Chapter 28 Neighbors Come to Visit
Old Master Ji had seen countless people, from high-ranking officials to ordinary peddlers, and he had encountered all sorts of strange and wonderful people. But the little girl in front of him was quite different. She was pretty and had fair skin with a rosy glow, even more beautiful than the peach blossoms in March.
Where did his grandson find such a little vixen?
But this little vixen has clear, bright eyes. When her dark pupils look directly at you, it's as if she can see right through you.
Grandpa Ji thought to himself that his grandson's taste was indeed extraordinary, and his choice of a wife was also unusual, a little girl who could set bones!
"Your dad said you set my bones?"
“I’ve studied some of this,” Molly said modestly.
The old man glared, "You think you can just lay a hand on me after learning a little bit?"
Molly wasn't guilty at all. "Anyway, the outcome can't be any worse."
The old man choked, realizing things couldn't get any worse. He knew his physical condition well; he was already severely depleted, and with his broken leg, he became increasingly delirious within two days, waking up less and less each day. He felt he couldn't hold on any longer; his life was coming to an end.
But now he has woken up again.
"Grandpa, your leg will still hurt for a while. Sleep more, and the pain will go away when you're asleep," Molly advised the old man.
His legs were indeed in a lot of pain, almost unbearable. He had been enduring it so as not to worry his family. The old man waved his hand, "It's raining today, no need to work, you can all go and rest."
A fire was lit in the thatched house. Grandma Ji, along with her aunt and mother, cut fabric. Taking advantage of the rain and the fact that they didn't have to work, they wanted to hurry up and finish making the clothes.
Molly had learned to sew from her older sister, Mohe, and helped out. Seeing that Molly held the scissors very steadily and cut very straight lines, Mrs. Ji assigned the cutting work to her.
"Can you make clothes?" Mrs. Ji asked.
“I’ve learned a little from my sister,” Molly replied. Mo He’s sewing skills were only average, and she knew few styles and stitches. Molly was currently just starting out. However, she had one advantage: her stitches were exceptionally straight, the stitches were dense, and the gaps between the stitches looked as if they had been measured with a ruler, all of uniform length.
Grandma Ji didn't sleep well last night. She sat for a while, but couldn't stay awake any longer. Her aunt advised her to lie down, so she went back to bed.
There were only two needles. Auntie took one, and Aunt Ji took one. Aunt Ji handed the needle to Molly, saying, "The fabric is cut out. You can sew it."
Molly took the needle and, under the watchful eye of Mrs. Ji, began to sew carefully.
Mrs. Ji nodded secretly. So far, apart from her physical defects, Molly was still satisfactory to her.
"Have you been to school?" Mrs. Ji asked.
“I haven’t been to school. But I learned to read with my younger brother and can understand the letters Ji Hefeng wrote.” Molly noticed that Ji’s mother’s face darkened; it seemed she was very bothered that Molly hadn’t gone to school.
Mother Ji: "After you finish making the clothes, I'll teach you to read."
Molly: "Okay."
The Ji family also had their own vegetable garden on the farm, right behind the thatched house. The garden wasn't very big, and they grew some cabbage, mustard greens, and radishes. Perhaps because of the cold weather and the lack of fertilizer, the vegetables didn't grow very well.
My cousin took Molly to the vegetable garden and they picked a cabbage and two radishes.
"My aunt said we'll cook lunch and dinner. Have you decided what to cook?" Ji Herun asked Molly. After half a year of hardship in college, her family felt sorry for her, a girl, and didn't let her learn to cook. She usually just washed vegetables and helped out.
Molly barely thought about it. "For lunch, we'll have braised cabbage and smoked wild boar, and for our main course, sweet potato and mixed grain rice."
“We don’t have any sweet potatoes,” Ji Herun reminded her.
Molly: "You can also put dried sweet potatoes in and cook them with mixed grains. For dinner, we'll have smoked pork leg stewed with radish, and corn porridge as the main dish."
