The two sisters-in-law went up the mountain while talking, and the plum blossom came out of the shed, and when she saw this, she had to go up to inquire about things. Sister-in-law Liu pulled her and scolded with a smile, "You blind one, the pillar is gone, the owner is upset, let's talk to Steward Zhang if there is something." ”

Meihua'er laughed, "I'm also busy." With that, the two turned around and went into the chicken house. Steward Zhang was sitting at a broken table that had been temporarily moved to assign tasks, some of the men went up the mountain to chop wood, some went to chop stones, and two handymen were free to lead, and the women were also divided into teams to take turns cooking, the old people were responsible for going to the Hetao to cut grass and weave curtains, the half-grown children went to fetch firewood, and the seven or eight youngest children were also arranged for women to take care of them.

Sister-in-law Liu and Zhao Qingshan, the two chief managers inside and outside the orchard, were originally a little unconvinced by the big steward who suddenly ran out, but now I saw him sitting there drinking tea, and the account books were written and calculated with a wave, and they could come up with a solution casually in case of trouble, so they "bowed their heads and became ministers" without saying a word.

Steward Zhang naturally did not slow down these two old men who had been serving in front of the master, and pulled them to laugh for a long time, and then discussed trivial matters, and soon arranged the food, drink, housing and transportation of all the people up and down.

Although the winter afternoon is inevitably dry and cold, it is a little warmer than the morning and evening. Dong Rong was happy that her sister-in-law came to accompany her, pulled the little girl to put the package, and Zhang Luo cooked two good dishes in person.

Needless to say, the braised pork was ordered by the sister-in-law herself, and the fat and fragrant meat is indeed a good dish for the next meal. But just eating this dish is a bit monotonous, it just so happens that there are a few big red apples in the fruit bowl, which was originally prepared to be cut into pieces to feed the fruit, but unfortunately after the weather is getting colder, the fruit is hiding in the basket with cotton and rarely comes out, and today it is just used to make a simple delicacy.

After the braised pork was put into the pot, it was simmered slowly until it was fragrant, and Dong Rong listened to the japonica rice in the clay pot also made a slight crackling sound, and then nodded with satisfaction. Then start peeling and coring the apples and cutting them into small pieces that are one inch long. Put an egg in a clay bowl, stir some dried potato powder into an egg batter, and finally throw the apple pieces in it and roll it around, and you can fry it in the oil pan to make it crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Second Sister Cao ran over when she smelled the aroma in the house, and asked curiously, "Sister-in-law, what are you doing again, why does it taste sweet?" ”

Dong Rong was afraid that the hot oil would burn her, so she smiled and threw her away, "Don't go here to make trouble, you really can't sit still, so help me pick up the rice and braised pork." ”

"Okay," Second Sister Cao responded, and quickly opened the pot to serve the food, happily flying around like a little butterfly, which made Dong Rong feel better and better.

The apples are fried and left with a little base oil, and then you can put the frosting. The frosting of the Great Qi Kingdom is not as white and crystal as it is in modern times, and the color of the sugar juice boiled out is thick. Dip a piece of cold water in it, and it is really sweet and sour in your mouth, crispy and fragrant.

Second Sister Cao ate three or four pieces violently, and then poured out her free time and shouted, "Sister-in-law, this apple piece is so delicious, you must teach me to make it." ”

"Okay," Dong Rong smiled and quipped, "Sister-in-law must teach you, and then when you get married, you can show your skills to your in-laws." ”

"Oops, sister-in-law!" Second Sister Cao blushed and said angrily, "I won't marry, I won't marry!" In the future, I will come to my sister-in-law here to ask for delicious food, and even if my sister-in-law annoys me, I will not leave! ”

"Okay, okay, you just eat one pig a day, and your sister-in-law can afford it." The two sisters-in-law were talking and laughing while eating and drinking, and soon their bellies were round, and they both lay on the kang and didn't want to get up.

Second Sister Cao pillowed her sister-in-law's arm, quietly feeling the warmth on her sister-in-law's body, but her heart was extremely sour. Because of the weakness brought by the womb, she was unable to play in bed every day when she was a child. And her father is working outside, her mother is busy with farm work and housework, and the only sister is still a lazy and greedy temper, so her life is extremely lonely.

However, after her sister-in-law got married, she would often talk to her, draw her very beautiful embroidery patterns, and bring her snacks and fabric embroidery thread when she went to the city. She had worried countless times that her sister-in-law would leave the Cao family, but Xu was blessed by the Buddha, and her sister-in-law and her brother had a very good relationship, working hard to earn money, and buying orchards to settle down. Sometimes she wakes up happily when she sleeps at night, and she really treats her sister-in-law as her own sister. But his mother and eldest sister are...

"Sister-in-law, you and my brother... Well, when are you going to give me a little nephew? ”

Dong Rong didn't hear her sister-in-law for a long time, and thought that she was going to fall asleep when she was full, but she didn't expect to be asked about it suddenly, so she replied vaguely, "The child is fate, and when there is one, it will be born, and this matter is not in a hurry." ”

"Well, I want my sister-in-law to have three nephews and two nieces. My nephew grows up to take care of the orchard for my sister-in-law, and my niece can play with me. I'm going to embroider the most beautiful clothes for them, sister-in-law, you give birth early, okay? The more Sister Cao spoke, the happier she became, and she tried her best to pinch it, hoping that her sister-in-law would give birth to a child immediately.

