Zhou Chenglei had already prepared to catch her! But Jiang Xia suddenly realized—there were only two geese. What was there to fear? They weren't snakes!
She suddenly turned around so quickly that both geese froze for a moment.
With nimble movements, Jiang Xia grabbed the neck of one goose as it stretched toward her and lifted its entire body off the ground! By then, the other goose had reacted and attacked too. She grabbed that goose by the neck as well and hoisted it high into the air!
Jiang Xia held both geese high above her head. It was a little strenuous, but she had to maintain her imposing air. She said fiercely, "Bite me! Are you going to bite me again? Just because I haven't shown my power, you think I'm a sick cat?"
"Tell me, do you dare do it again next time? If you dare bite me again, I'll slaughter you! I'll stew you!"
Zhou Chenglei: "..."
Zhou Chenglei lowered his hands and walked over.
After scolding them a couple of times, Jiang Xia put the two geese down.
The two geese attacked her again.
She grabbed their heads once more and lifted them into the air!
She glared into their eyes, her expression fierce. "Coming back for more? I'll stew you two!"
The two Lion Head Geese: "..."
This time, when Jiang Xia put them down again, the two big fellows no longer dared to fight. They immediately ran off!
Zhou Chenglei let out a quiet laugh.
Hearing him, Jiang Xia turned to look at him behind her. Remembering how fierce she had looked just now, she felt a little embarrassed. "Those two geese are so vicious. They chased me around trying to bite me."
Jiang Xia glanced at the two geese. They were currently wandering around the courtyard as if inspecting their new territory.
Zhou Chenglei suppressed the corners of his rising mouth and nodded. "Yeah, geese are a little fierce. I'll stew them for you next time. I'll go lock them up."
The way she had looked just now made it seem as if she was gradually getting used to life in the village.
How much she had disliked the chickens and ducks at home before! Whenever she saw them, she would cover her nose.
The corners of Zhou Chenglei's mouth rose unconsciously. He strode toward the two big geese. Perhaps all animals had an instinct for detecting danger: the moment the two geese saw Zhou Chenglei approach, they immediately ran. Where was the aggressive posture they had shown while chasing Jiang Xia just now?
They were simply like rats seeing a cat! Jiang Xia gnashed her teeth. These two bullies who only picked on the weak—I'll stew them sooner or later!
With one swift step, Zhou Chenglei bent down and swept out his long arm, grabbing one big goose by the neck. He took another step, straightened his waist, and caught the second one as well.
Holding both geese by their heads, he walked behind the house and locked them up.
After Zhou Chenglei secured the two geese, he came back out and saw Jiang Xia take out those strawberry seedlings and some flower seedlings.
He went to the utility room and brought out a hoe. "Where are you planning to plant these fruit trees and flowers?"
Jiang Xia had already thought it through. She pointed to a corner by the well. "The pomegranate should go beside the courtyard. Pomegranates have an auspicious meaning, and their flowers are red and festive. We could plant it in the front yard too. The grapes should go on the other side. We can build a grape trellis later."
Zhou Chenglei couldn't help glancing at her. Grapes produced many offspring, guavas produced many offspring too, and persimmons symbolized that everything would go as desired. Was buying so many plants associated with having many children and many blessings some kind of hint?
Jiang Xia didn't notice his look and continued, "Should we plant the guava and persimmon trees behind the house?"
"Sure. Then should we plant the strawberries and these flowers in the corner?" Zhou Chenglei asked.
"That was what I planned, but I'm worried the chickens will peck at the strawberries." The old hen took a flock of chicks around with her every day.
Zhou Chenglei said, "Plant the strawberries in flowerpots first. When they bear fruit, we can put them on top of the wall. I think there are two old flowerpots behind the house."
He went behind the house and brought back two old flowerpots, along with an old wooden basin with a broken edge. "If the flowerpots aren't big enough, plant them in the wooden basin for now. We can transplant them later."
Jiang Xia glanced at them. One was an earthen flowerpot, the same color as a roof tile. It was small and could only hold one strawberry plant. She nodded.
Zhou Chenglei first went to dig a hole in the corner for the pomegranate. He put the excavated soil into the flowerpots and wooden basin, then moved them beneath the eaves, where the sun was not too strong, so Jiang Xia could plant the strawberries in them.
He continued digging holes and planting the fruit trees himself.
By the time Jiang Xia finished planting the strawberries and flowers, Zhou Chenglei had dug all the holes as well.
The husband and wife worked together, one holding up the fruit trees while the other filled in the soil. The afterglow of the setting sun fell over them, and the courtyard was exceptionally peaceful and serene.
