My humble days in ancient times

Xu Qinghe picked a few watermelons and gave them to his grandfather and uncle.

Xu Ruyi brought a bowl of bright yellow peaches.

"Miss, let me help you?" Xu Xiaohua said proactively.

"Okay! Help me wash first." Xu Ruyi responded with a smile.

After the two people washed the yellow peaches carefully, they carefully peeled the skin of the yellow peaches, removed the pits of the yellow peaches, and finally cut them into pieces of uniform size and very regular.

"Yes, that's right." Xu Ruyi nodded with satisfaction.

"Then what?" Xu Xiaohua asked with curious eyes blinking.

"Then, of course, it's time to cook it." Xu Ruyi said, pouring clear water into the pot, adding an appropriate amount of rock sugar and chopped yellow peaches, and then starting to cook.

Xu Xiaohua asked, "Miss, how long does this take to cook?"

"Boil it over high heat first, then simmer over low heat for the time it takes to stick of incense! Stir constantly during this time to ensure that the yellow peaches are heated evenly and the rock sugar is completely melted." Xu Ruyi explained patiently.

"Miss, you know so much." Xu Xiaohua said with admiration.

"I wonder if it will work! Just turn off the heat when the yellow peaches become soft but still maintain a certain shape and texture." Xu Ruyi was also a little excited.

"Of course I will. I'll eat more then." Xu Xiaohua said with a smile, as if she had already imagined the delicious canned yellow peaches.

Xu Xiaohua carefully disinfected the jars with boiling water and then drained the water.

After the yellow peaches were cooked, the two of them carefully put the cooked yellow peaches and sugar water into the sterilized jars, filling them until they were 80% full.

Xu Ruyi clapped her hands happily: "It's done, let's try it in two days." Her face was filled with joy and anticipation.

Xu Xiaohua placed the canned yellow peaches in a cool and ventilated place to cool naturally. After they were completely cooled, she sealed the lid of the can.

Two days later, everyone tasted the canned yellow peaches and praised them highly.

Xu Ruyuan said, "It's good to have some every day." His face was full of satisfaction.

Xu Qingyan held a yellow peach in her mouth and said incoherently, "Sister, why are the yellow peaches in this can so soft and delicious?"

"Because it's been cooked!" Xu Ruyi replied with a smile.

Du Xiaoyue and Du Xiaoxing were so engrossed in their eating that they didn't even bother talking. They were just focused on enjoying the delicious food.

Xu Xiaohua said, "Miss, it does taste good. How about we make some more?"

Xu Ruyi nodded: "Okay, since everyone likes to eat it, it's good to eat it in winter. Or wait until the New Year to eat it, which is also very good."

"That's right, miss. There is no fruit in winter, so this is still a treasure!" Xu Xiaohua's eyes lit up.

Xu Qinghe also felt that it was very good after eating it, but he was worried that it would go bad if stored for a long time.

Xu Qinghe said: "It would be great if we could store it for a year or two so we can sell it to the outside world." His expression was slightly worried.

Xu Ruyi said: "This can can be stored for a long time. As long as it is sealed well, it can be stored for one or two years without any problem. Just put it in a dry, cool and ventilated place."

Xu Qinghe was very happy to hear this: "Can it really be stored for that long? This is food, we can't be careless."

Xu Ruyi knew Xu Qinghe's concerns, so she said, "We'll produce it in the summer and fall, and sell it all before the New Year. We don't want to have too much inventory. That way, its storage period will be shorter."

Xu Qinghe nodded and said, "That's a good idea."

After eating a bowl, Xu Qinghe said, "Save some for the New Year. Then we'll know if it can be stored for half a year. I hope it won't go bad by then and still tastes the same as it does now."

Xu Qingyan smiled and said, "That's great. We can eat fruits during the New Year." His face was full of longing.

