Chapter 35 (continued)

The red fox, on the other hand, was quite suspicious and didn't approach them, only crouching and watching them from five or six meters away.

After Qing Mengzhu finished collecting the fish, she used a bamboo pole to herd the ducks and called to Zhao Hexi, "Let's go, it's getting dark."

Zhao Hexi chuckled sheepishly, "It's alright, I'll play with the kids a little longer."

Qing Mengzhu: "Sure, if you're not afraid of stepping on a snake in the dark."

Zhao Hexi froze. "There are snakes here?"

Qing Mengzhu: "This is a proper field, and it's summer, how could there be no snakes?"

Zhao Hexi: "Okay, let's play again next time."

After saying goodbye to the otter and the red fox, Zhao Hexi followed Qing Mengzhu with the dog.

The ducks waddled slowly ahead, looking quite plump.

As Zhao Hexi looked at the duck, she couldn't help but ask, "When can we start eating it?"

Qing Mengzhu glanced at it and said, "It should be ready in about a month."

Zhao Hexi: "I think it's already quite big."

Qing Mengzhu: "It can grow even bigger. Uncle Wenlei said we usually start eating it when the early rice is harvested, so let's wait a bit longer."

When the two returned home, it was already completely dark.

Qing Mengzhu herded the ducks to the backyard and settled them in, then went back to the front, took a watermelon out of the refrigerator, and cut it.

These watermelons are all fresh watermelons that ripened in the field, unlike those that are picked and sold when they are only 80% ripe.

Qing Mengzhu touched the watermelon with her knife, and the rind split open, revealing the red flesh. At the same time, the watermelon's unique, refreshing aroma wafted out.

After washing her hands, Zhao Hexi waited for Qing Mengzhu to finish cutting the melon, then eagerly picked up a piece and took a bite of the melon tip: "Delicious!"

Qing Mengzhu kicked the trash can over and slowly ate her melon while looking at it. "When you go back tomorrow, you should bring two melons with you."

Zhao Hexi: "Eating and taking things at the same time?"

Qing Mengzhu: "I've eaten and taken plenty of food from your house before."

After his father passed away, Zhao Hexi's family took good care of him. During the Lunar New Year, regardless of whether he visited relatives or not, Zhao's parents would always give him a large sum of lucky money.

He didn't say it, but he kept it all in his heart.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hexi didn't stand on ceremony. "This watermelon tastes better than the ones sold outside; my parents will definitely like it."

Qing Mengzhu: "The ones sold outside might not be as fresh. They're sweet, but they lack that refreshing melon flavor."

Zhao Hexi: "Yes, some melons are like sugar water, they're pretty boring to eat."

Qing Mengzhu took the fruit knife and continued cutting the watermelon, "If you like, I'll buy you some next time someone sells watermelons. Come over when you have time."

Zhao Hexi, spitting out watermelon seeds, said, "Don't forget! Hey, why did you cut it so small?"

Qing Mengzhu raised her eyes. "You've already shared the watermelon with the otter, so why aren't you sharing it with them?"

Zhao Hexi chuckled from the side, "Can they be eaten?"

Qing Mengzhu: "Yes, the Dharma Protector and the Guard also ate them. They are all omnivores."

Upon hearing Qing Mengzhu call out their names, the Dharma Protector and Guard, who were munching on watermelon, all looked up in unison. "Woof?"

Qing Mengzhu: "It's alright, I'll eat yours."

The two dogs lowered their heads and continued eating.

Qing Mengzhu cut the watermelon, and Zhao Hexi each took a few pieces and went to the backyard with flashlights.

Zhao Hexi asked, "How should we feed them? Should we just call them?"

Qing Mengzhu: "You probably can't get them to come out if you call them directly. Just put them a little away from their nest."

Qing Mengzhu led Zhao Hexi to the place where he often fed the otters, put down the watermelon, and then whistled softly.

Then they went to the place where they usually fed the red foxes, put down watermelons, and whistled.

Zhao Hexi was highly skeptical of the effectiveness of this method, and even more so of whether the otters and red foxes had returned.

However, less than two minutes later, the otter poked its head out of the burrow, its little nose twitching. When it saw the watermelon they had placed on the ground, its eyes lit up.

