Seeing that Qi Zhenzhen had finished her work, Li Shan’s wife handed her another handful and pulled her over to chat.
The Napa cabbage needed to air-dry for another half hour, so Qi Zhenzhen took the opportunity to join the conversation.
“My husband told me that the village head wants to sell that large patch of wild apricot forest this year,” Li Shan’s wife said mysteriously. “Nowadays, those with money buy fertile land. Who would buy a wild apricot forest? Good medium-grade land is only four taels of silver per mu, and this wild apricot forest is being sold for two taels of silver per mu. Has the village head gone mad for money?”
Xinghua Village got its name from a wild apricot forest on the edge of the village. Every year in March and April, the apricot blossoms would bloom, forming a sea of flowers, which was very beautiful. In the original body’s memory, she had taken Qi Yi to see the apricot blossoms a few times. The apricot blossoms were pretty, but the apricots they bore were small, sour, and astringent. Even the most gluttonous children didn’t want to eat them.
From this perspective, it would indeed be difficult for the village head to sell the apricot forest.
Half of the apricot forest was on flat ground, and the other half was on a hillside. If one had money, building a manor at the foot of the hill and coming to admire the scenery when the apricot blossoms bloomed would be quite interesting. Moreover, wild apricots could be grafted with large sweet apricots, eaten as fruit, made into dried fruits or preserves, and the apricot kernels could be roasted and eaten as nuts. It seemed like a lot of money could be made.
Qi Zhenzhen’s eyes flickered, and she had an idea.
The cabbage had been sufficiently dried, so Qi Zhenzhen carried the mixed chili paste to the sieve.
She lifted the cabbage leaves and spread the chili paste layer by layer onto the cabbage. After spreading the chili paste, she packed them into jars layer by layer, and they would be ready in three to five days.
In comparison, Qi Zhenzhen preferred to eat it unfermented, without the sour taste of kimchi, which suited her taste better.
She carried one of the jars to Li Shan’s wife and said, “Sister-in-law, this kimchi can be eaten starting tomorrow, or you can let it ferment for a few more days. I prefer it with a shorter fermentation time, as the flavor is just right. If it ferments for too long, it will develop a sour taste.”
Li Shan’s wife’s eyes darted around. “Tomorrow I’ll take out half to eat, and let the other half ferment for a few more days. That way, I’ll know which taste is better.”
Qi Zhenzhen suppressed a smile and praised her a few times. Li Shan’s wife happily took a jar of kimchi and left.
“Mother, I’ll send two jars of kimchi to the Song family,” Qi Zhenzhen said to Yun Shi after picking out two jars.
“That’s right.”
Qi Zhenzhen called out to Qi Yi, and the siblings carried the kimchi to the Song family together.
There was almost no snow on the road leading to the village, so there was no worry about falling.
Qi Yi followed Qi Zhenzhen, walking very slowly. Qi Zhenzhen had to stop and wait for him. “What’s wrong? Are you preoccupied?”
“Eldest Sister, those rumors…” Qi Yi spoke cautiously, carefully observing Qi Zhenzhen’s expression.
“Their mouths are their own. Let them say whatever they want,” Qi Zhenzhen smiled. “I have a clear conscience. If I dwell on these rumors, wouldn’t I be tormenting myself?”
Qi Yi was a little stunned. He had heard Aunt Song and Mingyue Sister talking in private, and he was afraid that Eldest Sister would be upset about this. In the past, a girl in the village had hanged herself because of rumors. So Qi Yi was very scared that his Eldest Sister would also be unable to cope. Now, it seemed that Eldest Sister was not affected by these rumors at all.
“Yi Ge’er, rumors are more ferocious than tigers. People who are not mentally strong are indeed easily trapped by rumors, lamenting their fate, feeling hopeless, and sinking into darkness. But Eldest Sister has you and Mother in her heart, so Eldest Sister is not afraid of those groundless rumors.” Seeing Qi Yi in a daze, Qi Zhenzhen freed one hand and gently stroked his head.
Because she had him and Mother in her heart, she was so strong?
“Alright, don’t overthink it. Let’s hurry. It’s so cold, we’ll go home and warm up after delivering them.” Qi Zhenzhen exhaled a puff of white air. “When we get back, Eldest Sister will make you fried rice with kimchi.”
Qi Yi put away his thoughts and quickened his pace, catching up with Qi Zhenzhen.
Song Mingyue had caught a chill after returning from Qi’s house that day and had sneezed several times. Aunt Song and Grandma Song kept her at home and didn’t let her go anywhere, which made her feel very bored. Seeing Qi Zhenzhen now, she grabbed her hand and wouldn’t let go.
Aunt Song chided her, “You’re not well yet. Are you trying to infect Zhenzhen too?”
Upon hearing this, Song Mingyue immediately let go, covered her mouth, and retreated a few steps. “Zhenzhen, you should leave quickly. I’ll find you when I’m better.”
Qi Zhenzhen was warmed by her small gesture and replied with a smile, “Okay, I’ll wait for you at home. When you’re better, I’ll give you the little rabbit.”
The little rabbit was a Q-version little rabbit drawn by Qi Zhenzhen, very cute. Yun Shi thought it was pretty and said she would make it into a cloth doll.
“It’s already done?” Song Mingyue’s big eyes were filled with surprise.
“Yes, Mother made a pair. We’ll each have one.”
Qi Zhenzhen was not interested in these cuter, more girlish things before. But at her age, if she appeared too unconventional, she was afraid that even Song Mingyue would dislike her. So, she would reluctantly like them.
After explaining how to eat the kimchi to Aunt Song, Qi Zhenzhen led Qi Yi out of the Song family’s door.
The siblings walked back slowly and happened to meet Sun Shi carrying firewood.
It was winter now, and every household had prepared firewood for the winter before the snow fell, so as not to have to work so hard in the snow. From this, it seemed that the Du family had not prepared firewood in advance?
Sun Shi looked at Qi Zhenzhen with a hateful gaze. She was like this now because of this girl.
If it weren’t for her, she wouldn’t be disliked by her mother-in-law, and her son wouldn’t be estranged from her. In previous years, firewood was bought in winter. Although the family had also bought some this year, her mother-in-law said that because she had made a mistake, as punishment, she was not allowed to eat with her mother-in-law and son this winter, and she had to prepare the firewood for heating the kang herself.
In such cold weather, if the kang was not heated warmly, she would freeze to death.
Qi Zhenzhen naturally did not know about this. She didn’t even open her eyes to look at Sun Shi, pulled Qi Yi, and walked past Sun Shi, slowly walking away.
When the siblings returned home, Yun Shi pulled them to the kang. “Why did it take so long? Is it cold on the road? Snuggle up in the quilt to warm up.”
Qi Zhenzhen didn’t feel that cold, but Yun Shi was from Jiangnan. Although she had been in the north for many years, she still couldn’t get used to the coldness of the north.
“Mother, it’s okay. I don’t feel cold. You’re warm on the kang, I’ll cook.” Qi Zhenzhen jumped off the kang.
She went to the backyard to get a piece of cured meat, sliced it thinly, took two strips of the freshly made kimchi and chopped them. She stir-fried the cured meat until it rendered oil, then added the kimchi and stir-fried them for a while. Then, she added the leftover rice from the previous night. The aroma was overwhelming, and Qi Zhenzhen’s mouth began to water.