Farming Family's Pocket Dimension: A Charmed Little Lady Comes to Farm

Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Gluttonous Little Fei

The Gu Family’s third son, Gu Rong, was only with his wife, Ms. Li. They had just managed to build an earthen stove next to Gu Fei’s family’s area with great difficulty when Gu Zhang walked over, frowning. "Third Brother, don’t bother. Just eat with my family."

He knew his third brother had little money; he had even borrowed the silver for the mule cart from Little Fei. His family’s grain supply probably wouldn’t last more than a few days either.

Gu Rong hesitated. "Second Brother, I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m afraid Eldest Brother will have something to say about it."

’That sister-in-law of ours can’t stand to see others prosper. She’d probably try to find some excuse to eat with your family, too.’

’No matter how much silver Little Fei has, can she really support this whole extended family?’

Gu Zhang snorted. "I’m willing to support my own brother. What business is it of his?"

He was rather annoyed with his eldest brother after today’s events. The man couldn’t even control his own wife, letting her run her mouth from dawn till dusk.

Gu Rong shook his head. "Let’s just forget it. I still have some grain in my cart. When the day comes that I’m at the end of my rope, I’ll have no choice but to beg Eldest Brother for a scrap to eat."

Gu Zhang sighed. "Suit yourself."

Li Chunhua purified some water with alum, then came over to ask Mrs. Chen, "Mother, what are we having for dinner tonight?"

Without looking up, Mrs. Chen replied, "Ask your sister for some rice. We’re having rice tonight."

’White rice and meat while fleeing a famine... This life is more comfortable than being at home. The only tiring part is all the walking.’

Gu Fei got up, gave the rice to Li Chunhua, and then ladled out some water to wash the wild vegetables.

Only then did Gu Zhang remember he hadn’t unhitched the cart. He quickly did so, leading the mule to the livestock shed in the back to eat its fodder.

Uncle Ma ambled about with his hands clasped behind his back.

But no matter where he wandered, he kept a constant, subtle watch on Gu Fei.

’So far,’ he thought, ’aside from the mysterious origin of her silver, Gu Fei doesn’t seem any different from other young girls.’

Gu Qing and Sanlang soon returned, carrying a large bundle of dry branches. With the ongoing drought, there was no shortage of dead trees, so firewood was plentiful. They had gathered so much that they even shared some with their youngest uncle’s family next to them.

Gu Fei noticed that while the men from each family lent a hand here and there, none of them were actually in charge of the cooking. That task still fell to the women.

Before long, the courtyard was filled with an array of delicious smells.

The aroma of white rice, the scent of cornmeal, the fragrance of various grains, and even the smell of smoked meat.

Gu Fei followed one particularly enticing aroma and found her eldest aunt stir-frying a pot of some kind of smoked meat.

Yellow flames shot up high as her aunt tossed in a handful of garlic. The contents of the pot began to SIZZLE, releasing an even richer aroma.

Her aunt saw Gu Fei standing nearby, practically drooling, and smiled. "This is smoked rabbit. Your uncle caught it in the mountains and smoked it with pine needles. When it’s ready, take a bowlful with you."

Gu Fei waved her hands in refusal. "No, really, Eldest Aunt! You should keep it for your own family." With that, she scurried away.

’So embarrassing! Waaaah! I’m no different from those little kids who are always begging me for candy.’

Meanwhile, Mrs. Chen finished mincing the meat, mixed in some salt and seasonings, and began dropping the mixture into the boiling pot, forming meatballs.

The meatballs quickly floated to the surface one by one, their aroma utterly tantalizing.

In less than half an hour, nearly every family had finished preparing their evening meal.

Mrs. Chen grabbed a few bowls and began to ladle the meatball soup into them.

She filled one bowl and handed it to Gu Fei. "Take this to your eldest aunt’s family."

Gu Fei hurried over with the bowl.

Her eldest aunt beamed at the sight of the soup, pouring it into one of her own bowls. Then, she picked up her chopsticks and began piling the smoked rabbit meat into Gu Fei’s now-empty bowl.

Gu Fei was dying for a taste, so she only protested weakly a few times. When she saw her aunt had already piled nearly half the meat into her bowl, she quickly snatched it back. "That’s enough, Eldest Aunt! If you give me any more, you won’t have enough for your own family."

After a moment’s thought, she pulled a steamed bun from the folds of her clothing and offered it to her aunt. "Here, please have this."