Chapter 18
After a while, the door opened.
The person who opened the door was Wu Xiu, the wife of Jiang Hai, the eldest son of Jiang Laoda.
She was about to scold her grandson for running off when she was stunned by the sight of Jiang Shan and his son, and remained speechless for a long time.
After a long pause, Wu Xiucai managed to utter a few words, "You...you all..."
But he couldn't bring himself to say the rest.
Jiangshan was also not at peace.
Jiang Shan's older brother, Jiang Hai, was nine years older than him, and his sister-in-law, Wu Xiu, was about the same age as his brother. In Jiang Shan's memory, although his sister-in-law worked hard every day, she did not look old.
But when he saw Wu Xiu looking so old, he almost didn't recognize her.
If even my sister-in-law is like this, what about my older brothers? And what about my own elderly parents?
Jiang Shan was momentarily at a loss for words.
Seeing the two locked in a stalemate, Jiang Shu quickly stepped forward to greet them, "Auntie, it's me, Da Shu. Don't you recognize me?"
Jiang Shu's words finally brought Wu Xiu back to his senses. "Little brother, Big Tree! It really is you guys!!"
Just then, an old voice rang out from inside the house, "Ah Xiu, who has come?"
Upon hearing the sound, Jiang Shan nearly lost his composure and couldn't help but call out, "Dad!"
Upon hearing the sound, Grandpa Jiang inside exchanged a glance with his wife and stood up excitedly, exclaiming, "It's the mountains and the trees!"
Wu Xiu also realized what was happening, "Little brother, quick, come in quickly."
Upon seeing the cart next to Jiang Shu, he didn't bother to settle accounts with Jiang Sui and instructed, "Sui Sui, you stay outside and watch the cart. Call if anything happens."
As Jiang Shan and his son stepped inside, a cramped feeling immediately overwhelmed them.
There wasn't a single intact window inside. A few pieces of cobbled-together plastic and wooden boards barely covered the opening, and light struggled to filter through the gaps, outlining murky streaks of light in the dusty air.
Several makeshift beds pieced together occupied a corner, with patched quilts neatly folded. The beds looked very clean and had no unpleasant odor.
In the middle of the room, around a table with a missing corner, there were several stools of varying heights, and on the table were several tattered woven items.
Several farm tools were piled up in the corner, along with some household items wrapped in old cloth that were barely intact.
Grandma Jiang was originally nestled by the bed, weaving a handicraft she had taken on from outside. Upon hearing that it was her youngest son, she immediately hurried over.
"Mountains! Trees! It really is you!" The old lady grasped Jiang Shan's arm, tears streaming down her face. "I thought I'd never see you again in this lifetime..."
Da Shan swallowed hard, barely managing to hold back his tears, "Mom and Dad..."
After three years apart, my parents have aged considerably, a far cry from the energetic and spirited couple I remember.
Grandpa Jiang's eyes were also slightly red, but he was used to being in charge. "Alright, alright, it's good that everyone is alright. You old woman, really, why are you crying?"
The old lady glared at him. "I'm happy!"
She wiped away her tears and asked anxiously, "Why are there only the two of you? Where are Qingyun and Azhi?"
Jiang Shan: "They're at home."
As they were talking, Jiang Shan saw his nephew, Jiang Jun, sitting at the table.
The man stared blankly at the ceiling, showing no reaction to Jiang Shan and his son entering. His right leg had been amputated below the knee, and the wound was wrapped in bandages that were so black they were unrecognizable.
Jiang Shan's older brother, Jiang Hai, was lying in bed, unconscious.
Five-year-old Jiang Sixiao squeezed into a small corner partitioned by wooden boards and tattered blankets, looking at them timidly.
Even Jiang Shan, a grown man, couldn't control his emotions when he saw this situation.
"Big brother and Ah Jun, what's going on..."
After Jiang Shan said this, everyone present fell silent.
A look of despair crossed Wu Xiu's face, but she quickly composed herself. She took out two low stools and said, "Little brother, Big Tree, please sit down. I'll go boil some water for you."
Jiang Shan knew exactly what was going on in this family, and quickly stopped them, "Sister-in-law, don't bother. Where are Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law? Why aren't we seeing Xiaowen and Xiaona either?"
Jiang Shan was asking about his second brother Jiang He's son, Jiang Wen, and daughter-in-law, Xu Na.
This time, the old lady answered for her: "They've all gone to work."
"Come, you two sit down first, and tell me how you've been doing these past few years."
Jiang Shan composed himself, spoke briefly with his parents, and then said directly, "Mom and Dad, sister-in-law, we just arrived at the base. We sold our car and bought a piece of land in the self-built area. Although we can't build a house yet, we definitely can in the future. Da Shu and I came here this time to pick you up."
