Chapter 9: I’m home
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| Aluminum lunch box |
While Aunt Liu was talking, memories s appeared in front of Shi Xiao ai's minds, all of which came from the memory of the original owner.
In all those pictures, a large aluminum lunch box is indispensable.
This lunch box would always appear on their window sill in the morning when it was still dark, and it would always be filled to the brim every time it was opened.
Either a box of hot meat buns or a box of freshly fried dough sticks pressed into a porcelain shape.
Another time, the aluminum lunch box was filled with a box full of sugar!
At that time, the original owner had been suffering from a fever for several days. The old man was so anxious that he couldn't do anything to help him, so he had to hunt around and get this box of candy. This is the most nutritious thing the old man can find for his granddaughter.
Even through her memory, Shi Xiao ai was shocked when she saw it.
You know that even in today's era, a person's sugar coupons for a quarter are only two tickets, and these tickets are often out of stock, let alone more than ten years ago.
She simply couldn't imagine how much trouble the old man went through for this box of sugar.
After viewing these memories, she nodded heavily to Aunt Liu and said seriously, “Auntie, I remember it all. We all remember the kindness Grandpa give me and my parents.”
"Hey, that's right!" Aunt Liu patted her legs happily after hearing this, but she still couldn't help, but her eyes turned red.
She didn't seem to want to shed tears in front of Shi Xiao ai, so she quickly wiped them away and then said with a smile, “Your grandpa will be very, pleased when he hears this, and he will definitely feel at ease.”
Because it was working hours, Aunt Liu couldn't stay too long. She handed the bunch of keys to her home to Shi Xiao ai, told them that she would deliver food to them at noon, and then left.
When there were finally no outsiders in the house, the family of three finally breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did Shi Xiao ai have the opportunity to take a good look at the house.
This house is neither big nor small.
There is a patio at the entrance, and directly opposite the door is a suite. The suite was similar to a two-bedroom apartment, with a small living room in the middle and a small room on each side.
At this time, Shi Xiao ai and the others were in one of the rooms. This room should have been the old man's bedroom before.
The room opposite was transformed into a kitchen, and a long chimney extended from the kitchen, coiling above the three rooms.
Coming out of this suite, there are two bungalows of similar size on the left side of it, that is, to the east of the patio.
However, the doors were locked, and the window paper on the windows had turned yellow, showing that they had not been used for a long time.
There is no room on the right side of the patio, but a green brick garden. There is a grapevine almost as thick as a child's wrist, and there are also some dead flowers and trees. It's difficult to tell what they are. .
In addition to these, what makes Shi Xiao ai most happy is that there is a separate toilet built near the door.
Although since there is no sewer, you still have to use the washroom to go to the bathroom, but you don't have to put the toilet in the bedroom at last!
And there is even a shower head above the bathroom.
This means that as long as you have enough hot water, you can take a bath here without going out to find a large bathhouse.
Looking at such a bathroom, Shi Xiao ai felt rare happiness.
She suddenly realized that her desire was getting lower and lower now, and such a bit of luck could make her happy.
When Shi Xiao ai visited the house, Mingrui and Ming xi were sitting on the small bench leaning against each other and almost fell asleep.
It was still winter, and no one had lived in the house for a long time. It was so cold, and Xiao Ai couldn't help but shiver even when she moved.
Seeing the two little guys huddled there, she hurried over and slapped them awake: “Don't sleep yet; you'll catch a cold if you sleep like this. You bear with me; I'll give you hot water to drink. Drink it before going to sleep.”"
With that said, she opened the bundle she had brought back, stretched out the quilt, and wrapped the two babies in it.
“Mom, let me help you light the fire.” Mingrui's eyes were glued together, and he was sleepy, but he still struggled to get up.
“No, just sit down. You don't know how to use the stove here.”
As she spoke, Shi Xiao ai patted her daughter's face again and woke up the little guy, who had already begun to snore: “Xiaoxi, wake up. Mom will give you chicken to eat. Wake up quickly.”
Hearing that she could eat chicken, Xiao xi quickly opened her eyes.
The night before leaving, Shi Xiao ai almost didn't sleep all night and packed up all the edible things at home.
Although Xiao xi was crying and howling, she still killed all the two hens she raised at home. She simply wiped the chickens inside and out with coarse salt, then put ginger slices in their stomachs and put them in a big pot. Steam.
An hour later, two salt-steamed chickens with crispy skin and rotten meat were harvested.
In addition to the chicken, she also used all the remaining eggs. She used the little remaining oil base, the chicken fat cut from the chicken, and the soaked dried radish to make an omelet with preserved vegetables.
Though the total amount of oil is still small, a full nine eggs were actually used!
When the pot of vegetables was cooked, Xiao Xi, who was sobbing, wiped away her tears and sat down in front of the stove.
It was precisely because of these two hard dishes that the family of three finally endured the nearly thousand-mile journey.
Otherwise, just relying on the coarse-grain pancakes, Shi Xiao ai doubted that she would be able to carry the big package after getting out of the car.
Now, the pancakes and fried eggs are all finished. But the two children were very sensible and only ate a bit of the chicken at a time. Until now, there was still a third of the chicken left.
Fortunately, the weather was cold enough so it wouldn't go bad.
"Let's eat all the remaining chicken, and mom will make chicken soup for you. Just wait, you must eat something before you can sleep.”
Perhaps no one can escape from blood ties. After spending a few days with the children, Shi Xiao ai has completely entered the role of a mother.
As she spoke, she quickly walked into the kitchen, but was dumbfounded again when she saw the stove and a pile of briquettes in the corner.
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| This also old Stove type in old china |
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| Stove and briquettes |
She doesn’t know how to burn this coal!
Mingrui, who had always been a considerate little helper, jumped out of his chair when his mother entered the kitchen and followed her.
Looking at the briquette stove that he had never seen before, the child was also confused.
After thinking about it, he turned back to the house, pulled out half a newspaper from somewhere, and said, “Mom, let's burn firewood.”
At this time, Xiao Ai had also seen a small bag of chopped wood placed next to the coal, which was obviously reserved for ignition.
Fortunately, she knew a little better than her son, and she finally knew that two pieces of coal were put in the stove when lighting the fire.
After a while of fussing, when the whole room was about to be enveloped in green smoke, the stove was finally lit.
Get a steel pot with some water and cook the remaining chicken in it.
Shi Xiao ai rummaged through the kitchen and got some surprises—there was half a handful of unused thin noodles in the corner of the kitchen.
This is a rare delicacy for the three people who have not eaten refined grains for many days.
Though there were no side dishes, each of them had a bowl of hot chicken soup noodles. The mother and son all felt unprecedentedly comfortable.
Of course, this kind of comfort comes more from psychology—they are finally home and no longer have to live a life of fear!
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