Educated Youth in the Countryside: She is the Village's Embroidery Queen!-Chapter 507: Looking Toward the Future

Yi Chichi didn’t want to give it, "This is spicy."

"I’m not afraid!"

He An puffed up her little chest, speaking forcefully, "I’m tough!"

The little kid who had never eaten chili peppers didn’t know where she was tough.

She looked at Zhang Xin, "Will you give it?"

Zhang Xin nodded, "Let her eat!"

Reasoning won’t work; the kid who has never tasted chili peppers doesn’t know what they taste like in the mouth.

Only after trying it once, crying and being hurt by the spice, will she remember.

Learn that things shouldn’t be eaten carelessly.

Zhang Xin’s answer left Yi Chichi a bit confused; she looked at the old man, who took a cup of tea and drank while mumbling about the shrimp not being grilled well.

Yi Chichi understood then.

It meant letting it be.

She handed the shrimp to He An’s mouth, "Try the taste first, don’t rush..."

Before she finished speaking, the little girl had already eagerly snatched the whole shrimp and stuffed it into her mouth.

Then—

"Pfft, pfft, pfft!"

Her little face scrunched up as she spat out the shrimp, then started crying loudly, shouting about her mouth hurting.

"Drink some water!"

Zhang Xin had already prepared, handing his tea cup over, filled with warm water instead of hot.

He An clutched the cup, taking several sips, finally suppressing the spicy taste, then with a pouty face, complained aggrievedly, "Mommy, the shrimp bit my tongue."

"It’s not the shrimp biting, it’s the chili making your tongue hurt."

Zhang Xin laughed helplessly, hugging her for a kiss, "Do you still want to eat chili next time?"

"No."

This child holds grudges; when Wen Shi came back leading people, she immediately ran over to hug his leg, starting to complain again.

Upon hearing she was hurt by chili peppers, Wen Shi picked her up and gently said, "How about Uncle helps you beat up the chili?"

The little girl looked at him as if he were an idiot, "Uncle, you’re worse at comforting than my daddy."

She reasoned, "Chili is not a person; hitting it won’t hurt."

Wen Shi was speechless, and the others laughed out loud.

"Look, your brains aren’t as good as the little girl’s!"

"Don’t say, Little An is smarter than her dad."

Well reasoned and clearly articulated.

She even knows hitting chili doesn’t hurt.

Listening to their banter, Yi Chichi felt these men weren’t very bright.

The buns and rice were steamed early, the fish and scallops timed perfectly for the pot.

Wen Shi and the others hadn’t been back for a few minutes when Wen’s mother announced it was time to eat.

After school, the children naturally came to help, and upon hearing it was time to eat, immediately busied themselves setting chairs and getting utensils.

Having spent months at sea, Old Du and the others cleaned themselves up, but hadn’t gotten around to cutting their hair, their spirits a bit afloat.

Thankfully, their self-control was strong enough to avoid any big problems, they just loved teasing the children.

Made several kids cry.

Seeing they still wanted to tease He An, Wen Shi couldn’t bear it and took the child over to Yi Chichi’s table, then went back to his seat, grumbling, "Enough already, be careful Old He comes back and fights you!"

Old Du clicked his tongue, "I’m afraid of him."

Old Lei grumbled at him, "Don’t get carried away, go too far and people will deal with you."

While speaking, he kept glancing towards Wen Shi.

Old Du caught his hint, became silent for two seconds, then grabbed a skewer of grilled meat to chew and swallow, his face full of amazement, "Auntie, this meat tastes perfect."

Authentic pork belly, fatty but not greasy, lean but not dry, with a slightly crispy surface, bursting with spicy flavor in one bite.

"Definitely delicious."

Old Li and the others gave the same evaluation, even urged their wives to learn cooking from Wen’s mother.

Ji Jian and the others ignored them, Wen’s mother frankly stated, "It’s not my credit; I only bought the meat, washing and cutting was Xiao Ji’s work, marinating and seasoning was Chichi’s, grilling was Xiao Zhang’s."

