Transmigrated Into an Ancient Famine Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (ABO, GL) - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Ye Qing’s brow furrowed slightly, but since Jiang Jinhuang wouldn’t say anything, she didn’t press further.

“Stop crying. The hot water’s ready. I’ll bring it over. You bathe first, then rest early,” Ye Qing said before heading to the kitchen to fetch the water.

She had prepared two clean wooden buckets—one filled with hot water, the other with cold.

Carrying a bucket in each hand, Ye Qing walked to Jiang Jinhuang’s room and quickly brought them inside.

After setting the buckets down, she stepped out, pretending to go to another room. She took the cotton clothes she’d found today from her space and returned to Jiang Jinhuang’s room. Looking at her, she said, “I found these cotton clothes today. Make do with them. Bathe first, and call me when you’re done.”

With that, Ye Qing left the room and went to the drafty room where Jiang Jinhuang and her sister used to stay.

In this world, Qianyuan and Kunze were distinct, so Ye Qing thought it best to give Jiang Jinhuang privacy while she bathed.

She lit the oil lamp in the room and sat at the table, waiting.

Meanwhile, Jiang Jinhuang stared at the buckets with red eyes. After a long pause, she seemed to resign herself and walked to the tub.

She poured hot water into the large tub, added some cold water, and tested the temperature before slowly removing her clothes.

Her arms and back still bore faint scars from Ye Qing’s past beatings, not yet healed.

Mechanically undressing, Jiang Jinhuang worried Ye Qing might barge in and do something. But then she thought, sooner or later, Ye Qing would ruin her—what was there to fear?

With that, she stopped glancing at the door and began wiping her body with a cloth. These days, let alone bathing, she and her sister could barely eat. Having hot water to clean with felt comforting.

She washed her hair too. Long neglected, her silky black hair was tangled in places, and she carefully worked out the knots.

It took nearly half an hour to finish.

Instead of calling Ye Qing, Jiang Jinhuang dragged the heavy tub toward the door herself.

Ye Qing, waiting for her call, heard the noise and went over. Seeing the door open, she hurried in and found Jiang Jinhuang struggling with the tub.

“I’ll take it,” Ye Qing said quickly.

She grabbed the tub. As a Qianyuan, her strength was naturally greater, and after surviving the apocalypse, a tub of water was nothing to her.

Ye Qing carried it to the courtyard’s drainage groove and poured the water out.

She moved the tub to the drafty room, then returned to fetch the buckets from Jiang Jinhuang’s room.

Seeing Jiang Jinhuang still standing there, she said, “Go stay with Yangyang and rest. I’ll bring the medicine when it’s ready.”

Jiang Jinhuang watched Ye Qing warily. Seeing her calm expression and no wandering gaze, she relaxed slightly and nodded faintly.

Ye Qing carried the buckets toward the door, saying, “Close the door for me.”

She took the buckets to the kitchen. The stove was still warm, so the water in the pot was hot. She filled one bucket with hot water and another with cold, then carried them to the drafty room.

The room was too cold, so Ye Qing lit a small fire on the floor for warmth. They wouldn’t stay here long—once Jiang Jinyang recovered, she planned to take them south to escape the famine.

She added firewood to keep the fire going, placed the tub by it, and poured in half the hot water, mixing in cold until the temperature was right.

Undressing, her dirty, old cotton clothes shook out dust.

She tossed them aside, squatted by the tub, and began washing. Her body was manageable, but her hair took time.

It took three rinses to feel truly clean.

Ye Qing put on the clean dress she’d prepared, adding the new cotton dress she’d found. She sat by the fire on a stool, drying her hair.

After nearly half an hour, her hair was half-dry, still damp inside. She opened the door, carried the tub out, and poured the water into the courtyard’s drainage groove. She stored the tub in her space and returned the buckets to the kitchen.

Checking the time, it was around ten at night—perfect for boiling medicine. Ye Qing took out the noon medicine, poured three bowls of water into the clay pot, and set it on the stove to simmer into one bowl.

