Transmigrated Into an Ancient Famine Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (ABO, GL) - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Ye Qing wanted to cry, but she couldn’t do anything about Jiang Jinhuang. She could only grit her teeth and bear it.

Seeing Jiang Jinhuang still trembling, Ye Qing quickly said, “Let’s go inside. It’s too cold out here.”

Jiang Jinhuang nodded reluctantly and entered the house.

Ye Qing followed, carrying the large tub with two quilts inside. She placed the quilts on the bed and said to Jiang Jinhuang, “Throw out the old quilt. Use these two for now.”

Jiang Jinhuang nodded, wanting to ask where Ye Qing got the quilts but hesitated. They weren’t close, and Ye Qing had often beaten or scolded her before. Jiang Jinhuang didn’t believe Ye Qing had suddenly changed.

Seeing her nod, Ye Qing thought for a moment and said, “I’ll go to the kitchen to make some food. Yangyang’s still sick and can’t go hungry. Stay here and watch her.”

Ye Qing left the room, closing the door, and headed to the kitchen.

She only had one bowl of rice, one and a half cabbages, five potatoes, and three bowls of corn kernels. There was no other food in the house.

With no better options—famine had stripped even the trees bare, making food scarce—and Jiang Jinhuang’s favorability dropping despite her efforts, Ye Qing felt like crying. She had hoped to earn favorability to exchange for supplies with the system, but now that seemed hopeless.

Sighing, Ye Qing put half a bowl of rice and half a bowl of corn kernels into the pot, chopping the cabbage to add later. They could only eat this for now, and sparingly.

Soon, the aroma of rice filled the pot. Ye Qing took a bundle of firewood from her space, stoking the fire to make the porridge thick and tasty.

After nearly half an hour, the porridge was ready. Before taking it off, Ye Qing added the chopped cabbage, stirred with a large spoon, and sprinkled in some salt. She then scooped it into bowls.

Two large bowls were for her and Jiang Jinhuang; a smaller one was for Jiang Jinyang. Some remained in the pot, and Ye Qing figured they’d finish it all. The cold weather burned energy fast, so they needed more to stay healthy.

Carrying one large and one small bowl, Ye Qing walked to the room, gently kicking the door open and placing the bowls on the table.

She looked at Jiang Jinhuang and said, “Wake Yangyang up to eat, then let her sleep.”

“Okay.” Jiang Jinhuang nodded, glancing at Ye Qing. If she didn’t know Ye Qing’s true nature, she might’ve been fooled by her act again.

But Yangyang needed to eat. Jiang Jinhuang went to the bed, gently patting the little one and touching her face. The temperature felt normal. She softly called, “Yangyang, wake up. Eat something, then sleep.”

The little one’s eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes. Still dizzy, she managed a smile for her sister, making Jiang Jinhuang’s heart ache.

“Still feeling bad?” Jiang Jinhuang asked quickly.

The little one nodded. “A bit dizzy, but I’m okay. Don’t worry, Sister.”

“Good girl.” Jiang Jinhuang touched her sister’s face.

Ye Qing entered with another large bowl of porridge, quickly closing the door against the howling wind. Even with it shut, the room was cold.

Seeing Ye Qing, the little one shrank into her sister’s arms, afraid.

Jiang Jinhuang patted her sister gently, glancing at Ye Qing. Seeing no reaction, she bit her lip and asked, “Is the small bowl for Yangyang?”

Ye Qing nodded, handing it over. “Feed her. It’s not time for medicine yet. I’ll boil more later. Let her eat first.”

Jiang Jinhuang took the bowl. The little one’s big, bright eyes were fixed on the porridge. Though she’d eaten at noon, she was hungry again, her stomach growling. Seeing the bowl was for her, she hugged her sister and said sweetly to Ye Qing, “Thank you, Sister Ye.”

Ye Qing smiled, softening her tone. “No need.”

Watching Jiang Jinhuang feed the little one, Ye Qing ate her own porridge. Honestly, it was bland, with no oil, just enough to fill the stomach. For Ye Qing, who’d lived years in the apocalypse, it was a delicacy.

