The Zhou family usually gets up late and eats late in winter, so when the two people arrived at this time, the Zhou family hadn't had breakfast yet.
Farmers don't need to work in the winter, and they basically eat two meals a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
The meal served in the morning is called lunch, and the meal served in the afternoon is called dinner.
Li Mai and Zhou Quan arrived at just the right time.
When the family sat down to eat together, Li Mai discovered that only Zhou Lin was not home.
"Mother, did Xiaolin go to his master's place in Nanshan Village again?" Li Mai asked.
Madam Zhao nodded and said, "Yes, he went there after you left, and he comes back every few days. He's been learning to make all kinds of furniture from his master for the past two months!"
Li Mai nodded. "It seems you've made a lot of progress."
"Yes, that carved couch over there was made by Xiao Lin. Didn't expect that, did you?" Zhao said with a smile.
Zhou Quan and Li Mai exchanged a glance, utterly incredulous. "Xiao Lin's carving skills are amazing now!"
Old Zhou also smiled and said, "Yes, when I followed the previous master, I mainly learned a lot of basic skills and carpentry work such as building houses. Although I only followed this master in Nanshan Village for a short time, I learned a lot of fine skills."
Hearing that their second brother had such a good opportunity, Zhou Quan and Li Mai were also happy for Zhou Lin.
"Xiao Lei, after the New Year, we'll send you to the town's academy to study. We'll let you study for a few years to see if you're cut out for studying. If you are, your older brother and sister-in-law will do their best to nurture you. If not, we'll arrange for you to study something else you like when you turn fifteen," Zhou Quan said seriously, looking at Zhou Lei.
His tone was like that of a father, which made Zhou Lei inexplicably tremble. Being watched and lectured by his older brother, he sat up straight and listened attentively.
"Okay, I will definitely study hard," Zhou Lei replied.
"Yes, your sister-in-law bought a package of clothes for each of you three. You two can try them on when you get back. Tomorrow, I'll take you to town to get some shoes." Zhou Quan said, turning to look at the three packages on the kang (a heated brick bed).
"Huh? Big brother, when did you send these three packages? I didn't notice them!" Zhou Tao rushed over in disbelief. Needless to say, the pink package must be hers.
Zhou Quan smiled but did not answer her question.
"The clothes I bought for Mom and Dad are in that pile of stuff from last night. Tao'er will go help me sort them out in a bit. After that, we'll figure out what we're still missing for the New Year, and we'll go to town tomorrow to get it," Zhou Quan added.
"Yes, Big Brother!" Zhou Tao quickly replied.
Big brother is testing her ability to manage the household, isn't he? No problem, she'll be able to get this little house in order very soon.
During the months of building the village, she also assisted her sister-in-law in managing logistics and learned a lot.
Li Mai glanced at the siblings with a smile, then continued eating her food at a leisurely pace.
Without her saying much, Zhou Quan had arranged everything clearly for everyone in the family in just a few words.
At this moment, Zhuzhu, who was sitting next to Limai, looked at this and then at that, hesitated for a moment, and asked in a low voice, "Mother, will Zhuzhu have new clothes for the New Year?"
Although her voice was low, Li Mai could still detect a hint of disappointment and grievance in her tone.
“Yes, Zhuzhu’s are all at our house. We didn’t bring them here. Your parents came today to take you back to live with them.” Li Mai patted her head and said softly.
A bright smile immediately appeared on Zhuzhu's previously somewhat gloomy face. "Okay, I'll go back and live with my parents."
Zhou Quan responded with a "okay".
"Auntie, I'm going back to live with my parents," Zhuzhu said happily to Zhou Tao.
Zhou Tao glanced at her, deliberately teasing her, "You little ungrateful thing, your parents aren't here, so it's always your aunt who sleeps with you and plays with you. Now that your parents said they'd take you back, you're this happy. Sigh, niece, you're too hurtful to your aunt."
Zhuzhu was taken aback. "No, Zhuzhu loves her parents and her aunt!"
After saying that, the little guy seemed afraid that Zhou Tao would be unhappy, so he ran over and gave Zhou Tao a big kiss on the cheek.
Zhou Tao's heart melted from the little guy's kisses, but she wiped her face with the back of her hand where she had been kissed, "Ouch, it's all from that little girl's greasy mouth!"
"Hehehe, Auntie, Zhuzhu is drinking millet porridge, there's no oil in it!" Zhuzhu was amused by her expression and giggled, which made the whole family laugh along with her.
The Zhou family's comfortable lunch ended in a happy and joyful atmosphere.
After dinner, Zhou Tao went to wash the dishes, and the family sat inside talking.
"By the way, Xiaomai, Zhuzhu also encountered the same situation as when we were with you the last two times we took her up the mountain. She caught wild rabbits and pheasants several times." Old Zhou told Limai about this.
Li Mai looked at Zhu Zhu, who was sitting obediently next to her, with surprise. So, even without her company, Zhu Zhu has become a lucky charm?
That's great? That's a good thing.
But why is it different from before?
Suddenly, Li Mai remembered the koi fish she had brought back for Zhu Zhu.
"Zhuzhu, are you still keeping the fish that your mother caught for you?" Li Mai asked.
Zhuzhu nodded, "Yes, I'm taking care of it. It's doing very well. The little fish has grown a bit bigger and fatter."
When Zhuzhu mentioned Fatty Yu, she remembered everything that had happened in the alley outside, and she immediately puffed out her cheeks.
Li Mai said "Oh" and praised, "That's great. That fish is called a koi fish. It seems that Zhuzhu's koi fish brought good luck to Zhuzhu as well."
Zhuzhu's eyes lit up immediately. "Mom, my fish is called a koi fish?"
“Yes!” Li Mai nodded.
The Zhou family immediately understood. It seemed that Zhuzhu's fish was a good thing, and they had to take good care of it.
"Sister-in-law, there were so many back then, shouldn't we have caught a few more?" Zhou Lei asked curiously.
Li Mai shook her head. "That's not it. Koi are spiritual creatures, and their companionship with people depends on fate. Just like a peacock spreading its tail feathers, only those who are destined to see it can do so."
"Mom, when I go back to our home, can I take my koi fish back with me?" Zhuzhu asked Limai.
Li Mai nodded, "Okay, your luck is now intertwined with it. From now on, you will be good friends who accompany each other. Naturally, wherever you live, the koi will be there to accompany you."
Upon hearing this, Zhuzhu was immediately delighted, stood up, and ran out.
Soon, she returned with her fish tank and placed it in front of Li Mai.
Li Mai looked down into the fish tank, and her eyes met those of the little koi carp that were looking up at her.
Li Mai's lips twitched. Sure enough, she had gained weight and grown quite a bit.
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