"Superstition is... it's just..." is it not believing in science?
But her own and Meng Shaode's transmigration journey, was it scientific or not?
"Ahem, ahem, Mother didn't say it, Mother didn't say it..."
"Mother, why do you seem a bit strange?" Ah Jiu tilted her head and looked at her mother.
"Not at all, no, no, I'm just worried... worried about not having enough food, and I'm too embarrassed to ask your sister-in-law for some money. You see how awkward that is."
Cai Lihua changed the subject very abruptly.
"Why not? Today's income was fifty taels of silver notes and two strings of copper coins," Ah Jiu smiled.
"If that doesn't work, I'll go to the Patrol Division tomorrow to find Little Yan Yan. I'll have him take me to Heba Village to get some grain back. There's always a way to solve it."
"Yes, yes, daughter, you're absolutely right. Oh, wait, do you know where the Patrol Division is? Nanming City is so big."
Cai Lihua felt she had successfully diverted her daughter's attention, and as soon as her heart relaxed, she became worried again.
"I know, the Patrol Division is by the granary reservoir," Ah Jiu had already noticed.
"Alright, let Tongzi accompany you tomorrow."
"Where are you going?" Ah Jiu quickly asked.
Cai Lihua looked at the oil lamp and sighed, "Honestly, your father is not here, and Mother feels so empty. Mother plans to make some malt candy and snacks tomorrow to send over. Anyway, those children are afraid of your father, and they all like sweets. It's not good for them to be so scared all the time. Mother will go and coax those children."
Ah Jiu understood. Her mother was trying to win people over for her father.
"Then have you sprouted the wheat, Mother?" Ah Jiu was thinking of rolling up her sleeves to sprout it, using her spiritual spring water for faster sprouting.
"I did. I used the water you gave me this evening."
"That's good. Oh, Mother, using this spiritual spring water to sprout wheat, it should be ready in half an hour," Ah Jiu reminded her, lest she wake up the next morning to find not just sprouts, but possibly ripe wheat.
"Oh, right, I remember it's very fast. You go to sleep quickly, Mother will go and do it now."
Cai Lihua nimbly rolled up her sleeves and went to the kitchen in the west room.
This glance was alarming. The wheat sprouts had already grown. She quickly scooped them out and washed them. Here, she needed to use a stone mortar to smash out the juice, then filter it through gauze and simmer it over low heat.
In the early morning, just as the sky began to show the pale white of dawn, Ah Jiu was woken up by a thick smell of caramel.
Her sleepy eyes were not yet clear, but she was already in the kitchen, looking at a back bent over, busily stirring the syrup in the pot.
"Mother, you've already finished simmering it."
"You have a sharp nose." Cai Lihua had the weariness of a sleepless night on her face, but it didn't stop her from looking at her daughter with shining eyes.
"What's that smell? So sweet?"
Tongzi stretched lazily in the yard and followed the smell, also coming over.
Even Liu Cai'er sleepily walked out, "Mother, what delicious thing are you making?"
They all entered the kitchen and surrounded Cai Lihua, who was flustered, "Does it smell that good?"
"Mmm, mmm, mmm!" Tongzi, Ah Jiu, and Liu Cai'er nodded repeatedly.
"This is malt candy. After rolling it in stir-fried flour, it will be very sweet. But those with poor teeth can't eat it casually, or you'll lose your teeth."
Cai Lihua was very happy, thinking that if it smelled this good while she was making it, she could set up a stall and earn some money to supplement their income.
"My teeth are very good," Tongzi patted his chest and reached into the pot, only to be slapped away by Cai Lihua.
"This syrup is very hot. Be careful, or you won't have fingers left to count money."
Tongzi rubbed his hands and craned his neck to look, "When can we eat it, Auntie?"
"Soon, move aside, move aside, I'm about to take it out of the pot."
They all took several steps back, and Ah Jiu's eyes sparkled.
Only Liu Cai'er's smile gradually faded, her gaze fixed on this once timid mother-in-law.
Watching her pour the hot syrup onto the floured wooden board, she would roll it and then blow on it because of the heat. She remembered her mother.
"Mother, when it's hot, pinch your earlobe. The earlobe is the part with the lowest body temperature."
"Oh, is that so!"
Cai Lihua imitated her, instantly amusing them.
She looked like a child being punished by pinching her earlobes and kneeling.
As soon as it was dawn, Ah Jiu ate while packing a piece of oiled paper and tucking it into her embrace, "Mother, I'm going out."
Ah Jiu headed straight for the Patrol Division. When she arrived, a line of cavalry was just leaving.
Ah Jiu was dazzled by the sight. The charging cavalry brushed past her. It was difficult for those with slower reflexes to find Tuoba Yan among those wearing identical uniforms.
"Jiu'er?"