My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 647

"Mommy, bunny, woof."

"Little duckling, woof woof."

"Little Crow Heap, Awoo."

"..."

In the morning, Rui Rui held a small bowl of animal crackers soaked in hot goat milk and asked Wang Susu to scoop them out for him to eat.

He pretended to be a big tiger, opened his mouth wide and ate it in one bite, and he really did look a bit like a tiger.

"Sister Susu, Kang Kang is such a good boy, he doesn't cry or fuss. But Lele, that little girl, keeps looking around. Look at her, she's trying so hard to get up."

Although Shen Jiayi calls Chen Ling "Master," she definitely can't bring herself to call Wang Susu "Master's Wife," so she'll just call her "Sister."

Although she is actually a little older than Wang Susu.

Upon hearing this, Wang Susu turned to look at the two little ones in the rocking bed, and smiled as she brought her face close to her daughter's: "Lele, you naughty little girl, what are you always doing?"

Upon seeing Wang Susu, Lele's "uh-huh" sounds became even louder.

The chubby little girl is clearly inseparable from her mother.

I want my mom to hold me.

"Mommy, baby elephant, baby elephant..."

Seeing her mother turn to look at her younger sister, Rui Rui sat anxiously at the table, waving her little hands and shouting.

"What are you shouting about?"

Wang Susu turned her head and glared at her son, then used a spoon to find the elephant-shaped biscuit he was pointing to, scooped it out, and fed it to him.

Just after feeding her, Lele started whimpering again, so Wang Susu had to turn around again. She was really busy.

This is what happens when you have a lot of children.

"Sister Susu, is it time to breastfeed?"

Shen Jiayi looked a little flustered at this moment, because the chubby little girl on the rocking bed who was looking around saw Wang Susu, and she calmed down, but soon her expression turned aggrieved.

The chubby little girl pouted, her cheeks puffed out, and there were tears welling up in her big eyes, making her look like she was about to cry.

indeed.

If Wang Susu ignores her, she will definitely start crying.

Even the usually quiet Kang Kang won't stay quiet for long; he'll start crying too.

"No, she's not hungry right now, she's just being fussy."

Wang Susu chuckled and said, "You'll understand when you have your own baby."

Shen Jiayi couldn't listen to this at this point, so she laughed and moved closer to the still quiet Kang Kang. "Kang Kang is so good. Last time when my parents and I were here, we didn't notice anything, but now we see that Kang Kang and Rui Rui are becoming more and more alike. His eyelashes are just like Rui Rui's, long and beautiful."

"Well, Kang Kang has grown a bit now, but he's not as strong as Rui Rui was when he was his age."

Wang Susu tucked the blanket around her youngest son. Although they could go outside now, they could only go outside when there was no wind.

"Jiajia, have you seen Rui Rui's 100-day photos?"

"Yes, I have. Rui Rui already had two little front teeth back then."

"Haha, yes."

"Kang Kang, when you grow up you should be as smart as your brother. Look at your brother, he's not even two years old yet, but he already knows a lot of animals."

Shen Jiayi looked at the quiet baby in the cradle. He didn't speak, but just blinked gently. His eyes were big and clear, and he was very well-behaved.

"Rui Rui, tell your sister, how do you know so many small animals?"

Rui Rui was sullen and pouting after being glared at by her mother. She buried her head in her milk and wouldn't eat the soft biscuits inside.

He did not answer when Shen Jiayi asked him a question.

After finishing the goat milk, she stubbornly used a spoon to mash the softened animal crackers and then scooped them into her mouth.

He ate heartily, but seeing that his mother still ignored him, tears welled up in his eyes as he ate.

Shen Jiayi couldn't help but chuckle at his cute appearance.

Wang Susu knew all about her eldest son's situation. She smiled at Shen Jiayi and said silently, "Don't pay any attention to him."

She and Chen Ling had a tacit understanding.

I know I can't spoil my child.

Especially someone like Rui Rui.

The elders doted on him, and his relatives and friends spoiled him in every way. Even the family dog ​​and cow protected him and let him play as he pleased.

If you keep giving in to their every little tantrum, they'll only become more and more immature.

Moreover, now that we have three children, as parents, we need to discipline them even better.

So most of the time she plays the role of a strict mother, while Chen Ling is the loving father.

Let children handle small things on their own.

If they did something wrong, Wang Susu would get angry and discipline them, and Chen Ling would clean up the mess, take them out to play, and cheer them up.

"Jiajia, Ruirui, come on, come on, let's go dig Jerusalem artichokes!"

Before Rui Rui's tears had even dried, Chen Ling's shouts rang out.

"father!"

Rui Rui's eyes lit up immediately. She stood up from the small stool, turned around, and quickly ran out on her short legs.

"Oh dear, Master is back! Rui Rui, wait for me... Sister Su Su, let's go out and play!"

Chen Ling went to the county town this morning to call Han Shaobo and inform him about the confirmed theme song for the animated film.

