Chapter 62 Grapes

Qin tied up the pheasant's wings, slung her basket over her shoulder, and headed out of the forest. She picked all the red wild grapes, and the rest were still unripe; she would come back to pick them later.

My sister-in-law is pregnant and has been craving sour foods lately, so these wild grapes are perfect.

The weather will change soon, and with enough rain, mushrooms will grow in the mountains and forests. She can then come and pick them, and she and her baby can enjoy a delicious mushroom soup.

Sometimes you can find a grayish-green melon that bursts open in August, and the flesh inside is sweet. It is called the August melon by the locals.

Her precious child had never eaten these before, but she wanted her child to taste the wild fruits she had eaten in the past.

Qin came out of the forest and saw the children chatting and laughing. Guai Bao was surrounded in the middle, eating wild fruit. Qin smiled and walked over.

"Hello, Aunt Yu."

The children greeted Qin Shi.

Qin Jin'an called out happily, "Mother, you're here."

"Aunt Yu, you're amazing! You caught a pheasant!"

The children were amazed to see the pheasant.

Pheasant feathers are a beautiful turquoise color, which is irresistibly attractive to children of this age.

"Aunt Yu, after you kill the pheasant, can I have its feathers?"

Wang Cui asked nervously, already fantasizing about making a shuttlecock from the pheasant feathers—it would definitely be the most beautiful shuttlecock in the village.

"sure."

Qin agreed.

Wang Cui often played with Guai Bao, and she remembered Wang Cui.

"Here, have some grapes."

Qin took some wild grapes from her basket and gave them to the children, picking out the purplest bunch for her precious baby.

"Thank you, Aunt Yu."

Every child was delighted; these wild grapes were a rare and delicious treat for them.

As for that slight sourness, it's perfectly manageable.

There was no medicine, and the fruit wasn't even dusty; people just wiped it on their clothes and ate it.

Qin Jin'an followed their example and ate the wild grapes.

She didn't like things that were too sweet, but these grapes, which had a tart flavor with a hint of sweetness, made her squint her eyes and say, "Mom, they're delicious!"

Before I knew it, I had eaten a skewer.

"Okay, let's go home."

Qin Shi carried a basket on her back, held Qin Jin'an's hand with one hand, and carried a pheasant with the other.

She made sure the children walked ahead and that no one was left behind before going home.

When she passed by her own land, Qin Yulin was waiting for her.

“Yu Baolai, your uncle will carry you.”

Qin Yulin was waiting for them. The road wasn't far, but it wasn't short either. He couldn't bear to tire the children out.

"uncle."

Qin Jin'an rushed over.

"All of you come over here, I'll pick them all together."

There were three children who went with him, and they all ran over excitedly when they heard Qin Yulin call them.

Everyone was slim, and the basket got crowded when they all went in, but everyone couldn't help but laugh.

The carrying pole has a child on one end and grass on the other.

"How did you catch a pheasant?"

Qin Yulin asked Qin Shi that he had also caught one at the foot of the mountain today, and that the two together weighed five jin.

“I went into the mountains to find some wild grapes, and this chicken had its wings tangled in vines, which is how I saw it.”

Qin Shi lifted the pheasant and replied with a smile.

"Hey, good luck. I'll make some soup for my little one later."

Qin Yulin said cheerfully, and then quickened his pace.

The carrying pole swayed, and the children gasped in surprise.

Many people saw this on the way back, and everyone just smiled and shook their heads.

Scenes of children being chosen are common in peaceful times, so it's not unusual.

After arriving in the village, the children went home.

Qin Jin'an also quieted down.

They arrived home, and Zhao had already returned from tending the horses.

Qin Jin'an immediately went to talk to the horse and gave it some grapes to eat.

She likes to talk to small animals.

Qin was picking grapes from a basket, while Zhang was cooking.

She said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, come help me pick grapes. There are plenty, enough for you to eat for a while."

Zhao nodded, took a basin, and came over.

First, remove the inedible grapes, then remove the broken ones and separate them. This way, the whole grapes can be stored for a longer period of time.

Why are there so many?

This must weigh more than ten pounds! Zhao was surprised because she loved sour food, and Qin Yulin had searched for it several times without success.

Some didn't bear fruit, while others did, but the fruit was astringent.

The Qin family must have found this plant before, otherwise it wouldn't be so good and there wouldn't be so many of them yet to be picked.

"Little sister, you're lucky. I couldn't find it anywhere. Now you can eat your fill."

Qin Yulin carried two pheasants, preparing to kill them.

"Big brother caught a pheasant too?"

Now it was Qin's turn to be surprised.

Qin Yulin nodded. Ever since his sister and child came back, their family's luck had obviously improved.

They didn't ask anything of their child. Their improved luck seemed more like an influence from the child's aura. Their ordinary life became smoother, and they occasionally caught birds or found bird eggs.

He'd collected several nests of those spotted doves and sparrows.

"We're in for a treat."

Madam Qin smiled.

The family quickly finished tidying up, and Zhang called out from the kitchen, "Dinner's ready!"

Qin Jin'an, who was feeding the horses in the woodshed, immediately patted the horse's face, clapped his hands, and said, "Good horse, I hope you are happy every day. I'm going to eat now."

The horse rubbed its face against Qin Jin'an's clothes.

The horse ate some grapes, but because they were too sour, it refused to eat any more.

He put the white speck in his mouth and then spat it out, refusing to eat it.

It followed Qin Jin'an, walking unsteadily.

Upon arriving in the kitchen, Qin Jin'an first went to wash his hands.

The family sat down, and a bowl of fish soup was placed in front of Qin Jin'an: "Fish baby, eat."

Because of making fish-shaped noodles, some of the fish paste could be steamed and given to Qin Jin'an every day.

The pregnant Zhao family also had it.

"Thank you, Mother."

Zhao was deeply moved. Her mother-in-law was so kind to her, knowing that her appetite had changed, and always gave her spicy food.

"Thank you, Grandma. It smells so good. I'm so happy. I wish I could eat Grandma's fish paste soup forever."

Qin Jin'an smiled sweetly. She usually doesn't eat too spicy food at night, and no matter who cooks at home, they always remember this.

Being surrounded by happiness feels so warm.

Mrs. Zhang smiled kindly: "Eat more. When the chicken soup is ready, you can have a chicken leg. Grandma will try to live a few more years so that when Yu Bao wants to eat, Grandma will make it for you."

The child had a sweet tongue, and hearing her praise him like that made Zhang feel very happy.

She looked at Zhao and asked, "Can you eat it?"

Zhao has been experiencing some discomfort lately; she feels nauseous after eating many things.

She also observed that Zhao preferred spicy food, so when she made fish soup, she gave her a portion with extra chili peppers.

Zhao nodded: "Thank you, Mother. I can eat it; it's delicious."

"Let's eat."

Qin Tianhai spoke up, and the whole family picked up their chopsticks and started eating.

After finishing their meal, Qin Jin'an used the remaining fish paste and broth in the bowl to make some leftover rice porridge for Bai Diandian to eat.

Meanwhile, the Qin family began busily frying the dough fish.

Zhang started stewing the pheasant.

The kitchen was filled with delicious aromas. Qin Tianhai came to the yard to keep Qin Jin'an company, and later led her back to the house to practice calligraphy.