As soon as he finished speaking, Mr. Jiang and his wife fell silent for a moment.
Wu Xiu paused for a moment, then quickly got back to work.
After a moment, Grandpa Jiang said, "Dashan, it's good that you have such filial piety, but we're used to living here. If you suddenly ask me to move to a different place, I won't be able to get used to it."
The old lady next to her opened her mouth but didn't say anything in the end. "Your father's idea is also my idea. Don't look at how simple this place is. You'll get used to it."
Jiang Shu, who was listening nearby, couldn't help but say, "Grandpa and Grandma, you should at least think before you lie. With so many people living here, how can this be okay?"
Grandpa Jiang was embarrassed. "You brat, it's been so long, and you're still so disrespectful."
Jiang Shu chuckled, "Grandpa, don't be so polite. My mom said before we left that we're not allowed to go home until we pick you up today."
Ye Qingyun certainly didn't say that, but at this moment, the two elders needed some exaggerated emotional appeal.
Grandpa Jiang's face darkened. "If you want to go, let your grandma go. I'm not going."
The old lady couldn't stand him treating her grandson like that. "You old fool, if you don't want to go, then don't go. Why are you being so fierce? Big Tree, don't mind him. That's just how he is. The older he gets, the more he resembles a rock in a cesspool. He thinks everyone wants him!"
Jiang Shu knew exactly what the two elders were thinking.
Don't let his carefree attitude fool you; he's actually quite thoughtful.
His grandparents refused because they didn't want to drag them down and couldn't bring themselves to abandon their uncles.
It's likely that not only Grandpa Jiang misunderstood, but even Auntie Jiang misunderstood that they only wanted to take the old man over, thinking that they were just saving face and didn't want to be too direct.
Just as Jiang Shu was about to explain, Wu Xiu suddenly spoke up: "Mom and Dad, my younger brother is a filial son. We really can't accommodate everyone here. Why don't you two go and live with them? I can manage things here."
Upon hearing this, Old Master Jiang's anger flared up immediately. "I'm not going! I'm staying here! Nobody's going to make me leave!"
The old lady was afraid that Grandpa Jiang's words would hurt her son and grandson, so she quickly explained, "When your grandfather gets angry, he's as stubborn as a donkey. Don't take it to heart."
Jiang Shu got anxious. "Hey, what are you doing? Our family has 300 acres of land, more than enough for four generations of the Jiang family to live on. Why are you being so stubborn, sir?"
Grandma Jiang and Grandpa Jiang exchanged a glance, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "You mean, your eldest and second eldest brothers will come along too?"
Jiang Shu: "Of course! My aunts have been so good to us, how can we separate from them!"
"Besides, what kind of world is this now? You can only avoid being bullied if there are many of you. There are only a few of us, and if we want to go out to run errands, there's no one to watch the house."
After Jiang Shu finished speaking, Jiang Shan looked at Wu Xiu and said, "Sister-in-law, Qingyun said that she can't handle everything by herself and wants you and Second Sister-in-law to help her more. Also, there are the two children, Sui Sui and Si Si, whom we have watched grow up. It would be good for them to live together and take care of each other."
"Given the current situation of my elder brother and Ah Jun, how can I, as their younger brother and uncle, just stand by and do nothing?"
“I only had the opportunity to go to the city to study because of you. Now that our family has finally reunited, how can we be separated again? I, Jiang Shan, am not the kind of person who forgets his roots.”
Wu Xiu's expression immediately crumbled; the pressure she had endured that year was unimaginable.
The father and son didn't want to be a burden on their family and wanted to end it all; she felt the same way.
Every day, seeing her elderly parents and her younger brother's family being implicated, she didn't know what expression to wear.
If it weren't for her two children, she really wouldn't have been able to make it through.
"I..." Wu Xiu's voice was terribly hoarse, "I... I'm afraid of implicating you!"
She had been holding these words in for far too long.
When Jiang Si saw Wu Xiu crying, she also started to cry out of fear. She threw herself into Wu Xiu's arms, crying, "Grandma, don't cry..."
Jiang Shu felt extremely sad. He remembered that when he was a child, his parents were not around, and his aunt would stay up all night to comfort him.
"Aunt, don't be afraid. We are very capable and will definitely make my brother and uncle better."
He couldn't reveal Jiang Zhi's situation, but given their current circumstances, there was still a good chance of changing the situation of Jiang Hai and his son.
The reason I'm saying this now is simply to give Wu Xiu a glimmer of hope.
Sure enough, Wu Xiu's expression brightened: "Big Tree, are you telling the truth?"
