Splendid peasant girl busy farming

Chapter 12097

“Take December and January for example. When Mei’er took several children back to her parents’ home to visit relatives and pay New Year’s visits, how could our fourth branch not entertain them? Especially since we live right across from the east room, Liu would go over every day to help carry the children and bring them into our room, bringing out snacks and treats to entertain Mei’er’s children.”

“I always thought that Mei’er and I were like siblings, very close relatives. It was normal for us to visit each other. But I never imagined that today, in Mother’s place, we would become outsiders who are not allowed to visit each other? Is Mother sure she wants to send us away like this?”

Ms. Tan was somewhat speechless after hearing the facts presented by Yang Huaming.

The sharp edge in his eyes had been mostly gone, but his mouth remained defiant: "What you said makes sense. I didn't chase you away; I chased her away!"

“She is my wife, we are husband and wife, we are one!” Yang Huaming’s tone suddenly rose.

"Wherever I go, she goes. Mei'er and I are relatives, but she and I are family!"

"Mother, think carefully before you speak today. If you say something wrong, there will be no going back! Don't blame us for severing ties with Mei'er and the others from now on!"

Mrs. Tan was stunned. She stared at Yang Huaming, her mouth opening and closing several times, wanting to say a lot of things, but not knowing which one to say first.

At this moment, Liu looked at Yang Huaming with reddened eyes. Although Yang Huaming's shout just now was a bit fierce and had frightened her.

However, when she thought that Yang Huaming, who was so fierce, was actually standing up for her, Liu was no longer afraid. Her eyes were full of admiration, and she felt that her husband was really too manly!

“Mother, give me an answer. If you give me an answer, you and Father will get off the train, and I will take Liu Shi elsewhere. From now on, we will sever all ties with Mei’er. We will never pay New Year’s visits again, and we will never exchange greetings again. Even if we meet face to face in the courtyard, we will be strangers! I just need your word!” Yang Huaming spoke again, his tone demanding and his manner imposing.

Tan's face turned pale, and a fine layer of sweat unconsciously seeped from her forehead and palms.

Although she admitted to being a biased mother, among her children, Mei'er was the one she favored the most.

Secondly, there is the eldest brother, Yang Hua'an, who has already passed away.

The third one is Yang Huaming, the fourth brother, right in front of us.

Mei'er was the only daughter, and the youngest, so it was understandable that Madam Tan doted on her.

Yang Hua'an was the eldest son, the first child born to Tan Shi when she was at her youngest. As a first-time mother, it is easy to imagine the affection Tan Shi had for her eldest son.

The fourth son was the most charming and pleasing of her sons, and thus won her favor.

"You old geezer, aren't you usually the most talkative? Say something!"

Tan turned her head and scolded Old Yang beside her, kicking him as she did so.

Old Yang's lips twitched. This old woman was so arrogant before, but now that her fourth son is serious, she can't handle it and wants to push him out to smooth things over.

Old Yang sighed inwardly; he was the only one left to smooth things over.

"Fourth brother, that's enough. Your mother is all bark and no bite. Don't take it to heart," Old Yang said.

"I've certainly experienced their sharp tongue, but I've never really seen one with a soft heart," Yang Huaming said with a hint of sarcasm.

Tan gritted her teeth inwardly, but had already turned her head away and remained silent.

Old Yang chuckled dryly, glanced at Liu Shi again, and then said to Yang Huaming, "Let's not waste time on those endless platitudes. We're all family, so let's keep quiet. We're here to visit relatives today, so let's be happy and harmonious."

"Hey, Fourth Brother, didn't you say we were coming to town for breakfast? Which shop are you planning to go to?" Old Yang asked again.

Yang Hua knew that Old Yang was trying to change the subject, and at the same time, it also meant that his mother had given in, and that he could openly take Liu Shi to Mei'er's place to freeload.

Now that his goal had been achieved, Yang Huaming dropped his previous tense stance and turned to ask Liu, "What would you like to eat?"

When Liu heard Old Yang mention breakfast, she had already been looking around.

"I'm fine with anything, as long as it tastes good, I can eat it," Liu said.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Tan's mocking laughter came from the carriage behind him.

But he only managed one laugh before abruptly stopping. Clearly, he realized something and didn't continue laughing.

At the same time, Old Yang pulled the carriage curtains down again, completely blocking Tan's view.

