After crossing over: kidnapping a female hunter to be the stepfather of the three cubs

Zhao Huanxi smiled at Xiang's wife and said, "Then let's make a deal. I'll bring my eldest son to find you when the time comes. Don't forget it."

I smiled and agreed to my sister-in-law.

As the sun was setting, they finally reached the village entrance. Sister-in-law Xiang got out of the car and prepared to say goodbye to Zhao Huanxi and go home. At this moment, Zhao Huanxi grabbed her and took out two strings of candied haws wrapped in oil paper from the backpack. He told Sister-in-law Xiang to take them home to comfort the children.

Knowing that this was mainly for her own Qianqian, Xiang's sister-in-law did not refuse. After thanking her, she went home.

Zhao Huanxi gave Uncle Lu Gen the fare and said goodbye. After stretching his muscles, he put on the backpack, took the third child by the hand, and walked home with the eldest and second children.

He opened the courtyard gate, entered the house, closed the door, and asked the children to guard outside. He then went into the house and hid the unspent silver.

Zhao Huanxi calculated the silver he had spent today. That day, Old Master Lu gave him five taels, he earned sixty taels from selling Ganoderma lucidum, he only spent a little over two taels at the market yesterday, he spent more than twenty taels today on a trip to the county government office, and he spent more than ten taels in total on buying miscellaneous things. After counting carefully, he only had a dozen taels of silver left.

He took out the wooden box he had bought and matched it with the copper lock he had bought, counted out five taels of silver and put them on his body, put the remaining silver back into the wooden box, locked it, dug a hole under the bed, put the money in, and then buried it.

After doing all this, Zhao Huanxi came out of the house, asked the children if they were hungry, then went to the well to fish for some meat and brought it into the kitchen.

Several children came running over and saw Zhao Huanxi preparing to wash the meat. They asked them what kind of work they could do. Zhao Huanxi asked the second and third children to start the fire, which was their specialty. She asked the eldest child to wash the ginger and clean and cut the leftover bamboo shoots from yesterday.

Seeing it was still early, Zhao Huanxi prepared to cook some braised pork. He washed the pork and cut it into mahjong-sized pieces. This pork wasn't pork belly, so it was leaner, but that didn't matter. He blanched it in cold water, then rinsed it with warm water to remove any blood foam. He couldn't use cold water, as it would make the pork tough.

Over there, he asked the second and third brothers to light a low fire, put the drained pork into the pot and stir-fry. Oil will be produced during the stir-frying process. Zhao Huanxi carefully scooped it up and put it into the lard can. He used it to cook and it was still very fragrant.

When the pork is browned and no longer produces oil, stir-fry the pork and leave some oil in the pan.

Add the sugar and stir-fry over low heat until it turns brown. Return the pork to the pot and stir-fry evenly. Add a little white wine to remove the fishy smell and enhance the flavor. Then add ginger, peppercorns, and other spices. Stir-fry briefly, then pour in boiling water. Add soy sauce and some fermented black bean paste. Zhao Huanxi figured she didn't need to add any more salt.

After a while, a gurgling sound came from the pot. It would take an hour or two to cook it until it was soft.

Zhao Huanxi told the two children who were stoking the fire not to turn it up too high, but to keep it on the lowest heat until it started to simmer. He also told the eldest child to keep an eye on the pot and add water when it was almost empty. Zhao Huanxi had to go visit Old Lady Tian.

Zhao Huanxi took two pounds of meat from the well and put it in her backpack. She also put the newly bought coarse linen in the basket. She also brought a few strings of candied haws for the second brother and Liu's children. The second brother and his wife were nice people, and she was happy to interact with them. She also brought the five taels of silver she was supposed to pay back.

The old couple lived with the second son, Lu Lin, and it was said that the family separation dispute with Lu Feng was not a happy one. It was Lu Lin's good character that allowed him to tolerate his eldest brother asking the old couple for money again and again.

After walking for about ten minutes, Zhao Huanxi saw the yard of Lu Laoer's house.

Lu Lao Er sometimes followed Old Master Lu to carry heavy bags at the dock. He saved some money in the past few years and built a new adobe house in the first two years. He also used two layers of blue bricks as the foundation. In total, he built four bedrooms, a kitchen, and a woodshed.

It is covered with layers of green tiles, which looks quite grand.

Zhao Huanxi walked over and knocked on the door. A little girl's sweet voice came from inside. "Who is it?"

He walked forward and opened the gate. Seeing that the person coming was Zhao Huanxi, he asked, "Aunt, why are you here? Come in." The person who opened the door was Meixiang from the second family.

Zhao Huanxi patted her head and asked, "I'm here to look for your grandpa and grandma. Where are they?"

