"Grandma, I picked seven edamame, and there are still dozens left."
Ji Ying smiled and said, "I still have to go home to cook, Grandma. Be careful not to fall."
With one hand on the basket and the other holding seven fresh edamame pods, Ji Ying headed home with a full load.
Liu Sanmei watched her leave, muttering to herself, wondering how this wretched girl had become so quick-witted?
Well, her temperament had changed a bit, unlike before when she could barely fart.
On her way home, fully loaded, Ji Ying didn't care what Liu Sanmei thought; her mind was busy planning delicious dishes for her parents and two brothers.
"Eh, why did you pick so many vegetables?"
When Ji Ying saw Xu Nianhua with a basket on one arm and edamame in the other, she hurried over to take the items from her hands.
"This is our food for several days; I had to pick a good amount." Xu Nianhua said cheerily, knowing that with Liu Sanmei's temperament, the vegetable garden would probably be stripped bare tomorrow, and they would have to wait for it to grow back before they could pick again.
"Mom, let's make a few dishes to go with our rice today." Xu Nianhua set the vegetables in the kitchen. Even things like eggplants, which were washed with cold well water, could be preserved for a few extra days.
She chose two large eggplants, planning to steam them, sauté long beans with chili peppers, and make a spicy-sour sweet potato leaves dish. Even without meat dishes, these were enough to complement the rice.
The old house was old, but behind the kitchen was an ancient press pump next to a large stone tank, which made fetching water very convenient.
From starting a fire to cooking and washing vegetables, Xu Nianhua managed everything in an orderly fashion.
By the time Ji Ying came in with the turned-over rice grains, Xu Nianhua had already steamed the rice.
"You just recovered from illness, don't work too hard." Ji Ying stepped forward, wanting to help, but found that the dishes were already washed, prepared, and arranged neatly.
Xu Nianhua, beaming a sweet smile, said, "Mom, try my cooking."
"You silly girl, I know you can cook." Ji Ying looked at her own daughter, now nineteen, thin and tall, with a pretty face. In her eyes, no other girl in Shuangzhu Village could compare to her daughter.
No, not just in Shuangzhu Village, but in all of Gaoliang County, she thought her daughter was the most beautiful.
Just that Xu Nianhua always liked to keep her long bangs, hiding her beautiful eyes.
It's better to hide; given their situation, being too pretty could bring trouble.
Xu Nianhua, smiling sweetly, said, "Mom, take a rest."
Xu Nianhua quickly prepared three dishes. Although their family was not well-off, she made sure the portions were generous.
"I'll call Dad and the others to come and eat."
Ji Ying braved the scorching sun to call them from the fields, knowing that in a few days, after finishing planting the late rice, they could finally relax.
Xu Nianhua made sure to cool the boiling water in the cold well water. By the time Xu Qinghe and the others got home, they could enjoy some ice-cold water. The table was set, dishes arranged, and the rice was served, just waiting for them to come home to eat.
Seeing their backs drenched in sweat, she handed over towels she had prepared earlier.
"Little sister, are you not feverish anymore?" Xu Nian'an immediately reached out to touch her forehead to confirm she was well, then took the towel to wipe his sweat. They were so hungry their stomachs were growling.
"Why does the food taste so good today?"
"Especially these sweet potato leaves, so sour and spicy, really satisfying."
In no time, the rice in everyone's bowls was nearly gone. Knowing that Xu Nianhua had cooked the meal, Xu Nian'an praised, "Little sister, your cooking skills have improved."