Old Yang tossed a sentence to Yang Huaming: "Fourth brother, you decide what to eat for breakfast. Your mother and I are fine with whatever we eat. Just have something to eat so that Mei'er won't have to worry about breakfast for us."

"Understood, Father. Sit tight, I'll take you to find food!" Yang Huaming raised the whip again and drove the carriage forward, entering the south gate of the town.

Sitting in the passenger seat of the carriage, Liu acted like Yang Huaming's navigator, asking, "Fourth brother, do you want to go to Bai Mei Zhai for breakfast?"

Yang Huaming shook his head without hesitation: "Let's forget it. That's Da Bai's shop. It would be awkward to go there."

Liu said, "But Bai Mei Zhai has the most variety of breakfast options in Qingshui Town! They have steamed buns, dumplings, fried dough sticks, fried cakes, fried noodles, lion's head meatballs, you name it!"

"I'm not going then, don't say anything more!" Yang Huaming said, smacking his lips twice towards the back of the carriage.

Liu understood. The old couple must also be unwilling to eat the food made by Da Bai because Da Bai did not recognize Mei'er as his biological mother.

Liu curled her lip. These people, really! Past grievances are past grievances, but what's wrong with good food? Sigh!
“Alright, let’s go check out the area around Washikou. Usually, breakfast and snack vendors like to gather there because it’s crowded,” Liu said.

After all, in the two years before she and Yang Huaming divorced, she rented a stall in Washi, Qingshui Town, and ran a vegetable and fruit stall all by herself.

At that time, she became familiar with the breakfast and snack vendors around Washi.

However, more than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye, and the people from back then must have changed one generation after another.

The carriage soon arrived at Washikou. Suddenly, Yang Huaming pulled on the reins and looked at a roadside stall diagonally opposite Washikou.

"What are you looking at?" Liu asked, her gaze fixed on the signboard of a beef noodle shop not far away. She called Yang Huaming twice, but he didn't respond.

“Look, aren’t those two Xiu Hong and Sixi over there?” Yang Huaming suddenly said.

"Where?" Liu asked, her neck already nimbly turning to look in the direction Yang Huaming was looking.

"Oh my god, it's them!" Liu exclaimed excitedly, slapping Yang Huaming's thigh, "Stop the car, stop the car, I need to get out!"

What are you going down there for?

"What do you think? Of course we should greet them! It's not easy to run into our kids outside, we should at least say a few words!"

Before the car had even come to a complete stop, Liu couldn't wait to get out and jogged towards Xiu Hong and the others.

The curtain of the carriage behind them was lifted again, and Old Yang leaned out, curiously looking ahead. "Where is Xiu Hong?" "Father, over there," Yang Huaming pointed.

Now, not only Old Yang saw it, but Tan also saw it.

But Madam Tan's gaze was more focused on Madam Liu's retreating figure, and she snorted coldly: "Easier said than done, she probably just wants to mooch off the younger generation's glutinous rice balls!"

"They only come here for a meal, they have no manners as elders!"

Because Tan was speaking in a low voice, if you listened carefully, you could hear it clearly.

If you don't listen carefully, you really can't hear it very clearly, since there are people coming and going and the noise is constant in the Washikou area.

Yang Huaming simply pretended not to hear. If he argued with the old lady over every single word, he wouldn't be able to live like this.

"Dad, shall we go down and take a look?" Yang Huaming asked Old Yang for his opinion.

Old Yang said, "Okay, let's go take a look and see how this girl's business is going."

Madam Tan, however, remained seated in the carriage, unwilling to move. "You all go ahead," she said, "I'll stay and watch the carriage, lest it be stolen."

Yang Huaming wanted to laugh. How could that be in broad daylight?
However, he was too lazy to persuade Madam Tan to get off. He parked the carriage not far away, then helped Old Yang down from the carriage, and the father and son went together to Xiu Hong's stall.

At this moment, Liu, who had arrived ahead of them, had already placed the rice in front of Xiu Hong and Sixi's stall. After seeing Luo Fengtang off, the young couple had made five or six more orders, and there was still about one or two pounds of glutinous rice left in the wooden bucket.

“We haven’t sold out yet, so let’s not rush back. Let’s wait a bit longer; maybe some villagers from the mountains will come to buy some,” Xiu Hong said to Sixi.

Of course, Sixi would follow Xiuhong's arrangements in everything.