Originally, the singer, Shen Jiayi, was also supposed to go along.

However, yesterday, Wang Qingzhong and Guo Xinping, a married couple, achieved initial success in selling spicy strips.

They sold out their entire day's supply just during the afternoon dismissal time.

So I got up especially early today to move all the tools for making spicy strips to the small courtyard in the south of the city.

Chen Ling also got up at five o'clock in the morning and drove the tractor to transport the two people's belongings over.

And we're planning to make a little more today, so my father-in-law is coming along to help.

I didn't call Shen Jiayi at that time.

Wang Zhenzhen was the only one who helped sell spicy strips yesterday and received some pocket money. Excited, she got up early and went along with them.

This way, we don't have to take her to school.

"Master, have you made the call?"

Outside, Chen Ling was playing with a baby deer in the livestock pen when Shen Jiayi asked him a question.

"It's been called, everything's fine now, don't worry, Xiao Han was able to get in touch with them."

As Chen Ling spoke, he picked up Rui Rui, who was standing on tiptoe, and let him reach out and touch the baby deer standing on the fence.

This little guy is growing incredibly fast.

It feels quite heavy when you pick it up now.

Shen Jiayi couldn't resist touching it; she found the little creature to be amazing.

There are even small deer this big!

So cute and so affectionate.

Sometimes I think it's much better than raising a dog.

"Did you ask about the pheasants on the mountain, Master?"

"I also asked around, but the old hunters weren't sure what happened either. They just said it looked like a wolf or dog bite, not like a jackal or leopard."

Chen Ling shook his head and said, "Let's go, let's dig up Jerusalem artichokes first, then we can play when we get back. I have to go to the mountains this afternoon."

Digging for Jerusalem artichokes today was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

It was last night that Wang Jusheng and his wife brought over some pickled Jerusalem artichokes.

Let Chen Ling have a taste.

If possible, they could add another variety of pickled vegetables to their menu.

Chen Ling took a bite, and wow, it was incredibly delicious!

Crisp and refreshing, it's incredibly satisfying to eat. How can I describe it?

It's like eating sunflower seeds; once you start, you can't stop without even realizing it.

Last night, Chen Ling only ate steamed buns and pickled vegetables for dinner.

The stir-fried dishes were untouched.

As for Wang Jusheng's side, he and his wife, along with Er Lengzi, have been busy pickling vegetables and making chili sauce lately.

Jerusalem artichokes were just a side effect.

Chen Ling thought about the season; the weather would soon get colder, and it would be time to pickle things like sauerkraut and pickled radishes. Jerusalem artichokes were delicious, so he would pickle more this year.

Of course, I still need to learn the pickling method from Wang Jusheng.

My son has been enjoying digging for these things lately, treating them like precious gems. Digging for Jerusalem artichokes and taking care of the baby at the same time is a win-win situation.

People who come to dig Jerusalem artichokes seriously are there to dig a lot, not to mess around.

That's when you need to bring a hoe.

However, you can't use a large hoe to dig Jerusalem artichokes; you have to use a small hoe or a medicinal hoe.

When a big hoe is used, the damage is immense. You can only dig up the soil and find some scattered pieces of Jerusalem artichoke under the roots.

Even when using a small hoe, you have to be very careful and not rush.

Chen Ling taught his female apprentice how to use a small hoe, gently digging here and slowly scraping away the soil there.

Once you find the crack on the outside of the Jerusalem artichoke tuber, decisively use a hoe to dig along the crack and upwards. With a snapping sound as the tuber breaks, a whole bunch of Jerusalem artichokes will be dug up by the roots.

Rui Rui couldn't learn this, so she just stuck out her little bottom and started digging with small stones.

"Oh, my mom and Grandma Xiulan are here too."

After filling two baskets, Shen Jiayi was covered in sweat when she saw Gao Xiulan and her mother driving an oxcart from the village.

Shen's mother is a kind-hearted person.

Moreover, after arriving, I always felt like I was bothering them too much. I felt bad and guilty if I didn't help them out.

I just went with Gao Xiulan to the mountain to collect chicken and duck eggs.

Actually, chicken eggs are relatively easy to find; it's mainly duck and goose eggs that are hard to find and take a lot of time.

"Mom, where are you going?"

"Grind some thatch flour. Your Grandma Xiulan said it's for feeding poultry and livestock after winter."

Wheat bran and other grain husks, mixed with miscellaneous grains, and flour made from various straws and hay, are essential for farmers' winter livestock breeding.

"Oh? Grinding flour? I want to go and watch too."

The female apprentice was like a naive young girl who had never seen the world before. When she heard that she was going to grind flour, she ran over shouting.

Only after they had run far away did they suddenly realize that they hadn't helped Chen Ling carry the Jerusalem artichokes back yet.

"It's alright, you guys go ahead, don't worry about me."

Chen Ling saw that Rui Rui was also tired. He had run out quickly but hadn't brought any water. He had already dug two baskets full. Chen Ling decided to go back and let the brat have some water first.

