Chapter 25 While others drink porridge, her family has hot pot.
A widow in her forties was called "sister" by a teenage girl, and with a jade pendant presented to her, the woman immediately accepted it with a beaming smile.
"Don't be so polite. If you need anything, don't hesitate to tell me." The woman smiled broadly, clearly very happy.
Looking at the woman's exposed gums, Jiang Yutang rubbed his hands excitedly and slowly said, "Could you lend us a few blankets?"
The woman hesitated for a moment, then showed an understanding look on her face: "Well, after all, the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled are all in your house. I understand, no problem."
"...Thank you for understanding." Jiang Yutang twitched the corner of her mouth; this person really didn't hold back with his words.
"Furthermore, we've been traveling for so long and would like to have a proper meal. Could you please provide us with some vegetables and rice?"
"Okay, no problem," the woman readily agreed. "What's the last item?"
Jiang Yutang chuckled and whispered a few words in the man's ear.
"Hey, this is nothing, leave it to me."
After successfully bribing her, Jiang Yutang hummed a little tune as she walked into the woodshed and happily squatted down next to Yun Shi.
"Mom, let's have a big meal tonight."
Yun looked at her in surprise, then quickly glanced back and asked in a low voice, "Did you give them a bribe?"
"Of course, otherwise they wouldn't have helped us for no reason." Jiang Yutang gently nudged Yun Shi with her shoulder when she saw the worried look on her face.
"Mother, don't worry about the travel expenses. I know what I'm doing, so please feel free to leave it to me." She was willing to pay out of her own pocket to bring supplies to the Jiang family.
After saying that, he got up, rolled up his sleeves, and said to everyone, "I'm going to prepare dinner for you."
She imitated her brothers, bringing stones and firewood and piling them in the yard. After surrounding them, she placed the pot she had brought on top of it and went to the well to fetch water.
Seeing her pacing back and forth in the courtyard, Jiang Sumin frowned and asked, "What is she doing?"
Jiang Huaiyu curiously peeked out and saw her carrying water with her thin arms shaking. She went over and helped her carry the bucket.
"Tsk, if you can't lift it, you won't even call for help. Your hands will get blistered and your mother will be heartbroken."
"Hehe." Jiang Yutang flattered with a smile, "Third Brother is the best, unlike Fourth Brother who just watches."
Jiang Sumin, whose forehead veins bulged from the implication, rolled up his sleeves in displeasure and walked over with a stern face.
Seeing this, Jiang Yutang quickly took out the stainless steel bowl and chopsticks she had brought, put them in the wooden basin, and handed them to him.
"Could you please wash the dishes for me, my diligent fourth brother?"
Jiang Sumin, whose foot was still not fully healed, lifted the basin, gave a cold snort, and said, "You have to bother me with such a small thing." Then he walked away slowly like Donald Duck.
Jiang Huaiyu saw her put something that looked like a spinning top into the pot, and soon a layer of oil floated to the surface, accompanied by an aroma that pierced the nose and stole the soul.
In the blink of an eye, the whole courtyard was filled with the aroma of hot pot.
"What is this? It tastes even better than the noodles from that day," Jiang Songzhi asked curiously.
"This is hot pot, and its soul is this red oil broth. It's a pity that we have limited dishes. If we had beef rolls and tripe, even a monk would have to take a couple of bites."
As Jiang Yutang was making his introduction, the woman of the house returned carrying a basket of vegetables.
"Hey, is this what you're going to eat today? It smells so good that it's attracted all three of my kids."
Jiang Yutang followed the woman's gaze and saw three round heads peeking out from the doorway. Three pairs of dark, curious eyes were scrutinizing them as they timidly hid behind the door.
The woman handed her the basket, patted the dirt off her hands, and said, "See if this is enough for your family. If not, I'll go make some more noodles."
Looking at the full basket of vegetables, there were cabbage, radish, okra, cowpea, spinach, and some unidentified wild vegetables.
Jiang Yutang glanced at it briefly, then readily said, "That's enough. Just prepare some more rice for us."
"become."
The woman turned and went to the kitchen to carry out the cooked rice. Several children surrounded her, the youngest of whom hugged her leg and looked at the steamer with a pained expression.
Jiang Yutang was somewhat moved by those eyes and couldn't help but ask, "Sister, what are you having for dinner tonight?"
The woman straightened up and casually tucked her hair behind her ear: "Eat whatever you like, don't worry about us, just enjoy your food and drinks."
Jiang Yutang couldn't bear it and looked at the children again. She opened her mouth but then closed it again. She then led her older brothers to the well to wash vegetables.
Her brothers were dumbfounded when they saw her washing and picking vegetables so easily.
Jiang Sumin narrowed his eyes and looked at her suspiciously: "How do you know these things? You used to be unwilling to make peach shortbread, complaining about the smell of smoke in the kitchen. How come you are so skilled at cleaning up today?"
Jiang Yutang paused in his water-shaking motion, and just as he was about to lie, he saw Jiang Yuhuai jump up beside him.
"Could it be that they forced you to do it after you went to the Cheng family?"
“Huaiyu, don’t talk nonsense.” Jiang Songzhi reprimanded her sternly, “Because there may be eavesdroppers, we must hear the truth from our little sister herself, and not speculate too much.”
Jiang Sumin slowly pinched the vegetables in his hand, tilting his head slightly: "I also think the Cheng family doesn't seem like the kind of people who would do such a thing."
“The General’s Mansion would not do something that would damage its reputation, especially since she is such a loudmouth; they certainly wouldn’t dare.”
What a prejudice! Jiang Yutang hesitated, glancing at her third and fourth brothers. One was extremely protective of his own and thought the Cheng family was the worst, while the other had a sharp tongue and would mock her whenever he had the chance.
No, she has to make things clear today, otherwise misunderstandings will arise and she won't be able to clear them up.
"Third Brother, actually the Cheng family didn't mistreat me." She paused and continued, "If anyone is to blame, it's my own willfulness and recklessness in disregarding Cheng Lanzhou's wishes, which is why he dislikes me. I admit my mistake."
The scene was completely silent. The four people watched her quietly, with a mixture of surprise and relief.
Jiang Songzhi smiled and sighed softly, reaching out to rub Jiang Yutang's head: "Little sister has really grown up."
A large, slightly cool hand gently touched the top of Jiang Yutang's head, and an indescribable feeling welled up in her heart. The hand that was picking vegetables suddenly trembled uncontrollably.
That's the original owner's reaction.
This feeling was similar to when she learned that her grandfather had collapsed and been hospitalized, and she regretted not discovering his condition sooner.
Self-blame, regret, helplessness, and endless sorrow.
As she thought this, her vision gradually blurred until one or two water droplets fell onto the vegetable sprouts, at which point she frantically wiped her eyes.
"Little sister! Why are you crying?" Jiang Huaiyu was extremely surprised.
"Brother Yuan, you insisted on touching her head with your dirty hands. You know how much she cares about her appearance."
Faced with Jiang Sumin's accusation, Jiang Songzhi wiped his hands with the hem of his clothes in shame and sincerely apologized to Jiang Yutang: "I'm sorry, Tang'er, it was my fault. Please don't be angry."
Jiang Jiuze got up expressionlessly and went to the woodshed. After a while, he took out a handkerchief and gently wiped her hair.
Seeing her brothers looking helpless, Jiang Yutang couldn't help but burst into tears of joy.
"Pfft, you guys are so annoying..."
Couldn't she just pretend she didn't see it? It makes her seem so pretentious.
Just as the group was arguing back and forth by the well, a hurried voice rang out, and everyone turned to look. They saw that the person was a villager from the same village.
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