In April, spring is in full bloom, birds are singing, and flowers are fragrant.
After a busy month, DouDou Tavern closed for a day. The whole family carried bamboo baskets and took a horse-drawn carriage to the countryside for a spring outing.
An Rong went to Ping'an Village early in the morning to burn paper money and kowtow to his parents, and then visited his second uncle, An Bihuai.
When Tangtang was twelve days old, he had just met An Bihuai. At that time, An Bihuai was still very healthy. When they met again, his second uncle was weak and listless, as if he had suffered from some serious illness.
He kept muttering about the twenty taels of silver, saying that if he were gone, his three sons would have to pay it back. He said that he had borrowed so much money to clean up his eldest son Anping's mess, and he was so upset that he wanted to die because he couldn't pay it back.
An Rong had no feelings for his second uncle, but seeing him with tears streaming down his face, he couldn't bear it and comforted him, saying there was no rush and he could pay him back whenever he could.
He had discussed this matter with Dou Dou. The money they lent to their second uncle was at their mother's request. Now that their mother was gone, they couldn't force their second uncle to repay the money. They could only wait for him to repay it on his own initiative.
Since Yuan Doudou said so, An Rong naturally wouldn't keep chasing after his second uncle for more, after all, his second uncle was his own second uncle.
"Mommy, we're going to fly kites. You stay here with Tangtang and watch over them." Anji held a butterfly kite in her hand, which Anrong had made by hand last night. The pattern on it was drawn by Doudou, and Anji colored it herself.
Angie loves the kite very much; he feels it's the result of his family's joint efforts.
"Okay, slow down." The grass was fairly flat, with only occasional uneven spots.
Anji held up the kite, while Lu Xi ran ahead, holding the spool in her left hand and pulling the string with her right.
"Release!" Lu Xi shouted.
Anji quickly let go, and the kite floated gently into the sky before falling down.
Lu Xi and the others tried this method several times, but all their attempts ended in failure. Anji was already discouraged and didn't want to fly kites anymore.
Huang Rong ate a pastry and regained her strength. She saw several kites flying in the sky and then looked at Lu Xi, who was still standing there, looking dejected.
"I'll hold the string, you hold it." Lu Xi is tall and suitable for holding the kite. Anji is so small, letting him hold the kite is just asking for failure.
Without hesitation, Lu Xi handed over the spool of string and took the kite from Anji. "Anji, you stand over there. We'll put the kite up, and then you can take the string."
Angie was unhappy, but there was nothing she could do, so she could only obediently stand aside and watch the two of them work together.
Lu Xi stood on a high place, holding the kite in both hands, even standing on tiptoe. The kite was very high.
Just like Lu Xi before her, Huang Rong held the spool in one hand and pulled the line with the other, letting out four or five meters of line. After estimating it, she felt it wasn't enough, so she let out another four or five meters. This time, she stood quite far away.
She tightened the line slightly and shouted at Lu Xi, "Let go!"
At her command, Lu Xi quickly released her grip, and the kite swayed and soared into the sky. Huang Rong, meanwhile, was running ahead, holding the string.
"It's a success!" Angie stood to the side, watching for a long time. The kite didn't fall down; instead, it flew higher and higher. He cheered with joy.
Seeing the kite soar into the sky, Lu Xi walked over from a distance and stood next to Anji.
"Come on, I'll take you to make the connection."
Anji followed behind Lu Xi with a cheerful pace. It was great to have older brothers and sisters who could help him fly his kite.
Huang Rong would loosen the line and then reel it in, making the kite fly higher and higher.
"Anji, hold it carefully. When you feel the line is pulled tight, loosen it a couple of times. If you feel the line is no longer taut, reel it in." Huang Rong taught him very seriously, but Anji was at a loss. It was his first time flying a kite, and he didn't know how to hold it.
Lu Xi felt that she had overestimated Anji; he was only four years old, how could he understand these things?
"How about I carry it, and Angie you watch from the side, okay?" Lu Xi asked.
Angie nodded; he really didn't dare to take it, fearing the kite would fall from the sky.
Not far away, An Rong walked over carrying a food box. He had just finished burning paper money and had rushed over from Ping'an Village.
"Are you hungry? Have something to eat." An Rong opened the food box, which contained rice balls that he had prepared in advance.
Yuan Doudou was a little surprised. She had just said it casually, but she didn't expect An Rong to remember it and actually make rice balls for her.
"Try it and see if it's good." An Rong handed one to Yuan Doudou, her eyes full of anticipation.
The rice in the rice balls is made by steaming rice, black glutinous rice, and red rice in a specific ratio. The grains are distinct and have a chewy texture.
The rice ball contained stir-fried shredded potatoes, stir-fried bean curd sheets, shredded kelp, pickled mustard greens, crushed peanuts, pork floss, and sweet bean sauce, as well as a sausage that DouDou loves.
Yuan Doudou took a bite of the rice ball and was surprised to find a familiar taste. She had to admit that the rice balls she had made before were far inferior to his.
An Rong is quite skilled at cooking; she has to admit it.
"Delicious! You're amazing!" Yuan Doudou gave a thumbs up.
An Rong smiled as she looked at Tangtang in the stroller. Tangtang had just fallen asleep after nursing, and her fair and tender little face made her want to kiss her.
"Oh, by the way, my second uncle asked me to give you his regards," An Rong suddenly remembered and mentioned it.
Yuan Doudou nodded slightly. Her second uncle was a little better than before. He still cared about their family. Occasionally, when he went to the market in town, he would bring some vegetables, beans, taro, and pumpkins that he grew at home to the tavern.
"How is Second Uncle?" Yuan Doudou asked casually, showing her concern in return.
An Rong sighed, "He doesn't look well; he's probably sick."
"Oh, then have him come to town for a checkup. If he's sick, get treatment as soon as possible," Yuan Doudou said calmly, offering only polite words.
Since her mother-in-law fell ill and passed away, she understood that serious illnesses were indeed very difficult to cure in ancient times. Lack of money was one issue, but medicinal materials were also scarce, and there were more quacks than renowned doctors.
There's only one doctor like Li Tianlang in the whole town.
Even highly skilled doctors are often helpless when faced with complex illnesses, not to mention the many unscrupulous quacks who only know how to swindle money from ordinary people and have no real ability to cure diseases.
“I told him, and he said he had no money and planned to let nature take its course. That’s how all the old people in the village are. They take folk remedies for minor illnesses and folk remedies for major illnesses.”
In a village, apart from the village head, very few people would say they can go to the town to see a doctor if they are sick. If they are willing, they are lucky if they can find a doctor in the village.
Wang was able to go to town with the help of Li Tianlang, as was Zhuang Shuhui; it was all due to personal connections.
Yuan Doudou will no longer seek out Li Tianlang about her second uncle's matter. She is not cold-blooded, but she realizes that she is not a god and cannot save anyone. Helping others will only lead to nothing in the end.
When the baby was twelve days old last time, Zhuang Shuhui came, still with an arrogant and condescending expression.
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