Qiao Xia Ni put the apples in the basket: "A man just passed by, said a few words to me, and then gave me two apples. He seemed to be from the village next door."
I still can't remember his name.
Upon hearing that a man had given her sister-in-law an apple, Tao Chunfang immediately became wary: "What did that man look like? Did he do anything else to you? I mean, did he take advantage of you?" After saying that, she looked her sister-in-law up and down. Her clothes were intact, and she didn't seem flustered. It seemed like nothing was wrong; perhaps she was just overthinking it.
Qiao Xiaoni: "Sister-in-law, what are you thinking? I'm not stupid, how could I let a man take advantage of me?"
Tao Chunfang was relieved to hear this, watching her daughter devour the apple with both hands.
"Xiaoli hasn't eaten an apple since last winter."
Qiao Xiaoni sat down on a large rock nearby: "The apples in the basket are for Xiaoli to eat, we'll give them to her tonight. Sister-in-law, did you have lunch?"
For the first time, Tao Chunfang felt her sister-in-law's concern. Recalling the events of the past few days, she suddenly felt that her sister-in-law seemed like a different person. She became taciturn, and the biggest change was that her crying was no longer heard from inside the house.
"I've already eaten. You should eat while it's hot, don't go hungry."
Qiao Xiaoni picked up her chopsticks and started eating. The shredded potatoes weren't cooked with much oil, just a little salt. The cornbread was delicious, and with something in her stomach, she felt much better.
Qiao Manli ate the apple very cleanly, swallowing every last bit except for the seeds.
"Is the apple delicious?" Qiao Xiaoni couldn't help but tease the child, who was very cute.
"It's delicious," Qiao Manli replied in her childish voice.
"Good girl! I left all the apples and eggs in the basket for you. What should you say to your aunt?"
"Are you going to give me all of it?" Qiao Manli asked excitedly.
"Okay, you can have the apples and eggs, but you have to be a good girl," Qiao Xiaoni replied firmly.
Qiao Manli jumped up happily: "Great! I have apples and eggs to eat!"
Tao Chunfang quickly stopped her, saying, "How can you do that? Manli has already eaten an apple. This egg is for you to nourish your body."
Qiao Xiaoni really wanted to eat the eggs, but she couldn't bring herself to fight a child for food: "I've already eaten, and I can't finish the apples and eggs, so I'll leave them for Manli."
Tao Chunfang was deeply moved: "My dear aunt, what can I say to you?"
Qiao Xiaoni: "We're family, why are you being so polite with me? Aren't you my sister-in-law? Isn't Manli my niece? Giving her food isn't like giving food to outsiders."
Tao Chunfang felt that her sister-in-law had really changed for the better and hoped that she could continue to be this way.
Don't let her go back to being a crybaby; she definitely won't be able to handle it.
Qiao Xiaoni ate all the food; all-natural grains taste so good.
She put the chopsticks in the basket and clapped her hands lightly: "Sister-in-law, I'm finished eating."
Tao Chunfang covered the basket with the white cloth again: "Go back after you finish eating! Your older brother will come to relieve me later. Our food supply for the whole year depends on this corn, so we can't let anyone steal it."
Qiao Xiaoni didn't argue with her, but picked up the basket from the ground.
"Then I'll head back first. Be careful in the cornfield with the children. I'll leave the sickle with you."
"Okay, you can go back now!" Tao Chunfang replied with a smile.
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