As soon as Liu Dongniang saw them come back, she hurried to the kitchen to prepare food for them.
These days, most families have a hard time. Unless there is something important going on or if they are not real relatives, it is rare for someone to leave food for them.
Tai Jizu and Tai Jizon had been running around outside all day, so they were probably hungry at noon.
Sure enough, when the steamed buns and stews were served on the table, Tai Jizu and Tai Jizong ate them voraciously.
Zhuzhu was originally playing on the side, but now she looked at her dad on the left and her second uncle on the right, and her chubby face twitched with pity.
"Mom, mom! Give my meat to Dad and Second Uncle. I'm not hungry. Give it all to Dad!"
Yang Lihua found it funny and sat down with her daughter in her arms.
When they were pickling the bacon just now, the fat girl asked why the meat was put in salt. She replied casually that it was saved for the fat girl to fry meat balls with porridge later.
As a result, the fat girl remembered it.
She felt so sorry for her father and second uncle that she wanted to take them all out.
Yang Lihua patted her daughter and coaxed her, "These meals are enough for your father and second uncle. You can eat the remaining meat later."
After that, she asked Tai Jizu and Tai Jizong, "Why didn't you eat outside?"
Tai Jizu smiled bitterly and replied, "Life has been easy at home lately, and I've gotten used to it. I thought every family was like this. But... after visiting a few families, I really can't bear to eat their food."
Tai Jizong also sighed and echoed, "Yeah, I went to a master's house. He had four sons and thirteen grandchildren, and he cooked a pot of sorghum rice and wild vegetable porridge. I saw that those children all had big heads and small necks, and I really couldn't bear to share another bowl. If I ate a bowl, maybe one of their children would go hungry!"
Liu Dongniang brought over the pickles and said after hearing this, "If it weren't for Zhuzhu's blessing that we have meat to eat every now and then, and Jiye has to work so hard, I'm afraid we would still have to tighten our belts to make ends meet."
When it comes to Tai Jiye, everyone is thinking about him.
"I don't know where Jiye and Yongan are. Everyone asked me about it today." Yang Lihua said helplessly, "But I don't have clairvoyance, so how can I know where they are?"
After that, she pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her daughter's mouth and teased her, "Zhuzhu, do you miss your uncle and big brother?"
"I thought about it!" The fat girl nodded vigorously, the little fat on her face trembling, and responded crisply, "Uncle San will be back soon, and he will bring delicious food and fun things for Zhuzhu!"
Everyone laughed when they heard this. Children just love to eat and play.
But Yang Lihua felt greatly relieved, because nothing her daughter said would come true.
She said the third brother would be back soon, so we would definitely see him within three to five days.
Thinking of this, she quickly said to her sister-in-law, "Dong Niang, I've been busy embroidering these days, and you've been very tired at home. In the room where the third brother and Yong'an live, heat the kang once a day, and wash and dry the clothes they wear most often."
"I understand, sister-in-law. Leave these small matters to me, you don't have to worry about them." Liu Dongniang agreed with a smile and continued to talk about trivial matters. "The fine flour I bought last time has almost been used up by making steamed buns today. I'll go to the city to buy some more in a few days. The third brother and Yong'an both like to eat steamed buns and dumplings, so I'll make some more when they come back."
As they were talking, the old man came back from downstairs with his hands behind his back, followed by Zhimaqiu.
In fact, it is not appropriate to call him Sesame Ball now. This dog eats well and sleeps well. It has the blood of a prairie mastiff. It grows rapidly. Now it weighs 20 kilograms and is as high as its knees.
But my family members were used to calling me that, and no one wanted to change the name.
Every day before dark, the old man would take it for a walk around the house to check if there were any hidden dangers or the smell of strangers.
Of course, this is also a happy time for Sesame Ball to pee freely and mark his territory.
So much so that the big dark horse who loves to join in the fun rarely refuses to stroll with them, because he really can't stand a certain dog showing off...
"The eldest and second are back. How are things going?"
The old man took out his pipe and puffed a few times.
Tai Jizu quickly responded, "Dad, there's no land for sale nearby, but many families west of Sancha River have lost their elderly and children to starvation, and are desperately planning to go south to make a living. I've seen a few places where ten acres of top-quality land and five acres of medium-quality land are next to each other. I estimate they can be bought for around one hundred taels."
The old man nodded and sighed softly, "The past few years have been really barren. Even though it rained this year, many people probably have lost their confidence."
Tai Jizu ate another half of the steamed bun and put down his chopsticks.
"Dad, if we buy these fifteen acres of land, the villagers in Sancha River can help take care of it. They don't have to do any work, but at least they can keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn't get damaged. But if we go any further away, we can't farm it even if we don't get paid. It's really a mess out there!"
"What's wrong? Did something happen to you? Are you injured?" Yang Lihua was smart and immediately realized that something was wrong with the question. She quickly looked Tai Jizu up and down.
Tai Jizu felt a little embarrassed and waved his hand in response, "No, I'm fine. It's just that you brought me those two vegetable buns this morning... I gave them to a little kid to fill his stomach, and then a group of kids surrounded me. I almost couldn't get out!"
This time, before Yang Lihua could say anything, the old man glared at his son and lectured him, "You're already a grown man, why are you still so careless? I've told you so many times not to try to be a pushover! If you go there alone, what if someone has bad intentions and kills you outside? Your family won't even know!"
Yang Lihua was also angry and didn't show any mercy at all, so she followed suit and started to criticize.
"Dad is right. It's not winter anymore. There are wild vegetables growing in the mountains, and we can plant them in the garden. As long as we put in some effort, we won't starve! These children would rather starve than buy themselves food. Either they are used to receiving charity, or their parents are too lazy and have failed to teach them by example.
"Are the fifteen acres of land you want to buy in this village? If it is one, then our family cannot buy it!"
Tai Jizu quickly waved his hands and tried to explain, "No, that's not the case. I also felt that the people in this village were bad, and their poverty made me feel uncomfortable, so I left immediately. The fifteen acres of land is right next to the Sancha River, very close, really close!"
Yang Lihua glared at him and stopped talking.
The old man tapped his pipe and said, "Tomorrow, the boss and I will go and take a look."
In order to help his elder brother out of trouble, Tai Jizong quickly changed the subject.
"Dad, I've contacted a craftsman and he'll be here tomorrow to make a spinning wheel. Spinning wheels aren't difficult to make. I think we can make ten in five or six days."
"Okay." The old man agreed, and then told the village about the patrol team. He instructed, "Tomorrow, take some people to set up a thatched hut outside our wall. The patrol team can rest here in the future, and our family can have more people to look after them."
Tai Jizu and Tai Jizon knew that someone was plotting against their family behind their backs.
After hearing this, both of them took it seriously and nodded in agreement.
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