It was simple, but it all included meat. Ji Herun looked on with anticipation and asked, "What will Grandpa eat?"
Molly: "I see that Grandpa's teeth are fine, so he can eat with us. Just cook them until they're very soft."
The Ji family used to have a nanny, so they didn't have to cook themselves, and their cooking skills weren't very good. Molly was better than them; she controlled the heat and timed it well.
She selected the fattier wild boar meat, cut off the fatty part, and stir-fried it over low heat to render the oil. Then she added the lean meat, followed by cabbage. After stir-frying for a few seconds, she added a bowl of water and covered the pot.
"It smells so good." Ji Herun swallowed hard.
Molly smiled and said, "Adding some seasoning will make it even more fragrant. Next time I'll bring you some kimchi and pickled radish. They're great with porridge and pancakes."
This is what Mohe told her.
The farm's food was monotonous, and after hearing Molly's words, Ji Herun couldn't help but feel hopeful. She asked, "Did you make this yourself?"
“I can’t do it, but my sister can. I’ll ask her to teach me when I get back,” Molly said.
Ji Herun asked in confusion, "You raise pigs and chickens, and you even send us vegetables. Did you grow a lot of vegetables?"
Molly shook her head. "The vegetable garden isn't big, but the vegetables I grow grow well. I also planted kudzu and yams. I've already dug up the kudzu, so I guess it won't grow any new ones until next year. I haven't dug up the yams yet. Yams are nutritious, so I'll bring some for you next time."
Ji Herun: "Give it to Grandpa and Grandma. They're getting old, they just need some nourishment."
Molly: "You all need them. I've planted them in front of and behind my house, so there should be quite a few."
Ji Herun couldn't help but hug her, "How can you be so good to me?"
Molly didn't say anything, because Ji Hefeng was also a very good person. So when Ji Hefeng wasn't around, she was willing to help him take care of his family.
The mixed grain rice was cooked until soft and tender, and the aroma of sweet potatoes kept wafting from the pot, making one's mouth water.
The earthenware pot containing stewed cured pork and cabbage was tightly covered with a lid. The moment the lid was lifted, white steam rushed out, and the aroma of the meat instantly overpowered the sweetness of the sweet potatoes.
The old man woke up to the aroma and immediately asked, "What did you cook?"
"Cabbage and wild boar meat, and sweet potato and mixed grain rice. Grandpa, I'll go call Grandma and the others over. Once they arrive, we can eat." Ji Herun jogged out the door.
Molly wiped the table, served rice, and set out the bowls and chopsticks.
Ji Liangyou, who had gone to fetch water, also returned, his clothes a little damp and his hands red with cold. He put down the carrying pole and went to the fire. While warming his hands, he smiled and praised, "Molly's cooking is pretty good. This food smells so good. I could smell the aroma even before I came in."
Molly smiled shyly, "Dad, are you craving meat?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Liangyou laughed heartily, "Molly has spoken my mind."
"Who doesn't crave meat these days? Hurry up and get me a bowl of meat," the old man urged.
Molly pressed down on Ji Liangyou, who was about to get up, saying, "Dad is feeling cold. Let him warm up a bit before getting close to Grandpa."
She walked towards the old man, helped him up, adjusted his backrest, and tucked him in. "I'll get you some food, Grandpa. Can you eat by yourself?"
The old man retorted, "Of course you can, girl, don't underestimate your grandpa."
Molly smiled but didn't reply. She served the old man half a bowl of rice, then added some cabbage and meat on top.
"I want fatty meat, I like fatty meat," the old man said.
Molly ignored him. "Fat is too greasy. You should eat lean meat. But since you insisted, I'll give you two pieces of fatty meat."
The old man was not happy, "Little housekeeper."
"What's wrong with Molly telling you what to do?" Grandma Ji glared at her husband as soon as she entered the door. "Molly is right, you should eat lighter meals."
The old man obediently shut his mouth, took the bowl Molly handed him, and immediately picked up a piece of fatty meat and put it in his mouth. The oil exploded in his mouth, so delicious that he almost cried.
