Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 363: Pickled Radish

The three returned home, and the rain had stopped.

Ah Wang placed the umbrella under the porch to dry and rolled up his sleeves to cook dinner in the kitchen.

Earlier, he had brought back a brood of chicks to raise. Qin Yao found them smelly, so Ah Wang built a wind and rainproof coop beside the livestock pen for the chicks. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

These past few days, there was no need to go to school, so Third Brother and Fourth Sister would take rice from the home’s rice jar every day to feed the chicks, and they actually ended up overfeeding one to death.

Afraid to tell the adults, they got Ah Wang to help cover it up. Now they were burying the dead chick in the back hill and stealthily bumped into Qin Yao, who was going to inspect the materials in the backyard.

Fourth Sister yelped, while Third Brother almost fell on his butt but managed not to.

Thankfully, Qin Yao acted swiftly, grabbing each of them, thereupon saving the siblings from having clothes needing washing.

The household chores were numerous, and one person like Ah Wang was not enough to handle them all, so Qin Yao insisted on home education for the siblings — one’s affairs should be managed personally.

However, sometimes when the children lazed around and went to find Ah Wang or their father for help, she would turn a blind eye and did not pursue the matter.

As long as they didn’t ask her for help, everything was fine.

"What were you doing? Wearing only a straw hat in such heavy rain; your pant legs are soaked," Qin Yao asked in confusion.

Third Brother and Fourth Sister stuck out their tongues, saying "nothing" in unison as they tried to sneak away, but Qin Yao called them back, each receiving an armful of firewood, and instructed, "Take these to the kitchen; it’s almost time for dinner. Don’t run around in the dark."

The siblings responded with an "okay," and, carrying the firewood, went to the kitchen. Ah Wang gave them a helpless look, signaled for them to put down the firewood, and sternly instructed, "This should not happen again; a chick’s life also matters."

The two children lowered their heads in guilt, saying "sorry" with sincerity, though.... Third Brother regretfully licked his lips, "We’ll have one less chicken to eat next year."

Fourth Sister glared at her brother, disapprovingly, and hastily reassured Ah Wang, "We know we were wrong, and we won’t be impatient next time."

Ah Wang nodded, letting the matter drop.

A few days ago, he had pickled some radishes, and now the sour taste had fully seeped in. Using a bamboo skimmer, he fished out two large pieces from the jar, slicing them into thin sections and placing them on a ceramic plate, garnishing with a small piece of red chili before handing it to Third Brother and Fourth Sister to take to the hall.

"Mother, Father, we have pickled radishes!"

The two little ones cheerfully carried the pickled radishes indoors, using their feet to close the door and block out the cold wind howling outside.

The main room was very warm; a pot of charcoal burned vigorously. Liu Ji pushed Da Lang and Second Lang aside, occupying a spot for himself, stretching out his hands to warm them, and then rubbing his face and ears with the warm hands, thinking to himself that he should just snuggle in the bed and go nowhere in this weather.

Unfortunately, a lot of things were lined up at home, offering no chance to rest.

Seeing Fourth Sister and the others gathered around the table eating the sour and sweet pickled radishes, the aroma so appealingly sour it made one salivate, Liu Ji couldn’t help but swallow his saliva.

"Third Brother, let me have a taste!" Liu Ji remained seated, not even shifting an inch, merely opening his mouth, waiting for his son to feed him.

Third Brother, simple-minded as he was, complied with an "ok," even selected the most pickled piece, and eagerly brought it to Liu Ji’s mouth.

He tilted his head and asked, "Father, is it sour?"

"Sour—" Liu Ji furrowed his brows, but after the sourness dissipated, a unique radish pungency mixed with the spiciness of red chili spread, very refreshing!

In conclusion, it’s all about two words—"sour and refreshing! Give me another piece."

Third Brother obediently nodded, went to fetch another slice for his father, and asked again with a tilted head, "Father, refreshing or not?"

Holding medicine and cotton cloth, Qin Yao pushed the door open and came inside, witnessing Liu Ji, this deity of a father, comfortably sitting by the fire basin, mouth open, anticipating being fed by Third Brother.

"Liu Ji, don’t you have hands?" Qin Yao asked, half-closing the door with an annoyed yet amused tone.

Liu Ji chuckled, waved his hand signaling Third Brother to step aside, and got up to meet her.

As he passed by the table, Da Lang and his siblings, who were enjoying the pickled radishes, blinked, and in just a moment, more than half the plate of pickled radishes was snatched away by Liu Ji’s large hand.

He speared a piece with a bamboo skewer and presented it to Qin Yao, "Darling, taste it. It’s sour, spicy, and a bit sweet; it’s particularly delicious."

Liu Ji’s eyes sparkled brightly, so eager. Qin Yao couldn’t help but comment, "Your gaze is just like a dog’s."

Liu Ji: "Huh?"

Oh well, Qin Yao shook her head with a smile, too lazy to explain more, she took the bamboo skewer from Liu Ji and tried a bite herself, finding it indeed delicious, "Ah Wang’s skills are good enough to sell."

Spearing another two slices, a sense of satisfaction brought by good food lifted her mood significantly.

She put down the skewer and sat by the fire basin, placing the medicine on a small stool beside her. Da Lang naturally came over, showing his injured hand.

Second Lang saw the dish finally put down, grabbed it, and continued eating with the Dragon and Phoenix Twins. When Liu Ji wanted to mooch some, Second Lang shielded it, denying him with a grunt, "If you want to eat, get it yourself. It’s ours; we even pulled the radishes with Uncle Ah Wang!"

Mother said those who don’t work don’t eat!

Liu Ji raised an eyebrow, finding himself at a loss for words.

While changing Da Lang’s bandage, Qin Yao instructed Liu Ji, "These radishes are indeed well pickled. You should bring a bowl to the Lotus Courtyard for your master and senior to have as an appetizer."

With the rain just stopped and the road outside muddy and slippery in the dim evening, Liu Ji normally would have a thousand excuses not to go.

But today, without a word of complaint, he obediently agreed, playfully snapping up the radish slice that Second Lang was about to eat and swaggered out the door.

"Ahhh!" Second Lang, fuming with anger, chased after him but was promptly conscripted by his father, wrapping an arm around the boy’s neck, "Come, accompany Dad to deliver things to the Lotus Courtyard!"

Second Lang, unable to resist the strength of an adult male, grumbled as Liu Ji led him away.

Liu Ji wouldn’t let him off; whenever Second Lang cursed, he’d retort until hearing the boy use a fancy idiom or two. Liu Ji would exclaim, "Not bad, not bad, you even know how to insult without using foul words."

Second Lang: "..." Aren’t you just aggravating me!

Eventually, the boy realized that cursing back was pointless, so he closed his mouth, folded his arms, and followed behind Liu Ji in silence, realizing the value of keeping silent.

The father and son set out without bringing a lantern. As it got darker, Second Lang walked slower and slower.

Liu Ji sighed, "What’s the point of a grown man squabbling with a little brat?"

He extended a hand, grasping Second Lang’s nape, "Stay close, or you might fall into the river."

Second Lang let out a hum, genuinely afraid in the dark, and unknowingly reached to grab his father’s belt.

When they reached the Lotus Courtyard, the father and son didn’t go in; dinner at home was ready soon, and Liu Ji couldn’t guarantee that if he stayed a minute longer, there would be any food left at the table.

Handing over a big bowl of pickled radish to the guard, Liu Ji ushered Second Lang to leave.

Not yet home, they were already greeted by the enticing aroma of food.

Looking up, through the pitch darkness, they saw a warm orange glow. Father and son exchanged a glance and smiled, heading towards the warmth.