It crawled out of its burrow, ran quickly to the watermelon, held it with its two front paws, and took a big bite with a loud "whoosh," its furry face full of happiness.

The red fox was much slower to emerge; the otters had already finished eating the watermelon before the red fox cautiously carried the watermelon back into its cave.

Zhao Hexi glanced at the red fox out of the corner of her eye. "Don't you all know it? Why is it still so timid?"

Qing Mengzhu: "It's not cowardice, it's suspicion. Have you heard the word 'suspicious'? Foxes are very suspicious, and this red fox is a typical example of a suspicious character."

Zhao Hexi exclaimed in surprise, "There's such a thing? Do all animals have different personalities?"

Qing Mengzhu: "Of course, there are some lower animals I'm not familiar with, but otters and puppies do have very different personalities. You can see that the personalities of the Dharma Protector and the Guard are quite different."

Zhao Hexi thought for a moment and said, "That makes sense. Your Dharma Protector has a very unique personality; he's both mischievous and obedient, and he's very perceptive."

After feeding the otters and red fox, the two went back inside.

They had been busy all day and needed to sleep, Qing Mengzhu, who had to get up early the next morning to sell vegetables.

They said goodnight to each other and went back to wash up.

The next day, just as dawn broke, Qing Mengzhu got up.

Hearing the noise, Zhao Hexi struggled to get up with her messy hair. "Mengzhu, wait for me, I'll go pick vegetables with you."

Qing Mengzhu looked at him and said, "I've already asked someone for help; I don't need you."

Zhao Hexi insisted, "Just wait for me, I'll be quick."

Qing Mengzhu could only say, "No rush, I'll go make breakfast first. Let's eat something to fill our stomachs before we go out."

Zhao Hexi: "Okay, but don't sneak away."

Qing Mengzhu was both amused and exasperated, so she went to the kitchen and made some noodles.

He first heated oil in a pan and fried the eggs until one side was crispy and golden brown, while the other side was soft and tender. After frying the eggs, he used the remaining oil in the pan to boil water, added noodles, and then added his own homegrown greens once the noodles were cooked.

He quickly filled two large bowls with the cooked noodle soup, topped them with a runny egg with an orange yolk, and added a small amount of green vegetables.

In an instant, the slightly yellow noodles, green vegetables, and yellow egg were all served in a large, snow-white bowl, looking incredibly appetizing.

Qing Mengzhu then added tomato meat sauce, stir-fried water spinach, and fried mixed mushrooms to the noodles, making the noodles even more delicious and visually appealing.

Zhao Hexi came to the kitchen with her face still damp from sweating. The aroma of noodles and side dishes instantly dispelled her drowsiness.

After he sat down, he ate his first bite of noodles with tomato meat sauce and fried mixed mushrooms, followed by a bite of sour and spicy stir-fried sauerkraut. Finally, his drowsiness completely disappeared.

Holding the bowl of noodles, Zhao Hexi was almost in tears. "It's so delicious! If breakfast were like this every day, I could get up early every day."

Qing Mengzhu: "I'll pack two jars of tomato meat sauce and sauerkraut for you to take back with you later."

Zhao Hexi looked as if he wanted nothing more than to cling to Qing Mengzhu's leg and call her godfather, "My benefactor!"

After breakfast, they went to the fields, Zhao Hexi realized that it was already quite late.

Even before the sun has risen, the fields are already bustling with people.

They passed by a vegetable field, where villagers were soaking freshly harvested vegetables in a bucket of somewhat murky water before pulling them out.

Zhao Hexi followed behind Qing Mengzhu and couldn't help but let out a small "ah".

Qing Mengzhu had just finished greeting the villager selling pickled vegetables when she turned around and saw Zhao Hexi's shocked expression. "What 'Huh'?"

Zhao Hexi whispered, "Is that the legendary preservative?"

Qing Mengzhu glanced at the large barrel. "Don't treat preservatives like a major enemy; they're just food preservation agents."

Zhao Hexi turned her head and stared. "People actually soak vegetables in preservatives? I thought it was just marketing accounts making things up."

Qing Mengzhu: "It's just a chitin coating preservative. It's a biological agent that restricts oxygen entry and extends the shelf life of vegetables, and it's non-toxic to humans."