The others also took their seats, each holding a bowl, eating without looking up.
This was the best meal they had eaten since arriving at the farm.
Thump thump thump—
A knock on the door suddenly sounded, and everyone paused in their chewing, a look of panic flashing across their faces.
“Liangyou, it’s me, your Uncle Wu,” the person outside the door said.
Upon hearing the voice, the Ji family breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed to be an acquaintance.
Ji Liangyou got up to open the door, invited the person in, and then closed the door.
"I made some soybean milk myself and brought some over for you. How come your dad—" His gaze met that of Grandpa Ji on the bed, and he stopped mid-sentence.
"Thank you for remembering this old man," said Grandpa Ji.
Uncle Wu hurried to the bedside, his eyes moist. "You're awake. You look pretty good. You can eat now. You won't die."
Grandpa Ji's eyes also reddened. "He won't die for now. The soy milk you made for me?"
"You weren't awake the other day, so I was thinking of grinding some soybeans and giving it to you to help you recover," Uncle Wu said with a smile.
"I'll take the soy milk. Go sit down and eat with them," Grandpa Ji instructed Ji Liangyou. "Serve your Uncle Wu some rice."
"Dad, the rice is served and the dishes are picked out." Since there weren't enough bowls at home, Ji Liangyou used a basin, which was full to the brim.
"No, no need, I've already cooked some. You can eat it when you get back." Uncle Wu refused repeatedly and turned to leave.
Ji Liangyou quickly pulled the man to the table and pressed him into a chair. "Uncle Wu's family only eats two meals a day. It's not mealtime now, we all know that."
Uncle Wu's family of four was sent to the countryside. Besides him, there was his son, daughter-in-law, and a six-year-old grandson.
Uncle Wu looked helpless. "You're already having a hard time, how can I eat your food?"
“We don’t need your meal,” said Grandpa Ji. He pointed to Molly, “This is my grandson’s wife. She brought us a lot of food. There’s meat in it, it smells delicious. You should try some.”
Uncle Wu had already smelled the aroma of meat. Hearing what Grandpa Ji said, he looked at the bowl in his hand, then at Molly, and sighed, "Your granddaughter-in-law is really beautiful. What's even more admirable is that she cares about you all. True feelings are revealed in times of trouble. That's good, very good. Now that your grandson is married, you can rest assured."
Grandpa Ji nodded, "You're right, the little girl is a very good person. With her by Hefeng's side, I can finally put my mind at ease."
"Uncle Wu, please stop talking and eat quickly, the food is getting cold," Ji Liangyou urged him.
Uncle Wu didn't touch his chopsticks, looking troubled. "I want to take this back for Xiao Liang to eat."
Xiao Liang is his grandson.
"This is for you, just eat it. I have some more meat here, I'll have Liangyou take some back for you later. There's dried meat, smoked meat and dried sweet potatoes, Liangyou, pack some for your Uncle Wu later," the old man instructed.
"This won't do. If I take this and eat it, what kind of person would I be?" Uncle Wu refused. "You're sick, and your granddaughter-in-law brought these things over to help you recover. I can't accept them."
"It's not a problem, she brought a lot." Old Master Ji pointed to the corner, "Two large sacks full, enough for us to eat. Xiao Liang hasn't had meat in ages, he's gotten so thin, don't you feel sorry for him?"
Mentioning his grandson, Uncle Wu fell silent, then sighed heavily and said to Molly, "Girl, this old man thanks you in advance."
Molly shook her head. "You're too kind."
Since there were no bags at home, Ji Liangyou took out a basket. He first put a piece of cured meat weighing about four pounds at the bottom of the basket, and then put in some of the three kinds of dried meat, about one pound of each.
"Too much." Uncle Wu was dumbfounded. His family had been sent down to the countryside even earlier than the Ji family, and he hadn't seen so much meat in a long time.