The named ones silently straightened up, as if saying, yes, we contributed too, praise us all together, praising one person alone isn’t fair.

Seeing their wives’ reaction, Wen Shi and the others exchanged glances, then started showering compliments on their wives.

The few who didn’t have wives felt quite stuffed, but the dishes were so plentiful, especially for Old Du and the others who had just come from the sea, even if overwhelmed by dog-food jealousy, they still felt hungry.

Due to the large number of people, seating was divided during the meal.

Three tables for men, two tables for women and children.

Men drinking, chatting as they ate.

Ji Jian and the others finished eating first, taking the children home to do homework.

They had to go to the night shift.

He An, being young, played all day without a nap, and now was sleepy after eating, clamoring to go home.

Zhang Xin and his granddaughter took her home after saying goodbye.

Thus, only Yi Chichi’s family and the men were left inside.

Old Du and the others seemed to have a lot to say, endless talking.

The topics started normal, until—

"I still think those islands are wasted if not developed."

Such great resupply points.

Just leaving them there feels heart-wrenching.

Yi Chichi’s ears perked up; were those the islands she knew?

Old Li took a drink, "For now, don’t think about it, wait for later."

Wen Shi glanced at him, said nothing.

Old Lei asked softly, "Don’t you have any ideas?"

"So what if we have ideas?"

Wen’s mother rolled her eyes at him, "What can you do now? Nothing at all, first guard the coastline."

Food is eaten bite by bite, paths walked step by step, even a three-year-old knows this.

"Just like Old Li said, wait, there will be opportunities."

What’s theirs will return sooner or later.

A momentary grievance means nothing, "We are looking at the future."

"Future..."

Old Du murmured, then sighed deeply, "Right, there’s still a future."

This topic wasn’t very pleasant.

Instead, it made people feel heavy-hearted.

So, Wen Shi shifted the topic, "Later, directly go to the small room, Doctor Zhou and the rest should arrive around eight."

Old Li checked the time, seeing it was already past 7, urged, "Have you finished eating? If you have, quickly go over, don’t keep Doctor Zhou waiting."

"Finished eating!"

The group rose without hesitation, thanked Yi Chichi and Wen’s mother, then cheerfully left.

Doctor Zhou and the others were the most important; psychological counseling relied on them. Without proper adjustment, problems could arise next time going to sea.

That’s irresponsible for themselves and their brothers.

So, hurry to meet Doctor Zhou and the others.

Once Old Du and the others left, those who had also finished eating, like Old Li and the others, got up to help tidy up, preparing to leave.

Wen’s mother and Yi Chichi tried to stop them, but unsuccessfully, the men skilled at logistics swiftly cleaned up all the tables, chairs, pots, bowls, and plates.

Only bones remained among the kitchen waste, no leftover food at all.

After everyone left, Wen Shi opened his arms to hug Wen’s mother, "Mom, thank you for today!"

"I’m not tired, Xiao Ji and the others came to help in the morning."

Moreover, it’s not like this happens every day, a rare occasion, no big deal.

"Talk with Chichi, I’m going to shower, smell of food all over me."

Wen’s mother, who loves cleanliness, turned and left, urgently needing to shower and change clothes, once all were gone, the smell on her truly was unpleasant.

Wen Shi called out, "Want me to help fetch water?"

"No need."

Wen’s mother declined, Wen Shi looked towards Yi Chichi sitting in the chair, squeezing closer, "Honey, are you tired?"

"Not tired!"

Yi Chichi pulled his hand to sit, glanced around to ensure no one was there, couldn’t resist her curiosity and asked about the island matter.

This wasn’t something that couldn’t be talked about, islanders all knew.

Therefore, Wen Shi didn’t hide it, instead detailed the islands’ locations and conditions to her.

Yi Chichi, "..."

Goodness, it really was those islands.

"Are you considering development?"

Wen Shi was silent for a while, then nodded, "We’ve discussed it, but it’s not feasible in the short term."

Indeed not feasible.

Still a long way to go, but she calmly reassured him, "There will be chances."