Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

She first prepared a millet noodle starch-steamed rib dish, then cooked a pork hand pot with powdered taro. She then asked Granny Hu to slaughter a hen, added some Codonopsis and Angelica, and steamed it all together in the steaming basket.

She also took out ten eggs, beat them, added a little dried shrimp, and then placed into the steaming basket to make steamed egg custard. Using the freshly bought lean pork, she stir-fried it with garlic sprouts to make yuxiang shredded pork, and prepared a few vegetables and snacks.

Her knife danced swiftly in her hands. Soon, small decorations of various shapes, carved from radishes and lettuce heads, were placed around the plates.

She also intentionally prepared a plate of drunkard peanuts, a plate of Mapo Tofu, and a bowl of white gourd soup. This white gourd soup was ideal for sobering up, and it was being cooked just in time.

In the past, Liu Sisi cared about how to fill herself up when making food. Now, besides getting full, she pays more attention to how to eat well and stay healthy.

When people have satisfied the basic needs of their stomachs, they can progress to slowly eat well, then eat fine food, and then eat delicately. Finally, they return to the simplicity, but they feel that the ordinary home-cooked food tastes great.

Boss He is probably the best example!

Liu Zhi’er was assisting her all along. Seeing that Liu Sisi had stopped, she stepped forward to lend her support.

“Look at you. I told you I was going to cook, but you insisted on doing it yourself. You’re pregnant with a big belly, what if you tire yourself out?”

“It’s just cooking, it’s nothing. Didn’t you used to cut rice for the village’s farmers when you were pregnant in the past?”

Liu Sisi obediently sat down on a chair and covered her lap with the blanket that Liu Zhi’er had handed to her.

At her words, Liu Zhi’er was speechless.

When she was pregnant with San Mao, she harvested rice for the farmers to earn money, disregarding the fact that she was full-term. Since she couldn’t bend down, she had to kneel down and cut the rice in the mud. In the end, she gave birth to San Mao in a rice field. The farmers took pity on her and, over her wages, gave her five eggs and a bag of rice.

With these things, she managed to pass her confinement period.

Looking at Liu Zhi’er who was lost in her memories, Liu Sisi hurriedly patted her hand.

“Second Sister, it was my fault for mentioning your past, but things are better now, so take good care of your body and make up for the hardships you endured before.”

Liu Zhi’er forced a smile and shook her head: “In fact, I don’t mind suffering a bit, but I feel sorry for San Mao. He had to suffer along with me since I was pregnant with him. Now, he…” Her voice broke off as she began to choke on her words.

Liu Sisi hurriedly comforted her, and her determination to find Er Mao and San Mao grew stronger.

When Di Yelei came back from the clinic, he also brought Elderly Mr. Di, who looked rosy and happy.

As soon as he approached her, he came closer with a grin: “Sisi, my good daughter-in-law! Sisi, hehehe, you’re so good, Sisi…”

Liu Sisi rolled her eyes and couldn’t help but glare at him: “Cut the flattery, father and Second Sister are here, who are you trying to impress? Hurry up and sit down! I am about to set up the dishes.”

While talking, she instructed the servant to place the food on the table one by one.

Elderly Mr. Di had already eaten quite a bit over there, but he was so happy today that he took his seat at the top again.

“Dad already knows, Sisi! I have a great piece of news to tell you! It’s the best news ever!”

Di Yelei was all animated, brimming with excitement!

Even the usually grim-faced elderly Mr. Di broke into a wide smile, beaming from ear to ear.

“What great news is it that you all seem so happy?” Liu Sisi also became interested.

Di Yelei was bubbling over with excitement: “It’s fantastic news! I received a decree from the imperial court, appointing me as sub-captain, a seventh-rank official responsible for overseeing the Arsenal of Macheng County. From today onwards, our Di family also has official status, so we no longer have to worry about performing corvee labor!”

“Seventh…rank!”

Liu Sisi was a bit slow to react.

Everyone says that a County Magistrate is a seventh-rank official, so a sub-captain who ranks lower than a County Magistrate and, as such, is presumably such a minor official, wouldn’t carry much weight either, right?

But seeing Di Yelei at the peak of his excitement, probably what he truly cared about was the great advantage of not having to serve corvee labor once one became an official, right?

Upon these thoughts, she too rejoiced at once!

“This is certainly worth celebrating! Old Cheng! Hurry up! Go outside and buy two jugs of good wine, warming it up before you bring it over!”

“Nanny Hu, you quickly fry up two more warm dishes too, everyone should have an additional meal and celebrate heartily!”

“And, and! Xue Lan, you go and see if Xuan’er and Yun Er have finished their studies, let Yun Er not return to Upper Village, and bring them here too.”

“And…”

Such excited Liu Sisi really made Di Yelei extremely pleased, and his heart felt as sweet as honey.

“Sisi, don’t despise your husband’s minor official rank. At least your husband now has a rank to his name. If your husband has an opportunity to be further promoted in the future, we will celebrate in a grand manner, inviting everyone in the small town to join!”

“Good! I will take note of what you said and look forward to the day when you’ll get further promoted!”

As long as her husband was willing to strive for improvement, Liu Sisi would undoubtedly render unconditional support!

Soon, Zhang Yun and Di Xuan were brought back. Not only that, Zhang Peng and Guihua also came by. Di Yelei went to the clinic and invited Old He and Doctor Zheng over, even Di Cheng and Shou Hou came over, filling up two tables. Everyone gathered for a grand celebration.

Guihua was also smiling heartily: “Brother Ye Lei became a sub-captain, although only of seventh-rank, at least he has officially started his career in the government. Two sons from the Di family have become officials, this is quite incredible! When you return to Upper Village, everyone will surely come to congratulate you. You won’t be able to escape all the busy festivities.”

Liu Sisi also laughed, gently holding Guihua’s hand: “Actually, I don’t care so much about the official status. What matters to me is that now we’ve got an official ranking, we no longer have to worry about corvee labor or taxes, it’s quite a relief. This is truly worth celebrating.”

“Isn’t that right? The corvee labor and taxes were quite a large sum of money! Now we’ve got rid of that!”

Guihua also laughed, her eyes resting on Yun Er who was helping YingEr with her food. She couldn’t help but feel happy. Initially, her daughter Yun Er took the initiative early on. Otherwise, given the upward trend of the Di family, it would undoubtedly be extremely difficult for Yun Er to marry YingEr in a couple more years!