Qi He saw that everyone had almost finished the small cakes in their hands, so he took out the melon from his pocket and handed it over.
"Grandpa Meng, Yu'er wants to eat melon."
Finally, he had an opportunity, and he wanted to perform well, otherwise, he would be letting down his good intentions.
Yu'er had long wanted to eat melon. Seeing Qi Ge holding out a melon to him, he secretly glanced at his grandfather, waiting for his grandfather's permission before eating.
However, this melon was quite large, almost as big as his face, and he certainly couldn't finish it.
At first, Meng Qingping saw Qi He holding a melon and thought it was bought by his granddaughter. Hearing Qi He's tone now, he began to suspect that this melon was probably not bought by his granddaughter.
With a hint of doubt, he asked Qi He, "Qi boy, did you buy this melon?"
"Grandpa Meng, I bought it. I tasted it when I bought it, and it's very sweet."
After hearing Qi He's words, Meng Qingping's expression turned grim. He put on a stern face and asked Qi He solemnly, "Qi boy, did you spend that two taels of silver?" Qi He had told Meng Qingping about Uncle Zhang giving him two taels of silver.
"Grandpa Meng, no." Qi He said, pulling out the small money pouch from his embrace and continuing, "This is the New Year's money that my grandma and the elders of the village have given me over the past five years."
"Five years?" Fu Xinci heard that the five years Qi He mentioned seemed unusual.
"Mm." Qi He glanced at Fu Xinci, thinking that there was nothing he couldn't say, and began to talk about his childhood.
"I was five years old then. Right after the New Year, Grandma said she wanted to send me to the school in town. Second Uncle readily agreed, and Second Aunt didn't say anything, but went out and kicked the soil basket by the door."
Qi He recalled the scene at that time. "Grandma seemed very angry. It was the first time I saw Grandma lose her temper like that and scold Second Aunt: 'Everything your family eats and uses is brought back by the eldest son's money. Why can't the eldest grandson go to school with it? Don't forget, the money the eldest son brings back is to support me, this old mother, and the eldest grandson, this son. I never heard that it's also for supporting your brothers' families.'"
"Second Uncle was terrified at the time and kept apologizing to Grandma, but Grandma still wouldn't let it go and continued: 'It's my fault, this old woman, for being biased. Seeing that you have many children, I wanted to help, but who knew it would breed ingratitude, and also make your appetite grow, so you can't distinguish who is the real master of the house.'"
"Grandma said a lot, but Second Aunt remained silent. Grandma was furious. I guess Second Aunt didn't think she was wrong."
"So, you started being wary from that moment on?"
"Yes and no." Qi He thought about what happened next, and his young face rarely became solemn.
"After Grandma sent me to school, I ate lunch at school. I only ate breakfast and dinner at home."
At this point, everyone present, except Yu'er, understood.
"I was the youngest at school and couldn't compete with the older children at all, so I was always hungry."
"Every day I looked forward to school ending, thinking I could have a full meal when I got home. Who knew that when I got home, I still had to fight with Second Uncle's three children, and Second Aunt even helped them. I couldn't compete at all."
"..."
"Later, Grandma got angry and told Second Uncle's family to cook separately from then on and not to eat at our table. Only then did Second Aunt restrain herself a bit."
"Poor Qi boy." No one expected that the optimistic and cheerful Qi He had also been bullied.
"From then on, I saved all my New Year's money, hoping that when I grew up, I could go to Liaodong to find my father."
"Good child. When we get to Liaodong, you can come to our house for meals every day. I can't promise you the best food, but I can guarantee you won't go hungry." Fu Yu also liked this kind and helpful child.
"Uncle, I will remember your words. I'll come to your house for meals every day, and Uncle must not get annoyed with me."
"We won't be annoyed. We won't be annoyed even if Qi Ge comes to eat every day," Yu'er said. It was beyond doubt that he liked eating and playing with Qi Ge.
"Haha, Yu'er speaks my mind." It was obvious to anyone with eyes that Meng Qingping liked Qi He. This child was truly endearing, and Meng Qingping considered him an extra grandson.
Qi He and Grandpa Meng's family had never treated themselves as outsiders. Now that the source of the money was clear, he thought he could eat the melon.
However, before he could speak, he saw Wu Lao Er and Wu Lao San each carrying a bag and walking over.
Seeing them there, the two brothers went up to greet them. Wu Lao San handed the basket of eggs to Fu Yu, "Brother Fu, my brother asked me to give these to uncle and the two children for nourishment."
"How can we let you spend money? You brothers have already taken good care of us husband and wife along the way."
"Brother Fu, if you still consider us brothers, then accept it." Wu Lao San said and quickly strode to catch up with his second brother.
In fact, that night, everyone who was clear-headed knew that if Fu Yu and his daughter hadn't rushed out first, Jiang Tou'er and Brother Zhu Zi might not have gone out either. They only needed to guard the temple entrance, and the people inside would be safe.
As for their mule cart and goods, they would have been completely destroyed by the hungry wolves.
Therefore, for the past two days, they had been wanting to express their gratitude to Brother Fu and his daughter, but just saying thank you empty-handed felt too stingy for the few of them.
Coincidentally passing through Qingshui Town today, they also needed to replenish some food. After discussing it, they bought a basket of eggs to give as a gift.
"Dad, what should we do?" Fu Yu couldn't bring himself to chase after them with the egg basket.
Meng Qingping understood the feelings of Wu Lao Da and the others, so he nodded and asked his son to accept it.
"So many eggs." Looking at the basket of eggs, not only did Yu'er's eyes curve with joy, but even Qi He's eyes lit up.
"Mm, we'll have boiled eggs when we get back," Meng Qingping's words were met with everyone's agreement.
Fu Xinci: I don't have to secretly eat anymore.
Qi He: "Sister Fu also bought salted duck eggs and quail eggs at the market just now."
"Where are the quail eggs?" Yu'er's eyes sparkled with starlight.
"They're in Sister Fu's basket. Qi Ge will get them for you." Qi He turned and took out a bag of quail eggs from Sister Fu's basket. Huh? He felt a little strange. He had eaten so many before, how were there still so many left? httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Fu Xinci caught the hint of suspicion in Qi He's eyes and immediately found a topic to urge everyone to eat more.
The moment Meng Qingping saw the quail eggs, he knew his granddaughter had taken them out. But he said nothing and quietly ate with his grandchildren.
Yu'er loved the taste of these five-spice quail eggs the most. He couldn't stop eating one after another.
Fu Yu and Fang Shi also liked this flavor, especially Fu Yu. He would occasionally say to Fang Shi: "Can we make this flavor ourselves?"