Yao Qingshuang looked at the innocent looks of the children and couldn't help laughing. The atmosphere, which was originally a little dull and depressing due to the heavy snow, was instantly dispelled by the laughter, and the house was filled with warmth and joy.
Time passed slowly, and before I knew it, it was noon.
In this world of ice and snow, the men who went out to collect firewood finally returned one after another.
I saw that they were all covered with thick snow, like moving snowdrifts.
Each of them carried a large bundle of firewood on their backs, and each of them dragged two large bundles of firewood in their hands. They trudged forward in the snow with difficulty, leaving deep traces behind them.
Back in the house, Su Wenjun's face showed a hint of fatigue, but he could not hide his excitement.
He carefully took out a rabbit and a pheasant from the firewood pile.
"We're pretty lucky today! While collecting firewood, we stumbled upon these two frozen pheasants and rabbit lying in the snow. We haven't had any meat in a while, so we brought them back to satisfy everyone's cravings and have a good time."
As he spoke, he placed the prey on the ground.
Everyone gathered around and looked at the pheasants and rabbits on the ground, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
In this cold weather with heavy snow, Yao Qingshuang's thoughts couldn't help but drift to the steaming hot pot.
If conditions permit, it would be such a pleasant thing to sit together and eat hot pot on such a day.
Unfortunately, the reality is so harsh, and the scarcity of materials makes such a beautiful thing a luxury.
Fortunately, we have this pheasant, which can be used to make a pot of delicious chicken soup.
Yao Qingshuang ordered her two sons, "Go, clean up the chickens and rabbits. We're going to have a good meal today."
They responded, picked up their tools happily, and prepared to slaughter their prey.
The atmosphere in the house instantly became lively. The children were jumping happily on the side, and the adults began to busily prepare cooking utensils and seasonings. Everyone's face was filled with anticipation and joy for this rare meal.
Inside the house, it was warm and cozy, which seemed like two different worlds compared to the ice and snow outside.
An old wooden table was in the center, with men, women, and children from the Su family sitting around it.
When the big pot of chicken soup was served on the table, it was still bubbling and bubbling, with golden chicken oil floating on the surface of the soup, and tender chicken pieces bobbing in the pot. The rising hot steam caught everyone's attention, and the rich and mellow aroma instantly filled the whole room.
Next to it is a big bowl full of stir-fried rabbit meat. The rabbit meat is cut into even-sized pieces and stir-fried with hot oil and seasonings such as chili, onion, ginger, garlic, etc., giving it an attractive bright red luster. The fresh fragrance of the rabbit meat and the spicy seasoning are perfectly blended, exuding an appetizing aroma.
Everyone could no longer contain their excitement. The children stared at the delicious food with sparkling eyes, and their little hands unconsciously clenched their chopsticks. Although the adults were a little reserved, the anticipation in their eyes was evident.
As soon as the order to start eating was given, chopsticks were intertwined, and laughter and the sound of bowls and chopsticks colliding were intertwined.
Su Wenfan's cheeks were bulging from eating so much that he looked like a greedy little hamster. His originally flat belly was now slightly bulging like a small ball.
But his eyes were still fixed on the remaining meat in the pot. He covered his round belly with his little hands and mumbled incoherently, "Oh, why is my belly so small? If it were bigger, I would definitely be able to eat another bowl of rice!"
That look made the people around him laugh.
Su Wenjun looked at his son's greedy look, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and his eyes were full of pampering.
He slowly picked up a piece of rabbit meat, deliberately waved it in front of his son, and then slowly put it into his mouth, chewing it exaggeratedly and slowly. As he chewed, he said, "Son, your stomach capacity is limited, so I will reluctantly help you finish two more pieces of meat."
After saying that, he picked up another piece of meat, smacked his lips deliberately, and acted as if he was enjoying it very much.
Su Wenfan was so anxious that he stamped his feet, his little face flushed red, his eyes widened, and his anxious and helpless expression made everyone laugh.
Yao Qingshuang couldn't help but laugh at Su Wenjun's mischievous appearance. She shook her head slowly, her eyes filled with a mixture of anger and amusement. "Wenjun, you're already a grown man, yet you're still teasing Mingfan like a child."
He turned to look at Su Wenfan and softened his voice, "Mingfan, your belly is already so round, you must stop being greedy. If you eat too much, your stomach will feel uncomfortable, and you will definitely have trouble sleeping at night. That will be painful."
Then, he glanced at the other children one by one, "You little ones too, eat in moderation and don't be as childish as your uncle."
Su Wenfan blinked his big watery eyes and looked at Yao Qingshuang pitifully: "Grandma, I know, but this meat is so delicious, my mouth is not obedient."
Ming Yang also nodded in agreement: "Grandma, we will definitely not be greedy, don't worry."
The other children also echoed in unison, with cute expressions on their little faces.
By this time, the children were full.
They held the bowl of steaming chicken soup tightly in their little hands and took a sip. Their comfortable and relaxed look seemed as if they were savoring the most precious nectar in the world, bringing this delicious meal to a leisurely end.
In the past, people were like spinning tops driven by the whip of fate, rushing around every day, exhausted both physically and mentally.
Now, this sudden heavy snow has brought the journey to an abrupt end.
For a moment, everyone was a little at a loss, as if they had lost their direction and the rhythm of life was completely disrupted.
After a brief moment of confusion, the adults began to move around each other spontaneously.
They visited each other, greeted each other warmly, and sat around the warm fire.
The flames danced happily in the furnace, reflecting the weathered yet expectant faces.
Everyone chatted happily, and the topic unknowingly turned to the south.
Someone said with longing in his eyes: "I heard that in the south, the climate is pleasant, it's spring all year round, and the land is very fertile. You can harvest a lot of food just by sowing some seeds."
Another person continued, "Yes, when we get there, we won't have to worry about anything anymore and can live a stable and peaceful life."
As everyone talked, they added some firewood to the fire from time to time. Sparks flew with the sound of their words, and the atmosphere in the house was full of joy, as if the cold and hardship were driven away without a trace by the blazing fire and the beautiful vision of the future.
As for the children, they were like a group of birds that had been imprisoned for a long time and finally regained their freedom. They shouted excitedly and rushed towards the vast snowfield.
Their laughter and joy instantly broke the silence of the snow.
Some children quickly squatted down, picked up the snow with their red, frozen hands, and squeezed it into snowballs. A fierce snowball fight began.
"Whoosh-whoosh--" The snowball flew in the air, and when it hit the target, there was a burst of joyful screams and laughter.
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