After asking the question, she couldn't help but look at Jiang Shan, hoping to get some confirmation from his face.
Jiang Shan didn't make any promises: "If our whole family works together, we'll find a way."
Wu Xiu's expectant expression dimmed again.
Jiang Shan then said, "Sister-in-law, don't think so much. It's too depressing for A-Jun to stay here like this, and it's not good for her condition. You should come back with us today. Qingyun and A-Zhi are already packing."
Wu Xiu hesitated and looked at Grandma Jiang.
Seeing that her youngest son was thinner and darker than before, but in good spirits, the old lady realized that he hadn't had too bad a life in the past few years. She gritted her teeth and made a decision, "Okay, we'll listen to you and move today! Ah Xiu, go and tell Ah He and his wife to bring Ah Wen and Xiao Na back."
To pay off their debts, Jiang He and his wife took on construction work on the city wall every day. If they were willing to work hard, each of them could earn fifty or sixty points a day.
Jiang Wen works as a shop assistant in a second-hand goods store in a self-built housing area, while Xu Na works as a textile worker in a small fabric workshop run by residents of the base.
Grandpa Jiang was furious, "Old woman!"
"What are you yelling about!" Grandma Jiang wasn't intimidated at all. "We've been separated from Dashan for three years. Do you know how I've been through these three years? Now that we've found him, all I want is for our family to be together! Call me selfish if you want, but I'm definitely going to go with Dashan today."
Fearing that the two elders might quarrel and cause a serious incident, Jiang Shan quickly advised, "Dad, Mom is right. We finally found you, so there's no reason for us to continue being separated. Listen to Mom, and if you move there, everyone can take care of each other."
After taking a few deep breaths, Grandpa Jiang waved his hand, not wanting to say anything more.
Jiang Shan knew that the old man had compromised.
Grandma Jiang said to Wu Xiu, "Why aren't you going yet?"
Wu Xiu was a little excited. After responding, she went out.
In any case, the fact that their family wasn't abandoned is a huge advantage for them.
She didn't marry the wrong person.
The Jiang family members are all kind and righteous people.
While waiting for Jiang He and the others to return, Jiang Shan and his son were also busy, helping the two elders pack their things.
By this time, it was already dark, and they had to hurry up and move.
Jiang Si was a little girl, but seeing the adults busy, she also helped out.
While packing things, Jiang Shu teased her, "Sisi, do you still remember your uncle? You used to like your uncle the most."
Jiang Si hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "You're lying, I don't remember you at all."
Jiang Shu laughed heartily.
Jiang Si was only two years old three years ago, so it's no wonder she remembers.
"Would you like to go with your uncle first? Your uncle will take you and your brother to your aunt's place first, using that cart outside."
Jiang Shu had noticed that the girl was peeking outside.
He finally understood that their family's seemingly ordinary flatbed truck was a hot commodity at the base, highly coveted by everyone.
Even children want to come up and sit down; just look at Jiang Sui outside.
Jiang Si was just too timid to bring it up.
Sure enough, Jiang Si's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"real."
Jiang Si pursed her lips. "Then I'll ask my great-grandmother. If she agrees, I'll go with you."
Grandma Jiang listened from the side and laughed, "Big Tree, why do you still love teasing children so much?"
She patted Jiang Si's little head, "Go on, go on, Sisi, you go with your brother Sui first, remember to be polite and greet people, okay?"
Jiang Si nodded, "I understand, Great-Grandma."
Just then, Jiang Shu also packed a car full of luggage. He put the two siblings on top of the luggage and said, "You two better hold on tight. I won't be responsible if you fall and start crying."
Jiang Sui was bolder. Knowing that she could move away, a smile appeared on her face. "I'm not afraid, Uncle. I will take good care of my sister."
Jiang Shu gave him a big thumbs up, "He even knows how to take care of his younger sister, young man, you have a bright future!"
Jiang Sui gave a shy smile.
When Jiang He and his family of four hurriedly returned, Jiang Shu had just arrived back at the tent with a cart full of luggage.
As soon as Jiang Si got out of the car, she looked nervously at Ye Qingyun.
She had no recollection of Ye Qingyun.
Jiang Sui quickly taught her, "Sisi, call her Auntie."
Jiang Si was both scared and excited, and finally whispered, "Auntie, Auntie..."
"Oh my, Sisi is so good," Ye Qingyun said happily, picking up Jiang Si in her arms. "Let your auntie see how beautiful Sisi is. She's just a little thin. Your auntie will cook something delicious for you tonight."
