Chen Xuan took back the two pieces of clothing and did not let her uncle and aunt borrow a penny from the Wei family. This was not a big deal in the eyes of the Wei family, but in Chen Xuan's heart, it was like grasping the steering wheel of fate. Then, she exerted all her strength and changed the course of her destiny with unquestionable determination and perseverance.
Chen Xuan's life was suddenly tinged with a hint of ferocity.
She had completely fallen out with her uncle and aunt, and she was determined not to return to the countryside. She cut off her own retreat and tried every means to take root in this city. Chen Xuan not only persuaded Wei Nian to study and take the college entrance examination, but she also studied harder and harder.
Wei Nian was a little hesitant about studying and going to college. Smart people think a lot and often have many concerns. Sometimes, they are not as determined as Chen Xuan who sticks to one path until the end. However, there is no rush to study at the moment, but the birthday celebration of Old Master Wei needs to be arranged.
After discussing with Wei Nian, Wei Shi divided up the tasks. Wei Shi was in charge of buying wine and meat, while Wei Nian was in charge of buying fresh vegetables. Wei Shi was always good at saving trouble, so he simply handed the purchase tasks to Li. Fresh vegetables could not be bought in advance, so on the day before Grandpa Wei's birthday, Wei Nian took Chen Xuan to buy fresh vegetables.
Chen Xuan finally opened her eyes. When she arrived at the vegetable seller's house, she understood why it was called "hole goods". In winter, fresh vegetables are grown indoors. For example, the green chives that I bought this time to make vegetables are grown in a pit. The pit is four or five feet deep. There is a coal stove in the house. The windows are on the roof. The roof is not high. The windows are covered with oiled window paper. A Xuan thinks it is for warmth and light. There is no need to explain the reason for warmth. In the winter, if you don't keep warm, the vegetables will not survive. Chen Xuan also understands the reason for buying. The crops grown in the shade of the trees are far inferior to those grown under the sun. Thinking about it this way, it's no wonder that vegetables grown in a pit are called "hole goods".
However, some people planted vegetables on the kang instead of in the pit. If they want to grow vegetables on the kang, then naturally people can’t live there. The principle is simpler. Old Mrs. Wei also burns the kang every day in her room. If there is a kang, there is no need for open fire. Oh, there are so many fresh vegetables here, including cucumbers, beans, eggplants, tomatoes, daylilies, and even Chinese toon sprouts. Old Master Wei loves Chinese toon the most, and most of the family likes to eat it. Wei Nian directly ordered two catties and bought more than ten kinds of fresh vegetables. Later, when he calculated the price, Chen Xuan felt very distressed. Just these few fresh vegetables cost him nearly ten dollars.
However, I have learned a lot from this trip.
On the way back, Chen Xuan discussed with Wei Nian, "Brother Anian, we occupy two and a half rooms. Anyway, you won't let me heat the kang. Otherwise, next year we can move to the small hall outside. We have a kang in our room. If we vacate it, I can live there and have some vegetables."
"Give me a break and stop targeting our house. Whenever you want to eat, I'll come over to buy it." Wei Nian's words hit Chen Xuan like a wilt. "Even if you grow a bed of vegetables, how much can you sell it for? Only ten or twenty yuan. The output of cave goods is limited. It's better to think of other ways to make money instead of wasting time on this."
"We have no other choice at the moment." Not to mention ten or twenty yuan, even three or five yuan would not be too little for Chen Xuan.
"If you have no other ideas, you have to think about it. Don't think about moving."
Chen Xuan had no choice but to give up this idea for the time being, and thought, why not try it out in the west annex next year? The east annex only has some miscellaneous things, should I clean it out? Chen Xuan pondered in her heart, and her heart became active again.
The two of them bought some vegetables and took them back. Wei Nian was a very particular person and took a car to and from the house. When they arrived at the door of his house, he got out of the car in a bright and relaxed manner. Chen Xuan followed behind with her things, making her angry and calling Wei Nian, "Brother Nian!"
Wei Nian turned sideways and looked back. The afterglow of the setting sun fell on his eyebrows and temples. His bright eyes looked like a pool of gilded lake water, looking at him with a smile. In an instant, the sunset glow in the sky seemed to lose its color. Chen Xuan muttered, "It's useless to be good-looking. This is a beauty trap." Then, he took two steps at a time and stepped forward, put a bamboo basket in his hand into Wei Nian's hand, and carried another one himself. He imitated Wei Nian's demeanor just now, held his head high and went home in a swagger.
Wei Nian looked at the basket of vegetables in his hand in astonishment. After a long time, he shook his head and smiled helplessly, thinking that this girl was getting more and more daring.
Yes, Chen Xuan has become bolder since she got the clothes back. Even towards Wei Nian, she is not as cautious as before, but treats him as an equal. Chen Xuan did not put the vegetables in the kitchen, but brought them to the old lady's room. Chen Xuan said, "These fresh vegetables cannot be too cold, or they will freeze easily. They cannot be too hot, or they will spoil easily. Put them by the door of the old lady's room, so they are neither in the way nor too cold."
Mrs. Wei nodded and asked Chen Xuan to take the vegetables over to take a look. Mrs. Wei kept muttering, "Why did you buy so much? It must have cost a lot, right?"
Wei Nian took off his scarf and said, "Mom, we don't eat this every day. I thought you might like it, so I bought some more."
Mrs. Wei took her son's scarf with a smile, patted his arm, scolded him, but with a smile in her eyes, "You just know how to waste money."
Wei Jin joked, "Otherwise, how can you say he is your biological son? If he is, he can't be so filial to you and my father."
