As soon as Huiniang entered the house in the evening, the old couple conveyed to her the important task of taking the girl to worship the gods. Huiniang's face tightened when she heard that, and she quickly pulled her daughter to sit down and asked her what else was wrong with her.

The girl smiled and said, "Except for my poor memory, there is nothing else. Mom, don't talk about me, how are you doing today? Sit down and rest, I will bring you food."

"Don't be too busy, let's take a look at what this is?" Seeing that her daughter was fine and still joking, Madam Hui mysteriously took out something from her arms.

The Shi family took a closer look and were all surprised.

Wrapped in the handkerchief, there is a pair of shining silver earrings, with a happy design. Although small, the plum blossoms and the magpie standing on the branch are both pleasing and delicate. Considering the weight, even if they are not enough

One tael, at least seven or eight dollars. This thing may not be much to a wealthy family, but to a small family like them, it is worth a lot of money.

Dad Shi quickly asked, "Where did it come from?"

Madam Hui smiled proudly and said, "I got it from the Ouyang family! I'm lucky today. It turns out that the girl Qingxing who is in charge of delivering food is ill, so she asked me to go there temporarily. Who would have thought that I happened to catch the third wife looking at the new jewelry for the New Year?

The third master was also there. When he saw me, I asked, "They say there is a new cook who makes tofu. Did you make the tofu on the plate yesterday?" I agreed, and the third master praised it, and then

He told me that he wanted to reward me and asked me to go pick out the jewelry by myself. How could I dare to choose among the big ones? Seeing that these earrings were small and unique, and they were very good-looking, I brought them back to Nianfu and gave them to her just in time for the Chinese New Year.

Have some joy."

Hearing the clear origin, the two elders of the Shi family were relieved, but the girl's color immediately changed.

"Mom, I can't have these earrings. You can send them back to the third wife as soon as possible tomorrow! Go kowtow and apologize, and make it clear who asked you to deliver food. Even if the third wife wants to be beaten or punished, you have to do it.

Bear it!"

Hui Niang was so happy that she wanted to give her daughter some new earrings to try on. Unexpectedly, her daughter actually said such words, which made the two parents change their expressions.

Hui Niang couldn't help but scolded, "You kid, you just got beaten once, how come you have become less timid? Do you think your mother is stupid? If the third master gives it to me alone, I will not accept it. But

This is what the third master rewarded me in front of the third wife. The third wife also took the initiative to ask me to pick it out. What’s there to be afraid of? Your little family doesn’t know that the Ouyang family is no better than ordinary families. These jewelry are just a piece of jewelry.

It’s okay for me to reward my servants and the children who come to pay New Year greetings.”

But the girl said anxiously, "Mom, don't think carefully about it. The third wife of the Ouyang family is in charge. If the girl in front of her is sick and needs someone to deliver food, how could such an embarrassing job fall to you, an outsider, by chance?"

Go up? But you just bumped into their third master and asked you to ask for this favor? This is obviously someone who has tricked you and sent you into the tiger's mouth!"

Father Shi clicked his tongue for a while and then came to his senses, "Nianfu is right. Hui Niang, think about it, the third master has said that he will reward you, and the third wife can beat her in front of others even if she is not happy in her heart.

The face of the master? Of course you have to pretend to be generous. You have been better-looking than others since you were a child. Although you have gained some advantages because of it, you have heard very few gossips? No matter whether this earring is really appreciated by you or not, you will take it tomorrow

Nianfu said, take it back first and apologize to the third wife. If the third wife will definitely reward you, you can continue, but you have to tell others what you mean and let them know that we are not people who wait for money."

Seeing that her father had said the same thing, Hui Niang couldn't help but believe it. However, she was still a little reluctant to part with the pair of earrings, "Do you really want to go back? I still want to leave it to Nian Fu as a dowry."

"Retreat! We didn't earn it by ourselves, and we don't feel safe holding it." This time, even Aunt Shi stood by her granddaughter. She took out her purse from her arms again, "Look what this is? It's

Here's the money Agui left for his sister! I dug it out when Nianfu was drying the quilt today, and I just happened to have it with me to celebrate the New Year. Go and get new clothes for Nianfu and yourself, and buy two flowers to wear. What about the Ouyang family's money?

It’s okay if we don’t want these things.”

After hearing such a good thing, Hui Niang was happy and finally agreed to return the earrings. However, she had other plans for the use of the windfall, "To tell you the truth, I made an agreement with Aunt Lin from the sewing shop in front of me.

I weighed seven kilograms of new cotton and am making coats for you. It will be ready in two days, so I can just use the money to pay the bill."

The girl quickly asked, "What about you?"

Madam Hui smiled and said, "I am young and strong, but I get a fever if I wear such thick clothes. But you, old and young, will get sick if you don't wear thick clothes. Besides, when your new clothes come back, I will take yours."

It’s enough to change old clothes, why spend more money on them?”

"Nonsense!" Aunt Shi got angry and pointed at Hui Niang's hand. "If you weren't cold, how did you get this chilblain? According to me, when we are old and no matter how shabby our clothes are, we always have nothing to do at home.

No one can see it. Besides, there is a fire in the house, and it is not that cold. But you are a young daughter-in-law. You can’t wear too shabby clothes when you are out in public. Go and tell Aunt Lin to change my clothes to yours. You

If you don’t comply, even if you become a new person, I won’t wear it!”

The girl quickly agreed, "Yes! Mom, you don't wear new ones, and neither do I. After all, I'm younger than you!"

Hui Niang had no choice but to scold her daughter angrily, "You damn girl, you are really bad at learning! Okay, okay, I will do it too. But there are only a few days until the end of the year, so I guess I won't be able to catch up. I will wait until the end of the year to do it."

