Qi Manman was talking while using her chubby fingers to scrape her plump little cheeks, which made Qi Shilang cry even louder.
"Manbao, don't bully Xiao Shi."
Yi Meng pretended to be angry and looked at Qi Manman.
Qi Manman wasn't afraid, instead, she playfully stuck out her tongue, "Brother Shi, don't cry. My mom made something delicious, hurry up and get dressed, we're waiting to eat the good stuff!"
As soon as he heard there was something delicious, Qi Shilang immediately stopped crying, though tears were still hanging on his eyelashes, looking adorably cute.
Yi Meng didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
The youngest child of the fifth family used to be the family's youngest child.
This little fellow had no other faults except being a little glutton.
He truly wanted to taste everything.
Even before he was three, no matter what it was, if he got hold of it, he'd put it in his mouth.
Only after he turned three did he know that some things couldn't be eaten, but as soon as he heard about food, his eyes still sparkled.
"Alright, Shilang, Fourth Aunt will help you get dressed."
Yi Meng helped the child put on clothes again, but unlike her daughter, she only combed one round bun on his head.
"Fourth Aunt, what delicious food did you make?"
By now, Qi Shilang had completely stopped crying, and his face's tears were wiped dry by Yi Meng. He looked eagerly at Yi Meng, still subconsciously swallowing.
"Porridge and stewed vegetables."
Yi Meng had a good temper, was patient, and now with a daughter, she was even gentler.
Holding hands with a little one in each hand, she headed towards the kitchen.
Then the scene in the kitchen turned into two little ones sitting in a row on the doorstep, both resting their cheeks in their hands, eagerly watching Yi Meng busying herself.
The rice porridge was done, indeed thicker than usual.
Yi Meng served two bowls of sticky rice soup for the two little kids, and also took out the freshly warmed pancakes, tearing them in half, and scooped a small bowl of more veggies than broth from the stew pot.
A small table was set in the yard, usually used by the men of the house for tea.
The two little ones sat beside the small table, one hand holding a pancake, the other holding a wooden spoon, laughing while eating.
Yi Meng was busy packing the cooked meals into clay jars and had no time to watch the little ones eat.
When she finally took a moment to come out, she saw two little "painted cats."
"Oh my little dearest ones!"
Yi Meng was directly amused.
Kids always have a way to get food all over their faces while eating.
After wiping their faces, she turned back to the kitchen to busy herself.
Just as she was about to fetch the boiled water chilling at the water well, she heard voices coming from the door.
"Fourth Aunt, we're back."
It was Qi Wulang and Qi Liulang who had returned.
The two half-grown boys were sunburned red and covered in sweat.
"Wipe your sweat first, wash your hands."
Yi Meng called out, lifting the water bucket.
Qi Wulang hurried forward to take the bucket and fetched the one below.
Qi Liulang carried the first bucket into the kitchen.
Fourth Aunt said, whenever everyone sweated too much, a tiny bit of salt and sugar had to be added to the drinking water, otherwise just drinking water alone wouldn't suffice.
Ever since Fourth Aunt married Fourth Uncle, this practice had been followed.
So this water had to be delivered to the kitchen for Fourth Aunt to add the salt and sugar before it could be capped and taken to the fields.
"Brother Wu! Brother Liu!"
Qi Manman was now full, wiped her mouth, and ran straight towards her brothers.
Seeing their soft, fragrant little sister, Qi Wulang and Qi Liulang were also happy.
Qi Shilang ate a bit slower, finishing up and still somewhat unwillingly eyeing the remaining veggie broth in his bowl.
Sneakily, he glanced towards the kitchen, and upon seeing no sight of Fourth Aunt, he quickly grabbed the veggie bowl and brought it to his mouth.
"Xiao Shi, you're not allowed to drink the broth!"
Qi Wulang saw and quickly voiced his opposition.
But it was too late.
Qi Shilang gulped down the broth in two swigs.
Afterwards, he grimaced and burst into tears, "So salty!"
The rule Yi Meng set for the family's meals was that the children's food shouldn't be too salty.
So when she served the children food, it was always more veggies and less broth, fearing the broth was too salty.
Because their usual food wasn't very salty and everyone sweated a lot today, the food was cooked saltier than usual, causing Qi Shilang to cry from the saltiness after drinking the broth.
When Qi Wulang called out, Yi Meng quickly came out from the kitchen and immediately saw Qi Shilang putting down the empty bowl on the table.
Originally planning to scold them a bit, seeing the little guy crying from the saltiness, Yi Meng couldn't help but feel helpless, so she brought out a bowl of clear water.
Qi Shilang rinsed his mouth and drank several sips of water before the saltiness in his mouth subsided.
"Wulang, Liulang, you guys take it to the field first!"
Yi Meng instructed the two older kids to head out first, she still had to clean up her two little dearests' faces before she could leave.
"Mom, why do Brother Wu and Brother Liu have to take things to the field?"
Qi Manman let her mom wipe her face, but didn't forget to ask questions.
Yi Meng replied, "Today is the harvest day, everyone is out in the fields harvesting and doesn't have time to come back for meals, so we have to take the meals and water over."
Qi Manman tilted her head in thought, "Ah, I remember now, Grandpa and Grandma mentioned the harvest yesterday! But the ants moved, and Manbao said it would rain, and Grandma told me to spit twice."
"Manbao, you mustn't talk about rain during this time, or all the year's efforts will be in vain, understand?"
Yi Meng paused in cleaning the little one's hands and seriously stated, "You mustn't mention it outside or even at home."
"Oh, Manbao understands!"
Qi Manman still didn't understand why it shouldn't rain during the harvest, but it didn't really matter to her.
She's an obedient little one; since Grandpa, Grandma, and Mom all said so, she wouldn't mention it.
After all, Grandpa Jade Emperor has already accepted her offerings and her fish, surely he wouldn't go back on his word.
Yi Meng carried the basket with the freshly warmed food on her back, holding a little hand in each of her hands, and started heading towards their family's fields with the two little ones.
By now, every household had come to deliver meals, and people were sitting by the fields eating.
Eating and chatting away, the atmosphere was lively.
The Qi family fields were near the road, and right now the adults and children of the family were sitting under the big tree by the roadside cooling off.
Qi Wulang and Qi Liulang had arrived first and were distributing water and porridge to everyone.
Seeing Yi Meng leading Qi Manman over from afar, Qi Cheng's spirits lifted, despite being tired, and she stood straight up, quickly walking to meet them.
"Oh my, it's little Manbao! Come, let Grandma hold you, tired from the walk over? Are your little feet sore?"
Qi Cheng didn't wait for Qi Manman to respond, and then she put on a serious face and started scolding her fourth daughter-in-law, "Meng Niang, how can you let little Manbao walk over? What if the little one gets tired?"
Qi Shilang blinked at the side, somewhat bewildered.
It seemed little sister was the same age as him! He walked himself here, so why would little sister be tired?