Xiaoxiao was on the kang in the main house, diligently copying books until her wrists ached. This was truly not the work for humans; writing with a brush was nothing like a pen—too slow and terribly tiring on the hand. This was not a sustainable solution. To think of Yang Ming, who had been copying books for years, he really had perseverance, sigh! Why did she suddenly start thinking about him? Xiaoxiao pondered, when suddenly she heard her own stomach rumbling!
The afternoon had passed, so why hadn't lunch been prepared yet? If she hadn't been hungry, she would have forgotten about lunch altogether!
"Mom, I'm sorry, I forgot to make lunch!" Xiaoxiao said apologetically, getting up and ready to walk outside.
"Third son's wife, you must be hungry. Go ahead and prepare something for yourself; there's no need to include ours. We're used to having just two meals a day! It's almost dinner time anyway!" the mother-in-law spoke.
"..." So the reason they had enough food was because they only ate twice a day? That wouldn't do at all! Such eating habits were bad for the stomach. Once she earned money in the future, meals had to be decent. These past few days she had been so busy that she'd also forgotten about lunch, but since it was winter with shorter days, dinner wasn't far off. She didn't have the nerve to cook just for herself, so she went back and sat on the kang. "It's alright, I'm not that hungry. I'll wait and have dinner with everyone."
"Auntie, I've brought you something tasty!" Yang Shulin, the elder sister-in-law's son, said as he pulled out a handful of fruit from his pocket and offered it to Xiaoxiao as if presenting a treasure.
Looking over, Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up, "Eh, isn't that hawthorn? Where did these come from?"
"Little uncle brought them back from the mountain yesterday! Auntie, aren't you hungry? Eat these quickly! They're really delicious!" The child's tender voice munched away crisply, unbearably cute.
"Mmm, our Dabao is so thoughtful!" After speaking, she planted a kiss on Shulin's cheek.
Seeing Auntie so fond of the hawthorns, the little ones each came forth offering their treasures, giving her all the hawthorns they had left!
What wonderful children, to offer up their food at a time when everyone was hungry—such spirit was truly commendable! Xiaoxiao was growing more and more fond of this family by the day. A family of honest folks, it was only the deeds of Yang Ming that somehow remained irksome. Logically, children from the same family shouldn't differ so much in character. Had those years at the Academy led him astray?
Xiaoxiao bit into a hawthorn; they were quite large, ripe and deeply red, and had not been spoiled by the frost. She quickly inquired about them—hawthorn could be made into preserves or candied hawthorns and possibly sold for money.
"Mom, isn't it cold outside now? How come the hawthorns haven't frozen?"
"The hawthorns can survive the frost for now, but it won't be long since it's getting colder by the day. It's just for these next few days."
"How many are there on the mountain?"
"Should be plenty. No one's picking them, so most are just falling on the ground. Main issue is they're sour, eat too many and it hurts your teeth. Why, you like them? If you do, tomorrow I can have your father and the others help you pick more!"
"Yes, I like them, super like them. Make sure dad helps me gather all the rest and bring them back. The more the better. Otherwise, they'll freeze and we won't be able to eat them!"
Xiaoxiao was somewhat excited; indeed, where there's a will, there's a way. She hadn't seen candied hawthorns for sale in town before. If she sold them, she was sure to make money. However, in her excitement, Xiaoxiao overlooked an important fact—she had no idea how to make candied hawthorns!
Chapter 21, Where There's a Will, There's a Way
Xiaoxiao sat on the kang bed in the main house, diligently copying texts until her wrist ached. This really wasn't work fit for humans. Writing with a brush wasn't like using a fountain pen; it was not only too slow, but it was also particularly tiring on the hand. This definitely wasn't a long-term solution. To think that Yang Ming had copied texts for years really showed his perseverance. Ugh! Why did she suddenly start thinking about him! While Xiaoxiao was musing, she suddenly heard her stomach grumbling.
Lunchtime had passed; why hadn't they started cooking lunch yet? If she hadn't been hungry, she would have forgotten about lunch entirely!
"Mom, I'm sorry, I forgot to cook lunch!" Xiaoxiao said apologetically, getting up to go outside.
"Third daughter-in-law must be hungry. Go and make something for yourself; you don't need to make extra for us. We're used to only having two meals a day! It'll soon be time for dinner anyway," her mother-in-law said.
"..." So, the reason they had enough to eat was because they only had two meals a day? That wouldn't do at all! Such a habit wasn't good for the stomach. When she made money in the future, they would definitely eat well. These past few days, she'd been so busy that she had forgotten about lunch too, but fortunately, it was winter, and the days were short. Soon it would be time for dinner. Her face wasn't so thick-skinned; she couldn't bring herself to cook just for her own sake. So, she went back to sit on the kang bed. "It's okay, I'm not very hungry. I'll just wait for dinner and eat with everyone."
"Third Aunt, I've brought you something tasty!" Yang Shulin, her elder sister-in-law's child, said as he pulled out a handful of fruit from his pocket and presented it to Xiaoxiao as if he was offering a treasure.
Looking over, Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up, "Eh, isn't this hawthorn? Where did this come from?"
"Uncle Yang Shu brought them back from the mountain yesterday! Third Aunt, aren't you hungry? Eat, eat! They're so tasty!" The childish voice was crunchy and incredibly cute.
"Mm, our Dabao really knows how to care for others!" After saying this, she planted a kiss on Shulin's face.
Seeing how much Third Aunt liked them, the other little ones came one by one to offer their treasures, giving all the remaining hawthorns they had to their dear Third Aunt!
What wonderful children they were, willingly giving up food when everyone was hungry. Such a spirit was truly precious! Xiaoxiao grew fonder and fonder of her family. Everyone in this household was straightforward and honest, with only the things Yang Ming did being perpetually annoying. Logically, the character of children from the same family shouldn't be so drastically different. Could it be that his years at the Academy had led him astray?
Xiaoxiao took a bite of the hawthorn; they were really big, ripe, and red, and they hadn't been damaged by the frost. She quickly inquired about the situation. These hawthorns could be made into preserves, candied hawthorn; maybe they could be sold for money.
"Mom, it's cold outside now, right? The hawthorn hasn't been frozen, has it?"
"This kind of hawthorn can withstand the frost, and they're fine for now, but it won't be long. It's getting colder by the day, and we've only got a few days left."
"How much is left on the mountain?"
"There should be plenty. No one picks them, and they just fall to the ground. Mainly because they're sour, and eating too many can give you toothache. Why? Do you like them? If you want, I can ask your father and the others to pick more for you tomorrow!"
"Mm, I like them, absolutely love them. Make sure dad and the others collect all the remaining ones for me, the more the better. Otherwise, they'll freeze, and then they won't be good to eat!"
Xiaoxiao became a bit excited. There was always a way through the mountains, so to speak. She hadn't seen candied hawthorn being sold in town before. If she sold them, she could definitely make some money. However, in her excitement, Xiaoxiao had overlooked an important detail: she had no idea how to make candied hawthorn!