Chapter 212 The Shen Family Sets Up a Fire

At this moment, Shen Xiaoxiao and her family of three were bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, chatting and laughing as they strolled home along the path.

They unexpectedly encountered several former educated youth from the educated youth compound.

Xiahou Jie, the most active among them, had sharp eyes. As soon as he spotted Shen Xiaoxiao's family, he quickly walked over and greeted them with a big smile: "Uncle, Aunt, and Xiaoxiao, what a coincidence!"

Faced with Xiahou Jie's warm greeting, Shen Xiaoxiao simply smiled slightly and remained silent.

However, her mother, Ma Aning, was exceptionally enthusiastic, quickly responding with a smile, "Oh, it's Xiahou Zhiqing! How are you settling in with the village lately?"

And so, Xiahou Jie and Ma Aning started chatting back and forth.

Just as the two were having a pleasant conversation, Shen Xiaoxiao overheard her mother saying to Xiahou Jie, "It's almost time to harvest the grain, isn't it? If you and Dai Zhiqing have nowhere to eat these next few days, you can come to our house and make do."

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Jie was overjoyed and quickly agreed: "Auntie, are you serious? That's wonderful! We'll deliver the grain to you in a bit."

Seeing this, Ma Aning waved her hand generously and said, "Just send it over. It's the same as cooking for three people. It's just a matter of adding two more pairs of chopsticks."

Shen Xiaoxiao finally couldn't suppress her inner impulse and slowly raised her eyes. In that instant, her gaze met Dai Xingyun's eyes, which were as bright as stars and full of smiles.

In an instant, time seemed to freeze, and everything around seemed to be frozen in place, abruptly ceasing its original movement.

Only their gazes, like two lively ribbons of light, intertwined and lingered in the air, inseparable.

Shen Xiaoxiao's pretty face flushed bright red, as delicate and luscious as a ripe apple.

She hurriedly lowered her head in a panic, no longer daring to look directly into Dai Xingyun's deep and passionate eyes, her heart pounding like a rabbit in her chest.

Xiahou Jie was worried that if he didn't come up with a solution soon, he would definitely be discovered. So, he rushed forward, grabbed Dai Xingyun's hand tightly, and ran away without saying a word.

He ran while shouting, "Uncle, Aunt, we're going back to get the grain right now! Wait for us!" His running speed was lightning fast, and he disappeared from everyone's sight in the blink of an eye, as if he was afraid that someone would change their mind and stop him halfway.

Watching Xiahou Jie's departing figure, Ma Aning couldn't help but chuckle, shaking her head and sighing, "This child, running so fast, does he really think I would go back on my word?"

Shen Xiaoxiao, standing to the side, couldn't help but chuckle, a faint smile spreading across her face.

In fact, she knew perfectly well that Xiahou Jie left in such a hurry because he was worried that Dai Xingyun was too blatant and would be discovered by her parents and beaten up. Another reason was that she was afraid Ma Aning would change her mind and she would have to make pig feed herself again.

"Mom and Dad, let's hurry home! That Xiahou Zhiqing has a thicker skin than a corner of a city wall! I bet he'll be swaggering right to our doorstep in no time."

"Who knows, she's probably already planning to freeload at our house tonight!" Shen Xiaoxiao said, holding her parents' hands tightly as they hurried home.

Hearing her daughter's words, Ma Aning frowned and said with a hint of reproach, "How can you talk like that? It's so impolite!"

However, Shen Xiaoxiao just mischievously stuck out her tongue and then fell silent.

And so, the family of three quickly arrived at their doorstep.

Just as Ma Aning was about to go into the kitchen to cook, there was a sudden, urgent knocking at the door. She casually replied, "Who is it? Coming!" Then she quickly walked to the door and gently opened it.

Standing outside the door were Xiahou Jie and Dai Xingyun, each carrying some sacks of grain.

Ma Aning looked at them with some surprise and said, "Oh, you two actually moved the grain over tonight? Actually, it would have been perfectly fine to move it tomorrow."

At this moment, Xiahou Jie smiled and put down the heavy bag of rice on his shoulder, replying nonchalantly, "Hehe, Auntie, you don't know, we just wanted to move here as soon as possible so we could enjoy your delicious cooking sooner, so we rushed over here."

After saying that, he gave Ma Aning a fawning smile.

"Auntie, I'll have to trouble you to take good care of me from now on!" Dai Xingyun said obediently, his clear eyes sparkling with sincerity and gratitude.

Ma Aning smiled and replied, "Oh dear, why are you being so polite with your aunt? I'll go cook now. You two go to the living room and chat with your uncle. The food will be ready soon." As soon as she finished speaking, she turned and walked towards the kitchen.

Dai Xingyun and Xiahou Jie quickly picked up their heavy grain bags, which were filled with rice and flour, as well as a basket of fresh eggs and a piece of fragrant cured meat.

These foods were gifts they had carefully prepared.

The two followed closely behind Ma Aning and entered the kitchen together.

"Auntie, this is cured meat that we sent from home. It smells so good! And these eggs were traded with other villagers for some of our own things."

"If we finish eating them, we'll find a way to get some more," Dai Xingyun explained softly, his tone very gentle.

Ma Aning waved her hand generously and said with a smile, "No need, no need. My aunt has prepared plenty at home, enough for us to eat for the next few days." As she spoke, she skillfully took the ingredients and began to get busy.

Before long, a sumptuous dinner was served.

On the table was a plate of steaming, tempting-looking steamed cured pork, with slices of meat, alternating between lean and fat, emitting a rich aroma.

There is also a refreshing and delicious cucumber salad, with bright green cucumber strips paired with red chili strips, which looks so appetizing.

In addition, there was a fragrant stir-fried long beans. The tender green beans turned glossy and bright green after being tossed in the pan, emitting a refreshing aroma.

Each dish is served in very generous portions, enough to satisfy everyone's hunger.

Xiahou Jie sat at the dining table and praised Ma Aning's cooking skills without reservation: "Sister-in-law, your cooking skills are simply amazing! This dish is even better than the ones in the big restaurants in the city!"

As he spoke, he chewed the food in his mouth with great gusto, a satisfied smile on his face.