Yun Tangyin peeled a peanut and popped it into her mouth, the crisp aroma mixed with the earthy scent: "Uncle, you're too kind. You take a rest, I can handle this myself. Can Second Brother manage the vegetable cellar all by himself?"
"I finished a long time ago. Second brother is helping second sister-in-law chop firewood." Fu Yucheng took the work from her hands. "Look at your forehead, it's covered in sweat. Go sit under the shade of a tree."
"No way." Yun Tangyin moved closer to him. "I'll work with you. Let's finish quickly so we can deliver kimchi to the educated youth this afternoon. By the way, I heard from my second sister-in-law that my eldest sister-in-law is here too? What's she doing outside?"
"Yes, I'm helping Mom sew shoe soles." Fu Yucheng rakes the dried radish.
Yun Tangyin's eyes lit up: "That's perfect, I'll teach her later. My sister-in-law is skillful, she'll learn it in no time."
Just then, Yu Xia came out of the house carrying a bamboo basket: "Yinyin, Mom wants you to come in and take a look at these patterns. She said she wants to know if you can make them like this."
"You're here." Yun Tangyin patted the dust off her hands. "Acheng, finish flipping through the rest."
Fu Yucheng smiled and nodded: "Don't worry, I guarantee you'll get a good, even tan."
Yun Tangyin entered the room and saw Song Yushuang and Yu Xia discussing the soles of the shoes. She quickly went over and said, "Mom, sister-in-law, let me take a look."
“Look at this double lotus pattern. I’m thinking of making a new pair of shoes for your older brother.” Song Yushuang pointed to the stitches on the sole of the shoe.
"Mom's skills are quite good." Yun Tangyin picked up the shoe sole and examined it. "If you don't mind, sister-in-law, I can teach you how to use a stencil to fix it. It will be quick and neat."
Yu Xia beamed with joy: "That's wonderful! I always prick my hands when I'm sewing shoe soles. Yinyin, you've been a great help."
"We're all family, no need to be so polite." Yun Tangyin pulled out a bamboo sling from the bottom of the box. "Look, if you stretch the cloth taut before sewing, the stitches won't be as crooked."
As the three were talking, Fu Yucheng lifted the curtain and came in: "Wife, the dried radishes are all dried. When are we going to deliver the kimchi?"
"Let's go now." Yun Tangyin handed the blanket to Yu Xia. "Sister-in-law, you think about it first. I'll be right back."
“I’ll go with you.” Fu Yucheng picked up the two jars. “The educated youth settlement is at the foot of the mountain, and the road is difficult to walk on. I’ll help you carry them.”
As soon as the two stepped out of the hospital gate, they saw Xu Runli standing under the locust tree with a basket on her shoulder. Upon seeing them, she quickly came up to them and asked, "Brother Yucheng, where are you going?"
Yun Tangyin didn't stop walking.
Xu Runli glanced at the jar: "It's pickled vegetables, isn't it? Just by looking at this jar, I know the pickled vegetables must be delicious. Sister, you're really capable. Unlike me, I can't even pickle vegetables properly. I'm like a pampered young lady who never lifts a finger."
She moved closer to Fu Yucheng. "Brother Yucheng, Jiang Zhicheng brought some brown sugar from town the other day. Shall I take some to your mother?"
"No need, I have brown sugar at home." Fu Yucheng stepped aside. "My mom doesn't like it, you can keep it for yourself."
Xu Runli's face stiffened for a moment, then she smiled and said, "Then I'll bring you two eggs? They're freshly laid."
“Really, there’s no need.” Yun Tangyin took Fu Yucheng’s arm. “If Comrade Xu has nothing else, we’ll be going now. The educated youth are still waiting.”
Watching the two figures walk away side by side, Xu Runli stomped her foot angrily, scattering the wild vegetables from her basket all over the ground.
As soon as Yun Tangyin and Fu Yucheng arrived at the educated youth settlement, they saw several young people reading in the courtyard. Upon seeing them come in, they quickly came up to them: "Brother Fu, what brings you here?"
