On the 28th day, Tao Xiaoxi fried tofu at home. The aroma drifted over Mantou Village, and the whole village was in a frenzy.
In Mantou Village, where people can't even get enough steamed buns, no one has dared to fry tofu for many years. It's not that they can't afford tofu, but no one is willing to use the oil.
This familiar and long-lost fragrance brought back memories for some people, especially the elderly people in the village. Although their eyes were cloudy and their teeth had fallen out, their noses could still smell. When they smelled this scent, their eyes became even more cloudy and their lips moved, like a child, talking to themselves. Like children, they were not good at hiding their inner feelings because they didn't have much time left.
The child was completely different, having just arrived in this world a short time ago, and had not yet learned to hide his feelings. When he smelled the aroma that penetrated his internal organs, he became so greedy that he rolled on the ground, clamoring for food too.
For a moment, Mantou Village seemed to have rehearsed the excitement of New Year's Eve in advance. The sounds of adults fighting and scolding, children crying, and the elderly trying to persuade others to stop fighting were intertwined and blended together, bringing some vitality to the bleak village in winter.
Our instigator, Tao Xiaoxi, was completely oblivious to the enormity of her sin. After frying the tofu, she began frying crispy pork. There wasn't much meat, but she'd mixed it with cornmeal and chopped green onions, and the aroma was overwhelming, even richer and more intense than the fried tofu. This immediately captivated everyone, from toddlers to graying elders, as if they couldn't get through the New Year without some fried food.
Da Mao and Er Mao were quarreling at home, and no matter how the family members tried to comfort them, it was no use. The second sister-in-law was so angry that she picked up a broom and hit the two children. Mrs. Li was frightened and hugged her grandson tightly to prevent her daughter-in-law from hitting her.
Yang Rongzhi was half angry at her own child for being useless, and half angry at Old Li's family for being incompetent. With the hundred yuan, they could have eaten some fried crispy pork, so she took out her anger on the child without any reason.
Old man Li was so angry that he kept shaking his head and smoking his pipe in anger. His elder brother and sister-in-law did not dare to persuade him. They had no say in this family and were the type who followed others to eat leftovers. Li Nanshan was not at home at the moment.
"Just cry for no reason. Why did I give birth to useless people like you? If you are capable, ask your father to get meat for you!" Yang Rongzhi threw the broom to the ground and went into the house.
The second son, Li Nanhai, actually gave his two sons some advice, and the two children ran out of the yard happily after hearing it.
After frying the crispy pork, Tao Xiaoxi went out to the fields to see if there were any cabbages that hadn't frozen to death yet, so she could wrap them around the meat. This was her favorite way to eat it. When she opened the door, she saw several children gathered at her door. They were so excited to see the door open, their eyes looking at her expectantly, as if they had been waiting for the door to open, or for her to come out.
So before Tao Xiaoxi could figure out whether the children were waiting for the door to open or for her to come out, a child had already given her the answer.
"Aunt Xiaoxi, are you frying crispy pork at home?"
"Call me sister."
"Aunt Xiaoxi, is fried tofu delicious? I haven't tried it yet."
"Call me sister."
"Aunt Xiaoxi, Aunt Xiaoxi..."
No one listened to Tao Xiaoxi's plea. Children only cared about whether their own demands were met. That's what children are. Whether you admit it or not, they are selfish. They can be beautiful and innocent, but they are definitely selfish. Have you ever seen a child stuff candy into your mouth before they've had enough? So, there's no need to argue here. Whether you like it or not, this is the truth.
"Okay, now shut up and listen to me. Call me sister, and everyone can get a piece of crispy meat." Tao Xiaoxi put her hands on her hips and taught this group of illiterate little brats a lesson.
“Sister, sister, sister, sister!”
Tao Xiaoxi got what she wanted, but at the cost of losing half of her small piece of crispy meat. Beibei was both distressed and happy about this. She felt bad that her small piece of crispy meat was gone, but she was happy that the children looked at her with much friendlier eyes. Da Mao and Er Mao even wanted to come up and hug her and kiss her, but Tao Xiaoxi pulled them away.
After sending those little devils away, Tao Xiaoxi remembered that he was going to the field to pick cabbages, so he quickly picked up the basket and walked towards the vegetable field.
Before I had taken a few steps, I saw Li Nanshan sitting under a bare locust tree with a hoe in his hand.
"Why are you here?" Tao Xiaoxi asked, her tone cheerful, but it could be heard that she had restrained herself a little.
Li Nanshan smiled and said, "You are quite generous. You gave the meat to the children."
"Thank you for not accepting my money, otherwise I wouldn't be so generous." Tao Xiaoxi also smiled, "You haven't told me why you are here yet. It's so cold."
Today, almost all the men, women, young and old in Mantou Village are preparing things for the New Year tomorrow. Whether it is cleaning things or making tofu for the New Year, no one is idle.
"I just came back from the fields and took a break here." Li Nanshan said.
After hearing this, Tao Xiaoxi smiled but said nothing.
"Okay, go ahead and do your thing. I'm going back."
"Can I ask you something?"
"you say."
"You just came back from the fields. Have you seen any vegetables in my vegetable garden?"
The Sun family’s vegetable field and the Li family’s vegetable field are together, so this is not a difficult task.
Li Nanshan scratched his head, a little hesitant, "There should be, I didn't look carefully."
"Okay, go back. I'll get some leafy vegetables to wrap the meat."
After saying that, she took a step forward without waiting for Li Nanshan to leave.
"If you don't have any, you can get them from my vegetable garden. It will be a waste if you can't finish them." Li Nanshan suddenly said.
"Oh, I get it." The peach blossom on Tao Xiaoxi's path seemed to have planted seeds.
Li Nanshan felt a little regretful after he finished speaking. He didn't know why he said that. In fact, he didn't know why he came here. The way home did not pass by here. He said he came here to rest, and probably only Tao Xiaoxi believed it.
But did Tao Xiaoxi believe it? She didn't believe it at all.
She had been to Li Nanshan's house and knew where their vegetable garden was. She would never pass by here no matter which route she took unless she did it on purpose.
This deliberate act really soothed Tao Xiaoxi's heart, like a warm fire in winter.
Tao Xiaoxi went to the fields and saw that her own plot of land was dotted with a few wilted cabbages, which were dying because no one took care of them. The cabbages in the vegetable field of the Li family next door were completely different. They were lush and green, with big, green leaves that looked very lush and verdant.
Tao Xiaoxi remembered what Li Nanshan said, and really went to their vegetable garden, picked one and put it in her vegetable basket.
On the way back, Tao Xiaoxi caught a glimpse of Grandma Sun playing in the river. The water was so cold that Grandma Sun stepped into it with one foot, not afraid of falling into the river and drowning.
Tao Xiaoxi closed her eyes and called out to Mrs. Sun to go home.
Mrs. Sun ran over with a smile and asked her whose daughter she was, saying that she was very pretty and whether she was married.
Tao Xiaoxi rolled her eyes. "A girl who sprang out of a stone, unmarried, aren't you afraid of drowning?"
"It's a pity that my son is married. He likes to eat fish, so I will catch fish for him!" said Mrs. Sun with a smile.
Tao Xiaoxi looked at her, feeling both angry and amused. "Go home and eat some meat."
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