Jiang Si was a little scared when she first met Ye Qingyun, but seeing his kind appearance, she mustered up her courage and said, "Auntie, I eat very little... Could you save the good food for my dad and grandpa? I... I can do chores!"
Jiang Sui quickly said, "Auntie, I also want to leave my share for Grandpa and Dad."
Ye Qingyun felt a lump in her throat as she looked at her well-behaved grand-niece and grand-nephew.
This damned world! Look at how far they've driven these kids.
She forced a smile. "Don't worry, my dear child, your father and grandfather have them too."
"Would you two like to help your auntie watch the fire later?"
The brother and sister looked at each other, and smiles gradually appeared on their faces.
The two nodded emphatically in unison: "Okay!"
*
When Jiang He and his group returned and saw Jiang Shan, they were incredibly excited.
They heard Wu Xiu mention the move on the way.
Jiang He is an honest man and is always afraid of causing trouble for his younger brother.
He rubbed his hands together. "Dashan, shall we go too... Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?"
Jiang He looked much older, with prominent wrinkles on his face, and at first glance, he had a somewhat worried expression.
Jiang Shan suppressed the bitterness in his heart and said with a smile, "We're family, don't talk about trouble. It's just that our house hasn't been built yet. Once all the materials are ready, we'll need your help, Second Brother."
Jiang He used to be a craftsman, skilled in all kinds of crafts. He used to make all the furniture for Old Jiang's house, and when people in the village needed to build a house, they would call on him for help.
On the contrary, Jiang Shan, although a construction engineer, is not as good at getting started as Jiang He.
Jiang He waved his hand: "It's nothing, just call me."
Jiang Wen, who was standing nearby, didn't see Jiang Shu and his sister, so he asked, "Uncle, where are Da Shu and A Zhi? Why aren't they here?"
Jiang Shan replied with a smile, "Da Shu has taken the luggage over and will be back soon. Your sister Azhi and aunt are packing at home."
The Jiang family children all grew up together and have always had a very good relationship.
Jiang Wen breathed a sigh of relief and didn't say much. He and his wife, Xu Na, helped pack their things.
Three months before the disaster, Jiang Wen had just gotten married.
His wife, Xu Na, is from another province, so they lost contact. Now she lives alone with Lao Jiang's family.
The family of twelve had very little to use, as they had sold everything they could to help with Jiang Hai and his son's illnesses.
After Wu Xiu returned the house, the group set off for the self-built housing area.
*
Jiang Zhi was unaware of what was happening at Old Jiang's house; she was only pondering Liu Xu's words as she walked back.
She still had several hundred grams of fanged rabbit tooth powder. Given the severity of her previous radiation sickness from willow catkins, only thirty grams were needed to cure her and also resolve other health issues. Therefore, in the same situation, the dosage could be even less.
—I wonder what's going on with my older brother and uncle, and whether this tooth powder can cure them.
When Jiang Zhi returned home, the Jiang family had already moved out.
Ye Qingyun and Wu Xiu were cooking dinner outside the tent, using a large iron pot that Lao Jiang's family had brought over.
Near the main hall of the tent, a simple mud stove had been erected at some point.
Jiang Zhi could tell at a glance that it was the work of her second uncle, Jiang He.
When they were little, the siblings often played with sweet potato kilns during winter vacation. The kiln-building skills were taught to them by Jiang He.
Jiang Wen was the first to see Jiang Zhi, and his face lit up with joy. He immediately waved and called out, "A-Zhi!!"
Jiang Zhi was overjoyed and ran over, calling out, "Brother Wen!"
Looking at the elders behind him, Jiang Zhi was excited and greeted them one by one. Finally, she looked at the two elders of the Jiang family: "Grandpa, Grandma..."
Grandpa Jiang had liked Jiang Zhi since she was a child, thinking she was just as smart as him. Now that he saw her, he couldn't hide his smile. "Good child, it will be hard for you to live with us from now on."
Jiang Zhi said earnestly, "I don't feel wronged at all. I like being with everyone."
These words made the old man beam with joy. "Good, good, good, my dear granddaughter."
Grandma Jiang also held Jiang Zhi's hand, carefully examining her appearance, and finally said with heartache, "You've lost weight. Your mother told me that you've been living in the wild for the past few years. That must have been too hard."
Jiangzhi felt the calluses on the old lady's hands and said coquettishly, "Then Grandma will cook more delicious food for me in the future and fatten me up a bit."
The old lady used to be most unable to resist Jiang Zhi's coquettishness; as long as she did, the old lady would always agree. "Don't worry, my cooking skills are no worse than your mother's. As long as the conditions allow, I'll make all kinds of food for you."
After so many years, the Jiang family reunited and seemed to have endless things to talk about.
