"What's the big deal? Only when everyone is well-fed can we protect the village and the crops. Don't be fooled by how well-behaved the refugees are now; they'll come back when the rice is ripe."
Zhao Guihua had a long-term vision. Everyone could pick whatever they could on the mountain, but the crops in the fields were the key. If the rice was ruined by the refugees, they would be refugees again next year.
After seeing Zhao Xiu off and finishing shelling the pine nuts, Zhao Guihua carried a hoe to the village entrance to plant brambles. Before leaving, she instructed her five sons to take good care of Zhou Laoda and Xingxing.
"Mom, Xingxing will take good care of herself, so you can go to work without worry." Xingxing looked helpless. She could already do a lot of work, but her mother was still worried about her.
The quintuplets were very diligent. Zhou Erfu and Zhou Sifu chopped firewood in the yard, Zhou Dafu and Zhou Sanfu took care of Zhou Laoda's needs in the house, and Zhou Wufu dried flowers and herbs in the yard.
Xingxing looked around with her hands behind her back, and finding nothing that needed her help, she strode into the kitchen.
Looking at the two baskets of chestnuts, she swallowed hard. She remembered her mother saying that roasted chestnuts were very fragrant and delicious, and she was tempted. But her mother and brothers were all busy, so she decided to make them herself.
She fiddled with the tinderbox for a long time before finally getting the fire going, and then started adding firewood. By then, her little face was covered in soot, and she was coughing from the smoke.
"Cough cough, sigh, starting a fire is such a hassle." Xingxing shook her head and moved over a small stool, then stood on the stool and started washing the pot.
When Zhou Erfu saw smoke coming from the chimney, he quickly threw down his axe and ran into the kitchen. Sure enough, he saw the little guy being naughty, sticking his little bottom out, his whole upper body almost buried in the pot.
"Who told you to play with fire? And standing so high up, weren't you afraid of falling into the pot and being boiled alive?" Zhou Erfu huffed and smacked Xingxing's little bottom.
"Second brother, how could you spank Xingxing? Doesn't Xingxing have any dignity?" Xingxing struggled angrily to get off the ground. She was clearly preparing to roast chestnuts, not playing with fire.
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