Chapter 22 Dowry

Seeing that Liu Zhixia had offered a way out, Shen Hongmei quickly accepted: "Okay, if you don't like it, that's fine. But the soldiers' families wouldn't be interested in our family's conditions anyway. I'll ask around for you next time I go back to my parents' home."

Seeing that Zhang Xiuying was still angry, she quickly added, "Once I find a suitable one, I will definitely tell Mother first. I will discuss it in detail after you two agree."

Zhang Xiuying's expression softened slightly: "As long as you know your limits, that's fine."

Shen Hongmei glared at Liu Zhixia defiantly, then carried the child back into the house.

Zhang Xiuying, still angry, said to her daughter, "Let's not talk about it anymore. Your father and the others will be back soon. Go cook. We've had enough oily food the past few days, so just stir-fry some wild vegetables today."

Liu Zhixia said, "Mother, it's the busy farming season now, and we can't keep up without meat. I'll put in less meat to give everyone some strength."

"Okay, you handle it." Zhang Xiuying waved her hand and went back to her room to rest.

Liu Zhixia went into the kitchen.

She first cut a strip of fat from the wild boar meat and rendered it into oil in a pot. With a sizzling sound, a rich aroma of meat instantly exploded out.

She carefully collected the rendered lard in a bowl and set it aside for later use. Then she cut off a little lean meat, sliced ​​it into paper-thin pieces, and stir-fried it in a pan.

Using this oil, stir-fry the wild vegetables until they are coated with a layer of oil.

Then use the oil you just collected to make pancakes.

It's not just the amount at noon; after doing this kind of heavy work, you start to get hungry by the afternoon.

So she needs to prepare some in advance so that when her family members come home hungry in the afternoon, they can have some biscuits to eat.

When Liu Shouren and Liu Xiangyang returned home, the aroma of meat instantly invigorated them. After a hearty meal, their bellies were full, and they felt their strength restored.

After her family members went down to the fields again, Liu Zhixia took a basket and went up the mountain.

Although she did a lot of work in the family, her family couldn't bear to let her do any of the heavy work.

Especially after the family had two children and Liu Xuejun came back to study, she took charge of the family's daily life, cooking, and cleaning.

Seeing that she had almost finished eating the wild vegetables at home, she took a sickle and went up the mountain.

Reaching a secluded spot, she had a sudden thought and slipped into the spatial dimension.

The space was filled with wild vegetables, and they were growing incredibly fast. Nourished by the spiritual spring, they were not only not bitter to eat, but also beneficial to the body.

She casually picked some, which was enough for her usual needs.

Then I tidied up the vegetable garden.

She was then surprised to find that the old hen she had placed in the space had actually laid an egg.

The old hen chose a pile of hay she had made and built a nest. There were two eggs in the nest, and she was incubating them.

However, these eggs probably wouldn't hatch into chicks, so she took one egg and kept the other.

This way, the hen will continue to lay eggs here.

As soon as she stepped out of the space, a wild rabbit quickly ran towards her.

Because she appeared suddenly, the rabbit didn't notice and pounced right into her arms.

She caught it and threw it into her spatial dimension while it struggled.

I'm really lucky.

Rabbits can now be kept in the space.

She needs to find a way to get some chicken and duck eggs to raise a flock of chicks and ducklings.

If it grows in a suitable environment, it will definitely fetch a good price.

She carried a basket filled with wild vegetables down the mountain.

As soon as she arrived in the village, she saw a group of people whispering among themselves. When they saw her, their faces were full of anticipation for a good show.

A female educated youth stopped her with a smile: "Zhixia, congratulations! I heard you're getting married soon?"

Liu Zhixia frowned: "What good news?"

The female educated youth covered her mouth and laughed: "Still pretending? Your family has already accepted the bride price, so you have to invite us to the wedding banquet!"

Liu Zhixia was even more puzzled: "Are you talking about Lu Huaiyuan? I've already made it very clear that there's no possibility between us."

"You didn't know?" the female educated youth feigned surprise. "Your family has already accepted the betrothal gifts from the Lu family!"

Liu Zhixia's eyelids twitched, and she had a bad feeling. She said, "Sorry, I'll go home first," and ran home.

The courtyard was quiet.

When she returned to the kitchen with her shopping basket, she saw a piece of pork on the kitchen counter.

It looks like the wild boar meat we got yesterday.

She carried the meat outside and bumped into Shen Hongmei coming out of the house. When Shen Hongmei saw her, her eyes showed a hint of guilt.

"Sister-in-law, where did this meat come from?"

Shen Hongmei gave a dry laugh: "This was... given to me by someone else."

"Who would give so much meat? If you've already taken it, then you should explain yourself."

"It's fine since it's been given away, why care whose it is? Anyway, no one stole or robbed us. Let's just accept it. Go get some salt, pickle it, and hang it up. We can take it out to eat during the New Year."

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhixia immediately laughed.

She has been very indulgent towards Shen Hongmei these past two days.

That's because of the guilt from my past life.

I didn't expect that when I gave her a way out, she would think she was easy to bully.

Just as she was about to speak, Liu Xiangyang returned from outside.

"Little sister, what are you doing carrying such a big piece of meat? Is this meat... from our family?"

He remembered that it was this big when it was divided, but he had already eaten some yesterday at a banquet, and then ate some more at noon today, so it shouldn't still be this much.

Liu Zhixia held up the meat to Liu Xiangyang: "Brother, ask your sister-in-law, she says it was a gift from someone else, but she won't tell you who."

Liu Xiangyang's face immediately darkened as he stared at Shen Hongmei: "Where did this meat come from?"

Feeling guilty and afraid, Shen Hongmei lowered her head and remained silent.

Knowing she wouldn't get an answer, Liu Zhixia sneered and said, "No need to ask anymore. This meat was brought back from the Lu family, right? Sister-in-law, do you know what's going on outside? They're saying our family accepted the Lu family's betrothal gifts, and I'm about to marry Lu Huaiyuan!"

She slammed the meat down in front of Shen Hongmei, her voice suddenly rising: "Today you've been talking to my mother about the dowry for marrying me off. Do you think I, Liu Zhixia, am only worth this piece of meat?"

Shen Hongmei was so frightened that she quickly picked up the meat while trying to explain herself.

"Little sister, what nonsense are you talking about? How could your dowry be so little? This is what Lu Huaiyuan brought to apologize to you. I figured, since it's all in the past, and it's such a big piece of meat, why not take it? Besides, he didn't mention anything about reconciliation."

"Really?" Liu Zhixia laughed angrily. "Then what do you mean now that the whole brigade is saying our family accepted a bride price? Is this Lu Huaiyuan's trick? How could you fall for it?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiangyang was so angry that his head went blank. He rushed forward and slapped Shen Hongmei across the face: "Do you have a brain? How dare you accept something like this!"

Shen Hongmei covered her face, looking at her husband in disbelief. Seeing this, Da Bao, standing nearby, burst into tears.

Shen Hongmei looked aggrieved and retorted in a shrill voice, "They came to apologize, how did it become a dowry? What do I care about the villagers gossiping!"

"Besides, they came to our door all smiles; that's giving the brigade leader face! How can we kick them out? Didn't you tell me you wanted to be a squad leader? You can't offend people, don't you understand this basic principle?"