NOVEL WEB Chapter 8: Spring Plowing Preparations
Chapter 8: Spring Plowing Preparations
Spring plowing was about to begin, and the Li family still had some preparations to make.
First, they needed to go to town to collect the new year’s spirit rice and spirit wheat seeds, buy fertilizer, and rent spirit cattle.
Second, they had to make enough dry rations to ensure meals during spring plowing.
Third, they needed to polish and maintain farm tools, and prepare straw hats and rain capes.
Fourth, they had to repair the temporary housing at the spirit fields, focusing on checking the roof and stove for damage.
Fifth, they needed to arrange in advance with the family whose turn it was to look after the children during spring plowing.
The rest of the family got up early, ate breakfast, and began preparing for spring plowing. Li Shan and Wang Xiuniang rushed to town to collect spirit rice seeds, buy fertilizer, and rent spirit cattle. Li He went to check and repair the temporary housing at the spirit fields in front of Peach Mountain. Li Jiang checked and maintained the farm tools, while the two sisters-in-law went to the kitchen to make stuffed pancakes.
Because this spring break was celebrating Li Xi’s tenth birthday, they had already delayed some spring plowing preparation time. So the five tasks needed to be prepared simultaneously. Li Xi volunteered to contact Uncle Li San’s family, who was in charge of looking after the children this year.
The Li clan in Peach Blossom Village all had more or less blood relations, but the relationships had become very complicated from ancestors to now. In fact, Uncle Li San’s blood relation to Li Xi’s family was very distant.
Therefore, for ordinary clan members who hadn’t intermarried or whose relatives hadn’t intermarried, they addressed each other by age. Because Uncle Li San was the third child in his family and slightly younger than Li Shan, Li Xi called him Uncle Li San.
Uncle Li San’s family only had him and his wife, Mrs. Lin. They had been married for over ten years but had no children.
Therefore, the old couple particularly liked children. When they went out in the village, they always carried small snacks with them. Whenever they saw children, they would smile and give each one a treat. The village children all particularly liked the two of them, and whenever they appeared, the children would swarm around them asking for treats.
Li Xi was one of them.
Uncle Li San’s house was neither far nor near from Li Xi’s, one in the middle of the village and one at the village entrance. It took Li Xi a quarter of an hour to get there.
From afar, she saw that Uncle Li San’s courtyard gate was open, and a woman had just walked out with a smile on her face. She must have also come to arrange to bring her children during spring plowing.
Li Xi quickly ran over, “Uncle Li San, Aunt, I’m here! Don’t close the gate yet!”
On the other side, the middle-aged man and woman in the courtyard heard Li Xi’s voice and walked out. “Xi’er is here.” x2
“Uncle Li San, Aunt, good morning. Have you eaten yet?” Li Xi greeted.
“Good morning to you too, Xi’er. Your uncle and I ate breakfast very early.” When Mrs. Lin saw Li Xi, a warm smile blossomed on her face, her eyes revealing deep joy and affection.
Although Uncle Li San didn’t speak, his eyes also showed joy and welcome at Li Xi’s arrival.
“Xi’er is here, why don’t you come in and sit for a while? Your uncle and aunt don’t have any treats on hand, but there are some newly made fried dough twists in the house. Xi’er, you should try some.” Mrs. Lin said warmly.
“No, no, Aunt. I’m here to arrange to bring my three nieces and nephews to your house during spring plowing. Everyone’s busy at home, and I need to go back and help after I’m done here,” Li Xi politely declined.
“Of course, that’s fine. Xi’er is so capable. Your nieces and nephews are Song’er, Xing’er, and Bai’er, right? They’re all such fair and lovely children,” Mrs. Lin praised.
Hearing Mrs. Lin praise her nieces and nephews, Li Xi immediately broke into a big smile. She especially liked hearing others praise her family members.
Seeing Li Xi’s big eyes curving into crescents with her smile, her round little face showing two playful dimples, looking very cute and pretty, Mrs. Lin praised, “Our Xi’er is indeed Song’er and the others’ aunt, so pretty and cute!”
“I think so too!” Li Xi proudly replied to Mrs. Lin’s compliment.
“Why did you come by yourself today? Where are your brothers and sisters-in-law?” Mrs. Lin asked, curious. She didn’t feel slighted that Li Xi’s family had sent just a child to handle this matter, she was simply curious.
“We celebrated my tenth birthday at home yesterday, which delayed things, so everyone is quite busy today, and I came instead,” Li Xi explained.
“Oh, so Xi’er can start farming this year too. Congratulations!” Mrs. Lin immediately caught the key point.
“Thank you, Aunt!” Hearing the congratulations, Li Xi was as happy as a little bird.
Since they had made the arrangement, and Li Xi saw someone else approaching in the distance, she said goodbye and left.
Uncle Li San and Mrs. Lin watched her small, lively figure as she walked away.
“This child is really good!” Uncle Li San said. “Isn’t she!” Mrs. Lin agreed.
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Li Xi returned home. By this time, the three little ones had already gotten up and were sitting in a row at the small table eating breakfast. The two sisters-in-law were still busy in the kitchen, and she didn’t see her second brother.
She saw Song’er sitting on a small stool, constantly squirming. While eating, his little face would suddenly change from enjoying the delicious breakfast to a slightly contorted expression.
Without even guessing, Li Xi knew this little fellow must have had a sore bottom last night.
Hehe.
Li Xi walked to the kitchen, “Sisters-in-law, do you need help from the smart, cute, kind, and clever Xi’er?”
Liu Qiniang, who was rolling out dough, laughed when she heard this.
“Second sister-in-law invites our smart, cute, kind, and clever little sister to help make stuffed pancakes!”
Wu Jingwan also smiled gently, saying softly, “Little sister, go wash your hands first.”
“Roger that!” Li Xi responded as if receiving an order, going to the well to pump water and wash her hands thoroughly.
“What filling are we using for the pancakes today?” Li Xi asked as she came back after washing her hands.
“We bought a piece of spirit pork the day before yesterday. Today we’re making pork and cabbage filled pancakes.”
Liu Qiniang had finished rolling out the dough and was skillfully making the stuffed pancakes. She clearly had her own set of techniques, making the pancakes quickly and well, able to finish one in the blink of an eye.
Beside her, Wu Jingwan was also making pancakes very quickly.
The two sisters-in-law had long been working together and had a good understanding. Li Xi watched their movements admiringly, then picked up a piece of dough to start filling it.
A moment later, she looked at her own work and fell into deep thought.
Hmm……