The next day, Cao Qiaoniu and Cui Yulu got up early to cook.
Two more large pots were set up in the Han family's courtyard, with the fire burning brightly. The two pots outside were used for cooking, while the pot in the kitchen was already steaming two bowls of rice. Fearing it might not be enough, they also made some cornbread.
Tan Guihua arrived even earlier; before the Han family had even opened their doors, she and Hu Zi were already waiting at the entrance.
Liu Meie was startled when she opened the door.
"Oh dear, aren't you cold? You're not afraid of the cold, but this child is. Come inside and warm up."
Although Liu Meie has a sharp tongue, she is not a bad person, especially when she knows that someone is good to her, she will give them her whole heart.
"Auntie, I'm here to help. This is a cabbage from my home, please don't mind it."
"What are you complaining about? We're just short of cabbages, come on in."
Liu Meie led her and Hu Zi into the house to warm up, and soon Hu Zi was playing with Abu and Niu Niu.
Tan Guihua also stepped forward to help.
Soon, some early-rising women from the village came to help, some with wild vegetables, some with cornmeal; no one came empty-handed.
Today's head chef is mainly Cao Qiaoniu, with Tan Guihua and Cui Yulu helping out.
In the courtyard, a large pot was cooking pork stew, and soon the aroma of meat wafted out, making everyone's mouths water.
"Daping's wife, you are so lucky. Your daughter-in-law is really amazing. The dishes she makes are so delicious. You are blessed."
The village elders praised Cao Qiaoniu with beaming smiles.
This immediately brought a smile to Liu Meie's face.
"Look at what you're saying, old man. My wife is lucky to be able to cook, so aren't you even luckier?"
"Haha, look at your sharp tongue. Only someone as good-tempered as Qiaoniu can get along with you. If it were someone else, they would probably fight with you."
The old man spoke with a smile, and Liu Meie was not annoyed. She was happy today, so she couldn't be angry. But it was also true that Cao Qiaoniu was known for her good temper in the village.
She does not deny this.
However, she is a bit weak in having children, which makes her not very satisfied. It would be better if she could have more children.
“You’re never satisfied. Niu Niu is such a good child. These days, one child is enough. More than that is just a burden.”
"You're right, but kids need a lot of excitement, it makes things look good when we go out."
The Han family's eldest branch has few members. Han Erzhu has been on the battlefield all his life, leaving only Han Yu'an as their only child, who unfortunately is mentally challenged and it's uncertain whether he can carry on the family line. Han Daping's branch only has two sons, and currently only Han Hu is married and has a daughter named Niu Niu. Han Bao is still single, and it's unknown which girl he'll marry.
Looking at the second wife's side, Cao Jinfang has two sons and a daughter. Her sons each have two sons, and her sons each have grandsons. In turn, her grandsons have great-grandsons.
They had a larger population than their family.
"The key is not the quantity of the population, but the quality. If you are more open-minded, the children will naturally come."
Most of the villagers who had relatives came, and some who wanted to eat meat also came, each carrying some grain in their hands, as they couldn't come empty-handed.
"Auntie, please sit down first. I'll go take a look over there. We'll eat in a bit."
Liu Meie went over there to greet the villagers, leaving the elderly to eat sunflower seeds and chestnuts.
The chestnuts were peeled last night, and Cao Qiaoniu made sugar-roasted chestnuts for them early this morning.
The sweet taste was very tempting. Everyone who came would try one or two pieces when the large winnowing basket was placed there, and then they would all praise the Han family for being so lucky to have such a good granddaughter-in-law.
One is a good cook, and the other is blessed with good luck, encountering all sorts of good things.
"Sister-in-law, I've come to join in the fun too. You don't mind, do you?"
The village head, holding a fish in his hand, came over with a smile to greet him.
"Oh dear, is the village head making fun of me? I'm overjoyed that you came, I wouldn't possibly look down on you."
The village head brought his grandson, Han Cheng'en, who is four and a half years old and has a chubby face that makes him very lovable.
"Cheng En, go find Niu Niu and the others to play. They're all about your age, have some fun."
There was a small table over there with some mung bean cakes and chestnut cakes that Cao Qiaoniu had just made.
The children enjoyed their meal.
However, even in a harmonious atmosphere, there will always be some discordant voices.
For example, Cao Jinfang, who had just suffered a loss yesterday, came today with her son and Han Xing'en to confront him.
"Oh ho ho, this is quite a lively scene. We settled our differences yesterday, and today I'm handing over the ancestor to us. Let's argue right in front of him and see who's really in the wrong."
Cao Jinfang looked at Liu Xiuying triumphantly, thinking, "Let's see if you dare to deny it this time."
"Han Xing'en, you actually dare to come back? You were driven out of the village by us back then. Now that you're back, aren't you afraid we'll drive you out again?"
Speaking of Han Xing'en, he was the first scholar in Linshui Village, so his status was naturally very high. In addition, he was of a high generation in the Han family, so everyone respected him very much at first.
However, after this person gained a higher social status, he began to have wicked thoughts.
Han Xing'en was a lecherous man. Before, his family restrained him from flirting with other women, but after he passed the imperial examination, his true nature began to show. He spent his days in brothels, which angered his father to death. Later, in order to get him to settle down and continue taking the imperial examination, his mother arranged a marriage for him, but he still did not know how to restrain himself.
He continued to frequent brothels, and soon his wife contracted menstrual cramps and died shortly after. His mother also fell ill as a result and died soon after.
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