xymnovel Chapter 56 Time to eat!
Chapter 56 Time to eat!
Chapter 56 Time to eat!
Uncle happily accepted the large strawberry from Xiao Sizi, took a symbolic small bite, and exaggeratedly smacked his lips: "Mmm! So sweet! Our Sizi picked the best!" The little girl giggled at the praise, her dimples deepening, and her rosy cheeks still smeared with strawberry juice.
Seeing this, Li Han quickly picked out a big, red strawberry and ran over: "Daddy! Eat mine! Mine is sweet too!"
The uncle held the little girl in one arm and took the strawberry from his nephew with the other, praising it highly, which made little Li Han proudly puff out her little chest.
Lu Chen and his grandfather had already helped his uncle check several rows of seedling frames. His grandfather pointed to the newly sprouted white flowers among the seedlings and said to his uncle, "The flowers are blooming well this year. We need to keep a close eye on the pollination beehives and not let them slack off."
The uncle nodded repeatedly: "Dad, don't worry, everything is arranged. These two days are the peak blooming season."
My mother and grandmother, carrying small baskets, moved among the rows of strawberries, carefully picking the ripe, plump, and bright red ones and placing them in their baskets.
Mom laughed as she picked the strawberries, saying, "Your uncle's skills are truly amazing! These strawberries smell so much better than the ones you buy outside!"
"That's right! Ours is naturally ripened, not artificially ripened, and the flavor is just right!" The uncle held the little ox, his tone full of pride.
The little ox wriggled in his arms, its big eyes fixed on the bright red "little lanterns" in the field, and the chubby little finger pointed at them:
"Chirp chirp, I'm going to take the nest!"
"Okay, Uncle will put you down. Pick some with your brother and bring them back for Sister Qingqing!"
'
The uncle carefully put the little ox down.
The two little ones immediately squatted back down by the ridge, like treasure hunters, targeting the biggest and reddest fruit.
Little Sizi learns quickly. She pinches the strawberry stem with her little hands and twists it gently to pick it off. Although her movements are slow, every strawberry she picks is intact.
Each time she picked one, she would proudly hold it up to show Li Han or her mother next to her, and only after receiving their approval would she happily put it into the small bamboo basket she was carrying—a mini basket that her uncle had specially found for her.
Lu Chen wasn't idle either; he kept eating the fruit.
In the strawberry field, the two little ones' baskets gradually filled up. Little Sizi's little bamboo basket was especially cute, with bright red strawberries sprouting from its tips.
"Alright, alright, little bees, the basket is full!" Mom laughed, calling to the children who were still eager to eat more. "If you keep picking, there won't be any left for Qingqing to eat when she comes tomorrow!"
Little Sizi reluctantly stopped, looked down at her heavy little basket, then at Li Han's full basket, her face full of the joy of a bountiful harvest.
She reached out her little hand, stained with red marks, and gently touched the largest strawberry in the basket. Then, she tilted her head up and sweetly and clearly called out to her uncle, "Thank you, Chuchu!"
The uncle's heart was instantly filled with the child's sweet, innocent gratitude. He ruffled the little girl's hair with his rough hands: "Oh! You're such a good girl! If you want strawberries anytime, just come to your uncle's!"
Grandma and Grandpa beamed with joy at the heartwarming scene.
Grandpa picked up the big basket full of strawberries and called out, "Let's go! Home! Let your grandma cook dinner for you! We're in a good mood today, so Grandpa will show off his cooking skills again!"
"Yay!" Li Han cheered.
Little Sizi imitated her older cousin, raising her little fist and shouting in her childish voice, "Yay~~!"
"No, Dad, we're going to my third aunt's for dinner tonight, so we should go early and help out with something." Mom picked up a basket.
"Alright then, take all these strawberries. There are a lot of people, so everyone should have some," Grandma urged quickly.
The family, smelling the fruit and carrying the bounty of their harvest, chatted and laughed as they made their way back to their courtyard.
Little Sizi was led by Lu Chen, her other little hand still tightly gripping her small bamboo basket, looking back every few steps at the strawberry field that shimmered in the sunset.
