Cheering After Birth
Tap tap tap tap…
“Wow, Joan and Belle, you really are great cooks. I wish my daughters were like you two.”
From the very next morning, we helped Senior Chloe’s mother prepare breakfast. At first, Senior Chloe joined us, but as she saw her mother and us getting along, she decided to help out at the barn instead.
“But everyone else is helping out with other things too. That’s impressive. And we cook regularly anyway.”
“But you know… you wouldn’t expect young ladies to be able to cook, right?”
“Ah, that’s true.”
“Exactly. I was a bit worried. But now that you’re teaching me so much, it’s really helpful.”
“Mother, I’m hungry!”
“Me too!”
Chloe’s younger brother and sisters came into the kitchen.
“Oh my, it’s not ready yet.”
“Ah, well… here, try this. Auntie, you can have some too if you like.”
I handed out small rice balls from storage, filled with Jet Blue Shigure.
“““Yummy!”””
“Oh my, really. But what is this?”
“It’s a rice ball. You know the grain called rice?”
I had a feeling they’d give the same answer as in Burst, but I asked anyway.
“Rice… isn’t that animal feed?”
Just as I thought. That’s how it’s seen here.
So, I explained it the same way I had to the rice farmers in the Burst territory.
“So that’s what the cows have been eating, something this tasty~”
“““That’s unfair!!”””
Even though the cows were just eating their feed, I felt a little sorry as they were being called unfair, and I couldn’t help but smile wryly.
＊＊＊＊＊
After dinner, we returned to the guest room and were relaxing with Belle when we heard a commotion outside. Peeking out the window, we saw Senior Chloe running toward the barn.
“Senior Chloe, what’s happening?”
“It looks like a cow is about to give birth!”
She said as she ran off.
“Belle, let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
At the barn, Chloe’s parents, her two older brothers, Senior Chloe, and some staff surrounded the mother cow.
“Senior Chloe!”
“Joan, Belle, you came?”
“Yes. We thought we could help.”
“Thank you. But right now, all we can do is wait.”
“Then shall we prepare some ale?”
“““““““Ale?”””””””
Huh? In this world, do they not give ale to cows after giving birth?
In my previous life, when I was a child, the dairy cows at home were given beer after calving…
“Joan, it’s not really a big celebration. Births happen all the time.”
“Ah, no, I mean… not for humans. For the mother cow.”
“““““““Ale for the mother cow?”””””””
“Yes. I read in a book… it said that after giving birth, cows lose energy and can get dehydrated. Ale helps with digestion, encourages appetite, and increases milk production for the calf.”
“Joan, is that true?”
Her father asked.
“Yes. That’s what the book said. I forget the title though… Sorry if I said something unnecessary.”
“No, it’s fine. Sometimes mother cows don’t produce milk after giving birth. The calves have to drink her milk for a week, but even giving water isn’t enough. If what you say is correct, it might be worth trying.”
“But what if the cow drinks too much and gets drunk, Father?”
Dick asked, worried.
“Considering the cow’s size, one or two cups of ale should be fine… that’s what it said in the book.”
“Then… how do we give it to her?”
“Uh, pour the ale into a bottle at room temperature and put the bottle in the cow’s mouth.”
“I see. Alright! Chloe, get the ale and an empty bottle.”
“Got it.”
A while later, the calf was born safely.
“Now, let’s give it a drink.”
Her father cautiously held the bottle to the cow’s mouth, but she turned away, suspicious.
“Hm, not going so well.”
“Um… could I try?”
“Joan, it’s dangerous.”
“Well, I have a skill called Animal Talk. I can communicate with animals I touch… so I’ll try explaining to her.”
“““““““Animal Talk!?”””””””
Of course, they didn’t know. It’s my original skill.
But if we didn’t do something, she could become dehydrated…
Taking the bottle from her father, I approached and gently stroked the cow’s back.
“Good job giving birth. You must be thirsty, right?”
(Eh!? How can a human child talk to me?)
“It’s thanks to my skill… Here, this is ale. Try drinking it—your throat will feel better, and you’ll produce more milk for your cute calf, okay?”
(Really? Well, I’ll try a little, for my baby.)
“Thanks. I’ll put the bottle to your mouth.”
Gulp, gulp, gulp…
(Oh my, this is delicious.)
“Wow, you’ve got quite the palate. Want another bottle?”
(Hehe, I’ll take it.)
“Go ahead.”
Gulp, gulp, gulp…
(Ah, I feel revived. I was so thirsty… usually they bring me water in a bucket after birth, but I didn’t have the energy to drink… Today really helped.)
“That’s good. Giving birth is life-threatening work, after all.”
(By the way, you’re a new face.)
“Ah, me? I’m Senior Chloe’s junior. I’m just visiting.”
(I see… Chloe’s the best at brushing us, but since she went to the academy, she hasn’t come back often. It’s been troublesome.)
“Really?”
(Yes. Well, recently Shaun has been helping, learning from Chloe, so it’s better now.)
Everyone could hear my voice, but the mother cow’s words sounded muffled. They watched us curiously as I conversed with her.
After finishing the ale, I explained the conversation to her father and the staff.
“So she didn’t even have the energy to drink from a bucket… Joan, thank you. This might reduce post-birth health issues for cows.”
They thanked me sincerely.
“My brushing is appreciated… thank you, Joan. I’m glad I understand the cow’s feelings. I’ll make sure to brush well while I’m home.”
Senior Chloe also thanked me.
What do you think about this chapter?