"I brought you some kimchi, it'll go well with rice." Yun Tangyin placed the jar on the table. "It's freshly pickled, so it'll have to wait a couple of days before you can eat it. Remember to seal it tightly."
"Thank you so much, Sister Yun!" A boy wearing glasses rubbed his hands together. "I've almost finished the dried radish, and I was just wondering what to eat with my rice."
Fu Yucheng glanced into the yard: "Your roof is leaking a bit. What do you do when it rains?"
"Just cover it with a plastic sheet, it'll do." Another girl sighed, "I want to fix it but I don't know how."
Yun Tangyin thought for a moment and said, "When you have time tomorrow, I'll have Acheng and my second brother come and help you fix it. They can also fix the chimney, it looks a bit blocked."
"Really? Thank you so much!" The educated youth were overjoyed. "We still have some flour here. Sister Yun, take it and steam some buns for Aunt Shuang."
"No need, no need." Yun Tangyin quickly waved her hand, "It's nothing, you can keep it for yourselves."
Fu Yucheng sealed the jar tightly: "We're leaving now. We'll come to fix the roof first thing tomorrow morning."
On the way back, Yun Tangyin couldn't help but laugh: "Look at those educated youth, they're so happy."
“They live far from home, it’s not easy for them.” Fu Yucheng held her hand. “After the roof is repaired, we’ll send them some dried sweet potatoes. The bag that Uncle gave us will last them a while.”
"Hmm." Yun Tangyin nodded. "By the way, Xu Runli's look just now..."
"Ignore her." Fu Yucheng squeezed her hand. "If she dares to cause trouble again, I'll go talk to her man directly."
When I got home, Jiang Jianhua was frying sweet potato balls in the yard. The golden balls were rolling in the oil, and the aroma wafted far and wide.
"You're back? Come and try this freshly cooked dish." Jiang Jianhua picked one up with his chopsticks and handed it to him.
Yun Tangyin blew on the hot food, took a bite, and said, "It smells so good! Second sister-in-law's cooking skills are getting better and better."
Fu Yuanshan squatted down beside the fire and said in a low voice, "She's been practicing all morning."
Jiang Jianhua blushed and slapped him, saying, "You're so talkative."
Song Yushuang and Yu Xia also came out of the house. Yu Xia was holding a half-finished shoe sole in her hand: "Yinyin, look, using your method, it really is much better."
"Sister-in-law is amazing, she learned it in no time." Yun Tangyin leaned over to look, "This double lotus is so beautifully made, my brother will be very happy when he sees it."
As they were talking, Fu Yucheng suddenly seemed to remember something: "Mom, your eldest uncle asked you to come to his house when you have time. He saved some freshly picked persimmons for you."
"Okay, I know," Song Yushuang said with a smile. "I'll go see your uncle tomorrow."
At dinner, the family sat around the table. Jiang Jianhua brought out the fried sweet potato balls, and Fu Yuanshan picked one up and put it in Jiang Jianhua's bowl: "Try it and see if it's burnt."
Jiang Jianhua blushed and took a bite: "Perfect."
Yun Tangyin and Fu Yucheng smiled at each other. Fu Yucheng put a piece of egg into Yun Tangyin's bowl: "Eat more, you must be tired this afternoon."
Even Fu Yuanzheng, who was usually silent, put some food on Yu Xia's plate.
Looking at the scene before her, Song Yushuang felt sweeter than if she had eaten honey: "How can life be so comfortable?"
Yu Xia said with a smile, "It's all because Yin Yin came and took care of everything at home so well."
Yun Tangyin lowered her head shyly: "It's all thanks to everyone's hard work."
After dinner, Fu Yucheng helped Yun Tangyin clear the dishes, and the two talked quietly in the kitchen.
Do you know what the peanuts your uncle gave you mean?
Fu Yucheng's eyes and brows were full of smiles, and Yun Tangyin could understand what he meant without even thinking about it...
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