Chapter 26: Picking Raspberries]
However, Chen Fenghe did not make a scene and ruin Qin Huanhuan's reputation.
First, she was too disdainful to retaliate against Qin Huanhuan in this way.
Secondly, regardless of Li Yongren's status, he was, after all, an official. While they were treating her well now, that was only because she had bribed them with gifts of fish and rabbits. If she made this known and damaged the officials' reputation, it would affect their fundamental interests, and they would surely make things difficult for her in the future.
Moreover, making it public would do Qin Huanhuan no good except embarrassing her.
Why do things that harm others and benefit yourself?
Chen Fenghe walked away quietly, found a secluded place, and then entered the space.
First, she harvested the crops that had been harvested in the farmland and the cattle and sheep in the pasture, and then planted new crops. Then, Chen Fenghe took off her clothes and took a nice medicinal bath in the hot spring in the space. After she felt comfortable in the bath, she had a nice meal of the Yingkelou's signature dishes, such as braised pork, twice-cooked pork, and stir-fried shrimps. She also drank a bowl of ginseng chicken soup before coming out again.
When he came out, he took some white steamed buns, a bag of sweet potatoes and some rice, and then returned to the house.
She distributed the white steamed buns to Qin Mengyue and the three guys, and lied, "Mom, I went to ask the villagers, and an old lady happened to have some freshly baked white steamed buns at home, so I bought a few and some sweet potatoes from her house, too."
Although the villagers were fleeing famine and could not provide food for the officials for free, Chen Wu would not stop them if they were willing to sell their stored grain to the exiles in exchange for silver.
Therefore, many people bought sweet potatoes, wheat, beans and the like to prevent themselves from going hungry on the road.
Chen Fenghe said that she bought rice and sweet potatoes from the villagers, but Qin Mengyue didn't find it strange.
A few people were also hungry, so they took the white steamed buns and finished them in three or four bites.
In order to avoid their suspicion, Chen Fenghe ate another white steamed bun. Looking at the three little guys eating the white steamed buns so happily, she couldn't help but feel a little distressed.
She still had braised pork, steamed pork with rice flour and other foods in her space, but it was not easy to take them out for them to eat now. She could only temporarily let them eat raw steamed buns.
No words were spoken that night.
Early the next morning, Chen Wu apologized to the village chief for disturbing him and continued on his journey with everyone.
This time, the Qin family did not dare to neglect it anymore. The first and second wives each contributed some money and bought some rice, beans and other things to eat on the road.
Because the three members of the Qin family's eldest branch were whipped, the Qin family was quiet for a few days.
It was a rare opportunity for Chen Fenghe and Qin Mengyue to have some quiet time. When they were on their way, she would pay attention to the grass and bushes around her as she walked.
Ancient times were different from modern times. All roads were dirt roads. Even the official roads were only slightly wider than other goat paths and could accommodate horse-drawn carriages. Various weeds and shrubs grew on the sides.
As Chen Fenghe walked, she taught Qin Mengyue about edible wild vegetables and fruits.
Xiao Yunhao was taught by Shen Yichuan and Shen Qingxing.
"This is raspberry, very delicious! Try it!" Shen Qingxing picked a red wild fruit that looked like a berry and brought it to Xiao Yunhao's mouth.
Xiao Yunhao hesitated for a moment, then opened his mouth and ate from Shen Qingxing's little hand.
As soon as he bit into it, the sweet and sour juice exploded in his mouth. Xiao Yunhao's face wrinkled slightly because of the sour taste, but his eyes immediately lit up and he said, "Xing'er, this is delicious!"
Shen Qingxing was very proud: "I told you it was delicious! Call me Sister Xing'er from now on, and I'll pick something even better for you!"
Shen Qingxing is half a year older than Xiao Yunhao, and said this while patting his chest.
Xiao Yunhao didn't know why, but his pretty face couldn't help but blush, and he stammered, "No...Xing'er is Xing'er..."
Not my sister...
Shen Yichuan was very jealous when he saw that his sister, who was always well-behaved in front of him, actually ran to take care of the brat Xiao Yunhao and even fed him raspberries.
As a brother, he hasn't even tasted the raspberries fed by his sister!
"Xing'er, brother wants to eat raspberries too!" Shen Yichuan said softly.
After hearing this, Shen Qingxing immediately turned around and said, "Brother, wait, I'll pick it for you!"
Seeing that his sister hadn't forgotten him, Shen Yichuan couldn't help but feel relieved. He stopped Shen Qingxing from reaching out to pick raspberries and said with a smile, "That's enough. Xing'er is thoughtful, and I'm satisfied. These raspberries have thorns, be careful not to hurt your hands. Pick them yourself!"
As he said that, he glanced at Xiao Yunhao and said, "You little bastard, learn from me!"
As a real man, how could you let a girl pick wild fruits?
Chen Fenghe couldn't help but smile as she watched the three little guys happily picking wild fruits, showing no signs of being depressed about being exiled.
This is good. Although it is hard to travel on the road, it is much better than staying in the palace or the Shangshu Mansion, where you may be in danger of being killed at any time.
Qin Mengyue looked at Xiao Yunhao's happy expression, and the sadness she felt over her eldest son's uncertain fate and being wrongly accused was slightly dispelled. She carefully imitated Shen Fenghe in picking raspberries and asked, "This is called a raspberry. It turns out you can eat it raw."
Chen Fenghe nodded and said, "Yes. However, after the fruit is dried, it can also be used as medicine. It can nourish the liver and improve eyesight. Let's pick more."
Qin Mengyue agreed. Even though she was very careful, her hands were still scratched by the sharp thorns in several places, but she did not cry out in pain.
If Chen Fenghe hadn't been catching fish and rabbits and picking wild vegetables and mushrooms these days, she and Xiao Yunhao would have starved to death on the road.
It's just a few pricks on my hand now, it's nothing at all.
Chen Fenghe saw that her hand was pricked, but she didn't say much. She herself had several pricks on her hand. This little injury was really nothing. It wouldn't be too late to deal with it after picking the raspberries.
As she picked raspberries, she saw thistles growing among the weeds, with purple-red flowers that were furry and looked like small hydrangeas.
Thistle is a common herb in the wild that can be used to stop bleeding. If you crush it and apply it to the wound, it will work quickly.
When the raspberries were almost picked, Chen Fenghe pulled out a few thistles, crushed them with a stone, and applied them to the wounds on Qin Mengyue and the back of her hand.
The other exiled prisoners were quite convinced of Shen Fenghe's ability to pick wild fruits because of what she had done a few days ago when she went into the mountains to pick mushrooms and black fungus. When they saw her family picking raspberries, they immediately followed suit.
Even Liu Cui and granddaughter-in-law Sun Shulan from the second branch of the Qin family, and Li Guihua, granddaughter-in-law from the first branch of the Qin family, picked a lot.
Li Guihua quickly brought back all the things she had picked, and presented them to her father-in-law Qin Lizheng and mother-in-law Qian Qiuyun as if they were treasures. She also gave a lot to her sister-in-law Qin Huanhuan.
"Dad, Mom, and Auntie, I just heard Shen...that bitch say these are called raspberries. I saw them eat them themselves, so they shouldn't be poisonous. Mom and Auntie, try them. They're sour and sweet, and quite delicious."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
