Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Xin Xin, don’t get too close. You’ll get a burning sensation when the chili powder hits your face.” Gu Nian saw that Gu Xin was standing right next to the bucket and stopped moving.
“Sister, I’ll go dig some wild vegetables then!” Gu Xin wasn’t used to just sitting around and doing nothing.
“Don’t dig wild vegetables. We have enough carrot leaves to feed our chickens for a few days. If you have nothing to do, boil some water. Then clean all the pots in the kitchen and put them in the yard to dry! I’ll slice the chili in the morning and cook it in the afternoon. I’ll make a cake for you when it’s time for dinner, okay?” Gu Nian thought for a while, then she gave Gu Xin a task.
The young mistress was used to doing things and couldn’t stay still. Washing the pots wasn’t difficult.
Gu Xin went to boil some hot water to wash the cans.
About an hour later, Cai Xiaolian came back with the rice noodles.
“Nian Nian, the rice noodles are still not enough! Do you think I should go to town this afternoon to buy some more?” Cai Xiaolian asked as soon as she entered the house.
“Mother, it’s better if you don’t go. What if you run into Zhang Pipi and the others again? I heard yesterday at the old mansion that Fourth Uncle is going to deliver some goods this afternoon. Why don’t you ask Fourth Uncle to bring some back for you?” Gu Nian was worried that Cai Xiaolian would be robbed again if she went alone.
She had already known what the Gu family did when she ate at the old mansion yesterday.
Eldest Gu usually did the work in the fields. When he was free, he would go to the dock to carry things for others. Meanwhile, Fourth Gu was learning craftsmanship from the village carpenter, Yang.
Coincidentally, yesterday, she heard Fourth Gu mention that he was going to the town this afternoon to deliver a finished cabinet to a family.
“That’s fine! Then I’ll go and look for him right away. I don’t want him to leave later and make a mistake.” Cai Xiaolian returned to the kitchen and put down the bag of rice noodles. She then went to get the money bag. She left 100 wen and only took 400 wen.
This was Cai Xiaolian’s habit. She had to leave some money with her, or else she wouldn’t feel safe.
…
In the afternoon, Gu Si came over to deliver the rice noodles.
“Second Aunt, Fourth Uncle bought the rice back. My dad crushed it for you guys and asked me to come over to deliver it!” Gu Si came over with a small backpack full of rice noodles. However, she left the food to Cai Xiaolian at the door and turned around to leave. She didn’t even get close to the door.
“This little cousin of ours is a little introverted!” Gu Nian commented.
“Your aunt values boys over girls. Hui Hui is a strong person. Si Si has been bossed around by your aunt all day long. If it weren’t for your grandparents watching over her, your aunt wouldn’t know how to treat her!” Cai Xiaolian shook her head.
Gu Si was just like Gu Xin when the three of them had not transmigrated over. However, with her grandparents watching over Gu Si, she would not be hungry.
Gu Xin was different. Even though her grandparents often gave her food, she was robbed by the original owner, Gu Nian, when she returned.
“What a sin!” Gu Nian curled her lips.
Although she sympathized with her little cousin, she was not familiar with the people from the old house yet, so she could not say much.
The mother and daughter closed the door and returned to the kitchen. They took Gu Xin and patched up all the chopped chilies. Then, they added salt and pepper noodles.
They could have added some ginger, but they didn’t have any at home. They hadn’t found any when they went shopping earlier.
They had made three clay pots that could hold 20 kilograms. These clay pots were just ordinary pickle pots.
Gu Nian had also cut bamboo into strips in a bamboo forest outside the door. She put them into the pots and compacted them.