"Ah Hua, how is it?"
Seeing the calm and composed back from afar, Qiu Xi walked towards Nan Hua after putting down her things.
Nan Hua looked up. "You're back."
"Sitting here, I feel like I've come to retire early."
"The wind makes me want to sleep."
Qiu Xi chuckled after hearing this. "Is it that exaggerated?"
"Sister Xi, that's not exaggerated at all!"
Zhao Huasheng, having just sat down with Song Daiyao, immediately chimed in upon hearing this.
"Don't mind me moving around, I'm just afraid I'll fall asleep myself."
"Alright!"
"So, have you caught any fish?"
Qiu Xi didn't ask further and started looking at the small buckets around the few people.
"Of course!"
"Here, take a look at our bountiful harvest!"
Seeing the three return, Zhao Huasheng decided not to continue. He picked up his small bucket and poured the fish into Nan Hua's bucket.
Although not many, a few fish were visible scattered about. Coupled with the fish already in Nan Hua's bucket,
compared to the pitiful two fish Qiu Xi and the others had earlier, this could indeed be considered a good harvest.
After walking around again, Qiu Xi found it truly strange. She discovered that everyone's bucket had a catch, with the smallest catch being at least one fish.
Qiu Xi was perplexed!
Was her technique lacking?
Or was she truly just unlucky?!
"Alright, alright, that's enough fish. Let's all put our lines away."
As Qiu Xi was thinking, she heard Shen Yan call out.
"Ah Hua, let's reel in our lines too. We'll go back with everyone."
"Okay."
"Sister Xi, where did you get these lotus roots, and all these miscellaneous lotus leaves and flowers?"
Zhao Huasheng, acting as a porter, had quite a lot to say.
"We picked them up while we were out shopping with Yan Yan earlier. We'll make something delicious when we get back."
Qiu Xi had already decided what to do with these lotus roots: simmer them in soup and make a small snack. It would be perfect.
Although in this weather, cold lotus root slices would be suitable, Qiu Xi had already checked the lotus roots and they probably weren't very crisp. She decided against it.
"Then we'll have a feast tonight!"
Everyone present, except for Zhou Fei, had tasted Qiu Xi's cooking before, so they were all eagerly anticipating the upcoming dinner.
...
"Little Xi, is there anything else needed?"
"No, by the time these stuffed lotus roots are done, the soup should be ready too. We can eat shortly."
"Alright, let's go see if my parents are coming back."
Although they had returned to the village, apart from this group of young people, all the adults and elderly were not idle.
Therefore, there were only the nine of them in the house at the moment.
Qiu Xi replied, "Mm."
She was busy with the stuffed lotus roots.
Two thin slices夹着 meat, then coated in flour mixed with eggs, and fried later. They would be a good choice whether served as a main course or as a post-meal snack.
As for the fish, the people outside had taken charge of it.
They kept a few for later consumption, and the rest were taken by everyone to be grilled.
Putting aside their grilling skills, as long as it was paired with Qiu Xi's seasoning, it probably wouldn't be bad.
Therefore, Qiu Xi wasn't worried about any culinary disasters. As long as they weren't burnt black, nothing else would be a problem.
By dinner time, only Aunt Hu had returned.
"Let's start eating. Your Uncle Shen and his group are still busy."
Shen Yingjun had returned this time to resolve the issue with the roses.
Whether for personal use or wholesale sales, these were matters to be discussed.
So, a large group of people were currently chatting.
As for the two elderly people, they also had things to look after. The watermelons, peaches, and grapes on the mountain, while they were away, most of the matters on the mountain were handled by the two elderly people.
Although these two elderly people were old, their health was still quite good, so they were never idle.
"Aunt Hu, then we won't stand on ceremony."
Hu Yanhua smiled. "Eat, eat."
After speaking, she started picking up her chopsticks.
...
Night.
Qiu Xi, having finished her washing up, called Shen Yan, and the two went to find Hu Yanhua.
The gifts prepared earlier by everyone were to be delivered by Qiu Xi. Seeing that the time tonight was just right, they decided to give them together, otherwise, they might not have time in the next few days.
"Knock knock knock!"
"Mom, we're coming in~"
Saying this symbolically, Shen Yan brought Qiu Xi inside.
"Yo~"
"I didn't expect our family's beautiful teacher to be more professional than me when it comes to skincare!"
As soon as they entered, they saw someone busy applying products in front of the dressing table.
"Your mom is old, not like you young girls."
"Still calling yourselves naturally beautiful every day!"
Shen Yan's face darkened. "..."
This was indirectly talking about her!
She used to nag about naturally beautiful but hard to abandon...
"By the way, why are you two here? Is something up?" Hu Yanhua asked while tidying up, looking at the two who walked in late at night.
"Aunt Hu, I came with Yan Yan to give you something."
"It's all prepared by everyone before coming, just a small token of our appreciation."
Qiu Xi handed over several boxes as she spoke.
Shen Yan chimed in from the side, speaking quite frankly, "Mom, you must accept this. Everyone has prepared for a long time. There are also some supplements, I've put them in Grandma's storeroom. You can talk to Grandma tomorrow."
"..."
Hu Yanhua suppressed a smile. "What a way for a young girl to talk! It's a good thing it's your mom, otherwise, I'd definitely lecture you a bit."
Fortunately, they were all family, so there was no need to be so mindful.
Hu Yanhua turned to look at Qiu Xi and began to nag, "But you girls are really something. Auntie has everything, yet you still prepared gifts. It's really thoughtful."
"From now on, when you come to Auntie's, don't bring anything. Just bring yourselves."
"Okay~ Then we won't be polite with Auntie anymore~"
"Don't be polite! Do whatever makes you happy."
"Alright!"
"Here, Auntie, take a look at what we prepared for you."
"Okay~ Let me see."
"Not bad! You've all put in effort."
Most of the items here were things that she, at her age and profession, could use.
"Why is there a brush here?"
Hu Yanhua, flipping through them, seemed a bit curious.
"Mom, this is from Little Xi. Didn't you say last time you wanted to see Little Xi's calligraphy when you had time? So, this brush is for you."
Hu Yanhua nodded as she looked. "Not bad, there are words on it too. 'Inkstone fragrant, a touch of fragrance,' quite good."
"Sometime, Qiu Xi, you must accompany me to write properly."
Qiu Xi nodded. "Okay! I'll definitely accompany Auntie to write when I have time."
This brush was still the one rewarded by the system earlier.
It would be good to check it out sometime, to see if it could truly emit fragrance.