The Qin family had the most people ever for lunch today.
Scrambled eggs with tomatoes, mapo tofu, cold dishes, cumin beef, two kinds of minced meat for noodles, and a basin of hand-pulled noodles were placed on three tables.
"Um, Zhu," Qin's mother tried to ask Zhu Ye and Zhu Hua to sit down and eat, but Qin's grandmother flicked her hand under the table.
Ling Manshuang winked at Zhu Ye and Zhu Hua. The two bowed and retreated, waiting for orders outside the room.
"Manshuang, although the simple food is not exquisite, my daughter-in-law's cooking is quite good. Try some," Qin's grandmother said kindly, using serving chopsticks to put a bite of scrambled eggs with tomatoes onto Ling Manshuang's plate.
"Thank you, Grandma Qin. Salt County is not as convenient as our home. If Jun Yao hadn't brought me vegetables, it would be difficult for us to eat fresh vegetables often."
"Mmm, it's sweet and sour, and the eggs are soft. Auntie is a really good cook."
Qin's mother smiled awkwardly, glancing at her mother-in-law, unsure if she should serve herself.
"What are you looking at me for? Eat," Qin's grandmother glared at Qin's mother and Qin's second aunt, then turned back and smiled as she served Ling Manshuang more food.
The table with Qin Jun Yao felt a bit awkward with conversations, while Qin's father's table was relatively more harmonious.
Bai Qing was from a farming family and had childhood memories even after being sold. He tried his best to regain his freedom but didn't see himself as a young master.
At the dinner table, people ate and spoke without too many formalities, following the lead of the hosts.
Zhao Liangcai's table ate in silence. The soldiers all lowered their heads and wolfed down noodles and dishes, their chopsticks nearly clashing as they reached for food.
After the meal, Ling Manshuang and Bai Qing wanted to take their leave, but Zhao Liangcai insisted they stay for the roasted wild boar dinner, so they agreed.
These two also wanted to build a good relationship with Zhao Liangcai.
After a short rest, Qin's mother, Qin's second aunt, and a soldier skilled at roasting were left at home.
The three of them would divide the wild boar, marinate it, and prepare it for the evening's roast.
The live young wild boar Qin Jun Yao had brought back had a rope around its neck, tied to a post in the livestock shed.
Everyone else went to the potato field to dig potatoes.
"Sister Jun Yao, why are all your clothes dark? You're at a good age to wear bright colors. I'll have someone send you some fabric tomorrow."
Ling Manshuang walked along, looking down at her dark blue clothes, and offered Qin Jun Yao advice.
"The fabric you gave me last time is still in the box. Light colors get dirty easily, and besides, there's no need to wear fine material for farm work."
Ling Manshuang realized, "I didn't consider that. Then I'll find some pretty cotton fabric for you. These are the best years of your life. Once they pass, they won't come back. Listen to your sister."
"I haven't dug potatoes before. Sister Jun Yao, are there any tricks to digging potatoes?"
"We'll just pick them up. My dad and the others will use hoes to loosen the soil in front."
Qin Jun Yao was actually wrong about this.
The potatoes at the Qin family's farm grew densely and were large. With a hoe, it was easy to damage them.
Qin's father, not wanting to waste the potatoes, decided to dig them by hand. He didn't have the "unlimited resources" Qin Jun Yao had in her spatial dimension.
Fortunately, the sandy soil was relatively soft, so digging with hands was not difficult.
Ling Manshuang seemed to have found something fun besides music. Regardless of whether her hands would get hurt, she happily dug, joyfully searching for potatoes in the soil. It was so therapeutic.
The potatoes varied in size. When she found a large one, she would call out to Fu Zi and Xiao Yu, asking them if they had dug any larger ones than hers.
Everyone else was also full of energy. What could be happier than a bountiful harvest?
Zhao Liangcai sent someone to fetch a cart from the Zhao family to help transport the potatoes and potato vines.
With so many people, it took only an hour and a half to dig up all the potatoes and load them onto the cart.
Qin Jun Yao, Zhao Liangcai, Ling Manshuang, Bai Qing, Qin Sen, Qin Da Niu, and Qin Er Niu walked back to the Qin family with the ox cart, chatting and laughing.
People who were strangers in their previous lives were now connected because of this life's Qin Jun Yao.