CHAPTER 135: CHAPTER 135: MY CATS AND DOGS DON’T EAT RAW MEAT

In the evening, we made snakehead soup. Even with its insides removed, the snakehead weighed half a pound.

The fresh, clear-braised snakehead, everyone got a bowl of soup and a few pieces of snakehead meat, the aroma was enticing; we haven’t even started eating, and our mouths were already watering.

When Jiang Hu signaled for everyone to start without reservation, all that could be heard was the sound of sipping soup.

"So fragrant, this is the best snakehead I’ve ever eaten!"

Liu Ze, who has always been quite reserved, had his eyes lit up.

Jiang Yu nodded repeatedly, "Hmm, so delicious."

This wasn’t the first time Jiang Yu had such delicious snakehead, yet the temptation was irresistible!

The only one more reserved was probably Xiao Mi.

She tasted it slowly, savoring each bite, not rushed.

Anyway, mother’s already divvied up all the snakehead soup, there’s none left in the pot, so there’s no need to hurry, it’s better to savor it slowly.

However, in her heart, she was still pondering when to go ’catch snakehead’ again.

Her father used to go to the field to catch snakeheads whenever he had time, apart from the ones he sold, they’d eat some too.

But her parents definitely didn’t know that no matter who caught the snakehead and brought it back, unless it was sent away directly, she’d swap it all for similar ones from her space.

The fish raised in the stone vat, she has them in the space as well, and she swaps those out frequently too.

Perhaps because they often consume things from the space, the family’s condition these past two years has been exceptionally good.

Especially her mother, she remembered her mother’s first appearance, emaciated, her skin sallow, her figure shriveled, like a few sticks of withered wood.

But now, her figure is slim and full, hair jet black, cheeks rosy, eyes bright, gaze kind.

Her father, of course, was the same, long gone from his former skinny frame, now strong and fit, robust and lean.

This is why Xiao Mi is surely the most hopeful for the family to build a house, build a big house soon!

From just a few months old, the first time she heard noises, until her parents becoming more and more beautiful and strong, their marital life ever more harmonious now.

Even though Xiao Mi was cautious, over the past two years, it was inevitable to overhear bits from the corner of the wall.

Unlike the other children, who are typical kids, sleep soundly at night, even if they occasionally hear something, they wouldn’t think much of it.

"Xiao Mi, what are you thinking about? Finished with the soup? I’ll serve you some rice,"

Er niang’s gentle voice woke the distracted Xiao Mi.

Xiao Mi quickly handed over the bowl, "Thank you, mother."

After speaking, she couldn’t help but lick her lips, things from the space are indeed delicious.

Remembering that the sweet potatoes planted in the space earlier were also harvested, just in time for the rice harvest, it’s about time to dig up the sweet potatoes.

When the sweet potatoes are dug up, she’ll find an opportunity to swap all the sweet potatoes at home with those from the space!

The same goes for the rice; after the grain tax is paid.

Ever since Xiao Mi discovered that any area with soil in the space, aside from the garden outside the courtyard, could be used for planting, it was like she unlocked a planting skill.

The space was piled with various crops, all planted by her!

Since there are good things in the space, why not bring them out to share with the family?

The fragrant sorghum rice was soon placed in front of Xiao Mi.

Xiao Mi’s eyes curved into crescents, "Thank you, mother."

Xiao Mi’s smile instantly infected Er niang, who couldn’t help but smile too, "Hurry and eat."

"Hmm!" Xiao Mi nodded vigorously and took a big bite.

The soaked sorghum rice, along with the crushed corn kernels, had a slightly gritty texture when chewed, but the taste was not bad at all.

Aside from helping the two little ones and Liu Ze, everyone else served themselves.

"Xiao Ze, are you accustomed to it?"

Er niang thought Liu Ze might not have eaten rice made entirely of coarse grains like this.

For the past few meals, she mixed refined and coarse rice, but with their dwindling rice stores and not yet having ground any, they were out of refined rice.

Fortunately, Liu Ze nodded naturally, "Very delicious, auntie, you eat too, don’t worry about me, I can get used to it."

Although the texture is rougher than refined rice, it wasn’t unpleasant, just needed more chewing.

Moreover, the unique aroma of sorghum rice and crushed corn was different from refined rice, becoming more fragrant as you chew.

Plus, with the dishes on the table, any texture difference was easily overlooked.

The vegetables were from the garden; rural folks never bought vegetables!

Whatever’s in the garden, we’d eat it, even in the dead of winter, there’d still be cabbage and radish that wouldn’t freeze to death.

Today was Liu Ze’s second day staying at the Jiang household, but he felt like he’d fully integrated and had already grown to like such a life.

After eating, they relaxed in the courtyard for a while, even lighting an oil lamp to let Liu Ze teach the other children to read and write.

The moon was bright tonight; there was hot water boiling in the kitchen; Qi Xi added two handfuls of firewood before coming out, planning to use it later.

Xiao Hei and Xiao Mi were eating their meals; Er niang had specially braised the snakehead heads and tails, serving them to the two little ones.

Cats and dogs can’t eat food that’s too hot, so it was set aside to cool. After the people finished eating, the leftovers were mixed together and given to the two little ones.

These two were great contributors to the household, often chasing away or biting the weasels and snakes coming down from the hills.

Especially the rats; things from the space had quite an attraction to animals, but their house was devoid of rats!

At least live ones weren’t around.

At most, every couple of days upon waking up, they’d find Xiao Mi’s trophies—a couple of dead rats—at the door.

And each time this happened, Xiao Mi would intentionally, proudly pass by.

"Jiang, what are you doing lighting a fire in the yard?"

Qi Xi had just come out and saw Jiang Hu holding firewood, preparing to light a fire in a corner of the yard.

Jiang Hu casually pointed, "Look over there, Xiao Hei and Xiao Mi caught field mice; I’m going to roast them."

Following the direction Jiang Hu pointed, indeed, there were several large field mice, nearly a foot long!

Qi Xi’s eyes widened, "Field mice? And you’re going to roast them?"

He had never heard of cats eating mice that needed roasting!

Jiang Hu, however, took it all for granted, "Yeah, our Xiao Hei and Xiao Mi don’t eat raw food, not even fish; at most, they eat sun-dried fish."

Roasting field mice and fish was already common for Jiang Hu.

In summer, they’d use it as an excuse to rest in the yard, in winter, they’d make the fire bigger for warmth.

"Come, help me start a fire; I’ll head to the riverbank to deal with these field mice."

He casually handed Qi Xi two fire stones.

"Oh, do you all want some grilled fish? It’s still early tonight; we can sleep later."

This was said to the children.

Liu Ze was a bit dumbfounded, not immediately reacting, but the others already began nodding repeatedly.

"We want, we want, one each!"

At that moment, Er niang had already taken out a vegetable knife and basket.

"Brother Hu, I’ll go with you,"