Not long after Jiang Yue came back from the county town, Mrs. Zhao and Lian Rongrong came to see her.
"Jiang Yue, do you want to go and dig mugwort?"
Jiang Yue pointed to the mugwort placed at the door and said, "I've already bought it."
In this area, people place wormwood and calamus at the doorstep during the Dragon Boat Festival. They cut them at noon and put them in the sun to dry before putting them away. When adults and children have eczema or itchy skin from mosquito bites, they use dried wormwood to boil water for bathing.
Jiang Yue follows the local customs. The day before yesterday when he was buying vegetables, he saw many people buying mugwort, so he bought some as well.
"Oh, it's my fault for not telling you in advance. Remember not to buy them next year! There are many wild ones at the foot of the mountain. We dug them there!" Mrs. Zhao slapped her thigh, feeling sorry for Jiang Yue spending an extra dime.
"Sister-in-law, is it far? Is the road easy to walk on? I am worried about Ningning being alone at home, I have to take her with me." Jiang Yue had not gone anywhere except buying groceries these days. When she heard that they were going to dig mugwort at the foot of the mountain, she also wanted to go and take a look.
"It's not far. It hasn't rained these days, so the road is easy to walk on! Take Ningning with you. I'll bring my little monkey too! They can keep each other company." Mrs. Zhao said with a smile.
They agreed to meet at the gate of the staff quarters in ten minutes. Jiang Yue made a pot of sour plum soup for Ningning and put some snacks in her small bag. She also carried a water bottle, changed into lightweight Huili sneakers, put on a backpack, locked the door, and set off.
Mrs. Zhao and Lian Rongrong were already waiting at the gate of the family compound. Both of them were carrying woven bags, which are generally used to hold fertilizers or feed. They are very sturdy and durable and very popular in this era.
"Let's go!"
Qingshui Town is located in a hilly area, surrounded by mountains on all sides and has beautiful scenery.
Mrs. Zhao brought Jiang Yue and Lian Rongrong to the foot of a mountain not far from the town. There were no villages nearby and it seemed that not many people came here usually, and the vegetation was lush.
"Zhao Yuanqi, take Ningning to play over there and don't come here. There are too many grasses here, be careful of snakes." Mrs. Zhao just said this casually, and Jiang Yue jumped up in fright when she heard it.
"What? There's a snake here?" Jiang Yue hurriedly tried to run out, "No, no, I'm most afraid of snakes!"
"Then Jiang Yue, don't come in. There is also mugwort at the intersection. You can pick the ones over there!" Mrs. Zhao did not force Jiang Yue.
In less than half an hour, Mrs. Zhao and Lian Rongrong had already picked a bag full of mugwort, and Jiang Yue at the intersection had also picked half a basket.
She had already thought it through: keep the tender mugwort leaves for making green rice balls, dry the remaining half and use it to boil water for bathing, and make mugwort pure water with the other half.
Mrs. Zhao and Lian Rongrong helped fill Jiang Yue's backpack and started to walk back.
Zhao Yuanqi and Ningning were covered in mud from somewhere, and the two little guys walked over like moving mud men.
Mrs. Zhao's blood pressure soared, and she reached out to grab Zhao Yuanqi's ear, "You bastard, I told you to take Ningning out to play, not to roll Ningning in the mud!"
Jiang Yue took out a handkerchief, wiped Ning Ning's face, and said with a smile: "Sister-in-law, don't scold him. Children like to play in the mud. It's not a big deal. Just go back and wash it!"
"Mom, mom, did you hear that? You should learn from your aunt! Ouch! My ears are going to be twisted off!" Zhao Yuanqi screamed.
Mrs. Zhao was so angry that she almost laughed, "If I don't twist your ears off, you won't learn your lesson next time!"
She turned to Jiang Yue and said, "You just have such a good temper!"
Jiang Yue smiled. Although she had never given birth to a child, she understood the importance of emotional stability of parents. Being a mother to Ningning, she was actually learning something.
However, Jiang Yue also thought that if Ningning was as naughty as Zhao Yuanqi, she might not be able to keep her emotions stable.
After returning to the family compound, Jiang Yue had just put down the backpack and had not yet caught his breath when he heard someone knocking on the door.
"Sister-in-law, someone is looking for you!"
The people who came were soldiers from the guard company.
"Looking for me? Who is it?" Jiang Yue was surprised and couldn't figure out who would come to the army to look for her.
"It's a woman, and she said she was from Kang County," said the soldier.
Kang County? Could it be that the people coming are from the Jiang family?
"Okay, I'll be there right away!" Jiang Yue washed the dirt off her hands and told Ningning, "Ningning, Mom is going out for a while and will be back soon. Don't run around at home!"
"Okay, Mom!" Ningning responded obediently.
Jiang Yue closed the door and walked towards the camp gate. From a distance, she saw a thin figure who looked familiar.
"Sister-in-law, she is the one who said she was looking for you. Do you know her?" The sentry on duty pointed at the woman not far away and asked Jiang Yue.
Hearing the voice, the woman turned around. She had an old face with a look of sorrow between her brows. When she saw Jiang Yue, she was obviously stunned for a moment, her expression was a little timid, and a glimmer of light flashed in her eyes, "A Yue..."
The woman's face matched the one in his memory, and she turned out to be Jiang's adoptive mother.
Jiang Yue didn't expect that Jiang's adoptive mother would find this place. She stood there for a while, lost in thought.
Mother Jiang had a basket on her arm and a woven bag at her feet, and she looked exhausted.
The moment she saw Jiang Yue, she was a little hesitant to recognize her. She looked her up and down several times before she recognized from her eyebrows and eyes that the fair-skinned and beautiful woman in front of her was Jiang Yue.
"Sister-in-law, is this someone you know?" The sentry asked worriedly when he saw that Jiang Yue didn't speak, and glanced at Jiang's mother with a scrutinizing look.
Mother Jiang was already nervous when she saw the sentry holding a gun. She said quickly, "I know her! I'm her mother!"
The sentry looked at Jiang Yue and Jiang's mother in confusion, as if he didn't quite believe it, because the two didn't look alike at all.
Jiang's mother said flatteringly, "Ayue, I brought you some country eggs and rice dumplings."
"It's my mother, let her in!" Jiang Yue glanced at Jiang's mother and said in a calm voice.
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