After lunch, Xia Qingqing took her roommates back to her own room to rest.

Liu Huimin sat on the bed rubbing her stomach, a wry smile on her face, and said, "Auntie is too hospitable. She kept giving me food while we were eating. I'm so full."

"Yes, and Auntie's cooking is really delicious, not much worse than the chefs in state-run restaurants. I couldn't resist having an extra bowl," Xiang Qiu said, mimicking Liu Huimin's gesture.

Xia Qingqing laughed heartily upon hearing this: "If my mom knew you thought so highly of her cooking, she would definitely let you have another bowl."

Xiang Qiu pretended to be frightened and said, "No, no, no, I'm scared. If I eat any more, I'll really burst my stomach."

Of the three, Chen Xiu was a little better. She ate slowly, chewing her food carefully. Although she seemed to be eating constantly, she didn't actually eat much.

"You two rest in bed for a while. I'll go make you some hawthorn tea. Hawthorn helps with digestion, so it should make you feel better," Xia Qingqing said with a smile.

Liu Huimin quickly nodded: "Yes, yes, thank you for your hard work, Qingqing."

After entering the kitchen, Xia Qingqing asked Zhang Hongyan, who was washing dishes, "Mom, where are our dried hawthorn slices? They've all eaten too much, I'll make them a cup of hawthorn tea to help them digest."

Zhang Hongyan pointed to the cabinet next to her: "I remember it was placed in here, look for it."

Xia Qingqing opened the cupboard door, which was filled to the brim with all sorts of bottles and bags.

She searched and rummaged around for a long time before finally finding half a bag of hawthorn slices in a corner: "Found it."

“Okay, there’s hot water in the thermos, you can soak in it directly,” Zhang Hongyan said casually.

Xia Qing washed a few enamel cups and, while putting hawthorns into them, asked, "Mom, would you like a cup of hawthorn tea?"

Zhang Hongyan refused, saying, "No need, I can't stand these sour things. By the way, remember to add some sugar for your roommates, it won't be so sour with sugar."

There are many hawthorns in the mountains of their hometown, but not many people usually pick them. After all, these hawthorns are good for digestion, and since people don't have much oil in their stomachs, eating something that promotes digestion would only make them hungrier.

Some children in the village don't usually have many snacks to eat, so when they crave something sweet, they might go up the mountain together to pick some wild fruits to satisfy their cravings.

Their family's life has only improved in the last two years, and since Gou Dan never has any restraint when he eats delicious food, he easily overeats.

Last year when the hawthorns were in season, Zhang Hongyan went up the mountain and picked a basket of hawthorns. She washed them, sliced ​​them, and dried them. Whenever Gou Dan ate too much and had indigestion, she would make him a cup of hawthorn tea.

Then, during the Chinese New Year period, the food at home was so good that Zhang Hongyan would occasionally brew hawthorn tea to help everyone cut through the greasiness. Normally, no one drinks this.

Xia Qingqing carried three cups of hawthorn tea into the room. Xiang Qiu saw this and quickly went to take them, saying, "Qingqing, be careful not to burn yourself. If you can't carry them, you can ask us to help you carry them."

Xia Qingqing smiled and said, "It's okay, this cup has a handle, right? It won't burn you. Come on, the three of you, each have a cup."

Liu Huimin took the cup and smelled it. She could faintly smell a sour smell, and her mouth began to water involuntarily.

She carefully blew on the rim of the cup, took a small sip, and her eyes lit up instantly: "Hey, Qingqing, where did you buy this hawthorn? It tastes sweet and sour."

Xia Qingqing raised her eyebrows and said, "I picked them from the mountains back home. I added a little bit of sugar, so they're sweet and sour."

Liu Huimin was a little dumbfounded and said, "Okay, I knew your hawthorn tea was a bit too sweet. I thought it was because this variety was better, but adding some sugar does make it taste much better."

"If you like this hawthorn tea, how about I pack some for you to take back to your dorm?" Xia Qingqing suggested.

Liu Huimin looked at the other two, Xiang Qiu and Chen Xiu, and nodded: "Sure, thank you Qingqing then."

"You're welcome, I have plenty more at home," Xia Qingqing said casually.

Before the group had finished their tea, Zhang Hongyan brought over two plates of melon seeds and peanuts, and said with a smile, "We don't have much good food at home, Huimin, you guys can have some melon seeds while you chat."

This was also the favorite activity of the old women in Shihe Brigade. During the off-season, they would put some melon seeds and peanuts in their pockets and gather under the big tree in the center of the village to gossip.

Liu Huimin smiled and thanked her, "Thank you, Auntie. I like to eat some sunflower seeds while chatting."

After putting her things down, Zhang Hongyan didn't rush to leave. Instead, she sat down and chatted with the girls.

Zhang Hongyan used to enjoy chatting with people when she was in the village, and she was especially good at gossip. The three people listened in astonished.

Liu Huimin would occasionally ask a few more questions, and with people cheering her on, Zhang Hongyan spoke even more enthusiastically.

Taking advantage of the fact that these people didn't know anyone from her hometown, Zhang Hongyan spoke about their private matters without any restraint.

Xia Qingqing was different. She knew most of the people in Shihe Brigade. After hearing Zhang Hongyan's gossip, she was shocked and deeply understood the meaning of the saying "You can't judge a book by its cover."

Who knew that these seemingly simple and unassuming aunties and uncles were actually so unrestrained in private?

Time always flies when you're chatting, and before they knew it, it was past 4 p.m. Liu Huimin and the other two checked the time and said they had to go back to school.

Zhang Hongyan was still chatting and reluctant to let go, saying, "Why don't you have dinner at home before you leave? Auntie will start cooking now, and I guarantee you'll be able to eat in half an hour."

There were a few dishes left over from lunch, so she just cooked a couple more dishes for dinner.

Liu Huimin quickly declined, saying, "Auntie, no, I have things to do at school and need to go back early."

Hearing that they had important business to attend to, Zhang Hongyan didn't try to persuade them any further: "Alright, come and play again next time you have time. Auntie really likes you girls. Come to my house and talk to me more often."

We had such a pleasant chat this afternoon. Zhang Hongyan hasn't had anyone to chat with about these kinds of gossips for a long time since she came to Beijing.

"Okay, we'll come over for a meal again sometime. Auntie, please don't think we're too much trouble then."

"No problem, no problem, you can come and play anytime."

Seeing her mother holding her roommate's hand and reluctant to let go, Xia Qingqing said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "Mom, you should go back to your room and rest. I'll see them out."

...