章 15: Chapter 13 Little Cutie
"I saw it too, but it's just been built, not many know about it, there's not much there yet. Later, when more people know about it, you can directly exchange resources from the farm."
After dinner, everyone went about their own business. With more people working, the fields were quickly prepared. In just two or three days, the new land was planted with sorghum and corn.
They also plowed another ten acres of flat land on the east side. Qin Jianzhong said they would continue to clear a few more acres in a few days to plant wheat straw.
Li Pan had previously exchanged for Black oats and Purple clover, which are resistant to the cold. There would be fresh grass even in winter and spring, suitable for cattle, sheep, fish, chickens, and ducks. However, given the limited money at the time, the amount of seeds exchanged was indeed small.
Qin Jianzhong hadn't cleared as much land because there weren't many seeds. It's not that he wasn't capable of hard work; he worked tirelessly from dawn to dusk, taking on all the tough jobs in the fields, leaving Li Pan with lighter tasks.
The Black oats need to be planted in the next two days, following the harvest to trade back the cattle and sheep, or else the livestock wouldn't have food.
"Dongzi, I've brought you some stuff."
"Brother Zhao, what brings you here today?"
"The test results are out. The dandelion and senna leaves are very effective. The base said they would give you a good price and purchase them long-term. You can always sell good products to the base, they won't let you suffer a loss."
Zhao Quan came over specially to deliver iron wire fences and fruit tree saplings. It was too much to carry in one trip and required two trips.
"Xiao Hui, do you still recognize me?"
Seeing Zhao Quan's son, Zhao Hui, who had also come along, Xue Dong picked up the child and started to play with him.
"Hello, Brother Xuedong."
Zhao Hui was still young, only four years old.
"His mom had to go to the city to work for someone today and couldn't take him with her. I brought him along while delivering these items to you, and to mooch a meal off you."
Zhao Quan chuckled.
"Huizi, how about your brother cooks you some meat, would you like that?"
Xue Dong carried the child and walked back.
"Yes, my mom asked me to thank you and Sister Pan'er for the grain and the meat. She had my dad bring a bedsheet and quilt cover for Sister."
Last time when Zhao Quan and his group carried back some meat and grain, Zhao Quan's wife was very grateful and felt a bit embarrassed, so she specially took out a brand-new bedding set from the house to send it over as a gift.
Xue Dong turned back to look at Zhao Quan, "Sister-in-law, why be so formal with me? I've eaten and drunk plenty at your place."
"Family shouldn't be so polite. My wife thought Sister Pan'er is young and probably hadn't prepared many bedsheets and quilt covers. We had them at home so she asked me to bring them over. Sister Pan'er gave us some clay pots to plant some vegetables and strawberries. They are growing well. The mother and child now have some vegetables to eat, all thanks to Sister's help. I'd feel awkward coming over in the future if you don't accept them."
Zhao Quan grinned sheepishly.
"Okay, Huizi, I'll make you something delicious."
Xue Dong put the child down and fetched Li Pan.
"Huizi, what are you doing here? Hello, Brother Zhao."
Li Pan removed her straw hat and happily greeted Zhao Hui upon seeing him.
Zhao Hui ran over and hugged her legs, "Sister Pan'er, I've missed you. I brought you some candy."
Zhao Hui took out two fruit candies from his pocket and handed them to Li Pan.
Li Pan squatted down and hugged him, kissing his little cheeks and unwrapping the candy for him, "Sister doesn't like sweets. You eat them. At lunch, I'll make you some meat. Come on, Sister has some nice things for you."
She led him inside the house and pulled out a small box from under the bed, which contained a few pieces of chocolate, slightly softened.
Last time Xue Dong brought some back for her, she hadn't eaten them yet.
Taking them out, she put them in the child's pocket, "Take these home and eat them slowly."
"Thank you, Sister."
Zhao Quan and Xue Dong went to work, helping to put up the iron wire fence and install a big gate.
Meanwhile, Li Pan took the child to the cave to fetch some meat to cook.