Meixiang pointed to the kitchen and said, "Grandma is cooking with my mother. Grandpa and my father are still working in the fields and haven't come back yet." At this time, Old Mrs. Tian heard the sound coming out of the kitchen.

"Huanxi, why are you here? Have you eaten?"

Old Mrs. Tian looked at Zhao Huanxi carrying the basket on her back and wondered what was inside, so she pulled her into the kitchen.

Zhao Huanxi came into the house and greeted Liu, and the two twin boys also sweetly called her "Auntie".

Old Mrs. Tian suddenly realized something and corrected the children's way of calling Zhao Huanxi.

"From now on, your aunt is your grandma's daughter. Call her 'little aunt'. Do you understand? Don't call her the wrong name anymore."

Some of the children didn't quite understand, but still nodded obediently.

Mrs. Tian then asked Zhao Huanxi why she came. "Huanxi, what brings you here? Have you eaten yet? If not, let's eat together."

Zhao Huanxi put down the backpack and said, "Mom, I'm here to deliver some things."

Liu was a little puzzled: "Little sister, what are you sending me? Live your life well first. We have everything here."

Only then did Zhao Huanxi take out the things from the backpack.

"Mom, sister-in-law, I bought this in town yesterday to make two sets of clothes. It's my filial piety as a daughter." As she said this, she placed the piece of linen on the table.

"No, we have clothes to wear. We can't take yours. Take it back quickly." Old Mrs. Tian stopped them.

Zhao Huanxi interrupted her: "Mother, don't be anxious and listen to me. I have never given you two good things since I got married. Now that I have become your goddaughter, this is a little gift from me. Please don't refuse it, just accept it."

As he said this, he looked at Liu and winked at her, asking her to persuade Old Mrs. Tian.

Liu understood what she meant and said to Old Lady Tian, ​​"Since it's my little sister's gift, you can take it."

Zhao Huanxi took out some pork and candied haws and handed the candied haws to the three children.

"I bought this in town today. Your sister Xiao Pan asked me to bring it back for you. Take it and eat it."

Several children held the candied haws and thanked Zhao Huanxi loudly.

"Thank you, aunt, and thank you, Sister Pan." Zhao Huanxi let them go out to eat candied haws.

After the children left, Mrs. Liu said, "Little sister, these things are quite expensive. You must be frugal with your money."

When Zhao Huanxi heard this, he knew that Old Lady Tian had not told the second son and his wife about the money she earned from selling Ganoderma lucidum. The old lady was quite tight-lipped.

Zhao Huanxi smiled and said, "Second sister-in-law, don't worry about me. I can make money."

Liu didn't ask how she made money, but just sighed and looked at the old lady.

Zhao Huanxi took out the five taels of silver from his bosom, handed it to Old Lady Tian, ​​and said to her, "Mother, you and Father have many expenses now. I will return this silver so that you can have some relief. You must take it. You know I have money."

Old Mrs. Tian looked at her sensible daughter-in-law, no, now her goddaughter Zhao Huanxi, and didn't know what to say for a moment.

It was Liu who spoke up again: "Little sister, this silver hasn't even warmed up in your hands yet, so there's no need to return it so hastily."

Zhao Huanxi quickly comforted them and said, "Mother, sister-in-law, take it. I still need it. It's getting late, and I still have rice simmering in the pot."

When Mrs. Tian saw Zhao Huanxi preparing to go back, she grabbed her and said, "Take the meat back. I'll take the rest."

Zhao Huanxi smiled and said, "Mom, how can we take back what we brought? You said so, and there's still some left at home. You can use it to nourish Dad, my second brother, and the other kids. They've been busy lately, so they need more nutrition."

Mrs. Tian couldn't persuade Zhao Huanxi, so she asked Mrs. Liu to take out a few eggs from the cupboard and put them neatly into Zhao Huanxi's backpack. Zhao Huanxi couldn't persuade Mrs. Tian either, so he could only accept them reluctantly. Mrs. Liu muttered to herself, "What a stubborn bunch of oxen..."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhao Huanxi prepared to leave. When he came out of the kitchen, he saw several children sitting on the millstone in the yard, chewing candied haws, and they were grimacing because of the sour taste.

Seeing that Zhao Huanxi was about to go home, the twins Lu Pingan and Lu Pingle hugged Zhao Huanxi's trouser legs and said, "Auntie, come over and play again next time."

There was still some candy crust left on the two boys' mouths. Zhao Huanxi smiled and agreed repeatedly, said goodbye to the children and went home.

Zhao Huanxi now walks with light steps, feeling really good without any debt on his back. If it weren't for the eggs on his back, Zhao Huanxi would have jumped up and walked away.

However, I didn't hear Lu Feng's voice, so I don't know if he is dead.