue, the baby's wet nurse doesn't have enough milk to drink." Yan Cai worriedly went to the sheep pen to check. Zi was feeding her with hay and also adding some beans.

"Go buy a few more. We have enough food to feed them. We can afford to raise as many as we need. Let the servants take good care of them." Jiang Manyue went to wash his hands and face, changed his clothes, and suddenly transformed into a tidy and refined noble man.

It just so happened that there was a farmer outside the county town who specialized in raising goats. They raise mountain goats, and the grass on the nearby mountains is lush and beautiful. Lately, some of the wild sheep have been sneaking up to their mountain to graze.

They specifically went there and selected a few sheep. One of them had already given birth, and a few others were pregnant. It worked out well; once one sheep finished nursing, the next one would be ready to produce milk. The sheep were a bit frightened when they arrived, but Yan Cai used his ability to calm them down gradually, helping them adapt to their new home.

Later, because several sheep gave birth at the same time, the milk production increased significantly. Unable to consume all of it, Yan Cai directed them to experiment, and eventually, they produced goat milk powder.

The shelf life wasn't long, but it was still better than keeping fresh goat milk for an extended period. Considering the baby's good appetite, there was never a shortage. However, this was something that happened later; at the moment, the two of them were exhausted and just wanted to lie down.

After the strenuous journey, they were truly fatigued. Yan Cai took a bath and simply lay on the bed. The son rolled off the pillow, trying hard to climb onto Yan Cai.

However, no matter how he tried, he kept rolling off. In the end, Yan Cai picked him up placed him on his back. Jiang Manyue came in shortly afterward, rolling up his sleeves and saying, "Where are KeKe's pair of lotus leaf green socks that he just took off? I took them off to be washed."

"They're on that small stool."

Sure enough, the pairs of socks were placed on the stool, one on each side, somewhat crooked. Jiang Manyue picked them up and tossed them into a small basket made of bamboo. Hong Yu would take them out to wash tomorrow.

After washing his hands, Jiang Manyue lifted the curtain to enter the bed, and he froze immediately. Soon, an unusually soft and warm light appeared in his eyes.

Father and son were sprawled on the soft bedding, looking carefree. The elder showing no signs of movement.

The room didn't have any odor from being unoccupied for a long time. As long as there was sunshine, Hong Yu would bring out the bedding to air it out. After the two returned, Hong Yu changed the duvet covers, sheets, and pillowcases, all newly made.

Hong Yu spent her days at home and would engage in some sewing and mending activities. With the arrival of the Little Master, her passion for these tasks increased. That night, she lit a lamp and made a pair of cute tiger-shaped shoes.

It's and filled with new year's silkworm silk cotton, they exuded the scent of sunshine.

The quilt was very warm. Yan Cai lay on his stomach on the soft quilt. His son lay on his back dragging his hands and feet, resembling a big frog with a small frog on its back, topped with two green leaves on the son's head, just like a little frog that hopped onto the shore after floating on a water lily.

"Just wear one piece of clothing; you won't catch a cold." Jiang Manyue dried his hands, picked up his son, who was not at all startled, with a chuckle.

"No, no need." Yan Cai turned around and sat up. "Home is still the best. Good food, good sleep. Sitting in that carriage feels like my butt is going to rot."

"Nonsense."

Yan Cai twisted his neck and looked back. "I'm not kidding. After sitting in the carriage for so long, my butt is definitely swollen. Don't believe me? Look."

Yan Cai thrust his butt in front of Jiang Manyue without any shyness, who gave it a slap

"Stop being ridiculous. Go to sleep." He held Yan Cai's hand, feeling the cXierli from it. He had been lying in a thin coat on the bed for a long time, and his hands were already ice-cold. "Your hands are freezing. You might get frostbite."

Yan Cai crawled under the covers, exposing his hands outside, showcasing them with a smirk. "I won't get frostbite."

His body was in good condition.

Jiang Manyue also lay down, placing their son between them and pulling Yan Cai's mischievous hands back under the quilt. Then he took out a silver dart from the hook on the bedside and threw it towards the red candle on the table. The red candle went out and the dart was firmly inserted into the archery target hanging on the pillar.

Jiang Manyue didn't like people entering his room to blow out the candles, so he came up with this compromise.

Yan Cai stared at the scene in amazement. He had always wanted to learn this move, asking Jiang Manyue to teach him many times, but Yan Cai just couldn't master it.

In the end, he gave up. After all, his ability wasn't suitable for this. Why bother learning something he wasn't good at?

During the New Year, Yan Cai celebrated like many ordinary families. However, this ordinary life was something he had longed for but couldn't attain before.

During the apocalypse, many people are busy killing zombies, escaping, and searching for food. Many people gradually forgot the concept of time, losing track of the days. The festive atmosphere of the New Year in the civilized society became only a symbol in their memories.

People from the pre-apocalyptic era would describe their former days to those who came later, while the post-apocalyptic people could only imagine the past beauty from their superficial descriptions and simultaneously hope for such a future.

Yan Cai, like most people, imagined having a small home of his own after the end of the apocalypse and spending his remaining days peacefully. However, he didn't never reached that day; instead, he was captured and taken back to the laboratory.

Yan Cai hugged Jiang Manyue from behind, pressing against Jiang Manyue's broad back, as if he could hear Jiang Manyue’s powerful heartbeat, providing him with a sense of security and strength.

The kitchen was steaming with dishes, and the fragrance of the food filled the room. Such things were something Yan Cai hadn't known before—the so-called warmth of human life.

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