"Huihui, would you like to eat steamed buns or rice?"
"Rice."
Huizi sat politely on a small stool watching Li Pan work. At home, it was usually Zhao Quan's wife who looked after the child, managing both the child and her chores. Little Hui was well-behaved, following his mother without fussing, sitting quietly waiting.
"What did your mom go to do?"
"I went to work for someone, Mom said it was inconvenient to take me because it was out of town, so Dad brought me here to play with Sister," Xiao Hui explained.
"Xiao Hui is really well-behaved."
Li Pan prepared a bowl of Stevia-sweetened water, letting it cool down before giving it to the child.
"Have some water. Xiao Hui, are you hungry? Sister will steam some egg custard for you."
"Not hungry."
Zhao Hui shook his head sensibly.
However, his stomach rumbled. It was a four to five-hour journey from the base to the farm, and no child could bear that hunger. His stomach had started to growl.
In the past, he could only wait for his mother to finish work and return home before he could eat. In those times, food was scarce, and there wasn't extra to feed children. These two sweets were still from when Li Pan had bought a bag for the child during New Year's visits.
"Silly boy, Sister will make you something tasty. Just wait a moment. Here, munch on this dried meat for now."
Li Pan fetched a piece of beef jerky from the house for him to gnaw on. She hadn't finished this snack yet, which Brother Xuedong had bought for her during the New Year's.
"Thank you, Sister."
"Why don't you recite something for Sister? Do you remember what the teacher taught?"
"I remembered. I learned the 'Three Character Classic'. I'll recite it to you."
"Good."
"Human nature at birth is fundamentally good..."
Zhao Hui sat by the stove and recited aloud while Li Pan quickly whisked a few wild eggs, added chopped green onions and dried shrimp, and steamed them for a few minutes.
Then she sliced some steamed buns and heated some oil in a pan to fry slices of the buns for the child.
Frying required oil, and Li Pan didn't consume fried foods during New Year's because it was too wasteful. She had made an exception now to please the child.
Soon, the fried bun slices were ready. She took them out to cool down, waiting until they were not too hot to give to Zhao Hui.
The child's eyes were filled with longing, sitting disciplined and waiting to be fed.
Li Pan broke the bun slices and fed him small bites to avoid burning the child.
"Tastes good?"
"Really delicious."
After one slice of bun, the egg custard was ready. She ladled it out, stirred in some vinegar and sesame oil.
Li Pan gently blew on it to cool it down before feeding the child. Zhao Hui ate with gusto, one mouthful after another, unable to stop.
"Sister, you eat too."
"Sister isn't hungry, you eat first."
"Sister, what is this? It's really good."
Li Pan looked at the child with a tender smile, touched his head, and said, "This is egg custard."
Zhao Quan's wife had no superpower and could only do odd jobs while also caring for the child. Normally, the child could be sent to daycare, which also cost money. Now that it was vacation, he stayed at home.
Although Zhao Quan was a Space superpower, he was only able to provide so much for the family of three.
Currently, he couldn't leave his base, and the base wouldn't allow it either. He needed this stable job, regular income, and occasionally did some deliveries to earn extra, which the base permitted as long as it didn't interfere with base operations.
He had a wife and child to support, so he had many concerns.
The food at daycare wasn't very good, only providing one meal. Morning and evening meals weren't included, and he ate meager meals when picked up in the evening.
But his sister-in-law had to work during the day and couldn't attend to the child, only able to pick him up after work. They didn't eat well on regular days either.
Zhao Hui, still too young, couldn't swallow wheat bran; cornmeal, and such fine grains were prioritized for him since he would need to go to school, read, and write later. They also rented their house, paying rent every month. It was tough to get by without tightening their belts.
Li Pan sighed with sympathy. "Eat slowly, don't choke. It's all yours, and later there's even meat."
"Mmm."
Zhao Hui's little face puffed up as he ate, like a little chipmunk. His large, grape-like eyes twinkling with innocence and pleasure as he nodded and waggled his head happily.
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