Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Borrowing Milk

Yu Nuannuan silently cried out in her heart, “Oh no.”

She really hadn’t meant to do it just now. After all, she was only six months old, and waving her arms and legs around was pure instinct.

Before Yu Nuannuan could come up with a solution, she heard someone calling Chen Qiaoqin’s name again.

The newcomer had a loud voice—the sound had been carrying inside for a while before the person actually walked in.

Yu Nuannuan stared at the doorway for a moment before finally seeing who it was.

Once she saw clearly, Yu Nuannuan could only look away helplessly.

She knew this person too—it was another neighbor of the Yu family.

This family’s surname was Wang, and everyone called her Granny Wang.

Granny Wang’s husband had passed away a few years ago. She had only one son, who gave her a grandson last year.

Granny Wang doted on this grandson, naming him Wang Dabao.

Wang Dabao was already a year old, dark-skinned and chubby.

His mother didn’t have much milk left, and normally, at a year old, he could be eating porridge by now. But Granny Wang couldn’t bear to wean him, insisting he keep nursing.

Since the two families lived next door, Yu Nuannuan often heard Wang Dabao’s mother gasping in pain.

That was always because Wang Dabao, unable to get enough milk, would bite his mother with his teeth.

Granny Wang had come over carrying Wang Dabao more than once or twice.

And every time, it was for the same reason—to ask Chen Qiaoqin to “lend” her some milk.

But calling it “borrowing” milk wasn’t really accurate; it was more like taking, since there was never any paying back.

At this moment, Granny Wang was holding Wang Dabao in one arm and a big, rough porcelain bowl in the other.

Once inside, Granny Wang didn’t wait for anyone to invite her to sit. She plopped herself down at the table, set the bowl in front of Chen Qiaoqin, and said bluntly, “Qiaoqin, come on, squeeze out a bowl of milk.”

Hearing this, Yu Nuannuan rolled her eyes.

Granny Wang really didn’t stand on ceremony at all, acting as if everyone owed her something.

Unfortunately for her, this time Granny Wang was going to be disappointed.

She didn’t have to wait long before Chen Qiaoqin smiled and said, “Auntie Wang, I’m sorry, but I don’t have any milk left.”

“What?”

Granny Wang nearly jumped off her stool. “What do you mean, no milk? How could you not have any? Did that little girl drink it all?”

Before Chen Qiaoqin could reply, Granny Wang started complaining, “Qiaoqin, I have to say, why bother feeding a girl? This milk should go to a big, healthy boy.”

Chen Qiaoqin’s smile faded. “Auntie Wang, even if I did still have milk, it would be for my own Nuannuan. Why should I feed some big boy who isn’t even mine?”

“Qiaoqin, that’s not right! We’re neighbors, aren’t we supposed to help each other out? Hurry up and squeeze a bowl for your big nephew—he’s about to cry from hunger.”

Chen Qiaoqin put on a stern face. “I told you, I don’t have any milk left. Nuannuan doesn’t want to nurse anymore, so I let my milk dry up.”

Speaking of this, Chen Qiaoqin felt a bit troubled.

These days, every family had little to feed their children. As long as the mother had milk, kids would nurse until they were one or two.

But Yu Nuannuan was different from other children. At just six months, she refused to nurse anymore.

Even if she was hungry and crying, she wouldn’t eat.

Chen Qiaoqin had discussed it with Xu Shuhua, and seeing how strongly Yu Nuannuan resisted, she could only cook her porridge instead. To her surprise, Nuannuan ate it happily.

Since Nuannuan wouldn’t nurse, Chen Qiaoqin simply let her milk dry up.

It had only been two days since then, and Granny Wang had already come looking for her.

First Granny Wang was shocked, then furious, and started scolding Chen Qiaoqin, pointing at her as she ranted."

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