Jinniu smiled and said, "I've been idle in the county town for so long. I just got home and have a lot of things to do. Besides, it's not fun to go out in my current state. There are so many fun and beautiful things to do in big cities. I have to be able to walk by myself and go wherever I want. That's what I want."

Shen Yu thought what he said made sense.

Meng Tao said, "Brother Jinniu, we are busy with farm work now. Tiegen and Teacher Jiang are all working normally. You are alone at home. You have to consider the situation and pay attention to safety. You can't do everything. Going to the river to wash clothes or carrying heavy things is not allowed! When you go out in the village, you have to walk slowly. The stone road is very slippery in some places. You are using crutches, so be careful not to fall."

"I know, I know. I won't go out."

"What about this little duck? Don't we have to release it into the paddy field every day?"

"They are still small now, so they need to be kept in the yard for a few days. It will take at least a week before they can be put in water. It doesn't have to be in a paddy field. Just use a bamboo fence to enclose an area at the gate of the yard and fill it with water for them to play."

"You must not go to the river to wash clothes." Meng Tao emphasized.

"No, there are two water tanks at home. Tiegen and Qianliang will fetch enough water. I only have two sets of clothes to wash at home."

“…”

Meng Tao was thinking about reminding him of something else when Bao Dongmei came in with a basket on her arm. She heard their conversation and asked, "Sister Taohua, are you going to the city again? How long will you be gone this time?"

Meng Tao replied: "I don't know, maybe three or four days."

Shen Yu looked over there and said: Wife, you won’t be back for three or four days, don’t lie to the children.

Bao Dongmei said, "Don't worry, Sister Taohua. I'll help you look after Brother Jinniu when you're not at home. I have to go to the river every day to wash a pile of clothes at home anyway, so I can wash Brother Jinniu's clothes as well!"

Meng Tao: "No need, Dongmei, you have a lot of work to do, don't get tired, Brother Jinniu can..."

Bao Dongmei made the decision without hesitation, took out a few cakes wrapped in palm leaves from the basket, and said with a smile: "My mother made Qingtuan today, it's just steamed out of the pot, and it's delicious with sugar. Sister Taohua, Brother Jinniu, Brother-in-law Shen, come and try it!"

Meng Tao just remembered that now is the season for eating qingtuan. She thanked him and took it. It was still hot.

One was given to Jinniu and Shen Yu each. Dongmei's mother's cooking skills are very good. The green rice dumplings are soft and firm. When you take a bite, they are soft, sweet, and full of the aroma of mugwort. They are really delicious.

Taurus liked them very much and ate two in one go.

Shen Yu took small bites of it politely, feeling a little uncomfortable with the taste. Perhaps he had never seen this thing before. It looked very green and he had no idea what it was made of.

Meng Tao smiled and told him, "Do you know mugwort? It is a good thing that can be used as both medicine and food. It is said to be able to ward off evil spirits. This cake is made by picking the tender mugwort leaves that grow in the spring and mixing them with glutinous rice flour. It is a pure natural green and healthy food. Eating some every spring can ensure a safe year and prevent illness."

"real?"

"Why would I lie to you? If you don't want to eat it, give it to me."

Shen Yu fed the green rice dumpling to Meng Tao to take a bite, then he finished it in two bites and took the second one. Dongmei's mother didn't make much, so the portion they gave them was two each.

Taurus was watching from the side, muttering to himself: It's obviously a lie. There's nothing to eat in the countryside. In spring and summer, we have to pick wild vegetables to eat. But people who are supposed to get sick will still get sick. Didn't I eat enough moxa leaves? There was no peace last year. I even broke my hands and feet... Can I believe this brother-in-law? Well, since it's what my sister said, let him be. It's always right to trust your own family!

(End of this chapter)