Back home, Ruan Meng saw that she had indeed made a great harvest.
Sun Mu'en looked a little listless after sleeping for a long time. Ruan Meng put down her basket, grabbed a handful of prickly pears and wild hawthorns, and handed them to Caiju to wash so that Sun Mu'en could eat them as fruit.
He went inside to tidy up his basket and put the medicinal herbs into the clinic. Sure enough, he heard Sun Mu'en calling softly, followed by a male voice.
Then came A Yuan and Cai Ju, and Ruan Meng couldn't help but laugh.
Ah Yuan's face contorted in pain as he ran to Ruan Meng to complain, "Miss, what was that we ate just now? It was so sour!"
Ruan Meng smiled and replied, "That's a good thing. There's a saying, 'Two prickly pears a day, and the imperial physician is useless.' It means that if you eat two prickly pears a day, you won't need the imperial physician anymore, and your health will improve."
"Your young lady is lacking in many nutrients, this is perfect for her! I finally found it, and I haven't even eaten a single one!"
A-Yuan was touched and ashamed. She and Cai-Ju had each eaten one. Oh dear! What a waste! They should have all been left for Miss!
The third brother heard his sister speak, but suppressed a laugh and didn't expose her.
Ah Yuan's voice wasn't quiet; even the second brother in the backyard could hear it, though his voice sounded somewhat humble.
"Little sister, can big brother have one?"
Ruan Meng said seriously, "What are you saying, Second Brother? I picked them for you to eat!"
The second child happily washed a prickly pear with spring water, then bit into it...
He painfully held his chin in his hands, worried that the acid would break his teeth.
Ruan Meng kindly reminded him, "Second brother, although it's a wild fruit, since it's good for your health, it must taste a bit special. After all, good medicine tastes bitter, right?"
Hearing the commotion, the older brother came downstairs.
The third brother hesitated for a moment, washed two prickly pears, handed them to his eldest brother, and reminded him:
"Brother, these are fruits my sister picked. She says they're very good for your health. They're a bit sour, though, so please bear with them!"
The eldest brother saw the water droplets on the fruit and did not refuse the third brother's kindness. He smiled and accepted it, but before he could eat it, Ruan Meng took it away.
"Brother, wait a minute, it's too sour. I'll improve it so it won't be too sour for you."
The older brother smiled.
The second son, chin in hand, turned his head in shock.
Third son: ......
Ah Yuan quickly ran over again, trying to ingratiate himself by asking:
"Miss, the young master asked if there's any other way. It's just too sour. Even if it's good for your health, it's a waste if you're afraid to eat it."
Ruan Meng smiled, "That's simple, there are two ways. I need honey. There are beehives on the mountain, or I can buy it in the city, either way is fine."
A-Yuan ran away, but returned a short while later.
"The young master asked the young lady if she had any at home. He said it was for borrowing, and the young lady wrote down the price."
Ruan Meng stopped teasing A Yuan and instead kept him there to help, saying that she had honey at home and would deliver it to Sun Mu'en once it was ready.
A-Yuan was left behind to clean the small fish. He came from a humble background and, although he worked in the kitchen, he learned very quickly.
Ruan Meng asked him to help clean the internal organs and wash the body.
After the third brother returned and rested for a while, Ruan Meng asked him to help slaughter a chicken, a duck, and a goose.
Ah Yuan looked up and smiled, "It's Chinese New Year!"
Xiao Kai came in from outside and, without Ruan Meng's instructions, rolled up his sleeves and started helping.
The chickens, ducks, and geese that Manager Du gave him were all placed upside down in baskets in the backyard by Ruan Yi.
When the third brother went to catch chickens, ducks, and geese, the second brother volunteered, saying, "Third brother, let your second brother help you!"
Ruan Meng's expression immediately changed. Before the third brother could react, the second brother untied the cage, and ten chickens fluttered out. Several flew into the sky, and one jumped out of the yard!
Ruan Meng took a deep breath, and Xiao Kai and A Yuan put down their kitchen knives and got up to grab the chicken!
Several fierce hens overturned the wooden buckets and basins containing small fish, and in an instant, live chickens scattered in the backyard, with feathers flying everywhere!
Hearing the noise, the older brother came in, picked up the boxing ring leaning against the wall, and blocked the passageway, preventing the live chickens from running away...
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