Bab 36: Family?
After that quick lunch at the noodle shop, Mei Li was reminded that she wanted to see those two shops owned by the Jin family.
But seeing that Mingyu and Shufen were laden with the goods they've purchased, she didn't have the heart to make them walk around with her anymore.
So she requested that they go home. The two brothers readily agreed.
The three of them went to the docks outside the county town to take a boat back to their village.
The return trip took longer, about three hours, since they were going against the flow of the river. The boatmen had to push the boat along using bamboo poles.
It was late afternoon when Mei Li, Mingyu, and Shufen returned to Shenghuo Village.
Since they had to pass through most of the village to get to their house, many in the village saw the sacks and baskets the two brothers were carrying.
Word soon spread and the Jin family became a hot topic once again.
The trip to the town was fruitful but the lack of good transportation also made Mei Li tired.
When the three people entered the inner courtyard, they were greeted by Haoran and Weimin who were in the middle of chopping firewood.
"Wife, brothers, you're back! How did it go?" Weimin enthusiastically greeted them.
A small smile crept up Haoran's face when he saw Mei Li.
Hearing Weimin's loud voice, Longwei and Aunt Li came out of the kitchen. They were preparing dinner.
Mei Li saw this and so she asked, "Longwei, Aunt Li. Have you started cooking porridge? If not, skip that for now because we have rice!" She grinned at them, feeling triumphant for being able to bring home some rice.
It was then that everyone noticed all the packs and goods Mingyu and Shufen were carrying.
"Mei-er, you've brought so many things?" Aunt Li excitedly asked.
She smiled while Mingyu and Shufen brought the things into the kitchen. Everyone followed in and were startled at all the things Mei Li pulled out from the packs.
Not only was there rice, there was also pork that looked to be about four catties. (around 2.5kg)
There were also a lot of condiments and spices.
The people in the room have never seen this much food in their kitchen in many years.
"Wife, how come there's so much food? Looks like you successfully sold the Lingzhi!" Weimin's spirits were high.
Mei Li was happy to see his happy face. "Yes, we did and got a good price for them. Let's talk later. I'll cook something delicious tonight."
So saying, she busied herself in cooking dinner with the help of Aunt Li and Longwei. Mingyu and Shufen took some rest. Haoran and Weimin continued chopping firewood outside.
The scent of meat wafted out of the kitchen, agitating the gluttonous bugs in everyone's stomach.
Dinner that night was very sumptuous.
Mei Li cooked garlic and ginger-glazed sticky pork, a pot of stew with the pork simmered in soy sauce and vinegar, and two kinds of stir-fried vegetable side dishes.
More importantly, there was a bowl of shining white rice in front of everybody.
Mei Li was so happy to finally be able to eat rice again that she could cry.
Everyone stuffed themselves with food that night.
Haoran, that big foodie, managed to consume three bowls of rice.
Weimin was so moved by his wife's delicious cooking. Having a wife truly was great!
Mingyu and Shufen were happy at their brothers' delighted expressions after eating a full meal. They felt that today's trip to the town was even more rewarding. Mei Li was really capable.
After dinner, Aunt Li went off to wash the dishes. The rest of the family remained crowded at the dining table.
Everyone was burning with curiosity at what happened in the county town today.
After Shufen told them what happened and how Mei Li negotiated with Young Master Xin, the three brothers who remained at home looked at her with burning gazes.
Did the wife really manage to get 1,000 taels? That wasn't 1,000 coppers, ah. A thousand silver - the concept was hard to grasp!
Weimin, this excitable fellow, slammed his hand on the table. "Wife, you are amazing! With you around, we can eat meat all day. Haha!"
Mei Li smiled and was in a good mood. "It's all thanks to big brother Haoran. If he wasn't there, we wouldn't have found the mushrooms so quickly."
She didn't forget Haoran's contribution.
Weimin slapped his second brother's shoulders. "Yes, second brother is definitely capable!"
Off to one side, Longwei looked at his second brother with admiration.
Mei Li then informed them of the seedlings that will arrive the next day.
"Mei-er, why did you buy so many decorative berries?" Mingyu was really curious about this.
Shufen looked at her as well.
They knew that the cherry tomatoes could be eaten as she had demonstrated before. So, could it be that those other plants hold pleasant surprises as well?
"It doesn't matter if the wife filled our house with decorative berries. She made the money anyway and if the berries please her eyes, then all is good." Weimin voiced his opinion.
Mei Li reminded them, "do you remember those cherry tomatoes we ate last time?"
She saw them nod. "Well, these berries can be eaten too and they're delicious!"
The men had some doubts but it was also true that the cherry tomatoes tasted good. So they took on a wait-and-see attitude.
Mei Li could understand their hesitation, so she didn't push the matter. They'll soon see that she was telling the truth once those berries start to fruit.
"Husbands, would it be okay if I plant those berries in the inner and back courtyards?"
Mei Li didn't have a lot of seedlings to work with and the rice planting was currently in full swing, so using any of the Jin family's farm plots didn't make sense now.
"Of course, you can plant them anywhere you want!" Weimin thought it was no problem at all.
"Can I really do that?" Mei Li asked again and especially glanced at Mingyu for permission.
She thought that although these people were kind to her so far, she hasn't been here for a month yet. She shouldn't use their property willy nilly, right?
Mingyu's voice remained cold but there was a gentle smile in his eyes. "Feel free. You are part of the Jin family now, so do what you wish with the space."
Mei Li felt the warmth spread in her heart. She experienced the loneliness of having no close relatives for a decade in her past life before she came here.
While she lived in a big apartment and had a lavish lifestyle, she had no one to rely on and discuss family matters with.
But now, Mingyu just said she was part of this family. Slowly but surely, she was getting more attached to this household and these people.
Naturally, there was still fear in her heart. What if all these were just a dream she'd conjured up because she was lonely? She was scared that this so-called family would vanish someday.
The other people in the room didn't notice, but Mei Li pinched her thigh to make sure she wasn't dreaming.
If she could truly grasp this beautiful and valuable thing called family, she was willing to work hard for it!
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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