Chapter 51 He had too much on his mind.

The day after they got their marriage certificate, Ji Hefeng was going to visit his family at the farm before heading to the southwestern border to carry out a mission.

“Take some things for Mom and Dad,” Molly said.

Ji Hefeng thought that what Molly was talking about could be dealt with in a sack, but to his surprise, Molly brought out a sack of cornmeal right away.

"Xiao An and I grow and grind our own food so that our parents can eat as much as they want without having to save any."

After saying that, she brought out half a sack of dried wood ear mushrooms. "These wood ear mushrooms were picked from the mountains. They're very thick. They're good stir-fried or served cold."

Next came half a sack of sweet potatoes and half a sack of potatoes. "These can be eaten as a staple food. You can buy these on the black market, but the ones outside don't taste as good as the ones I grow."

Then came a full basket of eggs. "The eggs we have at home are meant to be eaten by my parents within a month, otherwise they'll spoil in the hot weather."

Ji Hefeng wanted to say that he would leave it for you and Mo An to eat, but when he turned his head, he saw that there was still half a basket next to him. The hens had been clucking this morning and had laid three eggs early in the morning. Two of the hens were also incubating chicks, so it was clear that Molly and the others had enough.

Ji Hefeng thought that was the end of it, but then Molly took a sack, went to the vegetable garden, and filled another sack with all kinds of melons.

“Mom and Auntie don’t have time to tend the vegetable garden. Take these melons with you so they can keep them and eat them slowly. I was thinking of bringing some greens too, but it’s hot, and I was worried they would get damaged on the way.”

Molly was a little troubled. After thinking for a moment, she dug up some ginger and picked some chili peppers, putting them all into a sack. "I'll take this much for now. I'll tell Mom and Dad that when the weather gets a little colder, I'll slaughter a pig and bring it to them to try."

Ji Hefeng remained silent. She called her father and mother so naturally, and judging from her attentive manner, she was no better than a biological parent.

Ji Hefeng was somewhat saddened. In Molly's heart, his status was probably not as high as that of his parents and grandparents.

Ji Hefeng carried a load on a shoulder pole, with a sack on his back and his own handbag hanging on his chest.

"Are you sure you don't need me to take you to town?" Molly asked again to confirm.

Ji Hefeng shook his head. "No need. I'm leaving."

Molly hummed in agreement and watched Ji Hefeng walk away.

"Sister, don't you like your brother-in-law?" Mo An asked.

“There’s no reason I don’t like him.” Ji Hefeng took her in when she was kicked out of the Zhao family, gave her a place to stay, sent her money, and mailed her all sorts of tickets. He was different to her.

Ji Hefeng is a good person.

Ji Hefeng said from the beginning that he could give her the status of a wife, but that was all.

Throughout the past year, she indeed hadn't considered romantic relationships.

“But there’s something strange about you and your brother-in-law, unlike your older sister and brother-in-law.” Mo An couldn’t quite put his finger on what was different, but he had a feeling that a married couple shouldn’t be like this.

“Your brother-in-law has something more important in his heart.” She could feel that Ji Hefeng was carrying a lot on his shoulders. He couldn’t break free. Every time they parted, it seemed that Ji Hefeng was saying goodbye to her, as if this parting was a farewell to death.

"Is it more important than my sister?" Mo An couldn't understand what could be more important than family.

“Of course she’s more important than my sister. You’ll understand when you grow up.” Molly ruffled Mo An’s hair. “It’s fine as it is now, isn’t it?”

Mo An nodded firmly, "Yes."

After coming to Xiaonan Village, his life got better and better, all thanks to his sister.

"In my heart, my sister is the most important person." Mo An said, her ears turning red with embarrassment.

Molly was taken aback, then reached out and hugged Mo An, saying in a serious tone, "You can't say that in front of your older sister."

Mo An: "......."

That's not what he meant; he meant that both of his older sisters were the most important.

When Xu Xia'an received Ji Hefeng, she was taken aback for a moment, then smiled, "You came from your sister-in-law's place, right?"

"How do you know?" Ji Hefeng asked, puzzled.

