Why should she go out?
Liu Cuirong was utterly confused!
It seemed this entire family was treating her like a monkey for their amusement.
"I'm not going out!"
Liu Cuirong pouted, her lips sticking out high. She reached into the basket and grabbed a rose crisp, munching on it with loud smacks.
Little Xi Tian's lips quivered, and she let out a loud wail.
This time, not only Yun Daman panicked, but Madam Gu was also heartbroken.
Her cold eyes narrowed, and she glared at Liu Cuirong, "What are you standing here for? Aren't you going out quickly?"
Liu Cuirong: "..."
What? Who did I offend?
Looking at her teary-eyed sister-in-law, she felt utterly bewildered.
Little Sweet Treasure, your sister-in-law is working for you for free, and you still have the nerve to cry?
"Waa, wuwuwu..."
Little Xi Tian, nestled in her mother's arms, cried outwardly but giggled inwardly.
Second sister-in-law, oh second sister-in-law, aren't you leaving yet?
Yun Daman's anger was unquenchable, but he couldn't lay hands on his second sister-in-law.
So, he stomped out angrily, "I'll get second brother to deal with you!"
A drop of cold sweat trickled down Liu Cuirong's temple.
A moment later, Yun Erman rushed in, his face a mask of fury.
Seeing his sister's eyes red-rimmed and her small face streaked with tears, his heart ached fiercely.
"Wuwuwu, second sister-in-law, second sister-in-law..."
Yun Erman's hair seemed to stand on end. He grabbed Liu Cuirong by the collar and roared, "You prodigal! Get out!"
Liu Cuirong's forehead was covered in black lines.
"You, what are you doing? Why should I go out? Mmm! Cough, cough... Pfft!"
Liu Cuirong's mouth was stuffed with pastries.
When Yun Erman yanked her, a mouthful of pastry crumbs choked out, spraying all over Yun Erman's face.
"Mmm?" Little Xi Tian stopped crying.
Yun Erman, however, wiped the crumbs from his face, utterly enraged.
"Idiot, I'll beat you to death!"
He directly hoisted Liu Cuirong onto his shoulder and, without looking back, charged out.
A moment later, the east wing room echoed with miserable cries.
The sounds of tables, chairs, and stools crashing down, 'pili-pulu', indicated Yun Erman's extreme anger.
Little Xi Tian twitched her lips.
Second brother, don't beat her too badly.
Soon, it was time to harvest the cabbage, bok choy, mustard greens, and radishes.
At the crack of dawn, when the sky was just beginning to lighten, the villagers headed to the fields with their sickles.
Old Man Yun also led his two sons to their own land.
They hadn't eaten breakfast, wanting to take advantage of the cool morning to harvest the vegetables.
The Yun family was large, and they had planted an extra two mu of vegetables.
Zhao Cuihua brought out the large fermentation缸s from the house and scrubbed them inside and out.
Every year, around this time, every household would start pickling vegetables.
The cabbage was cut into sections and mixed with carrots, scallions, celery, chili peppers, and cilantro.
They were placed in the缸s, sprinkled with salt, and pickled.
Within a night, the family could enjoy refreshing and appetizing small pickled vegetables.
As for sauerkraut, it went without saying. Wash it, sprinkle with salt, pour water into the缸, and press it down with a large stone.
By winter, sauerkraut was indispensable.
Stewed sauerkraut with pork bones, fried dumplings with pickled cabbage, pickled cabbage fish, pickled cabbage and tofu soup, pickled cabbage stir-fried with minced meat, and so on.
Mustard greens were pickled in the same way.
In winter, mustard greens could be stir-fried into shreds, served cold, or stir-fried with meat.
What was most popular with adults and children was that the pickled mustard greens could be dried and made into salted mustard lumps.
Whether eaten with congee or as a snack, they were more than enough.
"Mother, the mustard greens this year have grown so big!" Zhao Guihua said with a smile.
