Aunt Sima quickly rallied all the women in the village, assigning them tasks like cooking and washing vegetables. Everyone followed her instructions without question.
The cooking took place at Aunt Sima’s house. As the village provided the funds and resources, the group of women got stuck in with enthusiasm, particularly the older ladies. As they cooked, they gossiped about who had given birth to a son, who had had several daughters in a row, and which wife from the neighbouring village was having an affair…
Basically, all women’s affairs.
Aunt Sima had Nan Feng, Aqiu, Fatty, Zhou Dongdong and others in charge of deliveries. Although it was mainly girls, young Sima Guangguang wanted to join in too. Aqiu teased him, “Guangguang, it’s the girls who are in charge of cooking and delivering the food, you should go and help dig the soil in the mountains.”
With a serious look on his small face, Sima Guangguang said, “We’re all serving the court here, what difference does it make if we’re boys or girls?”
“…” Everyone was left speechless.
…
The mountain road was quite rough. They carefully pushed the cart filled with pots and pans, but their journey was full of chatter.
Aqiu said, “Fatty, move the pot of porridge next to you, it’s about to fall… By the way, didn’t almost all the men in our village go to work? My dad and brother left early in the morning anyway.”
Fatty moved the porridge pot, then said, “Yes, they all went. My dad and brother too. Oh, Feng, can you prop up the spoon next to you?”
Nan Feng was about to prop up the spoon when Sima Guangguang helped her.
Nan Feng said to Sima Guangguang, “Thank you, little guy.”
Sima Guangguang, always mature beyond his years, replied, “You’re welcome, but Feng, please be more careful, the shovel next to you is also about to fall.”
Nan Feng: “…”
She had no choice but to prop up the shovel.
Only Zhou Dongdong didn’t talk much, sometimes smiling, sometimes frowning.
Aqiu, who was closest to Zhou Dongdong, knew what was on her mind, but didn’t say anything because there were so many people around.
In fact, Nan Feng could tell that Zhou Dongdong was probably in love with Mo Wenxuan.
Mo Wenxuan was usually either at the private school or studying hard at home, so Zhou Dongdong didn’t have many chances to see him. Now that everyone knew Mo Wenxuan was working in the mountain, Aqiu was both excited and nervous.
Nan Feng sighed softly.
With Mo Wenxuan’s proud nature, even if Zhou Dongdong was the village belle, he won’t be interested in her.
Look at how Wenxuan always boasts that he is going to marry a daughter from an official family. Perhaps he might even marry a princess in the future.
Nan Feng shivered.
What did the princesses of this time period look like? Were they as beautiful as fairies?
…
It was mealtime. As soon as Nan Feng and the others’ food cart arrived, the men working at the reservoir rushed over.
“Time to eat! Hey, Feng, what’s for lunch today?”
“Feng, do we have meat today? I’ve been thinking about yesterday’s stir-fried cabbage with shredded pork.”
“Feng, work is so exhausting that I’m parched. I don’t need meat, just give me a pot of cooling mung bean porridge to quench my thirst.”
“…”
Everyone was asking questions, and Nan Feng didn’t know who to answer first, so she didn’t answer anyone.
The Wild brother showed up just in time and helped them unload the pots and pans from the cart. He then told the men, “Line up, one by one.”
His voice was not loud, nor was his tone commanding, but strangely, all the men from the village heeded his instructions. They quickly formed a long queue, each one tapping their bowls with chopsticks, looking as hungry as wolves.
Nan Feng planned to serve the Wild brother first, but since he had already joined the end of the queue, she didn’t bother about him.