Chapter 264: Fu Jiang Gives Birth
Three days had passed, yet the joy brought by the silkworms had not diminished much.
These tiny creatures grew very fast. In just three days, their size increased two or threefold compared to the beginning, as if they had been inflated.
As their size increased, so did their appetite.
Fortunately, there were only a few silkworms, and the leaves on those mulberry trees were enough for them to eat. Raising these silkworms did not impose much burden on the tribe.
However, where the mulberry trees grew was a bit far from the tribe, making it inconvenient to pick mulberry leaves.
It would be better when the mulberry saplings planted this year grew up. At that time, they could burn a large area of land near the tribe, plant these mulberry saplings, and in a few years, they would have a large mulberry forest.
Mulberry trees were excellent for making bows, wooden forks, or raising silkworms. In the age of men cultivating and women weaving, a mulberry field was a good legacy for future generations.
A few mulberry leaves were prepared for the silkworms. Han Cheng called out to the Third Senior Brother and asked him to bring two others and himself to pick some mulberry leaves.
Just as they were about to leave, Fu Jiang, who had yet to be found before, showed up.
Han Cheng thought it wanted to follow him, but as soon as he took a few steps, Fu Jiang grabbed his clothes with its teeth and pulled him back.
What was wrong with this guy today? Why wouldn't it let him go out?
Han Cheng wondered.
Han Cheng stood still, and Fu Jiang let go of his clothes, squatting there and looking at him.
Han Cheng pondered for a while in the place, then pretended to walk outside again. Fu Jiang came over and pulled him back.
After three or four times like this, Han Cheng gave up going out to pick mulberry leaves. Although he seemed calm, he was pretty nervous.
Sometimes, animals seemed to know when something big was about to happen, and they made unexpected moves. Han Cheng had heard such stories more than once.
The most memorable one was during the Three Kingdoms period when Wang Yun, Lu Bu, and others were preparing to kill Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo encountered many omens on his way, including a yellow dog blocking the road and crying.
For such things, it was impossible not to be affected.
Han Cheng also treated it with an attitude of believing it rather than not. After all, life was the most important thing.
Han Cheng carefully pondered for a while. He hadn't adopted any adopted sons, nor had he kept any pretty concubines. After coming here, he had been single-mindedly working for the development of the Green Sparrow tribe and hadn't done anything morally questionable. It didn't make sense for such signs to appear on him!
The trees had been planted, and Eldest Senior Brother and others, who were preparing the ground for planting millet, were called in by Han Cheng. The gate of the Green Sparrow tribe was also closed, and no one was outside.
The Shaman, Eldest Senior Brother, and others didn't understand what was happening and came over to ask why. Han Cheng couldn't tell them much about it, only saying that the tribe might encounter unfavorable things.
Seeing that the Divine Child was somewhat unnatural, the Eldest Senior Brother pounded his chest to reassure the Divine Child. Most of the others who knew about this also pounded their chests and howled to show no need to worry.
Han Cheng could understand their thoughts very well.
The Green Sparrow tribe raised its walls higher last year and set up many measures outside the walls. They even had long-range weapons like bows, stone-throwing weapons, and defensive measures like vine shields. They had been practicing systematically for over three months and felt that they had become powerful.
Many people were even looking forward to the return of the tribe that had once attacked them so that they could show off their skills.
Otherwise, it would be very uncomfortable to make so many preparations and not be able to use them.
It's like someone who has obtained a treasure and always wants to cut something.
Watching this group of people standing on the low wall, rubbing their hands in excitement, Han Cheng couldn't help but smile.
What did it matter if something terrible happened? Staying inside the walls, facing the Green Sparrow tribe curled up like hedgehogs, even if the surrounding tribes were added together, they wouldn't get anything good.
As for wild beasts and such, let's not even mention them.
Han Cheng thought to himself as he went to look for Fu Jiang, the cause of the commotion, but he couldn't find her.
After a while, he saw Fu Jiang coming from somewhere with a piece of torn leather in its mouth, dragging it into the house.
What was up with this guy today? Why was it acting so strangely?
Han Cheng became puzzled. Fu Jiang had never done such things before.
He didn't stop Fu Jiang's actions but followed behind, wanting to see what it was up to today.
Entering the house, he found that Fu Jiang had already dragged the torn leather into its nest.
Its nest was padded with hay and fur, quite comfortable, but now it was even messier and bulky with the addition of the torn leather that Fu Jiang had brought in.
After bringing in the torn leather, Fu Jiang became quiet, rearranged its nest, and lay down inside without coming out again.
Han Cheng's eyes lit up, and he slapped his forehead. He understood why Fu Jiang looked like this today. It wasn't an omen; it was about to give birth to pups!
He went out to tell Eldest Senior Brother and the others not to be so highly vigilant anymore, but they seemed somewhat disappointed.
Fitting quietly in its nest, Fu Jiang came out with Han Cheng and followed him outside. When Han Cheng returned to the house, it returned to its nest.
After about half an hour like this, Fu Jiang became restless, standing up from its nest occasionally, lying down again, and sometimes even walking to the edge of the nest.
It made some painful whining sounds.
During this time, Fu Jiang didn't let Han Cheng go out. Every time Han Cheng left the house, it would come out and pull him back.
When a mother beast gave birth to pups, it was the most dangerous time for her, and Han Cheng was Fu Jiang's closest person. Only Han Cheng's presence here to let it out would give it peace of mind.
Han Cheng knew that the puppies were about to be born. They mustn't have a difficult birth like Lord Deer's wife, or he really wouldn't have any good ideas.
He thought anxiously.
Han Cheng's anxiety was soon replaced by joy as he saw a tiny thing fall into the fur pile…
With the birth of the first slippery, rat-like puppy, the rest came much faster, so much so that Han Cheng miscounted the number of puppies.
He initially counted four, but when Fu Jiang stopped giving birth, and he recounted, he was pleasantly surprised to find that there was one more!
The newly made mother, Fu Jiang, appeared somewhat alert yet carried a unique serenity. She lay in the dog nest, with five blind puppies crowding together, fighting for milk and occasionally making grunting sounds.
Han Cheng went over and picked up one of the nursing wolf cubs, chubby and fluffy, adorable.
Feeling the delicious thing disappear in its mouth, it made some whining protest sounds in its throat, and its body made small, futile struggles, trying to break free from this devil's grasp and return to the safe embrace.
Fu Jiang appeared somewhat nervous as it stood up, grabbed one of the puppies that refused to let go of the nipple, and took a tumble.
It opened its mouth, gently bit the puppy's neck, took it from Han Cheng's hand and put it back in the nest.
Strangely enough, the puppy, struggling in Han Cheng's arms, was exceptionally quiet when carried by Fu Jiang like this.
It was sleeping with its eyes closed.
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