Chapter 127: Not a Dairy Cow

Because of this ordeal, Bai Yan had been bedridden for several days, constantly taking medicine. Although she kept up with her regular meals, she had not eaten properly for a long time.

Seeing that it was the final day of her medication, Bai Yan reached out and tugged at Jiang Chengyan’s sleeve. "Husband," she said in a small voice.

The young girl’s face had grown thinner, making her look even more pitiful.

Jiang Chengyan let out an "hm" and looked down at her. "What is it?"

"Could I have a big chicken leg for lunch today?" Bai Yan asked softly. She had been unable to stomach any food for several days, but now that she finally had an appetite, she wanted to have a proper meal.

Jiang Chengyan lowered his gaze, remaining silent.

The hand tugging his sleeve paused. Then, Jiang Chengyan heard the young girl’s voice become even more soft and pleading: "Then... a small chicken leg would be fine, wouldn't it?"

Seeing how much she truly wanted it, Jiang Chengyan, for once, agreed.

When Mother Zhao returned, she found Jiang Chengyan preparing a chicken leg.

"That won't do yet; her stomach probably can't handle anything greasy," Mother Zhao frowned, feeling that making a chicken leg at this time was inappropriate.

"She wants to eat it," Jiang Chengyan replied. His response was simple—just those three words.

"This is sheer nonsense. She struggled just to swallow her medicine these past two days; her stomach definitely won't take it," Mother Zhao grumbled, but her eldest son let it go in one ear and out the other. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him lowering his head, carefully shredding the chicken, seemingly intending to make chicken noodle soup for Bai Yan.

In the end, she had no choice but to turn a blind eye. However, Mother Zhao remained worried and couldn't help but nag a bit more.

"If you hadn't been feeding her such reckless things, she wouldn't have ended up in this state," Jiang Chengyan finally spoke, silencing Mother Zhao with a single sentence.

Mother Zhao couldn't help but mutter, "My intentions were for the girl's own good."

"You were forcing things to grow by pulling on them," Jiang Chengyan replied, carrying the prepared noodles into the west room.

The young girl, who had been lying limply on the kang, caught the scent and immediately twitched her nose, sniffing the air before scrambling out from under the covers.

Jiang Chengyan supported her with one arm while holding the bowl with the other.

"It smells so good," Bai Yan murmured, then began to slurp the noodles.

Jiang Chengyan had tried his best to keep the dish light and simple, but Bai Yan vomited shortly after finishing.

After the doctor examined her, he said earnestly, "For the next two weeks, no meat. Just stick to light, plain vegetables."

As the doctor spoke, Bai Yan lay there with her ears pricked up. Upon hearing this, she wilted instantly. She buried her head in the quilt, whimpering and refusing to show her face.

"You should go to the county town and stay with Father for these next few days," Jiang Chengyan said to Mother Zhao, his expression unreadable.

Knowing she was in the wrong this time, Mother Zhao thought it over and did not argue.

Once Mother Zhao had departed, only Bai Yan and Jiang Chengyan remained in the house.

Bai Yan stayed muffled under the quilt for a long while before slowly poking her head out.

"What is so wrong with being a bean sprout?" the man asked, his long, slender fingers pulling the quilt down, his voice low and crisp.

"But I'm so small," Bai Yan said, looking down at herself. She thought of the girl who had mocked her for being a "bean sprout," and the more she thought about it, the more unhappy she became.

"You aren't a dairy cow; why would you need to be that big?"