Transmigrated Into an Ancient Famine Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (ABO, GL) - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Ye Qing didn’t say much. She handed the wooden basin forward. “You help her wash. I’ll go watch the pot in the kitchen.”

Once Jiang Jinhuang took the basin, Ye Qing turned and left. The porridge was still cooking, and she needed to tend the fire.

Jiang Jinhuang placed the basin on the floor and closed the door. She reached to touch the little one’s forehead—no fever. Feeling the touch, the little one opened her dark eyes and looked up.

Seeing her sister, Jiang Jinyang gave a big smile. “Sister.”

“Hey, how are you feeling? Still unwell?” Jiang Jinhuang asked quickly.

The little one shook her head. “Not anymore. Just a bit hungry.”

She patted her flat little stomach. Though she’d eaten a bowl of porridge last night, it lacked oil, and as a growing child, she was still hungry.

Hearing this, Jiang Jinhuang felt guilty and couldn’t meet her sister’s eyes. They’d been separated from their family, and she didn’t know where their mother was or if anyone from home was looking for them in Linzhou.

Seeing her sister’s dim expression, Jiang Jinyang quickly said, “I’m not that hungry, really, Sister. Look, my tummy’s round!”

She sat up, trying to comfort her sister by pinching her stomach, but it still looked flat, clearly underfed.

Jiang Jinhuang sat beside her, heart aching, and said softly, “Ye Qing’s cooking in the kitchen. She’ll probably make enough for us. Come, you sweated a lot last night after the medicine. Let me help you wash.”

“Huh? Is that okay?” In the past, when her sister wanted to heat water to wash, Ye Qing always refused, complaining they wasted water or firewood. Ye Qing never allowed it.

Jiang Jinhuang nodded absentmindedly. “Yes.”

Though Ye Qing had let her off last night, Jiang Jinhuang felt like a sword hung over her, unsure when it would strike. She was uneasy but didn’t want her sister to worry.

Believing Ye Qing had approved the hot water, Jiang Jinyang happily waited for her sister to help her bathe.

The large tub was small for an adult, but perfect for the little one to sit in after undressing.

The warm water made her giggle with joy.

Ye Qing brought half a bucket of hot water, knocked on the door, and said, “I brought more hot water. Add it if the water gets cold.”

The little one, startled by Ye Qing’s voice, hid in the tub, silent.

Jiang Jinhuang got up, opened the door, took the bucket, and said quickly, “I’ll go back in.”

“Okay.” Ye Qing nodded and returned to the kitchen.

Once Ye Qing was gone, the little one spoke. “Sister, Ye Qing’s not mad, right?”

“No. Is the water cold? Want more hot water?” Jiang Jinhuang asked.

The little one nodded eagerly. It had been so long since she’d had such a comfortable bath.

After soaking a bit longer, Jiang Jinhuang lifted her out, dressed her, and tucked her into bed to avoid catching a cold.

She then took a smaller basin and carried the tub’s water, trip by trip, to the courtyard’s drainage groove.

Meanwhile, Ye Qing’s porridge was nearly done. She brought two bowls to the room, then returned to the kitchen for a third.

In the room, Jiang Jinhuang hadn’t touched the porridge. The little one’s eyes were glued to it, her stomach growling, but she stayed quiet, nestled in the blankets, not wanting to trouble her sister.

Ye Qing returned with the third bowl. Seeing the untouched porridge, she said, “Why haven’t you eaten? Eat first.”

Seeing Ye Qing’s approval, Jiang Jinhuang picked up the small bowl and went to feed Jiang Jinyang.

The little one was well-behaved, opening her mouth wide, eating spoonful after spoonful without fuss. Soon, the bowl was empty.

Ye Qing, eating her own porridge, saw she was done and asked, “More in the pot. Want some?”

Jiang Jinyang, noticing Ye Qing speaking to her, licked her lips, wanting more but too scared to say so.

Seeing her longing look, Ye Qing smiled. “If you want more, I’ll get you another bowl.”

She stood, took the small bowl from Jiang Jinhuang, and headed to the kitchen.

