The tycoon's wicked wife from the era of literature has been reborn.

Seeing Gao Qinghe put a basket of vegetables in the kitchen,

Jiang's mother asked curiously, "Who is it?"

Gao Qinghe: "You don't know her, she's my friend's mother-in-law. She has so many vegetables at home that she gave us a basket."

Jiang's mother reluctantly gave an "oh," but out of sheer curiosity, she got up and went to the kitchen to take a look. In the basket were five pumpkins the size of small watermelons, two white radishes, a bunch of scallions, and two large cabbages.

Small pumpkins taste better than big pumpkins; they're sweeter and softer. She originally wanted to grow some herself this year, but she was too busy and forgot.

Many people in the village grow large pumpkins specifically to feed pigs and fatten them up.

"Would you like some pumpkin pancakes?" Jiang's mother asked, peeking out of her mouth.

Gao Qinghe felt that her mother-in-law was being too suspicious.

"Mom, could you please speak a little louder? Anyone who didn't know better would think you were planning to steal something from someone's house!"

After giving the instructions, immediately add, "Yes!"

Jiang's mother smiled faintly, finding it quite interesting to make some snacks in her spare time.

There were only two people in the family. Jiang's mother peeled a small pumpkin, cut the flesh into roughly equal-sized pieces, and steamed it over a high flame.

Sift out the glutinous rice flour and set it aside.

While the pumpkin is steaming, wash the pumpkin seeds, find a small winnowing basket, line it with gauze, spread the washed pumpkin seeds evenly on it, and place it on the windowsill to dry.

Once they're completely dry, stir-fry them in a pan over low heat for a few seconds, and you'll have a plate of fragrant pumpkin seeds.

When it gets colder in a few more days, cracking pumpkin seeds while roasting them over a charcoal fire will truly bring out the taste of winter.

Pumpkin doesn't need to be steamed for too long; it will be cooked in about ten minutes over high heat.

Pour the cooked pumpkin chunks into a bowl and mash them into a puree with a wooden spoon. Add an appropriate amount of glutinous rice flour and mix the two thoroughly to form a dough.

Then, knead the dough into small balls about the size of a child's fist, press them down with your palm, and pumpkin pancakes will come out.

Coat the pumpkin cakes with white sesame seeds and deep-fry them until crispy and golden brown. Drain the oil and serve.

Jiang's mother fried five of them, and covered the rest with white cloths. They could be eaten for breakfast in the morning or as a late-night snack if they got hungry at night.

Gao Qinghe lay sprawled on the sofa, wrapped in a thin blanket, watching TV until she fell asleep.

I vaguely smelled a rich, sweet pumpkin aroma. When I opened my eyes, I saw that my mother-in-law had skewered two pumpkin cakes with chopsticks and was circling them in front of my nose like she was fishing for a cat.

Upon noticing that she had opened her eyes, Jiang's mother immediately changed her expression and said somewhat awkwardly:
"These pumpkin pancakes are freshly fried. Get up and eat them quickly, they won't taste good when they get cold."

After saying that, he shoved the chopsticks into her hand and fled into the house.

Gao Qinghe, still half asleep, asked blankly, "Aren't you going to eat?"

Jiang's mother said from inside the house, "I've already eaten, you should eat now."

Gao Qinghe exclaimed "Oh!" and turned her gaze to the chopsticks in her hand. Two small golden cakes were strung together by a chopstick, like candied hawthorns.

This is how to feed a child.

Should we treat her like a child?
Gao Qinghe chuckled; she was quite happy to be treated like a child.

Taking a bite of the pumpkin cake, the crispy sesame shell had softened a bit, but it didn't affect the taste.

These sweet and chewy pumpkin pancakes are perfect for eating two in one go – just the right amount without being too greasy.

Gao Qinghe licked her chopsticks, still wanting more, and asked, "Mom, are you finished? Is there any more?"

Jiang's mother replied, "I have some that aren't fried. We'll be having dinner soon, and I won't be able to eat anything else. Can I make you breakfast tomorrow morning?"

Gao Qinghe sighed regretfully, "Alright then."

