These apples and pears are all plump and round, and they don't look like wild fruits growing on the mountain at all.
They were even bigger and fresher than the ones they saw being sold on the streets of Kyoto!
While she was overjoyed, she couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"Fourth brother, is it safe to eat this fruit?"
"Let's get it back first."
Li Laosi was also feeling uneasy. There were no fruit trees or jujube trees nearby, but as soon as he turned around, these things appeared at his feet.
Seeing her parents' cautious and uneasy expressions, Jiayin was afraid they would abandon the precious things she had worked so hard to move, so she quickly opened her mouth and started babbling.
Tao Hongying went forward to breastfeed her daughter, noticing that her daughter kept looking at the pile of fruit.
Remembering what my mother-in-law often said, I had to believe it even if I didn't want to.
"Fourth brother, let's take everything back. Maybe our Fu Niu wants to eat it; we're just lucky to have her."
Even if his wife didn't say anything, Li Laosi couldn't bear to part with her.
He quickly started packing the apples into bags, and while he was at it, he took a bite of an apple. It was so sweet that he immediately put it to his wife's lips.
The couple shared an apple affectionately, and Jiayin also ate her fill of breast milk and dog food.
The family of three hurried home, thankfully Li Laosi was strong.
Otherwise, two bags of fruit, a bag of dates, plus so many chestnuts and pine cones, would be impossible to bring back...
When they finally got home, everyone was overjoyed to see all these things.
Even Wu Cuihua became much more diligent, bustling around helping to move things, and sneaking snacks along the way...
Jiayin lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), listening to everyone's excited chatter, and she danced with joy.
But thinking about the many potatoes and corn still in the space, I felt a little frustrated.
Those are the truly filling foods, but unfortunately, these two high-yield crops haven't appeared in the world yet.
To be on the safe side, we shouldn't release it for the next few years...
On this day, Grandma Li was walking around the warehouse with her granddaughter in her arms.
I saw plenty of sweet potatoes and various mountain products, as well as pheasants and rabbits hanging from the roof beams.
With confidence to get through the winter, she became more and more energetic.
Back inside, the old lady took a couple of puffs on her pipe and then gave her son some instructions.
"Fourth brother, don't go up the mountain these next few days."
"Huh?" Li Laosi didn't understand why his mother suddenly blurted out such a question.
Grandma Li teased her granddaughter who was playing with her fingers for a bit, and said softly.
"We were able to find so much food, all thanks to God's blessing on our lucky girl. But we should be content and not be greedy."
Li Laosi nodded quickly, "Mother, I'll listen to you. I'll go to the river to fetch water in a bit, and see if I can catch a couple of crucian carp to make soup for Hongying."
Before Old Lady Li could respond, Jiayin immediately reached out to ask Old Man Li for a hug.
Grandma Li smiled helplessly and took her granddaughter's little hand back.
"Okay, Grandma knows Fu Niu'er wants to go too. But your dad has to work, so your brother Xi Jia'an will carry you there in a bit."
Jiayin spit out a satisfied bubble; the small courtyard housed five ducks and five geese.
They don't lay eggs as frequently as hens, but little by little, they've accumulated about a hundred eggs in nearly two months.
We have to find a way to get it out, even if it's just to pickle it into salted eggs.
Just thinking about the oily egg yolk makes Jiayin's mouth water.
Unfortunately, she forgot that even if it were pickled into salted eggs, her baby, who was less than 100 days old, couldn't eat it.
The village of Qingshui got its name from a large river outside the village. After walking three or four miles, you would find large patches of reeds along the riverbank.
People from nearby villages are willing to cut some reeds to repair their roofs or weave reed mats to make beds.
Jiayin was still lying in the basket, being carried on Li Laosi's back.
As for Jiaxi and Jia'an, they've already gone fishing.
The river was clear, wide and deep; even standing not far from the riverbank, the water was above Li Laosi's knees.
Li Laosi placed a full bucket of water on the bank and then took another bucket to continue scooping water.
Then Jiaxi exclaimed in surprise, "Fourth Uncle! You caught another big fish? Several of them!"
Li Laosi looked back in confusion and saw that Jiaxi had already lifted a big fish out of the wooden bucket, getting himself and his face covered in water.
He quickly turned back and saw four large carp trapped in the wooden tub, splashing and struggling to jump out.
He was utterly stunned, but quickly recovered and mumbled a response.
When they went back to pick up the other bucket, they heard a noise coming from it as well.
This time it was two crucian carp and one grass carp, each weighing four or five pounds!
That's strange!
Li Laosi's heart pounded wildly. Remembering that the same thing had happened before, he dared not make a sound.
Then look at the little girl in the basket, sucking her finger, her eyes full of smiles.
He couldn't hold back any longer, picked up his daughter, and kissed her twice on her little face.
"Daddy's little lucky girl is so amazing!"
Jiayin's face was itchy from her father's stubble, and she shook her little head, laughing and trying to dodge.
"Hey!" She pointed to the reeds not far away and reached out her little hand to scratch them.
Upon seeing this, Li Laosi quickly sent his nephews away and carefully crept over.
Sure enough, after parting the reeds, a large nest of wild duck eggs was revealed.
There were about twenty of them, just casually placed at his feet.
He quickly searched the surrounding area again and soon found the second nest.
There are at least sixty duck eggs in both piles.
He tried to pick it up with trembling hands, but his daughter kept nagging, so he thought for a moment and searched around again.
This time, he actually got more than twenty large goose eggs!
If duck eggs could be from wild ducks, how do you explain goose eggs? Nobody in the village raises geese…
He couldn't figure it out, so he simply stopped caring.
They took their daughter out of the basket and put the duck and goose eggs inside.
"Jiaren, come here, run an errand for me on my way home!"
Jiaren's trousers were half wet. He gave his younger brothers a few instructions and then came to help.
He was so surprised to see the basket full of duck and goose eggs that his eyes widened.
But he was clever; he grabbed a few handfuls of reeds, covered the basket tightly, and went straight home.
Old Mrs. Li was taking Zhao Yuru to wash the whole family's clothes when she saw these eggs. She was so happy that she threw away the cotton.
She called Tao Hongying out repeatedly, and they washed and packed the jars, starting the pickling process directly.
In winter, this is a great accompaniment to porridge!
Especially goose eggs; one egg is enough for the whole family to share.
Li Laosi then brought Jiayin back, carrying two buckets of fish, and walked out with the swagger of a victorious return.
Fortunately, the villagers were busy with the autumn harvest; otherwise, seeing him like this, they would have all rushed to the river to catch fish.
Grandma Li hugged and kissed her granddaughter repeatedly. Finally, she personally pickled the fish and dried it for easy storage.
Of course, one fresh fish should be left, and in the evening, add a cabbage and a piece of tofu, and that's enough to make the whole family eat their fill.
The last to return were Jiaxi and Jia'an, who only caught a dozen or so small crucian carp and loaches, and were somewhat disappointed.
He ran over to check on the big fish in the bucket, and when he turned back, the small fish and loaches were gone too.
Of course, the "thief" is good news.
The fish in the pond in the courtyard can't just keep leaving without taking in any more; otherwise, they'll all be eaten up, and then there'll be no hope left.
Jiaxi and Jia'an searched for a long time, but eventually forgot about it.
Because the fish were so small, they weren't even enough to feed the chickens, so they were focused on making a big fish to stew that evening...
The whole family was busy, and Jiayin, listening to the commotion, gradually fell asleep.
That day, she went to great lengths to retrieve things, and she was exhausted; the burden was far beyond what a small baby could bear…?
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