CHAPTER 200: CHAPTER 200: STOP TEASING HIM, YOU’RE SCARING THE KID

He Jinxuan finished washing his hands and splashed the water into the yard.

Xinyan handed him the bowls and chopsticks: "Sit down and eat, I fried some yellow millet cakes today, give them a try."

He Jinxuan didn’t stand on ceremony: "What made you think of eating fried cakes?"

Little Siyan heard the question, his little head shrank as he tried to make himself less noticeable.

Ye Silai noticed his brother’s small movements: "It’s not like some people weren’t craving them."

Xinyan saw Little Siyan’s expression and couldn’t help but laugh: "The day before yesterday, I went to Upper River Village and bought two egg-laying hens. There happened to be an aunt in the village grinding yellow millet flour, so I traded some with her."

Ye Silai knew his sister was covering for their brother, but he had to let Uncle know about her generosity: "It’s because Siyan was craving the fried cakes that the other kid Xiao Sun had. Sister traded with the aunt to satisfy his craving."

He Jinxuan looked at Xinyan: "What’s going on?"

Xinyan gestured to the fried cakes: "Eat first, they won’t be as good once they cool down."

She grabbed one for herself before explaining: "Earlier, I asked a classmate to help find some egg-laying hens in the village. There was news, so after lunch yesterday, I took them on a trip.

That aunt’s family happened to be frying cakes. We all got a bit hungry and casually asked if anyone had yellow millet flour to spare. Turns out we asked the right person, and the aunt had some, so I traded for some to bring back."

Although Xinyan said it like that, He Jinxuan knew it was definitely because Little Siyan was craving them that Xinyan traded for them to make.

Just as he was about to say something, Xinyan spoke up, "It’s not fair to blame Siyan for this, I was also craving it."

Then, trying to change the subject quickly: "By the way, the two hens I brought back still don’t have a coop. When you have time, Brother He, can you help me make a coop?"

He Jinxuan was puzzled: "What made you think of raising chickens?"

He thought it was a waste of time given the upcoming college entrance exams, and with her grades so good, she’d definitely get into university. What would happen to the chickens afterward?

Xinyan smiled: "I bought egg-laying hens. A lot of people trade vegetables for my fish, and I can’t eat that much by myself. It would be a waste to throw them away, so I thought of raising two chickens to have eggs, and when I leave, I can just cook them."

He Jinxuan understood what she was saying.

What he didn’t know was that Xinyan had not only bought two egg-laying hens from that aunt but had also made another trip to buy a brood of chicks, four ducklings, and four goslings, which she quickly stored in her space.

She’s been quite busy these past few days, buying woven twig fences from an old man in Xiahe Village to keep them in separate enclosures. She plans to go up the mountain later to find some wild grapes or buy some sea buckthorn trees to block off an area downstream for them, and use a fishing net to cover the river surface. This way, they can roam freely without polluting the upstream water, and it would also enrich her dining table in the future.

At this point, Ye Siyan interjected: "Uncle, I want to help build the chicken coop too."

His sister had just helped him, so of course, he wanted to help her back, with a very earnest expression on his face.

He Jinxuan glanced at him, knowing his little thoughts, and teased him on purpose: "Since you want to help, I won’t interfere then."

Little Siyan was dumbfounded, looking confusedly at his brother for help, but Ye Silai wouldn’t look at him. In the end, he could only say with grievance: "Uncle, but I don’t know how, I’m still a kid."

Xinyan saw his pitiful expression and couldn’t hold back her laughter, pushing He Jinxuan playfully: "Alright, stop teasing him, look at how scared he is."

But with that push, He Jinxuan got a little jittery as if electrified.

Xinyan noticed his reaction: "What’s wrong?"

He Jinxuan quickly waved it off: "Nothing, nothing."

He then hurriedly grabbed a fried cake to change the subject: "I haven’t had fried cakes in ages, they sure look appetizing."

Since he didn’t want to talk about it, Xinyan didn’t press: "If you like them, eat more."