Tian Lai Bao played at Xia's house until nearly evening, and finally it was his eldest uncle Tian Fu Gui who came to take him back. Xia Zhi took Xia Shu home to prepare dinner. The Tian family wasn't home, and for every meal, Xia Zhi was in charge of what they ate.

  The family's grain is sufficient, and vegetables can be picked from the garden at any time. In addition, the mother hen raised by the family lays eggs every day. Xia Zhi won't waste money, but she also doesn't plan to deprive herself or Xia Qiao and Xia Shu of anything. Even if they save up money, it will definitely be taken away by Tian Shi to support her natal family.

  For dinner, she made something relatively simple. She had Xiaqiao pick some tender shepherd's purse, beat two eggs, and stir-fried a plate of fragrant shepherd's purse with eggs. In addition to this, there were also small yellow cucumbers marinated in the sauce jar that were very flavorful, finely chopped, and drizzled with a little bit of lard oil, making them delicious to eat with rice.

  As for staple food, it is still millet porridge. This is Xia Zhi's preference. In her world, they all ate rice, and millet was a childhood memory that she rarely had later on because it was too hard to buy.

  Xia Zhi loves to eat millet rice, especially the one that has been soaked in cold water, it's very refreshing and delicious, and eating it will never make you feel humid.

  After dinner, Xia Zhi was about to clean up when Sun Lan'er arrived. She rushed to clear the table and dishes, not letting Xia Zhi lift a hand. "Sixteen, rest, I'll take care of everything."

  Xiaqiao was surprised. Sun Lan'er was a diligent girl, usually when she came home, if she saw Tian Shi or Xia Zhi had work in their hands, she would rush to help, but never like this helping to clean up the dinner table and wash bowls and chopsticks.

  "Big brother, mother is not at home, I'll ask Lanzi sister to come and keep me company tonight." Xia Zhi told Xia Qiao.

  Sun Lan'er smiled with her head down: "Daqiao Ge, you have clothes too, give them to me to wash. And Xiao Shu's as well."

  Xiaqiao waved his hand: "That's how it is. Lanzi, you're doing a good job accompanying Shi Liu. Don't bother with other chores... there's plenty of work to do at home, that's tiring enough." Xiaqiao also sympathized with Sun Lan'er.

  "By the way, Sister Lanzi, you came so early, does Aunt Wu know?" Xia Zhi also asked Sun Lanzhu.

  "I told her. I finished all the household chores before coming over." Sun Lan'er replied with a smile. In order to come to Xia Zhi's house earlier, she had finished all the household chores early today.

  "Auntie Wu didn't say anything later, did she?" Xia Zhi leaned in close to Sun Lan'er and asked in a low voice.

  Sun Lan'er shook her head, "She didn't say anything, and she also told me to keep you company well and be more diligent. Oh right, sixteen, it seems like she went to the back yard to visit Dà Nǎi's house."

  "I know this. My grandma said she's willing to admit her fault. Lanzi sister, you don't have to be so careful in front of her from now on."

  "No wonder!" Sun Lan'er seemed to have realized something and felt grateful to Old Lady Xia, "The big milk in the backyard is a good person."

  "Hmm." Xia nodded.

  Sun Laner was indeed a good hand at work. She quickly helped Xia Zhi wash the bowls and chopsticks clean, and then went to the front yard to cut vegetables for the chickens and pigs raised by Xia Zhi's family. After feeding the chickens and pigs, she helped Xia Zhi sweep the yard, tidy up the house, and worked with great enthusiasm, with a smile still hanging on her mouth.

  Xiaqiao looked very uncomfortable, always helping on the side. Xia Zhi saw that the two of them were rushing to do chores, so he didn't go with them to compete, but instead took a needle and thread basket, sat in the courtyard, and did needlework under the evening light.

  They didn't enter the house until the last ray of sunlight had faded. Xia Zhi also brought Sun Lan'er to the backyard to see Old Man and Old Lady Xia, and took over Xiao Hei Yu'er.

