The two arrived home around 4:00 PM, and Yunniang and the two children were already waiting at the gate of the yard.
As soon as she saw Pei Yao and the others return, Pei Xuan skipped over to greet them: "Auntie, Sister, you're finally back! I missed you so much!"
Chen Fang patted her head: "Did you behave well and listen to your mother at home today?"
Pei Xuan replied in a childish voice, "Yes, Auntie."
"Good girl."
Pei Yao reached out and pinched her little nose: "Big sister brought you something delicious, Xuan'er, do you want to eat it?"
Pei Yichen helped unload the things from the oxcart.
There wasn't much stuff, and with everyone helping out, it was all unloaded quickly.
Yunniang called Niu Qingshan to come into the courtyard and sit for a while, but Niu Qingshan had other things to do and went home first.
Pei Yao told him when she would be going to town the next day, and then returned to the courtyard with her family.
Yunniang helped carry the things: "Sister-in-law, Yao'er, the kitchen has saved lunch for you. Go and eat something to fill your stomachs."
When Chen Fang and Pei Yao set off early in the morning, they only ate what was left over from the previous night.
Yunniang originally wanted to bring them some food for lunch, but Pei Yao thought it was too much trouble and didn't bring any, thinking that she could just go to town to eat something when she got hungry.
Yunniang had prepared for the worst. If they didn't sell a single snail, the two of them would definitely not be willing to spend money on food, nor would they have any money to buy food.
I cooked extra food at noon and left it in the kitchen. In this weather, the food won't get cold even after a few hours.
And to tell you the truth, these two have only eaten the kudzu root they ate before leaving home this morning, and only one meat bun.
This will definitely make you very hungry.
Pei Yao touched her belly and said, "Mother, I'm so hungry."
Upon hearing this, Yunniang quickly brought out the food for them, telling them to rest for a while and have something to eat.
She had been hungry; her stomach felt burning and painful, it was very uncomfortable.
Chen Fang and Pei Yao were eating in the courtyard when Yunniang took a bucket to wash.
But Yunniang was very surprised to see the three empty wooden buckets that had been moved to the well.
While washing, she asked, "Sister-in-law, Yao'er, have you sold everything? Or... did it spill?"
Yunniang was somewhat incredulous.
Chen Fang shoveled a mouthful of the mixed vegetable and oyster soup in her bowl. There was also a small dish of spicy snails on the table.
Chen Fang: "No, they're all sold out! You wouldn't believe how popular Yao's spicy snails are! I let everyone try some, and instantly..."
Chen Fang got very excited when she started talking about this. Ignoring all the usual etiquette, she held her bowl and, like the other women in the village, squatted by the well and told Yunniang about what had happened that day.
Yunniang would occasionally exclaim in surprise, "Heavens..."
The two chatted enthusiastically.
Pei Yao smiled, her eyes crinkling as she watched this heartwarming scene.
Seeing her smile, Pei Xuan ran over, grabbed her hand, and shook it, asking, "Sister, what delicious food did you bring me?"
My older sister just told her that she brought her something delicious.
Pei Yichen followed calmly beside them.
Pei Yao smiled and teased the little one mysteriously, "Xuan'er, guess."
After listening, Xiao Xuan'er really started thinking about it seriously.
"A sugar figurine, sister?"
Pei Yao shook her head.
"Is that a candied hawthorn?"
Pei Yao shook her head.
Pei Xuan mentioned several more pastries, her eyes filled with longing as she spoke, and she even smacked her lips in a very convincing manner afterward.
Pei Yao was so amused by her that she took out the three meat buns she had been hiding in her arms.
"Ta-da...meat buns!"
Pei Xuan's eyes immediately lit up as she looked at the meat bun in Pei Yao's hand, and she clapped her little hands and squealed.
"Wow! Meat buns! Xuan'er loves meat buns the most."
Forget meat, I haven't even had wheat flour in ages.
Pei Yao affectionately handed one to her younger sister, and gave the rest to Yunniang and Pei Yichen, one each.
Yunniang withdrew her hand from the tub she was washing and hastily wiped her hands with the apron she was wearing.
Then, looking at the steamed bun with white flour and meat in her hand, she suddenly couldn't bear to eat it, and tears welled up in her eyes.
She handed the steamed bun back to Pei Yao: "Yao'er, you eat this white steamed bun. I just ate some kudzu root, so I'm not hungry."
Yao'er herself was hungry, but she brought back meat buns for those who were idle at home.
Yunniang couldn't bear to eat it!
Pei Yao instantly understood Yun Niang's thoughts; she probably didn't want to eat it and wanted to save it for herself.
Pei Yao quickly said, "Mother, please eat. We've already eaten on the street. This is for you."
Chen Fang chimed in, "Yunniang, just eat it. This was specially brought for you by Yao. Don't let Yao's kindness go to waste."
"Mother, try it! It's delicious!" Xuan'er pulled her mother's hand, urging her to eat.
Despite being persuaded, Yunniang eventually took a bite of the meat bun.
Tears instantly mingled with the grease from the meat bun, bursting forth, and I swallowed them all together.
Yunniang lowered her head, her voice choked with emotion: "It's so delicious."
This meat bun wasn't actually very tasty for Pei Yao; the skin was thick and the filling was small, making it dry and unappetizing.
But for Yunniang and her companions, who had been struggling to get enough to eat and wear along the way, these were especially precious items.
It smells delicious, the meat inside is juicy and flavorful, and the white noodles are soft and fluffy.
I was starving.
Things I used to ignore, I now enjoy eating with relish.
......
After finishing her meal, Pei Yao discussed the bucket matter with Chen Fang.
They had seen wooden barrels on the street before and asked the price, which was fifteen coins a pair. Although it wasn't expensive, Pei Yao and her companion didn't have enough money at the time, so they didn't buy them.
So Chen Fang suggested that she go to the Liu family to see if she could get Liu Yu to send out a couple of people in the next couple of days.
That way, I won't have to worry about not having enough buckets to hold things next time I go to the market.
As for the money, they'll come back to us tomorrow after they've sold the snails and made some money.
And you can also give me the pair from last time.
Previously, I was worried that it might not be successful, so I just borrowed it. Now that this business needs it, I can no longer just borrow it.
Pei Yichen and Pei Xuan'er ran out to the hillside to cut kudzu root worms.
He had heard from his mother that his cousin could exchange these kudzu worms for silver.
Thinking this, she quickened her pace in searching for kudzu worms; the more she found, the more money Sister Tian could exchange for tomorrow.
......
"Achoo!"
Pei Yao was cutting pork fat with a knife at home when she suddenly sneezed.
She rubbed her nose, wondering who was insulting her.
Pei Yao had heard from the old folks in the village that if you suddenly sneeze once, it means someone is cursing you, but if you sneeze twice, it means someone is thinking about you.
"Achoo!"
Pei Yao sneezed again right after rubbing her nose.
No, it's not an insult, it seems someone is thinking about her.
Yunniang sat by the stove lighting a fire, and when she saw Pei Yao sneeze twice, she asked with concern.
"Yao'er, are you alright?"
Pei Yao shook her head: "It's alright, Mother."
Yunniang didn't ask any more questions, watching her daughter cut all the white pork into pieces.
Having no experience in the kitchen, she asked, "Yao'er, why are you buying all this white, fatty meat?"
She didn't like eating fatty meat; she had tried it once by chance and found it nauseating.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com