Chapter 341: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 341: When Enemies Meet Again (3)
"Hehe!" Mo Yan couldn't help but be amused by her younger brother's pitiful little eyes. She playfully ruffled his round and cute cheeks with her hands, which he had initially used to complain with a longing gaze. She withdrew her hands and instead started patting his head.
"Zhen'er, how about reciting an article for Father? If he knew how studious you are, he would be very happy," Mo Yan suggested.
Bright-eyed and expectant, Zhen'er looked at his eldest sister. "Really? Father will be happy?"
Mo Yan nodded affirmatively. "Definitely!"
Encouraged by his sister, Zhen'er eagerly ran back to his small study, retrieved what he considered the most difficult and least understandable article, and earnestly began reciting it.
The small study wasn't warm enough, so Mo Yan lit another brazier and brought it over, opening a small crack in the window for ventilation.
...
In the evening, just as the Mo family was about to eat, Wang Pangtou returned driving his cart.
Mo Yan took Xiao Hei to the livestock shed, where she gave it plenty of hay and fresh vegetables, then mixed a bucket of spring water for it. She then asked Wang Pangtou, "Was there anyone causing trouble in the shop today?"
Wang Pangtou hesitated briefly before replying, "No, everything was fine! But today, Master Li went to another rice shop and found that the prices of grains have risen again. Ordinary rice has gone up to seven wen per catty, flour to eight wen, corn flour to six wen, and sticky rice has jumped to ten wen. The only other thing that's risen is soybeans, by half a wen."
Mo Yan stared at him for a while, until he lowered his head. Then she said, "As long as there's no trouble, that's good. If anything unsettling happens in the shop, you must inform me promptly. I'm the shop's owner, and I don't want to be kept in the dark."
Wang Pangtou nodded nervously, a fine layer of sweat appearing on his forehead in the cold weather. The pressure from Young Mistress Mo's gaze was considerable.
Mo Yan glanced at him and shifted the topic to the rising grain prices. "I've discussed the matter of rising grain prices with Master Li before. Let him handle it according to our previous agreement. If there are any doubts, you can come and talk to me."
Wang Pangtou hurriedly nodded in agreement, visibly relieved.
Mo Yan intended to say a few more words of advice, but then heard Zhen'er calling out to her for dinner. Deciding to leave it at that, she went back inside with some lingering doubts.
Tonight's dinner was lamb hotpot, with a delicious chicken broth base. The table was filled with lamb, pork, rabbit meat, and various vegetables. The staple food was corn cakes and crispy fried little furball, both handmade by Mo Yan.
The golden corn cakes and small mantou looked appetizing. While the dishes were being prepared, Zhen'er couldn't wait and grabbed little furball, stuffing it into his mouth. He squinted his eyes and savored it delicately, his cheeks puffing up like a little frog.
Seeing him enjoy it so much, others also picked up their chopsticks to grab corn cakes or small mantou. With each bite, they found them crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and faintly sweet with honey, incredibly delicious.
Mo Yan wasn't interested in the corn cakes and small mantou. She saw that the thin slices of lamb meat had floated to the top, its bright red color turning into a faint pinkish-white. She picked them up with public chopsticks, dipped them into the prepared sauce, and put them into her mouth. Indeed, they were tender and juicy, making her wish she could swallow her tongue.
The family ate around the hotpot, lively and bustling. The hot and steaming meat and vegetables dipped in sauce warmed their stomachs. Their taste buds couldn't resist the temptation of delicious food, constantly tasting various hot dishes.
Xia Hua and Da Bai, covered in fluffy fur, smelled the incredibly delicious aroma long ago, their mouths watering. Seeing their owner eating one mouthful at a time, completely ignoring them, they started barking anxiously. When their owner looked at them, they quickly kicked the basin under their feet, urging her to feed them quickly.
Next Chapter▶▶
Comments
Post a Comment