Jiang Shan was always concerned about the illness of his elder brother Jiang Hai and his son.
Ye Qingyun then asked Jiang Zhi to check on the two of them.
The others were unaware that Jiang Zhi possessed something that could cure the two of them; they simply assumed Ye Qingyun was teaching his child to care for his family and didn't take it seriously.
Jiang Hai lay unconscious on the air mattress, now relying on weekly visits to the clinic for relief medication and nutritional injections to stay afloat. After a year, he had become so thin that he was barely recognizable.
Because Jiang Jun lost her legs, she lost all motivation to live.
He suffers from radiation toxins in a daze every day, and his reaction time is getting worse and worse. Now, external stimuli can no longer elicit a response from him.
Jiang Zhi checked for a while and then breathed a sigh of relief.
The condition of these two individuals is mainly caused by radiation toxins, and the Fang Rabbit Powder should be able to cure it.
Unfortunately, it seems there's no way to save the eldest brother Jiang Jun's leg.
“Azhi, talk to your older brother whenever you have time. He doesn’t have much time to be lucid now, and we don’t know what will happen to him in the future…” Old Master Jiang said in a heavy tone.
He was a doctor himself and knew about his eldest son's condition; it was only a matter of time before he passed away. But he couldn't bear to watch his son and grandson die.
Jiang Zhi stood up and carefully said, "Grandpa... I have a powder that should be able to save Uncle and Brother."
Before he could finish speaking, Old Master Jiang suddenly stood up. "What did you say?!"
Not only the old man, but everyone in the Jiang family thought they were deaf and misheard, and they looked at her in disbelief.
“I said I should be able to save my uncle and older brother.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shan frowned and looked at Ye Qingyun.
Ye Qingyun gave him a reassuring look.
Grandma Jiang was so excited she could barely speak, "A-Zhi, you're not lying to us, are you?"
“It’s true.” Jiang Zhi thought for a moment and then said, “But I don’t have much of that powder left. Once it’s used up, there won’t be much left.”
There should actually be some left over, but Jiang Zhi clearly understands the principle that possessing a treasure is a crime.
Startled by Jiang Zhi's words, Wu Xiu suddenly snapped back to reality. Her lips trembled, "A-Zhi, A-Zhi... I..."
She wanted to say something, but her body was trembling violently, and her head felt like it had been hit. She was perfectly lucid and wanted to beg her grandniece to save her husband and her son, but the words just wouldn't come out.
How could she not understand how precious this medicine was?
In this day and age, not to mention ordinary people, even the most powerful people in this base are eager for drugs that can treat radiation poisoning.
It can be said that with such medicine, one has an extra life in this cannibalistic world.
The fact that they, the eldest branch of the family, are even standing here today is already a privilege for them. How could she possibly say such a thing...?
As if sensing her struggle, Jiang Zhi spoke up: "Aunt, you don't need to say anything. I will definitely save my brother and uncle."
Wu Xiu covered her mouth and sobbed, all her words finally condensing into one sentence: "Thank you... thank you... Azhi..."
That year, Wu Xiu was under the most pressure in the family. She not only had to take care of Jiang Hai and his son, but also look after the two younger children. Now that there was hope, everyone was genuinely happy for her.
Jiang Zhi felt uneasy, but she was usually good at handling such situations and didn't know what to say for a moment.
Jiang Shu came to her rescue at the right moment, "Azhi, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and feed your uncles and the others."
"good."
Jiang Zhi took out the ground tooth powder and fed it to Jiang Hai and Jiang Jun respectively.
Jiang Hai was unconscious, and it took several attempts by Jiang Zhi to finally get him to swallow the food.
Seeing the expectant looks in everyone's eyes, Jiang Zhi pursed her lips and said, "We should be able to see the results tomorrow."
Grandpa Jiang was worried that Jiang Zhi was under too much pressure, so he said, "Alright, alright, even a miracle drug can't work immediately. Everyone, just do what you're supposed to do and stop crowding around here."
Upon hearing this, everyone understood what Old Master Jiang meant, and there was no reason not to agree. After responding, they went about their own business.
Even Wu Xiu went out to help with the cooking, turning back every three steps.
With the addition of a new member to the household, Ye Qingyun arranged all four compartments in the tent.
The four of them lived in one room. The eldest son, Jiang Hai, and his family lived in the room that Jiang Shu used to live in, while the second son, Jiang He, and his family lived in another room. They were separated by a curtain, so Xu Na, the daughter-in-law, wouldn't feel awkward living there.
The two elders volunteered to stay in the living room, saying that young people value privacy, but they, being older, didn't have so many taboos and would be happy to stay there.
