As long as she gets a son.
From then on, he officially became a member of the Liu family.
Her mother-in-law could no longer call her an outsider.
A moment later, Liu Wangtao brought in a bowl of fragrant steamed egg custard. Sure enough, it was sprinkled with chopped scallions and had a thin layer of oil floating on the surface. When you scooped up a spoonful, it was tender and smooth.
As she put it in her mouth, Zhu Wenjuan shed tears of happiness.
The last time she ate eggs was when Jinlu gave them to her.
After so long, she was finally able to eat eggs again.
“Wife, Mother just said that it’s harvest time now, and the rice in the fields needs to be harvested quickly. It might rain any day. So, you should rest for two days, and start working in the fields on the third day. I’ll try to let you do less work. If you get tired, don’t push yourself. Go and rest for a while, okay? Everything is for the children’s sake.”
Zhu Wenjuan nodded to indicate that she understood.
Being able to stay in bed for two days is already a good thing; at least her mean-spirited mother-in-law didn't make her get out of bed that day.
Haha, it really is true that a mother's status rises with her son's.
After resting for two days, Zhu Wenjuan started working in the fields. She kept complaining of stomach discomfort, so Ma Efen and Liu Wangtao didn't dare to tire her out.
In the end, having no other choice, they could only let her go home to rest.
Zhu Wenjuan, with her pregnant belly protruding, strolled leisurely through the village with her hands behind her back.
Anyone who didn't know better would think she was seven or eight months pregnant.
They wandered around until they arrived near Yan Xia's house.
They happened to run into Shi Xiaohe and Wang Jingshui, who were coming down the mountain.
"Oh, isn't this Jinlu's wife and sister-in-law? You've been married into the family for quite a while now, how come your bellies aren't showing yet? Are you afraid you can't have children? I'm different, I'm already a month pregnant. Oh dear, my son is very active, he kicks me all the time."
Zhu Wenjuan acted like she was performing in an opera, sometimes touching her belly, sometimes straightening her back.
The two exchanged a glance.
Pretend you can't see her.
He went straight home.
"Pah! I think you're all just jealous that I'm pregnant, you barren hen! I'll make Jinlu regret marrying someone like you!"
Zhu Wenjuan went home proudly with her pregnant belly.
"Sister-in-law, don't pay any attention to her. It's unheard of for a one-month-old baby to kick people. Besides, you can't tell anyone you're three months pregnant. The Liu family is ridiculous. They want the whole village to know."
Wang Jingshui pursed her lips.
He didn't care about her at all.
Even her mother-in-law didn't urge her, so when did it become Zhu Wenjuan's turn to urge her?
"I'm fine. You've only been married a short time, but I've been married into the family for quite a while now. I don't even know when I'll start having a baby."
Shi Xiaohe looked somewhat dejected.
"Sister-in-law, this is nothing! Many women take a year or two to conceive after getting married. There's no rush, just let nature take its course."
"Okay, I understand. Mom and the others will be back soon. Let's go cook dinner first."
"good--"
The two sisters-in-law quickly put the matter out of their minds, and one of them picked vegetables while the other washed rice.
Jinlu was chopping firewood on the mountain, while Lamei was playing at her sister's house in the same village.
"What? You're getting married? We're the same age! My mom said she'd keep me until I'm 18."
Winter plum blossoms cried out in surprise.
"Yes, Mother said I'm fifteen now, and it's time for me to get married so that I can get some dowry for my younger brother's wedding. Lamei, I really envy you. You have such a good mother and never have to worry about food or clothing. Look at the gold hairpin in your hair. I'll never get one like that in my life. Mother said she'll keep all the dowry and only give me a new dress as part of my dowry. That's all she'll do for me. The family I'm marrying into this time is far away from Baihua Village. I don't know if we'll ever see each other again."
Wax Plum felt a little sad upon hearing this.
The girl in front of her is her best friend.
But her fate was even worse than hers. Her family favored boys over girls, and her parents treated her badly. She had to dig for wild vegetables and pick mushrooms in the mountains since she was a child, just like her.
The two met while picking mushrooms together.
But she has a mother, unlike her friends who don't have such a good mother.
“Take this string of cash. It’s my saved pocket money. Don’t tell anyone. Consider it a dowry for you, or your safety net.”
Lamei is a little miser; she's afraid her money will be stolen, so she carries it with her every day.
"Waaaah, Lamei, you're so good to me."
The two of them burst into tears.
This attracted an old woman outside the door who kept peeking at it.
"I'm going home now. There are eavesdroppers in your house. I won't say anymore. I'll see you off on your wedding day. Remember what I said, Donghua. I hope you live a peaceful life and don't suffer in the second half of your life."
Donggua clutched the copper coin tightly in his hand, his eyes filled with tears.
Goodbye, winter plum blossoms—
She said goodbye quietly.
After Lamei left, she quickly hid the copper coin in the gap under the bed. Just as she stood up, her grandmother came in.
"What are you two talking about, you brat? Get out here and get to work. What's the point of playing with people like that? She lives a life of luxury at home, why didn't she think to send you some meat? By the way, did she give you anything nice just now? After all, you two have been friends for so many years, did she give you any silver, hairpins, or anything like that?"
"Grandma, what are you thinking? What money does Lamei have? Even if she did, she wouldn't give it to me. Who am I to her? We're not related."
Donghua naturally wouldn't admit it.
After saying that, she went to feed the pigs.
"Pooh--"
"What a stingy person, just like that Yan family. They hunted wild boar and bear but didn't even share them with the villagers. They're incredibly stingy."
Yan Xia, who was being nagged, was looking at the persimmon tree in the backyard of the shop with a puzzled expression.
The persimmons are starting to ripen, and occasionally one or two will fall to the ground.
It was sticky and filthy, and it took her ages to clean it.
It must be scrubbed clean with a brush and water.
She plans to create a new product using persimmons.
I just haven't decided what to make yet, since the ice jelly is about to be taken off the shelves.
We need a substitute.
I picked a few ripe persimmons and went home.
After finishing her meal, she sat in the room reading a book.
By the dim light of the candle, Yan Xia saw a dessert: red bean and green rice dumplings.
These are pastries made with mugwort leaves.
It's especially delicious.
But mugwort leaves are only available in spring.
Yan Xia thought for a moment and decided to use persimmons instead of mugwort leaves. She would make a sticky persimmon-flavored skin on the outside and fill it with persimmon pulp on the inside. When she took a bite, it would be soft, sticky, and juicy.
Let's get right to it.
She had all the necessary materials at home, so she lit two candles.
It was placed in the kitchen, and someone closed the kitchen door, carefully examining it.
An hour later, five perfectly round, orange-yellow cakes appeared on a plate.
"Children, wake up and come out for some pastries."
Logically, those few persimmons, along with the other ingredients, should be enough to make at least twenty.
But what can you do when she's failed several times?
The children all came out of the house upon hearing the noise.
Each of them was wearing an outer garment.
Jinlu could barely open his eyes; he must have fallen asleep and been woken up by her.
“Come on, you two couples, share one. Each of you should eat one osmanthus and one winter plum blossom, and I will also eat one.”
There weren't enough pastries, so this was the only way to divide them.
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