Dong Rong felt a little strange in her heart, so she asked, "Second sister, you tell your sister-in-law the truth." Do you hear gossip from someone in the village or at home? ”

Second Sister Cao subconsciously shrunk her neck and whispered, "No..."

Dong Rong sat up, didn't ask questions, just looked at her quietly and didn't speak. Second Sister Cao really couldn't stand it, so she hurriedly got up and said cautiously, "It's not gossip from outsiders, it's that before I came in the morning, I heard the eldest sister and mother saying that they wanted to step a child into my brother's name..."

Dong Rong frowned, sneering in her heart. Sister Cao's two sons are really good at calculating, which is obviously for her family business. It turned out that I hadn't heard that they had this idea, could it be that the Chen family came back and someone supported them?

Second Sister Cao saw that her sister-in-law's face was not good, and she was so anxious that she was about to cry. She hugged her sister-in-law's arm and begged, "Sister-in-law, don't be angry. My sister... My sister is a person who can't figure it out, and our mother didn't agree, and my father scolded them. As long as you and my brother have a baby, they won't dare... I like my sister-in-law, sister-in-law don't hate me..."

Dong Rong couldn't see people shed tears, not to mention that she had always liked this sister-in-law who was close to her, so she quickly reached out to wipe her tears and coaxed, "You stupid girl, what are you crying about!" My sister-in-law treats you as my own sister, how can I hate you? The family may think that your brother and I can't have children, so they have some small plans. Don't worry, when your brother comes back, we'll give birth to a child for you to play with as a rag doll, okay? ”

"Oops, sister-in-law!" Second Sister Cao burst into tears and laughed, and said angrily, "How can a child play as a rag doll?" ”

"Then what do you want, if it's a cloth tiger, can't my sister-in-law give birth?"

"The more my sister-in-law talks, the more out of the score!" Second Sister Cao's face turned red with shame, where did she remember the tears. Dong Rong laughed, pulled her sister-in-law to clean up the dishes and chopsticks, and then went to the east wing.

The boxes that Dong Ping brought back from Kyoto were opened one by one, and those exquisite fabrics and jewelry made Second Sister Cao almost dumbfounded. She picked up a golden step and shook it on her sister-in-law's head, tore off a piece of brocade and draped it over her body, shouting from time to time, "Sister-in-law, this material sets your face." I cut it in the evening, and I'll sew you a jacket. I wear it until the New Year, and I keep it festive and beautiful. ”

Dong Rong saw that the little girl's eyes were full of amazement and envy, and there was no greed at all, and she loved it more and more in her heart. Reaching out and picking up a red brocade and a set of silver jewelry, she stuffed them into her arms, and said with a smile, "You can take these two things home in a few days." The material is produced in Sioux City, and it is most suitable for embroidering wedding dresses. Silver jewelry is worn on weekdays, you are a big girl, and your hands and heads can't be too plain. ”

After speaking, she took another set of red gold jewelry and put it in a separate box, explaining, "This set of red gold is also a dowry for you, but it is too dazzling to take out at this time." Sister-in-law will take it for you first, and then return it to your dowry list when she finds an opportunity later. ”

"Sister-in-law, this is so... It's too expensive for me to want. Although Second Sister Cao didn't know how much silver these clothes and jewelry were worth, she guessed that it was not cheap just by looking at the color of the silk and the style of the jewelry. She felt sorry for her brother and sister-in-law's difficulty in making money, and wanted to stuff it back. But girls are born with no resistance to these things, and although their hands are stretched out, the reluctance in their eyes is like a small hook pulling back.

Dong Rong laughed so much that her stomach almost turned, and the little girl's expression was so cute. Cao's second sister Xu Shi also felt that her heart was inconsistent, and she was so ashamed that she wanted to find a crack in the ground to get into. Dong Rong hurriedly grabbed her and comforted, "What my sister-in-law gave you, you can take it." Don't be polite, as if you are an outsider to your sister-in-law. Besides, my sister-in-law still has work to do for you, which is considered wages. ”

After that, she turned out a few more pieces of material, "These clothes are going to make new cotton robes for your father, your brother, and my brother Ping." You can see that the mountain is so busy, I can't have any time to spare. If you're not afraid of being tired, help your sister-in-law. ”

"Okay," Second Sister Cao really forgot about Fang Cai's embarrassment, and grabbed the material and responded, "Sister-in-law, don't worry, the storage is done quickly and well." ”

The two sisters-in-law happily returned to the big kang in the West House, discussed the style, cut the materials, and were so busy that they ate a bite of dinner hastily. In the middle of the night, when she finally got into the bed, the tired second sister Cao leaned on her sister-in-law's side and fell asleep almost immediately.

Dong Rong tucked the quilt for the little girl but didn't feel sleepy for a long time, originally she suddenly came to this time and space, the unfamiliar environment made her panic, and then she saw Dong Ping, who was exactly the same as her younger brother, so she found a reason for herself to insist on living. After the days passed, the stupid pillar treated her with a thousand cares and obedient in every way, and the heart in her chest that was broken by the negative man seemed to be slowly warmed up again, and she slowly liked the sincerity and honesty of the stupid pillar.

Sometimes she thinks that maybe that's why she's somehow here. But occasionally waking up in the middle of the night, the soul is still a little impetuous, like a rootless wanderer, unable to fall and leave, the taste cannot be described in words.

(I can't sleep with a toothache, and I get up at two o'clock in the middle of the night, haha, it's amazing!) )