“My sister-in-law always brings lots of bags and packages when she comes over. Every time she arrives, the things come in a car, and there’s always a huge pile of stuff.” Xu Xia’an sniffed through the bags, a little regretful. “It’s a pity there’s no meat this time.”

"The weather is hot, so the meat will spoil, but there are eggs," Ji Hefeng explained.

“That’s true. Eggs are good, they’re good for your health.” Xu Xia’an took the carrying pole from Ji Hefeng, the weight of which made him grimace. “This must weigh about two hundred pounds, right?”

"Hmm. It adds up to about three hundred jin (150 kg)." That's a large amount, enough to feed his family for a while. Ji Hefeng frowned. Doesn't this mean Molly is supporting his family?

Does she often send things here?

"We deliver it about once every three months. Each time, the quantity is quite large; it should be enough for Uncle Ji and the others to eat for a month or two without any problem. And you know what? Ever since Molly visited Grandpa Ji last year, their health has been getting better and better. They've gained weight, their complexions have become rosier, and Grandpa and Grandma Ji are getting sick less often." Xu Xia'an sighed. Before, with Ji Hefeng's money and ration coupons, he could only buy a limited amount for the Ji family each month, sending a few to a dozen kilograms of grain. Unlike Molly, who sent grain and meat, hundreds of kilograms at a time, managing to keep the people sent down to the farm looking healthy and rosy-cheeked.

"How did you meet your sister-in-law?" Xu Xia'an was genuinely curious.

Ji Hefeng thought about it seriously, "It's fate."

She saw him at the town hospital, but he didn't see her. They met again on the way back from the hospital, and in the mountains, she treated them to snake pieces. Later, thinking they would never meet again, she and her sister came to Xiaonan Village. She found him when she was kicked out of the Zhao family.

If it weren't for fate, how could we have met so many times?

"My sister-in-law is so generous, even I, a man, can't compare," Xu Xia'an sighed. Molly might not be that rich, but if she had ten, she would be willing to give five, or even six or seven, to the Ji family. She was always nonchalant, as if material things weren't that important to her, with a kind of magnanimity that money could be returned even if it was spent.

The season and the wind are silent.

The farm is also busy with the double harvest season, and elderly people like Grandpa Ji and Grandma Ji also have to go to the fields.

As soon as it got dark, Ji Hefeng and Xu Xia'an quietly sneaked into the farm, where only Grandpa Ji and Grandma Ji were inside. The two elderly people burst into tears when they saw their grandson.

Xu Xia'an didn't want to disturb their reunion, so she said goodbye and left.

Grandma Ji held Ji Hefeng's hand, touched his face, and smiled, "You've become even more handsome."

"Grandma, are you tired?" Ji Hefeng knew that his family members had a tough time on the farm, but seeing it with his own eyes still made him feel sad.

"Grandma won't." Grandma Ji pinched her waist. "I've been eating a lot lately, and my waist has gotten fat."

If she doesn't eat more, she won't have the strength to work and might collapse in the field. Her family hasn't been reunited yet, and her grandson and granddaughter-in-law haven't had a grandchild yet; she can't bear to die.

Grandpa Ji was boiling water nearby. "How long can you stay this time?"

"We're leaving first thing tomorrow morning." Ji Hefeng stood up. "Molly asked me to bring some eggs, some melons, and half a bag of dried wood ear mushrooms. We'll eat these tonight."

Ji Hefeng noticed that there were only a few wilted bok choy plants next to the stove, which looked malnourished and had lost their moisture.

"This child always prepares so much food; the last batch of braised pork is still unfinished," Grandma Ji said with a smile, her face full of affection.

Ji Hefeng: "She said that when the weather gets colder, she will slaughter a pig and let you taste her big fat pig."

Grandma Ji smiled and said, "Then we'll wait."

Ji Hefeng soaked two handfuls of wood ear mushrooms, then took out pumpkin, loofah, and water melon from the bag. After thinking for a moment, he picked out two long loofahs and said, "Let's make a loofah and egg soup."

"These loofahs are growing so well, they're as long and thick as my arm," Grandma Ji exclaimed, then asked, "Molly also asked you to bring eggs? Why didn't she keep any for herself?"

“She raises several hens, and there are eggs to collect every day.” Ji Hefeng held the eggs up to Grandma Ji. “Look at these eggs, they’re about twice the size of other people’s.”

