Chapter 139.1

On this day, Li Yufeng took the children to dig sweet potatoes in her own field, while Zhang Chunying brought along Yao Bao, and the twins had been accompanying their grandparents whenever they went out recently. Now, wherever Li Yufeng went, they naturally followed.

Li Yufeng lined two baskets with old clothes that couldn’t be worn anymore. The twins were placed in them, one on each side. “Sit still and don’t move. Grandma will carry you.”

Da Bao and Xiao Bao each carried a hoe, while Xiao Fantuan led Xiao Doubao. The whole family set off to their private lands in a grand manner. With two adults accompanying them, Su Xiaoxiao decided to stay home for some rare peace and quiet to read a book.

It was the first time for the twins to travel this way. They sat obediently in the baskets, happily observing everything around them. Xiao Roubao couldn’t sit still and wanted to get up and stand, but was gently tapped on his little hand by Xiao Fantuan. “Sit still, don’t move. If you move, grandma might stumble and fall.”

Xiao Roubao obediently sat back in the basket.

The fellow villagers they met on the way were fascinated by the twins sitting in the baskets. “Oh, these two little ones are so cute. Zhenhua’s youngest is also adorable. Aunt Li, how come your kids grow so well?”

Li Yufeng smiled and said, “All children are like this. Your kids are not bad either.”

When they arrived on their private land, the older brothers picked up their younger siblings and laid a layer of straw on the ridge for them to play with Yao Bao. Zhang Chunying took charge of watching over them.

It was the first time for Xiao Fantuan and Xiao Doubao to dig sweet potatoes. Watching Grandma dig out a bunch of sweet potatoes with a single stroke of the hoe amazed them.

Xiao Fantuan asked for the hoe from Xiao Bao, “Let me try.”

Xiao Bao demonstrated, “Be careful, dig along the edge of the sweet potato like this, or else it won’t last long.”

Li Yufeng said, “You are making sweet potato nests, right? It’s okay; eat the ones you accidentally ruin.”

Xiao Fantuan was under no pressure anymore. He swung his hoe and pulled it hard again. Luckily, he chopped all the sweet potatoes underground into two halves. Half came out with him, and the other half remained buried.

Xiao Fantuan exclaimed, “Ah, I’ve dug them all to pieces.”

Xiao Bao sighed and pointed to the natural crack in the ground, saying, “Do you see the crack here? That’s because there’s a big sweet potato growing below, breaking the soil apart. You specifically aimed your hoe at the crack; how could you not split the sweet potatoes?”

Xiao Fantuan understood: “Ah, so that’s how it is. I’ll avoid digging directly under the mound and dig along the edges, right?”

Xiao Bao nodded. “Exactly. I just dug along the edges of this bulge. You should give it a try.”

Xiao Doubao, eager to try as well, said, “Big Brother Da Bao, I also want to give it a try too.”

Da Bao shook his head and said, “This hoe is very heavy. You can’t even swing it now. Wait until you grow a little more, then you can dig, okay?”

Xiao Doubao looked at the hoe who was even taller than himself, realizing it might be true. He regrettably stepped aside.

Da Bao continued to dig along the cracks and bulges. When all the soil from all sides was cleared, exposing the sweet potatoes, he said to Xiao Doubao, “Now, Xiao Doubao, you can pick up the sweet potatoes and put them in the basket.”

Xiao Doubao’s eyes lit up. He ran over, carefully scraping away the soil from the sweet potatoes and plucking them one by one into the basket, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

Li Yufeng said angrily, “Da Bao, pull the entire plant out first, then let Xiao Doubao pick them into the basket.”

Da Bao explained, “Grandma, I wanted Xiao Doubao to experience digging the soil.”

“Okay, but don’t get your clothes dirty. I made them wear old clothes and sleeves before coming out. If their winter coats get dirty, they won’t have warm clothes to wear,” warned Li Yufeng.