Still, she craved meat. In the apocalypse, food grew scarce, and she’d forgotten its taste. But with the famine, even tree roots were being eaten, let alone meat.

Sighing again, Ye Qing ate on.

Jiang Jinhuang fed Jiang Jinyang, who seemed better, eagerly opening her mouth for her sister’s feeding.

The rice was sweet and soft, the corn kernels slightly sweet, and a pinch of salt kept the cabbage from being too bland. The hungry little one ate heartily, finishing the bowl quickly.

Ye Qing noticed and asked, “Want more?”

Jiang Jinyang shrank into her sister’s arms. She wanted more but feared eating too much would anger Ye Qing, who might sell her.

She shook her head obediently. “Yangyang’s full. Thank you, Sister Ye. You’re nice.”

Ye Qing’s eyes softened. The little one was sweet.

She looked at Jiang Jinhuang. “Let Yangyang sleep. Come eat your porridge, or you won’t hold up.”

Jiang Jinhuang inwardly cursed Ye Qing’s hypocrisy. She’d been beaten and starved before, and Ye Qing never cared.

But she wouldn’t refuse food. Her sister’s illness wasn’t over, and she couldn’t collapse.

Turning, she settled Jiang Jinyang, tucking her in. “Sleep well. Take your medicine tonight, and you’ll be better soon.”

Jiang Jinyang nodded obediently. “Okay, I’ll be good. Sister, go eat.”

“Okay.” Seeing her sister close her eyes, Jiang Jinhuang moved to the table, and the room grew quiet again.

Ye Qing glanced at Jiang Jinhuang, checking her favorability in her mind. Seeing it still at -160, her heart sank, and she sighed deeply.

Jiang Jinhuang ate, watching Ye Qing. Seeing her staring, her face paled, but she kept scooping porridge.

She wasn’t one to break promises, and with no better options, it seemed she’d have to fulfill her promise to Ye Qing tonight.

The food lost its taste, but she had to eat to survive and get her sister safely back to the capital.

Jiang Jinhuang scooped faster, finishing her bowl. Ye Qing, about to get another, asked casually, “Want more? There’s some left in the pot. Finish it, or it won’t be fresh tomorrow.”

Jiang Jinhuang nodded, pushing her bowl over.

Ye Qing took both bowls and left. The kitchen was warmer than their room. She placed the bowls down and evenly divided the remaining porridge.

Returning, she set one bowl in front of Jiang Jinhuang.

Ye Qing sat and ate, planning to wash with hot water and change into clean clothes. With that thought, she finished most of her bowl quickly.

As she ate, she said, “I’ll heat water. We’ll clean up and change into fresh clothes.”

Jiang Jinhuang nervously gripped her spoon, looked at Ye Qing, and finally nodded, biting her lip.

Without Ye Qing, what could she do? The world was chaotic, and as a Kunze with a child, she’d be a target for looters. If she met bad people, she’d face worse humiliation. Tears streaked her face.

Better to be humiliated by Ye Qing alone than by unknown Qianyuan. Her spoon nearly snapped in her grip.

She closed her eyes, resigned. A Minister of Rites’ daughter, reduced to submitting to a rogue like Ye Qing. With Ye Qing’s vile nature, she’d surely force a bond tonight. Once a Kunze bonded with a Qianyuan, tied to their scent, she’d never escape this nightmare.

Her body trembled. Raised with strict upbringing and educated in the classics, she never imagined she’d end up with someone like Ye Qing.

Ye Qing had washed the dinner dishes and heated a large pot of water. She cleaned the tub and carried it to the room.

Entering, she saw Jiang Jinhuang crying, her eyes red, as if she’d been at it for a while.

Ye Qing asked kindly, “What’s wrong? Yangyang’s fever’s down, isn’t it? Why are you crying?”

Jiang Jinhuang’s red eyes fixed on Ye Qing. After a long pause, she shook her head helplessly, as if drained of strength.