“Not much, there are quite a few people in your family.” Ji Liangyou said, and started adding dried sweet potatoes to the basket until it was full.
"Uncle, my daughter-in-law came here secretly, so please make sure your family doesn't let it slip," Ji Liangyou reminded her.
"Uncle knows what he's doing and will remind them." Uncle Wu's family was sent down to the countryside even earlier, so they had long since learned to keep their mouths shut. Even six-year-old Xiao Liang never mentions anything about his family outside.
"I trust you, Uncle." Ji Liangyou smiled and added, "It's not convenient at home lately, so please don't tell anyone about my father waking up yet."
Uncle Wu agreed, "Okay, no problem."
After closing the basket, Uncle Wu, wearing a simple straw raincoat, picked up the basket and hurried away.
Uncle Wu lived on the other side of the cowshed, in two thatched huts. Uncle Wu lived in one hut by himself, and usually cooked his meals there.
It's raining today, so none of us went out. We stayed in Uncle Wu's house by the fire, where a clay pot was cooking soy milk.
There wasn't much soy milk; it only made enough for one earthenware jar. Uncle Wu poured most of it to the Ji family, leaving only a small portion for himself. Uncle Wu's son and daughter-in-law couldn't bear to drink it and saved it all for their son.
Xiao Liang has already drunk a bowl, and there is still about a bowl's worth left in the earthenware jar, which they left for Uncle Wu.
As soon as Uncle Wu entered the room, he smelled the raw, fragrant smell of beans.
"Xiao Liang, look what good things Grandpa brought you back!" Uncle Wu took off his raincoat, carried the basket to the fire, and smiled, his face crinkling with wrinkles.
"Grandpa, I've saved you a bowl of soy milk," Xiao Liang said.
"Good boy, Liang. But Grandpa had lunch at your Grandpa Ji's house and isn't hungry. You can save the soy milk for your mom." Uncle Wu opened the basket lid and couldn't help but laugh when he saw his grandson's wide eyes. "Surprised? Your Grandpa Ji gave this to you. Which one do you want to eat first?"
Xiao Liang was immediately drawn to the bright yellow dried sweet potatoes. He swallowed hard, pointed at them, and said, "Let's eat this first."
Uncle Wu took a piece and put it in Xiao Liang's mouth, "Try it, see if it's the same as what you've had before."
Xiao Liang's eyes lit up instantly. "It's so sweet, even sweeter than the ones we used to make ourselves."
Uncle Wu smiled and said, "As long as it's sweet, you can keep it and eat it slowly."
"Dad, did you really eat at Uncle Ji's house?" Uncle Wu's son asked.
"I've eaten, I'm not lying, I ate a whole big bowlful." Uncle Wu laughed, and let his son and daughter-in-law try some dried sweet potatoes as well. "There's also dried meat and smoked meat downstairs. You and Feng got married, and these things were brought by his wife. Just keep it to yourselves, don't tell anyone."
“Dad, we know, don’t worry,” Uncle Wu’s son assured him.
Uncle Wu's wife nodded, "I'll keep an eye on Xiao Liang and make sure he doesn't tell anyone. But Dad, why did you bring so much back? Uncle Ji's family is large; is it enough for them?"
“That’s enough, that’s enough. Your Uncle Ji’s family has plenty more. His granddaughter-in-law is really something, managing to get them so much food. I think that girl is a good person, capable, and loyal. Ji Hefeng is lucky to have married her.”
"After hearing what you said, I can't help but wonder what kind of person she is?"
"I can't quite put my finger on it, but she's incredibly beautiful, the kind of beauty that's one in a million. She doesn't look very old, but she gives off a very composed and dignified vibe. I have a feeling that with her around, things will be much easier for your Uncle Ji's family in the future."
Uncle Wu's son and daughter-in-law didn't believe it. Uncle Ji's leg was broken, and he would become a burden if he couldn't work anymore. Aunt Ji was also getting older and there were two elderly people to support. How could the Ji family have a good life?
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