Actually, it was because Yan Zheng hadn't come for a long time that her enthusiasm had worn off, making her less inclined to go to the Yan family. Moreover, if she kept going to the Yan family, wouldn't they think she was trying to take advantage of their kindness?
She never meant it that way in the first place, and she certainly doesn't now. Moreover, everyone from the city to the county has praised her, which is the highest honor and recognition of her contributions.
Wenxi opened the courtyard gate and invited them to rest in the main room. She went back to her room first, put some candy and biscuits on a plate to serve Yan Lili, and then brought out cups to make tea for them.
"Xiaoxi, I have some things to take care of. My mom and Lili can rest here for a while, is that alright?" Yan Zheng hurriedly stopped Wenxi when he saw her about to make tea.
Wen Xi nodded, "Of course, Brother Yan, you can go and handle things with peace of mind!"
Although Yan Zheng doesn't drink tea, there are still Yan's mother and Yan Lili there, so Wen Xi can't not even pour them a cup of water. But thinking that an old lady and a young girl probably don't drink tea much, Wen Xi brought two bowls and made them some malted milk powder.
Wen Xi poured herself a glass of water, then sat down next to Yan Lili. She handed Yan Lili a piece of sponge cake and said with a smile, "Lili looks so beautiful today, your smile is so lovely."
The little girl loved beauty, and upon hearing her praise, a bright smile bloomed on her face.
While eating her chicken cake, Yan Lili complained, "Sister Xiaoxi, why haven't you come to see me for so long? I really miss Sister Xiaoxi. I'm so bored at home with no one to play with!"
Wen Xi reached out to wipe the crumbs from Yan Lili's mouth, somewhat incredulous. "Doesn't Lili have any friends at school or at home? Lili is so cute, surely many children would want to be her friend?"
"They're so annoying. They're nice to me when I have something to eat, but they ignore me when I don't..." Yan Lili pouted and snorted.
Wenxi immediately realized that the child, who was only a few years old, was already so snobbish.
She gently patted Yan Lili's head with a touch of tenderness and said with a smile, "Lili, you're still young. You'll make true friends in the future. But friends aren't something you can buy with money or food. Such friendships don't last. You need to take good care of your things and not let others trick you out of them with just a few words..."
Yan Lili nodded obediently, "Sister Xiaoxi, I understand."
"Autumn is the harvest season. There are lots of mushrooms and wild fruits on the mountain now. Lili, I'll take you up the mountain to pick mushrooms in a little while, so you can be a little mushroom-picking girl for a day. How about it?"
Thinking that it was still quite early, Wenxi decided to take Yan Lili mushroom picking. They would pick mushrooms on the outer edge of the mountain and not go any further in, so nothing would happen.
“Grandma…” Yan Lili looked at her mother.
Mother Yan nodded, "Go ahead, there's nowhere to play in the city, it'll be good for you to have some fun."
Even in the city, we don't dare let our children go out to play alone, for fear of human traffickers. Although the human traffickers here have been mostly caught, who knows if human traffickers from other places have come over?
That's how it is when you have young children at home; you're always on edge, afraid something might happen to them.
Seeing that her grandmother had agreed, Yan Lili stood up and cheered happily. It was clear how bored she was being confined at home. Wenxi wasn't like this when she was little. Wenxi was raised by her second brother. Whenever he had free time, he would take her out to play. There was a stream behind the family compound where everyone washed clothes. In the summer, her second brother would take her to catch fish, shrimp, and crabs, and he would even teach her to swim...
Wenxi's childhood was colorful and happy.
It was still early, and there was still some time before lunchtime. Wenxi could go up the mountain to pick a basket of mushrooms and then cook. She went to the kitchen under the pretext of getting the basket, and then brought out a few dishes from the system kitchen, saying that they were prepared before she left in the morning.
Yan's mother hadn't arrived here yet, so naturally she had no way to verify these things.
Wenxi first filled the wok halfway with water, placed a steamer on top, and then put the dishes she was serving on it. Today, Wenxi was serving braised dried chicken, stir-fried green beans with cured pork, and stir-fried pork liver with onions.
When we get back from picking mushrooms, we'll just make a mushroom soup and stir-fry some vegetables.
Wenxi had planned to take Yan Lili up the mountain to pick mushrooms alone, leaving Aunt Yan at home to rest. Aunt Yan probably thought that since Yan Lili was too young to take care of a child, she should come along too, so the three of them went up the mountain together.
There are so many mushrooms on the mountain this season. Even though people go up the mountain to pick mushrooms every day, mushrooms will still sprout up in the places they've been to the next day or the day after. So you don't usually need to go too far.
Wenxi ran far away because she wouldn't come down the mountain until evening.
"Lili, all the pretty mushrooms are poisonous. Don't touch them. Just pick the ones I just taught you. I'll make you mushroom soup for lunch," Wenxi warned worriedly, afraid that Yan Lili would be misled by the pretty mushrooms and pick the ones she wanted.
"Sister Xiaoxi, I know, I won't pick the wrong mushrooms, don't worry, Sister Xiaoxi!" Yan Lili said confidently, and then bent down to search for mushrooms among the dead branches and fallen leaves.
Some mushrooms are hidden among the dead branches and fallen leaves, and they haven't grown yet. You have to look very carefully to see them!
Wenxi looked at Yan's mother and said, "Aunt Yan, I dried a lot of mushrooms before. When you go home today, take some mushrooms with you to try."
Mother Yan nodded shyly, "Xiaoxi, thank you so much. Our family owes you so much."
Yan Lili and Yan Zheng were both saved by Wen Xi. If it weren't for Wen Xi, two people from the Yan family would have disappeared within a year. Who could bear that?
Therefore, Wenxi not only saved the two of them, but also the entire Yan family.
It was almost lunchtime, so Wenxi led Yan's mother and Yan Lili down the mountain. Yan Lili carried half a basket of mushrooms in one hand and held Wenxi's hand in the other. "Sister Xiaoxi, picking mushrooms is so much fun! I want to pick more mushrooms."
“Then when you have your next holiday, I’ll have your uncle or grandpa bring you over, and then your sister will take you mushroom picking. How about that? By then the water in the rice paddies will be dry, and we can go catch some small fish and shrimp in the rice paddies,” Wenxi said.
Yan Lili cheered happily, "I want to come, I want to come, Sister Xiaoxi, I want to come!"
“Then let’s go,” Wen Xi said firmly.
Seeing Yan Lili's happy expression, Yan's mother felt very gratified.
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