Heavenly Blessed Baby: Fleeing Famine, Busy to Prosper!-Chapter 191: Where Did Balang and Jiulang Go?
The Qi Family found another way to earn money. Although it was hard work moving things back and forth every day, no one felt tired.
As for the other three families who saw it, they were envious but had no other thoughts.
Back in the village, the Qi Family was united, and it’s still the same now. With many people, there are also many places to spend money. Without thinking of ways to earn more, not just the Qi Family, but even the other three families would have a hard time.
However, the three families didn’t just sit back and watch; they would bring a bundle of firewood to the Qi Family after chopping wood, as a gesture of goodwill.
The Qi Family initially didn’t accept it, but later Qi Zheng spoke up, not only accepting it but also having Yi Meng record the firewood as part of the accounts.
Before they knew it, it was New Year’s Eve.
The New Year atmosphere in Concord City became even stronger.
Not long after getting up early, they could hear the occasional sound of firecrackers.
The Qi family’s boys were many, and naturally, they loved setting off firecrackers.
As the family darling, Qi Manman also had a special fondness for firecrackers.
Wearing a pink smock and sporting two little pigtails, Qi Manman clamored for her brothers to take her to set off firecrackers right after finishing her meal.
None of the brothers disagreed, and they took their sister to the front yard to set off fireworks.
The five horses were driven to the backyard. Although the sound of firecrackers made them uneasy, there was no mistake thanks to Yi Meng’s spring water and vegetables as compensation.
On New Year’s Eve, a table full of people sat in the dining room of the second courtyard.
Besides, another table was set up, specifically for women and children.
This arrangement was mainly because the other three families were invited to join for the reunion dinner.
Tens of people sat together once more, and everyone couldn’t help but recall the experiences of fleeing famine, feeling both emotional and grateful.
Unknowingly, the four old masters drank a bit too much and, instead of needing support back to the main courtyard, fell straight asleep in the guest rooms of the second courtyard.
After the tenth day of the new year, the Qi Family’s noodle stall reopened for business.
Although they thought there wouldn’t be many customers before the fifteenth, as soon as they opened, someone came to eat noodles.
"Finally, you opened! This whole year, I’ve been craving your fish balls!"
The customer said with a smile to Qi Dafu, who was rolling out the dough.
Qi Dafu grinned: "If you like it, eat more."
Yi Meng overheard and added: "You’re our first customer of the new year, so we’ll give you a couple of extra fish balls. Wishing you a smoothly auspicious day!"
"Hahaha, thanks a lot!"
The customer was delighted by such a surprise and expressed gratitude repeatedly.
Near noon, the sun grew warmer, and the air wasn’t as chilly as it was in the early mornings and evenings, drawing more people out for shopping, and business at the noodle stall began to pick up.
The prepared fish ball filling wasn’t much, so once it sold out, they packed up and went home.
And so it continued until the fifteenth day of the new year.
The streets were adorned with big red lanterns of all kinds, looking especially festive.
According to Yi Meng, they should take the day off today and not set up the stall, but this suggestion was unanimously rejected by the family.
Wang Daya eagerly advised Yi Meng: "There are so many people coming to the city today, and the city gates are open. We must take this opportunity to sell more noodles."
"Yes, and there’s the Lantern Festival coming up. We’ve made so many glutinous rice balls; it’ll take forever to eat them all at home. We must sell some to turn them into money!"
Qu Laodi also grew anxious.
Just as Yi Meng was about to speak, Ai Zhaodi said: "Second sister-in-law, those aren’t glutinous rice balls; they’re tangyuan. Glutinous rice balls are bigger, tangyuan are smaller."
"Oh, whether they’re glutinous rice balls or tangyuan doesn’t matter! They’ll sell well today anyway!"
Qu Laodi waved her hand, not caring about the name issue.
Tangyuan was something Yi Meng had taught everyone to make on the eleventh day.
Back in the village, they used to have glutinous rice balls, fried or boiled, loved by everyone at home.
But this year, Yi Meng didn’t know why she thought of tangyuan and tried making them at home, and they actually turned out well.
After everyone tried them and liked them, they set up a small pot at the noodle stall on the thirteenth, specifically to sell tangyuan.
Although not many were sold, those who tried them said they were great.
Qi Manman, sitting in Mrs. Qi’s lap, immediately raised her chubby little hands: "Tangyuan is yummy! Fried glutinous rice balls are yummy too! They’re all yummy!"
With no more hardships from traveling on the road, after months of stable life, Qi Manman’s little cheeks became rounder, turning her into a chubby bun without any wrinkles, making everyone who saw her want to pinch those little cheeks.
Mrs. Qi was afraid her precious granddaughter’s face would be pinched out of shape, so she kept a close eye on it, saving many pinches from happening.
Hearing the little girl say this, Yi Meng immediately stopped insisting on taking a day off.
However, she suggested: "There’s a lantern festival tonight, so we can take shifts going out to see it. Keep an eye on the kids, as there are a lot of people and it’s not safe."
Everyone kept this in mind.
But even so, something happened that night.
As Mrs. Qi’s most cherished little one, Qi Manman was either carried or held by the hand, never let go for a moment.
But the sons of the Qi Family weren’t so lucky.
Qi Shilang, being young, still had someone watching over him, but not Balang and Jiulang, who were a bit older.
The two just-turned-seven-year-olds were initially held by adults, but as more things were bought, the adults let them hold on to the adult’s clothes and follow along.
As they walked on and on, the two children somehow let go and were soon swallowed up by the crowd.
Qi Wulang, ten years old, held on to Qi Qilang, eight years old, closely following the adults.
Qi Quanjin’s eldest son, Qi Liulang, also eight, held Qilang’s hand, and the three of them stuck together, avoiding any mishaps.
But as they walked, Qi Liulang noticed something amiss: "Qilang, have you seen Balang and Jiulang?"
Qi Qilang looked around and asked in return: "Weren’t they with Uncle Liu?"
"Can you see Uncle Liu anywhere?"
Qi Liulang asked again.
Qi Qilang glanced around once more, shook his head, and tugged on Qi Wulang’s hand: "Brother Wu, have you seen Uncle Liu and Balang, Jiulang?"
Qi Wulang didn’t expect to be asked such a question and looked around, shaking his head: "No! Uncle Liu is quick; he probably went ahead!"
Qi Qilang responded with an "oh," just about to relay the message to Qi Liulang, when he heard Qi Liulang exclaim: "Oh no, Uncle Liu may be fast, but Balang and Jiulang aren’t! They’re probably lost!"
Upon hearing this, the other two children were dumbfounded.
Qi Liulang let go of Qi Qilang’s hand and hurriedly tugged on Qi Sangui’s clothes, loudly calling for Third Uncle.