Grandma Ji grabbed one and put it in her hand. "Oh my, it really is. She said she could grow things and raise animals, and it turns out it was all true."

“It’s true, she’s amazing.” Ji Hefeng’s expression softened. He brought over a large pumpkin, cut off some pieces, and said, “Let’s steam another pumpkin. This pumpkin is sweeter than sugar.”

Dinner consisted of stir-fried pork with wood ear mushrooms and cabbage, steamed pumpkin, and loofah and egg soup. The main dish was cornmeal pancakes.

When Ji Liangyou and his wife, along with his aunt and daughter, returned, the food had just been served.

"Dad, Uncle Wu has fainted," Ji Liangyou said before even entering the door. "I need to bring them some more braised pork and lard. Without oil in their food, they're feeling dizzy and lightheaded—"

"Son, you're back!"

Ji Liangyou was overjoyed.

Ji Hefeng got up, hugged Ji Liangyou, and then hugged Ji Liangyou's mother who was behind him.

"No, I'm covered in sweat." Mrs. Ji pushed him, but couldn't budge him.

"You've worked hard," Ji Hefeng said in a hoarse voice.

"It's not hard, you'll get through it." Mrs. Ji patted her son. "I'm going to wash my hands first."

Ji Hefeng let go of his mother. His father was already scooping meat and lard from the jar. Ji Hefeng picked up a pumpkin weighing more than 20 pounds and said, "I'll go with you."

The father and son quietly went out, walked past the cowshed, and entered the dimly lit thatched hut of the Wu family.

Uncle Wu lay in bed, awake but weak. His grandson, Xiao Liang, was beside him, his eyes red and his face still wet with tears.

Uncle Wu's son went to fetch water, and his daughter-in-law was cooking dinner, which was a pot of mixed grain and vegetable porridge.

"Uncle Wu."

Ji Liangyou placed the jar of meat on the stove, then came to the bedside and called out again, "Uncle Wu?"

Uncle Wu opened his eyes, "My dear friend~"

It took the old man a lot of effort to write just three words.

Ji Liangyou nodded. "It's me. Behind me is my son; he's come to see us."

Ji Hefeng put the pumpkin down and bowed to Uncle Wu with the courtesy due to a junior, saying, "Grandpa Wu."

Ji Liangyou and Ji Hefeng delivered the items and went home; their families were waiting for them to eat.

When Uncle Wu's son returned with water, he found a plate of meat on the stove and a large pumpkin next to it. His wife, with red eyes, was cutting the meat.

"The Ji family has arrived?" Uncle Wu's son asked.

"Yes, they're here." The wife put the meat into the mixed grain and vegetable porridge, then cut off some pumpkin and threw it into the porridge as well. She wiped away her tears. "With these things sent by the Ji family, our family should be able to get through this period."

The meat smelled delicious, and the pumpkin smelled delicious too. Xiao Liang squatted by the fire, his big eyes shining as he stared at the pot, and asked softly, "Mom, can we eat now?"

"Mom, check if it's cooked." Pumpkins cook quickly, and you can eat them even if they're raw. Uncle Wu's wife poked at the pumpkin slice with her chopsticks, and the chopsticks went in.

"It's ready to eat. Let me put some pumpkin on your plate and Grandpa's plate first," she said.

Two bowls of pumpkin were prepared; one was given to Xiao Liang, and the other was taken to Uncle Wu's bedside so that Uncle Wu's son could feed him.

"Mom, this melon is so sweet, as sweet as sugar!" Xiao Liang exclaimed as he put the pumpkin into his mouth.

Uncle Wu's wife felt both sorry for him and amused. Her son must not have eaten sweets in a long time and had forgotten the taste of sweets. How could pumpkin be sweeter than sugar?

"Mom, it's really sweet, you should try some." Xiao Liang picked up a piece of pumpkin and brought it to his mother's lips, imitating her usual manner, and said, "Ah—"

A piece of pumpkin was stuffed into Uncle Wu's wife's mouth.

"Mmm, it's really sweet, as sweet as sugar."

At this moment, Uncle Wu also spoke up, "This pumpkin is fragrant and sweet; it's the best pumpkin I've ever eaten."