Maybe it’ll be cheaper.”

Aunt Shi's face darkened, "No! If Aunt Lin is not free, go to her house and pull the cotton cloth back, and I will make it for you. Forget it, I won't ask you for this matter. You can take the money to pray for blessings tomorrow.

Find Aunt Li and ask her to take you to buy the things back, so that your mother won't be disobedient again."

Hey! As soon as the girl agreed, Madam Hui slapped her little hand that was holding the money bag away and said angrily, "Okay, okay, why don't I go by myself? Don't let Nianfu go out, I feel weird when I come back at night

It's so cold, it might snow tomorrow, so let her stay at home."

Father Shi chuckled as he watched the three women quarreling, until Fang came out to smooth things over and said, "That's it, let's eat quickly. The child has been tired for a day, so he should be starving."

The family was chatting and laughing. After dinner, Huiniang went to the kitchen to rinse the bowls. The girl fetched hot water and helped her grandma and grandpa wash up. After the two elders went to bed, they returned to the room and saw that Huiniang was so tired that she didn't even take off her shoes.

Fell asleep in bed.

The girl felt so distressed that she hurriedly covered her mother with a quilt, then brought a pot of hot water, took off her shoes and stockings, and heated her feet. When she saw several bruises and red and swollen frostbite on Huiniang's feet, she couldn't help but burst into tears.

"Hmm... Nianfu..." As if she noticed something, Huiniang struggled to wake up from her dream. The girl quickly wiped her tears and said softly, "Mom, please sleep well, I will press the button for you."

"No need..." Madam Hui felt sorry for her daughter and wanted to close her legs, but she was too tired. Her eyelids were so sore that it felt like there were huge boulders pressing down on them, and she couldn't open them. The feeling on her legs was so comfortable that she couldn't open them.

Almost without any resistance, I fell into a sweet dream.

When the girl woke up early the next morning, Madam Hui had already finished cleaning up the housework and had to go to work. She repeatedly told her not to forget to go to Aunt Lin's place to order cotton-padded clothes for herself and return her earrings. Then the family said goodbye.

.

The girl stood at the door until she couldn't see Hui Niang before entering the house.

Tomorrow is the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, and we will celebrate the New Year. Although my family is poor, I still need to prepare something. I don’t have big fish or meat at home, but I still want to make something delicious. It’s fun.

The girl saw that there were some wilted white radishes at home, so she peeled them and used them to grate them. Aunt Shi knew that she wanted to make radish balls, but she didn’t understand why the girl peeled them off. “Although the skin is wilted,

But wouldn’t it be the same if you grated it into shreds and eaten it? What a pity it would be to throw it away.”

The girl smiled and said, "Don't worry, grandma, I won't throw it away. The skin is old and there will be crumbs in the meatballs. It's better to cut it and soak it in ginger and green onion salt water to make kimchi. Then it will be crunchy and chewy."

Aunt Shi nodded, and then she saw that the girl was not taking salt, but was taking sugar to pickle the radish that had been grated into thin strips. She couldn't help but said anxiously, "Nianfu, did you take the wrong one? That's sugar, not salt."

The girl laughed again, "Grandma, don't worry, I know this is sugar. Although salt can produce water, it is not as fresh as sugar. You will know after I explode it. Besides, I can still give you this water."

I drank it with my grandpa to moisten my throat!"

Dad Shi laughed when he heard this, "Look at our luck, we are much better than you. It's a pity that we don't have tofu at home. How delicious would it be if we fried some tofu balls?"

Speaking of tofu, Aunt Shi wanted to cry again. How miserable would it be for a tofu maker to have no tofu? But the girl laughed and said, "Grandpa, aren't you tired of making tofu all your life? I don't want to change it now."

Changing the taste and still thinking about that thing is really not pursuing it!"

Aunt Shi couldn't help laughing, and the sadness in her heart also disappeared. She suddenly remembered that there was still half a sack of peanuts in the backyard. Although it was somewhat damaged in the fire, she still asked the girl to carry it out and lie down with her wife.

On the bed, I picked out the good ones one by one and asked the girl to fry them.

The girl fried some of the garlic, then pounded the garlic, and asked the second elder to help pound some of it into fine peanuts. Then she beat an egg and sugar together, then added some flour and the peanuts to make a paste.

When the radish meatballs are fried, use the oil in the pot, scoop them in one by one with a small spoon, press them flat, and slowly bake them into small golden pancakes on both sides. Although they are not very pretty, they can be eaten after cooling.

When it comes to your mouth, it is full of flavor and extremely crispy.

This time, even Aunt Shi was pleasantly surprised, "It's really delicious, better than the peanut candy bought outside. The one sticks to your teeth, but this one doesn't."

The girl said proudly, "Of course! If there are sesame seeds and some butter, it will be even more delicious."

Dad Shi didn't notice this, but he found another bright spot. He looked at the cakes that were golden on both sides and not burnt at all, and admired, "Nianfu, you burned it so well and baked it so beautifully!"

Uh... the girl's eyes suddenly flickered, and she unnaturally hid the strange fire scar on her right wrist in her sleeve, smiling modestly, "Luck, just luck."

Fortunately, the second elder had a natural blind trust in his granddaughter and didn't care. He only tasted the cake briefly and was reluctant to eat it again. He asked the girl to put away the peanut pancake and leave it until Hui Niang came back.

(Thanks to Ah Jiu and Li Zhi for their evaluation votes, and please don’t forget to vote. Also, the peanut sesame cake is really delicious, and it is my favorite biscuit to bake.) [e="Celebrating the Harvest Year"

]
Chapter completed!