They both paused for a moment, then instinctively looked at each other, their eyes meeting.
They both blushed after hurriedly dodging away.
Blushing with guilt.
The second aunt saw this and assumed the young couple were just shy.
She shifted her gaze to the straw figurine, trying to avoid suspicion, and asked, "Niece-in-law, this is so exquisitely woven and even colored. You didn't just make it for fun, did you?"
Su Xueli didn't hide it from her, "Second Aunt, I made some to sell and sent them to the department store in the city."
"Oh my, so your niece-in-law is a professional! No wonder she wrote such a good story. Ming Shen, you've married a wonderful wife. She's as beautiful as a flower, and she'll start earning money for you right after we got married. You can't find a wife like that even with a lantern."
Wei Mingshen chuckled, "Our Wei family's ancestral graves must be emitting auspicious smoke."
"Haha, my nephew is right. Marrying such a good wife is like his ancestors' graves emitting auspicious smoke."
Su Xueli felt embarrassed by their flattery and interrupted them, saying, "Second Aunt, I don't know what that little sister likes. Could you help her choose a category? You can make up stories about people, flowers, birds, insects, and fish."
My second aunt said solemnly, "Since you're in this business, niece-in-law, I can't just take it for free; I have to pay you. My niece loves kittens the most; can you make one up?"
Su Xueli said, "This is very simple. My second aunt can come and pick it up this afternoon."
My second aunt said, "Child, you have to tell me how much it costs, otherwise I won't dare to take it."
Su Xueli laughed, "Second Aunt, I won't sell it for a penny less. I won't take a penny of it as a gift."
My second aunt refused, saying, "If you just make it for fun, I won't pay you. But if you make it and sell it, I can't take it for free. That's the rule. Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. That's just how serious I am."
Su Xueli knew her character well enough to refuse, so she said, "Alright, Second Aunt, you can have five cents."
Wei Mingshen grinned and said, "Second Aunt, let's settle on this. You can come and pick it up this afternoon if you're free."
The second aunt knew that she was just asking for money as a token gesture, so she stopped arguing and took out 50 cents to hand to Su Xueli.
Then he said gently, "Niece-in-law, you can cook now, I'm leaving."
"Second Aunt, why don't you eat here? I'll make carrot noodle soup," Su Xueli said, inviting her to eat.
My second aunt said, "I just finished stewing the cabbage and it'll be perfect to eat when you get back."
After her second aunt left, Su Xueli saw that Wei Mingshen's hands were covered in paint, so she mixed some warm water for him and said, "Hurry up and wash your hands, you'll be cooking for me in a bit."
Wei Mingshen was a hands-off manager who had never cooked before, but at the moment it was just the two of them at home, and his wife was rolling out noodles. They couldn't very well ask the Kitchen God to cook.
He obediently sat down on the stool in front of the stove and asked, "When are you going to cook?"
Su Xueli was very satisfied with his performance. While rolling out the noodles, she said, "Listen to my commands."
"Pfft!" Wei Mingshen laughed.
Su Xueli rolled out the noodles, sliced the washed carrots, and shredded some ginger, saying, "Let's cook it."
Wei Mingshen grabbed a handful of wheat straw and lit it, then broke off some firewood stalks and stuffed them into the stove, and the fire blazed up.
Su Xueli scooped some lard into the pot with a spoon, and when the oil was hot, she added a few peppercorns and fried them until they were cooked. Then she poured the radish slices into the pot, added salt and stir-fried for a while. She added the ginger shreds, then scooped two ladles of water into the pot. Finally, she covered the pot with the lid and said to Wei Mingshen, "Add some firewood and turn the fire up high."
Wei Mingshen added another firewood to the stove, and the fire burned even brighter.
Su Xueli was tired from all the work, so she sat down on the stool in front of him and grabbed a handful of shriveled peanuts from the bag of shriveled peanuts under the table to peel and eat.
She asked, "My second aunt gave us so much seaweed. It's the New Year, we should give her something in return."
Wei Mingshen shook his head, "Come back and tell our mother."
Su Xueli wanted to give her second aunt a return gift herself, and she pondered what to give her.
Since my second aunt gave up worldly desires, she spends her time teaching and reading at home, occasionally practicing calligraphy. She doesn't really care about anything else.
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