Da Bao pulled out a large lump of sweet potatoes with leaves and roots and put them to the side for Xiao Doubao to pick into the basket one by one. It was Xiao Doubao’s first experience with the joy of participating in a harvest, and he was delighted.

On the other side, Xiao Fantuan also discovered a new method on how to dig without ruining the sweet potatoes, he now rarely breaks the sweet potatoes while digging. Two large baskets were quickly filled. The broken ones were set aside. Li Yufeng had already prepared holes for the children, and she helped warm the pits for them to eat on the spot.

Even the picked sweet potato leaves were not wasted; they were taken home to feed the chickens, pigs, and cows.

When Xiao Roubao saw the freshly dug sweet potatoes, he wanted to bite into them. However, it was too cold, and Li Yufeng dared not let him eat them raw. If he upsets his stomach, it would be troublesome. If it was summer, it might be possible to peel one for him to gnaw on.

There was an abundance of fuel here, and the pits heated quickly, cooking the broken sweet potatoes quickly.

Li Yufeng finished cleaning up, and the sweet potatoes were almost done. A delicious aroma wafted through the air.

Xiao Roubao was so greedy that he kept saying, “I want it.”

Xiao Tangyuan was also very curious and pulled her brother over with a small stick to poke the sweet potato nest.

Li Yufeng felt it was ready. She skillfully used the hoe to dig out the roasted sweet potatoes, each emitting a fragrant steam. The children couldn’t wait to pick them up. Xiao Roubao reached out to grab one, but Zhang Chunying quickly pulled him back, saying, “Be careful; it’s hot. Xiao Roubao, wait a bit before eating.”

Fantuan picked up a sweet potato with both hands, tossing it back and forth until it cooled down. When it was no longer too hot, he split it in half and peeled off the skin. Once he was sure it wasn’t too hot, he handed one half to Xiao Roubao and the other half to Xiao Tangyuan.

Xiao Bao also gave his younger brother, Yao Bao, a half.

The fresh, roasted sweet potato was both smooth and fragrant, and it tasted like chestnuts. Li Yufeng is always worried that the three little cubs will choke, but Xiao Tangyuan and Yao Bao don’t really like to eat them. After taking two bites, they don’t want to eat them anymore. Only Xiao Roubao relished it, but he was clever, taking small bites and holding it in his mouth until it was moist before swallowing. He managed to finish two large sweet potatoes without choking, and he even wanted more.

Li Yufeng didn’t allow him to eat too much, he said. “Xiao Roubao, wait until we get home for dinner. If you eat more now, you won’t be able to enjoy the delicious food your mother cooks.”

Xiao Roubao shook his head and said, “Want~ more~ want~,” which means he could eat more; he still wanted some.

Li Yufeng had no choice but to give him a little more. The little guy still enjoyed it, eating more than his four older brothers combined, and no one knew where he put all that in his small belly.

Xiao Fantuan was also a little foodie, with a decent appetite. He stopped after eating two large sweet potatoes and said, “Freshly dug sweet potatoes are indeed better than those kept for a long time. Grandma, I want to eat a sweet potato every day from now on, and let’s cook a few on the stove when making meals!”

Li Yufeng said, “It’s not hard to cook sweet potatoes all the time. However, after a few days, they won’t be as soft after a few days. They taste the best when sun-dried after turning sweet from sugarization. If you want the powdery ones, dig a few every day. That’s the best way to eat them. But don’t come on New Year’s Day.”

Xiao Fantuan nodded. “Got it, Grandma!” He brought several sweet potatoes back to share with his mother and the others.

On the way back, Zhang Chunying and Li Yufeng took turns carrying sweet potatoes. The three older brothers each carried one of the babies, and the whole family returned home in high spirits.

Passing by the cattle shed, Li Yufeng threw a large bundle of sweet potato leaves inside, enough for the hardworking old water buffalo to feast on.

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