Chapter 408: It Was Her Mistake to Have Expectations

The First Chieftain’s face darkened as he reprimanded them. "All of you, shut your mouths!"

Hu Feng was speechless at his two brothers, who were prone to such foolishness.

Ji Qingwu thought, ’At least there’s one sane person here.’

Hu Feng said, "Pregnancy lasts for ten months. Do you think a baby can be born the moment you want one? Would there even be enough time?"

Ji Qingwu gritted her teeth. It was her mistake to have held out any hope for this bandit leader.

Just then, Qi Peiyao started to cause a scene, and this time, real tears fell.

"I just don’t want this village woman as a wet nurse for my child! You all insist on choosing her, so fine, I don’t want this baby anymore!"

Hu Lie and Hu Chen immediately rushed to placate her. "Alright, alright, we’ll get rid of her right now."

First came the crying, then the tantrums, and next she’d be threatening to hang herself. Qi Peiyao had actually pulled such a stunt before.

Hu Feng had a headache and didn’t know what to say.

Ji Qingwu said slowly, "Actually, if Madam’s milk supply is sufficient, a wet nurse isn’t necessary."

Her voice was soft and inexplicably soothing.

Qi Peiyao stopped her fussing and quieted down, looking at the person who had spoken.

She said hesitantly, "But I’ve heard that the aristocratic families in Lin’an all hire several wet nurses to help."

Qi Peiyao didn’t want her child drinking a strange woman’s milk. The very thought was unbearable, which was why she was so picky about finding a wet nurse. It had to be someone she approved of.

Ji Qingwu had long since noticed that Qi Peiyao was obsessed with and emulated the lives of the noble ladies of the Imperial City.

Her clothes and accessories all copied the style of the women of Lin’an, and raising a child was no different.

Ji Qingwu said, "Many children are also breastfed by their own mothers. They just hire experienced wet nurses to look after the baby at night so the mother can sleep and recover her energy. They don’t necessarily have to do the feeding."

Just as Ji Qingwu expected, Qi Peiyao thought for a moment and then nodded.

"That could work."

Qi Peiyao looked at the three men surrounding her, seeking their opinions.

Hu Lie nodded along. As long as she was in a good mood, his life would be easy.

He immediately declared his stance, "Whatever Madam says is good, is good."

Hu Chen also said, "I never cared about the baby anyway. I’ll listen to Yao Yao."

Everyone’s gaze gathered on the eldest brother, Hu Feng. Ji Qingwu also looked at him.

In Black Wind Village, the one with the real authority was still the First Chieftain.

Hu Feng frowned and said, "But what if Yao’er’s milk supply isn’t enough? We’d still need a wet nurse on hand."

Ji Qingwu replied, "I have a prescription that can help Madam regulate her body and ensure a plentiful milk supply."

A smile appeared on Qi Peiyao’s face. "You’re very good. You can stay."

Ji Qingwu walked over to Chunhua’s side and said, "Madam, in Lin’an, prominent families always keep several wet nurses on hand, whether they end up needing them or not. Some work the first half of the night, and others the second."

Qi Peiyao stared at Chunhua. This time, with Ji Qingwu by her side, Chunhua wasn’t as scared or nervous, and her body was no longer trembling.

"Then she can stay too."

Ji Qingwu said, "Madam, this is Chunhua’s first time being a mother, and she has no experience looking after a child yet. Shouldn’t we let her spend some time with her own children first? That way she can learn how to care for them and gain the experience needed to look after your child."

Qi Peiyao said, "You have a point." She pointed to a little bandit on the side and ordered, "Bring her children out, too. Let her raise them by her side for now."

Tears instantly welled up in Chunhua’s eyes. She wouldn’t be thrown onto the back mountain, and she could even have her children back. She looked excitedly at the benefactor beside her who had saved her once again.

Ji Qingwu gently patted the back of her hand, signaling her to remain calm.

The three brothers all breathed a sigh of relief at the same time. The matter was finally settled.

Hu Feng said, "Alright, it’s getting late. Everyone, dismiss."

Qi Peiyao stood up and beckoned to Ji Qingwu with a hooked finger. "You, come to my room and attend to me."

Astonished expressions appeared on everyone’s faces.

Qi Peiyao had never had any women by her side. This was the first time she had ever specifically requested someone to attend to her.

Hu Lie took a step forward and threatened, "Take good care of Madam! If you don’t, both you and your man will lose your lives, you hear me?"

Hu Chen said, "Don’t listen to Second Brother trying to scare you. Yao Yao is as kind-hearted as she is beautiful. It’s your good fortune that she’s asked for someone to attend to her for the first time."

Hu Feng gave Ji Qingwu a few extra glances, but seeing nothing amiss, he also nodded in agreement.

Ji Qingwu lowered her head and assented.

In contrast to her submissive gesture, her eyes concealed a profound calm.

This was because she had done it all deliberately. First, to help Chunhua and her children, and second, to attract the Madam’s attention.

’There’s something strange about this Black Wind Village.’

’By staying close to Qi Peiyao, I can find out more about this village.’

*

Qi Peiyao had her own separate courtyard in the village, a clear sign of how favored she was.

The courtyard wasn’t much different from one in Lin’an. Even the interior layout, with its drawing room and east and west side-chambers, imitated those of the aristocratic families.

After entering, Ji Qingwu noticed that although Qi Peiyao’s room was opulent, it lacked... a human touch.

All the furnishings and decorations were arranged with extreme precision. It lacked the feeling of a lived-in space and didn’t seem like a place a woman had resided in for a long time. It simply exuded a coldness.

After entering the room, Qi Peiyao lay down on a chaise lounge and began to chat idly with her. "What did you do back in Lin’an?"

Ji Qingwu kept her head lowered and answered, "I was a vegetable farmer."

Qi Peiyao asked in surprise, "A vegetable farmer who also knows how to deliver babies?"

Ji Qingwu said, "You could call it a hobby."

The air was silent for a long moment before Qi Peiyao asked again, "Do you know about the medical clinic for women in Lin’an?"

Ji Qingwu nodded. "I’ve heard of it."

Qi Peiyao’s expression grew wistful. "I’d love to experience it. I heard they have specialists who care for you from before childbirth all the way through to after."

Her gaze returned to the present as she said helplessly, "But as you can see, I can’t even make my own decisions about choosing a wet nurse. I can’t take a single step out of this village."

Ji Qingwu said, "But the chieftains care about you a great deal."

Qi Peiyao let out a laugh. "That care is also a burden. Do you know why I chose you?"

Ji Qingwu said, "Madam said it was because I know how to deliver babies and seem level-headed."

Qi Peiyao shook her head. "No. Raise your head and look at me."

Ji Qingwu raised her eyes to meet Qi Peiyao’s gaze and asked, "Why did you choose me, Madam?"

Qi Peiyao said, "Because there’s no fear in your eyes. You’re different from the others."

Ji Qingwu thought of how Chunhua was about to be thrown onto the back mountain for showing cowardice. She said, "Madam chose me because I’m brave."

Qi Peiyao sized her up again. "I just wanted to choose someone who wouldn’t harm me or my child."

Ji Qingwu said, "Why would anyone do that?"

Qi Peiyao said, "How could I ever feel at ease entrusting my child to a woman who was abducted and brought here? That would be like letting the fox into the henhouse."

"Those men... they don’t understand how strong a mother can become."

"And how ruthless."