Some children were eyeing what they were eating, so Xiao Chunlei scooped out a small piece for each of the children playing with bubble solution.

The children weren't satisfied with just a small piece of hawthorn cake the size of their fingertips; the sweet and sour taste only whetted their appetites, and they started clamoring for more hawthorn cake.

Xiao Chunlei refused to give any more. There was a lot of rock sugar here, and Grandma said it was too precious to share it all with others.

The villagers surrounded Mu Lianrong again, asking how she made the hawthorn cake. She repeated, "My daughter made it. Ask my daughter."

Xiao Yunying directly explained how to make hawthorn cake. It was simple and not difficult, except that she referred to rock sugar as maltose.

The taste... shouldn't be too different, right?

The premise is that they are willing to use so much maltose to make hawthorn cake.

She specifically said that enough maltose must be added, otherwise the sweetness wouldn't be noticeable. Sure enough, most people looked reluctant to part with it.

After all the bubble solution was used up, Xiao Chunlei ran up to Xiao Yunying with the copper coins tucked into the hem of his clothes: "Auntie, look how many copper coins I've earned!"

"That's amazing."

"Auntie, quickly grab something to put it in."

"For me?"

"Yes, the bubble solution originally belonged to my aunt."

Xiao Yunying rubbed his head: "The bubble water is what your aunt gave you to play with. You were clever to think of using it to earn copper coins. Your aunt doesn't want the copper coins. You can share them with your younger brother and sister. Save them so you can buy whatever you want in the future. Consider it your aunt's allowance."

"Thank you, Auntie."

Xiao Yunbo leaned closer: "Little sister, how much bubble solution do you have left? How about we make some and sell them in the city?"

Xiao Yunying said, "There are still some left, but I don't want to sell them. I want to keep them for the children to play with."

It's fine for her to play with the bubble solution in the village, but if she takes it to the city, it might catch someone's eye and cause her trouble.

Mu Lianrong pushed Xiao Yunbai away: "Go chop firewood in the backyard, stop thinking about your little sister's things."

"I was just thinking of my little sister. The money from the sale goes to her anyway, I didn't want it myself."

Mu Lianrong raised her hand: "No need, your little sister has money to spend now."

Xiao Yunbo dodged his mother's slap and went to the backyard to chop firewood.

——————? ??? ?

Before you knew it, more than half a month had passed. During this time, Mu Lianrong only allowed Xiao Yunying to cook, and didn't let her do any other chores.

Now she spends her days idly, wandering around like a good-for-nothing loafer in the village.

Construction on the house has already begun, and its general shape can be seen. Xiao Yunying asked Old Man Zhang to buy some meat for her every day when he went to the city, so that the craftsmen building the house could eat it, and also so that her own family could eat it.

Mu Lianrong was heartbroken. So many families couldn't afford meat, yet her daughter generously bought meat for others and ate it every day.

Xiao Yunying advised her mother that if she ate well, she would work harder for her and pay more attention to her work, and wouldn't try to fool her.

There were things she didn't say: for her, a meal of meat a day wouldn't cost much, so there was no need to be stingy.

Mu Lianrong was persuaded and, despite her heartache, cooked for the craftsmen.

After breakfast that morning, Xiao Yunying took a stroll around the house and came back with nothing to do.

She slung her basket over her shoulder and said, “Mom, I’m going to West Mountain. I’ll be back around noon. If I’m late, have my sister-in-law cook. You don’t need to wait for me for dinner.”

Mu Lianrong didn't want her to go: "What are you going to do in Xishan?"

Xiao Yunying deliberately said, "I want to go check if there are any snow fungus left before it snows."

Mu Lianrong was about to refuse when she was silenced: "Can you do it yourself?"

"No problem, I've been there several times, I know the way very well."

"Don't nitpick with me. Go on, but be careful. If you get injured again, you won't be able to leave the courtyard, let alone go up the mountain."

"Okay."

The children swarmed around her: "Auntie, can I go with you?"

Xiao Yunying said, "No, Auntie is going deep into the mountains. You are too young to walk that far."

"Okay, then we'll go with Auntie when we're older."

Luo Xin kissed Xiao Yunying's cheek: "Mother, come back soon, Xin'er is waiting for you."

"Mom knows, little darling. Be good at home and listen to Grandma."

Xiao Yunying calmed the children down and went up West Mountain herself.

In just over half a month, many of the flowers, plants, and trees on West Mountain had withered and turned yellow. Xiao Yunying picked up a branch and said, "It's late autumn now. It won't be long before it snows. Oh dear, I forgot about the quilt and cotton-padded clothes that I made at Sister Cheng Yue's place. She must be worried since I haven't been there for so long."

Xiao Yunying patted her head. Her memory had deteriorated from staying at home. Maybe she should go to the city tomorrow.

On the way up the mountain, I saw that many wild grasses had been trampled down, and I wondered to myself if there were any wild animals.

Just as she was wondering what was going on, two women came out from the side and saw Xiao Yunying looking embarrassed.

The younger one spoke first: "Yun Ying went into the mountains to pick snow fungus."

The older one nudged her and winked at her.

The young woman realized she had misspoke and gave an embarrassed smile.

If Xiao Yunying still doesn't understand, she must have been driven mad by the heat.

"I'm just browsing, you guys go about your business."

After saying that, they continued walking deeper into the mountains.

Hearing the sparse footsteps behind her, Xiao Yunying didn't care. Let them follow if they want; after all, she was here to pick chestnuts.

I wonder how those chestnut trees are doing, and whether the chestnuts are still edible.