  With Sun Lan'er around, Old Lady Xia felt even more at ease. When it came to taking care of children, Sun Lan'er had more experience than Xia Zhi.

  After returning, Sun Lan'er was even more reluctant to let Xia Zhi take action. She bustled in and out, serving water for Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu to wash up, and then she also combed Xia Zhi's hair.

  After finishing her homework neatly, Xia Zhi sat on the kang with Xiao Hei Yu to review today's lessons. Sun Lan Er couldn't read or write and didn't have the desire to do so, but she clearly enjoyed watching the two children study. She sat beside them, embroidering flowers on Xia Zhi's jacket under the lamplight.

  The little jackets for the summer solstice were all old, and originally there were no patterns on them. After Sun Lan'er embroidered flowers and grasses on them, the little jackets that didn't distinguish between boys and girls finally looked like a young girl's clothes.

  Many years later, many memories have faded away, but Xia Zhi can still recall the scene at that time. In her closet, beautiful dresses were replaced one after another, but the small jacket she had sewn and mended as a child remained. Sometimes, she would take out these jackets to show her little ones.

  Not for commemorating the hard years that have passed, but for commemorating the warmth and happiness in those years, as well as the people who brought her these warmth and happiness.

  Happiness is actually very simple.

  Perhaps it was because Tian wasn't there, or perhaps it was because Sun Lan'er accompanied her, or maybe both, but this night, Xia Zhi slept more soundly than ever before. When she opened her eyes, the sky had already lightened slightly.

  The little black fish slept soundly on his side. This child was so lively and mischievous, but when he slept, he was unusually well-behaved. Looking at the other side, Sun Lan's bed was empty.

  Sun Laner has gotten up and is boiling water in the main room to cook. She asked Xia Zhi last night what he wanted to eat this morning and how much rice to use.

  It's really happy to have a gentle and hardworking sister. Xia Zhi turned over in her bed, got up happily: another brand new day.

  Sun Lan'er helped Xia Zhi finish all the household chores in the morning before hurrying back to the Sun family.

  "Lan'er, I'll leave you some breakfast. You can eat it when you come back." Xia Zhi instructed Sun Lan'er. Sun Lan'er didn't want to agree at first, but Xia Zhi was very insistent. She understood the temperament of Sun Wangshi, if Sun Lan'er could save one meal for the Sun family, Sun Wangshi's attitude towards Sun Lan'er would be slightly better.

  Xia Zhi's family never lacks food, and they don't mind if Sun Lan'er has an extra bowl of rice. In fact, if it were possible, Xia Zhi would rather have Sun Lan'er eat all three meals at her house. Sun Lan'er often goes hungry at the Sun household. Whenever Sun Wangshi gives her a look, she has to put down her rice bowl.

  Understood the meaning of summer solstice, Sun Lan'er finally nodded.

  Xiaqiao smiled slightly behind Xia Zhi's back.

  "Sixteen, let's wait for Sister Lanzi to come over and have dinner together tonight." After Sun Lanzhu left, Xia Qiao discussed with Xia Zhi.

  Xia Zhi nodded and agreed.

  Sun Lan'er finished her work at the Sun's house in the morning and came to find Xia Zhi with a smile, holding several peony flowers in her hands, their roots wrapped in fresh soil. "Sixteen, I'll help you plant the flowers."

  "Good." Xia nodded and went to the shed to fetch a hoe and a spade, then together with Sun Lan'er, they planted several peony flowers in the empty space in the courtyard.

  Sun Lan'er was not only clever with her hands, but also particularly fond of and good at raising flowers. The discarded, wilted flowers that others threw outside, she would pick up and care for a few days, and they would be able to regain their vitality.

  Although no one in Sun's family supported her hobby, she persisted. Moreover, whenever she cultivated some good flowers, she would first give them to Xia Zhi.

  Xia Zhi also likes flowers, and there is no one in her family who dislikes flowers.

  ……

  I've asked my mom to make some cornmeal pancakes for me many times, but she never agrees. She always says I definitely won't like them. Sometimes when I pester her too much, she says she'll sift some flour for me to make them myself, but she's never actually done it! My own mom!