Does Sarsi Really Have Poison in It?

Does Sarsi Really Have Poison in It? Jiang Xia stared at the Sarsi as if it were some ferocious medicinal concoction.

Zhou Chenglei could not help laughing. "Don't worry, it's not poisonous. Taking Fever Reducing Powder this way doesn't taste bitter."

Half believing, half doubting, Jiang Xia took the bottle of Sarsi. Her pretty eyes did not blink as she eyed him suspiciously. "Have you tried it?"

Zhou Chenglei flatly denied it. "No. Wen Guang and the others drank it like this when they had fevers. My mom taught them."

Jiang Xia looked at his reddened ears suspiciously. "Why is your face red? Don't tell me you were afraid of bitterness and came up with this way of drinking it yourself?"

Zhou Chenglei: "..."

He turned his head away and urged her while looking elsewhere, "Drink it quickly. We need to return the bottle. They're about to get off work."

Jiang Xia felt she had uncovered the truth. So he was afraid of bitter medicine.

But Jiang Xia looked at the glass bottle in her hand. "We have to return the bottle?"

"Mm. It's a glass bottle, so it can be reused. It can also be sold for money."

Hearing that, Jiang Xia did not dare delay. Gritting her teeth, she looked at the Sarsi, which had already gone still again, with the expression of someone ready to face death. Then she put the bottle to her lips and gulped it all down in one breath.

She had the air of a warrior cutting off his own wrist, never to return once he set out.

If I die, I die. Maybe if I die, I'll transmigrate back.

The corner of Zhou Chenglei's lips lifted, only for him to press it back down.

After finishing the drink, Jiang Xia handed him the bottle. "Here. Burp~~~"

Jiang Xia let out a long burp, and a burst of fizzy Sarsi gas came out!

Jiang Xia: (ΩДΩ) "I'll go return the bottle." Zhou Chenglei pressed his lips together, doing his best to keep a straight face as he took the bottle and strode away.

Just as he turned around, "Burp~~~"

Jiang Xia let out another resounding burp.

It was completely beyond her control!

And!

Louder!

Brighter!

Longer!

The air was filled with Sarsi-scented carbon dioxide! Jiang Xia covered her mouth: (⊙o⊙)...

That Sarsi was poisonous, wasn't it?

Poisonous, right?!!!

She turned her head to look at that tall, straight-backed figure.

He must have wanted to poison her to death so he could marry the female lead!

Zhou Chenglei unconsciously quickened his pace. This time, no matter how hard he pressed his lips down, he could not suppress that smile.

By the time they returned to the village, it was already six o'clock. The sun had completely set, but since it was August, the sky was not yet dark.

The tractor belonged to the village Production Team. They happened to pass the Production Team on the way back, so Jiang Xia accompanied Zhou Chenglei to return the tractor before the two walked home together.

The Zhou family had all been waiting for them to return for dinner.

When Tian Caihua saw them come back, she could not help saying, "You're finally back! I'm practically starving to death!"

Then Tian Caihua spotted the Malt Extract and Condensed Milk in Zhou Chenglei's hands, and her expression immediately changed. "Guang Zong Yao Zu, your Little Uncle bought you Malt Extract."

She had given birth to four sons, named Zhou Wenguang, Zhou Wenzong, Zhou Wenyao, and Zhou Wenzu.

The brothers immediately ran over at the words. "Fourth Uncle, you're the best!"

When Zhou Chenglei went back to return the Sarsi bottle, he had also bought a bottle of Malt Extract and two bottles of Condensed Milk. Jiang Xia got dizzy so easily, and he had wanted to nourish her health.

So Zhou Chenglei avoided the hands reaching out from several nephews and only gave one bottle of Condensed Milk to his Eldest Nephew, Zhou Wenguang. "The doctor said your Fourth Aunt is weak and needs nourishing. The Supply and Marketing Cooperative only had one can of Malt Extract left, so it's for your Fourth Aunt. I bought you a bottle of Condensed Milk."

Jiang Xia had not expected it was bought for her. And the doctor had not said she was physically weak! He had only told her to drink more water.

"Remember to share it with your Younger Sister." Zhou Chenglei glanced at the little niece sitting quietly beside the dinner table.

Following his gaze, Jiang Xia also looked at the little girl sitting obediently inside.