Mrs. Wei handed the basket to Chen Xuan with a smile, and Chen Xuan put it in the corner. Mrs. Wei nags Chen Xuan, "You say, why did you go with me to buy vegetables? You just want to see something new! What's so good about it? Women should stay at home and take care of the housework. This is the duty of women."
After Chen Xuan listened to what Old Lady Wei said, Wei Yin poured two glasses of water, one for the second brother and one for the second sister-in-law. Chen Xuan hurriedly took the water and said, "A Yin, take a rest and don't move. I'll do it." Then she said to Old Lady Wei, "Brother Anian said that you and Grandpa love to eat fresh vegetables. You two old people are frugal and don't want to spend money to buy them. Brother Anian thought, I'm a good vegetable grower, take me to see the tricks of this hole. This time I understand it. If the old lady is willing to spend firewood next year, I can also grow it."
"Really?" Mrs. Wei's eyes lit up.
Wei Nian was afraid that Chen Xuan would grow vegetables on the kang in their house next year, so he said directly, "Those hole guys grow vegetables in pits. We rented a house from Uncle Xu, can we let people dig pits underground? No way."
Chen Xuan didn't listen to Wei Nian's words. She communicated directly with Old Lady Wei, "Don't plant those things in the pit, just plant them on the kang. I think it's fine to plant things in the room."
Wei Nian felt relieved, thinking that the girl had changed her mind and set her sights on the west and east rooms. Wei Nian said directly, "The west room is a study, and the east room is for sundries. There is no space for that."
"There's room everywhere. Just clean up the east room." Old Mrs. Wei really appreciated Chen Xuan's attitude towards life.
Chen Xuan glanced at Wei Nian, then echoed what Old Lady Wei said, smiling, "Yeah, I think so too."
"Okay, you can give it a try next year." Old Madam Wei decided on this matter first, and did not nag about Chen Xuan following Wei Nian out. Afterwards, she said to her eldest daughter, "Don't mention it. Although your second brother and sister-in-law came from the countryside, you can tell from their daily life that they look a little stupid, but there are many benefits to them over time. They know everything and can learn from them."
"That's true. Her ability in growing vegetables is extraordinary." Wei Jin also agreed with Chen Xuan's ability in growing vegetables.
When Chen Xuan followed Wei Nian back to the house, she saw Wei Nian looking at her with a smile on his face. Chen Xuan first put Wei Nian's scarf in the closet, which made Wei Nian feel a little uncomfortable. Chen Xuan defended herself, "I discussed this with you, Brother Nian, before. You just said that you don't want me to plant in our house. There's nothing wrong with the east room, right?"
"Oh, you went straight to the old lady to discuss it without my knowledge. How dare I say anything bad about you? If I did, you would have to go to the old lady and complain about me." Wei Nian just stared at Chen Xuan with a smile and said sour words.
Chen Xuan pushed him to sit down and smiled, "I know Brother Anian is not angry with me." After Wei Nian sat down, Chen Xuan also sat on the other side of the small kang table and spoke her thoughts in a soft voice, "I don't want to grow vegetables to sell for money. When we came back, what you said was very right, Brother Anian. Those hole goods need at least one or two acres of land to do business, and our family doesn't have that much land. However, even if I don't sell them for money, I can still grow some to eat. In this winter, there are no other fresh vegetables except radishes, cabbages, and potatoes. Brother Anian, you like to eat radishes, tomatoes, and beans. I will try to grow some next year. Whether it succeeds or not, it's all my intention. I don't know why, I especially want to be good to you, Brother Anian. But I don't have any other skills. This is my only advantage. Brother Anian, let me do my best for you."
In the past, when Wei Nian heard people describe their happiness, they would often say "like drinking honey wine", but Wei Nian always thought it was exaggerated. Today, after feeling it for himself, he finally believed it. Wei Nian's heart really felt like being poured into a cup of spring honey wine, and the comfort of his body and mind was indescribable.
Wei Nian knew that Chen Xuan was good at flattering people. Because of the previous incident with the uncle and aunt of the Chen family, Chen Xuan had not flattered people for several days. Today, she did it again. Wei Nian felt that Chen Xuan's flattery skills had reached a new level. Wei Nian couldn't help but curl up the corners of his lips, tapped the girl's head with his fingers, and played a lazy tune with a smile, "You only know how to flatter Brother Nian."
"I'm speaking from the heart." Chen Xuan emphasized that she never speaks against her will. Her eyes sparkled. "Tomorrow I'm going to make fried eggs with tomatoes, minced pork and beans, and how to eat Chinese toon. Mix it with tofu or deep-fry Chinese toon fish."
"Let's mix it with tofu, it's refreshing." Wei Nian said, "See if your sister-in-law has bought a chicken. If not, take money from my wallet tomorrow morning and go buy one. We have hazel mushrooms at home, so you can make a chicken stewed with mushrooms." This is Chen Xuan's favorite dish.
"I bought it. I'll kill the chicken later. The beef and mutton have been stewed in the morning. The pot is occupied, and the chicken has to be stewed in the evening, which is just right. I'll add some hazel mushrooms to make it more flavorful. The chicken stewed with mushrooms is so fragrant. Add some vermicelli, even the vermicelli will be fragrant." Chen Xuan talked about the deliciousness of the chicken stewed with mushrooms.
Looking at Chen Xuan's excited expression, Wei Nian listened with a smile.
The author has something to say: ps: The second update is here. Chen Xuan's personality will change a little bit~~~~~~~~Good afternoon everyone~~~~~~~~~~