In the past, when conditions were limited, they naturally did whatever was convenient. Now that they have the means, the elderly couple hopes that the younger generation can live more comfortably.
Fearing there wouldn't be enough beds, Jiang Shan and several men in his family dismantled the old Jiang family's wooden bed and rebuilt it into temporary bed frames.
The family's resources were reorganized.
Although Old Jiang's family didn't have a lot of things, they had everything they needed, including pots, pans, and other utensils, so Ye Qingyun didn't need to buy anything else.
Ye Qingyun and her two sisters-in-law were washing vegetables and cooking outside.
Ye Qingyun was the head chef, while Wu Xiu and Jiang He's wife, Yuan Ying, were responsible for tending the fire and washing the vegetables.
Counting the number of people, Ye Qingyun put out six catties of barley, the staple food, along with some foxtail millet.
Wu Xiu and Yuan Ying, who were standing nearby, were both taken aback when they saw so much grain.
Yuan Ying quickly said, "Qingyun, we can't eat much, so let's not waste food."
They are not ignorant.
While tidying up, I noticed that the third brother's family didn't have much food.
At this rate, no amount of grain can withstand such consumption.
Ye Qingyun smiled and said, "Sisters-in-law, don't worry. It's just that today's feast is a bit more elaborate. Today is a family reunion, so we should eat well to bring good luck."
Upon hearing this, Wu and Xiu stopped trying to stop them.
Since the family simply couldn't afford oil, Ye Qingyun didn't plan to cook.
She chopped the meat of river shrimp and clams into mince, made it into meatballs, and cooked them over high heat until the flavor was released. Then she reduced the heat and added shredded shepherd's purse leaves.
Before long, the fragrance of leaves and the freshness of river shrimp gushed out of the soup.
The Jiang family has been eating nothing but vegetable porridge and mush every day for the past year, and they haven't tasted anything other than wild vegetables and barley for a long time.
Upon smelling the aroma, everyone involuntarily swallowed.
The youngest girl, Jiang Si, drooled. She tugged at Grandma Jiang's sleeve and said, "Great-Grandma, what is Auntie cooking? It smells so good..."
Grandma Jiang chuckled and pinched her cheek. "Even your great-grandmother didn't know. It smells like seafood."
What is seafood?
"Seafood..." Grandma Jiang said nostalgically, "It's creatures that live in the sea."
Jiang Si asked, somewhat puzzled, "In the sea?"
She was young and had never left the village before the catastrophe, and after the catastrophe, she had even less chance to see the outside world.
Grandma Jiang didn't explain further. Seeing Jiang Sui looking longingly outside, she said, "Good girl, go play outside with your brother."
Jiang Sui cheered and immediately ran out with Jiang Si.
The two little ones didn't go anywhere; they just squatted in front of the stove, staring intently at the pot.
Wu Xiu was a little embarrassed. "Sui Sui, why did you bring your little sister along? Go away and play somewhere else."
Ye Qingyun found the two siblings incredibly adorable, and she beckoned to them, "Come here, Sui Sui, Si Si, come to your auntie."
Jiang Sui glanced at Wu Xiu, and seeing that her grandmother wasn't angry, she led her younger sister over.
Ye Qingyun scooped two meatballs out of the pot, blew on them, and fed one to each of her siblings.
The meatballs were still a little hot, but that couldn't mask the freshness and sweetness of the shrimp.
Jiang Suibian squeaked. "Hiss—Auntie, it's so delicious..."
The sweet and smooth texture made the two little ones reluctant to swallow it right away. They savored the flavor in their mouths before finally swallowing it with lingering reluctance.
Ye Qingyun asked Jiang Si with a smile, "How is it, Sisi? Is it delicious?"
Jiang Si nodded emphatically, "Delicious! It's the best Sisi has ever eaten! Auntie, your cooking is amazing."
Ye Qingyun couldn't help but laugh.
This little guy.
Jiang Shu wouldn't have it, so she ran out with a bowl and shouted, "Mom, Azhi and I want to try some too!"
Jiang Zhi: ...She clearly didn't say anything, but her brother is afraid of being scolded, so he's dragging her into it.
Ye Qingyun said irritably, "You're such a grown-up, and you're still craving food."
That being said, I still scooped out two.
Then she called out to Jiang Wen, who was working nearby, "Awen and Xiaona, you should try some too."
Jiang Wen replied with a smile, "Auntie, I won't eat any. I'll eat two more after you finish cooking."
Ye Qingyun did not force him.
Jiang Shu was unhappy, as it made him seem like he was too greedy.
