After the separation, I took my whole family to eat delicious food and drink spicy

Farmers all get up early. The next day, at daybreak, Mrs. Bai got up early and prepared brown rice porridge. Li Xiaoxiao and the other two had not woken up yet, and Mrs. Bai did not plan to wake them up. After all, they had been busy all day yesterday.

Bai had breakfast first, warmed the remaining porridge in the pot, then picked up a machete and went to the mountains to cut two large bamboos.

She first divided the bamboo into evenly thin strips, and then made them into strips of bamboo and piled them aside. Considering that these mats were only used to dry things and did not require to be very beautiful, Bai picked up a few bamboo strips and shuttled them back and forth. After a while, the prototype of a mat came out. Thinking that these mats would be used to dry bamboo shoots when the sun came out, Bai kept speeding up her hands. When Li Xiaoxiao stretched and walked out of the door, three woven mats were already placed on the open space in the courtyard.

Li Xiaoxiao saw Bai still weaving bamboo mats and hurried over. "Mom, why are you up so early? You've already woven the mats."

"Xiaoxiao, you're up now. Are Fang'er and Lin'er awake? Mommy made some porridge and it's warm in the pot. Come and have some."

"Mom, it's almost enough to finish weaving this bed. You can weave more when you need it in the future. You have been busy all morning. Take a rest first." Li Xiaoxiao said with concern.

"Mom isn't tired, it's just a few mats. Okay, go take your brothers and sisters to have breakfast first. I'll put the bamboo shoots on the mats to dry after I finish weaving this."

"Mom, let's make it together after we finish breakfast." After saying that, Li Xiaoxiao went into the house to call Li Fang and Li Linlin to have breakfast.

Looking at her sensible daughter, Mrs. Bai felt very comforted.

Li Xiaoxiao and the others quickly ate breakfast and then ran to the yard to spread the bamboo shoots on a mat with Bai. The warm sunlight shone down on the bamboo shoots. Bai and the children chatted while they worked.

"Hey, Cui Niang (Bai's maiden name), Xiaoxiao, what are you doing?" Aunt Chen's voice rang out.

"Auntie, good morning. We saw some fresh bamboo shoots on the mountain yesterday, so we thought of getting some to dry into dried bamboo shoots, and then take them to town to see if we can exchange them for some money." Li Xiaoxiao replied.

"Dried bamboo shoots, can you eat them? Fresh bamboo shoots are bitter and astringent. Does drying them remove the astringency?"

"No, Auntie, fresh bamboo shoots need to be processed properly to remove the bitterness and astringency. It's just that not many people know this method." Thinking of how much Auntie Chen had helped him, Li Xiaoxiao decided to share this method with her. "Plus, dried bamboo shoots can be stored for a long time after being sun-dried. They're so delicious when you stew meat or make soup in the winter when vegetables are scarce," Li Xiaoxiao said enthusiastically.

"So that's how it is. But we farmers only eat meat a few times a year, so it might be difficult to stew it." Aunt Chen replied.

Li Xiaoxiao listened to what Aunt Chen said and thought about it. It seemed to be the case. She had traveled through time and space for so long and had only eaten a piece of sparrow meat last time when she was hunting sparrows. But then she thought that stir-fried dried bamboo shoots with garlic sprouts would taste good. It was cold here in winter and basically no vegetables could be grown. It was good enough to have dried bamboo shoots to eat.

"Don't worry, Auntie, you can eat dried bamboo shoots just like that. Auntie, I'll tell you this method to remove the bitterness and astringency. You can go to the mountains and pick some bamboo shoots and try it. If you think it tastes good, you can also get some and dry it. You can save it for winter or sell it for money."

"Xiaoxiao, this isn't good. This method is unique to you."

"Auntie, there's nothing wrong with this. We are all neighbors and should help each other. Besides, you have helped us so much." Li Xiaoxiao said sincerely. She believed in Auntie Chen's character and would never tell this method to others.

Aunt Chen smiled and patted Li Xiaoxiao's shoulder. "Thank you very much, Xiaoxiao. I'll ask my husband to go to the mountain to dig some bamboo shoots and try them out."

"Actually, the method is very simple. First, cut the bamboo shoots into thin slices, then boil them in water, and then soak them in water for a few hours. You can change the water in the middle, so that the bitter taste can be removed." Li Xiaoxiao explained patiently.

"Thank you, Xiaoxiao, you are such a smart girl." Aunt Chen praised with a smile.

"By the way, Cui Niang, I came here today to tell you something. My nephew from my mother's family is sixteen years old this year. He is now an apprentice in the town's clinic. He is a good person. Yesterday, when I went back to my mother's house, I heard my sister-in-law say that she wanted to find a match for my nephew, and I thought of your Xiaoxiao. So, I wanted to ask for your opinion." Aunt Chen said with a smile.

After hearing what Aunt Chen said, Bai was absolutely willing, but it was different for Li Xiaoxiao next to her. Not to mention that she was only thirteen years old now, if it were in modern times, this would be the age of entering junior high school. How could she talk about marriage? The thought of it made her feel unacceptable.

Seeing that Bai was about to agree, Li Xiaoxiao hurriedly pulled Bai's hand and said coquettishly, "Mom, I don't want to get married. I want to stay with you for a few more years. Besides, my father just passed away last year, and I want to observe mourning for him for a few years. Besides, Fang'er and Lin'er are still young. If I get married, how will you guys live?"

When Li Fang and Li Linlin heard that Li Xiaoxiao was getting married, tears started streaming down their cheeks. "Mother, we don't want our sister to get married," they said in unison.

Listening to her younger siblings' words, Li Xiaoxiao was so moved that she almost cried. Mrs. Bai looked at the others and felt helpless. Aunt Chen beside them couldn't stand it any longer: "Oh, okay, okay, Fang'er, Lin'er, don't cry anymore. Auntie won't let your sister see you." Aunt Chen thought, it was indeed as Li Xiaoxiao said. If she got married, the lives of the Bai family would probably be even more difficult.

Mrs. Bai turned to Aunt Chen and said, "You're so kind to help our Xiaoxiao, but I didn't expect it to end up like this. But thank you for thinking of us."

"Why thank me? This is what I should do." Aunt Chen waved her hand. "Okay, I have to go back to work too."

"Goodbye, Auntie." Li Xiaoxiao and Bai Shi laid out the last piece of bamboo shoots, and then carried them to the rack next to them to dry.

Looking at the yard full of dried bamboo shoots, Li Xiaoxiao's heart was full of anticipation, hoping that these dried bamboo shoots could be sold at a good price so that the family's life could be improved.