"Grandma, I've picked seven edamame beans, and there are still dozens left."
Ji Ying said with a beaming smile, "I have to go home and cook, Grandma, be careful not to fall."
With a basket on one arm and seven freshly tied edamame in the other, Ji Ying walked home loaded down with her harvest.
Liu Sanmei stared at her departing back, muttering to herself, how did this little girl get so sharp-tongued?
Hmm, she's changed a bit in temperament too, not like before, when she wouldn't even fart after half a day.
Loaded down with her bounty, Ji Ying didn't care what Liu Sanmei was thinking. Her mind was only on how to make something tasty for her parents and her two brothers.
"Hey, how did you pick so many vegetables?"
When Ji Ying saw Xu Nianhua coming with a basket on one arm and edamame in the other, she hurried forward to take the things from her hand.
"These are the vegetables for a few days, if I don't pick enough, it won't do." Ji Ying said cheerfully. With Liu Sanmei's personality, after she picked this much today, there might not be anything left in the vegetable patch tomorrow, and they'd have to wait for it to grow again before they could pick more.
"Mom, let's make a few delicious dishes today." Ji Ying put the vegetables she'd picked in the kitchen. Things like eggplant, she'd float in the cold well water to keep them fresh for a few extra days.
She picked out two big eggplants to make steamed eggplant, stir-fried green beans with chili, and some sour and spicy sweet potato leaves. There was no meat, but it would still go well with rice.
The old house was worn, but behind the kitchen there was an old hand pump, and beside it a big stone water tank, which made getting water really convenient.
From lighting the stove to cooking and then washing and preparing the vegetables, Ji Ying was organized and efficient in everything she did.
By the time Ji Ying came in after turning the rice, Ji Ying had already cooked the rice.
"You've just recovered, don't work so hard." Ji Ying came over to help, but found that the vegetables were already washed and arranged on plates, all neatly prepared.
Ji Ying looked up and gave a sweet smile, "Mom, just try my cooking."
"You silly girl, I knew you could cook." Ji Ying looked at her daughter. She was already nineteen, slender and tall, with good looks. Looking around the whole Shuangzhu Village, she'd never seen a girl prettier than her own daughter.
No, not just Shuangzhu Village, even in all of Gaoliang County, she still thought her own daughter was the best looking.
It's just that Ji Ying always liked to keep long bangs, hiding those beautiful eyes of hers.
It's good to hide them. With their current situation, a girl too pretty would only bring trouble.
Ji Ying smiled sweetly and said, "Mom, you go rest for a while."
Ji Ying quickly finished cooking the three dishes. Even though things were tough at home now, she made sure there was plenty for everyone.
"I'll go call your dad and brothers back for dinner."
Ji Ying braved the blazing sun to call them in from the fields. Once the late rice was all in these few days, the work would finally let up a bit.
Ji Ying specially put boiling water in the cold well water to cool, so when Xu Qinghe and the others got home, they could have a nice, cold drink. The dishes were set on the table, bowls and chopsticks laid out, rice served—all ready for them to come home to eat.
Seeing them come back drenched in sweat, she handed over the towels she'd already prepared.
"Sis, you're not running a fever anymore, are you?" Xu Nian'an reached out to touch her forehead, and after confirming she wasn't feverish, he took the towel to wipe his sweat. After working all morning, their stomachs were already growling with hunger.
"Why does the food taste so good today?"
"Especially these sweet potato leaves, so sour and spicy—really hits the spot."
In just a few bites, everyone's rice bowls were empty. Knowing that Ji Ying had made the food, Xu Nian'an praised her, "Sis, your cooking has really improved!"