On the first rest day after the Waking of Insects, Mu Huaixi went to the mountains to dig wild vegetables with the sisters-in-law in the family compound.
This was organized by Sister Yu, and most of the family members participated. Sister Hongxia's family brought all the children who were able to work. Each child carried a bamboo basket with a large flowered cloth tied on it, which made them particularly conspicuous in the mountains and forests.
"This was Chun'er's idea. This way we don't have to worry about these naughty kids running around," Sister Hongxia pulled her eldest daughter over and praised her for a long time, but Guan Jichun pouted and ignored her. When her playmates called her, she couldn't wait to break free from her mother's hand and ran away.
Mu Huaixi was a little surprised. The eldest daughter of Sister Hongxia was always the most considerate. "Why, is Chun'er angry with you?"
"Yeah," Wang Hongxia sighed helplessly, leaning over and whispering, "Sister Yu came to me the day before yesterday and said she wanted to open a nursery in the family compound and asked me to take care of the children."
The supply and marketing cooperative has opened and the school has started recruiting students. It is time for the military wives to get busy. Having a nursery can reduce many worries and allow more people to have jobs, which is a win-win situation.
"This is a good thing, Sister Hongxia, didn't you agree?"
"No." Wang Hongxia frowned. "I know Sister Yu is kind enough to take care of me. After I go to the nursery, I can take care of the other children there. I won't be worried about having no one to help me when Chun'er goes to school, but I really don't want to take care of the children anymore."
"Oh, I've had seven kids in my life. From the moment they opened their eyes to the moment they closed, they were responsible for everything. They made a mess of the house every day. Now I'm asked to take care of ten, no, twenty, or so kids. My head hurts just thinking about it!"
"Chun'er is doing this for my own good, I know, but I really..."
"Alas, I feel uncomfortable all over if I go, but I can't bear to spend the money if I don't go. I'm like a mouse in a bellows, I'm stuck on both ends!"
Mu Huaixi thought this was a puzzling problem. Sister Hongxia was not young and her education level was not high. It was not realistic for her to work in the supply and marketing cooperative or school. She was, however, particularly suitable for working in a nursery.
But Sister Yu probably couldn't have imagined that Sister Hongxia was so tired of taking care of the baby that she felt like vomiting and didn't want to take care of other children at all.
"If there is another job, even if it is in the cafeteria, I would be willing to do it!" Wang Hongxia could only complain in front of her. In fact, the organization has taken good care of her. The nursery costs one dollar and fifty cents a month. Her eldest child and the two younger ones go to school, and the remaining four have to be sent to the nursery, which costs six dollars a month, which is a huge expense.
If she works in a nursery, she can get half of the six dollars off, and still have a salary of eighteen and a half dollars a month, which is much more cost-effective than taking care of the baby at home.
Mu Huaixi didn't know how to persuade her. This was related to the livelihood of Captain Guan's family. If she had another job, she could help Sister Hongxia solve this problem. "Sister Hongxia, talk to Chun'er, she will understand you. Although making money is important, being happy is equally important."
"Alas," Wang Hongxia sighed, feeling particularly relieved. "I can only tell you this. If others heard that I didn't want this job, they would probably think I was too timid."
Mu Huaixi smiled and said, "That's because Sister Hongxia knows that I don't have any bad intentions. If others hear me say this, they will probably think that I am too frivolous and don't even care about money."
The two looked at each other and laughed. Wang Hongxia pulled her sleeve and went up the mountain. "Come on, I'll take you to dig shepherd's purse. I remember you said you liked it."
The wind on the mountain was still a little chilly, but it already carried the fragrance of spring. New buds were quietly sprouting from beneath the dead branches and old leaves. On the ground, blades of grass had sprouted one after another. There were tender dandelions, shepherd's purse spread on the ground, and purslane with a red edge...
Sister Hongxia originally said that she would take her to pick wild vegetables, but as they walked, she found that Xiao Mu knew much more than she knew.
Seeing Mu Huaixi stop in front of a large patch of weeds, she couldn't help but wonder, "Xiao Mu, can this be eaten?"
"This is good stuff, no worse than shepherd's purse," Mu Huaixi squinted his eyes and looked at the large area of wolfberry and wild chrysanthemum. He squatted down and turned over the roots, and sure enough, he saw moist sandy soil. There must be a stream nearby.
Wang Hongxia was dumbfounded. Xiao Mu was just talking about how to eat wolfberry sprouts and chrysanthemum tea, but how come he was talking about the river so quickly?
The two pairs of twins in her family liked Mu Huaixi very much. After hearing what she said, they went to look for her nearby. After a while, Guan Wen and Guan Wu shouted, "Big sister, over here, over here, Xiaoxi is over here!"
"What are you yelling about!" Wang Hongxia walked over quickly and pulled the two troublemakers' ears. "This is your Aunt Mu, you have to call her Auntie!"
"Auntie," Guan Wen was obviously used to having his ears pulled. He didn't even howl, but just looked at Mu Huaixi with admiration as she passed by. "Auntie, how did you know there was water here?"
The stream they found was not large in volume and flowed very quietly beneath the grass and bushes. The water quality was excellent and almost transparent, so it would be difficult to find if one did not actively look for it or accidentally stepped into it.
Mu Huaixi squatted down, feeling something cold in her hand. She looked in the direction of the rushing stream and smiled as she explained their confusion. "Goji berries and chrysanthemums prefer sandy soil. The mountains near us are mostly rocky, and the only thing that can turn stones into gravel is the river. But these two plants don't like being flooded. The stream must have changed its course, leaving behind this sandy soil suitable for their growth."
"This stream is fed by melted snow from the mountain tops. Every spring, the water level gradually rises, summer and autumn surges, and winter dries up. Year after year, it washes out this sandy land."
"Let's go up this stream. We're sure to find more wild vegetables."
As Mu Huaixi spoke, she thought of her grandfather. In the past, the old man took her to the mountains and taught her to identify herbs, judge the terrain, avoid wild animals, and so on.
Guan Wen, Guan Wu, Guan Nan and Guan Bei were all confused, but it did not affect their admiration for Mu Huaixi.
"Aunt, you know so much!"
"Aunt, we'll listen to you and pick wild vegetables along this path!"
"That's right! We definitely picked the most! The most!"
Several children were arguing and chasing each other as they rushed forward. Guan Jichun, who had fallen behind them, pouted and hit a roadside tree in anger. "What a liar! They are all flatterers!"
It’s not that she disliked Mu Huaixi, she was just still angry with her mother. However, after hearing the laughter of her younger brothers and sisters in front of her, she couldn’t hold it any longer. She hurried over and started picking wolfberry sprouts.
I heard from Aunt Mu that this thing tastes bitter but sweet when fried, and she loves this taste the most, but her mother doesn't like bitter dishes.
Guan Jichun decided to fry a big plate tonight!
She was still angry, but who would go against wild spring vegetables?!
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