As the first snow fell, it signaled the official start of the snow season in the Northeast.
"We’re going up to shovel snow on the roof today," said Zhao Xuran, after checking on the growth of the vegetables, chickens, and quails at ho early in the morning, he began to arrange today’s tasks.
Although the previous few snowfalls were not big, they still left a thick layer of snow on the roof, and Zhao Xuran worried that if they didn’t shovel the snow, their own roof wouldn’t be able to bear the weight.
"Alright." After Gong Tao finished eating his stead bun, he went to prepare the tools.
Zhao Guangran was also all kinds of excited; he barely had the mind to eat, which made Gong Ruini quite puzzled.
Going up to shovel snow on the roof, is there really a need to be this excited?
It’s worth knowing that shoveling snow off the roof is not only a laborious task but also a bit dangerous, and it’s essentially the family’s male laborers who go up to work.
As for soone like Zhao Guangran, a small bean sprout, what can he do up there? In short, Gong Ruini didn’t understand.
"I intend to turn so snow into ice and store it in the cellar," Zhao Xuran thought of the large number of people at ho and knew they needed to prepare a few more blocks of ice.
Ah, ice blocks? Placing them in the cellar? The Gong Family, being Southern people, were all stunned.
Gong Ruini knew about making cellars, but she had never thought that in Northeastern rural areas there would even be ice cellars, it was indeed quite unusual.
The previous big cellar was dug for storing grains, which Gong Ruini could understand.
But the point is, it’s not likely that an average family would dig a big cellar just to store ice, considering how much manpower and resources that would take.
Gong Ruini truly couldn’t see how the Zhao Family could live so ticulously.
After coming to his senses, Gong Tao said, "You’ve even dug a cellar — my goodness! How many secrets do you have?"
Gong Tao felt that ever since moving to the Northeast, Zhao Gang gave the impression of evolving quite a lot, even the residence was one secret after another.
Besides, why would they need to store ice, Gong Tao genuinely couldn’t understand why they would go to such lengths.
Zhao Gang took pride in it, knowing that the secrets of this house were considerable, only their family knew, and they dared not speak of it.
Although by the ti Zhao Gang’s family moved in, there were no valuables in the cellars and warehouses, who could prove that point?
If the villagers knew about it, they’d likely think sothing was discovered inside, otherwise, why would they ntion it so long after moving in?
"Originally, I wanted to dig a cellar for grain storage when I discovered it, but initially, I only found the grain storage cellar," Zhao Gang was actually quite surprised himself, if he hadn’t been slightly cunning, he wouldn’t have discovered such a good place.
"Honestly, at first, I thought it was all dug by the previous residents for storing grains, but there was actually another cellar below the grain cellar." Zhao Gang indeed thought so initially.
After seeing the neighbors digging up treasures, he felt the residents here were indeed not simple people, as the two places were not very far apart; there’s no reasoning that the residents here wouldn’t know of such a big commotion.
Gong Ruini had considered the possibility that there was sothing wrong with the residents here, but initially, she only saw one cellar, naturally assuming Zhao Gang had dug it himself, but now everything seed possible.
Gong Ruini was concerned whether Zhao Gang and his family discovered anything valuable in the cellar, albeit the question seed inappropriate.
"Actually, if we found sothing valuable in the cellar, we might take this seriously," Zhao Gang said freely, not forgetting to observe the Gong family’s reaction.
No discovery? Although Gong Ruini felt a bit disappointed, she thought it was expected; if sothing had been found, who knows how nervous the Zhao Family would be?
Gong Tao showed zero concern about whether the Zhao Family actually found sothing or not, feeling indifferent, "Looks like we won’t have to worry even if we grow lots of things next year."
Originally, Gong Tao worried that after a fruitful harvest next year, he would still be busy digging another cellar, now the cellar seed sufficient.
But why store ice? Gong Tao didn’t understand.
Gong Ruini thought having an ice cellar was to soothe them a bit in sumr, albeit this seed risky.
Although it’s a bit of a distance from the village, not too far either; in winter people don’t visit much, but in sumr, nurous visitors are likely.
Moreover, Zhan Jing is a Chinese dicine practitioner, and if villagers feel uncomfortable, they’d co to find her; once noticing ice basins at ho, it’d undeniably draw lots of trouble.
Is it ant to serve as a fridge perhaps? Indeed, any at caught in sumr couldn’t be preserved through curing alone; if unable to sell quickly, it would just spoil.
"It’s for refrigerating things and during sumr, we can sneak so inside, keeping the house cool."
"For instance, you can make chilled red bean or mung bean soup." During the busy farming season, it’s sweltering hot, certainly better to drink chilled soup than just cool boiled water.
"We can also make fruit ice when we pick fruits." The thought of enjoying such delights in sumr comforted Gong Ruini imnsely.
Anyway, being a young girl, one shouldn’t overly concern oneself, comfort is the key.
Fruit ice, what’s that? Zhao Guangran didn’t understand, looking to Gong Ruini for an explanation.
Despite often ridiculed by Zhao Guangran for rely talking without much action, whenever Gong Ruini ntioned delicious food, he couldn’t resist asking for more details.
Can’t grasp the concept of fruit ice? Gong Ruini remarked that Zhao Guangran, being such a foodie, surely lacked sense, "It’s crushed fruit mixed with shaved ice, topped with milk if available."
Whether or not there’s milk, fruit plus ice is delightful, it’s undoubtedly delicious in sumr.
Zhao Guangran anticipated sumr more than ever, sumr is all sorts of fun; playing in the river catching fish, going to the hill for fruits, plus enjoying cold beverages and treats.
Zhao Gang watched the two little ones begin discussing food, tossing a glance at Gong Tao, hinting their tasks weren’t easy; wouldn’t it be clever to prepare more if the two were all focused on ice plans?
Despite Gong Ruini sounding so ambitious, actually she worried if ice blocks ford from snow swept off the roof would be edible.
Although there’s no pollution in this weather, and the snow is relatively clean, there still seed various oddities.
In contrast to Gong Ruini’s hesitance, Zhao Guangran was fully engaged today, "Prepare more, in sumr I can feast heartily."
No matter how tiring it was, as soon as Zhao Guangran envisioned the tasty foods he’d enjoy in sumr, he instantly felt energized, working vigorously and unstintingly.
Seeing Zhao Guangran working without any sneaky laziness, Gong Ruini was dumbfounded, never thought food ant so much to this foodie that he’d abandon slacking in work.
Indeed, seed a promising character, Gong Ruini expressed that no worries of him slacking once spring arrived.
Only needed to plan enticingly, showing the delectable rewards of diligent work, ensuring that the kid wouldn’t slack off.
Regardless of his work ethic, he’s unlikely to be denied food, at least afford Uncle Zhao so face.
Now knowing the kid’s weak spot, of course, commanding him vigorously was crucial, no missed opportunities in nurturing this kid.
Gong Ruini indeed intended to make Zhao Guangran into robust labor, compared to the evasive Zhao Xuran, Gong Ruini noted that notably, dealing with Zhao Guangran was simpler.
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