Chen Lan was still reluctant to give up the chestnuts on the ground in the chestnut grove. The next morning, Chen Lan quietly got out of bed early, without disturbing Xu Mingxuan and the dragon-phoenix twins. She quickly washed up and made herself a simple bowl of noodles in the kitchen. For the rest of the family, she steamed meat buns with soy sauce and milk steamed buns purchased from the system.
She ate the noodles by the stove in the kitchen, not going to the living room. Just as she finished the last bite, Xu Mingxuan entered the kitchen and asked, "Lan'er, why are you up so early today?"
Chen Lan, startled by his sudden appearance and question while she was eating her last bite, choked on her noodles and couldn't help but cough.
Xu Mingxuan quickly stepped forward and patted her back, saying, "Look at you, you're choking even while eating. What are you panicking about? No one is snatching your food!"
Seeing Chen Lan's flustered state, he couldn't help but tease, "What? Did you sneak some delicious treat and are afraid I'll find out? You choke when you get nervous?"
Chen Lan, already startled and suffering from the choke, was further angered by Xu Mingxuan's teasing. She rolled her eyes at him and pouted, ignoring him.
Xu Mingxuan saw that he had genuinely upset Chen Lan. While patting her back, he hurriedly explained, "Lan'er, don't be angry. I was just joking, teasing you! But, why are you up so early today?"
After Xu Mingxuan's explanation, Chen Lan no longer bothered with him and told him about her plan to go to the chestnut grove to pick chestnuts.
Xu Mingxuan immediately said, "Lan'er, I'm not at ease with you going alone. I'll go with you. That way, we'll have each other for company."
Chen Lan thought about it and felt it made sense, so she nodded and said, "Brother Mingxuan, then hurry and wash up, and then come to the kitchen to eat. Do you want meat buns with soy sauce or milk steamed buns?"
As Xu Mingxuan walked away, he replied, "Whatever, you decide."
Chen Lan was instantly speechless and frustrated! She hated those two words, "whatever," the most in her previous life.
She remembered that in her past life, whenever she didn't know what to cook, she would ask her daughter what she wanted to eat, and the answer would always be those two words, "whatever."
"Whatever" was easy to say, but difficult for the one doing the cooking.
Sigh! She wondered how her daughter in her previous life was doing all alone now.
While Chen Lan was lost in thought, Xu Mingxuan returned to the kitchen after washing up. Chen Lan took two milk steamed buns and two meat buns with soy sauce from the steamer for him, and also bought him a one-liter bottle of pure milk from the system.
Chen Lan had noticed that Xu Mingxuan really disliked overly sweet things and preferred milk. Moreover, milk was very nutritious.
So this morning, she didn't let him drink her lovingly prepared nutritious soup – Tremella Stewed with Snow Pear. She would save that for herself and Mama Liu.
Xu Mingxuan ate quickly. Chen Lan told him to slow down and not rush, but he still quickly finished two meat buns with soy sauce, two milk steamed buns, and a large bottle of milk.
She was about to ask Xu Mingxuan if he was full when he let out a loud burp, and Chen Lan immediately stopped asking.
Hearing someone enter the kitchen, she turned to see Mama Liu and said, "Mama Liu, perfect! You're up. I don't need to go find my mother. I've already steamed the buns and meat buns in the steamer!
When they're about to wake up, please make some soup for them. Don't make it for my husband and me, as we've already had breakfast. Su Dan Novel Network.
Also, we're going out for something now. Please tell my mother that we've gone out and ask her to go upstairs and check if the dragon-phoenix twins are awake yet?"
Mama Liu said with a smile, "My dear, why are you being so polite with me? No need to find your mother; they'll all be up in a while. I have time now, so I'll go upstairs and check on the little ones. You two go ahead and attend to your business!"
With that, she turned and left the kitchen, heading upstairs.
The couple tidied up a bit and then set out from home with their baskets on their backs.
They walked quickly, not delaying on the road. Since they had been there yesterday, Chen Lan, familiar with the way, quickly led Xu Mingxuan to the chestnut grove.
A north wind had blown all night, so the ground in the grove was once again covered with wild chestnuts.
Chen Lan handed Xu Mingxuan a snake-skin bag and said, "Brother Mingxuan, just put the chestnuts you pick directly into the snake-skin bag. This way is convenient and efficient.
Also, be careful when picking chestnuts, don't pick any that are moldy or not fresh.
When picking them, look at the color of the chestnut shell. If the shell is a bright, glossy reddish-brown, it's fresh. If the shell is coffee-colored or black, it's not a fresh chestnut."
Xu Mingxuan nodded and said, "I understand, Lan'er. I'll be careful."
Both of them were efficient workers and didn't delay. Each holding a snake-skin bag, they crouched down and quickly began picking chestnuts.
As they picked chestnuts, they chatted. Chen Lan asked, "Brother Mingxuan, how many more days of leave do you have at home?"
Xu Mingxuan replied, "Time flies so fast! I have tomorrow, and I have to report back the day after."
Chen Lan was shocked to hear that he had so little time left. She hadn't prepared anything for him yet.
She looked up, stopped picking chestnuts, and said, "Brother Mingxuan, your wound has only healed on the surface, it hasn't fully healed internally. Can't you rest at home for a while longer until your injury is completely healed before returning to the military?"
Xu Mingxuan continued to pick chestnuts rapidly as he said, "I can't! I've just been transferred here, and there's a lot I'm unfamiliar with. I need to get acquainted with the soldiers and understand their individual situations. If there are difficulties, we in organizational work should find ways to help them. Once their worries are resolved, they can wholeheartedly guard the border.
This way, I can effectively carry out my work in the battalion.
Also, winter is approaching. Although we've sent a lot of provisions for the battalion's winter needs from our valley, I still need to discuss with Battalion Commander Zheng how to reasonably arrange the winter food for the soldiers. After all, the winters in the Changbai Mountains are very long, and food is limited.
I also need to go back and check if there's enough firewood for the battalion's winter. I noticed their cotton-padded clothes and quilts aren't very thick, so we need to prepare more firewood for the soldiers to get through the winter."