Chen Lan hadn't expected everyone to be so ravenous that they'd finish off an entire pot of spicy lamb offal. She worried that the meal had been too spicy and might cause them to get inflamed the next day.
Recalling that chrysanthemums possess the efficacy of dispelling wind and clearing heat, calming the liver, and improving eyesight, and detoxifying, she decided to brew a pot of chrysanthemum and goji berry tea for everyone to prevent any heatiness. Besides, it was the dry autumn season, a time when people were naturally prone to getting heated, and eating such a spicy lamb offal stew would only exacerbate it.
With this in mind, Chen Lan glanced at the sky. The evening glow filled the sky, and it was still some time before dark. She called out to Xiang Xi, who was about to leave after dinner, "Little Watermelon, wait a moment. I need your help with something."
After speaking, she quickly walked to where the game was kept, picked up a relatively clean basket from the ground, and slung it over her shoulder.
Xiang Xi looked at Chen Lan, puzzled, and asked, "Little Lanzi, where are you going with that basket at this hour?"
Chen Lan replied, "I'm going to the mountain where we often dig for wild vegetables to pick some wild chrysanthemums for tea."
Xiang Xi said impatiently, "Little Lanzi, it's not that I'm criticizing you, brother, but why do you always act on impulse? Do you have to drink it right now? Look at the sky, it's almost dark. Can't you drink it tomorrow?"
Chen Lan quickly explained, "It's not for me, it's for everyone. You all don't usually eat spicy food, and I'm worried you'll feel unwell tomorrow if you're too heated. Besides, autumn is dry, and people are naturally prone to getting heated."
She saw her mother-in-law holding Jiayao, chatting with her own mother and Xiao Shan's mother who was holding Jiahui, discussing the harvest and how well the crops were growing.
While explaining to Xiang Xi, Chen Lan walked over to her mother-in-law and said, "Mother-in-law, please chat with everyone here a bit longer. Mingwei and the others have gone to wash up. I've asked Little Watermelon to accompany me to the mountain where we often pick wild vegetables to gather some wild chrysanthemums for tea. We ate something quite spicy today, and I'm worried everyone will feel unwell or get heated tomorrow."
Her mother-in-law smiled and waved her hand, saying, "It wasn't just a bit spicy, it was really spicy. But it tasted very good, making one want more. I also ate a bit too much tonight. We'll just chat here and wait. You two go quickly! Come back early."
Chen Lan squeezed Jiayao's little chubby hand, patted Jiahui's soft little face, said goodbye to her mother, and left with Xiang Xi, carrying the basket.
Chen Lan and Xiang Xi walked quickly and soon reached the mountain. Chen Lan had dug for wild vegetables here several times and knew where the wild chrysanthemums grew. She easily found the patch of wild chrysanthemums.
Without delay, they quickly picked the bloomed chrysanthemums and flower buds. Chen Lan saw that they had collected enough for tea that evening and told Xiang Xi to stop picking.
Xiang Xi said, "Let's pick more chrysanthemums today so you don't have to come back tomorrow if you want more."
Chen Lan immediately explained, "Chrysanthemums need to be dried promptly after picking. It's almost dark now, and if we keep them overnight after picking, they might spoil. Let's go! It's getting dark."
Saying this, she turned and walked back. On the way back, Chen Lan asked Xiang Xi, "Little Watermelon, have you finished harvesting the fifteen mu of peanuts?"
"All done. We finished early this afternoon, and I even had Lin Mao till the peanut field twice," Xiang Xi replied.
"Little Lanzi, are you planning to plant fifteen mu of peanuts and fifteen mu of soybeans next year too? Are you planting as much corn and potatoes as well?" Xiang Xi asked.
Chen Lan replied, "I won't plant as much corn and potatoes. I'll also plant a little less peanuts and soybeans, just enough for everyone to eat for a year. We'll decide how many mu to plant next year based on the specific yield of peanuts and soybeans.
She further explained, "This year, none of us knew how to grow crops. Only Uncle De knew a little, but he didn't know how to care for the new variety of seeds that father-in-law provided. He was also afraid that the winters in Changbai Mountain were too long and that everyone would run out of food, so we planted a lot of everything this year."
"Then what are you planning to plant next year?" Xiang Xi continued to ask.
Chen Lan thought for a moment and said, "I want to try planting a season of rice, and also a season of spring wheat and spring rapeseed."
Xiang Xi worriedly asked, "Will that work? Have you asked Uncle De? What did he say? You don't need to ask my father; he only knows how to do business."
"I mentioned it to Uncle De. He didn't say much, just that we should try and see. If we don't try, we'll never know if it can be grown."
"Uncle De is really something, letting you do whatever you want with everything? And your mother-in-law too! They listen to your every word," Xiang Xi said sourly.
Chen Lan chuckled and said, "What? Little Watermelon, are you envious and jealous? Besides, how is this me acting on impulse? Haven't I always discussed these things with you all?"
Xiang Xi scoffed, "You call that discussing?"
Chen Lan smiled and said, "Even if it's my idea, when has anything I've decided to do gone wrong? Tell me."
Xiang Xi couldn't find fault with Chen Lan for a moment. So, he retorted, "You're just like when you were little, able to make a case for anything. I'm not talking to you anymore!"
The two bantered as they quickly descended the mountain and reached the valley. Passing by the house, Chen Lan casually picked a few large handfuls of goji berries from the goji berry grove in the front yard, cupping them in her apron.
Xiang Xi casually asked, "Are these goji berries also for brewing tea with the chrysanthemums later?"
Chen Lan nodded and said nothing more, but began to quicken her pace. She walked up to her mother-in-law and said, "Mother-in-law, please chat with everyone a bit longer. I'll wash the chrysanthemums and goji berries and start boiling the water. It should be ready to drink in about fifteen minutes."
Her mother-in-law nodded and said nothing, continuing to tell her mother and Xiao Shan's mother about how good the harvest was this year. Her mother and Xiao Shan's mother, who stayed home with the children and hadn't been to the fields much, listened with great interest, so her mother-in-law spoke with even more enthusiasm.
The chrysanthemum and goji berry tea brewed quickly. Before everyone went to bed, they were all required by the mother-in-law to drink a bowl of chrysanthemum and goji berry tea.
Ming Zhe found it bitter and refused to drink it, but his mother-in-law dragged him back and forced him to drink a bowl before letting him rest.
Wen Kai and Wen Qi, the obedient little ones, each drank a bowl with wrinkled brows before going to rest.
Chen Lan and her mother also each drank a bowl. Then, holding Jiahui and Jiayao, they walked towards the first house.