CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 49: RAINY DAY GATHERING

After dinner, Jiang Mingyue wanted to find a chance to ask her elder brother.

Did he go to Lotus Village this morning or not?

But she didn’t get the chance.

Upon learning that her cousin was going to build a house next door, both of her brothers and her third sister surrounded him, asking all kinds of questions.

Mrs. Jiang asked Jiang Mingyue to chat with the benefactor while she went to collect the bowls and wash them.

However, Jiang Mingyue stopped her, not wanting a certain someone to help as well.

Mrs. Jiang was startled, "Jin Zhi, don’t worry about it."

"Auntie, I’m too full, I need to move around, it’s no trouble."

Speaking like this, Mrs. Jiang couldn’t continue to refuse.

So a certain someone confidently followed her into the kitchen.

"A round moon, aren’t we like a married couple now?"

Jiang Mingyue: "..." If killing someone wasn’t illegal.

"Yan Jinzhi, although you look good, in this era, looks don’t count for much. In the future, don’t flirt with me intentionally or unintentionally, or else..." Jiang Mingyue raised her fist: I’ll punch you.

Yan Jinzhi laughed gently, but Jiang Mingyue found it painful to look at: Is this sudden tenderness her illusion, or is this person blindly flirting?

"By the way, are you and Qiao Mingtang very idle?"

"Not idle, we came with a task before, now the task is completed, I happen to have some time off."

Jiang Mingyue couldn’t ask him what his job was.

She felt it would be better to ask her cousin.

"The dishes you made are delicious. I wouldn’t get tired of eating them for a lifetime."

Jiang Mingyue: "..." Here it comes again! Here it comes again! Who wants to feed you for a lifetime? Isn’t it strangely flirtatious to throw in "a lifetime"?

Fortunately, she moved quickly and soon finished washing the dishes and left: If you’re going to flirt, do it with the stove.

The brothers and sisters, along with Mrs. Jiang, finished their nap and were about to head out to the fields, but suddenly a gust of wind blew, followed by a heavy rain.

Great! The farmers finally have a day off.

Because of the rain, the group of cousins, who had been discussing matters and hadn’t left, was temporarily held up.

Mrs. Jiang noticed that the ancestral cousin was afraid of the cold, so she started a fire in the communal room to warm it up.

"Cousin, move closer, you’ll be more comfortable."

The ancestral cousin lifted his eyelids and accepted Mrs. Jiang’s kindness. Previously, he hadn’t interacted with this daughter-in-law from the third branch, only hearing Xu Feng blindly comparing, nearly misleading his judgment.

After spending some time together over this meal, the ancestral cousin finally realized Xu Feng was blind, this person truly deserved favoritism, in contrast to the old woman who was driven out early, what a pity! Such a pity!

While they were talking, Jiang Mingyue was listening along.

Talking about timber, windows, carpenters, masons... they had it all planned out.

The ancestral cousin even found an old mason for her cousin considering Yan Jinzhi, reputed to have generations of expertise.

Same for the carpenter.

Another good thing was that she didn’t have to worry about bricks and tiles, Yan Jinzhi promised to arrange for them to be transported.

Tsk! No matter the era, having power is always beneficial.

The rain persisted, but there were still people visiting wearing raincoats.

Aunt Jiao was one of them.

"Fanghua, I guessed you’d all be at home. I heard you have guests, so I saved up thirty eggs instead of selling them, to help you entertain your guests."

Besides the eggs, Aunt Jiao brought half a basket of wild fruits, supposedly picked from the mountains.

They were all still wet from the rain.

"Jiao Yun, how can I accept this? Let me buy them from you, otherwise I won’t take them."

Aunt Jiao remained stubborn: "If you dare not accept, I won’t speak to you again. Just a few eggs, why are you being so calculative? Alright, I’ve got something to discuss with Ming’an."

"Ming’an, I heard you’re building a house?"

Jiang Ming’an smiled and nodded: "Yes, Aunt Jiao. As you know, it’s not livable there anymore."

Aunt Jiao nodded: "That’s reasonable. I came to tell you, if you need help, just let Auntie know, don’t be shy."

Jiang Ming’an could tell Aunt Jiao genuinely wanted to help, so he planned to increase their interaction through this matter.

"Since Aunt Jiao says so, then Ming’an won’t stand on ceremony. I do have something I need Aunt Jiao’s help with. You see, my father and I aren’t home often, and are unfamiliar with the people here now. I’d like Aunt Jiao to help me find around ten strong people to help, I’ll pay them."

Aunt Jiao waved her hand: "That’s simple, leave it to Auntie. No need to talk about money, folks in the village don’t fuss over these things. A meal, half full, will suffice."

Jiang Ming’an felt sad, for this poor era, and for these honest villagers.

"What’s necessary must be given. It’s a token of my appreciation. I’ll make sure everyone eats their fill. Mingyue will help cook."

Jiang Mingyue and the others: "..." They had seen shameless people, but never anyone this shameless. The key is he simultaneously chatted with Aunt Jiao about interpersonal matters.

Just admirable!

Gradually, Jiang Mingyue noticed Aunt Jiao and Mrs. Jiang, Yan Jinzhi and the ancestral cousin, Qiao Mingtang and her cousin... seemed to have endless topics to discuss.

While the third sister took the opportunity to sew her clothes, Jiang Mingyue discovered a problem.

"Third sister, do you not sketch designs when making clothes?"

"Sketch designs? I don’t know how to draw, but the designs are all in my mind."

Gradually, Jiang Mingyue also realized Jiang Zhenmei’s incredible talent; indeed she couldn’t draw, but she used a measuring tape and talcum powder to draw lines on the fabric precisely and quickly, stitching with nimble speed, making even those conversing stop to watch.

When something is done to perfection, it is indeed a fatal attraction, irrespective of anything else.

When it was nearly time to start cooking, Aunt Jiao stood up to leave.

The ancestral cousin was hooked on the breakfast; he sent Jiang Jianjun running to his place, and when he returned, Jiang Jianjun was holding an old hen.

Mrs. Jiang: "... Cousin, what is this..."

The ancestral cousin placed a stone on the board, then lifted his eyelids: "What else could it be? This hen is a waste of grain, let Mingyue slaughter it for stew tonight."

Mrs. Jiang dared not take it: "How can I accept this? Keep it to lay eggs, it’ll nourish you, cousin."

"Since I said to slaughter, do it without further ado. Jianjun, hurry up."

Jiang Mingyue came out of Xiao Ran’s room, seeing an already lifeless old hen.

Though her space had plenty of chickens, she didn’t mind; she just felt sorry for the old man.

For just a bite to eat, it wasn’t easy at all!

In accordance with the old man’s wish, Jiang Mingyue prepared the chicken to stew.

Though she lacked accompanying ingredients.

However, her third sister took out some dried mushrooms, which could be used after soaking in hot water.

No doubt, wild mushrooms are much more fragrant than cultivated ones.

With many people present, Jiang Mingyue stealthily took out a prepared chicken from her space, and cooked a pot of mushroom chicken stew. The aroma was so enticing it made everyone crave.

There were some spare ribs too, she made braised spare ribs.

The previously cured ham was ready.

She sliced half of it into pieces, and asked her second brother to climb the soap tree to pick some soap tips, which were tender new buds.

Cooked a dish of ham with tender buds, very appetizing to look at.

There was marinated chicken left, so she took out two pieces, along with spicy rabbit cubes. She had a tacit understanding with her cousin to help him shoulder the blame, trusting he knew how to justify it.

Lastly, she made cold marinated chives, sweet potato vermicelli as Ants Climbing a Tree, and mint egg soup.