While they were eating, they heard noise in the yard. Zhao Qiming and Li Yuemei had returned. They were pushing a cart with several sacks piled on it, and Yu Ge'er was following behind them.
Zhao Shiyun quickly drank a few mouthfuls of pumpkin porridge, put down his bowl and chopsticks, looked at Lin Yan who had swallowed the steamed bun whole, and said, "Eat slowly, I'll go help you."
The sacks contain soybeans collected from the villagers. In addition to growing rice, the Zhao family also planted a few acres of soybeans. However, it is not enough to sell tofu all year round, so they collect some soybeans from the villagers every year.
After stacking the sacks in the utility room, Zhao Shiyun dusted off his hands and asked, "Mo, is this enough?"
Li Yuemei said as she counted, "No, I need to collect some more."
"Then I'll collect it tomorrow."
Li Yuemei waved her hand: "No need, you just got married, take a few days to rest, your father and I will go. You can take Yan Ge'er for a walk, or go to the town to play."
Zhao Shiyun smiled and scratched his head. He had just gotten married and really wanted to spend more time with Yan Ge'er. "So, thank you for your hard work these past few days."
"This child is from our family, so what's the hardship? It would be great if you and Brother Yan could give us a big fat boy as soon as possible."
Zhao Shiyun felt embarrassed. "Ah, we just got married. There's no need to rush. Just let things take their own course."
Li Yuemei pushed him: "I know, go out, go out."
*
Lin Yan finished eating and cleaned up the dishes. He wanted to go help, but when he saw that they had already moved, he poured a few bowls of water and brought them to the yard: "Dad, Mom, Yu Ge'er, come and have some water."
"Hey, I'll be right there." Several people sat down in the courtyard. Lin Yan asked, "Mo, what were you doing just now?"
Li Yuemei smiled and said, "I went to return the dishes, tables, and chairs, and also picked up some soybeans. We don't have enough soybeans at home."
Lin Yan nodded. Yu Ge'er finished his water and ran to the backyard to feed the chickens. Father Zhao also went back to his room to rest. The custom here is to cook a pot of porridge in the morning, enough for breakfast and lunch, and then cook rice in the evening. So there's no need to cook at noon; if you're hungry, just heat up the porridge from the morning.
Seeing that everyone was gone, Lin Yan spoke carefully: "Mom, I want to learn from you how to take care of household affairs, so that I can cook for the family in the future." Lin Yan's voice was soft.
Upon hearing this, Li Yuemei smiled and touched his hand: "Brother Yan is really sensible, but in a farmer's family, there is not much to take care of. You can only cook, wash clothes and sweep the yard. You are used to doing these things every day. There is no need to learn from Amo."
Lin Yan had just arrived and it was not appropriate for him to touch things at home, but it was also not appropriate for him to speak directly, so he made an excuse.
"Well, I'll cook for the family from now on."
"Okay, fine. You don't have to feel constrained. This will be your home from now on. You can do whatever you want." Li Yuemei paused. "If this house needs anything in the future, you can buy it. Mom will pay for it."
Zhao Shiyun also quickly agreed, "Yes, Brother Yan, this will be your own home from now on."
Li Yuemei continued, "We don't make tofu at home these days, and there's nothing to do. Let Shi Yun take you out to play."
Zhao Shiyun said, "We can go to the town for a walk, but you often go there to sell vegetables, aren't you tired of it?"
Lin Yan smiled and said, "Although I go to town often, I mostly just hang out at the stalls and occasionally buy some things, but I rarely go shopping properly."
"Then let's go tomorrow!" Zhao Shiyun said happily.
"This..." Lin Yan hesitated. He went out to play on the second day after getting married. He didn't know what his mother-in-law would think of him.
Li Yuemei saw what he was thinking and said, "Go ahead. There will be a lot of things to do in the future. Go now while you have the chance." She was smiling and didn't look angry at all because his wife was going out to play. Lin Yan felt relieved and nodded.
*
There was nothing to do at the moment, so Lin Yan planned to wash the wedding clothes and sheets he had taken off last night. Li Yuemei saw that he was going to wash clothes, so she went into the kitchen to light a fire and boil water.
"Brother Yan, there's water in the pot. It's cold, add some hot water to wash."
"Oh, I see." Lin Yan responded as he walked back to his room to get his wedding clothes. He thought to himself, "This mother-in-law is so kind. She even boiled water for him to wash clothes."
"Mo, do you have clothes to wash?" Lin Yan asked.
"Brother Yu washed it this morning, so you can just wash yours."
There was a large basin for washing clothes at home. Lin Yan put the wedding dress and sheets in it. Looking at the stains on them, his face turned red. Fortunately, his father and Yu Ge'er were not there, and his mother did not come to see, otherwise he would be really embarrassed.
There's a well to the right of the Zhao family's entrance. The family runs a tofu business, which uses a lot of water. A few years ago, they sent a craftsman to dig a well for easy access. They also built a flight of stairs so people can wash clothes.
On the left was a large stone mill for grinding soybeans, where Zhao Shiyun usually worked. A gate had been opened in the courtyard wall, leading to the tofu shop. In the corner of the mill stood a sweet-scented osmanthus tree, the one Zhao's father had dug up.
The tofu shop was built next to the Zhao family's house. It was divided into two rooms. One room was connected to the Zhao family's house and was where tofu was made. The other room was connected to the tofu-making room and was where tofu was usually sold. Lin Yan had peeked at her future husband through the two doors.
*
Lin Yan made dinner today. There were still quite a few leftovers from yesterday's dishes, and they wouldn't spoil in this weather. He picked some out and steamed them. He also made some soup, which would warm the stomach in the cold weather. He added some brown rice to the rice. Lin Yan had asked his mother about her family's preferences, and they all preferred more white rice and less brown rice. He took note and would cook according to that ratio from now on.
Li Yuemei no longer had to worry about preparing dinner, and she felt much more relaxed. Although Yu Ge'er usually helped, she still had to do it herself. Now that she had handed it over to Yan Ge'er, she felt very comfortable. However, farmers are always busy. When she is not cooking, she goes to make shoe soles. Before it gets dark, she makes a pair of shoes for Zhao's father.
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