Before long, Father Zhou returned, pulling two bundles of bamboo in an Iron Bucket Cart, with Zhou Zhou following behind to help push it.
As soon as Zhou Zhou came in, she called sweetly, "Little Uncle, Little Aunt."
Then she ran to Zhou Chenglei and asked curiously, "Little Uncle, what are you doing?"
"Planting grapes for Zhou Zhou to eat. Does Zhou Zhou like grapes?"
Zhou Zhou nodded happily. "I like them."
Seeing this, Father Zhou said, "No wonder you had me cut some bamboo and bring it back. Is it for building a grape trellis?"
"Mm."
Jiang Xia said, "Dad, Zhou Zhou, there's pineapple and grapes inside."
Father Zhou wasn't very interested in fruit. "I don't like fruit. You eat it."
"We've already eaten some. We saved it especially for you and Zhou Zhou."
"Then Zhou Zhou can help Grandpa eat it."
The moment Zhou Zhou heard that, she ran into the house, put down her washed-until-faded Military Green Five-Pointed Star Messenger Bag, and went to wash her hands.
After washing her hands, she ran back into the house and glanced at the two pieces of pineapple. Seeing there were only two pieces, she didn't dare take one. Instead, she plucked a grape and put it into her mouth.
It was sweet and sour, leaving her deeply satisfied.
She couldn't bear to spit out the skin, so she ate that too. She spat the grape seeds into her palm and collected them to plant later.
After eating two grapes, she ate a few Myrtle Berries, then didn't dare eat any more.
After Jiang Xia finished planting the flowers, she went inside and took a look. Zhou Zhou hadn't eaten either of the two pieces of pineapple, and the grapes and Myrtle Berries were barely touched either.
A child without parents, dependent on someone else for shelter, was simply this cautious, afraid to eat too much.
Jiang Xia used a toothpick to pick up a piece of pineapple for her. "Why isn't Zhou Zhou eating the pineapple? Grandpa doesn't eat it, so Zhou Zhou can eat it all! It won't be good if it soaks for too long."
Only then did Zhou Zhou accept it. She gave Jiang Xia a shy smile. "Thank you, Little Aunt."
At last, she no longer looked so timid.
Jiang Xia patted her head. "Zhou Zhou, remember to eat the rest of that pineapple too. It won't be edible if it soaks for too long. Don't waste it."
"Mm." After Zhou Zhou finished one piece of pineapple, she used a toothpick to pick up the remaining piece. Sitting on the threshold, she licked it before taking a small bite. Her heart was filled with unprecedented satisfaction, and her eyes and brows were alight with smiles.
Eating two pieces of pineapple in a row was something she had never experienced before.
In the past, she could only eat a small piece from the edge. The larger pieces were all eaten by her older brothers.
After Jiang Xia went outside and worked with Zhou Chenglei to finish planting the fruit trees, Zhou Chenglei carried a bucket of water over to water the newly planted saplings. Jiang Xia noticed that while he was watering them, he had also splashed two ladlefuls of water onto the well cover they had made the night before.
She asked curiously, "Why are you splashing water on the well cover?"
Zhou Chenglei carried the bucket of water toward the backyard and replied as he went, "It makes the concrete slab harden faster."
Jiang Xia understood.
When Father Zhou saw that Zhou Chenglei had finished, he said, "A'Lei, your Eldest Brother and the others should be back from the sea. Come with me to help bring in the catch."
Zhou Chenglei answered, "All right."
Jiang Xia remembered that Tian Caihua had gone to help last time too. Although she had mostly watched and assessed the situation, she had still helped, so she said, "I'll go help too!"
Zhou Chenglei said, "There's no need. Dad and I can handle it."
Father Zhou also said there was no need.
Jiang Xia didn't insist.
She estimated that Zhou Chenglei and Father Zhou wouldn't be back so soon, so she first put the Water Chestnuts into a pot to boil, saving them as an evening snack. Only then did she start washing vegetables and cooking.
After the Water Chestnuts were cooked, Jiang Xia filled a bowl with them. Then she took a basket, picked out several mangoes and two large bunches of grapes, and went to deliver them to Great-Grandmother's home.
Just after she left the house, she happened to run into Zhou Chenglei and the others returning.
Jiang Xia was a little surprised they had come back so quickly. But when she saw Tian Caihua's dark expression, she guessed they probably hadn't caught much fish that day.
When Tian Caihua saw the basket of fruit in Jiang Xia's hands, her expression improved somewhat. She thought it was for her.
Today was also the day of the National Higher Education Entrance Examination: Best wishes to all the examinees—may you write with calm and ease, finish with all your wishes fulfilled, and let every stroke of your pen make your dreams bloom!
Before you continue