Suddenly, a figure rushed up to them like a whirlwind, slamming his hand on the small table where the wooden buckets were placed.

"Xiuhong, Sixi, it really is you two!"

The two thought it was a business visit, but when they looked up and saw that it was actually Liu, they were both taken aback.

But Xiu Hong quickly realized, "Fourth Grandmother, what brings you to town? Did you come alone?"

"No, your great-grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-grandmother are all here. Look over there!"

Following the direction Liu was pointing, Xiu Hong saw a carriage parked by the roadside, and her great-grandfather was helping her down from the carriage and heading this way.

"Sixi, hurry over and help my great-grandfather. There are a lot of people here, don't let anyone push him." Xiuhong hurriedly instructed Sixi.

"Okay, I'll go right away!" Sixi immediately put down his work and rushed over. He greeted Yang Huaming and Old Yang, and together with Yang Huaming, he helped Old Yang come over.

Old Yang was really not used to being supported on both sides while walking. Despite his age, the old man had always been in good health thanks to God's blessings.

Even though Luo the blacksmith was more than 20 years younger than him, he wasn't as fit as Old Yang!

When walking in the village, Old Yang always strides along on his own, no matter where he goes, and never needs anyone to help him.

Upon arriving here, the old man understood that the younger generation was helping him because they were worried that the crowds at Washikou might bump into him, so he did not refuse their kindness.

"Great-grandfather, fourth grandfather." When she got closer, Xiu Hong stopped standing behind the stall and quickly came out, raising her hand to help Old Yang up.

Old Yang waved his hand and said with a smile, "I'm not made of paper, there's no need for that."

"Where are Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma?"

“She’s too lazy to get out of the carriage, let her be!” Old Yang said, glancing at the stall in front of him. He looked it over and nodded with a smile, “It looks alright, it has a nose and eyes.”

Xiu Hong listened with a smile.

Yang Huaming asked, "How's business today?"

Xiu Hong turned her gaze to him, "It's alright, almost all of them are sold out."

Yang Huaming nodded in satisfaction: "That's good. The foot traffic here is pretty good. Even if Zhang San doesn't buy, Li Si might."

Almost sold out?
Liu's ears twitched as she caught the words "almost".

"Xiuhong, so you're saying there's still a little bit left in these wooden buckets that haven't been sold?" Liu asked.

Xiu Hong looked at Liu Shi again and smiled: "Yes, there's still a little left."

"Oh, right, Great-Grandpa, Fourth Grandpa, you've just arrived. If you don't mind that these wooden buckets are leftovers, I'll make two for you to try!"

Xiu Hong turned around and went back behind the stall, lifting the lid off the wooden bucket.

Old Yang quickly raised his hand to stop them: "No, no, we won't eat yours. You can keep it and sell it to someone else later!"

Even if the old man had a sweet tooth, he wouldn't eat his own great-granddaughter's glutinous rice balls. These rice balls were the livelihood of the young couple; they relied on them to make money!

Xiu Hong said, "It's alright, Great-Grandpa. Selling two less isn't a big deal. Besides, I was hoping you'd give me your feedback after you've eaten the rice balls!"

Liu immediately echoed Xiu Hong's words, "Yes, yes, Xiu Hong is right. Three heads are better than one. We won't be idle; we'll make sure to check it out for you!"

Old Yang and Yang Huaming exchanged a glance, both of them shocked by Liu's bold words.

After the initial shock, they all felt relieved, because these were indeed words that Liu would say.

"Great-Grandpa, would you like it sweet or savory?" Xiu Hong naturally made it for Old Yang first, since he was the oldest.

"I prefer salty food, so please have less. I can't eat too much," Old Yang said, seeing that he couldn't refuse the hospitality.

"Okay." Xiu Hong nodded and her hands began to busy themselves.

"Oh my, Xiu Hong is such a clever girl. She can learn anything so quickly. Look how well she's done!" Liu Shi clapped her hands and praised from the side.

Xiu Hong smiled.

Because the three of them were surrounding them, and people tend to follow the crowd, passersby would often gather around the stall to ask how much the rice balls cost.

Old Yang said to Xiu Hong, "Quickly, sell mine to someone!"

Xiu Hong shook her head almost imperceptibly at Old Yang, and then politely explained to the potential customers who came to inquire: "I'm sorry, today's rice balls are sold out. Tomorrow and the day after... I set up my stall here almost every day at this time. You can come over if you want to eat."