Although she had bought a lot of things yesterday, there were still some omissions. So, she planned to make another trip to the county town today. Before transmigrating, Bai Jiu had been a homebody who enjoyed being self-sufficient, which resulted in her excellent cooking skills.
Even with everything she bought, there were very few vegetables compared to the meat and grain. She planned to take some more out today, especially leafy greens, which were essential. Winters here mostly relied on cabbage and radishes. However, her spatial dimension was practically overflowing with fresh produce. She decided to bring out a large batch from her space to stockpile when she returned. She also needed to stock up on seasonings; she didn’t have those in her space, so she would have to buy them in town.
As she planned out her day, she continued preparing breakfast. The mouthwatering aroma of the food soon coaxed the little ones out of bed.
"Mom, what’s cooking?" Zhengyang asked. After dressing himself and helping his little sister with her clothes, he led her out of the bedroom. Both children were wearing the brand new outfits Bai Jiu had brought back yesterday. They were decked out in new gear from head to toe.
"We had some leftover braised pork from last night, and I also made poached eggs. Go wash your faces; it’s almost time to eat." Bai Jiu had stoked the stove and lit the fire in the room the moment she woke up, so the entire house was now wonderfully warm.
In truth, their meal yesterday had been a bit too greasy. Bai Jiu’s stomach had been acting up this morning, but since the two children seemed fine, she hadn’t mentioned it.
"Mom, I need to use the outhouse in the backyard first," Zhengyang said, his stomach suddenly cramping. The food smelled amazing, but he needed the toilet more.
"Mom, I need to go too!" Xiuxiu chimed in.
Without another word, the two dashed out the door. Bai Jiu frowned. She had thought the kids were fine; as it turned out, their stomachs were just a bit delayed in reacting to the rich food.
Breakfast concluded with the two children wolfing down their food. Bai Jiu also ate until she was completely stuffed, leaving all three of them slouched contentedly on their stools.
"Zhengyang, I have to go to the county town again today," Bai Jiu told her son. "Stay home and look after your sister. Don’t go out to work. You two kids can barely earn a few work points in a whole day anyway. I’ll go when I have free time."
The main issue was that these two children were far too sensible. If she didn’t explicitly remind them, she feared they would head out to the fields to work. Working in the bitter cold was no easy task, even if it was just gathering pigweed. All the edible grass on the mountain was already gone by this time of year; filling an entire basket would mean enduring a lot of hardship. Moreover, she dreaded the possibility of them wandering too far into the deep mountains. If that happened, she would regret it for the rest of her life.
"If you get bored at home, go find Brother Aiguo," Bai Jiu instructed. "Didn’t I buy some milk candies yesterday? Take them with you and share them with him."
Zhengyang knew they were lacking in just about everything at home, so he didn’t question her trip to the county town. "Okay, Xiuxiu and I will go play with Brother Aiguo in a bit. But Mom, can you come back early?"
Even though he was completely full, his mother’s cooking was simply too delicious. Skipping lunch didn’t matter, but eating dinner too late would make him miserable.
"Alright, I’ll be back early," Bai Jiu said, gently rubbing her son’s head. She stood up and cleared the dining table.
Before leaving, she brought out some snacks for the children to take to Aunt Peng’s house. Looking at the items she had just set out, Bai Jiu felt a twinge of worry. "Tell you what, let me walk you over first. I’ll leave for the county town after that."
Zhengyang and Xiuxiu had no objections.
"Chopping firewood, Aiguo?" The moment they arrived, they spotted Peng Aiguo chopping wood in his yard. Despite his young age, he swung the heavy axe with impressive steadiness. "I need to head out for a bit today. Could you help me keep an eye on Zhengyang and Xiuxiu, Aiguo?"
Bai Jiu casually pushed open the courtyard gate and led the two children inside. The moment she finished speaking, the two children skipped over to Aiguo, sweetly calling out to their Brother Aiguo.
A smile broke through Peng Aiguo’s usually expressionless face when he saw the siblings. "Zhengyang, Xiuxiu, you’re here." Aiguo set the axe down and patted their heads. The little boy mimicking an adult’s mannerisms was incredibly endearing.
"Go ahead and take care of your business, Auntie. I’ll watch over Zhengyang and Xiuxiu," Aiguo said to Bai Jiu, stowing away the smile he had just shown the children.
Bai Jiu’s mouth twitched. She had a strong feeling that this kid really didn’t like her.
"Who is it?" Aunt Peng’s voice suddenly called out from inside the house.
Bai Jiu told Aunt Peng about her errand to the county town. Aunt Peng looked at her with an aching heart and advised, "Even if you have money, you need to spend it sparingly. Zhengyang and Xiuxiu are still young. There will be plenty of things you’ll need to spend money on in the future."
Knowing Aunt Peng meant well, Bai Jiu replied with a smile. "I know, Auntie. I’m not spending recklessly; I’m just buying basic household necessities. You know how it is. Since splitting from the family, I have nothing to my name except for about twenty catties of grain. I really have no choice but to buy these things."