Xu Ruyi and Xu Xiaohua were also very decisive and quick-witted, and soon they made a lot of canned food. The piles of neatly arranged cans exuded an enticing sweet fragrance, as if telling of the delicious enjoyment to come.

Looking at the fruitful results, Xu Qinghe couldn't help but smile and said, "Now they all have a treat." His face was full of satisfaction and joy.

Jiang Jingchen said, "Miss is really amazing. She ate a lot of watermelons this year. I didn't expect that there would be fresh food now." His words were full of admiration.

Zhou Yifan also laughed and said, "The eldest lady is different from others. She is not like other children of her age who know nothing and just like to play around with others. The eldest lady doesn't seem to need friends."

Xu Qinghe listened and thought about it carefully. It seemed to make some sense. He had never noticed it before! People always like to play, but his sister didn't like to go play with the children in the village.

"Doesn't the eldest lady have Xu Xiaohua to accompany her? Besides, people who are too smart don't like to play with stupid people, and they can't play together." Jiang Jingchen said casually.

"Don't talk nonsense. Don't talk about smartness and stupidity all the time." Xu Qinghe frowned and said seriously.

Zhou Yifan was a little confused and asked doubtfully, "Because the smart ones don't want to play with the dumb ones?"

"You're wrong. Stupid people don't like smart people. That's how people are. They don't like people who are smarter than themselves." Jiang Jingchen hurriedly explained.

Zhou Yifan found it quite interesting after listening to it and couldn't help but nod slightly.

Unexpectedly, at this time, Ye Xiaomei came over jumping and skipping.

Ye Xiaomei met the three of them in the reception room and said casually, "You three are so handsome. I want to find someone like you in the future." Her tone was not shy at all, but full of straightforwardness.

Jiang Jingchen and Zhou Yifan were surprised by these sudden words and were a little stunned.

Jiang Jingchen came to his senses and said with a smile, "You are a girl, so young at that, how can you say such things casually?" His face was full of helplessness.

Ye Xiaomei didn't care and smiled: "Everyone loves beauty, so what's the big deal? Besides, Sister Ruyi often said that in life, we should fight for what we should fight for. Sister Ruyi also said that I am the master of my own life. So I can marry whoever I want to. I am willing to marry a handsome scholar." Her expression was firm, as if she had already made up her mind.

"Oh, you have quite lofty ambitions. It's possible to marry a handsome guy, but it's not easy to marry a scholar." Zhou Yifan couldn't help but teasing.

"I'm too lazy to talk to you guys, I'm leaving." Ye Xiaomei pouted and left angrily.

Jiang Jingchen and Zhou Yifan looked at Ye Xiaomei's back and couldn't help laughing. The hearty laughter kept echoing in the living room, as if it was going to break through the roof and float away.

Xu Qinghe looked at Ye Xiaomei's back and said thoughtfully: "It seems that my sister still has one or two friends, such as Xiaohua and Xiaomei." There was a hint of relief and warmth in his eyes.

Jiang Jingchen quietly leaned close to Zhou Yifan's ear and said in a low voice, "Our master is afraid that others will say bad things about the young lady. In his heart, the young lady is more important than himself."

Zhou Yifan also echoed softly, "I can see that too. He treats the eldest lady better than the second lady and the young master."

Xu Qinghe heard them whispering, turned around, frowned and asked, "What are you talking about?" There was a hint of doubt and majesty in his tone.

"Nothing, nothing!" The two men waved their hands quickly, with a hint of panic on their faces.

"Hurry up and tell me, don't hide it." Xu Qinghe raised his voice and his expression became serious.

Zhou Yifan smiled, hesitated for a moment and said, "Everyone says that you can say bad things about the eldest young master to his face, but you can't say bad things about the eldest young lady to his face."

"Yes. This family has become rich thanks to my sister. Without her, I wouldn't be where I am today. Without her, I wouldn't be the eldest young master." Xu Qinghe said with emotion, his eyes full of gratitude and respect for his sister.