Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 683: Chapter 683: Di Wei Asks for Help
 

While Er Niu was picking apricots, Liu Sisi’s gaze never left the red jujube tree. Seeing Guihua climb the ladder up the tangerine tree to pick tangerines, she suggested picking red dates. This proposal was immediately supported by Guihua.

So Guihua climbed the ladder to pick tangerines, while she took a bamboo pole and tied a sickle to hook red dates. Even Ms. Gao, who was on the sidelines, and two servants hurriedly stepped up to help.

It was not until the basket was filled to the brim that everyone stopped and got down from the tree.

How long has it been since she last enjoyed climbing trees? Liu Sisi felt that today was the happiest day of her life.

“Sisi, come and eat! These apricots can’t be kept for long, and some damaged ones have to be eaten right away. That’s when they taste best, different from other fruits.” Guihua quickly picked through the basket and handed over a large pile of fruits.

These fruits were damaged due to accidental picking or squeezing, but it’s fine to eat them now.

So the good fruits were picked out and filled several baskets, while the remaining fruits were put in a separate bamboo basket for easy access.

Seeing that it was almost done, everyone happily headed back.

“You’re too kind; please take a seat.”

Guihua walked back and said, “Sisi, there’s still plenty of ‘sorghum stalks’ on the land over there. It’s sweet now. Why don’t I cut a few more for YingEr to taste?” As she spoke, she was about to turn back.

Liu Sisi hurriedly stopped her, “Enough, Guihua, it’s enough! There are already so many fruits, what more do you want? If there are any more, you’ll need a horse carriage to carry them!”

Her words immediately amused everyone.

The “sorghum stalks” she mentioned were a local term for sugar sorghum, a subspecies of sorghum. It can grow up to three to four meters high, with long green leaves and stout stalks. When its spikes on top gradually turn black and red, it’s ready to harvest.

Harvested sugar sorghum is one of the raw materials for making “coarse-cereals wine” by the locals.

What Guihua was referring to as “sorghum stalks” are specifically sugar sorghum stalks. After the outer shell is removed, they can be eaten directly, like sugarcane, but with a fresher taste and softer fibers. However, the skin is very sharp, and if you’re not careful, you’ll cut your lips.

Although the locals also plant sugarcane sporadically, the position of sugar sorghum is irreplaceable.

“No, no, there are many people in the mansion, and these fruits don’t seem much when averaged per person. Sorghum stalks are easy to store and transport. If we chop more now, I won’t need to bring much when I come to the city next time.”

Despite everyone’s persuasion, Guihua still went to the land. Liu Sisi, naturally worried, quickly instructed the servants to cut a large swath of sorghum stalks, peel off their leaves, tie them with bamboo strips, and carry them back. Guihua collected the sorghum spikes.

Sugar sorghum is a treasure. Apart from being used to make wine and replanting, its spikes can be made into brooms without any waste. It can be planted anywhere, as long as it’s sunny.

When Guihua returned with sorghum stalks, Liu Sisi had already washed the slightly damaged fruits.

Ms. Xin also came over and happened to encounter them eating fruits.

“I was waiting at home for a while and didn’t see you coming back. I guessed Third Sister-in-law must be at Aunt Guihua’s place, and sure enough! I’m really lucky today.”

Guihua laughed as she picked up a red date to taste.

“Right? I’m lucky today as well. I initially just wanted to sit for a while and then leave. But I didn’t expect that sitting down would bring me all these delicious fruits.”

Liu Sisi also ate heartily.

“Then you should eat more because there is still plenty in the fields. If it’s not enough, we’ll pick more from the trees.”

Guihua spoke candidly.

Just as everyone was laughing and having a good time, a sudden cry of surprise sounded: “Third Aunt!”

Liu Sisi turned her head to see Di Wei quickly jogging towards her.

“Xiao Wei? How did you come here?”

No wonder Liu Sisi would ask this since Ms. Wang greatly disliked contact between Xiao Wei and herself.

Di Wei’s eyes reddened, and she suddenly plunged into Liu Sisi’s arms: “Third Aunt, please save me! I’m willing to be like Brother Cheng and become your daughter. Wuu wuu…”

Liu Sisi was taken aback! What on earth was going on?

She glanced left and right, noticing no outsiders, so she hurriedly pulled Xiao Wei into the courtyard and walked to a corner: “Xiao Wei, tell me what’s going on? Why did you suddenly have this idea?”

Di Wei cried uncontrollably: “My mother… my mother wants to arrange my marriage! She wants to make me a child bride. The boy from that family is only 7 years old, three years younger than me…”

A child bride?

Liu Sisi suddenly felt that her brain wasn’t enough to handle this. Ms. Wang really was ruthless!

She knew Ms. Wang was looking for a suitor for Di Wei, but she never expected that she would choose such a family! Di Family was so poor that they couldn’t even support their own children?

“Xiao Wei, don’t just cry. You have to tell Third Aunt the whole story so that I can help you.”

Di Wei continued to cry, but she managed to stutter the story from beginning to end.

“Xiao Wei, do you trust Third Aunt?”

Liu Sisi took out a handkerchief from her bosom and gently wiped away her tears.

Di Wei nodded hurriedly: “Yes, Xiao Wei trusts Third Aunt…” It was precisely because she believed in her that she had run over secretly.

“No one saw you when you came here earlier, right?”

“No…”

“Alright, you just go back and wait. Third Aunt will arrange things properly. Just make sure you don’t reveal anything and let your mother know that Third Aunt is helping you. Understand?” Liu Sisi whispered.

“I know, I know.” Di Wei’s eyes dimmed.

“That’s right, our Xiao Wei is the most obedient. You go back first, okay!”

Liu Sisi quickly sent off Di Wei, who kept looking back every three steps.

“Your Second Sister-in-law is really despicable! A child bride? I spit! I can’t believe she came up with that idea!” Guihua couldn’t help but curse.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

“Indeed, Di Wei is only ten years old.”

As Liu Sisi spoke, her heart was carefully considering solutions. Then she slowly put down her bamboo pole: “We need a good way to deal with this. Xiao Wei is still so young; we must somehow get rid of this idea.”