The little girl was probably Zhou Zhou, the daughter of his Third Brother, Zhou Chengyan. The book said that Zhou Chengyan had perished at sea while fishing two years ago, and his wife had remarried soon afterward, leaving behind a daughter barely over five.

The little girl was eight now. She sat obediently beside the dinner table waiting to eat, her eyes turned toward them without fighting or clamoring for anything.

Jiang Xia thought of her past self. She had lost her parents at three and grown up with her Grandmother. She had been obedient and dared not cry or make a fuss. Even when people bullied her at school, she had not dared say anything, afraid of causing trouble for her Grandmother.

A five-year-old child had begun to form memories. It was precisely the most sensitive time.

Zhou Wenguang accepted the Condensed Milk with a smile, and the boys happily said, "Thank you, Little Uncle."

Though they did not get Malt Extract, Condensed Milk was delicious too! Their mother usually could not bear to buy it for them. Every time, it was only when Fourth Uncle came back from the military camp that he bought it for them.

Seeing that her sons had only one bottle of Condensed Milk, Tian Caihua's face immediately fell. She shot Jiang Xia a glare and snatched the Condensed Milk from her son's hand, lest the children fight over it, drop it, and break it.

Her Younger Brother-in-law truly had too much money to spend. They were about to divorce, yet he still bought so many good things to nourish her body. What a waste of money! Hugging the Condensed Milk to her chest, she took it back to her room to hide.

Mother Zhou came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of food. She, too, glanced at the Malt Extract and Condensed Milk in Zhou Chenglei's hands before asking Jiang Xia, "Did you see the doctor? What did he say?"

Jiang Xia said, "The doctor said it was nothing. He prescribed fever medicine, and I feel much better now. I'm fine."

Mother Zhou nodded. "It's good that you're fine. When you have a fever, drink more water. Eat first. Take the medicine after dinner so it won't hurt your stomach."

Since they were sending her back, they could not very well let her go empty-handed. Now that they had bought the Malt Extract and Condensed Milk, so be it. Spending a little money was worth it.

Mother Zhou only wanted her illness to get better quickly so they could send her away. Otherwise, there would be no peace in the household.

"Okay, I'll wash my hands first," Jiang Xia replied.

Mother Zhou said nothing more and carried the food into the main hall.

Zhou Chenglei had originally intended to put the Malt Extract and Condensed Milk back in Jiang Xia's room for her. Seeing her go to wash her hands, he carried the things into her room himself.

The Zhou family had dug a well and installed a hand-cranked Water Pump.

Jiang Xia had never used one, but when Zhou Chenglei carried her out of the yard to see the doctor earlier, she had seen Mother Zhou pressing that long handle up and down, and water had come out.

So Jiang Xia grasped the Water Pump handle and copied Mother Zhou, pumping it up and down.

The Water Pump made strange, thirsty noises, but no water came out.

Jiang Xia stared at the pump, at a complete loss. How was this supposed to work? That period novel never taught this!

When Zhou Chenglei came out, he saw her dry-pumping the Water Pump.

He walked over, scooped some water from the bucket beside it, and poured it into the Water Pump. "Try pumping it again."

So she had to add water first!

Jiang Xia hurriedly pumped the handle up and down, but all the water flowed back into the well, and still nothing came out.

She looked at Zhou Chenglei blankly. She felt as though she had become illiterate after coming here.

Zhou Chenglei said, "I'll do it. Watch."

Jiang Xia quickly stepped aside.

With one hand, Zhou Chenglei poured water into the Water Pump, while his other hand rapidly worked the handle up and down. In no time, water surged up and splashed out from the pump's spout.

"You need to pump this faster. When the friction increases, the pump creates suction, and the water gets drawn up. Try it a few more times next time, and you'll get the feel for it."

Jiang Xia nodded, then reached into the flowing water and rubbed her hands clean.

After she finished, Zhou Chenglei used the remaining water to rub his own hands clean as well.

Jiang Xia stood to the side and waited for him to finish washing his hands before entering the house with him for dinner.

As Jiang Xia followed beside Zhou Chenglei and stepped over the threshold, Zhou Chenglei turned his head and glanced at her.

When the family saw Jiang Xia walk in, they all looked at her in surprise.

Mother Zhou swiftly moved the plate of shrimp before the empty seat to her Grandson, then shifted the plate of Pickled Vegetables in front of herself over instead.