Sanyuan, holding a small rabbit, sat beside Shuangshuang practicing boxing. Hearing Dazhuang sigh, he couldn't help but ask, "Big brother, what's wrong?"
Da Zhuang glanced at the carefree Shuangshuang, Sanyuan, and Siwang, who was secretly eating persimmons, and sighed heavily again.
Sanyuan was a little confused.
Ever since Mother went down the mountain to buy things, my eldest brother has been sighing from time to time. When asked why, he wouldn't say. Shuangshuang and Siwang stopped asking, and only Sanyuan foolishly cared about his eldest brother.
Siwang perked up his ears, his mouth bright red and smeared with residual persimmon juice: "Mother should be back by now, right?"
Sanyuan walked over, carefully wiped the persimmon juice off him, and then placed the little rabbit next to the sleeping Yuanyuan: "It's about time, shall we go and look ahead along the path?"
"good!"
Shuangshuang glanced at the two who were running happily down the path, then continued practicing the boxing techniques Ye Wenxue had taught her, too lazy to follow them.
In the days after their mother left the valley, the two silly boys would go to the path every day and look around anxiously. Because their mother wouldn't let them leave the valley, they would just stand in front of the path and look for half a day at a time.
Not to mention Shuangshuang, even Dazhuang didn't want to care anymore.
"Mother's back! Mother's back!" Before long, Siwang's joyful voice echoed from afar along the path.
Dazhuang and Shuangshuang exchanged a glance, one dropped the vegetable basket, the other paused, and the two of them took off running towards the valley path.
Halfway there, Dazhuang remembered his sleeping little sister and ran back to hug Yuanyuan.
When he reached the side of the path, Ye Wenxue had already rearranged the traps on the path. She patted each of the children's heads and asked them softly:
"Have you been good these past few days? Have you been listening to your older brother?"
Shuangshuang and Siwang each held one of Ye Wenxue's arms and shouted in unison, "Good girl! We've been very good!"
Da Zhuang almost burst out laughing.
You two are the most disobedient of all!
Sanyuan looked at his mother with bright eyes, affectionately leaned forward to give her a kiss, and then contentedly prepared to push the stroller.
Then... his gaze swept over the stacks of handcarts, and he decisively gave up. He untied the burlap sack with the ducks tied to it and carried the five ducks, whose heads were sticking out, to the fence next to the vegetable garden.
Ye Wenxue looked at Sanyuan, who was getting things done, and Dazhuang, who was standing not far away holding Yuanyuan and smiling quietly. She then patted Shuangshuang and Siwang on the head.
"Go move your things. Once you've packed everything up, Mom will give you a reward!"
Shuangshuang and Siwang jumped up immediately, beaming as they carried the purchased goods.
Ye Wenxue directed the children to move the things from the handcart to the newly built mud house, and then carried several large bags of brown rice to the kitchen.
After airing out the earthen house for a few days, it's time to move it out of the cave.
Dazhuang followed closely behind Ye Wenxue, wanting to say something but afraid that she would misunderstand, so he didn't dare to speak.
He scratched his head, then thought that since the person was already gone, there was nothing more to say, so he decided to swallow his anger.
"Here, this is for you."
Dazhuang glanced at the two stacks of paper and the brush in front of him, as well as a small bow, and blinked slowly.
"Mother, I..."
Before Dazhuang could even speak, Shuangshuang and Siwang, who had been working themselves to the bone moving things for half a day, quit.
The two girls pouted and teased each other, saying, "Mom is biased. Big brother didn't even have to carry any goods, but he got a reward. I want one too!"
"I want some too! I've been so tired these past few days weeding, feeding the geese, rabbits, and sheep, and drying mountain produce."
Ye Wenxue glared at the two of them: "Can you two be more tired than Dazhuang?"
Don't think she didn't know; among these children, Dazhuang and Sanyuan were the most reliable and honest workers.
Dazhuang, being the eldest, was strong and did more work.
In the few days she was away, Dazhuang had to work hard to take care of everyone, including several little ones. He must have been exhausted.
Receiving his mother's approving and caring gaze, Dazhuang awkwardly touched his nose, wanting to say that he wasn't tired from working, but was just a little anxious from thinking too much.
Siwang was a little annoyed. It wasn't that he was being unreasonable; he just wanted to be pampered by his mother: "Alright, Mother is tired, and Big Brother is tired too."
Ye Wenxue patted his little head, took out a few sweets, and placed one of them in front of Sanyuan: "The rest are what your mother bought for you to eat together. This is something your master specifically asked me to buy for you. You must remember Mr. Su's kindness."
Sanyuan nodded emphatically, his eyes crinkling with laughter.
This child is too easily satisfied.
Ye Wenxue shook her head helplessly and took out the items for the children one by one: a short knife, medicinal herbs, snacks, and a safety lock...
Dazhuang took the small peace lock made of silver, carefully put it on Yuanyuan's wrist, and a smile unconsciously appeared on his face.
Since coming to the mountains, he has been smiling more and more.
Each of them received their favorite toy, and the children were immersed in joy and happiness, going crazy with joy.
After distributing the items, Ye Wenxue carried the belongings piled up in the cave to the earthen house, patiently arranging and putting them away one by one.
With limited manpower, only four earthen houses were built, excluding the kitchen. The one in the middle was the largest, and a kang (heated brick bed) was built inside according to Ye Wenxue's instructions, which made it warmer in winter.
After moving everything from the cave to the earthen house, Ye Wenxue looked through each room. She saw that the smallest room, located in the most remote area, was filled with half a room of chopped firewood, several exquisitely crafted bamboo baskets, baskets of various sizes, winnowing baskets, bamboo water ladles, and even three bamboo umbrellas covered with oil paper.
Ye Wenxue picked up the bamboo umbrella and opened it to see that there were a few peach blossoms, some light and some dark, on the surface of the umbrella, so she closed the umbrella again.
Dazhuang appeared at the door at some point, his eyes lowered, and said calmly, "It was left by Suiye."
Ye Wenxue sensed the unease and anxiety in Dazhuang's words and chuckled:
"If it's free, why not take advantage of it? You've all been cooped up in the valley for a while, haven't you? Tomorrow, the whole family will head out into the old forest to find some mountain produce and get some fresh air. Once the mountains are snowed in winter, it won't be so easy to find food."
The family has enough rice and flour to get through the winter, but they are running low on vegetables and fruits.
We need to stock up on some mountain produce before it snows, so we don't get tired of eating only rice and noodles.
Dazhuang gradually smiled and responded with "uh-huh".
Ye Wenxue was exhausted after several days. After eating a haphazard meal and washing up, she fell asleep immediately, ignoring Yuanyuan who was lying on top of her.
Sanyuan tidied up the medicinal herbs left by Su Jiu, and also sorted out and put away the dozen or so useful medicinal herbs that his mother had bought in town. He happily touched the Kongming lock that his mother had rewarded him with, and was reluctant to let go of it even when he was about to go to sleep.
Shuangshuang and Siwang, one dared not bring the short knife onto the kang (a heated brick bed), and the other hid a little bit of snacks, giving the rest to their older brother, sister, and mother. They were having sweet dreams while they slept.
Da Zhuang polished the small bow until it shone brightly, then nodd in satisfaction after making a few feints with his finger.
He needs to become strong as soon as possible so that no one can bully, hurt, or take away his family!
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