Once Ye Qing left, Jiang Jinyang偷偷 looked at her sister, confused. “Sister, why’s Ye Qing suddenly being nice?”

Jiang Jinhuang shook her head. “I don’t know what she’s up to, but Yangyang, never trust her. Ye Qing’s not a good person.”

“Okay, I’ll listen to you,” the little one replied obediently.

Soon, Ye Qing returned with another bowl, handing it to Jiang Jinhuang. She took it, thanked her, and continued feeding Jiang Jinyang.

Ye Qing finished her porridge, got another bowl, and kept eating. She’d need to go out again soon, or they’d be starving tomorrow.

Jiang Jinhuang finished feeding her sister and sat at the table, quietly eating her own porridge.

Ye Qing ate quickly. In the cold, a hot bowl of porridge warmed her up.

Soon finishing, she looked at Jiang Jinhuang. “There’s a bit left in the pot, enough for another bowl. I’m going out to find food. In a day or two, when Yangyang’s fully recovered, I think we should head south with the refugees. Staying here, we’ll starve.”

Jiang Jinhuang wanted to go north to the capital, where their family was, but she knew Ye Qing was right. The northern famine was severe—heading there was suicidal. South was the only way to survive and eventually return home.

Looking at Ye Qing, she didn’t trust her, but their lives were tied to her now. She hoped Ye Qing, after getting what she wanted, would treat her and her sister better and not abandon them on the way.

Otherwise, as a Kunze with a child amid refugees, they’d be doomed.

“Be careful. Can you still find food out there?” Jiang Jinhuang cautioned. If Ye Qing died, their situation would worsen.

Ye Qing shook her head. “It’s tough. I searched a lot yesterday. Found quilts and clothes, but food’s scarce. I’ll try. Don’t worry too much—things will work out.”

Ye Qing, who survived a decade in the apocalypse, refused to believe she’d starve in this era.

“No more talk. Eat your porridge. When I leave, lock the gate like yesterday,” Ye Qing said.

“Okay.” Jiang Jinhuang quickly finished her porridge and looked at Ye Qing. “Will you be back at noon?”

Ye Qing nodded. “Yes, whether I find anything or not, I’ll be back at noon. Let’s go.”

“Okay.” Jiang Jinhuang hurried to follow.

Ye Qing opened the courtyard gate and stepped out, reminding her, “Don’t open the door for anyone else.”

“I got it,” Jiang Jinhuang nodded. After Ye Qing left, she closed the gate, secured the bolt, and blocked it with two broken chairs.

Finished, she returned to the room.

The little one, still in bed, saw her sister and asked, “Is Ye Qing gone?”

Jiang Jinhuang nodded. “Yes, she went to find food.”

Jiang Jinyang touched her full tummy, suddenly feeling Ye Qing wasn’t so bad. But since her sister disliked her, she’d side with her sister.

Jiang Jinhuang touched her sister’s face. “Still hungry? There’s more porridge in the pot.”

“I’m full. You eat, Sister,” the little one said, patting her tummy.

Jiang Jinhuang checked, confirming her sister was full, then took her bowl to the kitchen for more porridge.

Meanwhile, Ye Qing was on the main street. Linzhou was even bleaker than yesterday, with only a few people hurrying by.

Changing her approach, she searched several rundown courtyards but found nothing.

With no choice, she went to a large mansion on the main street, clearly once a wealthy home, its gate locked with a huge copper lock.

Observing, Ye Qing saw the lock was sturdy and hard to pry. She looked for a low wall but found none—the walls were about two and a half meters high.

With no other way, she kicked open a nearby shop’s door, dragged out a chair, and stood on it. Jumping, she barely reached the top of the wall.

Thanks to her strong physique, she supported herself with her arms, swung a leg over, and, with a push, straddled the wall.

Turning, she nimbly flipped into the courtyard.

As expected, it was large with many rooms. She searched each one.

Many items were left behind, but they were impractical—porcelain, vases, and the like.

Uninterested in useless things, Ye Qing kept searching. In an ornately decorated room, she found two new quilts and a box of clean cotton clothes and new shoes.

Without inspecting closely, she stored the entire box in her space.