Madam Gu, while scrubbing the dirt off the mustard greens, nodded, "The village had good rainfall this year, and the crops have yielded well."
"When we were in Feiyan Village, we hadn't had such a harvest in two or three years."
Perhaps it was heaven's blessing; ever since they moved to Dashui Village, everything had been smooth sailing.
"After we harvest the wheat and corn, I'll let your father and brothers have a good rest. They've worked hard all year, and they are the ones who endure the most hardship and labor."
Madam Gu worried about Old Man Yun and also felt for her two sons.
"Alright! A few days ago, Aunt Zhang sent over a big speckled rooster. I'll stew it later and make a pot of chicken soup!"
Zhao Guihua's smile was radiant.
She had always been a hardworking and uncomplaining member of this family.
Even when her back ached so much she couldn't straighten up, she never uttered a single complaint.
Meanwhile, Liu Cuirong was hiding in the room, feigning illness, and plotting to raid Xue Ling's doghouse.
Little Xi Tian slept soundly on the heated brick bed, completely unaware that her second sister-in-law had slipped out of the room and was heading for the doghouse.
Xue Ling had gone to the fields with Old Man Yun today.
A few broken bones were scattered in front of the doghouse.
Liu Cuirong walked over, looked around, then quickly crouched down and began rummaging inside.
"Where has my sister-in-law hidden her treasures?"
A smooth pebble was dug out.
Liu Cuirong casually tossed it away; she wasn't interested in such things.
As she reached in again, a squeaking sound suddenly came from the doghouse.
Then, something bit Liu Cuirong's finger.
A sharp stinging sensation shot through her entire body. Liu Cuirong yelped "Mama!" and retracted her hand.
She saw a grey mouse that she had brought out, still biting her index finger.
Liu Cuirong's expression froze, and she let out a piercing scream.
"Ah! Save... Save me! Ah!"
Madam Gu and Zhao Guihua rushed over upon hearing the commotion, and even Little Xi Tian was woken up.
"Second daughter-in-law, what are you doing crouching by the doghouse?" Madam Gu frowned.
She had realized that Liu Cuirong felt restless if she didn't cause trouble for a day.
"Wuwuwu, Mother, Sister-in-law, a mouse... There's a mouse here!"
The large mouse had already escaped. Liu Cuirong cried inconsolably, nearly fainting.
Zhao Guihua felt embarrassed.
She shook her head helplessly and returned to her work.
Madam Gu, however, stared thoughtfully at Liu Cuirong and asked coldly, "Tell me the truth, were you trying to steal Sweet Treasure's things?"
She knew her daughter had a habit of hiding things in the doghouse.
She had seen Liu Cuirong lurking suspiciously around the doghouse these past two days.
And now she had been bitten by a mouse.
She didn't believe a mouse would chase after her finger to bite it.
"Wuwu, Mother, what... what are you saying?"
Liu Cuirong denied it tearfully, "No matter how bad your daughter-in-law is, she wouldn't take Sweet Treasure's things. Mother, your words truly chill my heart!"
Madam Gu's face darkened, and she sternly warned her, "Second daughter-in-law, listen to me carefully. The Yun family doesn't need a troublemaker like you."
"If you don't want to be kicked out of the house, then settle down quickly and don't end up like your mother or Cui Jin."
These words were not mere threats.
Madam Gu was fully capable of kicking Liu Cuirong out of the house for the sake of the family's peace and stability.
"Mother, what do you mean? It's as if your daughter-in-law has done something unforgivable." Liu Cuirong sniffled.
She hadn't seduced any men, nor had she disgraced the Yun family.
Why should she be kicked out?
She had also given birth to two robust sons.
Even if she had no merit, she had at least contributed labor!
Madam Gu smirked coldly, "Sometimes, what you do is even more unacceptable than the unforgivable. Go kneel at the entrance of the east wing room for an hour, and you won't be allowed to eat tonight!"
"Ah?"
Liu Cuirong was punished with kneeling, but Little Xi Tian, hiding behind the water缸, discovered many mice.