When the medicine was ready, a strong herbal smell filled the air.

Ye Qing frowned, used a rag to handle the hot pot, and poured the medicine into a porcelain bowl, placing a spoon inside.

With her hair now dry, she carried the bowl to Jiang Jinhuang’s room.

Jiang Jinhuang wasn’t asleep, holding her sister and worrying about what might happen tonight.

Hearing footsteps, she tensed, clutching the blanket and reaching for the dagger by the bed. But her hand dropped halfway.

She looked at her peacefully sleeping sister, her eyes growing wet. What use was killing Ye Qing? Even if she escaped one Ye Qing, more Qianyuan like her would come. Besides, she had begged Ye Qing to save her sister—she had no reason to harm her.

Staring at the door, tears slid down her face.

When Ye Qing entered, she saw Jiang Jinhuang holding Jiang Jinyang, crying. She placed the medicine bowl on the table and asked, “Why are you crying? Is Yangyang worse?”

Wiping her tears, Jiang Jinhuang shook her head. She looked at the medicine bowl, comforting herself that her sacrifice made Ye Qing treat them better. Normally, Ye Qing would never boil medicine for her sister—she’d rather sell her.

Ye Qing, skeptical, picked up the bowl and approached the bed. She touched the little one’s forehead—normal, not as hot as at noon.

She handed the bowl over. “Coax Yangyang to drink this. It’s late—let her rest after.”

Since arriving in this world, Ye Qing hadn’t stopped. She was truly exhausted and planned to rest next door after Jiang Jinyang took the medicine.

But to Jiang Jinhuang, the words meant something else. She thought Ye Qing was reminding her of their impending intimacy, not to waste her time.

Her body trembled at the thought.

Ye Qing, confused by her changing expressions, asked worriedly, “What’s wrong? You look terrible. Don’t let Yangyang get better only for you to fall ill.”

Jiang Jinhuang bit her lip, glanced at Ye Qing, and sat up. “I’m fine. Wait a moment.”

“Okay.” Ye Qing nodded, unsure why Jiang Jinhuang asked her to wait but staying to ensure the little one took the medicine.

Jiang Jinhuang took the bowl and gently patted Jiang Jinyang’s arm. “Yangyang, wake up. Drink your medicine, then sleep.”

The little one groggily opened her eyes, rubbed them, and saw her sister.

Not crying despite being woken, she smiled at her sister. “Sister?”

“Yes, Yangyang, good girl. Still feeling bad?” Jiang Jinhuang asked softly.

“Not anymore,” the little one replied obediently.

Relieved, Jiang Jinhuang said gently, “Good girl. Even if you feel better, you still need the medicine. Drink it, sleep well, and you’ll be all better.”

“Okay.” The little one frowned at the medicine’s smell but obediently sat up.

Jiang Jinhuang scooped the medicine and fed it to her. The little one trembled but drank, her face wrinkling from the bitterness, tears welling up.

Jiang Jinhuang’s heart ached, but survival came first, so she kept feeding.

Ye Qing stepped out and returned with an old teapot and cup, pouring water to cool.

When Jiang Jinhuang finished, Ye Qing handed her the cup. “Let her drink some water to rinse her mouth.”

“Okay.” Not caring about Ye Qing’s intentions, Jiang Jinhuang took the cup and fed her sister a few sips.

Bitter from the medicine, the little one gulped the entire cup, finally easing the taste.

She buried her face in her sister’s arms, whining, “Sister, so bitter.”

“Good girl, Yangyang’s the best. Sleep well, and you’ll be fine by morning,” Jiang Jinhuang soothed.

Jiang Jinyang nodded obediently, then looked at Ye Qing timidly. “Thank you, Sister Ye, for making my medicine.”

Ye Qing smiled at her. “No need. Sleep now.”

Jiang Jinhuang glanced at Ye Qing, thinking her calm demeanor was a reminder to let Yangyang sleep so as not to delay what Ye Qing planned next.