There were more than a dozen people gathered around a table, but thankfully it was a long table and that was enough.
Sister-in-law Lin brought stir-fried eggplant, stir-fried green beans, stewed radish, and bird eggs that Lin Erxi had collected. Sister-in-law Lin also generously added her own pickled vegetables to the stir-fry.
Song Anxin's family prepared stir-fried wild vegetables and stir-fried mushrooms, but they were stir-fried with pork cracklings. There was also a large pot of rabbit stew with radish, which was garnished with bright green scallions and looked very appealing.
The rabbit meat, cooked by Song Anxin, was so delicious that it made even the bird eggs and pork cracklings, which were a rare treat for the farmers, pale in comparison.
As soon as the meal was served, the children went straight for the rabbit meat. One bite and the rabbit meat was tender and juicy, leaving a lingering fragrance in their mouths. The children couldn't help but exclaim in amazement after eating it.
Even Brother Lin, a man known for his taciturn nature, couldn't help but offer a few words of praise.
As she ate, Sister-in-law Lin said, "Sister-in-law, this rabbit meat you cooked is really delicious! I've never eaten anything so good in my life."
"Me too, me too! I think it tastes even better than what the chefs at the restaurants in the county make," Lin Dongzi said, his mouth greasy with oil.
Lin Erxi, gnawing on rabbit meat, said, "You're just talking nonsense. Have you ever eaten at any restaurant in the county?"
"Hmph, although we've never eaten here, my mother's cooking is definitely better than the chefs at the county restaurants," said Lin Fengyao, Song Anxin's loyal lackey.
Lin Fengshou and Lin Fenghe joined the fray, and the group started arguing about whether the rabbit meat was as good as that made by a restaurant chef.
Song Anxin and the other adults looked at them and laughed.
Stone's mother was also infected by the atmosphere and seemed less reserved. She smiled and said, "This rabbit meat tastes really good. I'm so lucky to be able to eat such delicious food. Even if I die, my life will be worth it." As she said this, she didn't dare to pick up more than a few pieces of rabbit meat.
Sister-in-law Lin quickly said, "Oh dear, what are you saying? What do you mean by dying? Hurry up and eat. Shi Tou will definitely make sure you, as her mother, eat even better. You must live well." As she spoke, she picked up another piece of rabbit meat and put it in her bowl.
Song Anxin smiled and continued eating. She remembered that when she was a child, she would go with her grandparents and neighbors to share a table with them whenever they bought something delicious or during holidays. People were very pure back then.
Everyone ate quickly, and soon they were all full and lying down on their chairs, their bowls and basins completely empty, not a single thing left.
Just as everyone was dozing off, Stone's mother hurriedly got up to clear the dishes. She was still a little unsteady on her feet, and Stone quickly helped his mother.
Zhang Mei quickly stopped her, saying, "Auntie, you've come to my house as a guest, how can I let you wash the dishes? I'll do it."
Stone's mother said embarrassedly, "I didn't come to your house as a guest. I came to work here to pay off my debts. I haven't done anything yet and I've already eaten such a nice meal at your house. How can I ask you to wash the dishes?"
Song Anxin gestured for Zhang Mei to go with her, hoping that washing dishes would ease Shi Tou Niang's mind and make her feel more at ease about what she was going to do.
Besides, with the stone there to help, she definitely wouldn't actually let her mother wash it.
Sister-in-law Lin felt there was no reason for Stone's mother to wash her dishes, so she quickly gathered up her own dishes and took them home to wash. Brother Lin and Lin Erxi Dongzi naturally followed Sister-in-law Lin.
As Song Anxin left, she noticed the eager looks in Lin Erxi and Lin Dongzi's eyes. Song Anxin couldn't help but chuckle; these children were so kind-hearted that a good meal was all it took to win them over.
After Sister-in-law Lin and her family left, she called Lin Fengshou over to discuss it. After all, it was this young man who had obtained it, so it was necessary to get his consent. Lin Fengshou naturally agreed wholeheartedly.
After washing the dishes, Stone's mother came over with Stone and asked, "Second Sister-in-law Lin, didn't you say you still have some clothes that need mending? Bring them here quickly, and I'll mend them for you before it gets dark."
Zhang Mei was completely bewildered. She sewed and mended clothes every day at home, so what clothes did she need to mend?
Song Anxin said, "Stone Mother, no rush, Stone, help your mother sit down and talk."
Stone obediently helped his mother sit down, but Stone's mother felt uneasy sitting on the stool, as if there were thorns on her bottom.
Song Anxin pushed the water she had poured over and said, "Stone's mother, no rush, have a sip of water first."
Stone Mother had no choice but to take a small sip of water, and her throat felt much better after drinking the hot water.
Song Anxin continued, "I didn't call you to my house to work, but if you insist on doing it, I can't stop you. So I'll just have to give you some wages."
As she spoke, Song Anxin took out the lotus root pink purse, inside which were the ninety coins that Shi Tou had earned. She placed it in front of Shi Tou's mother.
Upon seeing this, Stone's mother was greatly alarmed and hurriedly said, "Second Sister-in-law Lin, what are you doing? My family already owes you money, so it's only right that we work for you. How can we ask you to give us more money? Besides, this money... this money is compensation..."
Stone Mother fell silent as she spoke, wiping away tears with her handkerchief. She knew perfectly well that this was Lin Ersao's way of returning the money to them, not some kind of wage payment.
"Alright, Stone's mother, our family's harvest is fine, but you are so weak. I don't think you have any serious illness, you've just worn yourself out. Take this money and go to the county to find a doctor to prescribe some tonics to help you recover."
Stone Mother refused to accept any of it and quickly pushed it back. Song Anxin got a little angry and said in a harsh tone, "Stone Mother, are you going to just let yourself die like this? This money was originally given to you by your family for your medical treatment!"
Stone, such a thin and small man, went to the county to do hard labor just to earn money for your medical treatment. He definitely wanted his mother to live a good life.
Have you ever thought about what would happen to your son, Shi Tou, if you died? Who would protect Shi Tou and let that drunkard Lin beat him to death?!
Upon hearing this, Shi Tou burst into tears: "Mother, please live well, don't die, I still want to get married and give you a big, healthy grandson..."
Upon hearing this, Stone's mother burst into tears, which fell like beads: "Good, good, Mother won't die. Mother still wants to see Stone get married and give Mother a fat grandson... cough cough cough..." As she spoke, perhaps overwhelmed with emotion, she couldn't stop coughing.
Children are a mother's Achilles' heel, so Stone's mother accepted the money with great gratitude.
Song Anxin carefully instructed Shi Tou not to let his father find out about the money, and then told him to take his mother to the county for medical treatment under the pretext of coming to her house to work the next day.
Lin Shitou gratefully agreed to everything.
After seeing Lin Shitou and his mother off, Lin Fengshou returned and solemnly said to Song Anxin, "Mother, thank you for helping Shitou and his mother. I went to the county to work because I saw that Shitou was worried about his mother's illness every day, so I wanted to take him to see if we could find work in the county."
Song Anxin nodded and said, "You're a loyal friend. Here's the ninety coins you earned that you still have. Take them." As she spoke, she took out the string of coins and gave them to him.
Lin Fengshou quickly waved his hand and said, "Mom, you take it. I earn money for the family."
Seeing that he insisted on not taking it, Song Anxin decided to let it go. She had originally planned to start a business anyway, so she would consider her second son as an investor and give him dividends later.
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