64, Work Efficiently (4 updates)
“Auntie Chen, I’ve left two hundred wen in the kitchen drawer, just in case some villagers come to sell vegetables or eggs; go ahead and buy them!”
Before leaving, Xie Zhinuan instructed, and Auntie Chen nodded again and again.
Xie Zhinuan took the silly girl into the mountains; they weren’t picky about firewood but mainly went to the mountains to look for wild fruits and vegetables.
There were many edible things in the mountains.
For instance, Xie Zhinuan picked a basketful of Kalimeris Indica and then went to the field ridges to cut a full load of Kalimeris Indica and a big cloth bag of Wild Chrysanthemum Buds.
Routuan, that rascal of a dog, even brought back a wild rabbit, which delighted Xie Zhinuan. She rubbed his head, praising him incessantly.
“I’ll give you a big rabbit leg to eat when we get back!”
The silly girl also joyfully yapped in response.
On the way back, they didn’t gather firewood, so they cut two bundles of miscellaneous grass, which would create plant ash when burned and could be sprinkled on the fields as excellent fertilizer.
On the way back, they were lucky enough to find a cluster of thorn bubbles; Xie Zhinuan quickly took out a small cloth bag and, together with the silly girl, picked them all to take home.
The silly girl picked a large one and handed it to Xie Zhinuan’s mouth, “Miss, eat!”
Xie Zhinuan ate with a smile and urged the silly girl to eat as well.
The silly girl ate several pieces, smiling joyfully.
This trip out was quite fruitful.
Back at home.
Grandma Chen smiled as she fetched water for them to wash their hands and faces, “Just now, someone came to sell eggs, three for two wen each. I bought thirty, and another person came to sell large veggies, just a big bundle for five wen!”
Xie Zhinuan nodded her head.
Looking at the large vegetables, she already had an idea in mind, to pickle the vegetables for later consumption as salted veggies.
“Where’s Auntie Chen?” Xie Zhinuan asked.
“Planting vegetables in the backyard!”
Xie Zhinuan smiled.
Without saying much more.
After washing up, Xie Zhinuan went to the kitchen to clean pots, sorted out the thorn bubbles, washed them thoroughly, put them in a pot with a bit of water and sugar, and cooked them slowly. Once reduced to a thick paste, she scooped it into a small jar, which fit perfectly, then sealed it with gauze and placed a sandbag on top to prevent air from escaping.
“Miss, what are you making?” the silly girl asked curiously.
“You’ll find out later!”
She washed the Kalimeris Indica, blanched them in boiling water, drained them on a rice sieve and laid them out to dry in the sun.
“Miss, what about this?” the silly girl asked again, extremely curious about Xie Zhinuan’s activities.
“This Kalimeris Indica, once dried, can be used to stew meat-it’s delicious!” Xie Zhinuan said, pausing briefly before continuing, “We don’t have much right now. It won’t hurt to prepare more of these things!”
“Then we’ll pick more next time!” the silly girl said, swallowing her saliva.
It was clear she was tempted by hunger.
Xie Zhinuan nodded, “Okay!”
She didn’t have a penchant for treating people harshly. She treated the silly girl well since they would be keeping each other company in the future.
Next, she cleaned the Wild Chrysanthemum Buds, blanched them in boiling water, then soaked them in cold water in a bucket, planning to make a cold mixed plate at noon and scrambled them with eggs. The remainder would be saved for the evening meal.
Seeing the silly girl circling around her, making her head spin, Xie Zhinuan assigned her to pick out the Kalimeris Indica.
She quickly washed the big vegetables, blanched them in boiling water again, and put them in a large jar. She scooped the blanching water into a wooden barrel to cool down. Once cooled, she poured it into the jar, adding a suitable amount of salt, then went to the stream to pick up two large stones. After washing them, she brought them back and placed them on top of the vegetables.
In three days or so, they’d be able to enjoy the salted veggies.
The silly girl and Grandma Chen saw Xie Zhinuan going in and out, busy as a bee. They could only help by tending the fire and fetching buckets of water.
Xie Zhinuan worked alone with gusto.
She even skinned the rabbit she had killed.
“…”
When Yuanbao arrived, he saw Xie Zhinuan skinning a rabbit and stood at the door, stupefied.
Chapter 66