Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Liu Sisi was about to take her leave, but Madam Gan Senior held her hand with a loving smile on her face.

“It’s been quite busy during the end of the year, and I haven’t had the chance to talk to you! Ruo Ruo is a very strong-willed girl, and she will be going to the capital with your father after the New Year. I’m worried about her being inexperienced. I’m glad you’re by her side to guide her. I’m saying thank you on behalf of Ruo Ruo.”

Liu Sisi’s forehead broke out in a cold sweat! Was her conversation with Ruo Ruo yesterday overheard?

Feeling a sense of unease, she forced a smile: “Why is Grandmother saying such things? Ruo Ruo and I are good sisters. It’s only natural for me to give advice to my younger sister. I don’t deserve your gratitude.” As she spoke, she bowed slightly to Madam Gan Senior.

“You deserve it, you deserve it! Alas! I’m old and don’t have much to look forward to. But for Ruo Ruo, I have high hopes. I just wish her to be safe and sound.”

As she spoke, Madam Gan Senior took out a red envelope from her bosom and handed it to Liu Sisi’s hand: “Here! This dividend belongs to you. Keep it well, and don’t refuse it for being too little.”

“Thank you, Grandmother.”

Liu Sisi reached out and took it. She quickly scanned the contents, and surprise flashed in her eyes!

She could hardly believe her eyes. Wasn’t it just one portion of profits? It turned out to be as much as 1,000 taels! How could she not widen her eyes in shock? After a moment, she quickly hid her surprise and thanked the old lady again.

“You don’t need to thank me. Just remember that this dividend is what you deserve.”

At the moment, Liu Sisi didn’t understand what she meant.

When she finally understood the implications, it was already a long time later.

They left for two days, not coming back full-loaded until the afternoon.

The heavy snow was increasing, and the visibility was almost zero. The two of them braved the snowstorm to return home. By the time they dismounted, Liu Sisi was almost frozen stiff.

Di Yelei didn’t worry about the jujube red horse and directly carried Liu Sisi, who was wrapped in his arms, into the house.

“Quick! Add more firewood to the fire! Sisi is frozen!”

As Di Yelei lifted the curtain while speaking, he took two big strides and placed her beside the bonfire.

As soon as she entered the suddenly warm room, Liu Sisi couldn’t help but sneeze twice, tears and mucus streaming down her face.

“It’s so… cold outside…”

Liu Zhi’er, who was busy in the room, saw them and quickly made the bonfire blaze: “Why did you rush home in such heavy snow? Isn’t the New Year not until the day after tomorrow? You could’ve come back tomorrow.”

Old Man Di beside also hurriedly made the underground heating more robust and heated the charcoal stove at the corner of the room to warm them.

Di Yelei couldn’t care less and went straight to the bedroom to fetch a long coat to put on Liu Sisi, wrapping her tightly.

“How are you feeling, Sisi? Still cold?”

Liu Sisi’s teeth were chattering, and her body was shivering. She reluctantly shook her head: “Not cold… I’ll be fine soon. You should go check on the jujube red horse… don’t let it get frostbite.” Her words were almost incoherent.

“Alright, Xuan’er, bring your mother a bowl of boiled water quickly.”

Di Yelei yelled and lifted the curtain to go out again.

“Okay.”

Di Xuan replied and quickly stepped forward to fetch the hot water.

Little Ying beside Liu Sisi, worriedly moved closer when she saw how much she was shivering, hugging her body tightly: “Mom, Ying’er will hold you to warm you up. You won’t be cold anymore.”

“Good… good child…”

Liu Sisi wanted to speak normally, but she simply couldn’t.

Once the hot water entered her stomach, she slowly warmed up and felt as if she had come back to life.

“Come on! The stewed meat in the pot has been cooking for a long time. I was worried about you guys getting cold, so eat some quickly before we continue talking.” Liu Zhi’er handed over the bowl and chopsticks.

Even Da Mao, who was beside them, knew to bring over a stool, causing everyone to laugh for a while.

When Di Yelei came in from outside again, he brought in a big package. Excitedly raising it, he laughed out loud: “This year is a harvest year! At least we don’t have to worry about not having enough food to fill our stomachs!”

“Dad, what are you holding in your hands? Ying’er wants to see!”

Ying’er jumped around Di Yelei, trying to get a clear look at the items inside the big package.

“When your mother came back from the county, she prepared a gift for everyone in the family. Even Da Mao has a gift!”

“Dad! I want it! I want a gift! Dad—”

Ying’er was the happiest, jumping around asking for her gift.

“Oh! Not now, these gifts are only for the Lunar New Year! If I give you the gift today, there will be no surprise on New Year’s Day, right? Ying’er, be good!”

Di Yelei coaxed Ying’er while putting the big package into the bedroom.

“Dad… you’re so bad, Ying’er won’t care about you anymore! Humph!”

Ying’er stomped her foot, pouted, and looked unhappy.

Liu Zhi’er beside her hurriedly comforted her, trying to coax her for a long while without success. In the end, it was Di Xuan who gave her a toy cricket made of grass that finally made her smile.

Watching everyone’s warm and affectionate gathering, Liu Sisi felt a warm feeling in her heart and felt that all the hardships and tiredness of these days had been swept away.

Di Yelei seemed not to know what it meant to be tired. After finishing his meal, he began refining the slab oil he had bought today, preparing to fry crispy meat, meatballs, small fish, crispy strips, sticky rice balls, and other deep-fried foods. Meanwhile, on the other side, he started making rice cakes and steamed buns.

Luckily, with the couple’s busy preparations over the past few days, the dough had been well-prepared, and even the glutinous rice had been soaked in advance and turned into flour – this was a must-have item for the Lantern Festival, and it was almost a staple food for every household, no matter how poor.

Di Yelei was quick to act, and soon the slab oil was in the pot, and he began to shape rice cakes while Elder Mr. Di helped to build the fire.

Liu Zhi’er was busy making the glutinous rice balls on the side. The filling in boiled sweets was made with slab oil, sesame, peanuts, and other ingredients. They were fried together, then mixed with green plum, Guihua, white sugar, and brown sugar. The mixture was wrapped with water-milled glutinous rice flour, and then put into the oil pan to fry. When the sugar heart inside formed some sugar bubbles and turned golden yellow, they were taken out of the pan.

These deep-fried glutinous rice balls had a crispy outer skin, soft and glutinous in the middle, while the filling was full of syrup and very delicious!

Seeing that there was too much work to do on the stove, Liu Sisi hurried to help knead the rice cakes when her body was warm enough.

The rice cakes were steamed in Bamboo Steamer. During the Lunar New Year, Bamboo Steamer was loaded with four layers, apparently planning to make lots of delicious food.

“Sisi, your body is heavy. Don’t keep yourself busy. We still have a whole day tomorrow. We’ll have plenty of time!”

Liu Zhi’er took a moment to wipe her sweat and spoke.