Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 450: Chapter 450: Spring Military Recruitment
Gazing at the bustling scene in the small town’s Carriage Shop, with the continuous coming and going of people and carriages carrying goods nearby, Ms. Xin’s words echoed in Liu Sisi’s ear again.

“How can I save you?”

“Third Sister-in-law, you just need to give Old Six from the Carriage Shop a letter, writing that Cui’er now belongs to you.”

“Whose name should I write as the recipient?”

“You don’t need to write a name for the recipient. When you give the letter to Old Six, just tell him to hand the letter to Ma Wu!”

“…Old Six is actually one of your people?”

“Old Six and Ma Wu are just paid contact persons! I’ve also secretly investigated these two people, they can’t be considered their people.”

As the words still echoed in her ear, being actually in this place made Liu Sisi hesitate.

“Watch out! Get out of the way quickly!”

The man carrying a huge hemp bag almost bumped into Liu Sisi, shouting in horror.

Just as the man was about to hit Liu Sisi, the scene beside her suddenly flashed, and she forcefully shifted two feet to the side, narrowly avoiding the man.

“So it’s Mr. Liu. I don’t know if Mr. Liu’s visit to the Carriage Shop is for renting a carriage or carrying goods. In fact, you just need to send someone to relay a message to Old Six, and Old Six will definitely do his best to help you.”

The one speaking was none other than Old Six!

Liu Sisi blinked and then finally realized that the one who saved her was indeed Old Six.

Old Six had a simple and honest smile on his face, even as Liu Sisi stared blankly at him, he didn’t change color. He calmly stood in his original position without moving.

“Mr. Liu? Mr. Liu, are you all right?”

Old Six called out to Liu Sisi.

“Ah! I…I’m fine. Old Six, I have a letter I’d like to ask you to run for me.” Liu Sisi finally came back to her senses.

Old Six exclaimed with a jovial expression, “You just need to tell me what to do, Mr. Liu.”

Liu Sisi lifted her lips and gave a faint smile. She took the letter from her arms and handed it over. “Please help me pass this on to someone named Ma Wu!”

Old Six’s hand trembled imperceptibly, but quickly steadied itself. However, Liu Sisi was still able to catch the slight movement.

“Delivering letters is what I do best. Mr. Liu, rest assured! Old Six can guarantee that this letter will be delivered 100% on your behalf!”

Old Six’s face still displayed the same playful smile.

“Mmm, in addition to sending this letter, please inform Granny Qin, who deals with slaves, that I plan to buy some more people to use. Ask her if she has any suitable people in her hands!”

Liu Sisi didn’t linger after saying these words. She bid farewell and left after Old Six’s repeated guarantees.

Not far away, she turned back: “By the way, tell that person that I don’t like it when things that shouldn’t appear around me do!”

After Liu Sisi finished speaking, she ignored the surprised look on Old Six’s face and left with her paper umbrella.

Although she didn’t know why Ms. Xin said that Old Six wasn’t one of them, Liu Sisi was sure, based on her intuition, that he was 100% suspicious.

She glanced up at the sky, and the light rain that had been falling since morning continued to drizzle down, mingling with half-melted sleet, making it bitterly cold.

As she passed by the clinic, Liu Sisi peered inside, only to find it empty and silent.

When she got home, she discovered that her father and the two children had already returned. At the moment, Da Mao was nestled in Elderly Mr. Di’s arms, seeming to be saying something; their bonfire lent warmth to the whole room. She went back to her room to change, and then began to prepare dinner.

Old Cheng was sitting near the doorway, chopping firewood. Seeing Liu Sisi enter, he got up quickly to greet her. After arranging the firewood, he slowly withdrew from the kitchen.

One of the most convenient things about living in a small town was that if something was lacking, it could usually be quickly replenished.

The fragrant stewed meat was simmering above the bonfire, and Liu Sisi began steaming rice on the stove while taking down a piece of wild boar meat. She washed it, and then boiled it in a pot before cutting it into thin slices. She then stir-fried it in soybean sauce, adding garlic sprouts to the stir-fry in the pot.

The sumptuous deep-fried pork was the ultimate stimulus for one’s taste buds!

Before the dishes were even served, Liu Sisi filled a plate with bean sprouts sautéed in the pot. Baby bok choy lay on the stove, waiting to be cooked into a clear soup when the sound of hearty laughter rang out from outside the house.

“Old Di! Old He is here, drawn in by the delicious scent of your cooking! It smelled so good that I couldn’t resist coming over for a meal!”

As the words fell, Old He’s aged head appeared at the kitchen doorway.

In front of strangers, Old He usually maintained a lofty and indifferent demeanor. But after tasting Liu Sisi’s cooking, little by little, he began to reveal his true nature in front of the Di family—giggling and laughing.

Elderly Mr. Di naturally greeted and hosted him. By the time Di Yelei returned, everyone was happily eating with their bamboo chopsticks.

Old He even took out some of his cherished nourishing wine to share with Mr. Di but refused to pour any more than a small glass despite being playfully accused of stinginess.

“You don’t get it! This wine is full of nourishing ingredients, and just a little bit is very beneficial for your body. If you drink too much, not only will it not strengthen your constitution, but it will have the opposite effect, causing gradual emaciation. Giving you more would just harm you. Let’s raise our glasses! We can’t let such delicious food go to waste…”

Di Yelei happened to enter at that moment, and upon seeing everyone enjoying their meal, he couldn’t help but laugh and greet everyone in the room.

He also instructed Old Cheng, “The horse was cold today. When you clean up later, be careful to keep it warm and feed it some hot water. And don’t get the horse blanket wet…”

Old Cheng repeatedly agreed and hurriedly left.

Old He impatiently called out, “Third Son Di, hurry up and dive in! The meal is only missing you, and it just doesn’t feel as lively without you!”

The medicine pageboy, who had come over to freeload a meal, hastily picked up some food with his chopsticks. “Third Uncle Di, this food is truly delicious. No wonder your body is so strong; it’s all thanks to Third Aunt Di’s good care!”

These words elicited a burst of hearty laughter from the crowd.

Di Yelei raised his hand as if to hit the boy, “You little devil, slandering me now, are you? Just you watch!”

Liu Sisi quickly moved over and helped him take off his bamboo hat and straw coat. “It seems you came back quite late today. Hurry up and sit down to eat.”

“Don’t touch it; these things are cold. Sit down and eat.”

Di Yelei walked into a small side room while talking and returned more casually dressed, albeit still covered in frost. He sighed, shook his head, and finally sat down in his chair.

“The handling just began today, and we’ve already been informed that since we didn’t perform corvee labor last year, it will begin at the start of this year with the spring recruitment,” he said, not minding everyone’s curiosity, and began picking up his bowl and chopsticks to serve himself.