"How can we let it go? Tomorrow morning, bring me a dozen eggs. I'll go to the village chief." Zhuang Ruman said, "The village chief is reasonable and values family harmony the most. I'll talk to him about this."
"When the village chief speaks, the others naturally won't dare to side with those two brats anymore."
"Yes, you, the head of the family, have great ideas." Seeing that Zhuang Ruman had a plan, Mrs. Song broke into a wide smile.
"Once this is over and those two brats come back, follow my orders. We need to maintain face and mustn't let others catch any fault. No matter how angry or upset you are, beat them inside the house. Don't let them cry and make a fuss in the courtyard, making a scene!"
Zhuang Ruman spoke and Mrs. Song naturally nodded in agreement: "Yes, I really remember this time, you will see."
Really remember?
With Mrs. Song's stupid, pig-like appearance?
Zhuang Ruman was still a little skeptical, but seeing Mrs. Song pounding her chest in a guarantee, he couldn't dismiss her completely, so he waved impatiently: "Fine, go to sleep. We can't waste candlelight."
After speaking, he turned around and walked towards the inner room.
Mrs. Song hurriedly blew out the candle and followed.
The next day, the rooster crowed thrice.
Done for, done for, if you don't wake up now to work, you'll be scolded by your aunt.
Zhuang Qingsui suddenly sat upright in bed.
However, looking at the situation in front of her, then at Zhuang Qingning who was still asleep, she suddenly realized that she had moved out with her sister.
And, her sister had said yesterday, they have to wake up naturally.
Zhuang Qingsui calmly lay back down, turned over, closed her eyes and fell asleep again.
When she opened her eyes again, Zhuang Qingsui was partially woken up due to hunger and partially by the aroma.
The faint aroma, with a hint of sweetness, was incredibly pleasant.
Seeing that Zhuang Qingning was not by her side, Zhuang Qingsui quickly got out of bed and upon reaching the door, she saw Zhuang Qingning busy in the kitchen.
"Sister, what are you making? It smells amazing." Zhuang Qingsui leaned towards the stove and looked into the boiling pot releasing steam.
The white creamy porridge boiled in the pot, with a layer of golden egg drop floating on top.
On the edge of the iron pot, there were several cornmeal pancakes sticking to the edge, exuding the fragrant aroma of cornmeal. Clearly, they were thoroughly cooked at this moment.
"You're awake?" Zhuang Qingning promptly used chopsticks to take the pancakes off the edge of the pot and poured the egg drop porridge into the bowls for both of them.
Zhuang Qingning's portioning was perfect, not too little, not too much, just two bowls.
"Rush to wash your hands and face. By the time you are done, the egg drop porridge will cool down a little and be just right to eat." Zhuang Qingning urged.
"Hmm." Zhuang Qingsui nodded somewhat blankly, but did not move, looking confused. "Sis, where did we get this flour and these eggs, this iron pot..."
"Shh, keep quiet." Zhuang Qingning signaled her to speak more softly: "These things, they were left by our parents. They were hidden in a secret place by our mother and father, in case we ever needed them."
"Our parents did not give us a little brother, fearing that we would not get anything after a hundred years and would not be able to survive. So, they specially put some things and money in a big jar and buried it secretly."
"When our parents passed away, you were still young. I was afraid you would let it slip and our uncle and aunt would find out, so I didn't tell you."
"Last night, when everyone was asleep, I secretly went to dig some out. I was afraid others might find out, so I didn't take out too many things, just enough for a few days. We can take out more slowly so that we can use it on normal days without arousing suspicion."
"As for these eggs, I found them on the field when I went to dig last night. I don't know which family's chicken was running wild and making nests. I saw two eggs in the nest and picked them up."
After hearing Zhuang Qingning's explanation, Zhuang Qingsui finally understood, "So, that's why."
"Yes, if anyone asks about this in the future, just say you don't know, okay?" Zhuang Qingning instructed, keeping her head down the whole time and not daring to look in Zhuang Qingsui's eyes.
It was a bit uneasy to deceive a child.
Zhuang Qingsui did not notice, she completely believed in the words of her sister Zhuang Qingning.
She nodded repeatedly: "Don't worry, sis. No matter who asks in the future, I will not mention this and I will definitely not let others know."
"Good girl." Zhuang Qingning patted her little head: "Hurry up and wash your face and hands, then get ready to eat. This egg-drop porridge is best when served hot, it's not good when it's cold."
"Alright." Zhuang Qingsui happily fetched water to wash her hands and face. After tidying up, she sat with Zhuang Qingning, holding her bowl and sipping the egg drop porridge.
The porridge was smooth and sweet, with a faintly fragrant taste of flour mixed with the savory aroma of egg. Tasting a bite of the cornmeal pancake mixed with a hint of flour, this breakfast could be described as delicious.
After the sisters finished eating, they both washed the bowls and the pot and tidied everything up.
"Let's go, Qingsui, we are going to Aunt Wen's house." Zhuang Qingning said.
"Go to Aunt Wen's house?" Zhuang Qingsui widened her eyes: "Sis, isn't it said that Aunt Wen has a terrible temper, always scolding and beating people? What are we going there for?"
"I have something to discuss with Aunt Wen, about renting her tofu workshop. After that, if we can make tofu to sell, we will at least have a way to make a living." Zhuang Qingning answered: "Rest assured, I'm going to discuss business with her properly. Why would Aunt Wen scold or beat us for no reason?"
"Well…" Despite being afraid of Aunt Wen, Zhuang Qingsui nodded as her sister was going: "Let's go."
"Let's go." Zhuang Qingning took Zhuang Qingsui's hand, and when they left, they took two of the pancakes made that morning, and headed towards Aunt Wen's house.
Aunt Wen, is Zhuang Shengxing's wife, Mrs. Wen.
Mrs. Wen was a well-known figure in the village.
Famous for her fierce temper.
When she scolded people, she never repeated herself. She fought more fiercely than men, and even Zhuang Jingye, the village chief, was apprehensive about her and dared not provoke her lightly.
Even many parents threatened disobedient children by saying that if they didn't behave, they would be sent to Aunt Wen's house.