Chapter 516: Chapter 516: From Luxury to Frugality Is Hard
Wen Shi was dissatisfied with her ignoring it.
This guy can hold his tongue; he was awakened by the smell of sauerkraut fish at dinnertime, then brushed his teeth, washed his face, and took a quick shower, acting like he hadn’t eaten in five hundred years, transforming into a glutton.
Wen’s mother made three dishes and a soup. Wen Yi didn’t join the table due to breastfeeding. After Wen’s mother and Yi Chichi each had two bowls of rice and some dishes, the rest were all devoured by him.
"Are you full?"
Wen’s mother couldn’t help but feel sorry for her son, thinking he looked so pitiful, like a refugee, hungry and worried he hadn’t eaten enough, prepared to make something more for him.
"I’m full!"
Wen Shi burped, reclining against the chair back with satisfaction, letting out a heartfelt sigh, "Finally, I ate my fill, I haven’t had a proper meal lately."
"So busy you don’t even have time to eat?"
Yi Chichi and Wen’s mother exchanged glances, both looking at him.
He shook his head, "Not really, except for the initial ten days or so when I was so busy I only slept three to four hours a day, it was actually fine later..."
"And still went hungry."
Wen’s mother questioned dissatisfied.
Wen Shi sighed, "It wasn’t to my taste, eating didn’t feel satisfying."
Wen’s mother and Yi Chichi immediately fell silent.
Taste preferences are greatly influenced by one’s growing environment.
Additionally, due to regional differences, each province’s dietary habits are actually quite different.
Some can eat any flavor and are easy to feed, but some, if not to their taste, see a decrease in appetite and don’t eat much.
Wen Shi’s issue isn’t severe; after all, the place he stayed previously was quite harsh, having anything to eat was good enough, filling one’s stomach without going hungry was even more of a blessing.
But, it’s easier to get used to luxury than frugality.
The island, thanks to rich ocean resources, provided for decent meals.
Of course, their favorite was meat, braised pork, chunks of fatty meat.
But compared to before, although they couldn’t eat pork every day, life improved by countless times.
When Yi Chichi brought Wen’s mother to follow the army, he started going home to eat.
Yi Chichi knows how to spend and is willing to spend, not skimping on food for herself and the family; Wen’s mother, under her urging, also generously adds oil, salt, and other seasonings, making the dishes taste naturally better.
This spoiled Wen Shi’s taste, making it unsurprising when he suddenly faced unaccustomed food.
However—
"It’s not a bad thing if you get used to it early."
"Why?"
Wen Shi’s eyes widened suddenly, filled with confusion looking at Yi Chichi.
"Don’t you forget, Old Li and the others are about to return; then it’ll be your turn to lead the team out to sea, you know the food situation onboard."
With Yi Chichi’s words, Wen Shi’s face dropped instantly, "Indeed, people can’t enjoy good days."
"Let mom make some jars of paste for you to take along."
If it’s tough, just use the paste with rice.
At the beginning of the voyage, meals are decent, but over time, fresh fruits and vegetables become scarce, and eating seafood for extended periods isn’t sustainable.
In such times, strong-flavored foods are needed to alleviate this.
Why do seafarers love bringing pickled vegetables, Fengyou essence?
Because the former goes well with rice and stimulates appetite, the latter refreshes and energizes.
While there’s no pickled mustard but Wen’s mother’s homemade pickles are exceptional.
Wen Shi’s eyes lit up, turned to Wen’s mother, "Mom, can we?"
"We can."
Wen’s mother readily agreed, "I’ll buy meat tomorrow to make meat paste for you to take along, I’ll make a few jars of spicy, numbing spicy, and thirteen spices."
Wen Shi was moved to tears, hugged Wen’s mother sentimentally saying she was truly kind.
Wen’s mother responded by smacking the back of his head, "You’re so grown up, still clingy and indecent."
The slapped Wen Shi felt unloved again, especially when Wen’s mother approached the baby crib to watch Wen Yi, he couldn’t help but softly complain to Yi Chichi, "Mom now has a grandson and doesn’t love her son anymore."
"Never mind, I love you."
Yi Chichi gently comforted him, making Wen Shi delighted.
Happily, he tidied up the dishes, then happily went to see his son.
Wen Yi was also not shy, upon seeing his extended hand grabbed one of his fingers quickly and stuffed it into his mouth.
Wen Shi hurriedly pulled back, not pulling was fine, but upon pulling, he exclaimed, "Son, you’re good, such strength in your hand."
Before words were finished, he took Wen Yi out of the crib, trying to let him stand on his legs.
Yi Chichi quickly stopped him seeing it wasn’t good, "Don’t let him stand, he’s too young, his spine’s support capability is too weak, and leg muscles and bones aren’t strong enough to support standing, it’s not good for his development."
Heeding advice, Wen Shi promptly changed the child’s position, holding him in his arms. Surprised by being suddenly surrounded in a broad embrace, Wen Yi was astonished for a moment, then curiously made a sound towards Yi Chichi.
"This is Dad!"
Yi Chichi, smiling, held his little hand, placing it on Wen Shi’s face, "Touch Dad, remember his look and smell, you’ll recognize when familiar."
Wen Shi looked expectantly at Wen Yi, the father and son faced each other.
Then—
Wen Shi grinned at him, Wen Yi’s hand went into his mouth trying to inspect his mouth.
Wen Shi, "..."
What kind of hobby is this?
His son bypassed his handsome face to investigate his mouth, truly speechless.
Just trying to remove his hand, Wen Yi began to study his ears.
Noting the father and son playing well, with Wen Yi not seeming like he’ll cry, Yi Chichi pulled Wen’s mother to the vegetable garden, pointing at the lush-growing greens, "Mom, let’s dry some vegetables!"
Wen’s mother, "??? Why did you think of drying vegetables?"
This isn’t fruit, and their production is abundant.
This plot of land couldn’t yield much in terms of vegetables.
"Let Wen Shi bring them along."
"The wind-drying takes long, and we don’t have a suitable stove for artificial drying..."
"Can we build one?"
It’s possible, but, "When exactly will Wen Shi leave?"
She needed to see if there was enough time.
"Need to wait for Old Li and them to come back."
Wen’s mother considered, "Alright, I’ll call someone tomorrow to build a stove."
Thus, the topic ended here.
In the evening, after the couple put Wen Yi to sleep, Wen Shi immediately reached out his hand to her, "Wife, do you think there’s something wrong with my hands?"
Yi Chichi instantly understood his intention for her to show concern.
She took cream over, "A bit rough, let me take care of them for you."
Before finishing speaking, she opened the lid, scooped a blob of cream into her palm, rubbed it, then applied it to his hands.
Wen Shi, "..."
This isn’t what he expected.
He said pitifully, "I’m hurt, and you don’t feel sorry for me at all."
"Says who? I am looking after your hands now."
Yi Chichi wouldn’t take blame for not being caring, she carefully tended to his hands, then embraced him, "I do feel sorry for you; while you were playing with Wen Yi, I talked to mom about making dehydrated vegetables."
Wen Shi’s attention instantly diverted, "Dried veggies?"
This description wasn’t wrong; whether dried veggies or dehydrated vegetables, they were dry.
Considering this, she replied with a hum, "Let’s make various kinds. Once at sea and fresh fruits and veggies run out, use these dried veggies to cook. Supplementing vitamins this way is also good."
