It's hard for my elder sister. I rely on the mountains to farm and pay off my debts.

Because they were going to entertain guests the next day, the family did not rest after lunch that day.

Mrs. Wu led her daughter-in-law and several children to take out all the usable dishes in the kitchen and wash them.

Song Zhi looked at the dishes draining in the basket and reminded her, "Grandma, we have to prepare four tables of food tomorrow, and I'm afraid these bowls and chopsticks won't be enough. How about I go to the county town and buy some more tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow's time is tight, and we need to clean the clothes we buy. Mei Niang, go to the village and borrow some. It's just right for us to wash them all at once."

Speaking of banquets, Yang subconsciously asked, "Isn't it just two tables? Why do we need four?"

"My sister wants to invite Doctor Zheng and his family. When you're done here, you can go back to your parents' home. They've built a new house, so we have to invite our in-laws to come and liven things up."

Song Zhi reminded her at the right time: "When you go back, please bring some apricots for Grandpa and the others. These apricots have thin skin and thick flesh, and are sweet and sour. They are delicious!"

When Yang saw that her family members were also invited, she felt very happy and agreed without hesitation, walking towards the village with her wet hands shaking.

After Yang left, the grandparents and grandchildren continued to wash dishes in the yard while counting the meals that could be prepared for the next day.

"There are chives in the garden that can be used to scramble eggs, eggplants that can be stewed with beans, cucumbers, and bean sprouts grown at home to make a salad, stew meat, roast a chicken, or even make a stew!"

Song Zhi thought for a moment and said, "Scrambled eggs with leeks are fine, and they can also be used to stir-fry pork liver, eggplant, and beans. It's better to stew them separately. Eggplant is more oily and tastes better, so stir-fry the eggplant with minced meat. The beans and meat will be more flavorful when stewed together."

"As for the braised pork, let's not make it anymore. Let's try a different approach. Let's use our pickled sauerkraut to stew the large intestines, and make a soup with the pig lungs and bones. Wouldn't it be better if we could have a few more dishes this way?"

The grandfather and grandson were discussing tomorrow's meal together. The four children helped wash the dishes while listening to their conversation with their ears perked up.

After hearing that there would be so many delicious foods tomorrow, he was even more delighted and made faces.

After washing the dishes for tomorrow, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law went to the backyard to pick vegetables.

Song Zhi led the children to start making the sauce.

She first poured the pickled apricots into a ceramic pot, added malt sugar, and placed it on a small clay stove to boil continuously.

During this period, Song Zhi kept stirring with a bamboo spatula to prevent the apricot jam from getting stuck to the bottom.

As the temperature rises, the apricots gradually soften, and the pulp and juice begin to blend to form a preliminary paste.

Gradually, the paste became thicker, bubbling and emitting an enticing sweet aroma.

Seeing that the apricot jam was ready, Song Zhi quickly brought the pottery jar from the small clay stove to the table.

The children smelled the sweet fruity aroma in the air and couldn't help but come to the pot to look around.

The youngest Song Kang smelled the smell and started drooling unconsciously.

Song Zhi looked at the eagerly waiting children with amusement, and simply took a small bowl, scooped some food with a bamboo shovel and placed it in front of the children who had been waiting for the whole morning.

"Try it and see if it tastes good."

The children immediately took small wooden spoons and took turns tasting the food, taking a small bite each.

As soon as you take a bite, the jam melts in your mouth, and the special aroma of apricot spreads in your mouth immediately, with a hint of sourness that is barely noticeable in the sweetness.

"Wow, so delicious!" Song Cheng couldn't help but exclaim loudly, with jam still hanging at the corner of his mouth that he hadn't swallowed in time. He looked both funny and cute.

The other children also echoed in agreement, some nodded rapidly, and some clapped their hands excitedly, their little bodies trembling slightly with joy.

Seeing how happy they were, Song Zhi couldn't help but taste some. Needless to say, the taste was indeed richer and sweeter.

It’s a pity there is no oven here, otherwise I could spread apricot jam on the bread.

Song Zhi temporarily suppressed her unrealistic fantasies, then soaked a few bowls of water with apricot jam and ordered, "Take these two bowls to grandma and aunt to taste."

After the children ran away with the water like a swarm of bees, Song Zhi found two small clay pots and put the prepared apricot jam into them.

After filling the two ceramic jars, Song Zhi looked at the apricot jam left at the bottom and suddenly an idea came to her mind.

This apricot jam can actually be made into a food - fruit leather.

Thinking about this, Song Zhi started to act. She first poured the remaining apricot jam into a wide shallow dish and gently smoothed it with a spoon to ensure that the jam was evenly distributed and of the right thickness, which would facilitate subsequent drying and shaping.

Then she carefully carried several shallow plates to a sunny spot in the yard and placed them in a suitable location.

Finally, cover it with breathable linen to prevent insects and flies. Wait for it to gradually dry and solidify, and it will become apricot fruit leather, one of our childhood snacks.

Song An led a few children to deliver the apricot jam water and hurried back. As soon as he entered the yard, he saw Song Zhi busy fiddling with something with apricot jam.

They gathered around curiously and asked in unison: "Sister, what are you doing?"

Song Zhi smiled and held up the pottery jar in her hand, explaining to them, "Sister wants to use the remaining apricot jam to try making some snacks for you to try."

"But, I have to go to Doctor Zheng's house later, so you guys have to do me a favor and keep an eye on the apricot jam on the plate to prevent those little bugs and flies from getting at it."

The children patted their chests and repeatedly promised to keep an eye on the snacks.

Song Zhi then carried some apricots and a jar of freshly made apricot jam in a basket and went to Doctor Zheng's house.

As usual, Dr. Zheng was already waiting in the yard.

Under the eaves sat Wang and Zheng Hui spinning hemp thread.

Song Zhi came in carrying something, greeted everyone first, and then said with a smile:

"Today I saw someone selling apricots in the city, so I bought some and made a jar of jam with them. It's perfect for soaking in water during the summer to quench your thirst. Grandpa Zheng, keep some for yourself and try."

Doctor Zheng stroked his beard and said gently, "Azhi, you are so thoughtful!"

"It just so happens that your grandmother Wang has had a poor appetite recently. Xing'er has the ability to quench thirst, which is perfect for her who doesn't want to eat."

Wang put down the twine in her hand, stepped forward, and said kindly, "Azhi, you're so thoughtful. You knew I've been having a bad appetite lately, so you sent me apricots and apricot jam. You're actually more capable than Hui'er."

Zheng Hui also stood up and said in a jealous tone, "Look, grandma is disgusted with me!"

Since they started learning calligraphy together, their relationship has become much closer. When they talk now, their tone is even more intimate.

After hearing what Zheng Hui said, Song Zhi couldn't help but laugh and said, "Sister Zheng is quite capable. She knows so many herbs and can even prepare them. I don't know any of these."

Zheng Hui said generously, "It's okay, I can teach you if you don't know."

Seeing that the relationship between the two was obviously warmer than before, the old couple looked at each other and then silently looked away.