He picked up the last meatball in the bowl and stuffed it directly into Jiang Wen's mouth, saying, "Second Brother, just have a taste, there won't be enough to go around later."
Jiang Wen wanted to refuse, but it was too late. Once his taste buds touched the soft, smooth shrimp meat, he couldn't bear to push it away.
The long-lost meaty flavor spreads across the tongue, with each strand of meat releasing a rich and mellow aroma.
He hadn't eaten meat in a long time.
His taste buds, long deprived of nourishment, greedily savored the flavor of the meat. At that moment, Jiang Wen felt that all the delicacies in the world paled in comparison.
"……tasty."
Jiang Shu was finally satisfied when he saw Jiang Wen swallow.
He refused to believe that anyone could resist the temptation of meat at this time!
Ye Qingyun showed no favoritism; having started, he gave everyone a fish ball to try.
"Have something to eat first, there will be more good dishes later."
Ye Qingyun was originally worried about what to do with the half pound of fish scales, but today, while tidying up, he found that there was also a lot of tin foil.
He then washed the fish scales clean, put them in aluminum foil, and pushed them into the wood-burning stove, intending to use high-temperature baking to remove the moisture from the fish scales.
The fish scales look hard, but they are not heat resistant. After fifteen minutes, the outer layer was baked and curled up, while the inner elastic layer turned into a gelatinous substance. When you bite into it, the outer layer is crunchy, while the inner layer is soft and chewy like rice cake.
After baking for twenty minutes, Ye Qingyun sprinkled on a layer of special seasoning, instantly adding a touch of umami flavor.
Yuan Ying became interested. "Sister-in-law, are these the river clam shells you asked us to grind earlier?"
Ye Yuqing had just asked her two sisters-in-law to grind the river clam shells into powder, mix them with salt, and turn them into a seasoning.
Ye Qingyun readily admitted, "That's right."
This is a secret recipe from the Ye family.
Yuan Ying exclaimed, "The old man used to always praise your cooking, and now I can see for myself."
Wu Xiu looked away from Jiang Hai and his son in the tent, a smile appearing on her face.
"In our family, only the old lady can compare to Qingyun."
Ye Qingyun laughed, "I think Mom's cooking is better than mine."
She was busy with work before and rarely worked in the kitchen. It was only after bringing Jiang Shu and his sister to the city that she started cooking.
In terms of experience, she couldn't compare to Grandma Jiang; she just had a bit more ingenuity.
The aroma of braised fish scales is incredibly strong, wafting for hundreds of meters, even attracting people from the next house to peek out.
Jiang Shu stopped and squatted down in front of the stove with Jiang Sui and his sister, watching them intently.
"Mom, you're still got it! You can still make such delicious food under these conditions, no wonder you're Chef Ye!"
Ye Qingyun said irritably, "Jiang Dashu, you're really something! Your brother and sister-in-law are both working, and you have the nerve to just sit here!"
Jiang Shu retorted confidently, "How could I not have done any work? I was taking care of Sui Sui and Si Si, wasn't I?!"
Ye Qingyun pretended to hit him; "Don't you dare corrupt the child!"
Wu Xiu: "Qingyun, the child can stay if he wants. He's been tired all day."
Jiang Shu immediately seized the opportunity and said, "That's right, that's right."
Jiang Shu just laughed and let himself be beaten and scolded, refusing to leave. Ye Qingyun had no choice but to let him be.
They had the most amaranth fruits in their hands, which were crisp and delicious when eaten raw. Ye Qingyun sliced them and mixed them with blanched shepherd's purse stems to make a cold dish.
Fortunately, there were still some instant noodle seasoning packets left. Sprinkling them on made the flavors quite rich, with a salty, sweet, and smooth taste.
Two large bowls, they looked very appetizing.
There aren't many snail eggs, and Ye Qingyun has never dealt with them before.
However, the mutated snail eggs turn white like eggs after being cooked.
Ye Qingyun tasted it and found it had no strange taste, similar to the egg whites he used to eat, so he decided to make it into braised food.
Limited by circumstances and lacking spices, Ye Qingyun made a simplified version. He used the light and dark soy sauce he had exchanged with Ma Yanhong next door to make the broth, added snail eggs, and simmered it for an hour. That was it.
Finally, Ye Qingyun made a paste using the roots and stems of calamus.
Four dishes and a soup, with a balanced mix of meat and vegetables.
This setup would be considered Chinese New Year treatment today.
Not to mention the children, even the Jiang brothers couldn't help but peek towards the stove.
Ye Qingyun scooped out three small portions of fish ball soup and handed them to Jiang Shu, saying, "Go and take some to the neighbors."
Jiang Shu muttered, "Only three portions? Which family should I deliver them to?"