I picked up the remote and changed the channel to continue watching TV.

Even though I don't do any work, I always feel like I have no energy. After eating, I want to lie down, and after lying down enough, I want to eat again.

Gao Qinghe assumed she was entering winter early and going into hibernation. Two knocks rang out as the closed iron gate was knocked on.

Gao Qinghe glanced outside and called out, "Mom!"

Jiang's mother silently put down the washing machine cover she was making and went out into the yard.

"Second sister-in-law, what brings you here?"

Zhang Wen smiled and patted his eldest grandson beside him, "Xiao Qi, greet people."

Ten-year-old Jiang Qi sniffled and called out in a hoarse voice, "Fifth Grandma."

Jiang's mother asked in surprise, "What's wrong with your voice?"

Zhang Wen sighed in dismay, "He caught a cold! I don't know where he rolled around in the water, he's filthy beyond recognition. I was thinking of giving him a bath, but the bathhouse in town is too far, and the house is drafty. I don't want him to catch a bad cold after the bath."

After chatting for a while, I finally mentioned that I wanted to borrow the bathroom to give my child a hot bath.

Upon hearing this, Jiang's mother thought it was no big deal, especially since they were such close friends.

Just as I was about to open the door and let them in, I heard the person inside cough twice.

Jiang's mother quickly withdrew her hand from the door and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Second sister-in-law, Xiaoqi, wait a moment, I'll go ask."

Zhang Wen looked at her as if she'd seen a ghost. "What? You can't even make decisions about your own home?"

Jiang's mother gave a bitter smile that was more like a grimace, offered no further explanation, and turned to walk into the hall.

She looked exactly like a pitiful woman being ridden on by her daughter-in-law.

Jiang's mother herself felt that her behavior was inappropriate and that it was detrimental to her daughter-in-law's image.

But she has no choice!
This is what the daughter-in-law instructed!
She said, "Mom, when you meet these uncles and aunts in the future, no matter what they say, just say that you can't manage this family and can't make any decisions. Then use me, Gao Qinghe, as a shield. You are the pitiful mother-in-law, and I am the tyrannical daughter-in-law!"

Jiang's mother initially refused to accept this.

But after using the excuse "I can't make the decision" a few times, I suddenly found it appealing.

Villagers who came to her for help but couldn't get it done didn't blame her at all; instead, they said she was a good person.

For someone like Jiang's mother, who has a very strong sense of morality, this is the best of both worlds.

She no longer has to bear the moral censure of refusing others, nor does she have to worry about being torn between sacrificing her son and daughter-in-law's interests to help others.

Anyway, the statement that she couldn't make the decision was true, so she didn't need to lie.

Because ever since the daughter-in-law, this big Buddha, was invited into the family.

Aside from deciding what to eat today and what to eat tomorrow, Jiang's mother didn't make any other decisions.

Feeling guilty, Jiang's mother went into the hall to "ask" her daughter-in-law for permission.

She assumed that, given the previous incident where she had locked people out, Gao Qinghe wouldn't allow Jiang Qi to come in and take a shower this time either.

Unexpectedly, Gao Qinghe smiled and got up, personally opening the door and leading Zhang Wen and his grandson inside.

"This gas water heater takes a while to get hot water; wait until the water is hot before taking off your clothes to avoid getting cold."

Gao Qinghe personally demonstrated it once, and then asked Jiang Qi, who was sniffling and looking dirty, if he had learned it.

The ten-year-old boy can bathe himself now, and children learn new things quickly. After trying it once, he proudly nodded to show that he could do it.

So Gao Qinghe closed the bathroom door and pulled her second aunt, who wanted to stay, into the living room.

Peanuts, melon seeds, fruit candies, imported cookies, and canned fruit were all on display.

Zhang Wen sat on the sofa, flattered and surprised.

Gao Qinghe grabbed a handful of peanuts and sat down, smiling at her: "Second Aunt, eat up, don't be shy, it'll take Xiaoqi half an hour to wash them."

Zhang Wen forced a smile, strongly suspecting that Gao Qinghe had poisoned the snacks and wanted to kill him. (End of Chapter)