Zhu Juying and Uncle Guai exchanged glances, both nodding in satisfaction. The child resembled Shen Meng, and though she was a year younger than Xiangxiang, the difference wasn’t significant. Besides, with Shen Meng, her elder cousin around, her daughter couldn’t possibly suffer any grievances. As they spoke, they kept darting glances back and forth at the two children.
Lu Xiangxiang, feeling embarrassed from being looked at, kept glancing at Shen Meng, hoping she could rescue her.
Fortunately, just then, Lu Zhenping finished cleaning the fish, and he waved Shen Meng over. Seizing the opportunity, Lu Xiangxiang also stood up as Shen Meng rose and linked arms with her as they left the main room.
"Sister-in-law Meng, I’ll go with you."
Shen Meng glanced back, whispering with her head down, "Look at you, even if you’re not here for matchmaking, you’re still Zhenping’s sister. When you’re at my house, just take it easy and rest; there’s no need to do any work."
"I’m not comfortable, sister-in-law. Didn’t you see the way my parents were looking? It scares me just thinking about it."
Lv Qinlan and Su Xiaomei called out as they followed them out, also summoning Shen Xiaobin along.
"Xiao Bin, go help your sister-in-law fetch two more buckets of water and wash the vegetables. Your brothers will be back soon, and we’ll be ready to eat."
"Alright, okay," he replied, then turned to Uncle Guai and Zhu Juying, "Uncle, Aunt, I’ll head out first then. Mom, Dad, you two keep chatting!"
"Good, good, good."
Uncle Guai was the first to respond, and the four elders looked at each other, each having an understanding in their minds.
Their satisfaction wasn’t enough; it was necessary for the two youngsters to talk and get to know each other to determine if this marriage could happen. After Shen Xiaobin left, he headed to the kitchen to grab the buckets, but seeing the two buckets full of water, he looked at Lv Qinlan with a face full of question marks.
"Dummy, did you really think your sister-in-law asked you to carry water? Go get some potatoes out; Xiangxiang is washing ginger and onions. You can give a hand. It’s less tiring to work when men and women team up!"
Shen Xiaobin: "....."
There’s no need for a partner, I can handle this little work by myself!
After Lu Zhenping cleaned the fish, he went out. Xiao Hu, along with a few other children, went out to play, and he needed to hurry and bring the children back home, as it was almost time for dinner.
Lv Qinlan was tending the stove while watching Shen Meng cook. Oil was poured into the pan, and as the hot oil sizzled, she fried the fish coated in egg and flour, not even having added any seasoning yet, and it was already mouthwateringly fragrant.
"I was wondering why Xiao Bin went to catch fish, it’s obviously because he knew Xiao Meng was coming back and wanted a treat, hahaha..."
"That’s for sure. Normally, when Xiao Meng comes to visit relatives, she shouldn’t have to exert herself; we should be the ones cooking. But just look at this delicious smell; I can’t make this."
Su Xiaomei was kneading three-grain dough for steamed buns on the cutting board, joining in on the casual chatter.
Shen Meng had finished frying the fish and now needed the ginger, onion, and potatoes, but Shen Xiaobin was nowhere to be seen. Lv Qinlan laughed and said, "Don’t wait; there’s ready-cut stuff in that small basket, you can use it straight away."
"Elder sister-in-law, did you already know that this dummy would go out and not come back?"
"Of course, I like Xiangxiang a lot, so imagine how Xiao Bin feels. This girl is down-to-earth, and she truly belongs to our family at first glance. If this works out, it’ll truly be a load off our parents’ minds."
Shen Meng sprinkled green onions and ginger into the pot, followed by the chopped red chili and potato cubes. She added a bit of salt and soy sauce, gave it a few stirs, then put in the fried fish. After adding a couple of ladles of water and the soaked dried mushrooms, she covered the pot with a lid before turning to look at Lv Qinlan.
"Elder sister-in-law, I don’t know whether our parents’ worries will disappear, but I can certainly cure your worry today."
Lv Qinlan was stunned for a moment, looking at Shen Meng confusedly.
"Zhenping’s younger brother, Jiasheng, is a carpenter. His master is getting on in years and hasn’t been working much these past two years. If there’s work to be done, he refers it to him, and the village collective also seeks him out for any carpentry jobs. During the agricultural off-season, he even works in the mines and doesn’t earn too little. Before they partitioned the household, he handed all his earnings to my in-laws. But now that they’ve split, he keeps whatever he earns. We think it’s the right time for Xiao Long to learn a trade, and we’ve already talked to Jiasheng about it. He says the apprenticeship will last three years, during which time the apprentice stays at his house and all money earned goes to the master, which is the rule in their trade. Once Xiao Long completes his apprenticeship, he can keep his earnings. Jiasheng is skilled, and since we are all relatives, he will definitely teach Xiao Long well."
Lv Qinlan didn’t expect to hear such good news today. The family had discussed sending the kids to school next year, and her biggest concern was the nearly teenage Xiao Long. Her younger sister-in-law had suggested that Xiao Long learn a trade, and she had been looking forward to it. However, with her sister-in-law and her husband being so busy, she never dared to bring it up.
Who would have thought everything was already arranged for her, and she was immediately overcome with excitement.
"This, Xiao Meng, I never thought you had already found a mentor for Xiao Long. Really, I don’t know how to thank you."
"No worries. Jiasheng’s place is just a few steps from ours. Xiao Long can often come over for meals and go out to play with Mingyang and the other kids."
"That’d be great, with you as his little aunt around, I’m not afraid he’ll be mistreated. But, living there for three years, Xiao Long, a growing boy, eats quite a lot, wouldn’t that be taking advantage of them?"
With a teenager at home, and not much grain left, if he were to really eat his fill, they’d have run out of food stocks long ago, with a month’s supply barely lasting half a month.
"Jiasheng has two kids at home. Besides helping with chores, Xiao Long can learn a trade. Plus, as a craftsman, Jiasheng earns quite a bit since they’ve partitioned the household. If Jiasheng suggested this, he’s confident about it. If he wasn’t sure, he wouldn’t agree even for the sake of Zhenping and me. Elder sister-in-law, you can relax."
"Ah, now that you’ve explained, I feel relieved."
The stewed chicken soup was ladled out of the pot, Shen Meng fried a plate of chives with eggs, stir-fried some cabbage with cured meat, stewed the pressed belly pork with glass noodles and old pumpkin, and steamed some three-grain dough buns.
Su Xiaomei had just placed the buns in the pot when the potatoes and green onions waited for a meal were brought back by Shen Xiaobin and Lu Xiangxiang. The two looked at the three people staring at them inside the house and immediately blushed.
"Oh my, dinner’s ready and you’ve just delivered the green onions. Xiao Bin, you can’t be this slow when working in the future, you hear?"
Listening to the elder sister-in-law’s obvious teasing, Shen Xiaobin pursed his lips and stealthily glanced at Lu Xiangxiang. Seeing her face also flushed, he couldn’t help but feel a secret joy.
"Elder sister-in-law, you’ve become less and less merciful with your words. Xiangxiang, let’s go."
"Ah?"
Lu Xiangxiang was slow to react until Shen Xiaobin tugged at her sleeve and they left the kitchen. Hearing the laughter from the kitchen, she finally came to her senses. With an "Ah," she covered her face and ran into the living room.
Shen Xiaobin scratched his head awkwardly, thinking about what he had just done. How could he have just grabbed a girl’s arm and run out with her like that, so embarrassing.