Educated Youth in the Countryside: She is the Village's Embroidery Queen!-Chapter 392: Calling in the Parents for Backup
Yi Chichi, "... Uncle, isn’t it spicy for your throat?"
"Not spicy."
Liu Chengqi looked delighted, "Since winter began and our garden froze, I haven’t eaten such flavorful scallions."
Speaking of which, he lamented, "It would be even better with some big scallions."
Wen’s mother was expressionless, "Should I get you some more chili peppers?"
"You have chili peppers?"
Liu Chengqi looked surprised, Yi Chichi was speechless, of course there weren’t any, the space was so limited, growing a few scallions and leafy greens was enough to relieve a bit.
Expecting more was really too much.
"No."
Wen’s mother snapped back, "Do you think it’s easy to grow these plants? It uses up firewood."
That indeed was an issue, but not urgent, after gaining experience, it will be easier next year.
"Store more firewood next year."
He said enthusiastically, "There are a few broken trees in the mountains, I’ll bring them down in the fall."
In more than half a year, those trees would turn into dry wood, split properly and they’d be long-lasting and burn well.
"Deal with it in the fall."
Pointing at the wooden boxes, Wen’s mother urged, "Quickly choose one to take away, stop dilly-dallying."
"Niu Niu is waiting."
Upon hearing this, Liu Chengqi stopped hesitating and picked up a wooden box leaning against the wall, "I’ll take this one."
This box was full of scallions.
Not a single leafy green vegetable.
Yi Chichi looked at the boxes with both scallions and leafy greens and helplessly reminded, "Uncle, since you’re taking one, at least take a mixed one so the leafy greens can improve the taste a bit."
Eating potatoes, radishes, cabbage, sauerkraut, dried beans, and eggplant every day, people were getting bored of it.
Fresh greens don’t sound tempting?
Yet Liu Chengqi didn’t find them tempting; he even looked disdainful and refused.
Asked for the reason, his answer was particularly serious and solemn.
"Yellow and unsightly, looks unappetizing at a glance."
Such a reason was so strong that Yi Chichi was left speechless.
Wen’s mother chuckled, "Why don’t you ask your wife if she likes it or not? What’s wrong with it being yellow, in the dead of winter having some yellowish leaves to eat is better than just cabbage or sauerkraut."
It’s not that those things don’t taste good, but eating the same good things daily becomes unbearable.
"Pick another one to improve your wife’s taste enjoyment."
That made sense too.
Plus, Wen’s mother’s tone became more aggressive, Liu Chengqi looked at the box of scallions he was holding, then at the mixed box of leafy greens, and after contemplating for two seconds, decisively switched.
Then he asked, "How much?"
Wen’s mother’s response was to grab a broom, "Do you believe I won’t sweep you to death with a broom?"
Liu Chengqi, "..."
"Why talk money over such a small matter?"
She was fierce, and Liu Chengqi shrank his neck, "Digging soil, making wooden boxes, plus burning firewood, all these are costs."
Wen’s mother put down the broom, indeed, the wooden boxes were made by Xiao Ye, and the soil was dug by the in-laws and grandpas.
The scallions and leafy greens were negligible, the garden already had them, she merely spent some time transplanting them.
However —
"No money needed, just give me some of that persimmon seed from your family."
Yi Chichi’s eyes lit up, "That can certainly be done, the persimmon seeds Aunt Ma planted were delicious."
During summer, Aunt Ma somehow procured some persimmon and tomato seedlings, claiming they were a new variety.
The tomatoes that grew were uglier one after the other, yet their taste was superb.
The drawback was their low yield, but they could be kept for seeds.
Therefore, from the moment tomatoes started ripening, Aunt Ma repeatedly insisted not to eat too many, just taste a bit.
She wanted to keep seeds.
Yi Chichi got fed twice, one at a time, and once she started, she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Seeing her eyes sparkling, Liu Chengqi’s mouth twitched, this stubborn girl was hooked on his family’s persimmons.
"Alright, I’ll keep some for you two."
Anyway, his wife had kept quite a few seeds, enough to grow enough saplings for the two of them to eat.
Plus, they could also keep Qin Jiu and the old folks fed.
Thinking of the old man, he remembered, "By the way Chichi, later go tell your grandfather and them, this month they have to submit two certificates."
"Why?"
"I don’t know, that’s what the commune said."
She replied, "Did they say when to submit it?"
"Just submit by January 10th."
Yi Chichi calculated the time and found it to be ample enough.
"Alright, I’ll go tell them later."
So, carrying the wooden box inside, Yi Chichi began pondering about what other major events, besides the South Sea, would happen next year.
After sending the guests off, Wen’s mother found her leaning against the door frame in a daze and asked, "What’s wrong, is there a problem with the certificate?"
Her thoughts interrupted, Yi Chichi shook her head, "No."
Wen’s mother responded with an "oh," "Are you going now or wait until dinner time to go?"
"Are you cooking something good today?"
Upon hearing this, Yi Chichi knew that Wen’s mother was planning to cook a feast.
"I’ll be cooking the pig’s stomach and intestines."
From the previous wild boar to the subsequent domestic pig, her daughter-in-law almost cleaned out the stock from the storage.
They had hoarded quite a bit.
They hadn’t finished eating yet, all the pieces were frozen in the snow pit in the backyard.
"I’ll go dig them out."
Getting excited, Yi Chichi grabbed a shovel and headed to the backyard.
Big Orange saw this and immediately tagged along with a trot. When Yi Chichi dug out a pig’s stomach, it came over to sniff and started yowling non-stop.
Clearly, it wanted to eat it.
"It’s frozen solid, too hard to eat now, wait until it’s cooked to have some, okay?"
Big Orange, unable to comprehend, was entirely consumed with food and began rubbing against her, its voice rising up.
Yi Chichi, "...It’s no good eating it this way."
Wen’s mother sighed, went back inside, and brought a big piece of dried squid, "Here, have this."
As she spoke, she placed the squid slice right in front of its nose.
Big Orange’s pupils dilated, then shrunk, then after a few sniffs, it pounced and grabbed the squid slice.
Wen’s mother let go, and it abandoned the pig’s stomach, taking the squid slice with joy back inside to eat.
When Yi Chichi carried the dug-out pig stomach and intestines indoors, it had already devoured half of the squid slice.
Then, a gaze full of intensity shot in from the doorway.
Big Orange, hair standing on end, let out a menacing hiss, and its back arched.
Yi Chichi raised her eyes and saw at the door a stranger, quickly calming Big Orange so it wouldn’t attack before asking, "Who are you looking for?"
The visitor was a middle-aged man, his features defined because he was so thin, his facial bones protruded.
The look he gave those squid slices almost had a tinge of green.
Upon hearing Yi Chichi’s question, he reluctantly tore his eyes away and started speaking a string of gibberish.
Yi Chichi, "??? What did you say?"
Oh no, what dialect was this, completely unintelligible.
"Woa%¥#@@*7 you."
The man pointed at himself, then at Yi Chichi, followed by some gesticulations, continuously babbling away.
"Hold on, I’ll get the adults."
Completely unable to understand his words or hand gestures, Yi Chichi gave up and decided to call an adult for help.
