Sun i recalled for a mont, then said doubtfully, "Really? How co I’ve never heard of him? Could it be because he shares the sa surna, ng, as Scholar ng? Is that why you think you’ve heard it before?"
Zhao Dong frowned and thought for a while before finally saying, "Perhaps."
The two chatted casually for a few more sentences and didn’t dwell further on whether they had heard the na.
At this ti, the young children were all excited. They had initially been very frightened after encountering the bandits, but ever since the man in green clothes appeared, they had all beco thrilled.
Even Zhao Yu and Zhao Cheng beca more talkative, especially Zhao Yu. They were discussing just how incredibly skilled the man in green clothes was.
Zhao Yu’s little face was flushed, and his eyes shone with admiration. "In the future, I want to beco a great hero just like him, punishing villains and eradicating evil!"
Zhao Zhitong patted Zhao Yu’s shoulder with a solemn expression, acting like a little adult as she said, "Xiao Ge, be confident. You can definitely do it."
"Mm-hmm." Zhao Yu’s eyes glead with fervor as he nodded emphatically.
「...」
Sun i and Zhao Dong had initially been wondering how to comfort the children to prevent them from being traumatized.
However, they found them excitedly discussing the recent events, showing no signs of fear whatsoever.
This greatly relieved them.
Thus, the group cast off their earlier tension, happily chatting and joking as they hurried ho.
Even though it was the sa road, the journey ho always felt shorter than the journey out. Zhao Cheng, still unwilling to ride the cart, took turns with Zhao Dong and Sun i pushing it. As for Zhao Zhitong, Zhao Yu, and Zhao Ya, after sitting in the cart for a while, they would complain about their legs going numb and take turns walking for a bit. Moreover, they quickened their pace and arrived ho around one in the afternoon.
Although they had eaten so dry food on the road, it hadn’t sated their hunger. By the ti they reached ho, everyone was famished. Even Zhao Zhitong was clamoring for food.
So, after they unloaded the items from the cart, Sun i washed her hands and went into the kitchen to prepare the al.
She had kneaded a basin of dough in the morning, and it had already risen, swelling to fill the entire large basin.
With Zhao Ya’s return, both Zhao Cheng and Zhao Yu were noticeably happier than before. Moreover, as they spent more ti together, both boys beca much more cheerful.
Seeing that Sun i was kneading dough and about to steam buns, Zhao Ya diligently ran to help her wash the pot and prepare the stear. Zhao Yu, on the other hand, shouted, "Auntie, I’ll help you light the fire! I’m the best at it!" and dashed into the kitchen.
anwhile, Zhao Cheng and Zhao Dong were pestered by Zhao Zhitong into helping her transplant the peonies from their flower pots into the vegetable garden.
Zhao Zhitong, being young, couldn’t help much, so she could only squat to one side, watching Zhao Dong and Zhao Cheng dig holes and fill them with soil.
Finally, she took on the task of watering the flowers. Rembering Grandpa Bai’s advice, she mixed so Spiritual Spring water into the watering basin for the peony flowers.
Grandpa Bai had said that plants watered with Spiritual Spring water would grow better, their flowers would bloom more brilliantly, and the fruit they bore would be more delicious.
At this mont, Zhao Zhitong suddenly spoke up, "Daddy, let’s reclaim so wasteland!"
"What?" Hearing his little daughter, Zhao Dong looked at her in surprise and tapped her little head. "What are you daydreaming about now?"
Zhao Zhitong, however, was very determined. She looked earnestly at Zhao Dong. "Daddy, I’m not daydreaming. I’m serious. A few days ago, didn’t Uncle Village Chief encourage the villagers to reclaim wasteland? He said that as long as we register with him, we can receive land."
Zhao Dong gently stroked Zhao Zhitong’s head, saying indulgently, "My silly girl, reclaiming wasteland isn’t that easy. You know, most of those barren lands are infertile. It would take years to make them productive. By then, the taxes alone would be overwhelming for us. Besides, I’m the only able-bodied worker in our family, and reclaiming wasteland is very physically demanding."
Zhao Zhitong’s eyes darted around as she thought, then she suddenly brightened. "Then we can ask Younger Uncle! Grandfather always says Younger Uncle doesn’t have a proper job and just idles around all day. It’s perfect, we can ask him to help reclaim the land!"
Zhao Dong felt his daughter had a truly wild imagination and chuckled. "Alright then, you go talk to your Younger Uncle yourself. Let’s see if your Younger Uncle is willing. If your Younger Uncle agrees, then I’ll agree to it."
Zhao Dong didn’t take her seriously at all. Sun Youcai would never agree to a little kid’s suggestion, he thought. Not unless he’s suddenly beco a fool.
Zhao Zhitong, however, acted as if she already had his approval and said confidently, "Younger Uncle will definitely agree! After dinner, I’ll go to Grandfather’s house to find Younger Uncle!"
With that, she ran happily into the kitchen to share her good news with her mother.
Seeing Zhao Zhitong’s happy expression, Zhao Dong didn’t have the heart to burst her bubble. He just smiled, shook his head, and went to fetch water.
In the kitchen, Zhao Yu was sitting before the stove, tending the fire.
Sun i said to him, "Zhao Yu, when your older brother brings the chopped firewood, you can just put the larger pieces in then. You don’t need to stay right in front of the stove; it’s so hot there."
Zhao Yu chuckled. "It’s okay, Auntie. I don’t feel hot. I like feeding the fire."
Just then, Zhao Zhitong ca running in. "Mom, Mom! Daddy agreed to let us reclaim wasteland! Then I can plant lots of peony flowers!"
Sun i smiled helplessly. "You make it sound too simple. Planting peony flowers isn’t that easy. Besides, when did your Daddy agree? I heard everything. Your Younger Uncle definitely won’t go along with such a silly idea."
Zhao Zhitong was very confident. "It’ll be fine, Mom. No problem!"
Sun i suggested, "Alright, alright. If you ask , you should just try planting them in our courtyard here at ho first. Don’t go thinking about reclaiming wasteland for now, okay?"
Facing Sun i’s attempt to pour cold water on her plans, Zhao Zhitong wasn’t the least bit discouraged. Instead, she excitedly asked her Mom if she was steaming buns, adding that she wanted to eat flower rolls.
"Okay, then go to the vegetable garden and pick a couple of green onions for Mom, and I’ll steam flower rolls for you," Sun i said, kneading the dough vigorously.
Zhao Zhitong cheered, pulled Zhao Ya (who had just finished washing the stear cloth) along with her, and they both ran happily to the vegetable garden.
As soon as she entered the vegetable garden, Zhao Zhitong made a beeline for the green onions. She looked left and right, selected what she thought was the straightest stalk, grabbed it with both small hands, and pulled with all her might. It took a great deal of effort for her to yank out just one.
At this, Zhao Ya softly said, "Sister, you pulled the wrong one. This one I have is a green onion."
"Really?" Zhao Zhitong was surprised. She glanced at the green onion in Zhao Ya’s hand and then at the plant in her own. "But they look the sa! They’re both long and green, with white roots."
Just then, Sun i ca out of the kitchen to fetch water and saw the garlic sprout in Zhao Zhitong’s hand. "Oh, my sweet girl!" she exclaid. "Why did you pull up a garlic sprout? The one your Sister Yaya has is the green onion."
Noticing Zhao Zhitong staring at the green onion in her hand, Zhao Ya quietly explained to her younger sister, "Sister, look. My leaves are round and hollow—that’s a green onion. Yours has flat leaves, so it’s a garlic sprout."
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