Educated Youth in the Countryside: She is the Village's Embroidery Queen!-Chapter 495: Coming Back Smelly

During this time, there usually aren’t many people in the family area because adults are at work and children are at school.

The beach is off-limits.

Yi Chichi is pregnant, not as nimble as before, and He An is too young. If something were to happen at the beach, it would be hard for her to help with her big belly.

So, after thinking it over, Yi Chichi decided to take her to the small park to play with sand.

But unexpectedly, the little girl had a bit of a cleanliness obsession. Upon reaching the small park and learning that Yi Chichi wanted to play with sand, He An refused.

"Aunt, I’m a big girl now. I don’t play with sand, that’s for kids."

"..."

"Aunt, let’s draw."

"That’s something we can do."

It’s safe, won’t get her hands or clothes dirty, suitable for the two of them who are not so sturdy.

"Come on, auntie will teach you how to draw."

So, the big and the small ones strolled back home.

They arrived just as Wen’s mother was bringing out the prepared abalone to place on the mat. He An quickly went over to help, "Grandma, let me do it."

"No need."

Wen’s mother quickly stopped her, "The abalone just came out of the pot, it’s hot."

Worried that Yi Chichi might join in the fun, she added, "An’an, you and auntie go play inside, Chichi, remember to get her something to eat, and also make her a glass of water with jam."

Yi Chichi said okay, and led He An into the house to prepare some snacks and jam water for her.

As she was getting He An settled, Wen’s mother finished laying out the abalone and came into the house.

"You two stay at home, I’ll go join up with Yang Qing and them."

"Aunt Yang and them aren’t home."

He An, who had taken a stroll around the compound, reported in a childish voice.

Wen’s mother was packing her things to go out, and said without looking up, "I know, your Aunt Yang and the others went to Datian Village, I’m going there to find them."

Yi Chichi, "... I thought you were meeting at the entrance of the family compound."

"We can’t do that, they have to work, they rest in the afternoon, we arranged to meet somewhere else."

As they spoke, she finished packing her things, checked the time and saw it was almost ten o’clock, and walked out, "You guys play at home, I’m leaving now."

"Mom, aren’t you having lunch?"

Yi Chichi shouted, Wen’s mother laughed, "No, we’ve arranged to eat at the state-run restaurant."

"Do you have money and food coupons?"

"I do, I brought ten bucks."

Yi Chichi wasn’t short on money, and she was generous with it, especially to Wen’s mother and Wen Shi.

Her motto was, life’s too short to not live it well: eat well, dress well, and be happy every day.

If this idea were pushed onto a frugal mother-in-law or husband, they wouldn’t know how many fights that would cause.

But Wen’s mother grew up in a privileged background, having been raised with plenty of food and fine clothes.

As she grew older, she could bear hardships and enjoy blessings.

When it came to spending money, she and Yi Chichi surprisingly got along, so there was never an issue with spending too much causing conflict.

After the mother- and daughter-in-law joined the military, it wasn’t unusual to eat out if they didn’t want to cook or eat at the canteen.

Patting her pocket, Wen’s mother turned her head and asked, "Shall I bring back some dishes for you?"

Yi Chichi, who was about to say no, swallowed her words because she suddenly craved the restaurant’s Dongpo pork.

"If you can, bring back some Dongpo pork."

The restaurant owner was from Danzhou, coming from a long line of chefs; their Dongpo pork was a standout.

After trying it once, Yi Chichi fell in love with it.

Wen’s mother and Wen Shi were the same way.

Upon hearing this, Wen’s mother swallowed her saliva, "Sure, if they have it today, I’ll bring several portions back."

Before she finished speaking, she hurried off.

Yi Chichi didn’t manage to voice out her unspoken words, she watched Wen’s mother’s figure fade away, then smiled and returned to the table where He An was nimbly peeling pine nuts with her small fingers.

Peeling one and eating one, her expression was one of enjoyment.

Seeing Yi Chichi coming over, she offered the peeled pine nut, "Aunt, have some."

"An’an, eat it yourself."

Yi Chichi refused her offer, grabbing a handful of peeled nuts and giving them to her, "Have we finished all the pine nuts at home?"

"They’re all gone."

The little girl wrinkled her nose and sighed like a little grown-up, "Daddy’s mouth is too big, he finishes them in one bite."

"He didn’t save any for you?"

"Dad comes back all smelly, I feel sorry for him!"

Yi Chichi burst out laughing, fortunate that Old He wasn’t there, otherwise he might be heartbroken by the little girl’s words, being called smelly is quite damaging to a father’s self-esteem.

He An didn’t understand her amusement and looked puzzled, "Aunt, will uncle come back smelly too?"

"Yes!"

She replied warmly, "Uncle, like your dad, goes out to sea regularly. Freshwater is limited out there, the sea smell is strong, and they can’t bathe daily, just wipe down, combined with constant sweating, smelling is normal."

He An seemed to partially understand, but still commented, "That’s tough."

"It is tough."

Not only tough, but it’s also hard.

The navy, with a history of a hundred years, still has a long way to go.

Pine nuts can’t fill one’s stomach, they’re just for nibbling.

A few more sips of the sweet and sour jam water, and He An’s little belly was almost tricked.

Then the little girl eagerly said she wanted to draw.

When a child finds their own fun, Yi Chichi has no reason to refuse, so she gave her a colored pencil and a sketchbook, asking if she wanted to draw herself or wanted her help.

The kid was ambitious, firmly stating she’d draw by herself.

So she let her draw away.

By drawing, she meant random scribbles, genuinely a talented soul artist.

Every time she finished something, she’d show and ask if her flowers or birds looked good.

Yi Chichi encouraged her, naturally praising her drawings, making the little girl so happy she hummed a tune.

It was a military song.

Surprisingly, she sang quite well.

Even if she didn’t remember all the lyrics, knowing just a few lines, it was enough to amuse Wen Shi, who returned with lunch to eat together with them.

"Oh my, my little girl is amazing, better at singing than your dad."

He put down the lunch box, hugged Yi Chichi, and started praising, making He An grin widely and laugh.

The laughter was magical and childlike.

Bringing joy to everyone.

"Uncle, hug!"

She put down her paintbrush and reached out to Wen Shi.

"Hug!"

Wen Shi picked her up and hugged her, patting her two pigtails, and chuckled, "Are you hungry? Shall we have lunch with aunt?"

"...Okay."

Actually, she wasn’t very hungry, but since aunt has a baby in her belly, mommy said it’s important not to be hungry, to eat well.

So the three of them started having lunch, chatting as they ate.

"The fish is delicious, wife, you and An’an have more."

Wen Shi brought back a steamed red grouper, tender and delicious, which both the big and small ones loved.

"Got it, you eat too, it’ll taste fishy when it’s cold."

Not tasty then.

Yi Chichi served him a piece as well, then gave another to He An, and leisurely said, "Are you taking a lunch break at home?"

"I’m leaving after eating, I have a meeting to attend later."