Stir-Frying Vegetables

The two children widened their eyes and quickly dug out the remaining pieces of ginger. When they planted the trees, they made marks on them to water them accurately.

It was easy to dig out all the ginger pieces. They found that all the pieces had turned black, except for one stubborn piece that refused to sprout. They broke open with a gentle twist, revealing what seemed to be black cotton inside, clearly beyond repair.

Bao Shanbao was fine, but Bai Shanbao couldn't help shedding tears, one by one. The ginger was planted in his yard, and he had to check on it every morning when he woke up and before he went to bed. He had developed an emotional attachment to these ginger plants.

Bai Shanbao cried miserably, clutching his ginger cat, tears streaming down his swollen eyes and covering his face. Man Bao used her muddy hands to wipe his tears, making him look even more pitiful.

Keke said, "This is from overwatering." "Ask him how much water he actually poured."

Bai Shanbao cried, "I wanted them to sprout quickly, so I watered them in the morning, after school in the afternoon, and before bed at night." "Don't flowers and plants love water?"

Man Bao thought he was foolish. "They will drown." My family's land is located near the riverbank, and every year we are concerned about planting crops. Heavy rains in May and June can cause the beans to rot and the rice to be washed away. How can you water them so much? "When I plant ginger, I only sprinkle a little water every few days."

That was when she remembered to water them. When she forgot to water them, they all sprouted.

Man Bao couldn't admit that she was lazy and fortunate. She felt that way because she was knowledgeable about planting ginger.

So, she took out two pieces of ginger from the soil and said to Bai Shanbao, "Let's replant them, but this time, let's not water them as much."

Bai Shanbao sniffed and, together with Man Bao, cut the two large pieces of ginger into smaller pieces and buried them.

He asked, "What if I can't resist watering them?"

Man Bao came up with a bad idea. "If you can't resist, ask someone to prepare some flower fertilizer for you." Every time you feel the urge to water, sprinkle a little fertilizer. Ginger loves fertilizer.

Bai Shanbao didn't know what flower fertilizer was, but he liked the name, so he nodded.

The next day, he found Man Bao looking displeased. "The flower fertilizer smells bad."

Man Bao covered her nose and asked, "Did you take a bath today? Do you smell bad all over?"

Bai Shanbao was angry and rushed over to hug her. "Am I smelly?" "Smell me and you'll know, won't you?"

Man Bao was frightened and ran away. The two children chased, played, and soon they were happily hugging each other.

Man Bao then took him to their vegetable garden to see the ginger. She said, "It's sprouting now, and it will grow bigger in the future." By summer, we can dig it up and sell it. "When we make money, I'll treat you to goose meat."

Bai Shanbao wasn't fixated on food. After a moment of thought, he said, "When I earn money, I'll buy you a good pen."

The two of them made a promise.

Because Bai Shanbao promised to give her a gift, Man Bao felt that they were closer. As a result, she gave him two yam seeds that had been prepared at home. She said, "Yams can also be profitable, and they are particularly delicious." My friend mentioned that they are even tastier when stir-fried, but I am unsure about how to stir-fry. "I only know how to stew."

"I know how to stir-fry." "If you want to eat, come to my house."

Man Bao drooled and shook his head. "My mother doesn't allow me to eat outside."

Bai Shanbao came up with a bad idea. "Then tomorrow, I'll have Da Ji bring me a lunchbox." "I'll treat you to a meal."

Man Bao nodded vigorously.

Since starting school, Bai Shanbao had been eating and drinking with the other students. Mrs. Liu didn't want her grandson to be different and was afraid he would be isolated.

Fortunately, the children in the mountain village were open-minded and did not isolate anyone. At most, they would climb trees and play pranks. Mrs. Liu occasionally asked Da Ji to bring a lunchbox to Bai Shanbao to improve his nutrition.

Bai Shanbao was generous and shared all the delicious food with his friends. Man Bao, his tablemate, ate the most.

This time was no exception. Man Bao learned for the first time that vegetables could be stir-fried. She enjoyed the meal and remarked, "I wish my sister-in-law could cook like this at home."

Bai Shanbao nodded.

Keke said, "Your family can't do it."

"Why?"

"Because your family doesn't have an iron pot," Keke said. "Stir-frying vegetables requires an iron pot, and iron pots are not cheap." "Your mother probably wouldn't want to buy one."

Man Bao sighed. She realized that there were many things her mother was unwilling to buy, so she added another item to her list of purchases with her earnings: an iron pot.

For this reason, Man Bao deliberately went to Bai Shanbao's house to see what an iron pot looked like and observe how their cook stir-fried vegetables.

Man Bao salivated throughout the visit. Bai Shanbao was also hungry and salivated.

The cook was delighted and served them a variety of dishes. That evening, Man Bao went home with a full stomach after eating too much.

The atmosphere at home was a bit tense. Man Bao sensed it and slipped into the main room, where Mrs. Qian was talking. She waved to Man Bao and asked, "You're not going to school tomorrow, are you?"

Man Bao agreed.

"How long is the holiday?"

"Until the 17th." The teacher said, "After the Lantern Festival, he will come back to teach."

Mrs. Qian nodded and said, "The day after tomorrow is the Little New Year. Your brothers are going to the county town to buy New Year goods." "Do you want to go with them?"

Man Bao had already discussed with her fourth brother that they would go to the mountains tomorrow to dig up some fertile soil to fill their barren land. She hesitated for a moment and then shook her head. "I won't go." Let my brothers take the Fifth Brother with them.

It was fine to let Fifth Brother take the candy to the Fu family.

Zhou Lirang also wanted to go, so he sneaked in quietly, poked his youngest sister's waist, and said softly, "I want to go too."

Man Bao almost jumped into Mrs. Qian's arms, but she managed to steady herself and said, "Lirang, you can go too."

Mrs. Qian glared at Zhou Lirang but didn't stop him. "Fine." "Tomorrow, the eldest and second brothers will take the fifth and sixth brothers with them." "They need to buy a lot of things, so it's good to have two more people to help carry them."

Since the fourth brother lost money gambling, the fifth and sixth brothers have matured significantly over the past few months. They had been earning money for the family, but they were still young, so it was important for them to go out and have some fun.

Zhou Wulang and Zhou Lirang secretly cheered in their hearts as they each took one of Man Bao's arms and led her out.

Man Bao was carried back to her room by them, and when the adults saw this, they also excitedly went in.

Zhou Wulang took a look at his nephews and nieces and noticed that they all had a secret. They immediately closed the door and asked, "Man Bao, how much money have we saved with you?"