Chapter 31: Returns on Investment
The sunset glow was beautiful today.
Vivid red, vast and magnificent.
Jiang Mianmian woke up on Mother’s back, drank some milk while still groggy, and finished peeing.
She was fully awake now.
She stretched out and lay side-by-side with her brother under the tree by the entrance, basking in the sunset.
It looked like the silk scarves constantly waved by middle-aged aunties taking photos.
Sometimes flying up, sometimes tossed high, sometimes crisscrossing.
Jiang Mianmian watched it with a flushed face.
She turned to glance at her brother; he had his eyes closed and seemed to be asleep, the flower at the corner of his eye appearing vivid, perhaps due to the illumination of the sunset.
Then, she looked at the little ant on the edge of the wooden basin; the little ant seemed to smile at her?
Jiang Mianmian felt she could accept this quite well.
After all, having seen a giant python’s head staring at you with unclosed eyes and then falling asleep.
Looking at the little ant’s head now, it was simply intimate, cute, and gentle.
She even boldly reached out to touch the little ant’s antennae.
So hard. If it grew any bigger, I could steam it, crack it open with an iron spoon, dip it in some vinegar, and slurp—
Wait, that’s a blue crab…
She couldn’t help but want to wipe the drool from the corner of her mouth.
Then, she felt her brother’s fingers wipe the corner of her mouth.
Uh…
She waved her little arms. “Ee-ya-ya！” (Thank you.)
Then her brother’s hand started stroking her head again, stroking it very naturally…
Her head was rubbed by her brother, then rubbed again, and again.
“Ee-ya-ya。” (Stop touching my head.)
Jiang Mianmian stretched out her arms, waving them in protest.
In her anger, she opened her mouth and blew a bubble of saliva.
It seemed her resistance was ineffective.
The more intensely she resisted, the more seriously her brother seemed to stroke her.
She felt her brother rubbing her skull with a very gentle force.
She could even hear her brother snoring slightly.
Jiang Mianmian puffed out her cheeks.
Just as Jiang Mianmian was thinking, she suddenly noticed that the little ant was carrying a red fruit from somewhere, climbing up the wooden basin step by step.
Not pushing, not rolling, but carrying it!!
Jiang Mianmian recognized it; this, this—the scientific name is raspberry, and the local term is “red bubble”; it’s sweet and delicious.
This little ant has become a spirit.
Jiang Mianmian’s heart rate accelerated; she felt a special sense of excitement.
Because she was still an infant who couldn’t even control her own pooping.
This sense of powerlessness was the most terrifying thing.
But now, she could control a little ant.
She watched as Little Black carried a “red bubble” and walked over steadily, looking very relaxed, reaching her hand in just a few steps.
An ant can carry objects over 400 times its own weight and pull heavy objects over 1700 times its body weight; this was data she had looked up when she used to run an ant farm.
However, the ants she raised were very lazy; perhaps because they were domesticated, they didn’t do any work.
But this ant really gave a return.
Knowing her hands weren’t dexterous, it actually pushed the “red bubble” into her palm, and even took care not to touch her with its antennae.
Aww, aww, aww.
Looking at the beautiful red “bubble” rolling in her palm, Jiang Mianmian couldn’t control the secretions at the corner of her mouth… she wanted to eat it.
However, should she wash it before eating?
Jiang Mianmian looked at that beautiful red color, the tiny spikes on it still fresh and upright; she couldn’t take it anymore, the secretions at the corner of her mouth increased even more.
She tried hard to control her grip, worried that if she got too excited, the “red bubble” would be squashed again.
Heaven knows how hard it is for an infant to use their own hand to accurately get something into their mouth.
Even though when she wants to gnaw on her hand, she can just do it.
But when she is holding something, she just can’t align it with her mouth.
Finally, Jiang Mianmian used all the strength she could muster and threw the “red bubble” into her mouth.
The sweet flavor exploded in her mouth; it was so, so sweet, so, so, so delicious.
Because she had no teeth, she experienced that feeling of an old lady slowly sucking on it, a lingering sweetness.
After eating it, she was very happy.
She had originally felt a bit of heartache after feeding the little ant the spiritual spring water, but today she finally saw a return on her investment.
“Ee-ya-ya.”
“Ee-ya-ya.”
She couldn’t help but dance with joy.
Her sister’s voice suddenly rang in her ear.
“Eh, there’s the smell of meat buns.”
Jiang Mianmian sniffed; surely not? Her five senses were so strong, yet she hadn’t smelled anything.
“Father! It’s Father who’s back! There are meat buns!” Jiang Yu stood there, dancing with joy.
Jiang Mianmian saw a tall, upright man walking over step by step in the darkness, his long hair fluttering.
Jiang Yu ran down in high spirits, not even caring about the new embroidered shoes on her feet.
It was dark.
The sounds of chickens crowing and dogs barking came in waves.
The sounds of children crying came in waves.
Jiang Feng woke from his doze, touched his sister’s head, watched Jiang Yu run to welcome Father, and looked back to see Mother leaning against the doorway; this was the best picture.
Jiang Mianmian moved her head anxiously; she was a little worried about early childhood baldness…
What was on her head was just baby hair, right?
If baby hair falls out, it will grow back, right? Right?
