Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 626: Chapter 626: Mother-Daughter Affection
 

Liu Sisi stood up but didn’t agree with him right away.

“Well, after all, I am a virtuous woman, so I still need to go back and discuss the specifics with my husband to see what he says. Everyone has been working hard with the recent events here,” said Liu Sisi.

The foreman was slightly stunned and hurriedly bowed with a fist greeting: “Of course, of course!”

Liu Sisi left the wharf without saying a word.

“Mom, what does it mean to build a dam across a river?” Little Ying beside her asked.

“Building a river dam is constructing a barrier on the surface of the water, which is much more difficult than building one on the shore,” Liu Sisi replied, unsure how to explain it to YingEr.

“Then, is mom saying that they want to build a dam across the river?”

“I don’t know, but if we really were to build a river dam, the silver needed for it would be impossible for your father and me to provide on our own,” she said.

“Why?”

“Silly child, we don’t have enough money,” Liu Sisi sighed.

Although the Di family had gradually become better off, their resources were still shallow, and all of their current expenses were supported by the income from several shops.

The amount of silver needed for building the river dam far exceeded what she could afford at the moment.

Fortunately, YingEr didn’t continue to ask questions, but instead, she became curious about their current journey: “Mom, the sun is so big, where are we going now?”

“We are going to the mountain. There is a small hollow on the mountain here, where an academy has been built. We are going to go and check it out,” said Liu Sisi, walking somewhat out of breath.

“Mom, why don’t we take a cart instead of walking? I’m so tired…”

YingEr began to feel weary after only a short distance.

Liu Sisi laughingly said: “You naughty little thing, I never saw you complain about being tired when you used to run around on the slope every day. Now you’re starting to say you’re tired after walking just a little bit? You must practice and exercise more.”

YingEr, feeling embarrassed, stuck her tongue out: “Mom, I really am tired, and I’m also thirsty and hungry. Can we find a place to eat?”

“Eat? Where can we find food in this desolate place?” Liu Sisi looked around and found no place to eat in this wild area. Other than their group of people, she didn’t even see a single soul.

She held YingEr’s hand: “Hurry, if we get to the workers’ hut on the mountain hollow, there might be some food for us.”

“Ah, how much further do we have to go? YingEr really can’t walk any more.”

YingEr acted up, pouting her lips, and stopped moving forward no matter what.

Liu Sisi pointed to a cypress tree in the distance: “Do you see that cypress tree? We’ll be there once we reach it.”

This remark revived YingEr’s spirits: “Really, Mom?”

“Of course, it’s true!”

Liu Sisi replied earnestly.

However, after a moment, YingEr found out she had been tricked!

“Oh no, Mom! How could you deceive me? YingEr won’t accept this!” she cried.

“Mom didn’t deceive you; we really did arrive. Look, isn’t this a place to rest? Mom meant that we’d get to a place with a shade to rest,” Liu Sisi said, employing the same method Ye Lei often used.

Poor YingEr, deceived for the first time, refused to walk regardless of what Liu Sisi said.

“YingEr, you really won’t walk anymore?”

“Hmph, I won’t walk.”

“Alright, Nanny Hu, Xue Yi, let’s go on! I heard that there are quite a few wolf packs around here, and I wonder if they come out during the daytime too…”

Liu Sisi casually spoke, picking up a wooden stick as a temporary crutch and continued climbing the mountain.

Granny Hu and Snow Yi hurried to catch up, occasionally looking back with concern.

“Madam, isn’t it a bad idea to leave Miss YingEr alone? What if…”

“Don’t worry, she’ll catch up soon.”

Liu Sisi was brimming with confidence.

A wolf pack?

As a hunter’s daughter, YingEr not only knew about wolf packs, but also understood how dangerous they could be. She rested for a moment, and a cool breeze blew from the shade of the trees, bringing a chilly sensation to her back.

Suddenly, a wolf’s howl came from afar, startling YingEr!

She didn’t care about anything else, and quickly chased after Liu Sisi and the others in the direction they had departed.

“Madam, there really are… wolves?”

Granny Hu was also shocked by the wolf’s howl!

“Of course there are wolves. The dense forests in this area are home to many wild chickens and rabbits, naturally attracting a considerable number of wolves to form packs. However, as long as the there is food in the mountain, these wolf packs will not easily come down.”

Liu Sisi calmly said, casually brushing away the sweat-soaked strands of hair on her forehead: “Of course, this excludes old and weak lone wolves.”

“Lone wolves? Are there… differences between them?”

Snow Yi also felt a shiver down her spine and couldn’t help but looked back frequently.

“Usually, old and weak wolves in a pack will leave the pack when food is scarce and seek food on their own. Sometimes, these lone wolves, driven by hunger, may attack humans. For example, the one that just howled, you could tell it was alone, and its howling was filled with sadness.”

“Madam… you must have misheard? These beasts wouldn’t understand the concept of sadness.”

Granny Hu beside her couldn’t help but speak up.

“These are all things my husband told me, actually, I don’t know either.”

Liu Sisi sighed as she spoke.

“Mom, mom, wait for YingEr!”

As Liu Sisi predicted, YingEr quickly caught up, grabbing Liu Sisi’s clothes and refusing to let go.

“How are you? Tired? I have some mung bean and kelp soup here, would you like some?”

This was brought along when they left home in the morning, just perfect to drink now.

“Yes, YingEr wants to drink, mom, you’re the best!”

YingEr was happy now.

“Don’t worry, let’s walk up to that stone platform, sit down and drink it slowly, it’s so hot here under the sun!”

She took out her handkerchief and carefully wiped the sweat from YingEr’s face.

Knowing that there was mung bean and kelp soup to quench her thirst, YingEr was energized to continue walking. She took large strides up the steps and quickly climbed to the platform above.

They were almost there!

Liu Sisi let out a long sigh of relief. Walking under the tree shade, she opened the food box and took out the kelp soup.

There wasn’t much kelp soup, but Liu Sisi had thought that YingEr would definitely be thirsty while climbing the mountain, and this was the best way to beat the heat.

Pouring a small bowl, she handed it to YingEr: “Come on, drink quickly! Look, the ice cubes outside haven’t melted completely yet, this must also be cool, perfect for cooling down.”

“Mom, you should drink first. After you drink, YingEr will drink!” YingEr handed the small bowl to Liu Sisi’s mouth.

Liu Sisi blankly stared for a moment, then her face lit up: “Our YingEr is so understanding, good girl!”