Although the fish ball soup was a generous portion, there were so many of them that he still felt it wasn't enough.
Ye Qingyun simply said, "Give it to me if you think it looks good."
In the end, Jiang Shu chose Ma Yanhong's family and the Zhang family next door, and harvested two jin of wild vegetables and a round corn head.
Jiang Shu was still hesitating about who to give the remaining portion to when a young man walked out from in front of him.
Jiang Shu was stunned for a moment, and only when he saw the other person looking over did he remember what he was supposed to do.
He held up the bowl of fish ball soup and a small bowl of crispy fish scales in his hand, "Hey, we're having a get-together today, and we're bringing some for you neighbors."
Jiang Shu was still a little annoyed after he finished speaking.
He's not usually like this; the man in front of him had such a strong presence that he was momentarily stunned.
He thought about it for a moment, and realized that this family seemed to be the Lin family that Aunt Ma had mentioned before, the one that was not to be trifled with.
If Jiang Zhi were here, she would recognize the man in front of her as Lin Yuan, who had been resting next to them that afternoon.
Just as Lin Yuan was about to refuse, Old Master Lin slowly walked out, leaning on his cane. "Thank you, young man. You're the new Jiang family, aren't you? I smelled a delicious aroma earlier. Turns out you're making something tasty."
Unlike Lin Yuan, Old Master Lin seemed quite amiable. He said to Lin Yuan, "Young Yuan, it's their kind gesture, we can't refuse. Please accept it. Go and take some of the field mouse meat you got today to the young man."
Upon hearing about field mouse meat, Jiang Shu's eyes lit up, and he readily agreed, "Grandpa Lin, my name is Jiang Shu, you can call me Big Tree."
It was rare to see Grandpa Lin not afraid of the grandfather and grandson, so he laughed heartily upon hearing this, "Good, good, big tree, you can come and trade with us for any good food you have in the future."
The Lin family was a well-known meat-consuming family in this area.
Lin Yuan was skilled and often hunted edible mutant animals, so everyone knew that his family never lacked meat.
Although Lin Yuan seemed unapproachable, he was surprisingly obedient to Old Master Lin.
As soon as Grandpa Lin spoke, he turned around, went into the house, and took a piece of field mouse meat, handing it to Jiang Shu.
Jiang Shu took it, estimating it to weigh about two pounds, and said insincerely, "Oh dear, I can't accept this, meat is so precious these days!"
He said he was sorry, but his actions were anything but hesitant.
Grandpa Lin smiled and said, "Take it if you want. Anyway, this meat is just meat in our hands."
Jiang Shu raised an eyebrow.
He glanced at the stern-faced Lin Yuan and said with a grin, "Then thank you, Grandpa Lin. When my mom finishes processing the meat, I'll bring it over for you to try."
Grandpa Lin didn't respond, just smiled and looked at him.
Jiang Shu felt reassured, said goodbye, and left.
Once Jiang Shuren left.
Lin Yuan then said disapprovingly to Grandpa Lin, "Grandpa, if you want to eat meat, I'll make it for you. Why are you still..."
Before he could finish speaking, Old Master Lin gave him a sidelong glance and asked, "Is what you made edible?"
Lin Yuan: "..."
"If all else fails, we can take it and process it for someone else."
Grandpa Lin went back inside, took a sip of fish ball soup, and said with satisfaction, "You still can't make it taste like this."
Lin Yuan felt somewhat helpless.
The old man, usually so shrewd, becomes like a playful old child when it comes to food.
*
Jiang Shu returned home beaming with satisfaction, carrying two pounds of field mouse meat. "Mom, look what I brought back!"
Ye Qingyun was still putting the finishing touches on when he was shocked. "Who gave this to me?"
Jiang Shu: "You'd never guess which one it is."
Ye Qingyun: "So which company is it?"
"It's that Lin family. Aunt Ma said they often eat meat, right? I didn't expect it to be true!"
Ye Qingyun was displeased. "How could you bring back something so valuable? It looks like it weighs two or three pounds. The ones we sent over didn't amount to much."
Jiang Shu knew his mother was very particular about etiquette, so he explained, "These don't all belong to our family. The old man from the Lin family probably took a liking to your cooking skills."
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingyun asked in surprise, "You mean, I'll make an extra one and send it over?"
"That's exactly what I mean." Jiang Shu grinned and leaned in for praise. "So, how about it? Was what your son did this time reliable enough?"
Ye Qingyun couldn't help but laugh: "Alright, alright, stop bothering me. Take the dishes in and get ready to eat."
Jiang Shu cheered and shouted to the neighbor, "Dinner's ready!"
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