Oh dear, look at Jin Erniu and Jin Sanwang's drool, it's dripping down the patches on their clothes!
"Big brother, is it really that delicious?"
Niu Niu came over, her bright black eyes sizing up Jin Dashan. She reached out her small, delicate hands, grabbed one, and put it in her mouth. Her brows furrowed slightly, then she smiled and said, "Mmm, it's really delicious, Mommy, I want some!"
Liu glanced at it tentatively and said cautiously, "Sister-in-law, is this really that delicious? If so, then we won't have to go hungry anymore?"
The way Liu was acting clearly meant that she wanted Zhang to try it first, and then she would eat it herself.
Zhang didn't stand on ceremony at all. She grabbed one and put it in her mouth, smacked it a couple of times, and said happily, "Mother, it's really delicious! Such delicious food, how about we go catch some more locusts today and set up a stall here?"
Liang Shuyan had been preparing for this for a long time, but her usually quiet eldest daughter-in-law's words struck her hard, leaving her somewhat bewildered: "Could it be that I, the eldest daughter-in-law, am actually cut out for business?"
Liang Shuyan glanced at the locusts on the plate and instructed Zhang Shi, "Take this plate to your grandmother; she'll definitely love it!"
Zhang nodded, slurped her saliva twice, and walked towards Li Lanfang carrying a plate of locusts.
Jin Erniu thought that these things were just for his family to eat, but to his surprise, Liang Shuyan rolled her eyes and beckoned to Erniu: "Erniu, give this plate to Lizheng and tell him to let everyone have a taste!"
"Second son's wife, this plate is for your Aunt Liu. Aunt Liu has two grandsons and they're doing quite well. We have food, so we'll give her a bite!"
Liu felt a pang of heartache. Seeing the locusts they had painstakingly caught and, after being processed by her family, turned into such a delicacy, yet her mother-in-law wanted to give it to outsiders, she couldn't help but feel unhappy.
"Mother, Aunt Liu always speaks ill of you, but you're so kind as to not hold a grudge at all, and even give her good food. I feel sorry for you!"
How could the mother-in-law not understand Liu's little trick? She lowered her voice and said, "These locusts aren't something we paid for. Besides, if we've made something good, we should share it with everyone. Do you mean that you're going to eat this whole pot of locusts by yourself, stuff yourself to death, while everyone else is left drooling?"
After being scolded by her mother-in-law, Liu blushed and said embarrassedly, "Mother, I was stingy. I'll go and send some to Aunt Liu right away!"
Li Zheng saw the locusts Er Niu brought over and froze, exclaiming, "This...this is the locust? Could this be the source of the aroma?"
Clearly, Li Zheng was still somewhat incredulous and even doubtful: how could locusts emit such a fragrance?
"My mother said you should try it with everyone!"
Everyone crowded around, staring longingly at the bright red locusts on the plate, their mouths watering at the unique aroma.
Li Zheng closed his eyes, grabbed one, and put it in his mouth, smacking his lips. An indescribable deliciousness lingered in his mouth and then spread to his internal organs.
"Mmm, delicious, really delicious! Aunt Dashan is so skilled, she can actually turn these harmful locusts into such a delicious meal. Here, here, one for each of you, there aren't any extras, quickly try it, it's Aunt Dashan's heartfelt gift!"
The villagers all called Liang Shuyan "Mountain Mother," which was the village's custom. In ancient times, women had little status, and the name of the first child was often the same as the name of the first child plus the word "mother." But for some reason, Erniu suddenly felt uncomfortable.
"Mother, look how happily these people are eating! Li Zheng even praised you for your skill in turning pests into a delicious meal!"
After Erniu finished speaking, he still looked unhappy. Seeing this, Liang Shuyan asked, "What's wrong, Erniu? What's making you look so grumpy?"
Jin Erniu let out a sigh of relief, but then he got angry thinking about how Li Zheng kept calling her "Mom." He said, "Mom, why do Li Zheng and the others keep calling me 'Mom'? I was the one who delivered the locusts, shouldn't they be calling me 'Erniu's Mom'?"
Upon hearing this, Liang Shuyan burst into laughter, patting Erniu on the shoulder and saying, "My silly son, what's wrong? Don't you think Dashan's mother and Erniu's mother are the same mother? Besides, Dashan is your brother, the eldest, so naturally the villagers all call your mother Dashan's mother. You're used to it. Are you angry about this? How old are you? Aren't you ashamed? Is this all for a reason?"
Erniu blushed and took two steps back: "Mother! Son, son..."
To be honest, the original owner didn't really like this son, Erniu, and rarely spoke to him so warmly and affectionately. Today's actions inevitably made Erniu feel a little uncomfortable, no, he should be more excited. Erniu was so excited that he couldn't speak!
How could Liang Shuyan not understand Erniu's feelings? She took a plate of hot locusts from the pot and handed it to Erniu: "Eat up. Before, your mother was reckless and couldn't distinguish right from wrong. From now on, you are all your mother's precious darlings. Your mother will never let you go hungry!"
Upon hearing this, Jin Erniu immediately put down the locusts and burst into loud wails!
Snot and tears are a rare sight these days, and this is a massive gathering. He cried as he said, "Mother, Erniu never imagined that you still loved me!"
"Stop wailing! If others see this, they'll say your mother is abusing you again. Hurry up and wipe yourself clean, you ate locusts!"
Jin Erniu nodded: "Yes, Mom, Erniu understands!"
Niu Niu laughed so hard she almost fell over: "Haha, my second brother cried like a cow over a locust! Second brother, you're so embarrassing!"
How could Niu Niu possibly understand Jin Er Niu's feelings?
Aunt Liu, holding her two grandsons' hands, walked towards Liang Shuyan: "Auntie, this stuff is really delicious! I never thought you could turn these nasty locusts into something so tasty. I really envy your skills. You're such a good person. Out of all the people in the village, you only remember this old woman like me!"
"What skill or not? Who would eat this kind of stuff if they had flour and meat to eat? It's not easy for you to raise two grandsons. Besides, our two families are only separated by a wall. Isn't this just how it should be?"
Aunt Liu grabbed Liang Shuyan's hand and said excitedly, "Auntie, thank you so much! Even my own sister couldn't compare to how good you are to me!"
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