He picked up two baskets of Jerusalem artichokes and called over two black dogs that were running around near the local temple, asking them to help carry Rui Rui.

We went home together.

After giving Rui Rui some water, I started washing the Jerusalem artichokes.

"Sister Qiaoling's pickled Jerusalem artichokes are really delicious. Why is it that when we follow their method of pickling vegetables, the taste is still so different?"

Wang Susu had finished breastfeeding the two babies upstairs, and then came downstairs to help him wash the Jerusalem artichokes.

"Yeah, it's like cooking. Even if you teach someone step by step, the taste will still be different... Some things just depend on talent and intuition."

Chen Ling smiled and said, "Sometimes, even if others teach us, we still can't learn it."

"So, it's actually pretty good that we can learn it at all, right?" Wang Susu thought for a moment and then smiled.

She wasn't laughing at herself, but at her second brother and sister-in-law, because no matter how Ah Ling taught them, they just couldn't learn how to make spicy strips.

"By the way, when can I eat those spicy strips? They smell so good, my mouth is watering."

Wang Susu rolled up her sleeves and couldn't help but ask.

"That stuff isn't healthy. You should wait until the two babies are weaned and you've recovered before talking about it."

Chen Ling gave a perfunctory reply.

Honestly, I know exactly what ingredients my homemade spicy strips contain. They're all made from bean curd sheets now, and we don't use any machines. I know perfectly well whether they're clean or hygienic.

Wang Susu knew this too, of course. She lowered her head, hummed, and said nothing more.

"Wait a little longer, let me do some more research and make you something less spicy, with a stronger aroma, sweet and spicy."

Chen Ling thought for a moment and came up with an excuse.

"That's settled then. You're a father of three now, so stop trying to fool me."

Wang Susu was delighted to hear this, but she still retorted with her own words.

"Don't worry, things will be fine in a couple of days. I'll not only make spicy strips, but also some homemade canned goods, some pear syrup, and some pig's trotters..."

Chen Ling readily agreed, and specifically chose to talk about things his wife liked.

“Okay, when Sister Dujuan comes back from offering incense, we’ll call her over too.”

Wang Susu said happily.

After Du Juan became pregnant, she always felt a little uncomfortable, even though the methods Wang Susu gave her were all effective.

But since it was her first pregnancy, her family wasn't too comfortable with her, so her mother-in-law went to the Medicine King Temple with Aunt Zhao to burn incense.

Gao Xiulan didn't have time to go this year. It's said that Du Juan's family will invite Wang Qingwen and Su Ligai to go together, to replace Gao Xiulan.

"Don't just be happy, look over there, your son is asleep and you didn't even know it."

Chen Ling nudged her chin. Rui Rui was sitting on a pile of Jerusalem artichokes, his head resting against Wang Susu's leg, already fast asleep.

It's warm today, the sun is so warm it makes people sleepy. Rui Rui slept in his grandparents' room last night, and they got up early today, so the little guy was affected too.

Normally, this is the time to have fun, but today I got sleepy early.

"I know, I felt him as soon as he came close... It's okay, let him sleep. It's warm here, the sun is shining, he won't catch a cold."

Wang Susu glanced down at her son and smiled gently.

Then she told Chen Ling about how the little one had been upset and throwing a tantrum during breakfast.

Chen Ling couldn't help but laugh: "Oh, you little rascal, you probably think that now that you have a younger brother or sister, your parents don't love you as much anymore."

Wang Susu laughed, "Hmph, he's so young, but he's got a lot of tricks up his sleeve. I wonder who he took after."

Jerusalem artichokes taste delicious, but cleaning them is a hassle.

Each one had to be carefully washed clean.

It's also thanks to Chen Ling's father-in-law who often sorts through medicinal herbs; some herbs are just as easy to process as washing Jerusalem artichokes if they're for personal use.

It's made from the old loofah sponge used for washing dishes and pots at home.

This old loofah sponge is no good when freshly made.

It needs to be used for a period of time to soften it.

It's soft and limp, so you can't scrape off the skin of the Jerusalem artichoke.

Scrubbing Jerusalem artichokes is just the right thing to do.

Cleaning Jerusalem artichokes requires a great deal of patience and care.

Being impatient won't work.

If you're not careful, you won't get it clean.

For example, those two big baskets that Chen Ling made, it would take the young couple at least two hours to finish them.

However, the young couple basked in the warm autumn sun, chatting idly as they washed Jerusalem artichokes by the ditch, completely oblivious to the passage of time.

Just as the Jerusalem artichokes were almost finished being washed, two large dogs that were lying sprawled out under the eaves not far away, basking in the sun, suddenly opened their eyes, raised their heads, and stared intently outside.

"Huh? What's going on?"

Chen Ling noticed the reactions of Heiwa and the other two, and turned to look.

They saw a small, cute figure peeking out from the gate, glancing at them while sticking out its tongue and licking the hinges of the iron gate.

(End of this chapter)