Li Han, like a triumphant young general, walked at the very front with his head held high and chest out.
"In a little while, we'll pass by Auntie's house and give the strawberries to Sister Qingqing," Lu Chen told Xiao Sizi in advance.
"Sister Qingqing————Qiguoguo————" Xiao Sizi looked down at the bright red strawberry tips in her basket and muttered softly, her little face full of seriousness, as if she were carrying out an extremely important task.
"Yes, we'll save them all for Sister Qingqing," Lu Chen replied with a smile.
"Mine's mine too!" Upon hearing this, Li Han immediately turned around, patted her heavy basket, and loudly announced, "I picked the biggest and reddest one!"
The uncle walked behind, watching the two little ones with an unstoppable smile on his face.
Grandma and Grandpa carried a large basket full of strawberries, chatting about this year's harvest as they walked.
Mom was thinking, "When we get to my third aunt's, I'll help her prepare the vegetables first."
The car stopped in front of Aunt's house. Lu Chen, with Xiao Sizi and two baskets of strawberries, went into the yard.
Soon, the brother and sister returned to the car.
"How are things? Aren't your aunt and older sister happy?" Mom said with a smile.
"Yes. Auntie praised me for being capable!" Little Sizi raised her little head.
"Our little Sizi is really capable!" Mom patted the little guy's hand.
Little Sizi leaned against the car window, her little hands occasionally touching the small bamboo basket containing strawberries beside her.
"We're almost there. Grandma's house is just ahead," Lu Chen said, pointing to a red brick house not far away.
Grandma San's courtyard was a little smaller than Grandma Ma's, but it was just as clean and tidy.
Several rows of vegetables were planted in the corner of the yard, and strings of corn and peppers hung under the eaves, exuding a strong rural atmosphere.
As soon as the car came to a stop, a middle-aged woman wearing an apron and with a cheerful smile came out to greet us—it was my third aunt.
"Oh my! We've been waiting for you!" Third Grandma said, wiping her hands as she hurried forward. "I was just telling your Third Uncle that you should have arrived by now!"
My mother quickly got out of the car, smiling and exchanging pleasantries: "Third Aunt, thank you for your help again."
"No trouble at all! We're all family!" Third Grandma's gaze fell on Little Sizi following behind Lu Chen, and her eyes immediately lit up. "This must be Little Sizi! Oh my, she's so pretty! Even cuter than in the photos!"
Little Si was a little shy and hid behind Lu Chen's legs, but still obediently whispered, "Hello, Third Grandma~~"
"Good, good, good child!" Auntie San smiled broadly, squatted down and gently touched Xiao Sizi's cheek. "Are you tired from the journey? Come inside, Grandma San has prepared lots of delicious food for you!"
At this moment, Third Grandfather also came out of the house. He was holding an unfinished bamboo basket in his hand.
Upon seeing the visitor, he smiled warmly and nodded, "You've come! Come in and have a seat."
The adults greeted each other and walked into the house, while Lu Chen followed behind with Xiao Sizi and Li Han.
The hall of Third Grandma's house was unusually lively.
The stove was belching out steam, and the range hood was humming.
My aunt and second aunt were busy making a racket.
"Hey! Come in quickly!"
"Now we can finally see the real person!"
Second Grandma and eldest Aunt both stopped what they were doing and looked outside.
"Sister-in-law, is there any work to do? Second Aunt, you go and rest first, I'll do it." Mom went straight to the sink.
"Okay, you peel some garlic. I'll wait with Xiao Sizi for a while." Second Grandma followed her into the house.
"Little sister!"
"Little sister!"
Two more little boys, the grandsons of the third grandmother.
"Little pot!"
Sizi was pulled inside again.
Little Sizi climbed onto the chair with the two older boys.
Third Grandfather sat to the side, smiling as he watched the children, and said to Second Grandmother, "This child is so well-behaved, he doesn't cry or make a fuss."
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Second Grandma also smiled broadly: "That's right, they're so easy to please."