Turning around, she saw Liu Sisi holding YingEr right behind her, and hesitated for a moment: "Sisi, I..."
"The wind is strong outside, come in quickly. Tonight, let's cook these wild vegetables first."
Liu Sisi spoke with a calm expression.
In her opinion, filial piety was a virtue, and the man before her was clearly foolishly filial, leading to an empty house and two hungry children.
But it didn't matter, after all, life had to be taken slowly, and one couldn't become fat in one bite.
"Okay, I'll start cooking now."
At her words, a weight seemed lifted off Di Yelei's heart, and his face immediately broke into a bright smile.
Surprisingly, Di Yelei quickly chopped the half wild boar leg that was almost taken away, put it in the pot to make soup, and on the other side, he quickly washed the pot, added water, and began to cook rice.
He then went to the bowl cabinet, bent down, and directly lifted the cabinet out of the way, revealing a large hole near the base of the wall behind it. He pulled out a lightweight cloth bag and scooped out a bowl of white rice.
Liu Sisi's eyes brightened! So there was hidden wealth here!
"This...I only did it as a last resort...I know that things can't go on like this. But it's difficult for a man like me to take care of two children."
Di Yelei was somewhat embarrassed, quickly washing the rice and putting it in the pot: "Also, while I'm out hunting, my mother and Second Sister-in-law often take some things when I'm not home, but that means they're keeping an eye on my house and preventing outsiders from hurting the children. I thought that even if we had to give up some food, at least the children were still here and could grow up safely, which is better than anything else..."
It turned out that this man had considered everything!
However, this also explained why Di Yelei, who seemed so strong, was so indulgent toward them.
Although Liu Sisi didn't say anything, her expression obviously softened.
"It's understandable that you have such thoughts, but living like this is really hard for the children. Now that I'm here, we should fix the courtyard wall and reinforce the yard door, and also raise a German Shepherd, so that unrelated people won't be able to take advantage of us."
As Liu Sisi spoke, she got up and put the picked wild vegetables aside, then bent down to fetch water to wash the vegetables.
"That's a good idea! If we really raise a big dog, they wouldn't dare to be so brazen!"
Di Yelei's eyes lit up, and he quickly reached out one large hand to take the ladle from Liu Sisi's hand: "Let me do it. You've just recovered, rest for a while, and I'll have the meal ready soon."
Liu Sisi didn't insist on doing the work. Di Yelei also used pig trotter fat to fry the bamboo grubs until they were fragrant. The Manchurian wild rice could be stored and eaten tomorrow. He briefly blanched the dandelions and wild celery, and then stir-fried them with shepherd's purse. Together with the rice, they had a particularly satisfying meal.
After dinner, Di Yelei quickly took care of the two children, helping them wash up and go to bed.
YingEr, on the other hand, clung to Liu Sisi uncharacteristically, unwilling to let go, and looked at her with a pair of big, watery blue eyes. Liu Sisi felt her heart melting and happily held YingEr's hand, singing a lullaby she had learned in her previous life.
"The moon is bright and the wind is still, the leaves shade the window sill, crickets sing with clanging call, just like the sound of strings that trill, the melody soft and thrilling, the cradle gently swaying, close your eyes, my baby dear, sleep and dream away in slumber so clear..."
Clear and beautiful voice gently came from the room, not only did YingEr listen with her eyes wide open, but Xuan'er who was sleeping in the next room also widened her eyes, carefully listening to the song coming from next door.
Di Yelei also put down his work, standing silently at the door, listening to the song, and his tall figure remained motionless for a long time.
Only after confirming that YingEr had fallen asleep, Liu Sisi gently closed the door and returned to the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Di Yelei was scooping up boiled water to scald the feathers off the two pheasants. Liu Sisi finally found an opportunity to start heating the water for bathing.
She had been longing for a bath for several days, and now that the opportunity had finally come, she didn't want to miss it. The hot water was ready, but seeing the pitch-black night around her, she decided to move the wooden barrel to the firewood room for washing.
Liu Sisi, who had been working hard at carrying things around, had naturally caught Di Yelei's attention earlier. Though he was quickly stripping feathers and gutting the chickens, washing, and salting them from his hands, the corners of his eyes kept an eye on Liu Sisi's every move.
Seeing her struggling to carry the wooden barrel step by step towards the firewood room, he immediately washed his hands and wiped them roughly before coming to her side.
"Do you want to take a bath? Give me the bucket, I'm stronger than you, and be careful not to trip."
Watching Di Yelei lift the barrel effortlessly and stride into the firewood room, Liu Sisi marveled at how what felt like a thousand-pound weight in her hands seemed as light as a feather in his. He didn't seem burdened at all.
The big wooden barrel was soon filled with hot water. Di Yelei then looked back at her with the misty fog between them, his dark eyes shining brightly under the dim oil lamp.
The burning flames inside made Liu Sisi's whole body tense instinctively, and a wave of palpitations spread throughout her body.
Liu Sisi's cheeks flushed, and even though she was still fully clothed, under his gaze, she felt as if she were completely naked. Her feminine instincts spread gradually at the base of her heart, and even her sensitive red plum nipples stood erect, blooming proudly in the wind.
"You go ahead and wash, and if you need anything, just call me. I'll be right outside the door."
While talking, Di Yelei took a deep look at her and then strode out of the firewood room.
He practically fled the firewood room and after taking several deep breaths, he managed to suppress the urge deep within his heart.
He was no longer a young boy, but in front of Liu Sisi, he felt as if he had returned to his youth, to the moments of adolescent blossoming.
Looking down at a certain part of him that refused to yield, he couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself!
Liu Sisi, covering her burning cheeks, felt embarrassed and annoyed. This was simply too humiliating! She actually did such a thing…in front of a stranger, no less! This was utterly mortifying!