Gu Lili rushed up to the three of them and asked anxiously.
The two younger children looked up at Gu Lili for a moment, then lowered their heads again.
Gu Erniu turned his head to one side unnaturally, looking unhappy. Clearly, this matter was related to Gu Erniu.
Gu Lili said seriously, "Erniu, you tell me, what exactly happened?"
Gu Erniu pouted and muttered under his breath, "Sister, buying all this stuff must cost a lot of money, right? Have we run out of money? Will we have to live like we used to?"
Before they separated their households, Aunt Gu would buy these things at the market during the Lunar New Year.
Back then, he overheard Aunt Gu whispering to Gu Chuan that these things weren't cheap at all.
Gu Lili was stunned. Although she was the eldest sister, this money was Gu Shan's pension, and each child had the right to dispose of it.
I shouldn't have bought these things without even discussing them with the others.
These three children were clearly terrified of being hungry.
"Erniu, I..." Gu Lili was about to explain.
Gu Erniu interrupted Gu Lili, saying somewhat flusteredly, "Sister, tomorrow I'll go find Uncle Dali in the village to learn how to hunt, and I'll earn money to support you all in the future!"
Actually, he didn't blame Gu Lili for spending money; he knew that his sister had bought these things for them to eat and use.
That's how it's always been. No matter what's in the house, my older sister will always do what our mother does: give it to them first, and then she'll eat it herself.
Even if it's just a bowl of wild vegetable porridge, she'll give them the thicker part while she eats the thinner part herself.
He didn't even know how much five taels of silver was; they all thought the money had been spent.
He's too clumsy with words; he can't express himself properly.
He was just blaming himself, because as the oldest boy in the family, he still couldn't share the family responsibilities with his older sister.
Gu Huanhuan also sobbed, "Sister, tomorrow I will take Si Gou to the fields to pull weeds properly, and I will eat less so that you won't faint from hunger again."
Gu Sigou nodded heavily, "Yes, sister, we won't let you faint from hunger again."
Gu Lili's nose suddenly stung with tears. These three silly children...
Gu Lili tilted her head back, trying to stop her tears from falling.
After a while, once she had calmed down, Gu Lili jumped up and gave Gu Erniu a flick on the forehead. "Gu Erniu, you're so stupid! How could you run out of money after buying so few things? Go wash your hands and get ready to eat. After you finish eating, come with me to render the lard."
Gu Erniu covered his head and burst into tears. His sister had hit him three times since she woke up yesterday...
However, he liked his feisty older sister, so that she wouldn't be bullied anymore.
The two children smiled happily when they heard that the money hadn't been spent.
Seeing Gu Erniu covered his head after being hit, they all covered their own heads and quickly followed Gu Lili to eat.
They were afraid that Gu Lili would jump up and give them both a good whack on the head.
With no worries, the three children ate their meals with great relish.
Tonight we're having shepherd's purse porridge again. Because we need to render lard, we eat it very quickly.
After they finished eating, Gu Huanhuan went to wash the dishes, while Gu Lili started cutting the fatty pork.
Gu Lili originally wanted to buy lard to refine, but lard was a bit more expensive.
As she chopped, she put the fatty meat directly into the pot.
She also added a bowl of water to the pot, which would help release the grease from the pork cracklings more cleanly and thoroughly.
This yields more lard, and adding water makes the cracklings crispier and improves their texture.
The oil in the pan quickly boiled and the aroma wafted out.
Fortunately, there wasn't much meat today, and although the pot was broken, it didn't reach the crack.
Otherwise, if the oil leaks, it will be a waste.
Gu Huanhuan had already washed the dishes and was now sitting around the earthen stove with Gu Sigou, drooling.
Even Gu Erniu, who was tending the fire, stood up and stared at the boiling pot.
Gu Lili couldn't help but chuckle.
Seeing the white pork turn golden, Gu Lili quickly told Gu Erniu to turn off the heat.
Gu Lili scooped up the golden oil residue and poured the oil into a jar.
The three of them couldn't take their eyes off the bowl of golden fried pork cracklings, constantly swallowing their saliva.
Gu Lili took out the salt she bought today and sprinkled a thin layer on it.
"Quickly, eat it while it's hot," Gu Lili urged the three of them.
The three of them had been waiting for these words for a long time, as their grandmother's family used to render lard.
However, it wasn't their turn to eat; they all had to save it for Gu Shuwen, Grandma said, because Gu Shuwen was tired from school.
They had been wanting to taste it for a long time; the aroma alone was enough to make them swoon.
The three of them carefully took a piece, and because it was fresh out of the pot, it was a little hot, so they hurriedly put it into their mouths.
But my mouth couldn't stand the heat, so I just chewed a few mouthfuls and swallowed it.
I didn't even taste anything. Actually, it's not that I didn't taste anything, it's just that I swallowed too quickly and didn't get to enjoy the full flavor in my mouth.
After finishing one piece, none of the three took any more.
Seemingly still wanting more, he even started licking his fingers.
Seeing this, Gu Lili knew they were reluctant to part with it, so she quickly urged, "Quick, eat it while it's hot!"
As he spoke, he took a piece and started eating it himself.
As expected of pork from our own free-range pigs, it's incredibly delicious.
If you sprinkle some white sugar on it, it will taste completely different.
After she finished eating one piece, seeing that none of the three showed any intention of eating, she said, "Eat quickly, or I'll beat you up!"
As he spoke, he showed off his bent index finger; Gu Erniu was the most experienced in this regard.
Fearing he would get beaten up again if he was late, he quickly and obediently took a piece in his hand.
Seeing this, the two younger ones each took another piece.
This time they learned from their experience and didn't make the same mistake as the first time.
Instead, he carefully blew on it to cool it down a bit, and then took a bite.
The aroma of the lard instantly filled my nostrils, and a sprinkle of salt added a salty touch that elevated the pork cracklings to another level.
Seeing that Gu Sigou was about to speak again, Gu Huanhuan quickly spoke up, "Sigou, is this the most delicious thing you've ever eaten in your life?"
Gu Sigou's eyes widened. "Third Sister, how did you know what I was going to say?"
Seeing Gu Sigou's silly appearance, the three of them laughed in unison.
After finishing the piece in their hands, the three children refused to eat any more, no matter what Gu Lili said.
Seeing this, Gu Lili stopped pressuring them; that was how they understood it.
She has to be frugal with everything, and she hasn't started a business yet.
There was no reason to persuade them to eat more.
All Gu Lili can do is get up a little earlier tomorrow.
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