"Dad, our waterlons are really big."
"Feifei can taste them soon, to see if they’re sweet. This is the first waterlon. In a few days, we can also eat the roasted lon and sweet lon."
"Dad, if we’ve sold the waterlons, do we need to buy roasted lon and sweet lon?"
"If you all like eating them, no need to buy." Wei Kaiyun said with a smile. The purpose of planting lons was just to give the children so food, letting them enjoy a better taste. Although the family doesn’t have much money, the living conditions these past few years have been fine.
"Can Mom eat them?" Jiang Feifei asked Wei Kaiyun.
"Your mom can taste them, but she can’t eat too much waterlon because your younger siblings need to be fed milk."
"Dad, does that an the younger siblings also get to taste the waterlon?"
Wei Kaiyun hesitated, then smiled at his son, "Yes, if your mom has it, then your younger siblings get it too." His son was quite quick to catch on.
After dinner, Sister-in-law Liu laid down a cool mat in the yard, and the kids played on it. Wei Kaiyun joined in their fun.
About half an hour later, Sister-in-law Liu sliced open the waterlon. The bright red flesh, with black waterlon seeds inside, looked particularly appealing.
Shang Zhenkun smiled at the waterlon, "Not bad, this waterlon is pretty good."
The kids tasted the fruits of their labor, and it felt especially sweet.
Wei Kaiyun brought a piece to his wife, "Wife, try it out."
"Don’t pity , I’m just indifferent to waterlon, whether I eat it or not it’s all the sa to ."
"But you should taste this one, since I grew it, it’s different from store-bought."
"Alright, I’ll eat a piece for your sake."
Wei Kaiyun really liked this prideful side of his wife. He adored her.
"Go eat waterlon with the kids."
"I want to be with my wife. Only we two can spend a lifeti together."
Just then, Jianbin ca in with a plate of waterlon. "Uncle Wei, Aunt Jiang, I brought you so waterlon."
"Thanks, Jianbin. You go enjoy so waterlon too."
Wei Kaiyun took a bite, "Self-grown is really sweet."
It’s watered with your sweat, of course it’s sweet.
Jiang Xinyu ate only a piece and put it down. Although the waterlon was delicious, and she really wanted so fruit, the kids were still too young, and waterlon is cold. She didn’t want the kids to suffer because she was greedy.
Can’t regret it for the sake of a mont’s craving.
Wei Kaiyun also stopped after eating two pieces. He was cautious not to eat more when his wife was watching, lest it lose its sweetness.
"When the kids are a month old, should we have their photos taken?"
"Of course. I already asked the photo studio when I was in the city last."
"Was a ticket needed?"
"I used food tickets to exchange."
Jiang Xinyu gave a thumbs up to Wei Kaiyun. He was a thoughtful person, anticipating almost everything.
"Tomorrow I’ll find Old Yang to drive, and the day after, our family will go to the city for photos."
Jiang Xinyu nodded, that would be great.
"Wife, what do you think about us getting a car too?"
Jiang Xinyu shook her head, "We should keep a low profile. After all, Old Yang has been here for years, many people know he has a car, but we’re different. You’ve only just confird your na, it’s better not to invite unnecessary trouble.
Besides, chances to go out in the future will be few."
"Alright, we two can have one car."
The three kids are very disciplined. They ate only half of the big waterlon, leaving the other half.
"Jianbin, you and Shi Jing take the waterlon to Village Chief Li’s house."
The two kids jumped up happily, willing to give so to Brother Chaoyang, since Brother Chaoyang always brings them treats whenever he goes out and returns.
Li Yungui’s family had just finished dinner too. The whole family was sitting in the yard enjoying the cool air. Chaoyang and his siblings were lying on a cool mat, the yard lit with mosquito-repelling herbs, sleeping in the yard until late night before returning indoors.
Hearing a knock and Shi Jing’s voice, Chaoyang imdiately jumped up.
"Brother Chaoyang, we brought you waterlon. It’s the first ripe one from our family. Try it, it’s really sweet."
"Thank you, Jianbin, Shi Jing. Do you two want to co in and play for a while?"
"No, we’re going back to sleep."
Chaoyang brought the half-waterlon inside, went straight to the main room for a kitchen knife, and quickly sliced the waterlon.
He gave a piece each to his parents, and then handed the bowl to his siblings.
Li Yungui tasted the waterlon, "Good, quite sweet. This Wei Kaiyun is really clever. He can make money from his waterlons too."
"Will the county’s supply and marketing cooperative want them?"
"They surely would. This year Xiao Wei experinted with storing waterlon in a cellar. If it can be stored longer, next year our commune can grow waterlons too.
Also, their cotton looks like it has high yield. Next year we can plant cotton too. If we hand over cotton as public grain, we can earn more money."
The next day, Wei Kaiyun picked two big waterlons, put them in a basket, and rode to find Old Yang.
He left at ten in the morning, arriving by eleven, but Old Yang wasn’t off work yet. Wei Kaiyun t Sister-in-law Wu.
He waited at their house for Old Yang and didn’t go to the fields looking for them.
Guodong entered the yard, and seeing the bicycle, knew Wei Kaiyun had co.
"Uncle Wei?"
"Guodong, you’ve grown taller."
"Uncle Yang always brings good food, and Aunt Wu’s cooking is delicious."
"That’s right."
At this mont, Old Yang and the others entered the yard. "Xiao Wei, why are you here?"
"I ca to drive. The kids are a month old tomorrow. I want to take them to the city for photos."
"That’s quick, the two little ones are already a month old."
"That’s right. These are my grown waterlons; I brought them for you to taste."
"You’re quite sothing, able to have waterlon you grew yourself."
Sister-in-law Wu ca over and called them to eat. Wei Kaiyun stayed for the al. It was bun stuffed with vegetables, mixed flour, with chives and dried shrimp. Quite tasty. Sister-in-law Wu added pork crackling, making it more fragrant.
The two chatted for over an hour until Old Yang went back to work. Only then did Wei Kaiyun drive away.
"Are we going to visit Jiang Xinyu’s children for their first month?"
"We two aren’t that particular. Just visit when there’s a chance, no need to mind these things."
"Alright, I understand." Zhao Xiaoli now had a face full of maternal glow, since the child in her belly was already over two months along. By next April or May, her child would be born.
Ding Xiaojuan was pregnant too, but she didn’t have as good nutrition as Zhao Xiaoli, so her complexion wasn’t very good.
Chen Hui was quite worried, "Xiaojuan, stop working for now, rest up for a while. Wait until your health improves before going back."
"But, we only just settled our debts, and we don’t have money in hand."
"Take it easy. Nothing is more important than your health and the child. Also, there’s plenty of work at ho. Rest for a few days. It’s not the busy farm season now, the Captain will agree to your taking leave."
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