Daily life of farming and supporting a family on the ancient Loess Plateau

Ji Yongling then realized that the design of trousers today is different from that of trousers in later generations.

Later zippered trousers had the fly open at the front, while modern trousers have an opening on the right side with two buttons, and no fly.

She quickly explained, "Grandma, this is the front flap of the pants. The opening is so that it's easy to pull the pants down when you're squatting in the toilet."

Yang completely ignored Ji Yongling's explanation, spread her thumb and middle finger, measured the front of her pants, and muttered, "What a waste! It's open by more than a fist!"

"Mother, here comes the scissors—" Hu Xirong pulled out a pair of rusty old scissors from Yang's cave dwelling and handed them to Yang.

"Milk, this doesn't need to be changed."

Ignoring Ji Yongling's explanation, the three women quickly began to disassemble the pants, removing the pockets and the fly. Soon, the two brand-new pants were without their large front and back pockets, and the zippered fly was gone.

Yang shook the trousers in her hand, lifted them high, and examined them with satisfaction in mid-air, saying, "Look, aren't they much prettier now!"

Jia Ronghua nodded in agreement, saying, "That's right, without a few more slings, these pants look much neater! This seamstress's skills are terrible; with so many slings hanging on her body, her crotch looks as fat as an old sow. However, the pant legs are a bit too long; even Manqing could probably wear them."

Madam Yang shook her head and said, "Don't stretch Manqing's black legs forward again. Sew up his old pants and make do with them. Come on, you have sharp eyes. Fold the hem of these pants inward a bit more and tie it up. The child can wear them for a few more years. The best thing about these pants is the wide waist. Tie it with hemp rope, and you can wear thick cotton pants over them in winter."

Hu Xirong smiled and said, "This year, thanks to Ling'er selling the astragalus she dug last time, otherwise these two silly kids would still be stuck in the ditch."

Jia Ronghua smiled and shook her head, saying, "Even if we don't sell astragalus, we can't let the child's groin freeze."

"Grandma, Yongru said she wants to eat the snacks that Young Master Huo brought—" Ji Yongning shouted in the courtyard.

Upon hearing this, Yang threw the cloth and trousers to Hu Xirong and rushed out the door, as fast as the wind.

“I didn’t say that, I didn’t say I wanted snacks—” Ji Yongru looked up at Ji Yongning and said in a childish voice.

With her hands on her hips, Yang glared angrily under the apple tree and said, "Let's see who dares to touch it! You greedy little brats, you're all so greedy for anything that can get into your mouths!"

Ji Yongru twirled her chubby little hands around, tilted her head, and looked at Yang Shi with bright eyes, saying, "Grandma, I didn't say I wanted to eat. My brother told me to say I wanted to eat. I didn't say that."

Madam Yang grabbed the pastries from the low table and said, "I didn't even see what good stuff Young Master Huo brought, and you're already thinking of eating it! The Dragon Boat Festival is coming up in May, can't you think of saving the good stuff for then?"

Ji Yongning frowned and said, "Grandma, it's hot now, food spoils easily, it definitely won't last until Dragon Boat Festival."

As Yang unwrapped the oil paper package, she said, "How could it spoil! You're just like beggars who can't keep food overnight!"

Ji Yongning and Ji Yongzhou ignored what Yang was saying and immediately surrounded her, craning their necks and staring longingly at the oil paper package.

"Wow—fried dough cakes, fried rice cakes, twisted dough sticks, and this pastry—" Ji Yongning said, drooling as he spoke.

Yang nudged the few onlookers who were drooling back and said, "Alright, alright. Stand aside and don't drool on the pancakes. I'll go cut some fried pancakes and fried cakes for you gluttons."

"Oh, oh, there are fried dough cakes and fried rice cakes to eat!" the little ones shouted happily.

Ji Yongling came out of the kitchen and said, "Grandma, where's that bottle of wine that Young Master Huo brought?"

Yang looked around the table and said, "I didn't see it. I guess your grandfather put it away." With that, she picked up the oil paper package and went into the kitchen.

Yang left a small piece of the cut fried dough and cakes for each of her two daughters-in-law and several men, and took the rest to the courtyard.

Ji Yongling took a small piece, and the aroma of fried wheat instantly filled her mouth. She was reluctant to swallow it.

Although this fried dough wasn't as crispy and delicious as the freshly fried dough she ate at the Northwest market in later years, it was undoubtedly the best food for the Ji family, who rarely had the chance to eat fried food these days.

"Grandma, eat some fried cake, it's very sweet." Ji Yongru stood on tiptoe, pinching a piece of fried cake in her little hand to feed it to Yang Shi.

Yang looked away with disgust, saying, "You eat it. Grandma doesn't like sweet, oily food."

Ji Yongling smiled.

The elderly are reluctant to eat the best food and drinks. They say they don't like them, but actually they just don't want to eat them. They use the excuse of not liking the food to save the good things for their children and give them the best.

"Yongzhou, Yongning, come try on your new pants!" Hu Xirong called out as she walked out carrying two pairs of new pants.

Ji Yongzhou and Ji Yongning, who were eating fried dough sticks, rushed over, choked and stared wide-eyed, exclaiming, "Really? It's New Pants?"

Hu Xirong showed the pants to you from the front and back and said, "Your sister Ling'er is reluctant to wear them herself, but she gave them to you two. They're brand new. Look, your sister Ling'er's own pants are all patched up, but she still gave you the new ones. When you grow up, you two must listen to your sister Ling'er."

Hearing this, Ji Yongling even wanted to take out a new pair of pants to wear. We still need to work hard to earn money so that everyone can buy a new outfit before the New Year.

"I know—" Ji Yongning hurriedly ran to Ji Yongling and said, "Sis, is this the mysterious surprise you promised us?"

"Huh?" Ji Yongling thought for a moment, but couldn't remember when she had promised them any mysterious surprise. She could only vaguely say, "It's a reward for you two. You'd better do a good job with the housework from now on."

Ji Yongning thumped his chest loudly and said, "No problem! From now on, just say the word, and I'll go through fire and water for you."

Ji Yongling looked at Ji Yongning, who wasn't much shorter than her, flicked him on the head, and said, "Where did you learn that from!"

Ji Yongning ran over with a grin and asked Hu Xirong, "Mom, can I wear these pants today?"

After measuring the length on Ji Yongzhou's body, Hu Xirong measured it on Ji Yongning's legs and said, "Your grandma said to keep it for the New Year."

"Ah—" Ji Yongning complained with a long, drawn-out voice, his face contorted in grief.

Looking at Ji Yongning's face scrunched up, Ji Yongling comforted him, "Maybe Grandma will take pity on you and you can wear it tomorrow—"

"Excuse me, is this where you buy deworming medicine?"

Ji Yongning didn't even remember that he wasn't wearing pants; with his bare bottom exposed, he hopped and skipped towards the courtyard gate, asking, "Who is it?"

Ji Yongling noticed that the voice sounded very similar to that of Dr. Xu from the Xu Family Pharmacy, and followed him toward the courtyard gate.

At the entrance of the hospital, Dr. Xu stood beside the oxcart with a troubled expression, pondering how to ask the other person about intestinal worms and deworming medicine.