CHAPTER 84: CHAPTER 84: PICKING LOTUSES

Lin Sanshui listened carefully but thought to himself that kids are just kids. Perhaps she really didn’t think that much and just simply felt she was too busy.

Oh well, it’s just silver!

The situation at home has improved a lot. Earning a bit less won’t starve us, so let’s not make the kids work so hard.

"If you want to go, then go, but wait a moment. We still have those pig livers and stomachs. You should first tell your mother how to prepare them, have her take care of it at home. Otherwise, in this hot weather, they’ll really stink if left any longer!" Lin Sanshui sighed and said.

"Dad, I got it," Gu Nian said with a smile.

Breakfast was very simple, with cornbread and pickles. However, there was also a plate of bird eggs, all of which Sanhu and Little Hu had collected yesterday.

After breakfast, Gu Nian prepared the ingredients and put the pork into the pot, then ran out with Sanhu and Little Hu.

Lin Sanshui watched the backs of the three children, and with some concern, called into the house, "Erhu, aren’t you healed yet? Niannian and the others are still young. Going to the river to pick lotus leaves and flowers isn’t suitable. I’m worried sick that the kids might fall into the river. Since you’re home with nothing to do, why not go with them and keep an eye on them? You can help out as well."

"Alright, I’ll go," Erhu came out of the house and obediently went out to catch up with Gu Nian and the others.

Not far from the village was a small pond, filled with lotus leaves. Pink lotus flowers were in full bloom, and some that had matured early had already shed their petals and bore seed pods.

Seeing this beautiful scenery in the pond, Gu Nian excitedly began to cheer.

"Big Brother, Little Brother, let’s go pick lotus leaves and flowers." Gu Nian rushed down first, but unfortunately, the lotus flowers along the edge were all damaged, and she couldn’t reach those inside.

Little Hu remembered the chicken wrapped in lotus leaves from yesterday. Although he didn’t get to eat it, the aroma and special cooking method kept lingering in his mind. "Little Sister, we’re picking lotus leaves. Are we going to make that kind of mud chicken from yesterday? Can we eat it ourselves this time?"

Sanhu raised his hand and slapped him, "What mud chicken? Little Sister clearly said yesterday it’s beggar’s chicken!"

"Right, right, it’s beggar’s chicken," Little Hu quickly said, though in his heart he thought it should be called mud chicken because it was wrapped in mud. What does it have to do with beggars!

Gu Nian grinned mischievously and said, "Wanting beggar’s chicken isn’t a problem, but beggar’s chicken can’t just have lotus leaves and mud. The most important thing is to have a chicken! Little Brother, do you have the guts to ask Dad and Mom to kill a chicken?"

Little Hu immediately pulled a long face. "Compared to asking Dad and Mom to kill a chicken, I’m more likely to get a beating."

"Then why did you mention it?" Gu Nian rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"Then why are you collecting lotus leaves? What are you going to do with them?" Little Hu’s interest was rekindled.

"It’s getting hot. We’ll pick some lotus leaves and flowers to go back and make tea to drink. It’ll cool us down and relieve the summer heat." In reality, she just wanted an excuse to go out.

The people who bought the village chief’s house clearly had their eyes on her. Gu Nian didn’t want any deeper involvement with them, so she wanted to avoid crossing paths.

Those people were so generous that she really couldn’t explain to her family why she wasn’t making money!

Sanhu pulled down a branch from a nearby tree, cleaned off the excess twigs, and left only a hook at the top.

"Little Sister, I have a way to pick the lotus flowers." Sanhu held the branch and started hooking the lotus flowers, while Little Hu picked them off with his hands as he brought them closer.

As long as they weren’t too far away, he could get to them.

Gu Nian, being the youngest, couldn’t really help much. She simply squatted by the bank with a stick, poking at the little fish below.

Little Niu happened to pass by and, seeing this scene, remembered how Sanhu and Little Hu had tricked him into bowing to a tree. Rage filled his heart!